I had goosebumps all over my body, and my legs were trembling so badly that I thought I might collapse if I took even one step. I was overwhelmed by the stares of everyone around me. The only people who seemed happy for me were Liza, Kaitlyn, the elders, and Ma’am Elena. As for Morgana, the chief maidservant, I had no idea what she was thinking-her expressions were always unreadable.
I stood frozen, trying to raise my head to see everyone’s reactions.
“Please step forward so everyone can see you,” Ma’am Elena said gently, smiling warmly.
I forced my feet to move, but it felt like they were weighed down by the tension in the air. With every step, I could feel the eyes of everyone on me, some filled with curiosity, others with suspicion. Slowly, I reached the front, where Ma’am Elena and the elders were waiting with welcoming smiles.
“I know many of you are wondering why we’ve chosen someone so new,” Ma’am Elena said, stepping beside me. “In less than two days, she has shown us qualities that most of you have not demonstrated in your entire time here. These are the qualities we have been trying to nurture in all of you, yet only a few of you occasionally show them.”
She spoke with a firm, commanding voice, making her point clear to everyone. “We have always encouraged kindness, respect, and sacrifice. Yet, many of you are still holding onto past pains and behaving poorly toward others. I expect all of you to support Kimberly in this role, and let me make it clear-anyone who mistreats her is going against the Alpha’s law. And there will be consequences.”
The eldest among the elders spoke up next, his voice carrying a weight of authority. I was startled when he mentioned the Alpha’s law, feeling confused.
“Could Alpha Derrick have ordered them to make me the leader? Or did they really see something special in me?” I wondered, unsure of what to think.
When the elder finished speaking, I took a deep breath, realizing that this role would come with challenges. But I knew I had to prepare myself for what lay ahead.
“This concludes our meeting for today. You may all return to your rooms and wait for dinner,” Ma’am Elena said with a small smile.
I turned to leave with everyone else when Ma’am Elena suddenly called out my name.
“Kimberly, where do you think you’re going?” Her voice was calm but firm, sending a shiver down my spine. I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her. By then, the elders had already left, and it was just the two of us.
“This responsibility you’ve been given will attract a lot of hate and fights,” she said, looking deep into my eyes. “But I want you to promise me that love and wisdom will guide you through.”
I stood there, speechless for a moment. I had so many questions swirling in my mind. I finally managed to speak. “Ma’am, I… I have a few questions,” I said hesitantly.
She nodded, encouraging me to continue.
“Why me?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Why was I chosen for something like this, considering I’ve only been here for two days?”
She sighed before answering. “You heard what I and the elder said. We were looking for specific qualities, and you’ve shown them. I only hope that a little taste of power doesn’t change who you are.”
She paused, then added softly, “I know you may feel unprepared for a role like this. But trust me, when the time comes for you to show those qualities, you’ll understand why you were chosen.”
I nodded, though I still wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Before you go,” she continued, “remember this: only the strong and wise survive here. The best way to survive is to appear dumb, timid, and unassuming. Choose which path you will follow.”
With that, she gave me a final look and walked away, leaving me standing there, alone with my thoughts.
I stood there for a while, thinking about everything she had said. The weight of her words, the challenges ahead-it all felt so overwhelming. But eventually, I gathered myself and started walking back to my room.
When I reached the house, I saw Liza and Kaitlyn standing in front of my door, waiting for me. Their expressions were serious, and I could tell they had something on their minds.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting,” I said, trying to sound polite. “Ma’am Elena held me back for a bit.”
Liza shook her head. “No need to apologize, Kimberly. We just need to get something straight. We have some questions for you.”
I could see the intensity in their eyes as they looked at me.
“What’s your relationship with Ma’am Elena? Are you a spy sent by the Alpha to get us in trouble?” Kaitlyn asked, her voice shaky with uncertainty.
I let out a deep breath, relieved that their questions weren’t as bad as I had feared.
“I have no relationship with anyone here,” I explained calmly. “I’m as shocked as everyone else that Ma’am Elena and the elders gave me this responsibility. It’s not something I wanted. In fact, I tried to refuse it, but they wouldn’t let me.”
Liza crossed her arms, her tone sharp. “Do you really expect us to believe that?”
I met her gaze and took a deep breath. “Liza, Kaitlyn, I’m here because of some terrible things that happened in my life. This role… it’s not something I asked for. I’ll just do what they ask of me for as long as I can handle it.”
After I spoke, they looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. I blinked in surprise, wondering what was so funny.
“What’s going on?” I asked, confused.
Liza grinned. “We were just trying to see if you were telling the truth. And now we know you are.”
Kaitlyn smiled too. “We’re happy for you, Kimberly. Congratulations on your new position.”
I smiled back, feeling relieved. “I’m happy for us,” I said, hugging both of them tightly. “At least now we won’t have to be at the mercy of those scary women anymore.”
Kaitlyn nodded. “Sorry for doubting you, Kimberly. We just had to be sure.”
I smiled again, grateful to have their support.