Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance
Chapter 162: ELEN AND SERENA

Chapter 162: ELEN AND SERENA

The clinking of plates and low murmur of voices filled the banquet hall, but Serena’s mind stayed with Elen.

The food on her plate was fragrant and well-prepared, but she hadn’t eaten much of it. She pushed her roasted vegetables around slowly, stealing glances at the young woman seated beside her. Elen chewed in silence, her hands folded politely, and her eyes downcast.

"You don’t have to be so stiff," Serena said in a whisper, tilting her head slightly. "It’s not a ceremony."

Elen blinked and looked at her with a faint smile. "I know. I just... I don’t want to embarrass myself."

Serena leaned closer. "You will not. Trust me, if anyone were to embarrass themselves, it would’ve been me already."

Elen let out a soft laugh and covered her mouth with her hand. "That’s not true. You carry yourself better than I do."

Serena gave her a playful glance. "Oh, you should have seen me my first time at a formal table. I spilled red wine on the server’s llap and blamed it on a shaky table."

Elen’s eyes widened. "What happened after that?"

"Nothing much, apologies were said and that was it."

The other woman giggled and finally picked up her fork again. Serena smiled to herself, happy to see Elen relax. Despite the nerves that clung to the Dawnbreak wolf, Serena could see glimpses of a gentler spirit beneath all the caution. That softness intrigued her.

"Do you enjoy being a council member?" Elen asked, keeping her voice low.

Serena was quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of her goblet. She nearly bit her lips, she would have to lie about her status. "I don’t know. Sometimes it feels like I’m being watched more than I’m being heard. "

Elen turned to her fully, brows pinched in a small frown. "That sounds lonely."

"It can be," Serena admitted. "But it is bearable when someone sees you. Even if it’s just for a night."

Elen didn’t respond to that, but her gaze lingered a second longer than before. Serena returned the look, holding her breath just slightly before she turned her attention back to her plate.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Livia watching. Serena gave her a small nod, a signal that she was composed, and that there was no need for another scolding. Livia sighed and looked away, lifting her goblet for a toast with one of the Ironshade men.

Conversation flowed easily across the table now, and the wine had dulled the earlier stiffness in the air. Serena allowed herself a moment to settle in the warmth of it all.

"You said something earlier," Elen murmured beside her. "About learning from strangers. Do you still believe that?"

Serena blinked at the question. "Of course. I learn the most when I stop pretending I already know everything."

Elen nodded slowly, then looked down at her lap. "My mother used to say something similar. She always thought the most dangerous wolves were the ones who refused to listen."

"She sounds wise."

"She was." Elen’s voice turned quiet, wistful. "She passed a few years ago."

Serena’s heart softened. "I am so sorry."

Elen nodded but didn’t speak again. Her fingers twitched in her lap and her shoulders tensed. Serena considered reaching for her hand again but held back. Instead, she gave her a respectful silence.

Plates were being cleared now. The servants moved efficiently, and the sound of cutlery faded away. People leaned back in their seats, some rubbing their stomachs, others draining the last of their goblets. The formal part of the banquet seemed to be winding down.

Just as Serena leaned in to ask Elen another question, a sudden hush swept the room.

A young man stepped forward from the far end of the hall. He had a narrow frame and carried a strange instrument slung across his back, something between a lyre and a fiddle. His clothing bore no formal markings of house or rank, but he moved with purpose.

Behind him came two others, one carrying a small drum and the other a wooden flute. All three bowed deeply before the high table, then faced the room.

"Entertainment, as promised," Livia announced from somewhere near the middle of the table. Her voice carried through the hall, playful and pleased. "Let Ironshade show we still remember how to charm with music."

There was a soft ripple of polite applause, and the musicians began to set up near the fireplace.

"Music?" Elen asked, surprised.

Serena nodded. "It’s tradition. Ironshade doesn’t believe in ending a meal in silence. They say the body must be fed, but so must the soul."

"I like that," Elen said with a small smile.

The first notes from the lyre echoed through the space, sharp and mournful at first, then blossoming into something delicate and fluid. The flute joined next, light and airy like birdsong in the morning. The drum followed last, subtle but grounding. The blend was haunting, not unlike Ironshade’s cold forests, lonely, but beautiful.

Serena felt herself relax more. She leaned on her elbow and tilted her head toward the music, eyes fluttering shut for a moment.

Elen did the same. The two of them sat quietly, no longer needing words, just two strangers sharing a sliver of peace after a heavy day. Serena peeked over at Elen, whose eyes were still closed, her lips parted in the faintest smile.

The moment didn’t last long. A servant passed behind them, whispering to Livia, who rose quietly and excused herself. Serena watched her go, curious, but stayed seated.

She turned back to Elen. "You should smile more. It suits you."

Elen blushed. "You always say the most flattering things."

"Only because they are true," Serena said gently.

The flute gave a final trill, and the lyre rang out its last soft note. The room gave a generous round of applause. The musicians bowed again.

As the sound faded, Serena found herself already missing the music. She didn’t want the night to end just yet.

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