Luna: From Maid to Queen in Rebirth

Heavy snow blanketed the streets of the palace. I was wrapped in tattered clothes, leaving blood-stained footprints on the white snow.

"Ah!"

I frantically ran towards Alice's palace, but a stone tripped me, and I fell to the ground with a painful cry.

The water pool nearby reflected my face. My messy hair hung loosely behind my head, and on my pale face, a deep lash mark could be seen stretching from my left jaw to my right mouth corner.

Tiny beads of blood appeared on the bridge of my nose, flowing down to my lips. I wanted to shout for help, but in my mouth, there was only half of my tongue, sliced off.

Tears slid down, and I raised my bruised arm to wipe them away.

I couldn’t cry. It was too cold here, and my tears would only make the wounds on my face crack even more.

I raised my head, staring forward, using both hands to crawl forward with difficulty. My legs had been broken, and now my left calf was useless, just hanging limply.

Alice, as long as I can reach Alice's palace, I will be saved!

I am not an ordinary maid.

Alice and I come from the same pack. She is a princess, the highborn alpha's daughter, while I am just a lowly omega in the pack.

But my family was too poor. I sold myself to her, becoming her personal maid after she married into the palace. I only hoped my family could receive better treatment from the alpha and get enough food to eat.

The alpha promised me that once his daughter Alice became Luna and gained the king’s favor, I could return to my family and reunite with them.

For a full ten years, I worked tirelessly to ensure Alice gained the king’s favor in the palace. No other Alpha’s daughters from different packs could steal the king’s attention away from Alice.

Alice grew to value me more, and everyone in the palace knew I was Alice’s most loyal dog, her most capable helper in competing for favor.

They all believed that when Alice became Luna, I would become the palace’s head housekeeper. But no one knew, I only wanted to go home.

Alice promised me she would send me back to the pack. I didn’t want anything; I just wanted to be with my family again.

But three days ago, Alice threw me a party to celebrate my departure from the palace. At the banquet, I was drugged and made to drink a wine that put me into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the bed of a bate—Eric, the king’s brother, a physically deformed dwarf.

Not only that, I also found out I could no longer shift into wolf form.

For three whole days, Eric tortured me. This man, whose body was deformed, was twisted inside and took pleasure in watching me collapse in agony on the bed, begging for mercy.

He was just a dwarf. Although his bloodline made him a bate, his physical disability made him feel inferior. He liked torturing omegas—whipping my skin, breaking my limbs, tearing out my nails and tongue. He enjoyed breaking things, just like himself.

I didn’t give up. I knew I had been set up, but I knew who could save me.

Taking advantage of Eric’s drunkenness, I dragged my broken body, wearing only a thin coat, and staggered out.

Alice’s palace was right in front of me. I desperately knocked on the door with my frozen fingers.

Help me, Princess Alice, help me!

I shouted loudly, but all that came out was a muffled sound.

The palace door slowly creaked open, and Alice, dressed in luxurious clothing, slowly walked out.

I crawled over, grabbing her white fur cloak with my fingers. I lifted my head to speak, but was kicked hard away.

"Where did this slave come from?! How dare you touch the future Luna! Someone, cut off her hand!"

That was Susan, Alice's maid. She had always seen me as her competitor, believing I was the only obstacle keeping her from becoming Alice’s most trusted head maid.

I lay on the ground, glaring at Susan with hatred. In my heart, I always thought she was the one who drugged me.

"Wait," Alice raised her hand, stopping the others. She slowly walked towards me. I struggled to lift my face, looking at her with hope.

Alice’s soft fingers touched my face. I stared at her familiar face, wanting to speak, but could only spit out blood.

"How did you come back? Delia, didn’t I send you to Eric's bed?" Alice said with a smile, that familiar friendly face now looking strangely unfamiliar to me.

I wanted to beg her for help, but my mouth closed. Her nails pressed into the lash mark on my face, applying slight pressure, making the wound crack and bleed again.

"Ahh..."

I trembled in pain, staring at her in disbelief. Her smile was so beautiful, yet at this moment, it seemed terrifying.

Why? I was so loyal to you. I protected you day and night to help you become the king's Luna, devising schemes and strategies for you.

You promised me. You said you would send me back home.

Tears flooded my eyes, and I finally realized I had been betrayed by the person I trusted most.

Why? Why did you do this to me?

"Princess Alice, she’s so filthy. Quick, wipe your hand!"

Susan grabbed Alice’s hand, and the corner of her eyes showed familiar malice.

"Delia, you know, a toothless hunting dog that can’t catch a rabbit will just be killed by the hunter and eaten."

Alice took the handkerchief from Susan’s hand, elegantly wiped her hand, and smiled faintly.

"I was going to keep you around because you helped me so much, but you chose to leave. You know so many of my secrets. How could I let you go?"

