Ch 05 : Contempt

Rena felt her cheeks heat up from Madam Morin's tight slap. It's also possible that the corners of her lips are bleeding a little, as evidence that she can taste salty.

"I didn't expect you to be this brutal, Rena!" shouted Madam Morin holding Rena's ear. "Sarah, take Wendy to her room!" Madame Morin ordered when she saw Wendy's pale face and breaths still gasping for air.

"Are you trying to kill your friend, huh?!" Shaking Rena's shoulders, it made her dizzy for a moment.

"Please, Madam. Stomach nausea." She felt like throwing up when her body was shaken hard. Since waking up, Rena is not feeling well and has felt feverish.

"Did I not teach you from a young age to respect everyone? Do you need me to teach you one more time, huh?!" shouted Madam Morin.

"Please, Madam, forgive me." Her eyes were hot from the pain in her head.

Morin, who let go of Rena, immediately rubbed his hands on the shirt. "I forgive you this time. Don't let Luna Irene know everything. I've covered enough of your carelessness in front of her." Madam Morin left Rena, who was still leaning against the wall.

***

A man turning twenty-eight years old stared at the expanse of snow ahead. Switzerland is one country that has an attraction because of the eternal snow in the Alps. Tourists always visit a country because they want to ski or ride a gondola and enjoy nature from the top of the mountains.

Bennedict Schaacio is a tall man with slightly curly hair and slightly tanned skin from frequent sun exposure. For almost ten years, he had lost track of his sister, the last time he was with his sister was at the border between Germany and Belgium. His mother and father ordered him to quickly run away from his territory because a hunter knew the real identity of his family.

Remembering that made Ben's heart sink. He could not see his parents anymore, let alone take care of his beloved sister. He had been stopping in all cities and even several countries for the past ten years, but he had received no information. His sister seemed to have been swallowed up by the earth. He didn't even know if his sister was still alive or not.

Ben shook his head. He was sure his brother was okay.

***

Rena approached Irene in the middle-aged woman's room. By knocking a few times, Irene answered it from inside. "You called me, Luna?" Rena asked when she saw Luna Irene taking some clothes from her closet.

"Here." Irene gave Rena the clothes she was holding, "I want you to help me do some of my preparations tomorrow."

"You want to travel?" asked Rena looking at Luna Irene.

Luna Irene just smiled. "My husband took me to Austria."

Rena widened her eyes.

"What happened to you?" asked Luna Irene, seeing Rena's slightly stiffened face.

"It's okay," she squeaked, folding her clothes and putting them in the suitcase.

"Rena," called Irene. She saw Rena's blushing face. She cupped her face gently, feeling the slightly hot temperature. "You are sick?"

Rena, who was asked with Luna Irene like that, just shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

With a smile, Rena showed that she was in a normal state. After that incident, she tried to tidy up her body again so as not to make everyone suspicious, including Luna Irene, who always watched her silently.

"But your body is a little warm," explained Luna Irene, still in disbelief.

"Aren't our people destined to have temperatures above normal, Luna?" Rena's smile was reassuring.

"If you are sick, then rest. I will take care of it myself." Luna Irene couldn't bear to see Rena sadly staring at her. But how else did she feel Rena needed a break.

"I'm healthy," explained Rena.

"I said rest!" Luna Irene's sharp eyes looked at Rena sharply, making the woman give up and say goodbye.

Unexpectedly, Romeo was right there behind the pillar.

All she knows is that Romeo will make her heart even more unruly. She prefers to leave the tall man. Rena was deliberately looking for a way that was a bit away from Romeo, so she couldn't get close to the man. It was too risky, especially with the incident that made her very embarrassed. But, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Romeo following her. Romeo was already wearing different clothes than this morning.

"What is it?" Finally, Rena turned to face Romeo, still following her behind.

Romeo stopped his movements when he heard the voice interrupted. His brow furrowed mockingly.

"If you want to judge me too, you can do it tomorrow, Beta." Rena's tired tone made Romeo frown even more. Without hearing a reply from Romeo, Rena left the man, which she didn't know what to do. Let Romeo do what he wants to do.

She drank water to quench her thirst. The atmosphere on Saturday was nothing special, according to her. Suppose others will do activities such as shopping and even pampering the body in the city. But Rena didn't.

Yes, they have their schedule. Everyone will be given freedom on Saturdays and Sundays without any palace duties if they will be busy on weekdays because there are visits by essential guests from various countries or other events.

Rena rolled up her long shirt to her elbows. The cream-colored knit sweater with a large size makes it comfortable, especially in these circumstances. Rena also tied her hair to be better.

