“Are you sure you don’t want to wear anything better than that? ”

“What? It’s fine. I don’t need to be well dressed tonight since we’re just going to offer drinks to the people. There is no use in looking pretty if you’re just going to serve them.”

Marie sneered at me and wrinkled her nose. She grimaced at the plain dress I chose to wear for the event tonight. We’re both in our maid’s quarters, preparing ourselves because old maid Marina wants us to at least look presentable in the eyes of the royal visitors of Master Ralph, especially since Alpha Edison chose our master’s place to find his Luna. It’s understandable because there were so many beautiful young noble ladies in this part of the kingdom who were excited to be chosen as King Alpha’s bride and become the Queen Luna of this whole land.

“Do you think Aaron will notice me if I wear this? ” Marie asked as she waved the dress on my face to distract me from tying the knot of the corset I was wearing. I chose not to pull it too tight and not to accentuate my figure because who would take notice of a mere servant like me?

Marie and I went straight to the kitchen and put on our aprons so we could start serving food for the guests. I hoped I wouldn’t be a klutz tonight, but knowing that Master Ralph was at the event just made me feel so happy. I wished he would notice me, even though I just looked so plain tonight.

The event hall was wide enough for fifty people who were busy chattering and drinking their wine as they happily greeted each other. All of them were wearing expensive dresses and sparkling jewels that made me feel too intimidated to even look at their faces.

An hour ago, after I served drinks to people, I caught a glimpse of Master Ralph and Alpha Edison enjoying their brandy as they smiled from ear to ear. They approached a nobleman with his beautiful daughter beside him. It was Lady Kendra, the jewel and the sweetheart of this part of the kingdom. All the ladies in this room look at her with contempt, threatened by her presence. She was the first candidate to be the Luna, and her beauty was just incomparable to any lady in the hall. Her dark, long, straight hair hung loosely on her back as she talked gracefully to the Alpha and his Beta.

I had no idea why I suddenly stopped to look at Alpha Edison. Something urged me to gaze at his handsome face. He had an amazing smile and kissable lips that moved smoothly as he talked to the lady. I thought it was strange, so I just ignored the feeling.

But what bothered me more was the feeling that someone was also watching me. I scanned through the crows and caught the stranger's eyes, but then averted them the second I frowned at him.

The red lights in my head warned me. He suddenly walked out of the hall and went somewhere outside the mansion. I didn't know if somebody noticed it, but it was clear to my senses. Someone uninvited came here and hid somewhere, which scared me because I had no idea if it was just me or if those people were just ignoring that rotting scent from that stranger.

"Goddess!" My thoughts were cut short after someone patted me on the shoulder and I was startled. I almost lost the balance of the serving tray in my hand, but good thing I was fast and the crystal glasses didn't fall.

"Marie! Don't ever do—"

"Are you okay, Emory?"

I sighed heavily and placed the tray on a table near me. It was Jeff, one of the male servants in the mansion, whom I grew up with and who helped me a lot when I was new and still adjusting to this place. He and Marie were my friends. But just a few weeks ago, he became too distant after he found out that Master Ralph and I were secretly meeting in his room or the garden.

He warned me once before that it wouldn't do any good to me. But of course, I didn't listen. I wondered if he was still upset, though, but it didn't matter. My heart was much stronger than my head, and my blood seemed to crave more danger. I liked the thrill of it. The excitement was addicting, and the feeling of adrenaline in my veins made me feel more alive.

One thing I loved most about it was the idea that I could be with Master Ralph. To feel him, and share my thoughts with him. That was all I needed.

"Jeff!" I asked him, a little surprised that he was finally talking to me. The people were now focused because one of the Alpha's advisors had finally started the ceremony.

I didn't pay much attention to what the speaker said because Jeff kept on blocking my way toward the kitchen, and he was starting to piss me off. "What?!" I hissed at him, careful not to grab someone's attention.

"I saw you again last night, Emory. You shouldn't keep on doing it! You'll just get yourself in trouble!"

"I'll be in trouble if old Marina sees me idling here with you! Now go, Jeff. It's not the right place to talk about that," I replied to him in a whisper, and I tried to not shove him out of the way.

When I look back at Jeff, his face looks so down, and his shoulders droop, which made me feel bad that I had to pretend I had no idea what was wrong with him. I just didn't want to entertain his feelings for me because: One, I didn't want to destroy our friendship. Two, I was in love with only one person, and that was Master Ralph.

With a heavy heart, I walked towards the hall's exit to get some fresh air. I was starting to feel suffocated inside that hall full of rich people, and feeling sorry about myself for being just a slave.

A bunch of red roses looked so enticing in my eyes, so I thought of picking some to lift old Marina's mood, but after I took a few steps, a silhouette appeared between me and the flowers, and the next thing I remembered was the rough hands snatching me from behind.

The whole place was filled with my screams.