everything

o. Instead, I was ordered to move to the maids' quarters. I had less tha

simple - just three bunk beds squeezed into a narrow space. Two of the lower bunks were already occu

othbrush, and one pair of shoes. The rest of my belongings were still back in Matteo's room. Dee

ul not to make any noise that might wake the others. Once I lay down on

d silent, trailing down my temples and into my hair. Everything hurt - my chest, my pride, my f

ed sobs and the painful cracking of my shattered heart. Sle

-

ul nap when a sudden shock of fr

oaked through my clothes instantly, cutting straight to my bones. Violent shivers wracked my frame as

up, lazy bum," one

mocking laughter as they watched

h disdain. "What, did you think you were still the Luna? That you could laze around l

at them - to remind them who I had been. But the truth settled heavily in

e would only make

y legs, and quickly changed into the plain, faded clothes I had

learly too much work for one person - the kind of load that was usually shared between four

pose. They wanted to brea

hey knew I couldn't fight back. A

and began workin

s scrubbing. Every time I straightened my back, it cracked loudly, sending sharp aches through

nt long hours doing paperwork in my office, Matteo would always appear with a tray o

ed. My stomach ached with emptines

spinning for a few frightening seconds. My voice came out hoarse and weak as

ts. Only three are left. Please... can I take

like sandpape

t. "You're not even finished, and you already want f

my sides. "But I've done most of it..

Maltreatment? This is nothing. I was even given the choice to send you to the brothel to sell your

eam. I wanted to cry. Instead, I bit down hard on my lip

e door to the la

pped to their knees, bowing

Luna!" they call

king up, I knew

le

e. Her elegant heels clicked slowly across the floor until they stopped directly in front

aid n

looking down at my soake