Chapter 160 The Weight of Velvet and Bows

Chapter 160 The Weight of Velvet and Bows


Morning came in a blur, and by the time I opened my eyes, I was already fully awake. For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where I was. The events of the previous day slowly came back to me, and I turned my head to look beside me.

Kiran wasn't there.

I frowned slightly and sat up, glancing around the room. His side of the bed was already empty, and judging by how neatly everything had been arranged, it seemed he had been gone for a while.

I was still wondering where he could have gone when the door suddenly opened, and several maids hurried into the room. They immediately bowed when they saw me.

“Good morning, Luna Elara,” one of them greeted respectfully.

I recognized most of their faces. They had served in the palace for quite some time, and I had seen them around more than once. However, there were a few unfamiliar ones among them.

What caught my attention wasn't their presence, though. It was the way some of them looked at me.

They tried to hide it, but I could see the irritation in their eyes. Some looked uncomfortable, while others couldn't completely hide the jealousy on their faces.

I couldn't help but smile.

I knew exactly what was going through their minds.

Not too long ago, I had been someone they could look down on. Someone they could whisper about behind my back and treat however they wanted. Now, I was their Luna.

I could imagine how difficult that must have been for them to accept.

One of the maids stepped forward and bowed again.

“The Alpha has asked us to prepare you for dinner. He wants you to join him, so we came to help you get ready.”

“Dinner?” I repeated.

“Yes, Luna.”

I looked around and noticed that some of the maids were carrying large baskets. When they placed them on the table and opened them, I was surprised to see roses of different colors and fragrances carefully arranged inside.

There were also several bottles of lotions, soaps, oils, perfumes, and other things I couldn't immediately recognize.

I stared at everything for a moment, slightly amused by the amount of attention I was suddenly receiving.

So this was what being treated like a Luna felt like.

I looked at the maids again, studying their expressions.

Honestly, I didn't blame them completely.

I knew things had changed quickly, and perhaps they weren't ready to accept me in this position. The same girl they had once mistreated was now the woman they were expected to serve and respect.

Still, I wasn't heartless.

I didn't want anyone to feel forced to stay around me just because of my title.

“Alright,” I said, gesturing toward the baskets. “You can leave everything here. I'll get ready myself, so you don't have to bother yourselves.”

The maids exchanged glances.

“But, Luna—”

“No, it's alright,” I interrupted gently. “You can leave.”

They hesitated for a few seconds before bowing.

“Yes, Luna.”

One after another, they turned around and walked out of the room. Once the door closed behind them, I let out a quiet sigh.

Yeah, I knew it.

They probably hadn't wanted to stay in the first place.

I turned my attention back to the things they had brought.

There were so many lotions and soaps that I honestly didn't know where to begin. I picked up one of the bottles and read the label before placing it back down.

“This is ridiculous,” I murmured to myself, though I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

I gathered the things I needed and slowly carried them into the bathroom.

After spending some time getting myself ready, I returned to the room and began deciding what to wear.

There were several dresses available, but one particular gown immediately caught my attention.

It was a beautiful, classic gown with a royal design that looked elegant without being too extravagant. I slipped it on and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the fabric until everything sat perfectly.

Then I picked up my comb and began working on my hair.

Instead of tying it up, I combed it into loose waves, allowing the strands to fall naturally around my shoulders.

When I finally looked at myself in the mirror, I paused.

I wouldn't lie.

I was loving the way I looked.

There was something different about me today. Maybe it was the dress, or perhaps it was the way my hair framed my face, but I looked more like a princess than a queen.

A cute princess, to be precise.

I smiled at my reflection and turned slightly from side to side, admiring the gown.

For once, I didn't feel the need to compare myself to anyone else.

I simply liked what I saw.

After making a few final adjustments, I took one last look at myself in the mirror before walking toward the door.

I didn't know exactly what awaited me at dinner, especially since Kiran had specifically asked for me to join him, but I wasn't going to spend the entire day worrying about it.

Whatever happened, I would handle it.

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

The palace was already busy, with servants moving from one place to another as they attended to their duties. A few of them glanced in my direction before quickly lowering their heads.

I continued walking, keeping my head held high as I made my way toward the dining hall.

For the first time, I wasn't walking through these halls as someone who was merely tolerated.

I was their Luna.

And I was beginning to realize that maybe I should start getting used to it.

Her eyes slowly wandered down from my face to my body before settling on the gown I was wearing. She stared at me for a few seconds, and I could tell she was taking in every detail of my appearance.

The headmaid had always been one of the people who made me feel unwelcome in the palace. She never openly insulted me, but the coldness in her eyes had always been enough to tell me exactly what she thought of me.

Today, however, there was something different in her expression.

Surprise, perhaps.

Or maybe she simply hadn't expected to see me dressed like this.

Her gaze finally returned to my face, and she quickly bowed.

“Good morning, Luna Elara.”