Chapter 4 The Gossip

Chapter 3: The Gossip

"Alpha is displeased again," I said to the girls when we were in the Norlow River.

"Indeed," Pera agreed. She even took a sigh. "He is way more frightening these past few days."

"I heard he vexed his anger to the East Wing again... Is that right?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, he is." Hira, Pera's twin sister, nodded. "Good thing, he hasn't come here to the West Wing. Nevertheless, we have a good harvest for this time, so our Alpha favors us for now."

Reiley sighed in exasperation. "This is all because of the Duke of Ascian. That is why Lord Grant's hot-headed attitude has worsened." She shook her head. "Why did that duke even visit here? Of course, he only visits twice a year, but right now, it seemed he had been annoying Lord Grant these past few days..." She frowned.

I looked at her like she was blaming the duke, who was why our Alpha had been displeased and irritated. I agreed with her. Ever since Duke Sylvester arrived here, his behavior towards us had worsened.

In the East Wing, I heard there is a loss of income on that part because they only harvest a few this year. Unlike the North and West Wing are having an abundant harvest this year, so Alpha Grant wouldn't dare to lay his hands on us. I suddenly remembered Mrs. Rolfe at the South Wing.

I wonder how they are right now. I already stopped visiting their house when the pack guards were tightening the security.

"What is Duke Sylvester's business to our Alpha anyway?" I couldn't help but ask. "If what Reiley said that the duke only visits twice a year, then how come he kept on paying him a visit for seven consecutive days already?"

"Who knows. Maybe, His Grace has spotted something wrong in the account records of the plantation."

We all looked at Polly, who was busy filling up her waterskins. But, wait, since when did she arrive here? And how come she is here?

"Aren't you in Beta Solomon's manor, Polly?" I asked, shocked.

Polly arched her eyebrow. "Well, our Beta no longer needs my 'service' anymore." She shrugged and looked away.

We all fell silent. Beta Solomon favored Polly. She was always asked to come to his manor every day until our Beta decided to live with her. If what she said is true, it could mean that Beta Solomon has already found his mate.

Polly, who has never found her mate yet, must feel heartbroken. If I were discarded like that, I would feel the same.

Then I remembered what she said about the account records. "Polly," I called her. She glanced at me. "Did you say account records? That is the reason why Duke Sylvester is here?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah. That's what you said," Pera butt in. "What about it?"

"Yeah, yeah. What about it? I also want to hear it." It was Hira.

"Me, too. Tell us!" Reiley said.

Polly rolled her eyes. "That was what I only heard from Beta Solomon. But he never disclosed the matter to me when I asked him three days ago." She shrugged her shoulders. "I suggest you should keep your mouth shut if you are going to gossip about this. Lord Grant is already enraged, so you dare not to displease our Alpha or else..." She slid her thumb to her neck vertically like she was telling us that we would be beheaded.

We all nodded quietly. I wouldn't even dare to tell this to Milla. But, maybe when everything has calmed down, that's the time I would tell her.

For the rest of the day, not taking a lunch break, we spent our whole day under the sun. Good thing that we wouldn't have our skin tanned because of our cotehardie clothing and bandana or liripipe to cover our head. It was helpful but hellish since we were bathed in beads of sweat.

I silently took a stride on the Beta's manor because the Beta himself will distribute our remuneration according to his set schedule. The Beta's estate has to take a few walks going to the East Wing direction.

I lowered my head as I heard loud lashes of whip and groaning pains in the East Wing farm.

"Move! Do make haste, or our Alpha shall punish you all!"

I flinched when the pack guard hit an older man with his whip. That made me gasp at how horrible the East Wing is right now. The way they treated people here was different from North Wing and West Wing.

I made haste while lowering my head. I don't want to witness how they lashed these poor people.

"Damn it..." I murmured.

When I arrived there, they were already distributing our payroll. I even had to line up with the others while patiently waiting for my turn.

"Have you heard? Beta Solomon already found his mate."

"Yes. I heard she is a new arrival slave from Yakov Town. That is where Beta paid a visit days ago."

