19

Livia POV

“Rule Number 4: I would like to stay on top of things—I will never leave all the chores to the staff. It is my absolute duty as Luna to keep my husband's house clean and orderly.”

Livyana had to be out of her mind. She had to be.

I stared at the screen of my phone, my jaw was literally sweeping the wooden floor at this point. These weren't rules a true Luna must follow —these were rules on how to be a perpetual, underpaid housemaid 101! 

So Livyana is trying to tell me she would leave the luxuries of this estate to be a slave just to score cheap points at being such a dutiful wife?

Seriously?

I visibly, physically could not see myself manifesting these ridiculous directives for the next three days, let alone three long, agonizing months.

Besides, what was there even to clean?!

I slipped my phone into my pocket in my dress, crossed my arms, and began pacing down the hallways of the estate. I looked around in sheer disbelief. 

Something’s stood out for me.

First it was the way the marble floors had been buffed to a mirror shine, and then the crystal chandeliers gleamed without a single speck of dust, and the velvet drapes hung in immaculate, pristine folds. 

I wandered out toward the rear courtyard.

I peeked into the multi-car garage—every single luxury vehicle was washed, waxed, and whipped clean. 

I walked past the security post and met Victor, the head of security, meticulously feeding the royal hounds. 

I turned to my right, heading down the cobblestone path toward the sprawling botanical gardens, and spotted a familiar figure.

It was the young girl whose collar I had adjusted yesterday during our initial meeting. And if my memory serves me right, her name is Amelia. 

Apart from the fact that she was an Omega and a member of the domestic staff, I could easily tell she was right around my age bracket—maybe twenty or twenty-one.

Thank the Moon Goddess, I thought. I couldn't survive another second in this house doing absolutely nothing. 

I desperately needed a friend to keep me company, especially since my twin sister was off playing me back home.

Amelia was holding a long brass hose, carefully misting a bed of rare white orchids, when I approached her with a bright, friendly smile.

"Hi, Amelia! I can see you're super busy," I called out warmly, tucking my hands behind my back as I strolled up to her.

The moment my voice registered, Amelia gasped, dropping the hose. She instantly dropped to her knees, dipping her head low in a quick, panicked bow.

"I am blessed by the Moon Goddess to enjoy the warmth of the Luna on this beautiful morning!" she squeaked out, her voice trembling slightly. "How are you today, my dearest Luna?"

I groaned softly, rushing forward to pat her shoulder. "Oh, please, get up! Skip the formalities, Amelia. Honestly, it has been the most boring morning of my entire life. Maris just practically threw me out of the kitchen and told me I'm not even allowed to make my own breakfast. I feel completely idle. Can I help you with those?"

I reached out, attempting to take the brass hose from her hands to give myself something—anything—to do.

Amelia’s eyes went wide as saucers. She stumbled backward, clutching the hose to her chest.

"Oh! No, no, no, Luna! I apologize profusely!" she stammered, shaking her head frantically. "The Queen Mother would literally have my head on a silver platter if I allowed you to do manual labor! And... and besides..."

She swallowed hard, looking around nervously as if the walls had ears.

"And besides what?" I prompted, tilting my head.

"The Queen Mother always says..." Amelia carefully recited, "‘An orchid is like a delicate secret; too many clumsy hands will only crush its petals.’ That is why Her Majesty explicitly entrusted the gardens to me alone. I handle them myself so no one else gets blamed if a stem breaks."

I stared at her, my lip curling in sheer incredulity. ‘A delicate secret’?! What kind of dramatic nonsense is that?!

So, apparently, Queen Mother Raychel didn't just rule the pack—she controlled the length and breath of this entire estate. 

Unbelievable.

"Right," I sighed, running a hand over my forehead with a playful smile. "So Her Majesty rules the gardens, too. What on earth am I supposed to do now? I guess this is way beyond me, and it's my cue to go eat whatever breakfast Maris made and rot in bed all day."

Amelia offered a tiny, sympathetic smile, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Well... if you just want to stretch your legs, Luna, you could take a walk around the eastern wing of the estate. The view of the valley from the high rose arches is quite breathtaking this time of morning."

My eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! Will you take me around and show me?"

Amelia froze. The tiny bit of color drained right out of her cheeks, and she began to stammer awkwardly. "I... I would have loved to, Luna, truly! But... but my morning tasks—"

"And you would love to show your new Luna around as an obedient, wonderful subordinate, my darling Amelia," I cut her off smoothly, flashing a dazzling smile. "Because your Luna commands it."

I hated doing it—I truly despised pulling the 'Luna title' card like some arrogant, power-hungry royal. But if I didn't start asserting myself right now, the staff would keep treating me like a walking, contagious plague every time Queen Mother Raychel's invisible rules got in the way!

Surely the Queen Mother will understand if I explain it to her later, I reasoned with myself. I don't mean any disrespect; I just refuse to be treated like a prisoner in my own home.

"So," I nudged Amelia playfully with my elbow, "show me around!"

Amelia let out a small, defeated breath, but a genuine smile slowly broke across her face. "Yes, Luna. Right this way."

For the next twenty minutes, it was absolute bliss. Amelia walked beside me, gradually shedding her extreme terror as I asked her normal questions about her life, her favorite spots on the grounds, and the history of the villa. She showed me the beautiful stone gazebo, the natural freshwater pond near the woods amogst other things. I was actually starting to feel like a normal person again.

"And right through these arches," Amelia was pointing excitedly toward a sprawling terrace covered in crimson vines, "is where the late Alpha used to—"

"Amelia!"

A harsh screech shattered the quiet morning air.

We both whipped around. Maris was marching down the pathway toward us, her face contorted in a furious scowl, her hands planted firmly on her hips.

"Are you completely out of your mind?!" Maris barked, glaring directly at the young Omega and ignoring me entirely. "Are you done with your morning chores?! Why are you loitering around the estate when the laundry and the linen dusting haven't even been touched?!"

Amelia instantly shrank back, her posture collapsing into immediate submission. "I... Maris, I was just—"

"Amelia just finished watering the plants," I stepped directly in front of Amelia, cutting off the head housekeeper. "And she is currently busy taking me on a tour of my own home. You can easily get someone else to handle the linens."

Maris turned her sharp gaze to me, her nostrils flaring. She grumbled, crossing her arms tightly over her chest."Chores will be left entirely unfinished if every single staff member decides to follow in Amelia’s lazy footsteps," Maris snapped bitterly, not bothering to hide the hostility in her voice. 

"Queen Mother Raychel will certainly not be pleased to learn that Amelia left her assigned duties completely undone to go gallivanting around the gardens!"

Amelia’s shoulders trembled. "I am so sorry, Maris! I'm sorry, Luna!" she squeaked, bowing frantically before turning and scurrying away toward the main house like a hunted rabbit.

I stood there, my chest heaving, a hot, searing wave of anger washing over me. I felt so intensely pissed off! 

I was deeply tempted to pull out my phone right then and there to text Livyana about the absolute circus happening here, but I knew my sister—she was so terrifyingly submissive that she would probably take Maris's side and lecture me on 'respecting household hierarchy'!

Maris adjusted her apron, giving me a smug, dismissive look that made my fingers itch to slap her.

"Breakfast is served in the main dining hall, Luna," Maris added flatly, her tone dripping with malice. "You shouldn't let it sit too long. The Queen Mother prefers a strict schedule."

Without waiting for my response, she turned on her heel and strode back toward the mansion.

I stared after her retreating back, my teeth grinding together so hard my jaw throbbed.

 I didn't know why, but I instantly lost every single drop of my appetite. The thought of sitting alone in that dining room, eating whatever meal that bitter woman had prepared, made my stomach turn in complete disgust.

From the looks of things, I was probably going to starve until noon because of the Queen Mother's sacred timetable—and I didn't care.

I needed to speak to Queen Mother Raychel immediately. Because someone in this godforsaken villa was going to have to explain to me, in detail, why a bitter house maid apparently possessed far more authority in this household than the actual Luna!