Kaya
I wipe a piece of cloth over the cut left by the glass, wincing as the stinging pain shoots through my temples.
"Goddess, she crossed the line this time!" Anna clicked her tongue and handed me a band-aid she managed to snatch from the doctor's office.
I flinched again as I plastered the band-aid on, then filled a glass with water and swallowed a couple of painkillers to relieve the headache caused by the hit.
"I can't believe Sophia did it on purpose!" Anna continued to lament, her brows furrowing in anger. "You have to go back to the kitchen and show her what her actions have done to you!"
I smile at my friend's fuming; it gives me a great deal of relief to know that I still have someone who genuinely cares for me.
But that care ends with her. Even if Melissa had cut me open and thrown me for the rest to see, no one would bat an eye.
They think I don't even deserve to breathe the same air they do, so how can I expect any kind of sympathy from them?
My silent self-pity is interrupted by another maid. "Anna, hallway duty."
"I'm coming," she replies, throwing an apologetic glance at me.
"What's with her? Isn't she on errands today?" the maid inquires with a displeased scowl on her face.
"She's taking her break early," Anna explains, grabbing the other girl by the shoulder and pushing her out of the room. "Leave her."
Once the door to our room is shut, I can finally take a breather and relax.
I feel bad for taking the early break, because I know that the head maid will definitely give me an earful for that later. But I can't help it. I don't think I can even stand right now, let alone run errands.
With a long sigh, I lie down on my bed and close my eyes, listening to the strong, painful pulsation in my right temple.
Melissa and I used to be good friends in the past. She, Reiner, and I were almost inseparable before that unfortunate incident. I always knew that she was in love with Reiner, so she was jealous that he paid more attention to me back then, but I definitely did not expect her to turn her back on me when everyone accused my family of betrayal.
She didn't say a single word when my parents were executed, too.
And yet, when it was time to select my punishment, she pleaded with Reiner, who had to assume the role of Alpha when he was only fifteen, to spare my life, but strip me of my title anyway.
Back then, I was grateful. I thought she was bound by the laws, but still wanted to help me. But now I know––she did not want to help me. Keeping me alive was just a lot more entertaining than having me killed.
As I continued to mope in silence over my miserable fate, a loud and persistent knocking jolted me back to my senses.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing here, sleeping?" Without waiting for permission to enter, Yuliana barged into my room, her hands slapped to both sides of her waist.
"Lazy bitch!" She growls again, clicking her tongue as she kicks the leg of my bed in annoyance. "Melissa is asking for you, so get your ass back to work!"
"Melissa?" I wince, holding my hand against my temple as a new wave of sharp pain cuts through my head. "What does she want now?"
"How the fuck should I know?" Yuliana snaps at me, already heading for the exit. "I'm not your fucking messanger, so go ask her yourself."
What a vile mouth, I say to myself while putting back my shoes.
I don't want to see her so soon after she nearly knocked me out with a glass, I bet this time, she might try something even more dangerous.
Another long sigh escapes my lungs, while my feet are reluctantly carrying me all the way to the last floor. It is meant only for the alpha and his family, but Melissa has managed to get a room there as well.
Once I get to her bedroom, I can't help but feel scared. What would she even want from me right now?
There is no use delaying it, I try to calm myself down. The longer she waits, the angrier she becomes.
With that, I clench my right hand into a fist and rap my knuckles on the door, steeling myself for whatever tantrum I'm about to face.
And Goddess, can I be wrong at least sometimes?
"You wanted to see me?" I ask carefully once I got permission to enter, but before I can even finish that question, a long, thick painting brush comes flying at me.
"Did you screw up my painting, you bitch?!"