Reborn Luna： Guardian of Alpha

Chapter 2 - Hot Coffee (Part 1)

“Tell me, what is your status in this castle?” Luna asked coldly, reminding Imala of her place in the castle. Imala stiffened. She was indeed a maid in Naesbrey Castle, but she was recommended by Hassun. How dare she order me to do such lowly subordinate work?! thought Imala furiously. She tried her best to retain a cool composure, refusing to let Luna see that she was affected by the scorn in her voice.

"Let some other maids do that for her," Hassun responded before Imala could say anything. He cleared his throat before looking at Tehya directly in the corner. “You there, go and get coffee,” snapped Hassun, gesturing rudely toward the direction of the kitchen.

Tehya didn’t move, but instead looked over to Luna in the main seat, waiting for her order.

Luna swelled with pride at Tehya’s behavior, and was pleased. In her previous life, she realized she never paid much attention to Tehya, who was a quiet and timid girl. She did not speak much, but she was intelligent. Perhaps she could be my personal servant after some adequate training, Luna thought to herself, fingers lightly tapping her temple in thought.

“Are you trying to deny my command, Hassun?” said Luna quietly, after some thought. It was a rhetorical question, and Hassun knew it would be better if he kept quiet. The atmosphere in the room was undeniably tense. Tehya made no move to prepare a cup of coffee, and Luna gazed directly at Imala with a slight raise of her left brow. Nobody said a word, or at least nobody dared to. “Well? Are you two just here to waste my time?” sneered Luna sarcastically as she crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat.

Finally Imala caved and stood up, crossing the room to reach the table. She let out a huff before pouring out the freshly brewed coffee into a pretty porcelain cup, all while with an expression of great displeasure. She filled the cup to its brim before sashaying toward Luna, noting with annoyance how time seemed to pass in slow motion. She ran her eyes over Luna’s gorgeous long dress, and how her hair framed her face beautifully. Envy and jealous rage swirled in her as she compared her cheap maid’s outfit to Luna’s, and it was then that a wicked thought formed itself in Imala’s mind. She almost couldn’t repress the evil smirk that appeared on her face, not realizing that Luna caught it.

When Imala neared Luna, she pretended to stumble and fell forward - the cup of coffee flying toward Luna. It all happened in a flash, and a black shadow flew in front of Luna with an opened umbrella in hand readily, shielding her from the steaming hot liquid that would have no doubt disfigured her. Imala raised her head, confused as to why Luna did not exclaim in pain. She was met with the dark stare of Luna’s personal bodyguard, whom Alpha Matwau arranged especially for Luna, and trembled at the way the bulky man was glowering at her. Luna did not move and was perfectly composed, as though Imala’s stunt was an expected scene from a play they’ve practiced.

Etu, Luna’s bodyguard, was curious when she asked him to bring an umbrella into the house with him. Although he agreed to her request immediately with no objection at the time, he couldn’t help but glance at the clear blue sky, no doubt flabbergasted. There was not a single sign that it was going to rain, nor did Luna show any intention of spending time outdoors that day. “Keep it with you at all times,” was all that Etu remembered Luna saying. He now realized the purpose of the umbrella, and silently praised Luna for her wisdom. He couldn’t help but feel a newfound sense of respect toward the Alpha’s woman, and there was no longer any question in his mind that the two were a formidable match.

Imala cursed internally when she came to the realization that her plans have failed twice today. “I’m so sorry! I’m too clumsy for my own good,” giggled Imala awkwardly, before picking herself up from the floor in embarrassment. She mentally rebuked Hassun for not coming to help her up from the floor, and she dusted off her apron while bowing her head profusely in Luna’s direction. Etu did not budge, instead he maintained his protective stance in front of Luna with arms crossed.