Romeo saw Rena from a distance. He 'a little' liked Rena's appearance like this. With casual clothes and jeans covering the woman's long legs, don't forget the hair tied up as long as it makes Romeo's eyes not blink.

Honestly, he didn't like Rena wearing maid clothes because the maid outfit uses a knee-length skirt and clothes that are a little tight, showing the woman's curves.

Ah, Romeo hit his head. What's wrong with his brain? It really can't be controlled.

The man approached Rena, still standing in the pantry with his back to her. He took the glass Rena had used and filled it back with water.

Rena, who already knew that when Romeo was still following her, made herself press hard not to respond. But Romeo's actions besides her were genuinely shocking. Romeo drank the same glass as herself!?

The woman looked at Romeo, who was also looking at her, although she could see Romeo's Adam's apple was still up and down from the gulp. Rena swallowed her saliva. Why is this man so seductive? She pressed against her pounding chest. This close Romeo was in front of her.

Romeo put the glass in the sink without taking his eyes off Rena. He touched the ends of the long hair that covered the woman's face behind her ear. "You can wash it already." Romeo left Rena, who was still frozen.

Damn it!

Rena looked at the only object in the sink. With a wry smile, he did his job.

She clapped her hands on her shirt when she felt everything was in order. Her brow furrowed as she felt something in her sweater pocket. She reached into it and made her even more confused when a shiny object was in her hand. She remembered very well that she had never had such a beautiful bracelet.

Her gaze glanced around. There was no way this thing had appeared by itself, yet when she changed her clothes, she remembered that there was nothing in her pocket.

Her cheeks puffed up, remembering Romeo's strange attitude earlier. Or maybe the guy? Rena walked back to her room while stroking the beautiful bracelet in her hand.

***

The hands that have been decorated with bracelets have made Rena too focused on struggling. Is Romeo willing to accept it?

Her lips sucked.

"He's so sweet." Shine, Rena's wolf, commented. For some reason, the wolf figure rarely appears and sits there, enjoying.

"Just like you," Rena said pleasantly, making Shine snort in amusement.

A knock on the door startled Rena. She quickly hid her bracelet under a long shirt that almost covered half of her palm.

"Are you… resting?" Gania's awkward smile at the door made Rena nod.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Rena asked.

Gania's smile grew wider when she heard Rena's question. "I want to talk with you. I'm bored here alone. They're all gone." Gania grabbed Rena's arm and took her to the palace garden.

"You're not going with them?" Rena sat on a park bench, making Gania couldn't help but follow her.

"They are evil, Rena, especially Wendy. They're spreading rumors." Her anger exploded, making the woman, three years older than Rena, blush.

Rena just laughed faintly.

Gania, was a new member of this palace about two months ago. According to the story, she was eager to serve Alpha and Luna and enter the palace.

"I saw you earlier. Have they always been like that to you?" Gania looked at Rena, who was still looking at the garden.

"Why do you want to know?"

Gania was surprised by Rena's answer. She seemed uneasy.

"Never mind, after all, I did that because I was innocent." Rena leaned her back on the head of the chair.

"If you do the truth, keep it up even though the whole world thinks badly of you," said Rena looking at Gania, who smiled sincerely at her. The woman is beautiful, Rena, who, as a woman, is also very jealous of Gania.

"Do you want to go have time off with me next week? We are going to the city to buy clothes," said Gania.

Rena, who heard the woman's invitation grew silent. She hasn't been out of the palace for a long time. The last time when Luna Irene was invited was four months ago. "You invite me?"

Gania's enthusiasm makes Rena sure that the woman is not playing with her words. "Okay."

Screams of surprise and the squeeze of her hands made Rena widen. Her heart also seemed to plummet to the ground as her eyes fell on Gania's wrist resting on her hand. She looked at Gania, who was still smiling at her sincerely.

Forcefully she returned Gania's smile stiffly and withdrew her hand. Her hands clenched.

How evil is that man?

Gania was finally able to sit quietly and leaned her body on the bench while looking ahead. "Thank you, Rena."

While those who were spoken to smiled sadly, she quickly removed the bracelet that had been attached and put it back in her shirt pocket. She smoothed her sleeves so she wouldn't be suspicious of Gania.

Their bracelets are the same, just a different color—a combination of heart and flower shapes. Gania's is utterly white, while Rena's is white and brown. She tried to normalize her ragged breathing. She held the tightness in her chest that was stifling her breath.

"Your bracelet is beautiful," Rena said as if full of interest. Just let Gania treat her the same as any other woman. At least she wanted to prove something.

Gania held her hand and stroked the shiny object when it hit the light, "Beta Romeo gave it."