{Third Person}

Neither man spoke for a while.

Alexander’s attention had already shifted toward the plans surrounding the banquet, while Barron seemed content watching the fire dance inside the hearth.

Eventually, however, another thought occurred to him, and judging by the expression that appeared on his face, it was one he found particularly irritating.

"What was the name of that your bride’s former boyfriend again?"

Alexander glanced at him and answered, "Torin."

Barron immediately clicked his tongue. "That man is a scumbag."

Alexander almost sighed. The subject had returned.

Barron leaned back in his chair and shook his head in disbelief.

"The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it becomes. If Lady Amara’s account is accurate, then that fool was probably involved with her younger sister long before she was sent here."

Alexander did not disagree. He already knew it.

Barron continued with growing irritation.

"Think about it. The man already knew she was being sent away. He knew their engagement was going to be destroyed. He knew her entire future was about to collapse, yet he did absolutely nothing."

His expression darkened. "Not only did he do nothing, he practically stepped aside and allowed it to happen."

The more Barron spoke, the more disgusted he became.

"A decent man would have at least tried to protect her. He would have questioned the decision. He would have fought for the woman he claimed to love."

Barron scoffed. "Instead, he abandoned her and conveniently ended up with the younger sister."

The conclusion was obvious, but Alexander remained silent.

Then Barron folded his arms. "If you ask me, he was cheating long before that night."

Alexander had already reached the same conclusion because the circumstances aligned too perfectly, plus the fact that he could never forget his first interaction with Lila.

Torin had accepted the collapse of his engagement far too easily. He had adapted far too quickly afterwards. More importantly, he had already known information that Amara herself had been denied.

None of it reflected well upon the man.

"He is fickle-minded," Barron declared. "Spineless. Selfish. A complete scumbag."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You seem unusually invested."

"I am invested." Barron sat upright. "Your bride was practically delivered to a foreign kingdom against her will, and the man who claimed to love her did not even attempt to help."

His expression became increasingly baffled.

"What I still cannot understand is how she managed to fall in love with someone like that in the first place."

Alexander almost rolled his eyes.

Barron pointed toward him. "Don’t give me that look."

"I am merely wondering why you are surprised," he said.

Barron frowned and said defensively, "Because she doesn’t strike me as someone easily taken advantage of."

This time, Alexander actually laughed. The sound was brief and dry, almost disbelieving.

"What?" Barron narrowed his eyes.

Alexander shook his head. "Have we met the same woman?"

"Of course we have."

Alexander leaned back comfortably in his chair. "Then perhaps your judgment is clouded."

Barron stared at him, but decided to continue calmly. "Your human bride is kind."

"That is true." Alexander didn’t refute that.

"Polite."

"Also true," he agreed.

"Trusting," Barron said and paused, giving Alexander the opportunity to correct him.

"Far too trusting."

The silence that followed was enough.

Barron slowly began understanding where this conversation was heading.

Alexander’s expression remained completely serious. "If not for certain qualities she possesses, I would simply call her gullible."

Barron immediately laughed. "That is harsh."

"It is accurate."

Barron shook his head. "No. Gullible is too strong."

Alexander looked unconvinced.

The two men spent several minutes arguing over whether Amara’s trusting nature qualified as kindness or foolishness before eventually abandoning the discussion entirely.

The conversation naturally drifted elsewhere. And eventually, Barron mentioned the anonymous letter again.

The moment the topic surfaced, Alexander’s expression became more thoughtful.

"I already instructed Anthony Caldwell to bring the letter with him when he attends the banquet because I had a need for it."

Barron accepted the explanation without issue. Then another question came to mind.

"Who do you think wrote it?"

Alexander did not need time to consider the answer. "That woman called Lila."

The response came immediately.

Barron blinked in surprise. "You sound very certain."

"I am," Alexander said as his gaze shifted toward the window. "Before today, I lacked sufficient information to draw a proper conclusion."

His expression darkened slightly. "Now I do not."

Everything Amara had revealed painted a clearer picture than before: resentment, hostility, humiliation, and timing.

No matter how he examined the situation, one individual stood at its centre. Lila Caldwell.

"I cannot think of anyone else who would benefit more from exposing Amara."

Barron slowly nodded. "Fair point."

Alexander continued. "She was also intelligent enough not to use her own handwriting."

That detail had bothered him from the beginning.

"The letter was typed otherwise, she would have exposed herself immediately."

A faint smile appeared on his face as Barron nodded in agreement.

Just then, another thought occurred to Barron. "If you already know who wrote it, why do you still need the letter?"

Alexander answered without hesitation. "I requested it several days ago."

Barron immediately understood. Before today’s conversation with Amara, many of the details had become clear.

That explanation was reasonable enough, so the matter was quickly settled. Unfortunately, Barron’s attention soon returned to the person responsible.

"Lila."

The name left his mouth with obvious displeasure. His eyes narrowed.

"Something needs to be done about that woman," he said. "She deliberately tried to sabotage her own sister."

The more he thought about it, the less he liked it.

"That sort of cruelty deserves consequences."

Right then, a mischievous look suddenly appeared on his face. Then he asked very casually, "Should we kill her when she arrives for the banquet?"

Alexander looked at him, but he smiled innocently.

In the end, Alexander waved a dismissive hand. "No." The answer was immediate. "Killing her would serve no useful purpose."

Barron’s smile faded slightly, but Alexander continued. "If Lila dies within the Werewolf Kingdom, it creates unnecessary complications."

The political consequences were obvious, so his tone became more serious. "It would destabilize relations between both kingdoms. And that is not what I want."