Chapter 2

Marianne's POV

We eventually arrived at the castle, fifteen minutes before time. We boarded a coaster bus which drove on the expressway in order to arrive on time. There was nothing like traffic congestion, which is an everyday experience on the roads plied by normal vehicles. Today wasn't a day to experience that. 

After showing the well-trained and armed security personnel at the gate of the palace our ID cards, we were allowed in. Merely getting in, we bump into some group of lycans who stare the whole energy out of us, it seems as if they haven't seen Omegas like us before. Right now, it's taking the greatest confidence to continue walking along the pathway to the main entrance of the castle occupied by the king and his princes.

"Mom, you're gonna be working for the king, don't you think, I'll be working for the lycan princes?" I ask, expecting to hear some soothing response from her. 

She stares right straight at me, giving a slight smile. "Yes, I hope so." By virtue of what she replies, it seems like she has some secrets she wouldn't be letting out for now. 

I sigh, look straight ahead of me to where I'm going. I'd be excited to work for the lycan princes who are angelically handsome, if only they weren't brutal. Now I'm torn in between doubt and excitement. 

As we rolled our secondhand luggage behind us, towards the palace, a middle aged woman dressed in a pencil black skirt, with multi-colored shirt, and a pair of black office shoes walked towards us, approaching us from the main entrance which we intended walking into. 

Her gaze is all over us, others look at us as if we are trash, but she looks a bit professional, with a slight smile on her lips. Her lips are parted like she wants to say something. 

"Hello, good morning." She raises her voice a little bit politely. "Are you Misses Birgitte and Marianne Gabriel?" 

"Yes, we are." Mom replies on behalf of us even before I could get to open my lips. 

"Good!" She says with a single nod of her head. "I'm Lady Bianca Lords, the Personal Assistant of the lycan king. This way please!" She gestures us to the main entrance of the palace of which she leads the way.

"The Lycan king, with the three lycan princes are waiting at his chambers to see you, even before you get to settle down."

Tension rises fast in my heart as she says this. Not the lycan king who is my major case for concern, my mom would handle that. She has already started being conversant with the king before she could request him to have me taken alongside with her for the job. My major issue now is how I would face the three lycan princes and work for them, people who killed me in my last life. Though they are well-known to be the most handsome men in the kingdom, yet they are also known for their brutality and indifference towards the plight of people under them. Who knows what might happen to me this time around? 

They had studied at the Ambersy Military Minor Academy, from there they graduated to the Castlevania's Military Institute, for their college education. Though they didn't intend to graduate as warriors like the other kids who would be serving the kingdom of Castlevania upon their passing out, they literally trained like them and these training have hardened their hearts. From rumors flying around which I believe to be true, discipline and punishment are their watchwords and they wouldn't spare giving it to anyone who messes up around them. 

Yeah, the two words sound similar but to them, they mean entirely different things. To them, they expect everyone working for them to do the right thing at the right time, always be at their best all the time, this if not followed, always being the punishments which they themselves have stipulated. One reason behind this as given by them on a TV interview once is because they weren't spared military bullying by their superiors while in both schools, and as commanded by their father who is a strict disciplinarian. He had the intention of raising them up as strong and decisive princes. Pampering is a taboo in his vocabulary as well as in his act. The only person he pampered was his wife and fated mate, the lycan queen who died three years ago in a car crash. 

Her death, on its own, had made him more hardened and detective like a strict authoritarian to those around him. The three princes have learnt to copy this. character over time and are now becoming more perfect with the rule than him who started it.

The strict disciplinary lifestyle inculcated into the princes from the military schools, both by their instructors and superiors have gone a long way in detecting their lifestyle even after they graduated years ago. 

Aside from what happened to me in the previous life, I fear people who are strict and disciplinarians, I'm afraid of punishments. I'm just an Omega, with a wolf less smart and strong as compared to those of these elite lycans, and I know I'm prone to making mistakes, especially here, as I haven't worked in a palace before, I might be getting lots of punishments along the way. I might break because I'm not strong enough. 

"Hmmm," I take a deep breath. Mom nudges me on the arms, winking at me. I receive a mindlink alert immediately. 

"Respect yourself!" She says on a serious note. "The king's PA is here and whatever you do would be reported to him. You don't want to start your first day on a bad note?" Her last statement comes as a question and I nod my head. Then she cuts the link. 

I behave myself, trying to lay behind the fear and anxiety playing inside of me. We pass through the giant door of the castle where the king stays. Bianca leads the way, taking us towards the left. We climb through the mighty stairs leading to the hallway. Here we switch to the right. Some meters are trodden and after about five minutes, we arrive at a golden mini-gate right inside the castle. 

It opens to a whole new world in the palace, we pass through it. I feel a whole different experience walking through the hallway here, the walls, floors and facilities are either made of gold or steel, designed to a splendid atmosphere. 

Bianca stops abruptly, skyrocketing great tension in me. "We are about to go into the chambers of the king, who is with his sons. Are you ready?" She asks. 

Mom nods readily, it's now left with me. Anxiety burdens me at this point more than ever, my heart plays drums and my feet shake. Looking intensely at me, anyone would see that I'm shaking, goosebumps have appeared all over my body. 

I regret ever coming here with mom, I would have let her come here alone but now it's too late. I have to face my fate or lose my destiny forever. If I disappoint the king and the princes, I don't know what might happen to me. It might just be the end of me. Mom gives me a sharp wink.

Bianca knocks on the golden door before us. I hear a ring ringing once inside. 

"Come in!" A deep, powerful voice which rings deep inside, commanding respect not of this world almost sweeps me off my feet.