Marked by the Moon

Chapter 4 : Smarty Pants

Vika's POV

What was I thinking?

Halfway out of the castle, I stopped myself.

I couldn't actually take the day off. I was Princess Devi's maid. I had to continue to serve Princess Grumpypants.

I kept my eyes down as I followed the princess. She hadn't even acknowledged me when I returned to her, busy whispering to Shian.

"Master Rutfus is apparently holding a special history class because of the anniversary," Devi told Shian.

"Then, there must be something you are expecting, my highness." Shian smiled.

"Of course, Prince Asher must be there," Devi said. They both started giggling.

He liked history too. I smiled at the back of their heads. I started to think I could bear Devi's shrill voice as she gushed about Prince Asher.

Asher's siblings, Prince Regent Lucian and Princess Regent Amina, were sitting at desks when we arrived at the classroom.

Prince Asher was sitting in front of the board. My heart thudded in my chest. His eyes widened when he saw me following Princess Devi.

'Sorry, my prince, I was not your maid.'

"Who are you staring at?" Devi asked.

"The blackboard." I looked at her, creasing my brow.

"Really strange. An Omega still wants to learn." Devi rolled her eyes at me and waved me away. "Go stand in the back."

I went to the back of the room and took my place beside Shian Ro-Nin. Yes, she was the princess's favorite, but she was still a maid. It made me feel better.

I watched Devi sit right beside Asher, turning starry eyes to him. Of course, Devi would immediately latch onto him.

A middle-aged he-wolf with gray hair and a pair of glasses entered the classroom. I didn't keep my head down as usual because I liked history. Accompanying Princess Devi to various classes seemed the only plus I could find so far in being her maid.

Master Rutfus started his story when he joined the class.

"Eighteen years ago, our pack suffered the most tragic night in history," Master Rutfus began his lecture.

"Assassins from our enemy pack, the Lanem Kingdom, broke into the castle undetected. Like the villains they were, they first lit fire to the castle."

Rutfus paused. I watched him pace back and forth.

"While the pack was panicked and in disarray over the fire, the assassins slipped into Alpha King Magnus's and Luna Queen Krisha's room, brutally killing them. They robbed our pack's two greatest royal members of their lives,"

He paused again, turning eyes to Devi and smiling.

"Well, fortunately, we still have our princess," he nodded to Devi, but I didn't read too much pride and joy from his light grey eyes.

Devi beamed at the attention, which I wasn't surprised by.

"Thanks to the bravery of King Regent Vadon, he single-handedly fought off the assassins, saved the infant Princess Devi, and saved the entire pack," Rutfus continued calmly.

He stopped walking and was standing still with an audible sigh.

"A great tragedy that night. The pack has never experienced anything like it since. Despite King Regent Vadon quickly taking our members to avenge, we also paid a huge price."

Everyone else was quiet as the story sunk in.

We'd all heard the story before. I was sure of that. Whenever I heard a retelling of it, I just didn't like how it sounded. Something just didn't feel right about it.

"I'd like to hear all of your thoughts on the event," Rutfus said, waving an arm out to the class.

Questioning oral history with current thinking was why I enjoyed attending history class. Master Rutfus was a pretty good teacher.

Devi wasted no time raising her hand, of course. She always had something to say. I suppressed another eye roll.

Rutfus nodded to her, and Devi stood up. All eyes turned to Devi, and I saw the wide smile curl on her lips.

Yup, she always had to be the center of attention.

"I think our enemy pack should be punished again," Devi said.

"Again?" Rutfus asked. I swallowed my scoff. That was the Devi-style response.

"Yes, we should declare a war, killing all their pack members and their Luna Queen," Devi said snidely.

No one else in the room spoke.

Seriously? That incident had resulted in a war with Lanem.

I'd been told that once the Lanem Alpha King was killed, the war had ended. It hadn't been for free though. A lot of pack members for both kingdoms had been lost.

I shook my head at Devi. She was so foolish to think like that. I doubted her brain was even connected to her mouth.

"That would avenge the deaths of my parents and the fire that was lit," Devi stated with a firm nod.

"I can understand your feelings," Rutfus said seriously. "Declaring war might be more costly. We've lost eight memorable pack members already. Would you be the cause of losing more?"

