Nova’s pov
“Good morning, your Royal Highness!” I tossed and turned on the bed before dragging my eyes open. My gaze landed on Anika who had a huge-bright smile plastered on her face.
“Good morning,” I whispered before dragging my feet out of the thick duvet that was covering my body. “What’s the occasion?” I slid my feet into a pair of flip-flops that has been laid on the floor, my gaze not leaving Anika who stood before me with so much joy on her face.
I moved my gaze away from Anika, to the maids who stood in a straight line with their hands intertwined to their backs.
“Oh,” Anika beamed, she stretched out her hand towards the maids and smiled.
“It’s your first day as the Queen. I brought the maids for you to choose from them and have your maids, someone who will be attending to your subjective maids, that will be with you all the time.” she expounded, her eyes not leaving me and I moved my gaze to the floor, I didn’t want her to see the bags around my eyes.
I couldn’t believe I cried myself to sleep the previous night after meeting with that annoying lady.
“Okay, you can just pick one and the rest should leave.” I yawned tiredly.
“What? You only want one maid?” Anika gasped in shock, I dragged my feet towards the Bay window and moved the pane of glass sideways, letting the misty ray of light show through the window.
“I can’t deal with more than one maid. So, I’m going with one.” I turned away from the window and walked up to the maids who had their gazes glued to the floor.
“Alright, my Queen. You can go ahead and pick one.” Anika strolled towards me, she stood beside me and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Um,” I tilted my head, looking at the unfamiliar faces of the maids. I couldn’t see any face that belongs to Shayna among them and I sighed sadly.
What has she been up to? Has she been given to another person as a maid? Did she get a post outside the royal walls?
“She!” I pointed at the last girl on the line, she stepped out of the line and I flashed her a toothy smile.
“My name is Cinder. I am a 19 years old werewolf who was taken from the pack to clear off my poor father’s debt. I will serve you as my new Lord with all my might.” she blurted out, I blinked before gulping down nothing.
“Cinder!” I exclaimed, unable to say anything else to the girl who just told me her sad story without realising it.
“Yes, your Highness!” she bowed and I chuckled lightly.
“It’s nice to have a beautiful girl like you as my maid.” I moved closer to her and tapped her shoulders.
Werewolf? So, there were lots of werewolves at the royal walls than I had thought? And why must every werewolves who reside here live in dismay?
“Now that you’ve picked your choice, I shall fill in your maid about your schedule.” Anika cleared her throat before moving towards us.
“Cinder,” Anika called, handing over a booklet to the girl who hastily retrieved it from her. “All the Queen needs to do today is in there, check what was the first on the list,” she ordered, staring down at Cinder who hastily flipped through the booklet to check what was written in there.
“Royal breakfast!” Cinder announced, moving her gaze from the booklet to her superior.
Anika nodded with a smile. “Get the Queen ready for the royal breakfast, what she needs to wear has been written in the booklet, just go through it and don’t make a mistake.
“Yes, ma’am!” Cinder replied with a bow.
“Alright, we shall get going, your Highness!” Anika bowed to me before walking out with the rest of the maids.
As soon as the door closed from the outside of the room, Cinder jumped in excitement and leapt to my front.
“I’m so happy that you chose me as your maid.” Cinder tried to strike a conversation with me but I was busy with my thoughts that I could hardly hear her voice.
“When is the royal breakfast and where is it taking place?” I asked instead, moving towards the closet to see that it has been filled with clothes.
“7:30 am, at the private dining at the King’s hall,” Cinder announced, I moved my gaze to the wall clock to see that we still have an hour to get ready.
“Where’s the King’s hall located?” I opened the smallest door of the closet and grabbed a towel.
“Newest building across this building.” she dropped the booklet on the nightstand table and tried to walk up to me, I raised my hand in the air for her to stop.
“I chose you as my maid because I feel like you’re kind. Please don’t think of bathing me, I can do it myself.” I stripped off the nightwear and wrapped the towel around my chest.
