"No." Leah's eyes blazed, all hints of a smile gone. "It may be simple for you, but I don't deserve the unwarranted hostility I was served with the moment I stepped out of my bedroom."
Her cold eyes fell on Luna Camille and Luna Vivienne, who quickly averted their gazes.
"I'm still Princess Varkos, and your mother has crossed a line, so if I'm proven correct, I deserve an apology."
Clara pursed her lips, throwing a blaming glance at her mother. Everyone heard what Luna Laurent said. Even Silver Luna felt pissed. No matter how much she disliked Leah, insulting Leah was insolence against the Royal House of Varkos.
"Huh." Luna Laurent felt upset. "You would dare call Prince Varkos for a ladies' banter?"
Clicking her tongue, Leah leaned back. "Ladies' banter? You insulted and ridiculed me in front of a crowd. Do you know I can press charges against you for breach of dignity under Act 5 of the Lycan Law?"
All the Lunas gasped.
Shocked, Silver Luna Selene sat up straight. The law was indeed real, but Mooncrest was a longtime ally of the palace. What was this foolish girl trying to do?
She was ready to interrupt when Leah leaned forward with a sweet smile.
"But Mooncrest Pack is a treasured ally, and Clara is my best friend. This is why I believe we need to bury the hatchet, and there's no better way to do it than admit who is wrong and apologize."
Feeling anxious, Clara stood up, trying to speak. "I'll just take it back. There's no need—"
Leah slid further to her side, ignoring her. "Don't you think, Luna Selene?"
Luna Selene gritted her teeth but kept her smile.
She didn't want to escalate this, but if she insisted that Agnes not call Damon, there would be a trial. The Royal House of Varkos couldn't afford to lose face in front of mere regional Alphas!
"Agnes, call Prince Varkos over," Silver Luna finally said, staring at Leah. "He should see this."
When Damon arrived, several of his dress shirt buttons were undone, revealing his muscular build. From how ruffled his hair was, you could tell he had just shifted back and was barely holding back his temper at the summons.
"Mother."
Seeing the sullen atmosphere, he raised his eyebrows at Clara subconsciously, asking her what the matter was.
They couldn't make it more obvious if they tried. Leah wanted to sneer.
Clara's hurt eyes gleamed with hope, but before she could speak, Luna Selene stood up to welcome her son.
Silver Luna gestured toward her seat. "Damon, come here."
Damon tore his eyes away to glance at Leah subconsciously, who was now glaring daggers at him.
He hardly held back a smirk. 'She was so harmless that her rage was comical.'
"Tell me, is this awarded by the Eastern Veterans' Relief Center?"
His eye twitched at the ridiculous request, but he picked up a plate anyway. He sent a photo of the serial number. A minute later, his phone pinged.
"...It isn't. The serial number isn't in their system."
As he said that, Leah looked away with tears in her eyes. Luna Laurent, on the other hand, became pale.
The ladies looked at each other before throwing questioning looks at Luna Laurent and Clara.
"What is it?" Damon still did not know what had happened. Seeing Leah brought to tears, he slightly frowned.
Leah looked up to see his ice-cold stare on her. It was as if the world could collapse and he would still be calm. She had drowned herself in those eyes in her previous life.
Ignoring his inquiry, Leah turned to Luna Laurent. "You owe me something, Luna Laurent."
Luna Laurent looked ready to burst.
Clara, who was standing shocked, collapsed. "Mom, I'm so sorry! I—I lied to you..."
As she apologized, the ladies gasped in disbelief.
"Clara, dear!" Silver Luna was obviously shocked, unable to believe that Clara would do something like that.
Guilt crossed Clara's face. "I—I had planned to donate all my trust fund to the Eastern Veterans' Relief Centers, but my friend told me about students who couldn't pay their dues and were in debt. I donated to clear all their dues. One of the students was the child of a veteran and gifted this set to me, but Mother had already told all her acquaintances. I didn't want to break her heart. I did not realize I misled Mother. Initially, I wanted to let it be when Mother suddenly said that and explain to you and Auntie later. But Leah..."
"That is understandable..." Luna Vivienne slowly nodded. "Clara was being a good child, but still, using the Veterans' Relief Center..."
Clara's tears fell, making the ladies pity her. "I—I'm sorry. I just couldn't cut my mother off and embarrass her. But I swear I wasn't using the Relief Center's name. I was going to explain afterward. I just didn't know that Leah would mind me bringing a gift that much..."
"Clara… being such a good daughter." Luna Laurent cut in and said, "You still did a deed commendable of praise. Sometimes, I just can't comprehend the Alpha King's wisdom..." In her eyes, her daughter was the most suitable to be the next Princess Varkos.
"You seem very curious about what I think," a voice cut in.
In shock, everyone fell into a curtsy.
"Your Majesty!"
An older, broad, muscular man walked in. Despite being eighty, he didn't look a day over forty if it weren't for his grey hair. His movements exuded arrogance itself. He waved his hand to tell them to stand.
Leah couldn't help staring in awe. He was one of the people she respected the most, the master and ruler of the Royal House of Varkos, Alpha King Nathan.
Seeing him, Leah couldn't help smiling widely for the first time after being reborn, unknowingly making Damon's eyes even darker.
Hearing the Alpha King's voice, Luna Laurent's chubby face became pale. She quickly explained, "No, Your Majesty, I—I misspoke. How would I know what you think? I—I was just… speaking casually."
Leah rolled her eyes, turning her face to the side. Luna Laurent had been so rude just now and had suddenly become such a coward.
"...You speak casually about me?"
"No! No… I never… I was just—"
"You were embarrassing the granddaughter-in-law that I handpicked. If I did not know you better, I would think that you were planning a rebellion."
Silent gasps resounded.
Such words frightened Luna Laurent immediately, making her fall to her knees. When she was about to beg, a pair of hands held her down.
Clara squeezed her mother's hands and said to the Alpha King, "Your Majesty, Mooncrest's loyalty to the House of Varkos is an eternal vow. My mother has been restless because of her deteriorating health."
The Alpha King glanced at her and only nodded before his eyes fell on Leah. His aged, stern face suddenly softened as he waved at Leah. "Leah Bug, come over to Grandpa."
Leah Bug...
It had been a long while since she had heard that. Ever since she was set up by Clara for allegedly trying to commit suicide, which resulted in her miscarriage, the Alpha King had never looked at her the same again.
It had been years since she had heard a voice of compassion.
Barely able to hold back her smile, she curtsied. "Your Majesty!"
"Bad Leah Bug, what did I tell you to call me?"
"Grandpa..."
"Good girl." The Alpha King grinned, patting the seat beside him. As soon as she flopped down, he handed her a fruit plate.
The Lunas felt they were hallucinating—the bloodthirsty Alpha King they had seen all these years.
"Did you eat well? Do you like this old man's place?"
Leah nodded with her cheeks full like a squirrel. The cold woman wielding daggers with her tongue was nowhere to be seen.
Pleased, he patted her head. "That's good. Is anyone giving you trouble?"