CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: THE PERFECT FACE IN THE DIRT

Author’s POV

Prince Vaelen stood near the carved stone balcony, asking about Selene news that was why he bring Meriya with him in the first place because she promised to help him rescue Selene.

but just as he was having a short conversation with him he smelled it...the faint scent in the air.

His boot shifted on the marble floor. Every instinct in him screamed to follow that scent, to find her. because it was her scent Selene.

But just as quickly as it appeared... it vanished.

Like smoke from a dying fire.

He turned slightly, scanning the corridor. Nothing. Just omegas moving and Meriya still speaking.

He took a step toward the hall it had come from, his mouth parting with a question—but before he could take another, her voice cut through.

"I almost forgot," Meriya said with a sweet, almost apologetic smile, "I have news... about Selene."

Vaelen turned to her sharply. His expression no longer neutral.

Meriya touched her chest gently, as if the news hurt her to even speak. "She’s not well. In fact... she’s fallen into disgrace. She’s been marked as a slave."

The words struck him like ice down his spine.

Marked.

As a slave?

"So it was really true," he breathed, barely audible.

"I didn’t believe it either," she said softly, lowering her gaze. "But I confirmed it myself. People in the pack whispered about it behind closed doors. Her father... was killed by the Alphas, and she paid the price as his bloodline."

His chest tightened, and his fists curled at his sides. He knew what it meant to be marked—what kind of cruel treatment came with it. Humiliation. Punishment. Chains. Selene, who once stood with her chin high and a fire in her spirit, now forced to bow?

His heart ached.

She didn’t deserve that.

"I’m... sorry," Meriya murmured. Her voice trembled as if she truly felt something, and her lashes lowered in perfect mimicry of sorrow. "It’s awful. But I’ll try to find her, Prince. Maybe I can speak to someone. Ease her situation, somehow..."

He nodded slowly, his jaw tense. "Thank you. I... can’t move freely in the estate. Not without causing attention."

"Of course," she said warmly, placing a hand over his. "Leave it to me."

She gave a graceful nod and turned away with quiet purpose.

And the moment Prince Vaelen disappeared behind the guestroom doors...

Meriya’s soft features twisted.

Her hand clenched into a fist so tightly that her perfectly painted nails bit into her palm. Blood pricked the surface, but she didn’t flinch.

"Bitch," she whispered under her breath.

Her lips curled—but not in a frown. No, there was a glint of triumph in her eyes. Selene, the ever-perfect golden girl of the palace, the one who dared to act above them all because the prince once looked her way... was finally beneath them.

A slave.

Meriya nearly laughed.

She turned swiftly on her heel, skirts swishing, and headed down the hallway. Her boots clicked quickly as she made her way to Arlena’s room.

The door opened before she knocked.

Arlena, ever quick, looked up from her mirror. "Well?" she asked with a smirk.

Meriya grinned darkly. "It’s true. She’s a slave. Hidden away somewhere in the estate."

Arlena gasped, then burst into a delighted laugh. "No way! Finally, the proud little thing is crawling in dirt."

"She deserves it," Meriya said, eyes shining. "All those years she acted like she was better than us—just because her father was high ranking and powerful Alpha."

The two girls linked arms, sharing a look of satisfaction.

"Let’s go find her," Arlena said, eyes gleaming with malice.

"Yes," Meriya agreed. "I want to see it with my own eyes. Let’s go see what’s left of the bitch."

They giggled like children heading to a secret game, but there was nothing innocent about the twisted joy in their hearts.

They were finally ready to watch Selene fall... and enjoy every second of it.

Wasting no time, Meriya swept through the halls with grace that masked her growing amusemnet. She went first to the servant quarters, her golden dress and courtly presence enough to draw bows and nervous glances from passing omegas. But it was her soft voice, her false concern, and her heavy coin purse that did the real damage.

A silver coin was slipped into the hand of a trembling omega girl barely out of adolescence.

