TWIST

1: A Twist and turn

**Adelaide's POV**

Hot lemon tea splashed across my face, soaking my bangs. I dropped to my knees, bracing myself for what was coming next.

“I told you I want the purple dress! Have you gone deaf?!” Athena, my step-sister, shouted.

I clenched my fists and fought back tears. “I-I told you the seamstress hasn’t delivered it yet,” I stammered.

A sharp slap silenced me.

“Must you always showcase your talent for being an idiot? You know how important this day is to me!” She yelled, turning back to her closet.

“I’m sorry, Athena—”

“Enough! I don’t want to hear your flimsy excuses—get out!” she yelled. I stood up, ready to leave her room when she suddenly called my name, “ADELE?!”

I quickly turned back to her. “Yes, yes?” I answered.

“Why do I keep feeling like you don’t want me to succeed? Are you jealous?!” she asked, batting her lashes as I felt fear creep in from her piercing gaze.

“I-I dare not! You’re way better than me,” I quickly replied, and a smile spread across her lips.

She strutted towards me with a smirk, leaning in to adjust the collar of my linen gown. “I’m glad you know that for sure. After all, a product of adultery shouldn’t feel jealous of others—a mere daughter of a mistress.”

Her words pierced me like a dagger, leaving me feeling deeply wounded.

“The carriage is ready, Athena; you’ll be late for the event!” Eleanor, my stepmother, interrupted.

“Mother, can you believe Adele? She left my purple dress at the seamstress! What a pain!” Athena complained.

Eleanor frowned the moment she heard that. She stepped into the room, walking right up to where I was sulking. “Of all days! You choose today to act like an idiot, just like your mother?” she snapped, spitting on my hair.

She turned back to Athena. “Pick any suitable dress that can fit the event. I won’t let a fool like her ruin today for you.” With that, Eleanor walked out.

Athena rummaged through her closet and selected a pink Victorian corset dress to wear. “You know what to do next, Adelaide!” she ordered, and I rushed to help her.

She took off her underwear, and I began dressing her. “Make my hair into Queen braids; I want everyone to know I’m the next Queen,” Athena whispered with a smile.

Following her orders, I complied, and she jumped to her feet to admire her reflection in the mirror. “Humph! Not bad, but it would have looked nicer in the purple dress!” she yelled, grabbing her pink knitted fan before walking out.

I let out a sigh and slumped onto a wooden chair. “Finally,” I muttered, starting to pack up the tablecloths and dirty clothes Athena had used. I walked to the balcony to wash them.

As I tossed them into a large basin to wash, I heard a familiar voice. “I knew I’d find you here.”

I looked up, rolling my eyes when I saw it was Rhoda.

“What do you want, Rhoda?” I asked, putting more effort into my task.

She squatted beside me. Everyone in the neighborhood knew her as the rumor carrier, always gossiping about the elites—especially the royals.

“Have you heard? The Queen choosing contest won’t be ordinary this year! A special priest is coming to select among the ladies,” she said.

“How is that my business, Rhoda?”

“It’s your business, of course! You should be there. Isn’t your uncle one of the council members at the palace? Doesn’t that make you somewhat royal too?” She raised an eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but grin.

“You of all people should know my background! Quit playing games with me,” I snapped.

She pouted. “Tsk, does it matter if a mistress gave birth to you? You still carry royal blood. I mean, nothing fits better than a daughter of a mistress becoming the Queen for a crippled Alpha king,” she added.

I shot her a glare, silencing her. “Oops, I went too far.”

“Go away—”

“ADELAIDE?!” Eleanor called from inside. I quickly rubbed my sweaty hands on my linen gown and rushed inside.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Here, Athena forgot to take her favorite tea with her. Hurry and deliver it to her before the event starts!” She handed me a jar of tea.

“Yes, Mother.” I took it and turned to leave.

“Is this how shabby you want to go? Change into something nicer and groom your hair properly. Don’t let people think we’ve been starving you all these years,” she instructed, and I nodded.

I returned to my small room. “What should I wear? Oh, this!” I exclaimed, pulling out a blue velvet gown that swept the floor. I styled my hair into a bun.

