Chapter 24

It sounded simple enough until I chose, and one of them smirked, murmuring something underneath her breath about how Viviana never would have approved that.

Sighing I made her a prime suspect in my list for everything especially the deliberate swapping of labels, someone went as far as replacing spoiled fruit and lying to me that they were fresh.

“You poisoned us with that stew,” a young warrior said with a laugh when I passed him in the training yard that afternoon

“At least Viviana knew what was edible.”

I clenched my jaw and kept walking, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me annoyed.

Someone had added seasoning to the meat a little too heavily when I’d said “lightly,”. And of course, word traveled fast.

The next thing was restocking the fortress, and as usual it was the Luna’s role to oversee supplies like clothing, bedding, medicines, training equipment or at least, that’s what the archives said.

I made my way to the storerooms,and found myself locked out on the first day.

“The keys are missing,” the steward told me with a fake innocent shrug.

“What do you want me to do?” he scowled and I sighed

“ Of course there was nothing you could do”

I finally forced my way in, hours later, and I discovered half the lists had been altered Numbers scratched out, with new ones written in. It took me the whole afternoon to get it sorted out carefully and then I had to rearrange the mismatching ledgers designed to make me look careless when Tristan eventually asked for an update.

It was stressful and cumbersome work that I hated with every fiber of my being.

The staff wanted me to fail, that was the whole point of it. They wanted the Alpha King to look at me and see nothing but incompetence, nothing but the cheap replacement Kieran had accused me of being.

I was getting annoyed by everything and

I tried to lead the staff meeting that evening, the head maid interrupted me with a sweet, poisonous smile.

“With all respect, Luna,” she said, her tone dripping sarcasm,

“Viviana never needed to look at lists to know how to run this household. She was the Ridge. Are you sure you’re able to take on this role?”

My blood ran cold, Lilly huffed stepping forward and I grabbed her hand holding her in place as I forced myself to smile.

“Then it’s a shame Viviana isn’t here, isn’t it?” I said evenly.

“Because until she walks through that door, you’re stuck with me. And if you don’t like it, you can explain to the Alpha King why his household is falling apart.” I huffed and rose from my seat ignoring the silence that followed or how the maid’s smile faltered.

I walked out of the hall and into the courtyard taking a deep breath of air trying to calm myself

“ Luna” Lilly whispered and I waved her off

“ Not now” I growled looking over her shoulders, she sighed and bowed before slinking away from me to stand in the corner of the room, I was being irritable and I knew it but I couldn't stop myself feeling that way so I just needed the space to breath.

A low chuckle drifted from behind me and I sighed

“ Lilly just give me a few minutes” I called but whoever it was just kept walking over to me. I turned, finding Kieran standing there, leaning against one of the banister while watching the scene with obvious amusement.

“Enjoying yourself?” I demanded.

“Immensely,” he said

“Though I almost feel bad for you. Almost.” he mumbled and I huffed

“Go away.”

His grin widened.

“Not a chance.”

“ Of course you would be obstinate” I hissed a little bit, I turned my glare on Kieran who didn't look the least but disturbed

“Do you plan on watching me like that all day” I asked seriously and he nodded

“Only because it's entertaining,” he said smoothly.

“ Has anyone told you that you're annoying” I drawled and he laughed

“ Dozens of times, it's one of the things my brother hates about me, my big mouth “ he added and I huffed looking at said mouth they weren't really big, they were wide and full,almost like Tristan so she could imagine kissing him, heat filled my face and I blinked getting rid of the image from my mind

" Well you're lucky he hasn't done something about it yet" she drawled and he grinned

" It's not like he could do anything about it" he grinned and I scoffed in annoyance

" My lady" Lilly called out, I turned around to find her standing in the corridor twisting her fingers together as she looked at me

" Come out with it Lilly" I urged and she stilled

" Lady Rhea, the Alpha King's aunt is looking for you"

Isla POV

The list in my hand might as well have been a dagger for the level of stress it incurred her right now.

Food, seating, entertainment, rituals and decorations for the Family Banquet and everything was on the line for her.

I’d spent the morning in my room, going over the list and trying to decide what to do all while Lady Rhea’s lecture in my head until I wanted to tear my hair out.

The Family Banquet wasn’t just dinner,it was my chance to prove that I wasn’t just a placeholder and I wouldn't be pushed around even if I was a substitute.

By noon, Lilly knocked softly on the door, balancing a tray of tea.

“You’ll make yourself sick if you keep frowning at that paper like it owes you money.”

“I wish it did,” I muttered, collapsing into the armchair.

“Then maybe it would pay for staff who don’t hate me.” her lips twitched, but she didn’t deny it.

I sighed.

“Okay. Let’s get started with the kitchens. If Lady Rhea wants flawless, then we’ll give her flawless.”

The kitchens was pure chaos and efficiency. Someone was washing dishes with the copper pots gleaming across the stoves, a dozen servants darted back and forth carrying trays of ingredients. As I stepped into the room, silence swept across the space like someone had cut the air. Dozens of eyes lifted from the chores they were doing staring at her, coldly assessing me, if felt mocking.

“Carry on,” I said, forcing confidence into my voice but they must have noticed it cause they didn’t.

Finally, a tall cook with arms like tree trunks muttered,

“We already have our orders, Luna”

“From whom?” I asked stiffening

“Lady Rhea,” he said.

Of course, she just had to undermine me

“I’m not here to undo her work,” I said quickly.

“I’m here to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

A younger maid—Elise, if I remembered correctly—snorted as the head chef stalked towards me his beefy arms almost in my face, she didn't flinch.

“And what would you know about running a banquet? Did they not tell you, Luna, that this is tradition? That it takes more than smiling pretty to impress the packs?”