The Cursed Alpha Prince's Replacement Bride-Chapter 56: How Alexander’s Curse Came About

{Third Person}

"I mean, Alexander," Amara added, just to be clear. "The others have found theirs... so why not him?"

For a brief second, Elowen didn’t answer, then the smile on her face slowly faded. "...It might be because of the curse."

Amara stilled. "The curse?" she repeated, her curiosity immediately sharpening. She leaned forward slightly. "How did it happen?"

Elowen shook her head at first, her expression shifting. "It’s a long... ugly story."

"Oh." Amara leaned back again, already assuming that was the end of it. But after a short silence, Elowen spoke again. "Alex wasn’t always like this."

Amara’s brows pulled together slightly.

"He wasn’t cold. Or detached. Or..." Elowen paused briefly, searching for the right word. "...merciless."

Amara didn’t say anything, but in her mind, the thought came almost instantly. ’How is that possible?’

Elowen continued. "He used to be... kind. Very kind, actually. He cared a lot about people. About family." Her tone softened slightly, as if she was remembering something distant. "Until he did something he shouldn’t have."

Amara’s attention sharpened again.

"He defied nature," Elowen said quietly, "to save someone he cared about." There was a brief pause. Then her expression hardened. "...Only to find out it was all planned."

Amara’s eyes widened slightly. "A setup?" she asked.

Elowen nodded once. "He was betrayed by people he trusted. People he called family," she said, her voice lower now. The bitterness in her tone was unmistakable.

"And he paid a heavy price for it." She added quietly, "And he is still paying for it."

Amara felt something shift in her chest as she sat there in the silence, trying to process what she had just heard.

The image she had of Alexander—cold, cruel, and unpredictable didn’t align with this. Not at all. And yet, something about it felt real. It was too real to dismiss.

She had too many questions.

What kind of betrayal could do this?

What exactly did he do?

What was the curse?

Her lips parted slightly, but before she could ask, the waiter returned with a tray in his hands. The food was set down neatly in front of them. The interruption broke the moment. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Elowen leaned back slightly. "It’s a good thing that he hasn’t completely lost his humanity," she said after a second, her tone lighter now,

Just like that, she shifted the atmosphere and picked up her cutlery. "And this is going to get cold if we keep talking."

Amara looked at her, and she smiled back in return like nothing heavy had just been said. "Eat."

Amara nodded slowly and picked up her fork while thinking that maybe she had judged Alexander too quickly.

Then, she reminded herself that not every story is as it appears from the outside.

Despite the food being laid out on the table in front of her, her mind didn’t find rest. She hesitated, then asked, more carefully this time, "Does the curse... affect his health?"

Elowen, who had just lifted her fork, paused mid-air. Her eyes flicked up to Amara. Then she gently set her fork down.

"...It does," she admitted, her tone softer now. "Though I believe, not in a way people can easily see. But it’s there."

Amara watched her closely. Elowen didn’t elaborate. Instead, she reached for her glass and took a small sip, as if deciding how much more she was willing to say.

Amara understood that pushing further would only make Elowen close up, so she nodded slightly and let the matter rest, at least on the surface.

They began eating. For a while, neither of them spoke about anything heavy. The soft clinking of cutlery and the low hum of the café filled the space between them.

But Elowen’s earlier words lingered. And without realizing it, Amara slowed down. Her appetite faded as her thoughts drifted uninvitedly to Torin and Lila. And the way everything had unfolded so easily behind her back.

Eight months.

Her grip tightened slightly around her fork. Then, she lowered her gaze to her plate, blinking once, steadying herself.

She refused to let their betrayal make her heart bleed right now.

A moment later, as if deliberately shifting the mood, Elowen suddenly leaned forward with a bright smile.

"You have to try this."

Before Amara could react, Elowen slid her plate slightly toward her and cut a piece of her food, placing it neatly on Amara’s plate.

Amara looked down at it, then back at Elowen. "...Alright." She picked it up and took a bite. The reaction was immediate.

Her face changed subtly. Her brows knit just slightly, her lips pressing together as she tried to process the taste.

Elowen watched her closely, then burst out laughing. "You don’t like it!"

Amara quickly swallowed, reaching for her glass of orange juice and taking a long sip. "...It’s different," she said, choosing her words carefully.

Elowen laughed even more. "That’s your polite version of ’this is terrible.’"

Amara didn’t deny it this time. She just took another sip of her juice, longer this time.

Watching her, Elowen shook her head, still smiling. "I like you," she said suddenly. "You’re not pretentious. You don’t fake things just to look proper."

Amara glanced at her. Then Elowen’s smile softened just a little.

"But... don’t always be like that in the palace," she added lightly, though there was a quiet weight behind her words.

Thereafter, she rested her chin lightly on her hand. Though her tone was still casual, her eyes weren’t. "If you want to live long, not everyone needs to know what you are thinking."

Amara held her gaze, and in that moment, something clicked. Elowen wasn’t just a cheerful, talkative princess who loved shopping and parties.

She was observant, careful and smart. She was a wolf who knew exactly how to survive in that palace.

Amara looked away first, letting out a quiet breath. "...I understand."

Elowen’s smile returned, lighter this time, as if the moment hadn’t just shifted. "Good. Now eat. Your food is actually edible."

Amara huffed softly under her breath, but picked up her fork again.

They finished their meal in a much lighter atmosphere. By the time they were done, Elowen checked the time and perked up immediately.

"We still have some time before evening." Her eyes lit up. "Let’s not waste it."

Then, she stood up, grabbing her bag. "We will drive through the city first. I will show you around properly before we head to the gathering."

"Where?" Amara inquired as she stood as well, remembering what Alexander had told her earlier.

Elowen grinned. "Rooftop. You will like it."

"Alright." Amara wasn’t so sure about that, but she nodded anyway. And they stepped out together.