A carriage was already waiting for me outside. I climbed in, and soon we were on our way to the event.

Eleanor only did this to gain favor with people so she could bask in the praises of being a kind-hearted mother who took in the daughter of a mistress while treating me like one of her own. Humph. Lies.

Who was I to go against that? After all, my mother was just a mistress.

Then, the carriage stopped. “We are here, my lady,” one of the guards announced. I peered through the curtain, my jaw dropping in astonishment.

“Heavens! Why is it so huge?” I mumbled as I stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the gigantic building in front of me.

I had heard of the Willow Halls being a grand and magnificent place, but Eleanor never gave me the opportunity to get close. What a privilege it was to finally be here!

As I approached, I noticed some ladies emerging from the gate, dressed in long lilac garments similar to the ones I wore at Eleanor’s. They were probably the palace maids, so I walked up to them.

“Excuse me, young ladies. I’m headed to the contest hall, but I don't know my way around. Could you please direct me?” I asked, but the look on their faces made me wonder if I had said something wrong.

“Are you just arriving? The event started a while ago. Unless you’d like to sneak in?” one of them replied, and I bit my lower lip.

Eleanor would surely be furious with me if I didn’t deliver the tea to Athena. “Is there any way I could get in? I need to bring this to someone inside,” I pleaded, and they exchanged glances.

“Pass through the back gate; no one will notice if you walk in that way,” one of them suggested, prompting a smile to appear on my lips.

“Thank you! Have a nice day,” I said before making my way to the back gate.

I carried the tea delicately and finally found the back entrance. I gently twisted the royal knob and peered inside. “These pink birds decide who the next Luna Queen of Willow Kingdom is. Whichever shoulder they land on, that person becomes the new Luna,” I overheard someone say from the crowd.

Oh heavens, how would I find Athena amid all these beautiful ladies? I tiptoed into the hall, but suddenly my foot caught on my garment, causing me to trip and drop the jar of tea.

In that moment, I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. All eyes turned to me, hearing the crash of the broken jar.

I bit my lip and lowered my head. Yes, I was ready to die. “I….”

“There she is! Our new Luna!!” a man with white hair and a staff announced. “All knees bow for Her Majesty!”

Huh? Who? I blinked repeatedly, and before I knew what was happening, two pink birds were already flapping their wings around my shoulders.

In an instant, everyone in the hall dropped to their knees, chanting, “Long live! Long live Her Majesty! The Luna!”

THE KING’S PERGOLA-ALPHA KAIUS

**Kaius’s POV**

A warm breeze greeted me as soon as I stepped into the Pergola. There’s nothing more reassuring than being here. “My King!” Rafaello called out with great excitement, a feeling I could discern from his voice.

Without turning, I asked, “What do you have, Rafaello? I’m trying to have some alone time.” I slightly closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air.

“The new Luna has been chosen! The priest—”

I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t I tell you what to do? I don’t want a Luna by my side. Send the poor girl away so she doesn’t have to witness my wrath,” I snapped.

“I’m sorry, my King. I’m afraid she’s difficult to send away. The council is protecting her with your guards, so no one can approach her except you,” Rafaello explained, his voice trembling with fear. But frankly, I didn’t care.

I wheeled my chair towards him. “I would have loved to strangle you right here, and no one would find out where you went, but for the sake of your loyalty, I’ll let it go,” I declared, and he bowed his head.

“Thank you, my King.”

“Don’t thank me. Where is the poor girl?” I asked, and he looked confused.

“Are you finally accepting the Luna ? I’d be—”

“Do you want me to change my mind? I asked you a simple question, Rafaello. Answer me,” I cut him off with a glare.

“She’s at Willow’s Royals, where the former Queen stayed,” he answered.

My anger mounted at hearing where the girl was located. How dare they? Who asked all of them to go through this trouble just to produce an heir? Tsk.

Everything ends tonight. I don’t need a Luna!

I snapped my fingers, signaling the guards for my departure, and a carriage arrived in an instant.

“To Willow’s Royals,” I commanded.

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