The news of the King’s newfound favor with a maid spread swiftly through the palace, like a wildfire across dry grass.

“Did you hear? Last night, the King carried a drunken maid to his bed—and now she’s his personal attendant!”

“Personal attendant? But the King has never needed one! Could it be… that he wants this woman to attend to him directly? Could she be the future Luna?”

“Impossible. The Luna must be of noble blood. An omega maid could never rise to such a position. And besides, Princess Alice still holds her place.”

“But I heard… that maid serves under Princess Alice too. They’re from the same pack, I think.”

“By the Moon Goddess, what in the world is His Majesty thinking?”

Since that night, everywhere I went, whispers followed me like shadows. If it had been the person I used to be, I would have done everything to clear my name, to prove the rumors wrong.

But now, I had learned to let the gossip pass through me like the wind through leaves.

“Lady Delia, this is a gift from the King. Please accept it.”

Inside my chambers, I stared at the box brought by Lady Mildred, the housekeeper.

Mildred had served the palace since the reign of the late king. Among the servants, her standing was unparalleled—respected, solemn, and untouchable.

“Thank you, Lina,” I said quietly, turning to the girl beside me. She rushed forward and carefully took the box from Mildred’s hands.

As the King’s personal attendant, I had already reached a high rank among the maids. According to the palace’s rules, I was entitled to a lower-ranking servant of my own. Lina was the one I had chosen.

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Mildred gave a slight nod, her face, as always, expressionless. Clad in her spotless black royal livery, she exuded an air of dignified authority.

“Delia, the King even sent Mildred himself to deliver your gift!”

Lina, still young and unaccustomed to such things, could barely contain her excitement. She held the box to me with both hands, her eyes wide with awe.

I smiled faintly, then sat before the vanity, gazing at my reflection in the mirror.

Long brown brows, amber eyes, a delicate nose above lips that bore the faintest hue of red. Yes, this face—this beauty—was mine. And yet, it was the face of an omega.

Golden-brown hair cascaded over my shoulders. I slowly picked up the comb, brushing through my hair with deliberate care.

Across my pale, slender neck, dark purple marks bloomed.

“Delia, you don’t look happy.”

Lina’s voice was soft, her tone laced with concern. She glanced at me, waiting for a response.

I gestured for her to come closer, and with a slight sigh, opened the gift box. Inside lay a string of pearls, each the size of a fingertip, shimmering with an ethereal glow.

I lifted the necklace and fastened it around my neck. The pearls caught the light, their milky sheen illuminating my face, making me appear even more radiant.

“Lina, do you think it’s beautiful?” I asked, my fingers lightly caressing the pearls.

“Of course, Delia! I’ve never seen anything like it. They’re so perfect, so beautiful…”

She tilted her head, staring at my reflection with admiration.

“But you must understand…” I continued softly, my voice low as I reached for the powder on the vanity, carefully covering the marks on my neck, “…I am only its temporary keeper.”

“If I lose the King’s favor, this necklace—and my life—could be taken from me in an instant.”

Lina’s smile faltered, her face suddenly filled with worry. She stood there, frozen, eyes wide.

I stared into the mirror, the image of my reflection reflecting back my own foreboding future.

An omega from a distant pack, elevated by a single night of passion with the King. From a lowly maid to the King’s personal attendant. Even the strict and stoic Mildred addressed me as “Lady,” and I now had my own room, my own maid.

It sounded like a dream, but the truth was far more complicated. For every pair of eyes that envied me, there were just as many that hated me.

People never take kindly to the rise of others, especially when that person once stood beneath them.

“But it doesn’t matter, Lina,” I said, my voice turning resolute. “I’ve chosen this path, and I will walk it to the end.”

I took her hand and gently stroked her hair. “Lina, you were raised in the palace. The maid who raised you knows some medicine, right? Could you get me something… something that will cause a rash?”

Lina blinked in shock. “Delia! Why would you want that?”

“Because I no longer wish to be close to the King, at least for now. You must keep this secret, Lina. Do you understand?”

Her eyes were filled with confusion, her lips trembling as she hesitated. “But… don’t you need the King’s favor? If you get a rash, won’t he forget you?”

