Chapter 65 Behind Her Mask
Althea turned and met Queen Mother Wilma’s furious glare. Before she could react, a loud smack rang through the atelier as Wilma’s hand hit her face.
Althea bit her lip, already sensing trouble from the Queen Mother’s thoughts. She didn’t dare read them fully because the woman’s mind was nothing but a storm of curses and cruel wishes.
Standing behind the Queen Mother was the same woman from last night, the one who had tried to attack her. A smug smile played on her lips. Althea recognized her at once—Lady Ava. She had seen her years ago during one of Ava’s visits to their pack. Back then, Althea had admired her for offering help during a calamity.
But now, she realized the truth. Lady Ava carried nothing but malice toward her.
“You dare step into this place without permission?” Wilma spat, eyes cold with rage.
Althea’s cheek burned, but she forced herself to stand.
Rudy bowed quickly. “Your Grace, it was my fault. Lady Althea only wanted to look—”
“Silence!” Wilma snapped. Her voice was ice. She pointed at Althea, hand trembling with anger. “You may fool the others, but not me. One wrong move, and you will regret ever setting foot in this palace.”
Wilma struck her again and again until Althea staggered and collapsed to the floor.
“You whore,” Wilma hissed, face flushed, veins standing out at her temple. “Don’t think you can have things your way. You are a prisoner here and nothing more than a toy for my son. That matebond will not last. I will tear it apart, and you and your father will pay with your lives.”
She turned to her three guards, pointing a fierce finger. “Say one word about this, and I will make your families suffer. This woman will endure tenfold what my daughter suffered.”
The Queen Mother moved to lunge, but Melva threw herself forward and dropped to her knees, arms out. “Please, Your Grace, have mercy on my lady. She did none of her father’s crimes. All she ever wanted was to help. Please…”
Wilma didn’t relent. She yanked Melva to her feet, ready to strike again, when Lady Ava stepped between them. “Your Grace, you’ll only anger Gavriel if you keep this up. We all saw how he reacted when his mate was touched—maybe—”
Ava’s words cut off as she turned toward Althea with a slow, dangerous smile. ‘Looks like you care for your servant. Then we will punish your servant instead.’
Althea’s breath hitched after reading Ava’s thoughts. “No.”
Ava leaned close to the Queen Mother and murmured something. Wilma’s eyes brightened like a candle blown to flame. “Guards!” she ordered.
“Melva!” Althea called, panic rising. She fixed Melva with a steady look and sent the command directly into her mind.
‘Don’t break eye contact. Listen to me carefully. They will use you against me. Please endure it. I will ease the pain as soon as I can. If they see you as my weakness, they will not stop hurting you. Trust me…’
Melva’s lips trembled, her eyes glistening with fear, but she gave a faint nod to Althea as if saying, “I… I trust you, my lady.”
The guards seized her by the arms and dragged her forward. The Queen Mother raised her hand. “Teach this servant her place!”
One of the guards struck Melva hard across the back. She gasped in pain but clenched her teeth, refusing to scream. Althea’s hands balled into fists at her sides, her chest burning as if every blow landed on her own body.
But she did not flinch. She did not blink.
Lady Ava’s sharp eyes darted toward Althea, searching for a reaction. “What? Nothing to say, traitor’s daughter?” she taunted. “Your maid is suffering because of you.”
Althea lifted her chin, her face as cold as stone. “She is only a servant,” she said evenly, her voice carrying no trace of emotion. “If she cannot endure a little pain, then perhaps she is more of a burden than I thought.”
Melva’s head jerked up, shock flashing across her tear-filled eyes. For a moment, it looked as if her heart had broken.
The guards struck her again.
Althea’s heart screamed, but her face remained unshaken. She forced her voice to sound careless. “Do as you wish. Her pain means nothing to me.”
The Queen Mother’s hand faltered. She had expected sobbing, begging, despair. Instead, Althea stood calm, untouchable.
Lady Ava frowned. “Strange. Not even a flicker of sorrow? Perhaps we were wrong. Perhaps this girl feels nothing for her servant after all.”
The Queen Mother slowly lowered her hand. “Enough,” she said at last, her tone laced with irritation. “Hurting the girl is pointless if it does not wound her mistress.”
The guards released Melva, who crumpled to the floor, trembling and bruised.
Althea didn’t move toward her. She simply turned her gaze aside, hiding the storm in her chest. Only when no one was watching did her fingers twitch slightly, aching to reach for Melva.
Althea smoothed her dress as if nothing had happened, then lifted her head toward Queen Mother Wilma. Her cheek was still red and stinging, but her voice was calm.
“Your Grace,” she said, steady and unshaken. “May I take my leave now? I promise I will not enter Gavriel’s atelier—or any part of the North Palace—again without his direct permission.”
Wilma narrowed her eyes, trying to read her, but Althea’s face gave nothing away.
Althea turned without waiting for approval. Her three personal guards immediately fell into step behind her, their silence heavy.
Just as she reached the doorway, Wilma’s voice rang out, sharp and mocking. “Aren’t you forgetting something? Your servant is still here.”
Althea paused but didn’t look back. “No,” she said coolly. “Do what you wish with her, if that pleases you, Queen Mother. She is of no concern to me.”
The words cut Melva deeper than the blows had, her breath catching in her throat.
Without another word, Althea walked out, her steps firm and unhurried, as though she truly meant what she said.
But behind her mask, her heart bled with every step as Melva screamed in pain.