Devi folded her arms. I could only see the back of her head, but I imagined that she was glaring at Rutfus.

"Either way, they are our enemies. They attacked first, and the only way to show them we are strong is to wipe them all out," Devi insisted.

I dropped my head into my hands. Everyone else in the class was still quiet.

I didn't agree with the princesses' reckless ideas. Slowly, I raised my hand.

I wasn't sure if Master Rutfus would let me speak. His eyes brightened, and he pointed to me.

"Yes, Miss, is there something you would like to share?" he asked.

He didn't call me by name, probably because he didn't even know it.

"Was there ever a formal investigation into the accident 18 years ago?" I asked.

"That is an interesting point. Can you go on to tell us what you think?" It seemed like my words caught Rutfus's interest.

Everyone turned around to look at me—so many bright, expectant eyes. I swallowed, my stomach squirming.

Asher's blue eyes were the brightest in the crowd. I held my desire to look at him and kept my eyes on Rutfus.

"Did anyone ask what Lanem Kingdom's motives were?" I clarified.

"What clarification do you need? Their assassins killed my parents!" Devi snapped, glaring at me.

"A tragedy, definitely. I just mean… They didn't gain anything from the deaths of King Magnus and Queen Krisha. There was no benefit or motive. The Alpha King of Lanem died so quickly after. What was the point?" I asked.

"To kill my parents!" Devi wailed.

"Were the assassins confirmed to belong to Lanem?" I continued. "And if there was no motive and no investigation, then why is war and retaliation an option?"

I watched Devi's cheeks redden, her hands clenching at her sides. She glared at me and snarled.

"That's a fresh point," Master Rutfus said.

I smiled brightly. Rutfus raised an eyebrow at me.

"However, there is unanimous agreement among our leaders about the source of the attack. We may never know what they gained. That war has become the history, now," he added. I stopped smiling and bowed my head.

Asher's POV

I'd finished my royal studies years ago, but now and then, I was still invited to attend classes, usually history. Master Rutfus was a great teacher because he valued everyone's opinions.

I was quite surprised when noticing that maid. Why had that maid kept working?

I knew she was rebellious, but defying a direct order from me? As I saw Princess Devi talk to her, I realized she was Devi's maid. Of course, she couldn't obey my order.

I shook my head and snorted under my breath.

Devi's response had been about anger and revenge. It was reckless and selfish to declare war again to avenge her parents' death after 18 years. But I wouldn't blame her, not in a class full of pack members. After all, the whole pack, including myself, believed the Lanem Kingdom killed our great Alpha king and Luna queen.

However, it seemed that rebellious maid doubted the history everyone knew.

No, it wasn't a doubt. She was asking questions, the kinds of questions a leader asked before making rash decisions.

Her questions were quite impressive. I looked at her after the discussion, but she looked at the floor again.

"Prince Asher, are you okay?" Devi whispered, leaning closer to me.

"Fine, why?" I grumbled quietly. Devi giggled and put her hand on my arm.

I glanced down at her hand and raised an eyebrow. Devi slowly pulled away. She already knew I was not used to letting her touch me.

"You just seem tense," she said sweetly.

"Focus on the lecture!" I shook my head.

I tried to push that maid out of my mind during the rest lecture, but her questions kept popping into my mind. She was quick to make those connections and see through the story we all knew.

Vika's POV

Rutfus dismissed us.

I followed Devi quickly after the lecture was over. Her shoulders hadn't relaxed since I'd spoken in the class.

The bruises on my arms and welt on my back ached. Devi wasn't going to let me get away with speaking out.

She stopped at the corner of the corridor where a few members passed.

"Okay, smarty pants! You're happy to be in the spotlight in class, aren't you?" Devi whipped around and snapped.

I raised my eyes to hers. Devi glared, nostrils flaring.

"I was just sharing my opinions as Master Rutfus invited. My Highness." Yeah, I was educating this child to stop throwing a tantrum.

"You're such a b*tch dishonoring my parents' deaths like that," the princess hissed.

I didn't speak. Devi snarled and raised a hand. I stood my ground, tensing my jaw for the strike.