"I even heard that our Beta bought her so she can be released from the slave shop. They are planning to get married soon."

"She's so fortunate to have Beta. She will no longer live as a slave. Tsk."

"Oh, yeah. I remembered Beta got rid of the woman he was living with. What is her name again? Pol something?"

"Polly."

"Yeah, it's her! Poor thing."

I secretly clenched my hand from these ladies who were lining up before me. They had been gossiping about Polly. I wanted to butt in, but I didn't want to cause a commotion. Although, I admit that what the Beta did make me want to sympathize with her.

It was not reassuring that the relationship would be temporary if you are not each other's mates. That is the truth.

Unless someone dares to reject his mate so he or she could be with that person.

"Yo!"

I turned my head, seeing Achard, Ailwin's older brother. I arched my eyebrow with a playful smile. Beside him was Ailwin.

I snickered. "How's Southeast Wing, Achard?"

Achard grinned. "We got more sugarcane juice this year. Thanks to the splendid harvest of all the wings." He tapped the shoulder of Ailwin.

In the Southeast Wing, we have a sugar mill there. All the harvested sugarcane would be processed there to turn it into sugar. Once the finished products are finished, that is when they will export to our neighboring kingdoms.

"Glad to know that." I cackled. Then I turned at Ailwin. "Congratulations for having a mate, Ailwin," I said with a gentle smile.

Ailwin looked at me shyly. "T-Thank you."

"Always the shy type!" Achard harshly tapped his back which almost threw his brother back.

"Achard..." Ailwin uttered in annoyance.

"You're no fun." Achard grinned. He turned at me. "Anyway, you're here for your payroll?"

"What do you think is the reason I am here in our Beta's manor?" I asked, arching my eyebrow. I sounded like he was already stating the obvious, so he doesn't need to ask me that.

Achard hissed mischievously. "What a hostile attitude." He shook his head.

I rolled my eyes and ignored them. I looked up, seeing the sky in unusual darkness. It looks like it is about to rain later... I just hope it won't destroy the newly planted sugarcane in the East Wing.

As soon as I got my payroll sealed in a small brown wrapper and bid goodbye to Achard and Ailwin, I went straight to my home. It was already dark when I arrived home, and the raindrops were already landing on the ground.

I immediately lit the lamp and the furnace as I prepared my dinner silently. I have prepared a meat stew as my supper, sighing that I realized I have no one here in my tiny house built by my adoptive parents, Ropolyo and Esmeralda Raul.

My adoptive parents knew my birth father, Erano Marlee, a farmer, but he resided in the North Wing. He died from a chronic illness he had been enduring for a long time. When I asked my adoptive parents if they knew about my mother, they never met her. All they knew was that my birth father went home bringing a newborn baby, who was me. He didn't adopt me. Erano Marlee is my birth father since my birth mother gave birth and bestowed me to him.

"If my mother is still alive, can I still find her?" I asked myself.

I flinched as the rain poured heavily. Then, sighing, I finished my meat stew while watching the flame of the lamp go steady. I shivered as a cold breeze brushed my skin.

I went to my bed and decided to read a scholarly book. This has been my pastime to kill time while waiting to get droopy. So I spent an hour reading while silently listening to the rain of cats and dogs.

Just as I was about to sleep, I got up to my bed when I smelled a familiar musky scent before I flinched when someone knocked on my door.

"Please let me get a shelter." I heard a baritone voice of a man.

I quickly got out of bed to see who that person was. It was already raining heavily, yet why did that person go out?

"Wait," I said, hurrying up after I took a cloth for drying. I immediately opened the door. I gasped, wide-eyed, when I came to meet that familiar person I saw days ago. His familiar build and figure... and the indifferent, deep-set color eyes were already enough for me to know who he was. "Duke Sylvester?" I eyed him up and down in surprise.

What was he doing here? Soaking wet?

"You know me?" Then he furrowed his eyebrows. His face was glistening because he was soaked in wet. He looked at me through his stony expression, trying to figure out who I was. His face brightened after a moment. "Oh, the woman from the Norlow River! What a coincidence!"