The Rejected Luna Queen

Aurora's POV

I heard my stomach grumble once more; a reminder that I had cried enough and I had more pressing issues to address. I felt a slight ache in my stomach and I knew that hunger was getting quite impatient with me.

I stopped crying and began to regain a bit of composure, reminding myself that I couldn't cry forever. Crying wasn't going to solve any problem and I had to console myself with that. Rose had been saying it all the while but it was only after several minutes that I came to terms with it.

I stood from the side of the bed where I sat and wiped my tears with both hands. I walked to my mirror to see how I looked and it wasn't a great sight. Not the fact that I was ugly; that was already a sure thing. Because I had cried so long, my eyes looked a bit sunk in and my face was pretty dull. I had to do something about

it.

To the bathroom I went, quick as a flash, turning on the tap so I could wash my face. I put my two hands forward, right below the tank as the water flowed into them. Then with the water, I washed my face for about two minutes, before turning off the tap and drying my face with a towel.

I encouraged myself, taking in a deep breath and breathing out to eradicate any form of fear and shame that lurked in my mind because I was about to leave without my mask. Rose was quite helpful.

"Go girl," she encouraged me, trying to boost my confidence. "You look amazing. Let's go get some good food."

"I think you're being a little overboard with this," I laughed. Rose always had her way with words. She just knew how to lighten my mood.

I put my legs into my flat, red slippers which I had been wearing for over six years and headed toward my door. I had to go to the servant's kitchen regardless of how bad my experience might have been. I had to eat something. My stomach wasn't going easy on me anymore.

I left the room, shutting my door from behind. A group of maids stood a short distance away from my room chattering and laughing hard. I walked past them at a really quick pace, doing my best to avoid being noticed.

They couldn't miss a chance to make fun of me. They took turns mocking me with very scornful remarks which usually would have gotten to me.

"There she goes again, Maria. The ugly witch has broken free from her cage."

"Sometimes, I wish she could understand just how bad she makes others feel merely by her presence. She would have stayed indoors a lot more."

"Look at her walk. It's not just the ugly face; everything else about her stinks so bad. She walks and talks like some duck. The goddess has dealt with her treacherously. I hear she's devoted to her."noveldrama

I paid little attention to them. I was certain they were only trying to get me worked up. Besides, I knew I was ugly. There was no way I was going to let their words get to me.

As I got to the kitchen, I met the Head chef; Mrs Elizabeth was her name. She was a woman in her early fifties and the only one who was nice to me.

"Good day, ma'am," I greeted, walking straight into the kitchen.

She turned around and smiled as soon as she saw me. "Hey, Aurora, how are you today?" She asked.

"Not like anyone cares," I muttered in a whisper, hoping that she wouldn't hear

me.

She walked up to me in a hurry and stood right in front of me with her left hand on her waist. "Aurora, what is the matter? You don't look happy and you don't sound happy either."

She must've heard what I said and I felt bad for her. I didn't mean to speak that way to her. My emotions got the better of me. I just felt like everyone had no love for me and I was undeserving of love from anyone, including her.

"Everything has been going wrong, ma'am. Nothing ever goes well in my life." The question seemed to trigger something in me as I felt the pain all over again.

"I've lost everything within a very short frame of time," I lamented, with tears rolling freely down my cheeks. I tried to hold them back but I had no such power. "My hard-earned savings have been taken by my mother for no just cause and the mask which I bought, to hide my ugly face from everyone else has also been stolen and I can't tell who it was that took it. Why is life treating me so unfairly? What is my crime?"

"Calm down, Aurora. Don't get yourself so worked up, my dear."

"I saw my mate on the eve of my birthday, ma'am. It was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of my entire life. It was a day that I looked forward to all my life."

"Wow! Tell me about it! Most of us don't get to find our mates in our lifetime..."

"Isn't that better than seeing him kiss another woman right in front of you?" I lowered my head and let out soft sobs once more. I was devastated and embarrassed. Even the thought of my predicament wearied me.

"It's alright, Aurora. Everything will be fine. Our people will always say that a problem that looks unsolvable always has a solution staring right at it."

"Not this one, ma'am" I countered, unable to see any hope whatsoever in my situation. Somehow, Rose kept mute, contrary to what I had come to expect from her in situations like this. "There's no hope anymore. I've hit a dead end."

"You think so? What if I told you that this isn't a dead end?" The woman smiled mischievously as she stood and walked to the fridge, taking out some snacks and a plate of rice.

"Here, have this," she said to me, handing the food over to me with a smile remaining on her face. "I do have an idea; one you'd certainly love."