Chapter 11

Alicia’s POV

I strode into Sebastian's office feeling utterly radiant, as if the morning itself had conspired to make me irresistible. I had spared no effort in perfecting my appearance that day—a luxurious dress molded to my curves, the fitted bodice drawing the eye to my delicate neckline while the playful, short hem revealed just enough of my toned legs. My hair, freshly styled into loose, cascading waves, framed my face with an effortless allure, and a dash of makeup highlighted my best features. The subtle, intoxicating scent of my perfume trailed behind me like a secret, affirming my confidence with every step.

I expected the moment I crossed the threshold that Sebastian’s gaze would meet mine, his eyes lighting up as they took in the sight of me, never unpeeling them from my body. Instead, he remained absorbed in a stack of papers, his focus unbroken by my entrance. Undeterred, I set a gleaming silver tray of lunch down on his desk with a soft clink that demanded attention.

"Sebastian, darling," I cooed, my tone both playful and expectant, "I brought you some lunch." 

I paused, hoping to see even a hint of acknowledgment, a spark that might betray a flicker of interest - that interest that had always been there until recently - but his eyes remained fixed on the documents before him. A surge of irritation mingled with hurt rippled through me.

"What's wrong, Sebastian?" I pressed, my voice dropping to a husky, velvety murmur laced with both desire and disbelief. "Don't you find me attractive anymore?"

For a long, tense moment, his face remained inscrutable, though I sensed a trace of frustration simmering beneath the surface. Finally, in a tone that was brusque and unyielding, he replied, "Alicia, I need to be alone right now. Please, just leave me."

His words struck me like a cold wind. My eyes narrowed, and my heart pounded with indignation. How dare he dismiss me so casually—as if the passion we once shared could be silenced by a few curt words? 

"Fine," I spat, the single word loaded with defiance and wounded pride. "But don't think you can just ignore me forever, Sebastian."

With that, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the office, each step reverberating with a mix of anger and sorrow. As the distance grew between us, my mind churned with questions—who did he think he was? Didn’t he know that I was the one who truly understood him, and the one meant to be his Luna?

Loretta's POV 

I sat at my ornate breakfast table, determined to savor a quiet moment of solace before the day’s demands took over. The gentle clink of porcelain and the delicate aroma of freshly brewed tea usually brought comfort—but that fragile peace was shattered the moment the door burst open. Alicia stormed in like a living tempest, her eyes blazing with venom and her face twisted in pure, unadulterated anger.

I wasn't ready for a concubine's drama.

"You're not supposed to be here," she snarled, her voice dripping with malice as though every word was designed to wound. "You're an impostor—a fake. I am the true Luna, destined to stand by Sebastian's side, not you."

Her words slashed through the calm morning,, igniting a fury that surged in my veins. My blood pounded in my ears as I fought the rising tide of indignation. How dare she question my right to be here? I was his wife - the Luna - and I would not allow anyone to undermine that truth. Especially not a lousy concubine with a brain too little for her role.

For a heartbeat, anger threatened to consume me entirely. But then I remembered Grace’s gentle counsel, her reminder that winning Sebastian’s heart meant exhibiting calm and dignity even in the face of provocation. Steeling myself, I drew in a slow, measured breath and let my inner turmoil settle just enough to speak with controlled firmness.

"Alicia, I don't know what your problem is," I said, my voice surprisingly calm despite the storm raging inside me, "but I'm not going to engage with you."

Alicia’s response was a cold, mirthless laugh, as if my attempt at restraint only served to amuse her. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you?" she sneered, her tone laced with bitter contempt. "But you're nothing more than a fake—a mere substitute. You'll never be the true Luna."

Every word she uttered felt like a deliberate jab, pushing me closer to the edge. I clenched my fists beneath the table, each beat of my heart echoing the rising swell of indignation. I was determined not to let her provoke me further, even as my mind screamed for a way to retaliate.

But before I could muster another word, Alicia—incapable of restraining her fury—lunged forward. In one swift, reckless motion, she snatched the breakfast tray from where it stood and hurled its contents all over me. Hot tea, soft scrambled eggs, and a cascade of pastries rained down, the clattering of overturned plates and tumbling cups punctuating the chaos of the moment.

For a suspended moment, the room seemed to hold its breath as I sat there, stunned by the assault. The hot, sticky food clung to my clothes, and a surge of fury—equal parts of humiliation and indignation—threatened to overwhelm me. I wanted nothing more than to lash out, to confront Alicia with all the pent-up anger I had fought so hard to contain. 

No one dared to assault me. I couldn't be bullied.

Before I could act on impulse, however, Grace entered the room like a calming presence amid the storm. "Your Majesty, please," she said softly, stepping between us with quiet authority as she gently took my arm. "Don't let her provoke you. I'll take care of this mess and have another breakfast prepared for you."

Grace's soothing tone, her measured calmness, a remainder of what was at stake, helped ground me. I nodded slowly, swallowing my desire for retribution even as a part of me seethed with indignation. I knew that for Sebastian's sake—and for my own dignity—I had to keep my composure, even as my inner world roiled with the need to prove myself.

As Alicia stormed out of the room, her retreat as defiant as her entrance, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Amid the residue of humiliation and anger, a spark of satisfaction kindled deep inside me. I was not the imposter; I was the one who held the true claim. I was married to Sebastian, and I would do whatever it took to keep him by my side. Even now, with the echoes of Alicia's harsh words still ringing in my ears, I resolved that my strength and resolve would not be so easily undermined. My dig

nity, and the future I fought for, depended on it.