Serena bid the pair farewell, she watched them until they disappeared into the setting sun. She raised her skirts and strolled into the castle. Her cheeks hurt from so much smiling, Jack and Anna were such a funny duo.
Even now she giggled at Anna’s retelling of when Jack fell into a hole on one of the expeditions. Jack hung his head the whole time while Anna animatedly recounted the event. He had weakly protested for her to knock it off, but Anna carried on as though she had not heard him.
"Miss," someone called out.
Serena turned to see that one boy, the only staff she had asked their name. It was Anthony, bright-eyed as ever. She looked over the young man, with his characteristic freckled face.
"Anthony, hello," Serena greeted.
Anthony bowed and then fished out a letter from his pocket. "This is for you."
Serena took the letter from his hand and raised a brow. "For me?"
Anthony nodded vigorously, the castle had always received letters every now and then and there were people who sorted them out and sent them to their owners. Anthony had made sure to keep Serena’s only letter to the side, he was going to deliver it to her personally.
"Yes, it was addressed to you," Anthony said.
"I see, thank you," Serena said. "Would that be all?"
A look of confusion flashed across Anthony’s features and then he shook his head. Serena watched as he turned his back to her and was heading in the opposite direction. She bit her lip, her mind had gone back to the Moonseeker’s words about the curse.
She wanted to see for herself, maybe her curiosity would get the best of her these days, but she hoped it would not be today. Serena nearly squeezed the letter in her hand and almost drew blood from her lips. It would be now or never.
"Anthony," she called out to him.
The man stopped in his tracks and turned to her with an expectant gaze. "Yes, your Excellency?"
He half-jogged up to her and closed the distance he had made. Serena exhaled slowly and then she asked her question. "How did you come to work for the castle?"
Anthony narrowed his eyes and Serena could see there was some hesitation in his body language. Of course, there would be. If she were to put herself in his shoes, then it would make sense. Here she was, a foreign ambassador querying a ’lowly’ stable hand, it looked like she was digging for information.
She needed to be smart about this, this opportunity may never present itself to her again. "I have seen you around, I am not quite sure if you are a guard, a butler, or just someone who hangs around," she said.
Anthony rocked on his feet and then looked at the ground briefly. "My father was before me and I was raised here in the castle for a bit of my life. He is older now and I felt as though I needed to take his place and make him more comfortable."
"And your mother?" she asked.
"She is a baker in Longdale, she loves what she does."
Serena hummed in acknowledgment. "Do you go home often?"
The young man scratched his head. "Not as much as I would like. I did bite off more than I can chew here at the castle." Follow current novels on novel⁂fire.net
Serena let out a laugh, it was not genuine but she hoped it would help Anthony to relax. "Maybe we can get you some time off."
Anthony shook his head. "You are too kind, your Excellency. That time off would come later."
The man looked around and leaned closer. "I do not want to take time off when I heard that there would be an important person coming to Ironshade from another pack."
Serena scrunched up her brows and then nodded stiffly and allowed him to continue talking. It seemed like they really gossiped over here in Ironshade. It had not even been so long since the Council meeting was held and already the castle hands had an inkling of what was to come.
"I cannot leave now, not when you are here. I have never spoken to an Eastern wolf before. Thank you for gracing me with your presence," Anthony said with another bow.
Serena took a step back unconsciously and held up her hands and shook them. It was such a frightening thing to see the way other people treated her, she was a regular wolf just like them.
She let out an awkward laugh. "No please, no need for all those unnecessary formalities, I do... enjoy talking to you."
Serena could see the way his eyes lit up and he smiled widely at her. "Oh thank you, thank you."
"So tell me Anthony, do you work for the Alpha directly?"
"No... I do not want to."
Serena nearly walked closer to him but she held herself back, it would look strange to let her excitement control her like that. "Why?"
"Because... because..."
Anthony looked up into her eyes and his once light brown eyes seemed to take on a grey cast. Serena squinted, maybe it was the play of the light since the sun was setting but half of her felt like it was not the case.
"He will not talk, do not be foolish," Feyra said, slithering into view. "You ask such mindless questions, do not forget you are like a stranger to these people."
Serena blinked and placed an arm on his shoulder and sighed. Feyra was right, this must have been so distressing for Anthony. She felt a pang of guilt in her heart.
"I am sorry, I was just curious as to why a brilliant person like you would be around your Alpha."
The young man looked down and kicked a rock, when he looked back at her, the grey cast in his eyes had disappeared. "Please do not apologise to someone like me. I simply do not trust him."