Chapter 52:
Makenna’s POV:
I didn’t reply. Instead, I turned around and walked toward the training room.
I had helped Alice simply because I couldn’t bear to see her punished. I wasn’t looking for her gratitude or an apology. My only hope was that she would no longer antagonize me from that moment forward.
As I entered the training room, Alice came in shortly after, staggering slightly.
Her clothes were disheveled, and her cheeks bore the marks of tears. It was clear she was still shaken by the earlier events.
Upon entering, Alice looked at me intently. Her lips were slightly parted, as if she was about to speak. But after a few moments, she bowed her head and went back to her seat.
Just then, Hayley entered.
She surveyed the room. Her eyes widened briefly when they landed on Alice. She was probably puzzled that Alice wasn’t running around the palace in the nude.
Hayley quickly regained her composure and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Okay, girls, I have exciting news,” Hayley announced with a smile. “In three days, there will be a banquet at the palace. The king has requested that all the sex slaves attend. Make sure you look your best.”
Murmurs of surprise and curiosity filled the room.
I was taken aback. Normally, only the nobles and the affluent were invited to such events. Why were the sex slaves included this time?
“Be quiet! Be quiet!” Hayley waved her hands, looking annoyed, and continued sternly, “To prevent any embarrassing moments at the banquet, we’re going to practice proper palace etiquette. You don’t want to make fools of yourselves.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Hayley looked over us with a hint of scorn and stressed, “Your objective is to win over the princes, to hopefully bear their children sooner rather than later. Got it?”
“Yes, we understand,” came the unified response.
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Their excitement was palpable as their faces flushed with anticipation. I inhaled deeply.
The thought of bearing the princes’ children had never appealed to me.
After the announcement, Hayley had us start practicing the banquet etiquette.
Many of the sex slaves came from wealthy backgrounds; they had been sent to the palace either because their families’ wealth had declined or because they were not favored by their families. Thus, they had been schooled in these manners from a young age. They knew the protocols well and managed the exercises with ease after Hayley’s instructions.
In contrast, my father had largely ignored me due to my faint wolf scent. I never received any formal teaching in etiquette, so I struggled with these unfamiliar practices.
My awkward attempts quickly drew the attention of the other sex slaves, who pointed and laughed at me. I tried to block them out as usual and focused on practicing alone.
Then, unexpectedly, Alice’s voice cut through the noise.
“Everyone, quiet!” She pointed angrily at the other sex slaves. “One more word and I’ll rip your mouths apart!”
Her tone was so stern that it silenced everyone. They looked at her warily and then silently returned to their seats to continue practicing.
I gave Alice a surprised look. Her cheeks blushed slightly. After giving a quick snort, she averted her eyes, choosing not to look my way.
I couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Alice was not as harsh or haughty as I had initially thought.
The training session wrapped up quickly. As Alice was gathering her things, I took a moment to express my gratitude.
“Thank you for standing up for me just now,” I said, meaning every word.
To my astonishment, Alice’s face turned even redder. She glanced at me, clenched her teeth, and stomped her foot. “You’re welcome,” she muttered under her breath and then hurried away.
I burst out laughing.
Having helped Alice, I was now witnessing a completely different side to her. What a pleasant surprise!
Once Alice had left, I planned to head back to my house. However, I felt sticky and uncomfortable from sweating during the session, so I decided to freshen up with a quick shower in the nearby bathroom first.