It was not until Luna stood up that he stepped aside. She sized up Imala before grabbing her chin harshly, nails digging into her skin. “How much is your apology worth? You are worthless before me,” spat Luna spitefully, images of her trauma with Imala flashing across her mind. Yes, I let her die too much of an easy death in my past life. She deserves to suffer and feel the same pain I did, thought Luna, feeling a pang in her chest as she recounted the painful memories from her past. Imala’s eyes widened as Luna raised her hand for a slap, attempting to protest. It would have been funny from an outsider’s perspective, as it was almost like a reenactment of the altercation that happened in Luna’s bedroom just hours ago.

Luna gathered up all her might to land the slap, but her wrist was grabbed just before her hand came down. Luna whipped her head around in anger to face the person that interceded her slap, feeling like her moment of triumph was stolen. “Come on, Luna, it was an accident!” blurted out Hassun, a desperate attempt to cover for Imala. Imala took Luna’s momentary distraction as an opportunity to break free from her grasp, stumbling backward. Luna turned her head to look back at Imala once again, with a deadly snarl on her face.

“Please, Luna…it really wasn’t on purpose, I promise! Forgive me,” mumbled Imala in feigned remorse. Luna made a motion to step toward her, and Imala ran to Hassun and cowered behind him, apologizing profusely while hugging his waist with head bowed. Luna was offended by this as it was her that Imala was supposed to be apologizing to, not Hassun. “I’m sorry Hassun, forgive me!” whined Imala, further fueling Luna’s anger. Luna hated that she was overreacting, acting as though Luna had already laid a finger on her. Even the sting of a slap would not come close to the pain you made me experience in our past lives, thought Luna to herself bitterly.

“Luna! Look at her, she’s harmless!” exclaimed Hassun, gesturing at Imala behind him. “What should you be addressing me as? Perhaps I should ask Alpha Matwau to remind you about the correct manner in which I am to be addressed,” retorted Luna sarcastically, head tilted to the side in mockery as she finished her sentence.

Hassun opened his mouth and shut it again momentarily as the words left Luna’s mouth. “Luna Chenoa,” Hassun said finally, defeated. His face was tainted by humiliation, as though saying those words caused him great aggravation. “She almost scalded me, and yet you are protecting her from, might I say, a well-deserved slap?” questioned Luna with raised eyebrows. “Well, you did not get scalded now did you? Besides, you’ve always known that Imala is clumsy, so it is your fault for making her get that cup of coffee for you!” spat Hassun through his gritted teeth. Luna made no response except to scoff in disbelief at his words. “It’s partly your fault. So do me a favor and don’t dwell on this or hold it against Imala who was just doing as she was told,” continued Hassun cautiously, eyes fixed on Luna, assessing her reactions - or lack thereof.

Luna was furious at the audacity of the two, and marveled at Hassun’s shamelessness. She felt rage looking at the two of them being so close together, cursing herself for ever believing Hassun’s words proclaiming that he loved her. She was angry at them, but mainly angry at herself from having been so naive.

Adrenaline filled her veins and blood rushed to her head as she lunged forward, grabbing the pot of coffee off the table and marching toward Imala before she had time to second-guess her actions. Before any of them could react, Luna had poured the entire pot of blistering hot coffee on Imala’s face, earning her a blood-curdling scream that pierced through the room. Tehya and Etu stood rooted in their spots as well, staring in shock at Luna’s rash actions. “What is wrong with you?!” screamed Hassun when he realized exactly what Luna had done before running off toward the kitchen to find a wet towel.

Luna felt good. She felt satisfied. Definitely more triumphant than a slap, smirked Luna to herself. She knew how much pain Imala was in, as that was exactly what she felt in her past life when Imala splashed hot coffee all over her face. She never brought bodyguards around with her at the time, due to the amount of trust she had in Hassun. She never thought that Hassun would do her any harm, but then again, love is blind. She would have been disfigured from that incident if her Alpha had not found the medicine to treat it. Luna had learned from her mistakes, and took the right precautions this time to prevent the same thing from happening to her once again. Luna watched Imala wince in pain before her, sobbing hysterically. How ironic, thought Luna, eye for an eye, eh?