Chapter 8 Countess Minaya

Chapter 7: Countess Minaya

"Are you sure that is the only thing he said?" Alpha Grant asked with his eyes narrowing on me.

I nodded. I just told him what the duke ordered me to say a while ago. He was right. Alpha Grant interrogated me. "Y-Yes, Alpha. That is what he said when I strolled him around."

He loosened his grip on me. But he still had a suspicious look on me. "You better tell the truth, or I shall have your head right now, Omega?"

That made me flinch, and my wolf instantly reacted to his words. His Alpha tone has both made us shivered in fear.

Hesitant, I nodded my head. "I am telling the truth, Alpha."

His forehead was still creasing. "If ever I know that you are lying to me, you, Omega, shall be executed in front of the plaza."

I gasped softly, shivered again from his threat. I lowered my head when he walked away. I bit my lower lip as I felt my hands shaking vigorously.

'We must distance ourselves from that duke, Anais. We can't be killed from the hands of our Alpha...'

"You're right," I muttered under my breath.

It is a must to distance myself away from him, so I wouldn't get having some sort of misunderstanding. I was hoping this would be the last time I would have to deal with him.

The next few weeks went by blur. Our Alpha's young adulthood ceremony is coming after a week.

All of us were busy planting the seedlings of the sugarcane at the empty, cultivated lands. Good thing it rained last night, for we wouldn't have to worry about how to carry out the water supply. The landfills were full of muddy lands, so this is favorable to the farmers to plant some crops, aside from sugarcane.

Also, everything went back to normal. Our Alpha was not as ill-tempered as he was before. The situation on his manor has calmed down when the Duke of Ascian is no longer visiting our plantation.

The situation on how strict he was is still the same, but something changed in him.

"Huh. So, he even sent us an invitation," I said in a dejected tone while flipping the invitation made from a fragrant parchment. The symbol of the House of Thompson was marked on the opening of the invitation. I looked at Milla, who was with Ailwin. They were resting here in the cottage on the West Wing to be with me. "Are you going to come to his young adulthood ceremony?" I asked, looking at them.

Milla sighed and leaned her head to Ailwin’s shoulder. "It feels like this is mandatory already knowing that he sent us an invitation."

"It is like he is slapping it to our face that we must come or we will be receiving a severe punishment," Ailwin said.

"It seems like that," I said, sighing in defeat. I twitched my lips, looking at the invitation. I was hoping not to go to his celebration because he doesn't treat us right. Also, there was no reason for us to come because even though this is meant mandatory, Alpha Grant only wants the nobles to witness his young adulthood ceremony.

"Must we wear nice clothes for his celebration?" I asked after a moment.

"Of course. Anais, please." Milla rolled her eyes which earned me a chuckle.

"Silly, me." I rolled my eyes as well. How absurd I was for asking such an obvious question. I decided to stand up. "Well, then, I shall return to work. I must leave now. I shall see you two at our Alpha's young adulthood ceremony."

"See you, Anais!" Milla said.

I smiled and waved my hand at them as I brought the waterskins that I shall need to carry. I was thinking about our Alpha's celebration. His celebration also meant that he might be able to find his mate as well.

I was wondering if he ever gets to find his mate, would his cruel ways be tamed? Would our future Luna be from our pack or from one of the female nobles that will come to his celebration? Or would he be able to find his mate somewhere else, just like our Beta Solomon’s case?

Speaking of our Beta Solomon and his mate, they already got married last week. Our good-looking Beta was so excited to marry her, so he sped up the wedding process. And now, they were strolling around the plantation being so lovey-dovey.

I suddenly remembered Polly because of them. But I shook my thoughts away and greeted our Beta and his mate named Minaya, a once traded slave.

"How's the West Wing?" Beta Solomon asked.

"We harvested plenty of sugarcane, and we have planted new seedlings for the next season, Beta," I said politely and smiled.

Our Beta nodded and smiled. "That's good to hear. Right, dear?" He turned his head to Minaya, who was creasing her forehead for a moment before turning at Beta Solomon.

She smiled. "Yes. Absolutely." She leaned on his arm then looked up at him. "Will you please pick me some flowers, Sol? I would love to have them at home," she said sweetly.

Solomon nodded with a bright smile. "Of course." He caressed her cheek. "I shall pick you some. Stay here."

I gulped and was left with her alone. I was about to bid goodbye to Minaya when she stepped forward and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Isn't that Polly woman on your wing?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

I creased my forehead, perplexed by her question. Why did she suddenly bring Polly up to me? Also, she suddenly changed her tone from a sweet manner to a hostile one.

"Y-Yes, she is," I answered.

She scoffed. "Is it true that before Solomon met me, she was the one who had been living with him? That wench?" she asked through gritted teeth, asking for a confirmation.

What is wrong with her, and she looked so annoyed? "As what I had learned, yes, Beta Solomon took her into his manor before."

"The nerve of that woman..." I looked back at her, surprised by her words.

I thought that she was a delicate angel that came down from heaven. It was what they described to Minaya according to gossip. But what am I witnessing right now, and all they represent to her is not as to what I was seeing?

Minaya turned her head to check if Solomon was coming back. Then she glared at me. "Don't tell Solomon that I even asked you about her. If words come out, I will do everything to make your life miserable."

Wide-eyed, I almost took a step back. I wasn't even doing anything! Was she threatening me?

"What—"

"Here are your flowers, Minaya."

