Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I stayed up a little longer because of what happened the night before, but I still insisted on getting up early as Mrs. Clea said. I wore my housekeeping uniform because it was my first day and I didn't want to make a bad impression on anyone, especially Mrs. Clea.

I wore my housekeeping uniform. It fits perfectly for me.

"Why do I have the feeling that whatever you wear suits you?" Gina asked as I scanned myself in the mirror. I smiled and shook my head. "I may believe you, Gina," I joked. "And you'll believe the truth," Yna added. I just shook my head and chuckled.

We left the room together just in time to meet Joy and her group. Whenever I'm with Gina and Yna, they always notice everything about me, so I'm getting used to what they say even though most of me doesn’t believe it.

I was surprised when Joy looked at me and purposefully rolled her eyes, "Did you see that?" Yna noticed it too! "She rolled her eyes at us!" Gina exclaimed. "It appears that I was the one she rolled at," I replied. Yna sneered.

"I had no idea she'd be so envious. Did she think she was the only beautiful person in the world?" Yna asked, irritably. I took a look at Yna. "You know, Amara, when you weren't here, Joy was said to be the most beautiful of the housekeepers. Like you, many of them here were amazed by her. Another of the many housekeepers, she was one of those chosen to serve the Alpha King directly in his quarters. But it's not insignificant that you are more beautiful here now!" she explained.

I considered what she said. Joy is, in fact, lovely. Her neatness is also evident; she is strikingly beautiful with her doe eyes, high cheekbones, and rosy skin. But what stayed with me was the fact that she is directly serving the Alpha King. Then she can freely see the Alpha King. I'm not sure why I became envious. I shouldn't, don't you think? I came here to find Shena, not to get closer to the Alpha King!

Gina and I moved on to the hall, which is still part of the housekeeping quarter, but where the housekeeping gathers for orders. "Joy, you'll serve Alpha King's breakfast in his office," Mrs. Clea said to Joy. "He won't have his breakfast in the dining room today," I heard Mrs. Clea say to Joy. I immediately averted my gaze after seeing Joy's wide smile. I averted my gaze and waited for what I was going to do.

"Amara... because it's your first time, Gina will guide you in the meantime." I nodded to what Mrs. Clea said and followed Gina when she called me to leave, waving goodbye to Yna because she had a different task.

"This is the kitchen area; the Alpha King's personal cooks are always here to cook for the Alpha King, and when you are assigned here, you just have to prepare the big dining table and prepare the plates. Remember to always be careful because the plates and glasses here are more valuable than your life," Gina said, slightly chuckling. I smiled as well because she was correct. Perhaps our lives are still not worth the price of the items in this palace.

"This is where all the tableware is kept—plates, glasses, different types of champagne glasses, even coffee mugs," Gina said, pointing to a large cabinet. She told me what to do before, during, and after a meal of the Alpha King; it's either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. She said a lot about etiquette, including not leaving the dining room until the alpha king has finished eating. She said it was for security reasons because if I ever put poison on his plate, I'd be more easily caught.

I considered those rules. I'll never serve poison on his plate. Or perhaps I'd use black magic to entice him to fall in love with me? My thoughts rattled me.

"And then there's the palace hall," I said, astounded by its enormous size. It's so large and spacious that I almost passed out from the high ceiling. Chandeliers hung above, and they looked amazing and majestic. A statue on both railings of the grand staircase also caught my attention. In the center of the hall are two grand staircases. My heart is racing just picturing myself walking down that staircase.

The metal statue was a colored silver wolf. The wolf to the left was howling, and the wolf to the right was staring at the wolf to the left. It was strange. "Why is it like this?" I wondered, looking at the two wolf statues on the stairs. Gina also stood there. "It represents cowardice and bravery," Gina explained. My brow furrowed in concentration.

"I read in some books that the late Alpha king commanded the construction of that statue in memory of his best friend who died in his arms," she explained. "The wolf howling represents bravery, whereas the wolf simply looking at the wolf howling represents cowardice," Gina explained. "It is braver to howl for help with your pack than to wait for your death with your helpless pride," Gina continues.

"Is this how he describes his friend? His friend chose to seek assistance, and the Alpha King admired him for it?" I asked out of curiosity. "Yes. But I heard a story that..." Gina looked around before leaning on me to whisper, "The late Alpha King was the coward, the reason his friend and his friend's wife died." My eyes widened at what she said.

"That was just a rumor. I don't know what happened, but I think a tragedy happened, and that friend of the late Alpha King saved him from death, but it was too late because the Alpha King was proud that he thought he could save his friend and himself in his own strength," Gina said as we both stared at the statue.

I didn't know Alpha Greyson's father had a story like this. I wonder if Alpha Greyson knew this. He probably knew. I just don't know if he takes to heart the lesson his father learned because of what happened.

"Your Majesty!" screamed a woman at the palace's hall gate, and Gina quickly drew me away to hide. I'm not sure. Shouldn't we greet the Alpha King? So, why are we running away?

"Why are we hiding?" I inquired, but Gina motioned for me to remain silent. "You wouldn't want to face the Alpha King once you got to know him, Amara," Gina said quietly. My brow furrowed in concentration.

"What? I heard rumors that he's ruthless, but Alpha King supposedly should be like that," I said. Alpha kings ruled a kingdom, so it's understandable that he's ruthless. Gina shook her head as if meeting Alpha Greyson was a nightmare.

"He's far more than ruthless, Amara...” Her tone was threatening and foreboding. When the woman's voice filled the entire hall, I was startled.

"Your Majesty! Hear me out! Don't let my son be the bait for those rogues! Please!" pleaded a woman. I looked at Alpha Greyson, who was dressed in his usual royal attire, and his long-time butler, now his beta, Miguel. Nothing was visible on his face. Alpha Greyson stood emotionless, almost cold and iced. "Miguel," he called out to his beta. I hoped he'd command Miguel to grant the woman's wish, but my hopes were dashed when he uttered the words; I didn't realize they came from him.

"Get her out of my sight. If she refuses, kill her.” I was cold when I heard that, and I finally saw how the girl would beg at the feet of the Alpha King until Miguel successfully sent the girl away. My hands trembled at the coldness I witnessed from the prince I adored so much before.

"I didn't know the Alpha King would go ahead with that plan," Gina muttered. I glanced at her. "What plan?” I asked, battling a cold.

"I overheard them say that...the Alpha King would use life or one of his men to the rouges in the western part of the mountain near the North Snow Kingdom as bait for him to kill the pack of rogues there. He'd sacrifice his men’s life for him to achieve his goal: to eliminate the rouge clan living here in the land of North Snow. But it won't be easy because numerous rogue clans are out there.” Gina wondered.

"Does that mean he'll keep sacrificing more lives?" I asked. I only felt shocked and fearful when I saw Gina nod in response to what I said.