Rise of the Bullied Luna Queen

Thralith

~RUBY~

I rubbed my hands together for the umpteenth time, head lowered to the ground, my fingers dancing a silent waltz, twisting and turning in an unconscious rhythm.

The weight of all eyes on me made the realization sink in—I was doomed on my first day in school. How could I have been foolish enough to threaten the crown prince, the Aldorin of the kingdom?

My end felt imminent; I could sense it wouldn’t be long before I'd be dragged out of the school environment, returning to live with my stepmother and Father once again. I could already picture the look on her face, grinning from ear to ear, delighted that I was back and ready to increase the suffering I'd endure, twice as much as before.

"Cat got your tongue?" Prince Liam's deep voice echoed in my ear as he circled me. "A moment ago, you dared to act like a heroine, and now, you're trembling in fear," he chuckled, his lips grazing my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "See? You should fear me!" His voice thundered with an ominous edge, resonating through the air, and amplifying the intensity of the moment.

I took a hesitant step backward, only to be forcefully shoved by an unseen hand from behind. Helpless, I tumbled to the ground, landing at his feet. With my head bowed, I trembled in the shadow of his presence, my heart pounding to the rhythm of mocking jeers from the students. The weight of uncertainty bore down on me—what fate awaited? What sinister intentions lurked in his mind? Never before had fear gripped me so tightly, for I dreaded the thought of returning to my wretched home, back to a life drenched in ceaseless suffering.

"Your Highness," a woman, distinct in her attire and bearing, emerged before me, her head respectfully bowed. Clad in a somber black suit that set her apart from the students, her mature countenance hinted at a role beyond a mere educator. "Should I command her removal, and what tidings should I convey to the Alpha King regarding the girl?"

Her words struck like thunder in my chest, each syllable reverberating with a chilling authority. Her callousness pierced through me, igniting a whirlwind of apprehension. Was this the pervasive nature of those gathered, each harboring an equal measure of cruelty? She stood as the lone sentinel of authority, a stark contrast to the scene that had unfolded. When I had screamed upon witnessing the boy's fall from the rooftop, not a soul had extended aid; instead, they stood as silent spectators to the impending tragedy.

"That will be a good thing. Drag her out," Prince Liam declared, his hand sweeping through his silver ombre hair as he turned to leave. Reacting instinctively, I leaped to my feet and hurried to intercept him, arms outstretched. A frown etched across his face as our eyes locked.

"Move away," he warned, his voice dangerously low, but I paid no heed. Murmurs erupted among the other students.

"She has some guts!"

"Standing in front of the Aldorin like that is like a death sentence!"

"I'm sure they're going to drag her out!"

Ignoring the swirling whispers, I remained focused on the prince. I was determined to avoid returning home to face my oppressive stepmother and father.

"What are you doing in front of the royal prince? Have you no manners?" The woman tried to push me aside, but the prince halted her with a gesture.

"It seems she wants to stay, Miss Robinson," he grinned wickedly. "But the problem is, I don't give second chances, no matter who you are, and clearly, you are no one!" With that, he forcefully pushed my hand away and began to move away.

With each step he took, my heart pounded louder. Another step, and I felt my knees weakening. As he took yet another step, I realized I had no choice. If I were to remain in the school, I had to take a drastic step—something that would make him reconsider.

"Your Highness!" I shouted, dropping to my knees, head bowed to the ground, my voice echoing through the space. "Have mercy, Your Highness. Please..." I begged desperately, but he didn't turn. He continued walking, seemingly deaf to my pleas. What could I do? What should I do? I questioned myself as I watched him move away. There was only one option that came to mind, the one thing I shouldn't have mentioned.

"I will do anything, Your Highness!" I shouted, and to my surprise, it made him halt in his tracks. With hands in his pockets, he turned to face me, taking deliberate steps towards where I knelt.

"What did you say, charity case?" His words cut through the air, reverting to that demeaning term. It wasn't the term itself that bothered me, but the audacity of him bringing it up again.

"I... I will do anything, Your Highness," I stammered.

He chuckled, a mocking tone underscoring his words. "Really?" he queried, and I nodded in response. "Good, if you're up for it because I am not a man of many chances. This is my final offer to you." He shifted, stretching his leg forward, his polished black boot nearly inches from my face. "I will forgive you only if you lick the dirt off the shoe."

My eyes widened in disbelief at his demand. If I had trembled before, I was quaking now. The thought of performing such an act in front of everyone, including bystanders, was paralyzing.

"What?" I managed to utter.

"You can't do it?" His tone hinted at annoyance, his temper simmering beneath the surface. I had only known him briefly, but I could sense his frustration. I couldn't fathom why he would ask me to do something so degrading. I had always envisioned the crown prince as kind and approachable, akin to his parents, especially the humble Luna Queen. But he was different, and I couldn't comprehend why.