A cold smile crept across my lips. “That’s exactly what everyone wants to see. But this… this is how I’ll ensure the King never forgets me.”

Lina seemed to understand, though not fully. I was about to speak again when the door suddenly burst open.

Alice stormed in, a crowd of maids following her. She was like a tempest, her presence commanding and fierce.

“Princess Alice.”

I rose, bowing respectfully.

Without warning, Alice’s hand shot out, slapping the air with a sharp crack. I caught her wrist mid-swing.

“How dare you! You think you can stop me?”

Her fury was as cold and unrelenting as it had always been. To her, I was still the slave who ought to fall to my knees and kiss the tips of her shoes when the door closed behind her.

“Your Highness,” I said with a faint, mocking smile, releasing her wrist. I leaned in slightly, my tone soft but laced with threat.

“I’m wearing the necklace the King gave me. If you break it, how will I explain it to him?”

Alice froze, her eyes narrowing with disbelief.

“So… now that you’ve won His Majesty’s favor, you think you can be so bold?”

Her fingers moved to grasp the pearls, her gaze venomous, as if she could crush me with a single look.

“And this face of yours…” Her voice dripped with contempt. “No wonder you always hid it under so much makeup before.”

Her sharp nails scraped down my neck, leaving red, searing trails as she passed over my skin.

“A coincidence,” I replied smoothly, as though I didn’t feel the pain. “My resemblance to the woman the King loves is simply my fortune.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, my voice quiet and soft, even as the blood from the scratches trickled down my skin.

The sting was intense, and I instinctively narrowed my eyes in pain, but my face remained impassive.

“Bitch!”

Alice was seething, her fury spilling over. As the daughter of an alpha, she had always been used to omegas crawling at her feet. Never had she expected to be challenged.

Her hand dug into my chin, her fingers pressing on my throat with the ferocity of a wolf’s claws.

I knew that if she lost even the slightest bit of restraint, she would shift into her wolf form and tear me apart.

“You want to kill me?” I whispered, my voice steady despite the pressure on my neck. “Now is hardly the right time, Your Highness.”

My gaze was unwavering, and Alice followed it. Her eyes flicked to the door and the windows, where countless eyes were watching. The moment our gazes locked, they quickly lowered their heads in fear, too scared to intervene.

Alice slowly withdrew her hand, taking a step back. Her fingers trembled as she pointed at me.

“I never realized you had such ambition, Delia. I… I underestimated you.”

I bent down slightly, my chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hah… you underestimated me? No. It was I who misjudged you. I thought you would honor your word. I thought you would be grateful for all the schemes I set in motion for you. I thought you would never betray me. I thought you wouldn’t hand me over to Eric. It was I who trusted you!”

I stepped forward, my voice now full of bitter rage. Alice recoiled slightly, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of guilt on her face.

“Your Highness, now that I am the King’s personal maid, I ask that you leave me be. Go and stay in your chamber, where you belong.”

I drew a deep breath and returned to my seat at the vanity, sitting with a finality that brooked no further protest.

“Lina, please see Princess Alice out. I am tired and need rest.”

I looked at the red marks on

my cheek in the mirror, my voice cold.

“Hmph! Don’t get too proud, Delia. The day I become Luna will be the day you die!”

Alice hissed through her teeth and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her, and Lina quickly followed, her gaze filled with concern.

“Delia… does it hurt?” She held out a soft handkerchief, her face full of worry.

“Lina…” I pressed the cloth to my wounds, my voice barely a whisper. “If this face… if it’s ruined, do you think the King would care?”

Lina’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, but I could see her fear in her eyes.

The next morning, Lina opened the door in tears. Through the veil of my bed’s canopy, I saw His Majesty’s silhouette.

“My King… Lady Delia… she’s…” Lina couldn’t finish the sentence, choking on her words.

But the King didn’t wait for her to say more. He strode into the room, his expression grim.

“Delia! What happened to you?” He hurried to my side, pulling the curtain aside with urgency.

I seized the opportunity, throwing myself into his arms and clutching his sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably.

“My King! Please, help me!”

His gaze flicked down to my face, and his golden eyes tightened with an unreadable emotion.