Chapter 2 She served in his bed last night

EVELYN

I couldn’t stop thinking about the announcement of the Luna Selection as I scrubbed the floor of Mrs. Porter’s parlor.

After the morning roll call, Elsa had whispered more details to me. She was the only maid who still showed me a shred of kindness, though I doubted it would last. She was new here, and in a few weeks—or days—she’d likely come to loathe me like the rest.

“Jessica served at the welcoming banquet yesterday,” Elsa had said. “She told me the Dowager Queen made the announcement right in the middle of it—said she’d already sent invitations to all the eligible ladies. And apparently, one of them arrived at the palace for the Selection just last night.”

Cole was turning twenty this year, and at that age, most kings in history had already fathered their first heir. But Cole’s harem remained empty. He had no consorts, and the title of Luna Queen still went unclaimed. Whispers had it that the lords and ministers had been submitting petitions constantly, urging him to take a queen.

Perhaps that was why the Dowager Queen could no longer sit idly by. The Luna Selection, a time-honored tradition in the Hescor Empire, was typically held when a king ascended the throne without a Luna.

“What did the King say about it?” I had asked Elsa.

She had shrugged. “Nothing. I guess he just accept it. Jessica said he sat there and downed a glass of wine after the Dowager Queen finished her speech.”

A tightness had clamped down on my chest like a vice. I hadn’t even known what I had expected. I had felt stupid for asking.

“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” Elsa had said, looking hopeful. “The ladies will be choosing maids, and if we’re picked, no more peeling potatoes or scrubbing floors! That’s a win for us.”

I could hardly share Elsa’s optimism. It wasn’t just that I doubted any high lady would choose me to be her personal maid—it was that the Luna Selection, as far as I knew, had never been as blissful or promising as it sounded. It was often a brutal contest of power among the noble Houses.

Though it was called the Luna Selection, there weren’t many choices of females. Tradition and the kingdom’s standards dictated that a proper Luna must come from one of the five Great Houses: Caddel, Crawford, Fox, Hart, and Madden.

Well, now that my family had been demolished, there were only four.

The eligible ladies would move into the palace and stay there until the final Luna was chosen. During their stay, each of them would be assigned personal maids and taught how to please the King in every conceivable way.

And may ladies and their personal maids, as the history had recorded, had died from mysterious reasons during the Selection, either poisoned or murdered by nameless killers, or executed by order of the Alpha King for some supposed offense.

My body shivered at the memory of reading those historical accounts.

The door flung open, and Mrs. Porter walked in. She scanned the room before her eyes landed on me.

“That’s enough,” she said. “Go get some food before you faint. Then trim the roses in the garden. I want that thicket neat and clean before lunch. Understand?”

Mrs. Porter never failed to assign me the hardest jobs.

“Yes, Mrs. Porter.”

As I rose to my feet and complied with a nod, she added.

“Don’t go thinking you’ll ever be a high lady again—or gain the King’s favor by your nasty little service. Always remember who you are now, Evelyn.”

I wanted to tell her that I was already painfully aware. That was why I endured their mockery and bore their humiliation. But I said nothing. I left the room with the obedience beaten into me by a year’s worth of “education” in palace service.

My stomach was groaning as I made my way down the hallway to the kitchen. I hadn’t eaten since before the Alpha King summoned me to his chamber last night.

As I hurried past the grand hall, faint voices slipped through its ajar doors.

I recognized them immediately—the Circle of Gossip. The maids who spent more time whispering than working.

“Evelyn served in the King’s bed again last night,” Jesscia’s voice echoed.

“What’s there to envy, Jess?” Melanie sneered. “The Alpha King is just using her. Once he’s bored, she’ll be tossed aside like the trash she is.”

“What if she gets pregnant?” Jesscia asked. “What if she carries his child?”

“Pregnant?” Daniella laughed. “As if His Majesty would let a filthy slut like her carry his heir. Don’t forget—she’s a criminal.”

My nails dug into my palm so hard I felt the sting of broken skin. I should walk away. I’d heard it all before. Ever since my family fell, gossip and slander had become routine. I had learned to ignore it.

But then Elsa’s voice stopped me cold.

“What do you mean by criminal? What did she do?”

“Little Elsa, so naïve,” Melanie said. “Her name is Evelyn Caddel. Ring any bells? She’s the daughter of the Great Traitor. Her brother tried to kill the Alpha King. And get this—she was originally betrothed to the third prince—our Alpha King now—but she betrayed him and married his older brother.”

“Some say the War of Princes started because of her. But I don’t get it—she’s so dull and lifeless. How could anyone find her interesting in bed?” Jessica added.

“Maybe she saves her energy for chamber,” Daniella said in a hushed, mocking tone. “Heard she was passed around by the jailors in the Cell. Probably learned a few tricks from those filthy dogs.”

“Oh, Your Grace… oh, oh, ohhh…” she moaned exaggeratedly, triggering a chorus of laughter. “Her father is the Great Traitor, so she’s the Great Slut. Like father, like daughter.”

I told myself to leave. I told myself that I’d regret it if I didn’t.

But this time, my feet wouldn’t obey. And instead of fleeing like a cornered rat, I shoved the door open.

The laughter died instantly. The four turned and stared, stunned.

Daniella gulped audibly under my gaze, though she still lifted her chin in defiance.

“What—?” she began, but I lunged forward and slapped her across the face before she could finish.

Her cheek reddened instantly. She clutched it, wide-eyed.

“How dare you?” she snapped.

“You don’t understand what it means to gossip about the Alpha King while shirking your duties?” I said coldly. “Do you have any idea how many spies Lady Madden has planted in the palace, listening for even the faintest whisper against His Majesty? Do you know how desperately they’re looking for a chance to impress the King?”

I lied. I knew nothing about spies, and it seemed unlikely anyone would waste such resources on trivial maidservant gossip. But the words hung heavy in the air, enough to intimidate them.

Daniella’s lips quivered. She hesitantly glanced toward Melanie and Jessica, who stood frozen, their faces pale. Elsa looked down, her eyes avoiding mine. Her lips pressed into a frown as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, as if to hide her shame.

“It’s only a joke, Evelyn.” Melanie said with a nervous laugh, reaching out to touch my arm.

I stepped back and stared at her coldly. “Then I don’t share your sense of humor. Perhaps next time, mind your tongue—unless you’re keen on losing it.”

I turned on my heels and strode toward the door. Just before I left, I my glance briefly went to Elsa. She still didn’t look at me. Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

A pang of hurt shot through me.

I should have known better. Mockery was familiar. Hope, however, was foolish.