Chapter Twenty-one: Irelish Household

"Sir Claude is absent today, Commander."

"I'm aware," I said coldly as Colette, Benedict, and I were on our way to the borders.

"Isn't he going to leave soon?" Benedict asked.

I was silent from what he said. It didn't matter for me to answer that. Everyone knew that Claude was about to leave his current position and he had to serve the Grand Alpha King by the orders of the Alpha King himself.

"Is the Alpha King already here in the palace?" I suddenly turned at Benedict the moment that question had sprouted from my mouth.

Benedict glared at me and shook his head. "You know the higher-ups don't just make an announcement even from us with a higher position, Rachelle. Only the fleet admirals know about it. They haven't notified us yet. But if they do, I will inform you immediately."

"That's strange." I am starting to get suspicious of what we are doing. "Can't we even know what our Alpha King looks like? Just what if he already arrived here in the palace?"

They all just shrugged. I shouldn't be having more questions to ask but I just couldn't help it.

"I heard that Duchess Amelia arrived here last time without prior announcement," Benedict started. I looked at him and I knew that my expression turned sour upon a mere mention of the duchess' name.

"Maybe they want to be secretive to avoid the populace going havoc. Knowing how our kingdom's people love our duchess so much," I said with a slight bitterness in my voice.

I remembered her hostile remarks and stared like she was just seeing me as a lowly werewolf. I admitted that I don't have royal blood but something like that, I felt so small already, belittling.

"She's kind indeed," Colette finally spoke.

As much as I want to beg to disagree but I chose to be silent and made Colette think that I am not interested to know it. True that. I am not interested in knowing that I witnessed the true nature of the duchess. I just couldn't fathom myself be assigned to her. I'd rather just be with Claude than to be with her.

My heart stopped for a moment from a sudden comparison of whose fun to be with. I shook the thought away and cast away from thinking of Claude again.

After what he had done to me the other night... He was a complete jerk to my eyes!

As I parted my ways with them, I was starting to jump from tree to tree and hid through the shadows. My post was supposed to be near the lake but I was reassigned to another hideous place after Claude made a report for disobeying his orders. I was already known to act on my way especially if this is the case but for some reason, Sir Abraham just managed to be hypnotized by Claude. Or is it just me?

"That stupid man..." I said through clenching my teeth when I remember he still had the score with me after stealing what was mine.

The next morning, I was relocated to the nearest cargo station on the port for the arrival of one of the kinships of the royal family, Earl Ephraim of Irelish Household has come forth from the invitation of the Grand Alpha King. I was assigned to meet His Grace for a warm welcome along with my platoons.

Earl Ephraim of the Irelish Household is the son of Duke Jacobo III, an alpha of Swahena town from the other side of the horizon of the ocean. He looked calm and mysterious with the way he walked so graciously but there was an aura of threatening and cold state. It won't change the fact that he is a good-looking man and his height would be the same as Claude who was a six-footer.

I bowed my head after my soldiers had given him a saber arch. He stopped right in front of me after he scrutinized me up and down.

"Greetings, My Lord. My name is Rachelle Simon, the eleventh commander of Waevalon's military. I am here to escort you to the palace," I said with my utmost politeness.

He nodded and cracked out a small smile. "I see. You are the infamous first female who managed to enter the military. It is nice meeting you finally, Commander Simon."

I felt my cheeks heat from his remark. I couldn't believe that a noble like him would be able to recognize me. Tackling out a nod, I spouted a few words before motioning my hands to guide him in the royal coach.

"My Lord, the royal coach is ready for your departure to the palace."

He nodded. The valet opened the door for him then I emerged inside of the coach. It was not my forte to keep entertaining a guest but I was left with no choice because I was assigned to this job.

The whole ride was quiet. I was waiting for the earl to ask me some nonchalant questions but it seemed he had no interest to pick a question for me to answer. When the coach halted in front of the palace, Earl Ephraim, out of the blue, asked, "Has the Alpha King arrived here already?"

I was hesitant to answer him. "Pardon me, My Lord, but until now, the fleet admirals haven't announced if our Alpha King already arrived without our knowledge." I was careful with my words because my words are going to be used against the Grand Alpha King and to the higher-ups in the military.

"I see."

The valet opened the door and I was the first one to come out. The moment I stepped my foot out, a hand offered to me and a familiar scent reached to my nostrils while I was looking down, staring unto the risers.

"Commander Rachelle."

I widened my eyes and silently gasped upon hearing that chilling voice that shot right through my spine. I raised my head and inhaled inwardly upon seeing Claude dressed in a combat suit. I mindlessly handed my hand to him then he guided me down as he was looking straight into my eyes. My heart was thumping so wild while my wolf was wanting to rummage.

When my eyes landed on his lips, I gulped when I remembered what happened on that particular night where Claude had kissed me!

I instantly looked away and simply removed my hand from his. I turned to Earl Ephraim who just went down from the risers and faced us with a stoic expression. But when his eyes dropped to Claude, a surprise reaction emerged out from him.

"My Lord, he is Claude Hackworth, one of the Knights of the Grand Alpha King and the supervisor of our special forces." I felt like I had the responsibility to introduce him to Claude so I had to do it.

"Claude Hackworth?" An amusing smile slid on his lips whilst looking at Claude who was glaring at him.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lord," Claude said with a bow as his voice was tainted with nonchalance.

"Likewise, Sir Claude." He huffed like he wanted to release a chuckle but he cleared his throat. "I should have brought along my father on my trip. I never knew coming here to the palace will become an interesting one," he said meaningfully, looking at Claude before his eyes flew to gaze at me. "Commander, shall you bring me to the former Luna Queen? I would like to pay my respect to her before I will see the Grand Alpha King."

I was dumbfounded but snapped out of it. I nodded immediately. "O-Of course, My Lord."

I dropped Claude a gaze and saw him glaring at Earl Ephraim. I ignored him and followed the earl. I sneaked a glance at him and was trying to scrutinize what he meant.

What makes everything interesting?