Chapter 6: Lavished with Gifts
1510 Words
After the confrontation, Shezafera made sure that Luiz had already gone from their sight before she threw unpleasant remarks. She clapped her hand, which made the servants turn to her. "Lead the Miss to her room. Make sure she will not be burdened by a servant's tasks," her words full of sarcasm were intended to cut deep. "Serve her with utmost care," she declared, her voice full of mockery. This left Ashara in a state of shock over her mother's apparent change of heart.
Guided by a maid, Aetheria retreated to her room, the luxury of which felt all the more suffocating given the situation that led her there.
Meanwhile, Ashara, unable to contain her confusion and curiosity, followed Shezafera into her private chambers, seeking answers. "Mother, why have you suddenly decided not to treat Aetheria as a servant?" she demanded with indignation and intrigue.
Shezafera's laughter echoed to the four corners of her room like the musings of a jest: "Oh, just let your fake sister play at being Miss Frostborne. Let her taste what it's like to be the real daughter of this house. After all, you've secured Alpha Quinlan for yourself." Their exchange, laden with unspoken implications, revealed the depth of their scheming.
"Can I do anything I want with her, then?" she asked with a dangerous glint in her eye.
Her mother's affirmative response was all Ashara needed to hear. "Yes," Shezafera affirmed, sealing Aetheria's fate with a single word.
A day after Ashara's grand coming-of-age celebration, a group of shewolves paid her a visit. It was not her closest circle, each one's intent was to court Ashara's favor to strengthen their own family's standing. They were of similar age to Ashara, draped in the latest fashions, and chattering with tongues that only spoke about their desired mate and Alphas.
Aetheria, despite the recent decree from Shezafera elevating her status, found herself once again playing the role of the servant, catering to the guests' every whim.
"Can you believe she thought she was one of us, even for a moment?" One of the guests sneered, casting a disdainful glance at Aetheria's way. Her companions laughed in an intentionally mocking tone.
"Yeah, serving is where she belongs. It's hilarious how she could even dream of anything more," another added with a voice laced with cruelty. They insulted Aetheria one after the other, growing more venomous with each turn as their numbers increased and the Frostborne family's apparent approval of their actions increased.
Aetheria remained unbothered, though each barb struck deep, trying to force her patience to its limit. She continued her duties with quiet dignity, refusing to give her tormentors the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.
The bullying escalated when one of the guests, under the guise of an accidental gesture, knocked a glass of red wine from the table, staining Aetheria's dress. "Oh, how clumsy of me!" she exclaimed with a feigned apology, her eyes gleaming with malice. The others joined in the laughter, reveling in Aetheria's humiliation.
Yet, even faced with their cruelty, Aetheria did not falter. She cleaned up the mess, and her silence was a rebuke to their behavior. They did not get the satisfaction they'd been craving from her. They would have continued if not for the arrival of an unexpected guest who stirred them in.
Quinlan's arrival at the Frostborne residence sent undercurrents of envy amongst Ashara's female visitors. Bearing gifts of exquisite craftsmanship and rare beauty. Ashara was well aware of the envious looks of the females, and she loved them. 'So this is what it feels like to be mated to someone with De Laurentiis blood,' she thought to herself.
As Quinlan presented Ashara with his gifts, the air was filled with the unspoken jealousy of other females. Unfortunately, they weren't very good at hiding their envy; whispers and sidelong glances let it slip. But they soon found a way to express their feelings that brought them together: making fun of Aetheria.
Quinlan, for his part, seemed oblivious to Aetheria's presence. He lavished attention on Ashara, his actions and words sweet and attentive, creating an intimate bubble around them that excluded all others. This overt display of affection, while enchanting Ashara, served as a catalyst for the other females' spite towards Aetheria.
Aetheria, tasked with serving the guests as she had before, found herself the subject of their cruel amusement. "Look how attentively Alpha Quinlan dotes on Ashara. It's clear where the true power and beauty lie in this house," one guest remarked loudly enough for Aetheria to hear.
"Yes, some can only serve, while others are born to be adored," another chimed in, her laughter cutting through the room's atmosphere.
