When I woke up again, I wasn't in the library anymore. I was lying on a bed with white sheets, wearing a blue-striped hospital gown. The air was filled with a strong smell of disinfectant. I must be in a hospital.I remember falling asleep in the library and then having a dream in which a woman tried to wake me up.It turns out it wasn't a dream.The lock on the door of the hospital room turned, and a nurse walked in."You've finally woken up," she said. "You fainted due to physical weakness and exhaustion. By the way, do you know you're pregnant?"I'm pregnant?! My goodness!I shook my head."You're three weeks pregnant. The first twelve weeks of pregnancy are the most critical for the fetus. You need to take good care of yourself and avoid strenuous activities," she advised before indicating that I could be discharged.I stood up, feeling a strong dizziness, likely from lying in bed for a long time.The nurse, seeing my unsteady steps, came to assist me. "Your family is waiting for
I showed no fear, locking my eyes onto his. After a few seconds, he released his grip.I coughed severely for a while before finally regaining my breath.Clearing my throat, I calmly said, "I'm not threatening you. I'm just discussing conditions. I don't want my child to grow up being mocked as 'born of a sex slave'.""I'm telling you. I haven't treated you as a sex slave," he retorted."It doesn't matter what you think. What matters is how others perceive it. The fact is, with what you've done to me, in anyone's eyes, you've treated me as a sex slave," I said."All right then. State your conditions," he sighed, lying back in his seat.This round, I won. Unable to contain my joy, my lips curled up. "Thank you for your generosity. I suggest we establish a few rules. First, you can't restrict my freedom for any unjustified reasons anymore. Second, please take back your words about my lack of qualifications as Luna Queen. Don't make me a slave. Whether or not I prove myself is my probl
Giselle deftly coiled my hair into a bun, applied a thin layer of foundation on my face, adorned my eyelids with a light shade of purple eyeshadow and a touch of golden shimmer, and finally, swept my lips with a hint of pale pink gloss. She had chosen for me a milky-white silk blouse with a tie-neck collar, paired with dark brown trousers and brown loafers. The outfit, along with the makeup, accentuated my charm."Absolutely stunning! I love what you've put together. Thank you, Giselle," I beamed with delight."You're making me blush with your compliments," she chuckled."Would you please escort me to Beta Louis's office later?" I requested."Don't you think you need more rest? You've just returned from the hospital, and I'm worried about your well-being," Giselle inquired with genuine concern."Don't fret; I know what I'm doing," I assured her.After grabbing my briefcase, I followed Giselle out. As we reached the door, we ran into Olivia and Gamma Evelyn."Good afternoon, Miss Charl
I sat there with nothing to do, so I took out the book Louis had given me yesterday and continued reading. While reading, I kept an eye on the two Gammas. Gamma Casey had a round, oval face with large, round blue eyes and a small, cute mouth. She somewhat resembled Reese Witherspoon. She was wearing a light blue blouse that suited her sweet demeanor. On the other hand, Gamma Jonathan had a well-defined square face, but due to his weight, his cheeks were chubby, making him look like a big potato. His moderately-sized eyes seemed unusually small on his round face. He was dressed in an oversized gray t-shirt with cartoon characters.They would occasionally burst into laughter while looking at their computers, apparently finding something amusing. They also whispered to each other from time to time, not appearing to be busy at all. I stared at them, hoping to make eye contact, but they never once glanced in my direction. I cleared my throat softly, trying to get their attention, but they
"Just lay low." I understood her meaning. Until I truly held power, I couldn't easily make enemies.The next day, Gamma Casey and Gamma Jonathan, in stark contrast to their coldness from the day before, were very enthusiastic about introducing me to their direct subordinate, Cedric Bennett.Cedric was responsible for purchasing all the supplies within the castle. He was a nearly 40-year-old veteran employee with a solid appearance. He wore black-framed glasses and spoke with a strong Western accent. He held a notebook and had a pen sticking out of his shirt pocket."Miss Charlotte, my job mainly involves three aspects. Firstly, every week, I need to confirm the needs of the people here. For example, last week, we had five vases broken, so I needed to add five vases to the purchasing list. Once I've compiled all the needs, I create a purchasing list and head to the market on Friday morning to order the required items from vendors. Within three days, all the ordered goods are delivered
"Good morning, Alpha King," they all bowed their heads and said in unison.I turned around and saw him standing at the kitchen door, grand and imposing. His large frame almost touched the top of the doorframe. I sized up the situation and realized this might be an excellent opportunity to assert myself in front of everyone.I walked up to Sebastian, respectfully greeted him, and explained the whole situation to him."So, it's just a small matter like this. Why make such a big fuss? Jasmine, prepare some toast and warm milk to be sent to the tower as compensation. Ensure the next meal is more generous," Sebastian told Jasmine."Yes, Your Highness," Jasmine said, bowing to him and trembling in her voice. Her flushed face had turned pale.Julie was still kneeling on the floor. She suddenly looked up at Sebastian, and her eyes were filled with gratitude and, if I wasn't mistaken, admiration. She bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Alpha King. Thank you.""That's enough; everyone gets ba
