The Scarred Luna

Chapter seven

VIOLETA

“Violeta! Violeta!” I felt someone nudge me.

I slowly opened my eyes, realizing that I was in an unfamiliar room. Then the memories of what happened started flooding in, and then I remembered that I wasn't in my room; I was taken in by a kindhearted princess.

I immediately jolted out of bed, almost giving Princess Thania a jump scare. “Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. Do you need me to do anything?” I asked. “Cook? Help in the kitchen? Clean?”

She looked very surprised by my questions, but I was very genuine. I wasn't going to get a burden and was ready to do whatever it takes to prove myself to her and also keep myself in the mansion.

She bursts into a fit of laughter. “If you're joking with me, it's better you stop it,” she said amidst laughter, but I was serious.

She stopped laughing after seeing the serious expression on my face, and her expression changed in an instant. “What do you take me for?” She snapped. “Do you think I was going to turn you into some kind of slave?”

She scoffs. “Do I really look like some kind of witch or something?” She tried to remain calm. I could tell that my statement angered her, but she was trying her best not to flip out on me.

I quickly apologized. “I don't mean it like that. I just wanted to be useful instead of sleeping all day; please forgive me.”

Her expression eased up, and I could see her face soften. “Sorry about flaring up. I just couldn't believe you'd think of me that way.”

The sadness in her voice was evident. I started feeling really guilty; I shouldn't have done that. I should've known better. She's been nothing but nice to me, and I assumed immediately that she's some kind of b***h.

“I'm sorry,” I apologized again. She gave me a reassuring smile and put her palm over mine as a way to relieve me.

“Don't worry about it,” she said gently. “I came here because you didn't come down for dinner, and the maid informed me that you were napping. I didn't mean to wake up big. I didn't want you sleeping on an empty stomach.”

Can she be any nicer? Or is she two-faced?

“Are you hungry?”

Before I could respond, my stomach started growling loudly, causing me to squirm in embarrassment. She chuckled softly, and I didn't feel as embarrassed.

“Let's fill that stomach of yours.”

She stretched forth her hands for me to take, and we both went downstairs, where I was met with another part of the room that I was sure I had never seen before. I didn't even know a dining room could be this big.

There were some unfamiliar faces, and that made me start feeling self-conscious. I didn't realize there would be people here and felt dumb for thinking that.

Of course there would be people here. It's a packed mansion; why did I assume there wouldn't be? I am so dumb.

“Take a seat.” Princess Thania adjusted a chair for me to sit on. I could only muster a little smile.

The maids started dishing the meal. There were about three other people except Princess Thania seated around the dining table. I could feel their gaze piercing through my soul and just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

I stared down at my lap, trying my best not to make eye contact with anyone. My hands fidgeted under the table, and I felt like I was shrinking into the chair. Maybe if I stayed quiet enough, I’d become invisible.

But that hope vanished the moment one of them spoke.

“And who might this be?” a woman asked sharply. Her voice was cold, not directly rude, but distant. She had sleek black hair pinned in a perfect bun and eyes that scanned me like I was something she didn’t order.

“This is Violeta,” Thania said calmly, but her tone held weight. “She’s my guest.”

“Guest?” A young man beside the woman echoed, raising a brow. He looked to be around my age, his dark brown eyes filled with curiosity and something else I couldn’t place—suspicion, maybe. “I’ve never seen her before.”

“She just arrived today,” Thania replied with a soft smile. “And she’ll be staying for as long as she needs to.”

My heart skipped a beat. That meant a lot, more than she knew. And yet, their eyes stayed fixed on me like I didn’t belong. And maybe I didn’t.

“Oh,” the woman replied, clearly not pleased. “That’s... nice.”

There was a long, awkward silence after that. The maids finished setting down the food, and Princess Thania gave me an encouraging nod to eat. I reached for a piece of bread with slightly trembling hands, trying to look normal. Trying not to feel every set of eyes on me.

The food was delicious—probably the best thing I’d ever tasted—but I could hardly enjoy it. I chewed slowly, focusing on my plate.

The young man cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Violeta, but where exactly are you from?”

My stomach tightened. I wasn’t prepared for the questions. My mind scrambled for something that didn’t sound like a lie—even though everything about my presence here was.

Before I could answer, Thania spoke up. “She’s from a distant pack. She’s been through a lot, and I’d appreciate it if you gave her space instead of interrogating her.”

The firmness in her voice silenced the room. Even the maids slowed their movements. I dared to glance at her. She looked composed, but her eyes were like steel. Protective.

That meant more to me than she knew.

“Of course,” the man said after a moment, lowering his gaze. “I meant no offense.”

Princess Thania simply nodded and resumed eating. I pushed food around my plate, pretending like I belonged. Like I had a right to sit here, at this lavish table, in a room where the chandeliers sparkled like stars.

But deep down, I knew I didn’t.

As the meal continued, the conversations returned—but this time, I wasn’t the center of them. The tension slowly eased, though I remained quiet. Observing. Listening.

After dinner, Thania stood and turned to me. “Walk with me?”

I nodded silently, grateful to escape.

As we stepped into the hallway, away from judging eyes, she looked over at me and asked softly, “Are you okay?”

And I found myself answering honestly, “I think so. For now.”

She smiled. “That’s all that matters.”