17|| A Feeling Of Hope

I gripped Poppy’s hand so tightly my knuckles turned white. Outside I forced myself to stand still, with my chin lifted, but inside my body was shaking so badly I could almost see double.

Pure fear. That this was what I was feeling. I knew that I was finished. Coralie had won. My father had won. Even Head Maid Smite, smirking behind the advisor like she already knew the answer had won.

But I refused to let any of them see me break.

I bit the inside of my lip until I tasted blood, using the pain to stop myself from crying.

“Result?” I said, careful to keep my voice from cracking. “How could that possibly be? I haven’t even done the Trial yet. How could there already be a result?”

In a second I’d made my choice. I’d deny. Whatever words he was about to speak, I would deny, deny, deny.

Advisor Saffron's expression didn’t change. He looked at me with those unreadable pale eyes, then tilted his head slightly, as if he couldn’t understand something about me.

“Well,” he said at last, “His Majesty’s words aren’t really for us to question, don’t you think?”

He folded his hands behind his back and nodded to Head Maid Smite.

Smite stepped forward, with her shoulders straightened like she had been waiting for this all her life. I knew she must have been itching to pay me back after I had slapped her in our last encounter. She collected the letter from the advisor’s guard and walked closer to me to whisper in my ear.

“I can’t wait to make your life a living hell,” Smite murmured with a sly chuckle before leaning back, clearly enjoying the look on my face. Her words made me feel like a bucket of cold water had been poured on my back. I shivered as she broke the royal seal from the letter.

“By order of His Majesty,” she began, “concerning the Temptation Trial…” She paused, looking at me one last time.

The maids behind her turned away, hands over their mouths to hide their laughter.

“If passed,” Smite continued, “you will proceed to the third round which is the Trial of Submission. If you fail…” She let the words enter my brain, smiling wider. “…the trial ends here.”

My stomach grumbled and I felt like vomiting. I didn’t need her to explain what “ends here” meant.

Then she unfolded the rest of the letter. Her eyes looking over the words once then twice and then she froze. The smirk fell right off her face.

“W-what?” she whispered.

The Advisor Saffron raised an eyebrow. “Is there an issue, Head Maid?”

Smite’s fingers gripped the letter as though she might tear it. “N-no, my lord.” She said, forcing a bitter smile and then she cleared her throat, “By His Majesty’s decree… Lady Dahlia has passed the Temptation Trial and is to advance to the next stage.”

The laughter behind her died instantly. Poppy let out a tiny gasp, squeezing my hand so hard it almost hurt.

A loud ringing filled my head, and for a second I thought I might faint.

“Repeat yourself,” I said, my voice shaking a little.

Smite blinked fast, like she’d seen a ghost. “…What?”

“I said repeat yourself!” My voice came out louder this time.

Her mouth twisted, and she bit her lip hard before spitting the words out. “Lady Dahlia has… passed the Temptation Trial and will move to the next and final stage.”

“Your Highness!” Poppy gasped, tears already running down her face. She held on to me, smiling through the tears, while I stood frozen. How? How could this be real?

Advisor Saffron nodded at me and even gave a small clap. “Congratulations, Lady Dahlia. I hope you will prepare well for the third trial.” Then he turned and left with his guards.

The room went quiet. And Smite’s hands were still squeezing the paper until it squeezed. Poppy pulled it from her, straightened it, and gave it to me and I read the words again and again, just to be sure.

I was shaking, feeling a strange sensation in my chest. What was this? Was this happiness? Or was it strength.

When I looked up, Smite was already trying to leave the room.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked, a slow smile curving my lips.

Smite froze, turning back toward me. Her face twisted with anger, but under it I saw something fearful. Real fear.

I stepped closer and she actually shuffled back, her hands twitching at her sides. “W…what do you think you’re doing?” she stammered. “Because you won, you think it’s over? There’s still the third trial! you don’t be so confident, you’ll never—”

I raised my hand and she flinched, her head jerking to the side as if she was expecting a tight slap. Instead, I calmly reached out and straightened the collar of her dress, my smile growing.

“I know someone sent you to make my life hell,” I said softly. “And I know when you leave, you’ll go running to them like a scared little rat. Good for you. Run faster this time. And deliver my message loud and clear okay? Tell them this is just the beginning. When I pass the third trial, I’ll return all their good wishes, twice as hard.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

“What are you waiting for?” I waved her off. “Shoo, don’t keep your master waiting.”

Smite shot me a venomous glare before spinning on her heel and storming out with her two minions running after her.

I stood still, making sure they'd walked a bit before turning to Poppy.

“Follow them,” I said quietly. “Find out which concubine’s quarters she runs to and don’t let them see you.”

Poppy’s eyes widened, but she nodded hard and hurried after them quickly.

I looked at the letter again. For the first time since I stepped foot in this palace, something warm flickered inside me.

It was hope.

It felt strange at first, like something new settling inside me, filling every inch of me and not with fear, but with fire. For the first time, I wanted to fight for myself, to fight back. What were the odds that all of this would happen by chance? That man in the library wasn’t just trouble, he was a door, a path leading straight to His Majesty… and maybe to my own safety in this cold, haunted palace.

Right there, I made a promise to myself that I would never let anyone use me as a pawn again. From now on, I would be the one moving the pieces. I didn’t need to be a white wolf, I didn’t need a wolf at all. I was going to be an omega who survived.

And I wouldn’t just survive, I would play to win. I would become the villain they feared… and I would come out on top.