Olivia's POV"Ah?" She raised her head, her big, round eyes staring at me in confusion."Come with me," I impatiently shook my head, then turned and walked toward my room. I unlocked the door and motioned for her to follow.Julie hesitated for a moment, then took small, cautious steps toward me. I gestured for her to sit in an armchair, and then retrieved a bottle of orange juice from the fridge and handed it to her."Thank you," she said, taking the orange juice with both hands. Her body was incredibly stiff, and she barely occupied a third of the chair's seat."Relax a bit, don't be so nervous. I'm not here to interrogate you, just to chat," I reassured her. I twisted the cap off the bottle and took a sip of orange juice."Yeah," her voice quivered, almost inaudible."You've put on makeup, haven't you?" I leaned in to examine her face more closely.Her body trembled suddenly, and she nodded stiffly."That's strange. I saw you downstairs this morning without makeup. I remember you've
As I stared at her, her eyes flickered."Why are you delivering my meal today? Where's Simon?" Sebastian asked, looking puzzled.Julie quickly walked to his side and said in an extremely flattering tone, "Your Majesty, Simon suddenly didn't feel well, so I'm temporarily replacing him to serve your meal.""I see," Sebastian's gaze lingered on Julie's face, and he continued, "You look exceptionally beautiful today.""Thank you for your compliment," Julie blushed."But your makeup today is too garish and doesn't match the pale yellow dress you're wearing," Sebastian continued to critique.Julie's smile instantly disappeared. She stared with bewildered eyes, continuously nodding, "I understand.""Are you of age yet?" Sebastian asked Julie."Almost, I'll be of age by September in the second half of the year," Julie replied attentively."Ah, that's soon. I wish you all the best in finding a partner once you come of age," Sebastian's implication was clear: even if you're almost of age, I'm n
For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar. Participants competing freely? Didn't that mean there would be fights, possibly even fatalities?"Well, everyone, what do you think of Alpha Asher's proposal?" Sebastian asked with amusement.The crowd exchanged glances, unable to utter a word.Only Alpha Morgan had a satisfied and confident look on his face."I think Alpha Asher's proposal is excellent, adding more excitement to the competition," Morgan nodded, affirming."Good, if there are no objections, let's do it!" Sebastian looked around and gave the order, modifying the rules.On the way to the jungle, I heard people murmuring behind me."If later Morgan wants to snatch our prey, let him, no need to risk our lives for it, anyway, he's going to win.""Yeah, no one is his match."My heart twinged. Uncle Asher, does he really not fear death? Goddess, please let Uncle Asher win.Reaching the edge of the jungle, each Alpha transformed into a wolf, lining up neatly. Morgan's brown wolf was t
As the bastard Morgan entered the castle, even though I had mentally prepared myself, my body couldn't help but tremble.His gaze locked onto me, filled with the usual contempt, disdain, and mockery.A myriad of emotions swirled within me—anger, resentment, and... fear.I clutched my skirt, palms sweating profusely.Why? Why wasn't he surprised to see me at all? It was as if he had anticipated my presence here.He briskly approached me, a smirk playing on his lips.That smile transported me back two years, to that night he drained my strength.Painful memories surged, causing my legs to weaken, my body tilting backward, on the verge of losing balance.Fortunately, a strong pair of hands caught my waist. Even through the thin silk fabric, I could feel the warmth of his palms."Don't panic; you look perfect right now," Sebastian whispered softly behind my ear.His encouragement awakened me from the nightmares of the past.I straightened up, forced the most graceful smile, and welcomed m
Charlotte's POVJessica was found dead on the second day of her imprisonment, succumbing to cyanide poisoning.A farewell letter was left on the cell wall: "I regret what I've done. I can't bear the consequences."A bottle of cyanide was discovered in her wardrobe.The poisoning case concluded with Jessica's admission of guilt and suicide.Both Giselle and I doubted this outcome, but unfortunately, with the upcoming hunting competition, the castle had no extra resources to investigate further. The existing result was deemed the best under the circumstances.Jessica's death stirred up quite a commotion in the castle. The maids claimed Jessica's ghost roamed the third-floor staircase at night. The youngest, Julie, and Rita were so frightened that they fell ill with high fevers. The older maids took advantage of the situation, spreading ghost stories to scare Julie and Rita, paying no heed to Giselle's reprimands. The entire castle's affairs came to a standstill.On the eve of the huntin
