{Third Person}

Meanwhile, Amara simply climbed into the hot water with visible relief before sighing softly.

"The cold feels worse at night lately," she murmured tiredly.

Mrs. Woods quickly lowered her gaze. "Yes, My Lady."

The older woman helped her finish bathing quietly afterwards, though her heart grew heavier throughout the process.

Because each passing day made the situation feel stranger, more dangerous. And somehow, more heartbreaking too.

Not long after, once Amara had settled into bed with Ginger curled beside her beneath the blankets, Mrs. Woods quietly left for Alexander’s side of the residence.

She found him inside the study as usual.

The moment she entered, Alexander lifted his eyes toward her calmly.

Mrs. Woods bowed respectfully before reporting everything she observed, including the faint veins appearing again during Amara’s bath.

Alexander listened silently from beginning to end without interrupting once. His expression remained unreadable the entire time. And when Mrs. Woods finally finished speaking, he said nothing at all.

He simply lifted one hand slightly, dismissing her quietly.

Mrs. Woods lowered her head and left the study then. But as she walked back through the silent corridors of the residence, worry lingered heavily inside her chest.

She still did not know exactly what the Alpha Prince was thinking, nor did she understand what conclusion he had reached regarding Amara.

But deep inside, she could only hope that whatever was happening now would not completely destroy the fragile relationship slowly built between him and the political bride.

---

Early the next morning, Alexander woke from sleep with a faint frown already settled on his face.

For a few quiet moments, he remained lying still beneath the covers while staring toward the dim ceiling above him. Something felt off.

There was a strange restlessness sitting heavily inside him that he could not immediately explain.

Then suddenly, he perceived it again—a soft, sweet scent, yet powerful enough to instantly invade his senses.

Alexander’s brows slowly furrowed.

The scent did not belong anywhere inside his residence. It was unfamiliar but strangely alluring, carrying a warmth that wrapped around his senses almost aggressively.

The more he inhaled, the clearer it became.

The scent was coming from Amara’s side of the residence.

Almost immediately, Alexander sat upright.

His expression darkened slightly as the sweetness continued drifting through the air. Something about it unsettled him deeply. It was not ordinary, and somehow, his instincts reacted strongly to it.

Without wasting another second, he got out of bed and dressed quickly before leaving his room.

Outside, dawn had only just begun breaking over the palace grounds. A few servants had already woken and started their morning duties, but the moment they saw Alexander striding through the corridors with a frighteningly cold expression, they immediately lowered their heads nervously.

Some attempted to greet him respectfully, but one sharp glance from him silenced every voice instantly.

No one dared speak again.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Woods had just stepped out after giving instructions to the kitchen servants when she suddenly saw Alexander approaching directly toward Amara’s side of the residence.

Shock flashed across her face immediately. "Your Highness—"

"How is she?" Alexander interrupted calmly.

Mrs. Woods blinked slightly before answering. "Her Ladyship is still asleep."

Alexander did not respond. Instead, he walked past her without hesitation and continued toward Amara’s bedroom.

Mrs. Woods stared after him in confusion, feeling that something about the Alpha Prince this morning was unusually tense.

---

At that exact moment, Amara had only just woken up.

For the first time in several days, her body felt slightly stronger than before. However, the cold beneath her skin felt worse.

Much worse.

Still half asleep, she slowly sat upright on the bed while Ginger remained curled beside her beneath the blankets.

The cat stretched lazily before lifting her head sleepily toward Amara.

Amara rubbed her eyes tiredly and climbed out of bed. She wore only a short nightdress with thin sleeves, completely unaware that anything had changed overnight.

Still drowsy, she stretched her body lightly and arched her back before releasing a quiet sigh. Then, slowly, her gaze drifted downward toward her arm, and her entire body froze instantly.

A loud scream tore from her throat.

Ginger jumped violently awake in fright.

Amara stumbled backwards while staring at her arms in absolute horror.

Her veins and arteries were visible beneath her skin. Not faintly this time.

The reddish-blue lines spread boldly beneath her pale skin in terrifying detail, making her arms look frighteningly unnatural.

Amara’s breathing instantly became uneven. "No..." she whispered shakily. "No..."

Panic exploded inside her chest.

She rushed barefoot toward the full-length mirror standing nearby, desperate to see properly.

But the moment her reflection came into view, all the blood drained from her face.

The marks covered nearly her entire body. Her arms, her neck, her collarbone, even her legs.

The red and blue veins spread visibly beneath her skin like terrifying cracks hidden under pale glass.

Amara’s heart pounded violently. "What is this...?" she whispered breathlessly.

Her fingers trembled as she touched her arms frantically, as though hoping the sight would disappear if she rubbed hard enough.

But nothing changed. The marks remained there, visible and terrifying.

Amara’s breathing became harsher and faster as panic completely overtook her. Then suddenly, the bedroom door opened without warning.

Amara jerked violently in shock and turned around immediately.

Alexander had entered the room. And the moment his eyes landed on her, he stopped completely.

For the first time since arriving in the bedroom, genuine shock crossed his face openly. Because the sight before him was far worse than anything he imagined.

Amara stood frozen before the mirror in her thin nightdress, her entire body visibly covered by the strange network of red and blue veins beneath her skin.

And in that moment, one truth became undeniable inside Alexander’s mind.

Amara was not human.

Meanwhile, the moment Amara realized Alexander had seen everything, panic exploded completely inside her chest.

Her face lost every trace of colour.

Instinctively, she grabbed the nearest blanket from the bed and wrapped it tightly around herself before stumbling backwards away from him.

Her entire body trembled violently. Not from the cold this time, but from fear. Real fear.

Because in that moment, only one thought echoed wildly inside her mind.

He knows.