My words were cut off as soon as we heard the voice of Beta Solomon. He was coming towards us as he was holding a few flowers he picked somewhere.

"Thank you, love," Minaya said with a smile when she held the flowers.

"You're wel—Why you seem upset?"

I was about to catch his attention when Minaya pouted and looked at me. I shivered when I saw her in tears.

She sniffed. "This woman... She said that the Polly woman is more suitable than me being your mate."

That made my eyes widened from what she said. What the hell? I never said that!

"B-Beta, I never said that!"

Beta glared at me. "You have the audacity to say that to my mate, you lowly fool!" he snarled. What he did next made me gasp in surprise.

My face turned to the side. I immediately held my cheek, feeling a little dizzy from that slap Beta Solomon did all of a sudden. Demoralized, I turned at him with my eyes widened in shock.

"Apologize to my mate, or I shall punish you with my whip tainted with wolfsbane!" He barked.

"I—" I want to explain my side, but Beta Solomon had already closed his ears even to pay me any attention. I accusingly turned my attention to his mate, who already had a triumphant smile. Her meaningful look sent me a message that it is one of the things she can do to make my life miserable. I secretly clenched my hand as I bowed my head. "I-I apologize, C-Countess Minaya. I-It was wrong of me t-to even say such an a-absurd thing."

And I never had said those things! You twisted your words! I wanted to say that, but I remained silent.

"Let's go, Minaya. That lowly creature must not be paid heed."

Until they left, my hands were already clenching in anger.

"That scum..." I growled silently as I watched them leaving out of my sight.

I have no idea that our Beta's mate would have a nasty attitude... I thought that she would be as kind as possible since she knew what it feels like to be a slave...

It looks like the people in our pack are wrong. Countess Minaya is a two-faced bitch.

Ashamed, I didn't stay long there as well. I had never been so humiliated like this—twisting my words to become a weapon.

This was the reason why I kept everything to myself. Duke Sylvester was right. How he described my personality was right, after all.

I harshly wiped my eyes, feeling downcast. I couldn't accept that I had slipped. I have been careful with my words, but that Minaya woman was a devil.

I returned to the Norlow River, sniffing from crying. Good thing there were no water carriers aside from me. I knelt as I stared at my reflection. Then I washed my face.

"You seemed not fine, Anais."

That made me gasp upon hearing the duke's voice. I immediately turned around to see him in his dashing medieval suit.

"Y-Your G-Grace." I stood up and bowed my head. "G-Greetings," I said, sniffing silently.

"You may raise your head."

I did as he said. He stopped right in front of me with a neutral expression.

Wait… What is he doing right here? Has he come to the plantation for some problems again? And why didn't I notice his smell? Am I that succumbed to my thoughts that I didn't even notice the Duke of Ascian’s presence?

He scrutinized me up and down, which made me feel uncomfortable. "The cruelty of this plantation is palpable, I see."

My heart jumped from his conclusion. He couldn't be... serious about it? He just concluded because—

I shook my head. "You are m-mistaken, Your Grace. This is not about that. This matter is personal," I said defensively. I tried to make my tone as firm as possible. I want to prove to him that he could be wrong this time.

"Heh?" An amusement smile plastered on his lips, tilting his head. I stepped backward when he stepped forward so he could look thoroughly at my face. He scrutinized my face first before he finally gave in, stepping backward. "I see then." He shrugged.

I felt relieved. Good thing he knew how to set boundaries when it comes to personal matters.

I cleared my throat. "H-How come you are here today, Your Grace? Is something the matter on our plantation again?"

"Problem, you mean?" he asked, blinking. I nodded my head. "No, no." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I am here under the orders of Luna Queen Lydia."

Luna Queen Lydia? What could have been the matter? "What for?" Ah, yes, curiosity got the better of me.

"Well," he paused. "This is to spark annoyance against me from that maggot, of course."

Wide-eyed, my jaw dropped from his words. The Luna Queen ordered that? Is he serious? I couldn't believe this...

Duke Sylvester suddenly laughed. "I am just joking."

"Ha?" I asked, confused. Then I hissed when I realized what he meant. "Hilarious, Duke Sylvester." I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

"You should have seen your face." He laughed again. I waited for him to finish his laugh. When he realized I wasn't joining him, his laughter slowly died down. He frowned after a moment. "You are no fun at all, Anais. Tsk, tsk."

I forced a smile. "If you are the one who will crack a joke, I do not find it funny at all, Your Grace."

"That's harsh." He sniffed, clutching his left chest. He chuckled when I didn't react to what he said. "Anyway, I came here to help with the decoration for the young Marquess of Raesien’s venue. This is for his young adulthood ceremony after this week. Wait for a second, Anais."

He looked sideways, creasing his forehead. I watched as his expression changed. I think someone from his pack was mind-linking him right now. I watched him nodding his head as if that person he was talking to was right in front of him.

"Sorry about that," he said, smiling politely. "I need to go. I shall see you at your Alpha's manor for his ceremony." He stepped backward.

I nodded my head. "I shall see you as well, Your Grace." I plastered a small smile.

He turned his back when he spoke again. "Oh, and one more thing, stay away from Countess Minaya. She is a cunning bitch." He halted, turning his head so he could glance at me. "That is why you were hurt by your Beta, right?"

"How did you..." I paused. Did he see that? Did he really witness that? That was why he was also here at the Norlow River?

He winked before he marched away, leaving me with a shocked expression on my face.