Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 100 - ONE HUNDRED - CHARLOTTE

Serena noticed a starry-eyed woman had been watching her for a while now, she would join the line every now and then and then branch off like she had changed her mind. Serena noticed her when she was talking to a father of two, the woman just sat on one of the chairs, watching.

In that moment, Serena decided to catch the woman off guard. After speaking to an older woman, Serena disappeared from her line of sight. The blonde woman gathered her clothes and moved quickly and then appeared at the woman’s back.

"Are you shy? You have been staring at me for a while now," Serena said.

The woman turned, brows scrunched together, her head jerking toward where Serena had been standing moments ago before looking back. Her eyes widened slightly, then dropped to the floor. She laughed, airy and unbothered.

"I may be getting old, or you’re a real bred killer," the woman said.

Killer? The word rang too loudly in Serena’s ears. Her body stiffened, expression flickering blank. Her foot shifted half a step backward, instinctively.

"I’m Charlotte Lewis," the woman added, stepping in smoothly. She took Serena’s hand with a kind of formal boldness and brought it to her lips. "Distant cousin of our beloved Commander, Alexander."

Serena looked down and nodded slowly, she was still hung at the word she had used to describe Serena: killer. Charlotte looked like she would be her peer so it was not ’I may be getting old.’

"Alexander had told me much about you, but I am glad to see it for myself. A warrior from Crimsonclaw," Charlotte continued.

Serena studied Charlotte, she did not look like someone in the military. On the contrary, she looked like someone’s plain and quiet wife, she was beautiful but it was that kind of beauty that was muted unless they spoke. She had curly brown hair and her cheek was dotted with freckles, her eyes were brown like honey. She wore a simple dress that fit her comfortably.

"Yes, Alexander... Er, how is he?" Serena asked, voice strained with forced politeness.

"Quite alright. Whipping up boys into shape, as he always does," Charlotte replied with a fond smile.

"You came for the ceremony?"

"Yes and no."

Serena tilted her head slightly. "No? But you’re here."

"Yes, very observant." Charlotte leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I came here specifically for you."

Serena’s brow lifted. "I see. Care to share?"

Charlotte nodded and pushed her hair out of her face, the more she spoke the more unconvinced Serena was about her being related to Alexander.

"Oh, the general sent me as a control of sorts," Charlotte said lightly, her eyes flicking around the hall. "But I don’t feel comfortable discussing this here. Would you like to step outside?"

Serena followed her gaze as well, there were few people left in the hall, and she was not quite sure where Darius had gone off to. Her eyes rested on Charlotte and then she nodded.

The pair left the Grand Hall and were soon in the dimly lit hallway of the castle. "It has been a while since I have been here. It is funny a stranger brought me here."

Serena blinked slowly as she watched Charlotte, the woman was slightly taller than she was, which made her tilt her head up slightly when she spoke to her. The blonde woman usually stood with the tallest in the room as she was above average height herself.

"I see..." Serena said to keep the conversation going.

A few wolves here and there passed right by them, engrossed in their conversation, barely noticed her. Charlotte was smart for bringing them out, the only issue was if someone took a few seconds to look at her, they would notice the dress she wore.

"I am here on an assignment, I am to act as your... second in hand. I am not completely sure what that means but I am also from ’Crimsonclaw.’"

Serena’s heart nearly jumped into her throat, she stood there blinking quickly and then she turned her head slightly and wore an awkward smile.

"What are you talking about? I am from Crimsonclaw," Serena said.

Charlotte scratched her head lazily and leaned back against the stone wall, eyes drifting like the ceiling was more interesting than Serena’s attempts. "I really don’t care for your lies. It’s pointless. I’m Charlotte Lewis."

Serena pressed her lips in a thin line and she remained silent for a few seconds. For a brief moment, the two women were the only ones in the corridor.

"I’m aware," Serena said at last.

"Good," Charlotte replied, straightening. "Because you’ll need to remember that. I’m your close confidant from Crimsonclaw. Due to sickness and other issues, the rest of our party went home."

