As I stood there watching the palace's high gate, I took a deep breath. I haven't been to the front of the palace in a long time, but it never ceases to amaze me. If I ever get a job here as a housekeeper, I'll be able to find Shena faster and, well, see Alpha Greyson more often.
It's only been a few months since Alpha Greyson took over as Alpha king of the North Snow kingdom after his parents were killed in the war between Rema and North Snow. Despite the extent of the war's devastation, Alpha Greyson quickly devised a plan to rebuild the kingdom. Many people are impressed by his leadership abilities and intelligence.
"Excuse me?" the five guards stationed at the gate turned to me. I was worried because the two giant wolves with them were also staring at me. Even if I transformed into a wolf, I'm sure I couldn't match the size of these two wolves.
"Identify yourself," one of them said. I nodded and quickly took out the paper on which I would introduce myself and the invitation from Clea, the palace's head housekeeper.
"Are you Amara Brooks?" inquired the other. I nodded quickly.
"Take off your hood," one coldly ordered. I swallowed hard and followed through. I lowered my hood slowly and looked at the guards. "My name is Amara Brooks, and Mrs. Clea, the head of housekeeping, has invited me here to hire me as one of her housekeepers," I introduced myself. I saw how their eyes lingered on me a bit as if they found something interesting on my face.
The guards nodded and opened the small gate door. "Welcome to the North Snow Palace, Ms. Amara," they said, their aura changing abruptly. I gave them a brief smile before entering the small door. I took a deep breath and was even more taken aback by the massive palace in front of me.
The entire space is very large and spacious. I felt like an ant in the middle of a big city. "Is that you, Ms. Amara Brooks?" I was just surprised when a girl approached me, who was almost my age. I took a look at her clothes. She's dressed in the housekeeper's uniform. "Yes," I replied.
"I'm Gina, and Mrs. Clea is now waiting for you," she said with a smile. I followed her as she walked towards the palace's left side. We meet a lot of people, and they are all well-dressed. It's almost as if soiling their clothes is a crime.
There were also some in wolf form, possibly palace guards. I looked around, but I didn’t see the old man who had taken Shena. I saw many Omegas uniformed people, but I never saw the old man. "This way," she said, pointing to the door Gina had indicated. She opened it and showed me a medium-sized room with a woman facing a window. She's dressed in a different color housekeeper's uniform. Perhaps this is Mrs. Clea.
I noticed her gaze lingering on my eyes as she turned to face me. I bowed in respect before she could speak. "It's nice to see you, Mrs. Clea," I said politely.
"So... you're Amara Brooks," she said, her voice cold and intimidating. "Vikki was a very close friend of mine, Amara. We only parted ways when we chose different paths. She became a wife, and I became his majesty's people," she said as she stepped closer to me.
"And I was surprised for a long time when she called me again and said she wanted to admit a woman who had long helped her into the palace. And I thank you for that. Vikki was afraid of dying alone, so I'm glad you were there with her when she passed away.” I could hear the sadness in her voice when she mentioned Mrs. Vikki's death, and it gave me a stinging pain in my chest.
I also want to be grateful that I was present when Mrs. Vikki died, but I can't because I still want her to be with me until Shena returns, which is now impossible.
"Amara Brooks..." she said as if she was memorizing it for future use. "Why?" she inquired, causing my brows to furrow.
"Why would you want to be a housekeeper when I know you can be someone's wife, especially with that face of yours?" she inquired.
"I don't want to marry someone who isn't my mate, ma'am," I replied quickly.
"But you can wait until you're eighteen," she inquired again. I'm unable to explain why I'm here today.
"You do realize that once you become a housekeeper for your majesty's people, you won't be able to leave the palace, right?" I kept quiet about what she said because she was correct, and I was well aware of it.
This is one of the reasons Mrs. Vikki hardly let me into the palace because she knows that if I work as a housekeeper, I won't be able to leave the palace. When you commit to serving the palace and the Alpha King, you cannot back out because it is your obligation to do so until your death.
But I'm certain of it. I'll do whatever it takes to find Shena. I am willing to be imprisoned in this palace for the sake of my friend and loved ones.
I looked at Mrs. Clea, who was waiting for my response, with determination and bravery in my eyes.
"With my utmost sincerity and love for this kingdom...I am prepared to serve the entire kingdom...it will be an honor to be his majesty's...loyal subject."
Mrs. Clea gently nodded at me. "Get ready. You'll start your job tomorrow. Your uniform will be prepared by Gina," she said before dismissing me. As Gina and I walked out of Mrs. Clea's room, I couldn't help but feel nervous because I knew my new destiny would begin right then.