Quinlan, either unaware or indifferent to the stirrings of tension, continued to focus his attention on Ashara, amplifying Aetheria's isolation. Each smile and each tender word exchanged between Quinlan and Ashara felt like a deliberate exclusion, a reminder of Aetheria's perceived inferiority.
In these moments, Aetheria's resolve was tested but not bested. She understood that their laughter was born of insecurity and envy, a reflection of their own shortcomings rather than any fault of her own.
The Frostborne couple came out, welcoming Quinlan with a warm embrace and smiling as if they hadn't witnessed their betrayal of her last night. That breaks Aetheria's heart, but being on the brink of death at her sister's hand, Aetheria forced herself to conceal her emotions very well.
Quinlan was closely observing her every reaction, and it troubled him to see her unbothered by his display of affection towards Ashara. "Mind if I join?" Quinlan politely asked Ashara's group. The females agreed with a shy smile as they offered Quinlan a seat. "Miss Aetheria, have a seat," Quinlan added, which silenced the females. "Or am I too demanding?" he added.
"I have some errands to run. Excuse me, Mr Brancacci." Aetheria said. Though her face bore no emotion, she was breaking inside. She had loved Quinlan, she had assumed a future with him, and seeing him with another woman was something she could not take.
Meanwhile, Quinlan's jaw tightened upon hearing how Aetheria addressed her. Never did Aetheria call him Alpha, and this was the first time he heard her address him so formally as if they weren't acquainted before.
"Hey, how could you be so disrespectful towards Alpha Quinlan?" Elara, the one closest to Ashara, exclaimed. Elara was the only daughter of the Danillier. An old family of Betas that served the De Laurentiis for hundreds of years.
Aetheria could not take it in anymore. "How about you? Are you respectful?" Aetheria mused. That surprised everyone. They did not expect Aetheria to answer.
"Of course I am!" Elara said.
"Respect is different from ass-kissing, Miss Danillier. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have important things to do that need no delay." Aetheria meant to emphasize that they are not worth her time. Elara stood out of embarrassment and was about to retaliate when Ashara stopped her.
"Elara, Alpha Quinlan is here!" Ashara meddled in a tone carrying a warning. Elara trembled in anger at being humiliated. "Please forgive my sister's inpertenent action, Alpha Quinlan. I'll deal with her later." Ashara promised. She immediately looked away upon seeing Quinlan's reaction, one of full amusement, obviously not listening to her and whose mind was wandering somewhere else.
When Aetheria entered, she saw Luis and Shezafera busy checking the gifts that Quinlan had for them.
"Oh my, dear. We haven't received such a valuable gift before when Alpha Quinlan was dating Aetheria." Shezafera proudly laughed while opening the boxes.
"That brat, he knows very well how to get my approval." Luiz laughed.
Aetheria ran off to the kitchen, she could not bear to hear any of those statements. It made her stomach twitch in despair.
Everyone fell into silence when Aetheria left. They could feel Elara's embarrassment, Ashara's uncertainty, and the Alpha's evident amusement towards Aetheria's action.
"How about you try some of our newly imported wines?" Ashara said, trying to get rid of the awkward atmosphere. Ashara was about to order the maid to get the wine when the butler entered, followed by people carrying gifts.
Ashara's circle gasped at the display of wealth and affection. "Oh, Alpha Quinlan has more for Miss Ashara," one exclaimed. Ashara stood full of pride. Her smile was wide as she went in the butler's direction in just a short stride. Just then, Shezafera and Luiz went out to witness.
"You may put those in my room," she commanded as she looked at the array of people carrying gifts.
"Excuse me, Miss Ashara, but these gifts are for Miss Aetheria." The butler bowed politely as he excused himself. Ashara was left frozen, as were Luiz and Shezafera.
Ashara went back to where the quests were sitting. "Alpha Quinlan, what was that for?" she inquired in a trembling tone. The females looked in other directions to avoid Ashara's gaze after being humiliated.
"Those are not from me," Quinlan answered, and he was just as surprised as she was.
- Writer