“What should I do then?” Cinder mumbled, she picked up my nightwear and tossed it inside the laundry basket.
“Fetch my dress, I’ll be out in a few minutes.” I strolled towards the bathroom and closed the door behind me.
I stepped out of the bathroom minutes later, dried my wet body with the towel, applied my lotions and put on my undies.
“The dress is on the bed. Let me bring them.” Cinder beamed before I could speak. “Put your dress on so I could fix your hair and makeup after that.”
She took the towel and dumped it inside the laundry basket. I was still staring at the long navy blue dress which has shiny stones at the upper part.
I slid into the dress and Cinder helped with the zipper.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It is! I love the shiny loves.” I smiled, rubbing my fingers on the shiny stones.
“I think a light makeup would go well with this dress.” Cinder tilted her head sideways while checking out my face.
“Why? can’t I step out without wearing a makeup? I think my face is okay this way.” I did a 360 degree and I must admit, I looked beautiful with or without makeup.
“No, you can’t attend the breakfast with your bare face. Her Highness and Lady Everest will be there.” Cinder pulled me towards the dresser and I sat down on the single stool.
“Who are those people you just mentioned?” I put my bottom lip inside my mouth and licked it, damping the bottom lip.
“Ma’am Velvena is the late King’s elder sister. Lady Everest is her only child. They lived in the state for years before coming back to the pack.” Cinder grabbed a brush from the table and started to work on my hair.
So, Aunt Velvena has a daughter? I just hope she wasn’t as bad as King Prescott.
By the time we were done, it was almost time for breakfast, I stood up from the stool and admired myself in the mirror.
“Shall we head to the King’s hall?” Cinder announced and I nodded my head, smiling at my reflection in the mirror.
We walked out of my room, coming face to face with the King’s door that didn’t seem like he was inside his room. I couldn’t feel his energy anywhere near and I assumed he had already left for breakfast.
We got to the outside of the Lycan King’s building and headed for the building that was across from the King’s building.
All the people we passed by bowed to me before continuing with their work. I didn’t know when a tear rolled down my face. Days ago, I was brought to this pack with the fear of marrying that beast. A day after that, I thought I was going to lose everything including my family.
Today, all the people in the royal buildings seemed to have known me to be the King bride. Even the ones that I have never seen before, walked up to me and greeted me with a smile on their faces.
Was the smile they were giving me a genuine smile, or were they just flashing me those fake smiles because I was their Queen? Would it have been any different if I was brought here as a slave, like Cinder?
“We’re here!” Cinder announced and stepped away for me to have a look at the impossible magnificent building in front of our eyes.
As Cinder moved away from my front, I came face to face with the King’s hall. its massive, towering walls loomed before me. The architecture was intricate and exquisite, with tall spires.
The windows were made of beautiful stained glass, depicting scenes of royalty and legend. Flowers bloomed in the gardens that surrounded the palace, and the fountains sparkled in the sun.
“It’s beautiful!” I blurted out without realising.
“It sure is.” Cinder nodded in agreement and I let out a faint chuckle.
I was still staring at the fountains when I felt a presence behind us, followed by the eerie feelings I usually felt when he was near me.
It’s the Lycan King.
I moved my gaze to have a look at him, but I was shocked to see the King, standing there behind us with that lady from the previous night, clutching tightly onto him with her head on his shoulder.
My heart sank into my stomach as I saw him, someone who claimed to be my husband in front of the nation with another woman, his arm wrapped around her waist and I wish I could walk up to them and slap his hand off her waist.
I felt a sickening sense of betrayal like a knife had been plunged into her chest. My mind reeled with questions: Was all he said to me yesterday at the ballroom, was he saying those things to her through me? Why had he claimed me when he has another? Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned away, struggling to contain the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. I have never felt so alone, so hurt, and so broken.
I came to realise that the lady was right. I wiped my tears and walked into the building without turning to look at them.
I have no right to be jealous. The King wasn’t mine, to begin with. I mean nothing to him, the same way he meant nothing to me.