Chapter 9 – The Public ShameAnaI stayed completely crumpled on the muddy riverbank, my arms wrapped tightly across my torn shirt, my breath coming in shallow, broken bursts. The world around me instantly blurred—faces, frantic whispers, suppressed laughter—all fading as slow, deliberate footsteps approached the group.I finally managed to lift my head through the wet, tangled strands of my hair.Luna Vera.The entire riverbank instantly shifted, like a single creature bowing instantly to its queen. Maids dropped immediately to their knees. The noble girls swiftly folded into deep, respectful bows. Even Lilian, Mora, and Cara pressed their foreheads instantly into the dirt. The gentle current of the river itself seemed to momentarily still.Vera glided forward effortlessly, appearing untouched by the mundane world she ruled. Her golden hair shimmered brightly in the morning sunlight, perfect waves cascading over a silk gown worth far more than ten years of my meager life. She stopped
Last Updated : 2025-11-30 Read more