Olivia's POVThe castle prison was located on the basement floor of the tower. The bald walls and floor were made of gray cement, devoid of any decoration except for a glaringly white light on the ceiling, resembling a cement box.A silver-haired, stern-faced jailer led me forward. As he took each step, the keys on his waist swung, clashing against each other with a metallic sound.Entering from the outside, we walked through a long corridor with prison cells on both sides, densely packed like chicken coops. The cells were small, about two meters wide and two meters long, just enough to fit a barely usable small bed. The worn-out inmates, with haggard expressions, peeked through the cell doors whenever they heard footsteps, wondering if a new prisoner had arrived."Hey! Girl, why are you in here? Is it for adultery?" shouted a young male prisoner. He was sturdy, wearing an orange prison uniform, and had short, thick red hair.His words prompted laughter from other male prisoners. They
Five days before the hunting competition, news arrived that soldiers patrolling the swamp in the southwest had caught a middle-aged woman with suspicious behavior and a nervous demeanor. I was in the office, cross-referencing this month's procurement records with Eileen.Upon hearing the news, I walked to the window. On the asphalt road in the center of the castle's front lawn, two soldiers escorted a ragged woman towards the castle. As they approached, I recognized her as the fake maid who had brought me rose tea the day before yesterday. Despite changing her clothes, she was dirty all over, yet I could still recognize her.I wanted to see her immediately. As I stepped out of the office, I ran into Sebastian coming out as well. Upon learning that the culprit had been captured, he, like me, was heading downstairs to see what was happening."It's her, I recognize her!" I told him, grabbing his hand and running downstairs.The two soldiers brought the woman before us, pressing her shoul
"Is it her?" Sebastian pointed to a maid and asked me."No," I shook my head, answering.Sebastian waved his hand, signaling the maid to leave."What about her?" He pointed to the next maid and asked me."Still not her," I said somewhat frustrated.The maid who brought me the rose tea was not any of these five new maids. So, where did that person go? Such a conspicuous person disappeared in the castle."Have any of you seen any suspicious individuals?" Sebastian questioned the six guards on duty.The guards looked bewildered, pale-faced, shaking their heads, seeking Sebastian's forgiveness."You useless bunch! Any random stranger can come and go into the castle. What's the use of hiring you?" Sebastian roared at them, "The six of you, get out now!"The entire castle fell into silence, and no one dared to make a sound. They shrank, trying to hide themselves. No one wanted to become a target of Alpha's anger.The six guards knelt down, crying, pleading for Sebastian to give them another
Charlotte's POVToday, the castle is livelier than usual. The five temporary maids recruited by Eileen have taken their positions. After Giselle's morning training, they have started practicing, exploring every corner of the castle with various tools in hand.I sit in the office, organizing the dinner menu. Later, I will take the finalized menu to Molly for approval. She will estimate the required ingredients based on my menu, and then Eileen will go to nearby farmers to reserve the ingredients.Truffle lobster, Bordeaux beef, cheese lettuce salad, tomato sauce green peas, almond apple pie, cheesecake... I jot down the recipes on paper, occasionally interrupted by the footsteps and chatter from outside the office. I have completed the appetizers, main course, and desserts needed for the dinner. Next, I need to list the wines for the guests. As I finish writing, a knock on the door interrupts me. I pause and invite the unexpected guest in.A maid I have never seen before enters, holdin
After hitting the 'send' button, I promptly closed the laptop. Getting up from the couch, I lay down on the bed, attempting to catch some sleep. As I closed my eyes, a rush of emotions—anticipation, nervousness, anxiety—flooded my mind. My heart pounded relentlessly. Revenge plans swirled in my mind, making it impossible to sleep, almost driving me mad.To shift my focus, I got up from the bed. Opening the laptop, I checked my email to find a new message. With trepidation, I clicked on it, only to discover it wasn't Uncle's reply but a work list from Louis. It detailed the list of attendees: 48 Alphas, 7 senior wolves within the castle, and 5 elders in the courtyard, totaling 60. The attachment outlined past dinner menus, revealing at least 20 dishes. With only six chefs, five maids, and five manservants, the manpower was insufficient for a dinner of 60. I needed to recruit five temporary maids.Entering the third-floor office, both Jessica and Irina were present. Jessica had a long f
The first rays of morning sunshine pulled me from my slumber. I opened my eyes to a sky as clear and blue as it gets, and it put me in a great mood. Sebastian was up way before I was. I crawled out of bed, retracing our steps from yesterday. Sebastian was in the middle of a transformation, his bones cracking like firewood. It took a while, but he finally asked, "Why?""This is a great chance for me to develop my management and coordination skills. I need this opportunity to prove that I'm capable of being Luna Queen," I replied with a reason I'd prepared in advance.He leaned on his chin, deep in thought for a moment, then said, "I agree to your request. But before making any decisions, you'll need to consult with Louis. Don't make any rash moves.""No problem! I promise!" I exclaimed, my excitement clear."Alright, let's head back. I need some rest; I couldn't sleep all night. Those stone beds are too hard and cold. You should go back to your room, take a shower, and change your clot