A Duel

The shock and the familiarity that the voice sent coursing through me made me turn around swiftly in horror.

When my eyes caught who was standing at the kitchen door, I couldn't help the sharp exhale of breathe that left my lips. 

"Goodness, you scared me." 

I groused, relieved that it wasn't Gennora or a maid who hates my guts or just anyone who would do anything to earn points from Gennora at my own detriment. 

Ulric merely shrugged my relieved words off as he walked fully into the kitchen, dressed properly in his khakis–a uniform I'd pick ten times over this eyesore I was wearing if only maids were allowed to wear the uniforms meant for the Omega guards. 

Ulric was the Head of the Omega guards who served as a protective force for the Alpha king and his family–outside and inside of these walls. 

In contrast to his big and domineering frame, his personality has to be the best after Balfour's. He's scary to all of the other maids but to me, he's just that softball who is all mushy inside and has a kind heart. 

He was halfway towards me when he stopped as if he just realized something. He suddenly turned back, looked up and down the corridors of the Kitchen before locking the door and throwing the key in pockets. 

"Okay, Balfour, we have five minutes!"

That had me looking confused. 

"Five minutes for–" 

"A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU......"

Both men broke into songs before I could stop them. 

They shoved me into a seat in the middle of the room and danced around me in circles. Their moves were terrible but it made me laugh so hard my eyes watered.

"YOUR CHEEKS HAVE GOTTEN ROSY..." 

I giggled when they pinched my cheeks to emphasize the lyrics of their song. 

They sang so terribly yet my heart warmed at how these two men defy all of the rules to wish me on my birthday. 

Ulric and Balfour are the only ones who have ever cared about my birthday. Every year like this, they sneak me into whatever place they can so they can do this for me. 

It's like a ritual and it's the only thing that's worthwhile for me on this day. 

I don't know what I've done to deserve the love both men share for me but I basked in it without the knowledge of Gennora. 

"GROW PRETTIER AND HEALTHIER AS YOU TURN EIGHTEEN TODAY...A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!"

They ended the song with cheers of excitement. Balfour shocked me when he brought a small cake out of nowhere with candles on it for me to blow.

"The head maid will have your head if she finds out what you've been doing with the palace' flour." 

I piped to Balfour but still blew on the candles anyway. 

"Did you make a wish?". Ulric asked with excitement in his blue eyes. I nodded the positive and both men beamed happy smiles at me. 

"Common, have a slice first."

Balfour cut a piece of the cake and shoved it into my mouth gently. The tasty goodness I felt made me gleam my eyes at him. 

"This is good! I've never tasted this flavor, what's it?"

Balfour's face beamed with pride. 

"It's a new recipe." 

"You'll teach me? Right? Right? Right?". I gave him my best shot at attempting a puppy eyes. 

"It's my birthday, I should get whatever I want." 

There's no birthday present that beats learning new recipes from Balfour. He's the best there is and has made cooking more than just a hobby for me. 

It was just a wishful thinking for me to want to have my own restaurant someday but hey, a girl can dream right?

"Fine, we'll do that after the ceremonies. I promise."

I nodded in excitement. I couldn't wait to try out new things with Balfour. 

Ulric began to unfold something from his pockets and I waited in anticipation for what's probably my birthday present. 

Whatever it is, it was wrapped in a clean clothe. 

When it finally came out of its enclosement, I gasped out loud. It was a beautiful gold bracelet with pearls adorning every part of it in a circular form. 

"Oh my God..." 

I could hardly breathe from the shock and excitement. Ulric only smiled lovingly at me before taking my little dainty hands in his own big, calloused ones. He fixed the bracelet around my wrist and rubbed my hands gently.

"Is this...is this really for me?" 

It was too beautiful for me. To beautiful to adorn the wrists of someone like me. Yet, Ulric gave it to me. 

"I've always wanted to give it to my... to you. I was just waiting for the right time. And no other time feels more right than this." 

I was moved to tears and so couldn't stop myself from throwing myself out of the seat and into Ulric's arms.

He didn't mind the weight thrown upon him, instead he hugged me tighter.

Ulric was such a sweetheart. Kind-hearted and loving. He's been like that for longer than I can even remember. 

He was a pure man who is the clear opposite of his wife. 

