Lyanna’s POV

The moment I realized the masked man was the king, my dizziness vanished. My legs gave out, and I slumped to the floor, waiting for death. There was no saving me now. Not after what I’d done.

Should I beg for my life?

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. She only just resumed her duties in the palace. I…” Madam Rosa faltered, then bowed her head. “I have no excuse. The fault is mine. I should have trained her properly.”

The room fell into suffocating silence after her words. My heart pounded as I imagined the king contemplating how best to bury me alive.

“Yes, you are right,” he said at last, his voice a roar that shook the air. “It is your fault for allowing that uncultured girl into my chamber.”

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet, and I shivered. His eyes burned into us.

“That means you must take responsibility,” he continued, his tone sharp enough to cut through my heart. “Tell me, how do you intend to do that?”

I knew at once this was wrong. He wasn’t truly asking Madam Rosa; he was toying with me.

“No, Your Majesty!” I cried, dropping to my knees. “I am sorry that this lowly servant has offended your grace. Do not punish the innocent because of me. I will accept any punishment with the utmost humility!”

The king’s lips curved into a cold, unsettling chuckle.

Madam Rosa’s eyes flicked to me, filled with pity. Why pity? What had I done to deserve that look?

“We’ve got a cheeky one,” he murmured. “Then I shall grant your wish, little fly. Why don’t you lay down your life for daring to cross me?”

My mouth fell open. “M-my life? You want to take my life, Your Majesty?”

“Yes…” His voice dropped to a growl. “You might soon be lying in your own pool of blood.” He rasped, his gaze snapping toward the ceiling as a bird appeared in the room from nowhere.

The king’s eyes narrowed. “Looks like you are spared… for now.” His form blurred, and before I could blink, he was gone.

I hadn’t even seen him leave. Only his words echoed: You are saved.

The next moment, Madam Rosa struck me across the face. Pain stung my cheek, but before I could react, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

What was that supposed to mean?

“Compose yourself,” she whispered harshly. “You won’t last a day in this palace if you remain this sloppy.”

But her words washed over me. I couldn’t listen—not when the metallic scent of blood still clung to the room. My gaze drifted to the corpse sprawled across the floor.

“I want to leave the palace. Please,” I blurted.

Rosa chuckled. “Leave? When the king has pardoned you? And you would repay his mercy with desertion?” She shook her head. “No. Someone else will tend to his chamber for now. In the meantime, you will receive the proper lessons. You will serve him.”

And with that, she swept out of the room.

“This is bad… this is bad…” I muttered, my steps faltering as my eyes once again fell upon the body. Panic seized me, and I fled.

That night, I tossed and turned, haunted by the memory of gore and blood. Sleep never came. By morning, I dragged myself back to work, too afraid of giving Madam Rosa any reason to punish me.

“Are you the new maid?” Someone called. I turned to find another servant. “Madam Rosa wants you.”

I rushed to her office, palms already clammy.

“As of today,” Rosa said coolly, “you will serve the king. Congratulations, Lyanna. You’ve been promoted.”

“Promoted?” I blinked at her. “But—I don’t deserve—”

She silenced me with a dismissive wave and sent me out. Outside, several maids lingered, clearly having listened at the door.

“How can a lowly pig like her be chosen to serve the king?” one sneered.

“Stop it, Evande! Don’t call your fellow wolf a pig,” another scolded. “That’s beneath you.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Evande spat. “How can a weak Omega like her even call herself a wolf? Can she even hear her wolf at all?”

Their laughter chased me down the hall. Only one girl lingered behind, offering a small smile.

“Don’t mind them,” she said softly. “They can be savage, but they’re not all bad. My name is Keith. I forgot to introduce myself yesterday. I hope we can get along.”

Her kindness tugged at an old ache, reminding me of my lost friend, the one I hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to.

Later that afternoon, I slipped into the king’s chambers to clean, grateful that he was away. When the task was done, I was told to rest. The day passed quietly, and I couldn't be more grateful.

That night, Keith greeted me as I returned. “You’re back?” she asked.

I nodded. I didn’t know how to act around such rare kindness. “I’m going to bed. Goodnight.”

Sleep came quickly, but so did the nightmare.

“Bring out the thief!”

A deep voice dragged me from my dreams. Rough hands seized me, yanking me from my bed.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing against their iron grip. But they were no ordinary men… These were palace guards, trained wolves.

“Madam Rosa?” I gasped, spotting her. She stood calmly as the guards ransacked my room.

“What’s happening?”

“You really don’t know?” Her voice was cold. “The king’s gold necklace went missing today. And coincidentally, you were the only maid allowed into his chambers.”

Shock rooted me in place. “That’s not possible...I didn’t steal.”

“I found it!” A guard’s voice rang out. He lifted the necklace high for all to see.

My heart stopped. How had it gotten there?

“I didn’t do it!” Tears spilled down my cheeks as I fell at Rosa’s feet. “Please, believe me!”

She shoved me away like I was plague-ridden. “So you expect me to trust you? When the evidence is clear? I gave you a job despite you being a cheap, weak Omega, but you decided to be a brute by stealing things. I can tolerate anything, but that I won't tolerate! Did you want to get everyone killed?” She bellowed.

Tears streamed down my cheeks seeing that no one would listen to me, so I stopped fighting and just waited for my punishment. I wanted to get it over with.

“Could everyone see what happened to a thief in the palace? I hope you don't forget this day because if any of you try this, I promise not to be lenient.” She announced, and the men dragged me to be flogged.

“After you are done with her discipline, discharge her from the palace, and make sure she doesn't have anywhere she could work in the town.” The head maid said.

“Please, have mercy!” I begged because I knew going back to my stepmother was hell compared to living in the palace.

The guards got ready, and six of them were holding silver whips ready to kill the little wolf features in me, and I bit my lips awaiting my hell.

“You can now start!” Madam Rosa ordered, and I closed my eyes, expecting the whip. “Let her go!” I heard a cold voice, and I froze on the spot as I raised my head, wondering if someone had shown up to my rescue.

Could someone have come to my rescue?