5
1556 Words
Aurelia’s POV
Three days later…
I had just woken up. The same nightmare again, and this time, in that dream, I was stabbed repeatedly.
The pain felt too real.
And it didn’t help that my heart felt like it had received a merciless punch at the moment.
Clutching my chest with clenched teeth, I made to get out of bed.
Just then, I heard a loud bang.
I immediately whipped my head towards the room's entrance. The old door had ripped off its hinges and crashed down.
And the culprit? The unremorseful head maid.
What a great way to start the day!
"So you're awake, and you chose to wait for me to come fetch you. What, you think you're still royalty?" She spat, hands akimbo.
"I.. "
She didn't even let me speak.
"Don't try to defend yourself, you lowlife. There's a lot to do. Lady Selene will be crowned Luna in 7 days."
Oh, I see. Alpha Kael must be really eager to make that b***h official. I bet he's relieved that he's finally gotten rid of me.
"You know how to embroider, right?" She asked.
That's one of the things I took a liking to when I still had my title.
I nodded. "That's correct."
"That's good. You will need to work on the Luna Silk along with a few chosen others. Hurry and come with me; time's not on our side."
“But I haven’t even taken a bath,” I pointed out.
Next thing, I got a harsh, resounding slap that had me gasping.
“The next time you speak to me like I’m your equal, I’ll break your spine. Am I clear?” she snapped, making me flinch.
"Y-yes," I responded with a choked-up voice, tears already pooling in my eyes, but I willed them not to cascade.
"Yes, what?" she snarled, her expression twisted with ire.
I swallowed and then replied. "Yes, Madam."
She then scoffed, "Good, you know your place."
Madam Natasha didn't even bother stepping out to give me some privacy. So I could only change into my maid uniform in front of her while enduring her remarks about how slow I was in accomplishing something so simple.
I didn't say a word and silently bore all her aggravating words. Before becoming Luna, I used to be a servant. And now that I'm no longer the Alpha's mate, he's simply returned me to my old post.
I soon followed after the head maid, trying to keep up with her pace as she had commanded. It put a rather heavy strain on me.
Did she forget I was still suffering the residual pains from the Alpha’s rejection?
Or maybe she just didn't care.
I soon reached the place where the Luna Silk was eventually shown to me and three others. There was a lot to do, really.
And right now, there's no way I could perform my best.
The head maid turned to face me. "If you ruin the silk, you'll be made to do laundry for all the maids."
"I'll be careful, Madam," I said with my head bowed slightly.
She harrumphed and continued talking to the others before she eventually left.
The others barely spoke to me, and when they did, out of necessity, their tone and expressions carried unhidden contempt.
When it was time to get to work, the pain in my chest increased without warning, and I spat out blood, staining the part of the Luna Silk that I was holding.
The others gasped.
"What have you done?"
"What the hell is your problem?"
"You deliberately did this. You're spiteful and jealous because you're no longer Luna."
I looked at them, shaking my head. "N-no, I didn't... It wasn't intentional..."
My explanation was of no use. One of them ran to get the head maid. Next thing, she came, holding a whip and a menacing expression.
"What did I tell you, Aurelia? You still went ahead to disobey my warning? Do you still think you're royalty? That only the alpha can punish you?" She raged.
I dropped to my knees, wearing an apologetic expression. "Ma'am, I'm sorry. It really wasn't my intention. You see, I..."
The harsh crack of the whip on the floor made me flinch.
"You can't effing get anything right. It's one thing to be barren. Now you've ruined such an important fabric. If the alpha learned of it, won't he have my head?"
"I... I'll wash it," I offered.
"You aren't worthy," she spat, landing the whip on my shoulder. "You'll never be worthy of anything good. That ugly birthmark itself is solid proof that you're a jinx."
I didn't say anything to counter her or defend myself. That would only make it worse.
I followed her, my hand on my bruised shoulder. I ignored the mixed gazes thrown my way, simply bowing my head.
Soon, I was perched on a small wooden stool. Before me were heaps of stinking outfits that I needed to wash before noon or...I'd get no food.
And there was a maid to supervise me. She had the authority to smack me in the face if she felt I slacked off.
The moment the head maid left, the ravenette came up to me and slapped me.
Her reason? I ought to have finished one heap by now.
How unreasonable! Yet I had no one to complain to.
I could only swallow this bitter pill and try to complete my task as soon as I could.
…
I finished by noon and was told to go get food from the kitchen.
I knew the helpers there might not give me the kind of meals other servants usually get, but...giving me a bone was way too much.
"You should be thankful," one of the kitchen maids with blonde hair said with a condescending look.
All that hard work for a bone? Who were they kidding?
"Feeding a barren tree like you proper meals is just a waste of resources," the other maid, a brunette, added.
"Well, you can keep this bone then," I said, throwing it at their feet.
Then I turned to leave.
"Stop right there!" the blonde one yelled in rage.
But without even turning back, I replied, "I only answer to the head maid."
However, they both rushed out and dragged me back into the kitchen.
"You still think you're some hotshot, huh? Don't worry, I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget."
Having said that, the blonde carried a bowl of scalding-hot water.
"Hold her still," she commanded the brunette who currently held my arms captive behind me.
I tried to struggle out of her grip, but the exhausted me was no match for her.
“Let go. Let go of me,” I yelled frantically, but the damned brunette’s grip on my arms only tightened.
"Next time, you'll know not to put on any airs before me." Saying that, the blonde maid made to pour water on me.
I thought I was doomed to get scalded by that water, disfigured for life. I had lost hope when suddenly, I felt something hot course through my veins.
And all my exhaustion fled, replaced with strength.
I immediately freed myself from the brunette's grip and dodged right on time, not forgetting to use the brunette as a shield.
The water hit the stunned brunette, who started screaming a millisecond later.
The bowl fell from the flustered blonde's hand. Then she waved both hands in denial. "No... It wasn't meant for you. I'm so sorry."
She turned to look at me like I had murdered her parents. "This is all your fault."
I folded my arms and snorted. "You expect me to just wait for you to disfigure me? Bullshit,"
"You...! You'll pay for this!" She snapped.
"Shouldn't you focus on her first? I mean, she's bound to look monstrous for life if you don't do something quickly."
Having said that, I went to the kitchen island to grab a plate of fried chicken and rice
Then I waved a chicken thigh at them. "Thanks."
"You... Get back here this instant!" The blonde raged, but I ignored her.
The food, especially the chicken, was quite delicious.
...
I got summoned by the head maid shortly after.
Turns out those two had twisted the story and said that I was the one who doused that unlucky maid with hot water.
"Your spite is fast growing and must be contained before it destroys us all. Lie on the bench and receive your punishment."
"Ma'am, I have no reason to lie to you. Karissa was the one who..."
"I don't care." The head maid thundered, "The issue is that Cassandra got burned because of you. And you must be punished to set an example."
I looked towards the smiling, vicious duo and nodded my head sagely.
"Very well then."
It's not like I could escape the unjust punishment.
The head maid could easily have others pin me down should I try to flee. And then, my punishment could even triple.
By the time the punishment was over, my back was bleeding.
That wicked duo was the last to leave, and they made sure to make fun of me.
I didn't respond to them. But my hands were curled into tight fists.
One day, they'd regret this.
- Writer