Sometimes, I wonder how a patient and kind man like Ulric ended up with the grumpy and hateful Gennora, our head maid. 

"Thank you." 

I whispered. Unable to stop my tears from falling. Having these two men in my life that I had no blood relation with, is more than enough for me. 

And they're the only reason I look forward to any of my birthday.

I finally released him and he looked down at his wristwatch. 

"I have to leave before Gennora comes to find me here." The irritation in his voice was clear.

We both know what it means for us if Gennora finds him here–with me. I've seen her scold him a multiple of times for being nice to a common maid like me. 

"And I also have to arrange the entourage going to the Imperial pack today." 

He placed a chaste kiss on my forehead before turning around to leave. 

I turned back to Balfour who had already gone back to work too. I helped him mix more dough and then cut them into the right sizes for the cookies before putting them in the burning hot oven. 

Balfour made me taste a few ones he'd already made and they were perfect. 

"Now we just have to wait for the last batch of cookies. I'm stressed!" 

He said as we stood side by side, watching the oven and listening to the ticking sound of the timer we set. 

"I really don't understand why we have to take this over there like it's some fun occasion. Who eats while watching two people wrestle for a position?"

Balfour grunted his disapproval for the Alpha Duel. 

Even I didn't understand what the duel was really about other than the fact that it's about fighting for the Alpha position. 

All I know is that the Imperial pack is the strongest and biggest pack in the woodlands. 

Their military strength is second to known as well as the power their leader beholds. The name alone sends shivers down the spine of rogues and prowlers so they no better than to pounce around the pack. 

The woodlands is made up of four different packs with each pack having their own Alpha who rules over their affairs. However, each of these packs pay homages and tributes to the imperial pack. 

Our pack, the Moonstone pack, isn't left out of this homage paying. 

The pack leaders get invited to every occasion, ceremony or festival which is why no one is shocked or surprised at the news of our attending’s an Alpha's duel. 

Balfour's mention of it only made me curious.

"What's the duel all about?" 

"It's a fight between two sons of the Alpha, born on the same day and of the same age. A fight to claim the throne as the Alpha of the pack." 

My brows only furrowed in confusion. 

"Born on the same day? Twins are being made to fight each other?!" 

It sounded horrific to me. That was the only way I could interpret Balfour's words but be was quick to shake his head. 

"They're not twins. You see, not everyone knows the true story surrounding the two sons of the Alpha of the imperial pack. But everyone knows that one of them is not a legitimate child." 

Balfour explained. 

"Wait...you mean, a child from an unmarked affair?" 

Balfour nodded in response. 

Wow. 

I thought of the son and I could only imagine what he was going through or what he must have gone through, all his life as an unmarked child. 

I don't think anything can be worse than being an unmarked child. An illegitimate child born to two people who aren't mates. 

It was like a curse. Without even being placed on you, it follows you everywhere you go. 

"He probably has no chance against the true son of the Alpha but no matter what kind of child you are, a fair fight is what the packs believe and want." 

Balfour's mood showed that he wasn't in support of it. 

I didn't like the idea in my head too and knowing I'll probably watch the duel first-hand made me cringe but there's nothing a measly maid and a lowly chef can do to change anything in this pack. 

Even in this world, we don't make a difference. 

Our sad reality made us both sink into deep thoughts. The air between us turned sour and moody. 

The ding of the timer jerked us from our stray thoughts. Letting us know that the cookies were done. 

We brought them out and wrapped them in little polythene bags after the heat dissipated from them. We then wrapped every of them in clothes to keep them warm and frisky. 

"And it's a wrap." 

Balfour announced.

"Thanks for helping out again." 

I didn't get to voice my reply when someone's footsteps approached us. 

I knew who it was before I turned and I bowed immediately. 

"Balfour, are the cookies done?" 

Gennora's cold voice carried it's waves into my ears. 

"Yes, head maid." Balfour replied. 

I knew the instant she set her eyes on me and almost wished the ground could just open up and swallow me from her sight.

"Haera, you leave for the Imperial pack in ten minutes. Get ready." 

"Yes, head maid." 

I said, bowing lower before rushing past her to go out of the kitchen but not without sending Balfour a cheeky smile.

I have no idea what the rest of the day of my birthday holds for me. I'll be at the Imperial pack soon enough to watch an Alpha's duel

What a way to celebrate your 18th birthday.