Queen Susanna rarely got angry; most of the time, she would quietly listen to what was happening around her.

Now, to see her so enraged at a woman she had just met, everyone else at the table wore expressions of malicious amusement.

"Please forgive me, Queen Susanna. I did not intend to disrespect you."

As I spoke, I slowly removed my veil, revealing my face covered with red rashes.

"Oh!"

Not only did Queen Susanna gasp, but even the noble girls seated at the table also let out soft exclamations.

"I see now. It seems I misunderstood you." Queen Susanna’s anger began to fade.

"In that case, please, sit down."

I took a seat at the only empty corner of the long table. The others glanced at me, some with malice, others with curiosity. I paid no mind and simply lowered my gaze, focusing on the utensils before me.

"Delia, you really look like my sister."

A girl seated to the left of Queen Susanna suddenly spoke. I turned to face her and saw that she too was likely a princess from some pack, but her face resembled mine in some ways. No, she looked more like the person in that portrait.

She called Queen Susanna "aunt," indicating that she and the Queen might be from the same pack.

"I don’t understand what you mean, miss." I wasn’t sure of her identity, so I feigned ignorance.

"Pfft," the girl giggled lightly, her gaze soft yet sharp as she looked at me, then quickly turned to Queen Susanna.

"Aunt Susanna, would His Majesty really fall for someone... so foolish?" The girl spoke with a smile, but her eyes were full of arrogance, as though piercing through me with needles.

"Annelle, that is not how you speak." Queen Susanna scolded her, but her tone was more of a gentle reminder than a harsh reprimand.

I lowered my head, instantly realizing who this girl was. She was the younger sister of the love of the King’s life, the one he still longed for. No wonder she had similar features. It was just unfortunate that her eyes and brows were not quite as alike as mine.

"I’m sorry, Miss Delia. I apologize."

Annelle raised an eyebrow as she looked at me. She spoke the words of apology, but it was clear she didn’t mean them at all.

I could only force a smile and nod, my mind still racing as I pondered the purpose of this afternoon tea.

The last time Queen Susanna had hosted such an event was after each pack sent its princesses. I had followed Alice, standing at the back, and didn’t know what had transpired at the tea party.

But after that, Alice had been ostracized by most of the other princesses. Now, only Alice remained in the palace, and everyone thought she was the King's choice for Luna. However, since Alice had been punished and confined by William because of me, people were beginning to think that perhaps Alice did not meet His Majesty's approval.

I glanced around at the noble girls at the long table, all elegantly dressed, and a thought began to form in my mind.

Could it be that Queen Susanna was planning to bring in another group of noble girls for the King to choose from, and from them, select a new Luna?

I slowly moved my knife and fork, cutting through the food on my plate as I thought.

"Delia, don’t you like the food?" Queen Susanna suddenly asked with a furrowed brow.

I was startled. When I looked up and met her golden eyes—eyes so similar to the King's—I realized that my guess might indeed be the truth.

"Please forgive me, Queen Susanna. I’ve just never seen so much delicious food, so I’m savoring it slowly."

I spoke humbly, knowing that they all understood I was just a maid. If not for the King's favor, I would have never been qualified to sit at the same table with these noble girls.

The noble girls at the table let out a low, mocking laugh.

Queen Susanna seemed somewhat surprised by my candidness. She nodded and said, "Alright, I just hope you’re not too reserved."

"And there’s one more thing, Delia. I hear the King has promoted you to be his personal maid?" Queen Susanna asked.

I nodded, thinking that the afternoon tea was finally starting to take its true form.

"Then tell me, Delia, do you think you will become His Majesty’s Luna?"

Queen Susanna’s once dimmed golden eyes now glowed with the same regal intensity as the King's. Her face remained expressionless, not allowing me to avoid her gaze.

"Queen Susanna, I... I don’t know. Luna is His Majesty’s choice, not something I can interfere with."

My voice trembled slightly, and my face flushed red. I imagined that the rashes on my face must look even more terrifying in this moment.

"Don’t worry, Aunt Susanna," Annelle sneered, looking me over with disdain. "His Majesty won’t choose an Omega like you, a mere maid, over the daughter of a noble Alpha."

Queen Susanna shot me a cold glance. Her eyes seemed to pierce through my soul, as though she could see the ambition hidden within me. But she didn’t press further, simply waving her hand and indicating for me to sit back down.

The afternoon tea soon ended, and the other noble girls left one by one. Lina and I walked through the palace corridor when we encountered Annelle.

"Princess Annelle." I bent down to curtsy, but Annelle didn’t respond for a long while.

"Slap!"

A harsh slap struck my face through the veil.

I staggered back. If not for Lina catching me in time, I would have likely fallen to the ground in a heap.

"What are you doing?!" I angrily looked up.

But all I saw was Annelle, her smile gone, her face icy cold. She leaned in slightly, lifting my chin with one finger.

"So what if I hit you? You’re just a lowly maid, only favored by the King because you resemble my sister. What’s wrong with me, as her sister, slapping you around a bit?"

Annelle’s gaze was as cold as ice, and she looked at me like a serpent eyeing a helpless rabbit.

"A worthless imitation! You’re nowhere near as beautiful as my sister," she ripped off my veil and twisted my face from side to side.

"Tell me, do you want me to peel your face off and give you a new one?"

Her tone was chilling, as if she was making a joke, but her eyes betrayed no amusement—she seemed genuinely considering the idea.

"Wuuu..."

Lina’s sobs came from behind me. She had been so frightened that she began to cry.

A noble girl like Annelle could probably do whatever she wanted to me right here. Even if the King saved me, without a face, what use would I be to him?

Think of something, Delia.

"Princess Annelle," I struggled to force a smile, meeting her eyes. "I didn’t mean to seduce the King. I was drugged by my previous master, Princess Alice. It just so happened that the King found me and took pity on me."

"Alice?" Annelle squinted at me, retracting her hand and furrowing her brow.

"Yes, Princess Annelle. I was forced. And my face... it was also... Alice’s doing."

I covered my face, tears streaming down. I acted like someone who had been bullied but couldn’t speak out. Annelle gave me a look of pure disdain.

"Useless. You really are just an Omega."

"Remember this—if you see me again, just stay out of my way. Otherwise, every time I see you, I’ll slap you. Understand?"

I raised my eyes to meet Annelle’s smug smile and nodded slightly.

Annelle smiled. Just as I thought she was about to walk away, she suddenly called me back.

"Come here, kneel, and kiss my shoe."