Chapter 103 A program
Celeste:
168 hours.
10,080 minutes.
604,800 seconds.
A week.
That was how long it had been since Lady Livia fell.
A week of surviving on stolen fragments of other people’s energy.
A week of careful feeding—never too much from one person, never enough to draw attention.
Just enough to keep myself stable.
Just enough to keep my aura buried.
The scent concealer rested lightly against my skin now, its magic dulling the faint darkness that still lingered around me.
Perfect.
This was the moment I had been waiting for.
With Lady Livia still in the hospital, the household had become disorganized. The servants were stretched thin, the guards distracted.
Which meant fewer eyes.
Each morning I made sure my assigned chores slowly brought me closer to the Alpha’s mansion.
A hallway one day.
The inner courtyard the next.
A stairwell the day after that.
Closer.
Closer.
And today, it finally paid off.
I was scrubbing the stone passage leading toward the inner wing when footsteps echoed from the staircase.
I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
Maureen.
The Luna.
From what I had observed over the past week, she rarely came down herself. Servants usually handled everything for her.
Which meant this was likely the first time she had passed through here in days.
Perfect timing.
I rose slowly to my feet and lowered my head.
“My Luna.”
Her steps slowed.
“Celeste?”
I lifted my gaze slightly.
She studied me with clear surprise.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “If I remember correctly, you don’t serve in this wing.”
“You’re correct, my Luna,” I replied calmly. “Normally I don’t.”
“Then why are you here?”
I hesitated just enough to make it believable.
“After everything that happened with Lady Livia… the staff has been short,” I said quietly. “I thought it would be best to help where I could.”
Maureen watched me for a moment.
“My health has already improved,” she said. “You don’t need to worry about me. I have more than enough maids.”
“Yes,” I said softly. “But I thought it might be helpful if someone remained close to your side.”
Her brows drew together slightly.
“My side?”
“Yes, my Luna.”
“And why would you want that?”
A fair question.
I lowered my gaze again, keeping my voice respectful.
“Because the household has been… unsettled lately,” I said. “With Lady Livia gone, the other servants have become careless. I thought it would be better if someone responsible assisted you directly.”
Maureen crossed her arms slightly, still studying me.
“You’re volunteering for more work?” she asked.
“Yes.”
A small pause passed between us.
Then she sighed.
“You’re an unusual servant, Celeste.”
I offered a small, polite smile.
“I try to be useful.”
Maureen glanced briefly at the corridor behind me before speaking again.
“Well… if you’re so eager to work, you can start by helping the maids in the inner hall.”
My heart beat once—slow and satisfied.
Closer.
“Of course, my Luna.”
She turned to continue down the corridor but paused after a few steps, glancing briefly back at me.
Then she left.
One of the maids hurried after her.
The hallway grew quiet again.
I didn’t leave the wing.
Instead, I remained where I was, pretending to wipe the stone railing while my eyes moved carefully through the corridor.
Watching.
Waiting.
If the rumors were true, the children would be somewhere in this part of the mansion.
But time passed.
Servants came and went.
Guards changed positions.
And yet… nothing.
I never once saw Maureen holding a child.
Not in the afternoon.
Not as evening began to settle over the manor.
Were the babies even real?
Perhaps the servants had exaggerated the gossip.
Perhaps—
A cry cut through the quiet hallway.
Soft.
High.
Unmistakable.
A baby.
My head lifted slightly.
So they did exist.
I shifted subtly toward the corner of the corridor, positioning myself where the passage opened toward the inner hall.
Moments later, footsteps approached.
Heavy.
The Alpha appeared first.
Vuk.
He walked down the corridor carrying two small bundles in his arms, both of them squirming softly against his chest.
Behind him came Maureen.
She reached out gently and took the third baby from a maid walking beside her.
Three.
So I wasn't wrong after all.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I watched from the corner, my mind already racing.
If I wanted to understand what those children were…
I needed a closer look.
And that meant drawing attention.
Carefully.
I moved just as one of the passing maids hurried around the corner.
My shoulder collided with hers.
The tray in her hands slipped instantly.
Metal clattered against the floor.
A bowl shattered.
The sound echoed sharply through the hall.
Perfect.
Everyone looked up.
I allowed myself to stumble backward, letting my body fall hard against the stone floor.
“Ah—!”
The maid gasped beside me.
Footsteps stopped.
“Are you alright?”
Maureen’s voice.
I slowly pushed myself up onto my elbows, lowering my gaze respectfully.
“Yes, my Luna… I’m alright.”
She stepped closer, concern crossing her face.
“Celeste? Is that you?”
“Yes, my Luna,” I said softly.
I stood carefully.
And then it happened.
My eyes lifted—
—and met his.
Vuk.
The Alpha.
For a split second my mind went completely blank.
Damn it.
I had planned to draw attention.
But not his.
I quickly lowered my gaze, already preparing to step away.
But his voice stopped me instantly.
“You.”
The single word froze me in place.
“Come here.”
My fingers curled slightly.
The scent concealer rested against my skin, masking the darkness that clung to my magic.
But this was no ordinary Alpha.
This was an Alpha Devil.
A demigod.
If anyone could sense what I truly was…
It would be him.
For half a second, I considered walking away.
But that would only draw more suspicion.
So I steadied my breathing.
Lifted my head.
And walked toward him.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every instinct in my body screamed caution.
Because if the concealer failed…
I wouldn’t be walking away from this corridor.
I stopped a few steps in front of him and lowered my head.
“My Alpha.”
For a moment he said nothing.
His gaze lingered on me longer than I liked.
Heavy. Assessing.
I kept my breathing steady, my expression neutral.
Then he frowned slightly.
“You look familiar,” he said.
The tension in my chest loosened just a fraction.
“I serve in the lower wing, my Alpha,” I replied quietly. “You may have seen me in passing.”
Perhaps.
Or perhaps the gods were merciful today.
Vuk studied me for another second before giving a small nod, as if dismissing the thought.
My eyes flickered briefly toward the children.
Three tiny faces, wrapped in soft blankets.
One of them stirred in Maureen’s arms, letting out a soft whimper.
So small.
So fragile.
Interesting.
“Luna,” I said softly, seizing the opportunity, “would you like me to bring you some water?”
Maureen looked slightly surprised.
“Oh… that would actually help,” she admitted. “My arms are getting tired.”
“I can also prepare a chair for you,” I added calmly. “And perhaps massage your shoulders. Carrying them all day must be exhausting.”
She gave a tired laugh.
“You’re not wrong about that.”
Vuk glanced briefly between us but said nothing.
Within minutes I had fetched water and arranged a chair near the window.
Maureen sat down carefully, adjusting the baby in her arms while I stood nearby.
The entire time, my attention remained divided.
Half on my task.
Half on the children.
Observing.
Studying.
Learning.
This was not the moment to act.
No.
This was the moment to be useful.
To be harmless.
To be invisible.
I was playing the long game.
\---
Later that evening I returned to the servants’ quarters.
The moment I stepped inside, the laughter started.
“Well look who’s back,” one of the maids snickered.
“The Luna’s little helper,” another added mockingly.
“Oh please,” someone else laughed. “Do you think if you polish enough floors they’ll move you into the Alpha’s mansion?”
A few of them burst into louder laughter.
“She’s been running around all day like a busy bee.”
“Maybe she thinks the Alpha will notice her.”
“Or maybe she’s hoping to become the next head maid,” one of them added with a smirk.
Their voices overlapped, throwing little insults like stones.
I said nothing.
I simply walked past them and sat down on my bunk.
Their laughter slowly faded as they realized they weren’t getting a reaction.