"Now," she continued, already turning. "Follow me. I hate this castle."

Before Serena could respond, Charlotte took her by the wrist and tugged her forward with no concern for pace or propriety. Serena stumbled slightly, heels catching on the hem of her dress, but managed to keep her footing as they swept through the hall. Her eyes darted to passing wolves, but none looked twice.

Soon, they were outside. A few people loitered around but there was some privacy here, their footwear crunched against the gravel as they walked farther away from the castle.

"Charlotte," Serena called out but the woman continued walking. Serena called out her name once more but Charlotte ignored her. Serena stopped dead in her tracks and then pulled her hand out of Charlotte’s. "What is your aim?"

If Charlotte knew she was a ’rogue’ why would she have called her a killer? Serena prayed to the moon that she was not about to deal with another variation of Livia.

Charlotte turned on her heel with an unbothered smile, as though they’d merely stepped out for a walk. She twirled a piece of her hair around her finger, her posture light, relaxed.

"I dislike the name Charlotte, but what can I do?" she said with a shrug.

Serena’s brows pinched. "You dislike your name?"

Charlotte put her hands on her hip and shook her head. "My name is not Charlotte but you will call me that. Charlotte Lewis is a woman who you came with from Crimsonclaw."

Then it finally clicked in Serena’s head, they were giving her someone of their own to act as her... messenger? Second in command? Confidant? But still, Serena knew it was an extra round of protection for the council, to watch Serena.

"Would you not be recognised?" Serena asked.

Charlotte shrugged. "Anyone who recognises me, are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things."

Serena’s shoulders slouched and she asked another question. "What about Alexander?"

At that, Charlotte let out a sudden bark of laughter, tossing her head back. "Oh, that. I have no idea why I said that- I’ve never met the man."

"Ah." Serena’s lips parted in surprise and pushed a loose braid behind her ear. "I see..."

The blonde woman was at a loss for words, lips slightly parted like she’d meant to say something but forgot what. For all she knew, this could’ve been a stranger with no ties to the council. But Serena was inclined to keep the conversation going, if only because Charlotte knew too much, like the fact that she wasn’t truly an ambassador.

Yet, Serena’s unease around the woman grew more with words that fell from the other woman’s lips.

"Are you finally scared of me?" Charlotte asked, toying with her earlobe as if it were some idle game.

"No, not at all. I am merely intrigued, that’s all," Serena replied, voice calm, though her fingers tugged gently at the edge of her sleeve.

"Really?" the other woman asked, leaning closer to Serena. "Though I have not given you a reason to be afraid just yet."

She straightened, posture elegant and almost aloof, then reached into the bag slung at her side. A sealed envelope appeared between her fingers, which she handed to Serena.

"This is for you."

Serena accepted it with a small nod and tore the top open, unfolding the letter within. The ink was rushed, the strokes uneven...someone had written this quickly. It confirmed what Charlotte had said: she was to serve as Serena’s aide while Serena played ambassador.

Serena folded the letter along the creases and tucked it into her sleeve. "Yes, I do. What is your real name?"

Charlotte scoffed lightly, then smiled in that way that never quite reached her eyes. "I only reveal that to people I like."

"Oh."

"Serena!"

The sudden call made her turn instinctively. Darius was descending the stairs, his red hair catching the low light as he jogged toward them. His gaze flicked between Serena and Charlotte with a narrowed focus.

The blonde woman turned around to see Darius jogging down the stairs and then finally arriving at her side. He looked at Serena and then at Charlotte.

"Darius..." freewebnσvel.cѳm

He opened his mouth to speak, but Charlotte held up a hand with a small shake of her head. "What are you doing here?"

"The general sent me. Your letter should’ve arrived by now. Expect to see me around here more often," she said, already turning away.

Just like that, she left, her footsteps soft against the gravel as she disappeared into the dark.

Serena watched her go, then turned back to Darius. "You know her?" she asked, brows lifting slightly.