"If you can't, then I suppose you should be escorted out. Miss Robinson, please remove her," he commanded, about to turn away when I interjected.

"I will do it!" I declared, inhaling deeply. If this humiliating act would spare me the agony of returning home, I was willing. "I will do it, Your Highness."

A loud chuckle escaped him as he extended his boot. "Don't waste my time, charity case. Do it!" he ordered sharply.

With a heavy sigh, I glanced up to see students around us wielding their phones, eagerly anticipating the spectacle of me licking the prince's boot. This wasn't what I envisaged when I dreamed of attending this school. It was a cruel display, a profound humiliation, an abuse of power. Not even Miss Robinson, the supposed role model, could rein in the prince. After all, no one dared cross him.

Shakily, I leaned forward, lowering my head towards his boot, my breath hitching as the moment neared. But just as my lips were about to touch the leather, the students began to scatter, dispersing like frightened birds sensing the arrival of an authority figure. The prince retracted his feet, and suddenly, I was saved by the unexpected arrival of someone else.

"What is happening here?" The voice, dripping with authority, cut through the tense air. "Somebody care to explain!" she demanded, her presence commanding attention.

Silence lingered; no one dared to speak. The students hurriedly vacated the area, leaving behind only the crown prince, Miss Robinson, and the approaching ambulance. "Again, Prince Liam!" the woman exclaimed with a breathy sigh. I lifted my head to meet her gaze and noticed seven other students standing behind her, their attire distinct with gem emblems adorning their shirts. Each exuded an aura of authority, not as potent as the prince's, yet undeniably powerful.

"Headmistress Loriana, nothing is going on here. A student jumped from the rooftop, and the ambulance is..." Miss Robinson began explaining.

"Why is the ambulance still here?" Headmistress Loriana interrupted sharply. "Your duty, as the school caretaker alongside Mr. Marcus, is to tend to the students. Where is he now?"

"Attending a meeting, ma'am," she replied.

Headmistress Loriana frowned, pointing towards the ambulance. "Order them to take the student away and proceed as usual."

"Yes, ma'am."

The word "usual" echoed in my mind, a troubling mystery. As I tried to grasp its meaning, the headmistress's approaching footsteps reverberated against the ground, drawing nearer.

"Why are you not in our school uniform, and who are you?" Her voice sliced through the air, colder than anticipated. The diversity of personalities among the school staff bewildered me.

I scrambled to my feet, head still bowed. "I... I'm Ruby Peters," I stammered, meeting her eyes as she widened with recognition.

"You're the girl chosen by the Alpha King," she remarked, a faint smile touching her lips, despite the lingering frostiness in her voice.

"Yes..." I replied, my voice trembling from the intense moments I'd just encountered.

"The royal messenger has already informed us about your situation," the headmistress stated, gesturing towards a man who appeared suddenly, a stranger to me. He stepped forward, holding a tablet in his hand. "Take Ruby Peters, show her around, her locker, and dormitory, and provide her with the necessary uniforms. Remember, she is the King's chosen student."

The prince scoffed audibly at the statement, his disdain palpable, mirroring the discomfort I felt in his presence.

"Follow me, Ruby," the man's calming voice broke the tension, and I complied, dragging my luggage along. With a bow of gratitude to the headmistress, I locked eyes with the prince, feeling his piercing teal gaze follow me as I departed. The other students I passed wore expressions ranging from contempt to hunger, except for one who seemed different.

New uniforms were handed to me, including the school and dormitory attire, along with a fresh luggage set. The dormitory, referred to as "The Howls," was designated for special invitees like myself, and scholarship candidates. Finally, I was led to my locker, adorned with my name in teal blue—a color that seemed to hold significance to the school.

"Thank you.’’

"I think you'll find your way around, and if not, the map here might help," he pointed to a large map on the wall. Before I could respond, he vanished as swiftly as he had appeared.

"Nice," I murmured, turning to unlock my locker using the ID number from the letter. As I swung the door open, a card caught my eye, causing me to gasp. I picked it up, and my fingers trembled as I read the word emblazoned on it:

THRALITH

A Sylvanorian word for "slave."

The card slipped from my grasp, hitting the ground with a foreboding thud, its implications weighing heavily on my mind. As I stood frozen in shock, a deluge of water suddenly cascaded down upon me, drenching my body completely.

"Looks like someone's starting their first day soaked," a mocking voice sneered beside me. Before I could even turn to identify the culprit, they vanished into thin air, leaving me stunned and dripping wet amidst the sudden downpour.