"I just want to help her," Meriya cooed, tucking a curl behind her ear. "I heard she’s been through... such tragedy. But no one will tell me anything."

The girl hesitated, eyes shifting around the corridor. Fear lived in every line of her posture.

"I shouldn’t say anything..." she whispered.

Another coin, heavier this time.

"She’s working in the Alpha Wing," the girl finally confessed. Her voice was barely audible. "Assigned to clean. Orders came directly from Alpha Lucian. No one else is allowed to speak with her."

Meriya’s pleasant smile didn’t waver, but her eyes darkened.

"The Alpha Wing?" she repeated, like the words tasted foul. "Why there?"

She didn’t need an answer. Her imagination filled in the rest. Selene, the filthy bitch now marked as a slave—working in the same halls her future mates walked?

Meriya’s blood boiled.

"She’s doing this on purpose," she spat, rounding a corner with fury in her steps. "That pathetic bitch wants to seduce one of them. With that cursed body of hers—just like she always does."

Arlena, trailing behind with a gleeful expression, nodded eagerly. "She did it before, didn’t she? The prince wouldn’t stop talking to her, and she acted like a princess just because of it." She narrowed her eyes. "Now she’s eyeing your mates. You need to teach her a lesson before she slithers her way into their beds."

Meriya didn’t respond, but her nails dug into her palms as she walked faster.

She would teach Selene a lesson.

She would make sure the girl never lifted her gaze again, not without trembling.

They finally reached the Alpha Wing, the stone halls echoing faintly with the sound of movement. Meriya slowed, motioning Arlena to stay quiet. And there she was—at the far end of the hallway.

Selene.

Down on her knees, sleeves rolled up, her gown soaked and clinging to her frame as she scrubbed the stone floor with a worn-out cloth. The fabric of her dress was stained, the hem torn and soaked in dirty water. Her hands moved in slow, practiced strokes, back hunched, body tired.

And yet—despite everything—her face still glowed with a haunting kind of beauty.

Her cheeks were flushed from effort, a strand of damp silver hair stuck to her cheek, and her lips were slightly parted as she panted from the work. Even like this, even when reduced to filth and labor—she was stunning.

It only fueled Meriya’s hatred.

"How is she still like that?" Arlena muttered through clenched teeth.

Meriya’s face twisted.

Not for long.

Arlena didn’t wait. With a grin, she stepped forward and gave the water bucket a harsh kick.

The murky water splashed up, pouring all over Selene’s already soaked gown. The bucket rolled across the hallway with a loud clang. Selene gasped, flinching from the sudden shock of cold water, trying to catch her balance as her cloth fell to the ground.

"Oh no," Arlena giggled, covering her mouth in mock horror. "I didn’t see you there! Someone was mopping like a little mouse on the floor."

Selene looked up slowly, her lips parting as her wide, stunned eyes met Arlena’s fake innocence. Then she saw Meriya standing just behind, arms crossed, her smile razor-sharp.

Arlena gasped again, eyes gleaming with cruelty. "Wait... is it really you? Selene? You—here?"

Selene said nothing. Her throat tightened, and she lowered her eyes quickly.

Meriya stepped forward now, voice sweet like honey left out too long in the sun. "I almost didn’t recognize you, darling. How things have changed."

Her gaze slowly slid down Selene’s wet, dirt-stained dress, then back up to her face.

"You poor thing," Meriya whispered, but her tone dripped with venom. "Scrubbing floors. Mopping hallways. It’s a wonder you still look so... presentable. Are you trying to catch someone’s eye, Selene? Still using that pretty face of yours?"

Selene remained quiet. But that silence only made their rage grow.

Arlena crouched, grabbing the edge of Selene’s soaked skirt and lifting it with two fingers like it was contaminated. "What’s this? Wearing rags now? Does it feel nice, being beneath us for once?" She tossed it back down.

Selene flinched.