I lay on the snow, tears mixing with the blood that melted a small spot on my cheek. I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Ahh—ah."

I curled up, my laughter sounding like the shrill cry of a raven.

"I know you want to go home, to be with your family. Don’t worry, I promised you."

I stopped abruptly, an ominous premonition flooding my whole body.

"Come," Alice clapped her hands lightly. Two slaves dragged a bloodstained cloth bag to me.

"Thud!"

The bag was dropped in front of me, the opening wide. Three heads rolled out.

One of them rolled to my feet. Her eyes were open, her brown pupils still filled with the fear from before death. That mole at the corner of her eye reminded me of the way she waved at me ten years ago.

My sister. That’s my sister!

My fingers, already stained with blood, gently covered her face with the slightly cleaner rags of my own clothes.

So cold. Colder than the snow falling on me.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

I screamed in madness, clutching her head tightly.

Everything I did was to return to them, to be with them. Ten years of hardship, ten years of suffering... and this was what I got in return: their deaths?!

My wolf howled in agony, burning me with pain like fire.

I will kill her.

I stared at Alice’s face, and with all my strength, lunged at her.

"Whore! How dare you attack the future Luna!"

Eric’s demonic voice came from behind. I was pinned to the ground, still glaring at Alice. My fingers carved deep blood trails on the ground.

Alice shook her head, sighed.

"Delia, you wanted your family, and I gave them to you. I even gave you to the king's brother. Eric’s status is high. Others can’t even climb into his bed."

Alice tossed the handkerchief onto the ground, raised her eyebrows slightly, and leaned down, whispering in my ear: "Delia, you’ve helped me so many times. Now help me for the last time."

"Heh, thanks for the gift you gave me, Alice. If the king chooses you to be Luna, that would truly be a wise decision."

Alice walked to Eric, smiling. "Eric, you’re too kind. Once I become Luna, I’ll be sure to thank you properly."

"Don’t worry, Luna. I’ll try to persuade the king to hasten the union ceremony."

Eric smiled and watched Alice leave.

My fingers left bloody marks on the ground. I hated myself. It was all my fault. I trusted the wrong people, and now my family is dead, and I’ve fallen into this tragic fate.

Eric walked in front of me, his small frame easily grabbing my hair and forcing me to look up at him.

"Delia, when you first entered the palace, I took a liking to you. Now, you’re still in my hands."

Eric sneered, lifting my chin with a dagger, enjoying the despair on my face.

Kill him.

My wolf howled in fury.

With the last of my strength, I grabbed the dagger, knocked him to the ground, and plunged it deep into his chest.

"Ah! Duke! Someone save the Duke!"

Panic-filled shouts echoed in my ears. A cold chill ran down my spine. I looked down to see a long sword piercing through my body.

Eric was surrounded by many people, and countless swords were aimed at me, but I knew I was dying.

"Ahh—ah— I... hate... so much."

No one understood what I was saying. I was laughing. I was hating my tragic life.

My eyes no longer had tears, only blood flowed out. I stared at the snow-covered sky, and only my wolf’s mournful howl echoed

I would never see the moon of my hometown again.

——

Music filled my ears, and in front of me were exquisite dishes. Several maids surrounded me, reluctantly tugging at the corners of my clothes.

"Delia, you've been with me for ten years, and now I am about to become Luna. Since you want to leave, I have no choice but to grant your wish. Here, taste this cup of wine."

I suddenly raised my head, and in front of me was Alice, smiling as she handed me the wine.

Looking at that face, anger surged through me, and I nearly lost control, almost transforming into a wolf and pouncing on her, tearing into her flesh.

But I quickly lowered my head, suppressing my excitement and emotions.

Wait... I lowered my head, looking at my ten fingers, still intact, and my lower legs, normal and unharmed.

Could it be... I’ve been reborn on the day I left the palace?

"Delia? What’s wrong?" Alice furrowed her brow, looking at me.

My left hand clenched into a fist, suppressing the overwhelming joy in my heart. My nails dug into my palm, leaving bloodstains as I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to calm down.

I’m not dead. My parents and sister are still alive. Everything can still be saved.

I wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes, forcing a grateful smile as I said, "Luna, I... I’m just so moved that you’ve personally given me this cup of wine."

Alice’s expression softened slightly. She took my hand and handed me the wine.

"You see, it’s just a cup of wine. It’s nothing. Go ahead, drink it."

I stared at the wine in front of me.

In my previous life, all the nightmares began with this cup of wine. But I cannot refuse to drink it. If I don’t drink it, Alice has a hundred ways to send me to Eric.

"Delia, why aren’t you drinking?" Alice’s face darkened. "Do you have something against me?"

Countless emotions surged within me, but at this moment, I knew I had to drink this wine.

Slowly, I took the wine, and under Alice’s watchful gaze, I tilted my head back and drank it.