Lucette yawned and rubbed her eyes. Her head felt heavy from the lack of sleep last night. Since she took the agreement from the alpha, she put her plans for the festival. Two months were enough to arrange it.
Gazing at the clock, she widened her eyes. 'One in the evening! I slept for too long.'
She never dozed to this time. In the palace, she would wake up at six or even earlier. Even when the servants did the work past twelve, they must get up early.
It felt so unreal.
This sort of life made her envious. In the past, she would wait for hours before the vampiress would wake up. It was one of Lady Sophie's ways to punish her and show her the difference between a maid and a master. She heard many hurtful words these years that belittled and humiliated her.
Experiencing something like this never crossed her mind in her entire life.
Lucette walked to the bathroom and washed her face. She went to the kitchen to grab something to eat, meeting Hannah in the hallway.
"Good morning, Luna," she said, beaming at her.
Lucette pursed her lips. "Hannah, do you know what I dislike the most? To be played off," she said, walking away. The prank of yesterday was unacceptable!
"I didn't mean any harm, I—"
"If you have told me before doing this," Lucette said, entering the kitchen.
"You will never accept—" Hannah whispered.
Lucette looked up to Hannah who stopped talking and went to the fridge and bought eggs to cook, but the chef asked her to rest while she prepared the meal.
Henrietta, a chubby woman with a round gentle face, seemed a bit afraid of her. The pack members looked at her the same way too.
Now, it was the chance to change people's views.
"I am sorry," Hannah sat beside her, and after many tries to appease her, Lucette forgave her.
The evening passed quickly. Lucette changed into a black sweater and grey trousers with black boots, while Hannah wore a long winter beige dress, brown flat shoes, and a light brown trench coat. The two hopped in the car, and the chauffeur drove them off.
The trip went by as hard as ever. Lucette got out of the car and crouched on the road. "Lucy, are you okay?" Hannah hurried to her and asked worriedly.
Lucette wanted to shake her head but couldn't. 'Motion sickness in one hour drive!' she sipped the water handed to her by the chauffeur, Jade.
Hannah said, "If I knew you have motion sickness, I would have taken you to a nearby store."
Lucette stood up. "Never mind, it's not a big problem. Let's go."
"Are you really well?" Hannah asked, and she nodded.
Lucette looked at the buzzing streets and the giant building in front of her with awe. She looked around to see many tall buildings much taller than the palace. The light from the stores was enough to illuminate the world!
She never saw many tall buildings gathered together.
"Welcome to the Kaneshie City, the heart of the Moon Shadow Pack."
Lucette stood in a daze. "Is this the pack?"
"Certainly. Kaneshie City is the hub of economic activity. Its strategic location has attracted entrepreneurs from around the world to invest in various projects, resulting in the city's rapid development. It has now become the top tourist destination in the area, with a diverse population from different races. I would be happy to accompany you to the mall for the first time," Hannah informed.
Lucette wanted to ask what the mall was, but she followed Hannah to a large and quite tall building. The glass wall covered its facade.
She walked in. The marble floor was so clean that she could see her reflection. Many people were there. Stores lined up selling their products. They walked to the lift to the third floor, where the clothes section was.
They walked to the babies' section. Two sales attendants welcomed them and showed them the clothes and other necessities. Hannah fell in love with everything and wanted to take the whole store, but she convinced her to take what she needed hardly. Lucette followed Hannah for two hours, and the latter didn't decide on what colour she would take.
Lucette looked at her friend helplessly. Her feet felt numb. She excused herself to rest for a little. She passed by the racks fast, bumping into someone.
"Sorry—" she said, looking at the person. She found her familiar. A white-skinned, black-haired and Red-eyed woman wore the same outfit as the attendees in the store, a blue skirt and white shirt. Lucette's mouth opened.
'The running bride? Is she fit for the name?'
The woman stared at her. Lucette lowered her head down and walked past her. They didn't know each other, so she wouldn't talk to her.
"How are you doing?" the woman asked.
"Huh?" Lucette looked back.
Did she recognize me?
The first and the last time they saw each other was on the eve of her wedding. Where the woman refused to marry, and she replaced her.
"I see you are doing well pretending to be the Luna," she said.
Lucette raised a brow. "I'm not pretending. I am the Luna? And It's your fault, not mine," she retorted.
"My fault, it's true. I and my family paid the price. A huge PRICE. And you, look at yourself—" the woman said in anger.
Lucette stepped closer. "Listen, if you're angry, then you should be angry at yourself. You ran from the wedding, not me."
"If not for your words, I would never…"
"Then it is me to blame? If I told you to throw yourself from this building, would you have done it? You are big enough to decide for yourself."
The woman laughed and tears fell from her cheeks. "I am not disappointed about refusing the wedding. I just lived freely for the past months. My coworkers told me that the woman, who married in my stead, was in the mall, so I came to see her. Imagine how surprised I was to see you again. The idea of me being laughed at by you back then crossed my mind. Tell me, how did a maid become the Luna?"
"Why, am I not worthy?" she spat these words, and the woman laughed.
Lucette bit the inside of her mouth and fisted her hands.
A huge humiliation.
"Here's some advice for you. You may be living a lie that you've created for yourself. The word "worthy" may not hold much meaning when it comes to family status, especially if you don't have any. It's better to face reality and make changes before you're forced to accept that you're nothing more than a maid. You don't want to end up being discarded like a used tissue."
Lucette's lips trembled. As she was about to say something, "Lucy," Hannah called her. Walking closer, "I was looking for you," she continued, looking at the woman. "Do you need anything?" she asked her.
"No. Let's go," Lucette said, turning to her friend.
"Do you know her?" Hannah asked, and she shook her head. Shopping continued for another hour. Lucette's mood was lower than in the cold weather.
She thought of what that woman had said repeatedly and found it was right.
My life is a lie.
The things I lived in the pack were a lie.