CHAPTER 9
Aria's POV
It had been an hour since the breakfast disaster yet I still could not breathe right. My heart felt like it was being squeezed. Every hateful glare from the Grand Queen and Lady Amanda haunted my mind like ghosts clinging to my skin.
I sat quietly on my bed. My head rested against the cold wall and my arms wrapped tightly around myself. I tried to tell myself I was okay - but I was lying.
My throat was dry. Too dry. It burned. I needed water.
"Mia?" I called softly.
She rushed into the room immediately with concern in her eyes. "Yes Milady?"
"I... I need some water" I whispered. My lips felt cracked. I licked them and winced slightly. "Please can you get me some from the kitchen?"
Mia hesitated. Her eyes flickered nervously toward the door. "I... I'll try" she said carefully. "Stay here I won't be long."
She left the room and I sighed in relief - but ten minutes passed. Then twenty.
She did not return.
My anxiety began to creep in like cold fingers crawling across my back. I stood slowly and walked toward the door just as Mia rushed back inside.
Her eyes were wide with shame and fear. Her hands trembled at her sides.
"Mia?" I asked softly. "What happened? Where is the water?"
She swallowed hard. "The head servant refused to let me take it" she whispered like she was afraid the walls might hear. "She said you should come get it yourself. That you are not entitled to send servants around."
I froze.
What?
I stared at her in disbelief. "I... I am not allowed to ask for water?"
Mia's eyes glistened with helplessness. "I argued with her Milady. I tried. She said if you wanted water so badly you should come get it with your own hands like the rest of us."
For a second I couldn't even speak. My chest tightened painfully.
They were mocking me. Again.
I forced myself to stay calm even though humiliation burned through me like fire. "It's okay" I whispered hoarsely. "I'll go."
Mia looked horrified. "No - please don't. I can try again later or get it secretly."
But I shook my head. "No. I'll go."
Because deep down - I already knew. If I did not face them now they would only continue treating me this way. So I straightened my shoulders and left my chambers with Mia trailing behind me nervously.
---
The kitchen was loud and hot and filled with servants rushing about preparing for lunch. But the moment I stepped in - silence.
Every head turned.
I stood there awkwardly as dozens of eyes fell on me. Some curious. Some amused. Some hostile.
"Look who decided to come down from her throne" someone muttered loudly enough for me to hear.
A wave of laughter followed.
I tried to ignore them but each step felt heavier as I moved toward the water jug at the far end.
"Oh my" a familiar voice rang out. Sweet yet poisonous.
I stiffened.
Amanda.
She walked into the kitchen like she owned it. Her gown trailed behind her gracefully and her lips were curled in cruel delight.
"Aria?" she cooed mockingly. "Fetching water for yourself now? Where is your precious maid? Did she abandon you already?"
I said nothing. I kept my head down and tried to move past her but she blocked my path.
"No no no - this won't do" she said with fake concern. "You see - the kitchen is for servants. People like you." Her eyes sparkled with wicked amusement. "Royal mates do not belong here. Or did you forget what you are?"
I swallowed hard. "I only came for some water" I whispered softly hoping she would leave me alone.
But Amanda was not finished. No - she wanted blood.
"You heard that right?" she said loudly turning to the servants who gathered to watch. "She came for water. Poor thing - the King must be tiring of her already. Sending her to do servant chores so soon."
Laughter erupted.
I clenched my jaw and tried to move past her but she shoved me lightly yet firmly. Not hard enough to fall. Just enough to remind me she could do worse.
"Oh - careful" Amanda said sweetly. "Wouldn't want to break the fragile Omega."
I felt the burn in my throat as tears began to sting my eyes but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of them.
"Please - I just want water" I said softly. My voice shook despite my efforts to stay strong.
Amanda stepped closer until her face was inches from mine. Her smile dropped.
"You do not belong here" she whispered coldly. "You do not belong beside him. You are nothing. Do you hear me? Nothing but a pitiful little toy he will soon throw away."
I bit my lip so hard it almost bled. The room was spinning. My hands trembled violently as I tried to hold my composure.
"Now - fetch your water like a good Omega and leave" Amanda finished with a sneer.
The servants chuckled and whispered cruel words behind cupped hands.
I could not take it.
Shame and pain engulfed me. I rushed forward grabbed the jug with shaking hands and filled my cup quickly - but my fingers slipped and water splashed onto my gown.
The room roared with laughter.
"Oh how graceful" Amanda said laughing mockingly. "Truly Luna material."
My cheeks burned with humiliation. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.
"Enough" I whispered brokenly. "Please just stop."
But no one listened.
I grabbed the cup tightly holding onto the little dignity I had left and fled the kitchen as fast as my legs would carry me.
I did not stop running until I reached my chambers. Once I slammed the door shut behind me - only then did the tears fall freely.
I collapsed onto the floor - my shoulders shaking as sobs tore from my chest.
Because no matter how many times Zaine called me his mate - to them - I was still nothing.
And deep down - I feared they would never see me as anything more.