Do I really not mean anything to him?

Chapter 10

SERAPHINA

I stood frozen, and my chest tightened at his words. Leone was cruel; everyone knew about that, but this was the highest form of cruelty I've witnessed. And to think it was melted out to me.

“She's to start immediately.” His words kept on echoing repeatedly in my head.

My heart dropped, and a realization dawned on me. The Lycan monster was really going to do this to me? Work… as a maid? Me? The future Luna as a maid? – or so I thought since I got married to him, which would automatically make me his Luna. But then no words about the coronation had been spoken, and apparently grandfather Lucien seems to have disappeared from the palace.

My gaze snagged back at Leone, but his expression remained unreadable; his eyes were stony and boring into me too. The kind of look that sends shivers down your spine, but I wasn't one to be scared of his looks. His voice had been calm, like he was talking about the weather. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“You can’t be serious,” I whisper-yelled at him at last.

He turned and walked away like he didn’t hear me. Seriously? My heart hammered in my chest as everything spiraled around me. I was going to do this – wash the dirty plates in front of the whole palace.

Philip stepped forward, grabbing my wrist tight. “Move,” he snapped.

“Let go of me,” I shouted as anger flared through me as I tried to pull away, but his grip only grew tighter. I hissed in pain.

“Don’t make me drag you.” Philip shot me a glare, and I let out a resigned sigh.

This was inevitable. The person to whom I ought to be taking out my anger was the monster.

He yanked me through the halls. My feet scraped the floor, my arm burning under his grip. I wanted to scream, but no one would care. No one ever did. I was in a world filled with people who hated me. They'd fold their hands and enjoy doing this to me.

Philip pushed open the door to the maid quarters and threw me into the room. I stumbled forward with a curse slipping off my lips and caught myself before falling. Surprisingly, the kitchen chambers were still busy even at night. Young girls moved around cleaning, folding, and carrying about kitchen utensils. Their eyes widened when they saw me.

And before I knew it, whispers followed. Some mouths opened in shock. I was still in my maid clothes.

The idiot could have allowed me to change out of it, but no? He chose to further humiliate me in it.

Funny how the little I spent here has given me time to carefully craft out names for him. Leone was a Lycan monster, a son of a bitch, a bastard, an idiot, and many more names I'm yet to discover.

I folded my fist as I tried to remember the reason I was in this despicable place accepting this terrible act melted out to me in the first place. Freya? It's because of Freya.

Philip cleared his throat. “Agnes,” he called.

A short, older woman came forward. Her apron was stained, and her hair was tied up in a rough bun.

“The King wants her to wash all the plates,” he smiled as he said the word.

Agnes simply nodded at a corner without questioning him. “There are the plates.”

Slowly, I turned my head, and my breath caught. Looking at me as a mountain of dirty plates and pots. So many I couldn’t count. Some still had bits of food stuck on them. The stench rose to my nose.

Philip smirked as he leaned on the doorway. “Carry them to the courtyard. All of them. Now.”

I stared at him. “Are you mad? That’s like, what? Ten trips or more, yeah?”

A slow, malicious grin stretches his mouth. “Better get started,” he shrugged and folded his arms.

I bit down the scream building in my chest. I looked at Agnes, but she avoided my eyes. I was in this alone. This was my cross, and I'd carry it.

I turned, picked up the first stack, and walked out. The plates clattered as I struggled to hold them. My arms shook and my back ached. I wasn't used to this kind of tedious work, and I couldn't help but wonder how I'd cope. The walk to the courtyard felt long and cruel. I dropped the first load and rushed back.

Second trip. Third trip. Fourth. By the fifth, I was panting. Sweat ran down my forehead, arms, neck, back, and even my feet. I was a heat-mess. My arms were sore. My hands trembled uncontrollably.

Sixth trip. Seventh trip. Eight trips.

By the ninth, I thought I would collapse. I couldn't feel my legs anymore as I was just walking based on my instinct.

The last trip, I tripped on the step. The plates crashed on the ground, but none broke. A sigh of relief left my lips immediately at that. My hands rested on my knees as I bent down, panting.

Philip walked out, his eyes cold. “Start washing. Or I’ll whip you myself.”

I looked up and cursed out. “Leone never instructed you to do that.”

He raised his hand within a blink of an eye and slapped me hard across the face.

My head snapped to the side at the sheer force of his brutality. My eyes danced, and I could swear I saw stars. My cheek hurt like a pot of boiling water was poured on my face.

Tears glistered at my eyes and threatened to fall.

“Never say his name again!” he growled. “He’s the King. You’re nothing.”

I blink fast, trying not to cry. My cheek burned.

And then I heard heavy footsteps. Philip yelled as his hands were grabbed from behind and twisted, his back crashing into the wall behind me.

“How dare you touch what's mine?” a familiar voice growled behind him.

Leone.

Philip froze. I looked up. Leone stood to his full height, so he was towering over Philip, his eyes glowing just like they did a few minutes ago.

“Your hands,” Leone smirked, his voice dangerously calm. “You use them on her again, I’ll rip them off your arms.”

Philip opened his mouth to talk.

“Don’t,” Leone warned sternly, eyes still blazing in different colors of fury. “The little wolf is mine. If you harm her without my order, you’ll join your ancestors in the grave.”

Ohhh wow! Unbelievable! The Lycan monster who enjoys other people's pain and derives joy in me being humiliated is overprotected by who gets to hurt me. So what does that mean? No one gets to touch me but him, except he instructs it? I've never witnessed this side of him, but I just say it's adorable and amazing.

Philip bowed quickly. “Yes, Alpha.”

Leone stepped closer to me and I flinched. “Get to work,” he said coldly. “You’re still not done.”

I picked up a rag and bucket. I started scrubbing. My hands moved fast, even though they ached. I would rather not cry. Neither did I want to show my weakness.

Philip stood near the wall, watching. His eyes are full of hate. I scrubbed harder. Bits of food clung to the plates. My fingers turned red.

I looked up at him as soon as Leone disappeared and grinned. “You’re quiet now,” I whistled, mischief dancing in my eyes.

I knew I shouldn't be doing this, but hell if I can help it. This man in front of me could do with a little teasing after what transpired between him and his… well, Alpha… and I'm the right person for it.

Let's just say I'm interested in picking a little fight with him. Leone wasn't on my side for sure, but Philip can't and won't hurt me.

Philip ignored me.

“What? Afraid of your King?”

His jaw clenched. “I don’t speak to dirty wolves.”

I laughed. “But you still watch me like a dog, unable to do what's in your mind. So you see, I think you're the dog. You're on a leash and restrained, whereas I'm doing what I want.” I flashed him a mocking grin.

He turned his face away.

I kept scrubbing. Plate after plate. My fingers went numb. Water splashed on my clothes. I smelled like soap and waste. But I kept, and little by little, the mountain of plates began reducing to nothing.

Suddenly, I felt a shadow behind me. I turned with a yelp, tearing out my throat, but it got stuck as soon as I saw who.

Leone stood there, holding a bucket. His lips curled into a cruel smile. “You missed a spot,” he said.

Then he poured the bucket over me.

The water was cold and smelled of waste. It soaked my dress. My hair clung to my skin, and I could feel tiny bits of things on it. My mouth opened in shock.

I looked up at him, shaking. “Why…?”

He laughed, amusement dancing in his eyes. Was I some sort of joke to him? What the hell is wrong with this Lycan for crying out loud? “Still have the guts to talk back?” he replied mockingly.

I stood up slowly, unable to contain my anger anymore. First he made me wash this plate, ridiculed me in front of his servants, and now he emptied garbage water on me. “You think this makes you strong?”

He leaned closer. “No. It reminds you where you belong.”

I clenched my fist. “You’re cruel.”

He smirked. “And you wolf, are dirty.”

Philip laughed behind him. “Dirty wolf,” he repeated, loud and proud, suddenly finding his tongue.

I turned, my eyes burning. Philip laughed harder. The other maids peeked from the doorway, trying not to stare, but they saw everything.

I took a step forward, but Leone raised his hand.

“Go ahead,” Leone turned deadly to Philip. “Say more. Let’s see how far your courage stretches.”

Philip blinked back in surprise, and I couldn't help but throw him a grin, and to further infuriate him, I mouthed 'dog on a leash.' His eyes blazed with fury, but he turned to Leone. "Alpha, I meant not to—”

“Did I say you harmed her?” Leone asked, voice like ice. “But I see your mouth wants to run.”

“No, my Alpha. I’m sorry.”

Leone smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. “You should be.”

He turned to me. “Wash faster. If the plates aren’t done by midnight, you sleep outside.”

I stared at him. “You already poured dirt on me.”

“Want me to pour more?”

I dropped my gaze. “No.”

And with that, he turned around and left.

Philip laughed again, quieter this time. “Still think you’re royalty? Do you still have the thought that you might mean anything to him?”