Amidst The Curse: The Heartless Lycan and His Deadly Mate

SERENITY

“Remember this! I will make you suffer until you beg for death, you wicked killer! I despise the air that you inhale with us. The silhouette you cast and the surface you walk upon! I strongly dislike the fact that I am unable to harm you physically due to your royal lineage. Or end your life so that I will never have to see you again!”

With a thunderous roar, my father yelled at me, his voice filled with sorrow, anger, and intense animosity. Fortunately, Ophelia managed to grab him.

“Alpha, you must avoid putting unnecessary pressure on yourself by physically harming her. The previous wizards I brought along have taken in all of her evil abilities. Someone from the group of sorcerers might visit today to see how she's doing," Ophelia muttered with a smile directed at my father.

I felt a surge of fear in my heart upon hearing her words. I can no longer endure the torment inflicted by her sorcerers, who seem to only engage in torture while pretending to rid me of demons.

“Go up there! Start doing your household tasks, you messy swine! You are responsible for my daughter never being late to school!" My father scoffed at me with a repulsive gaze that sent shivers down my spine.

The pain was intense, particularly because he no longer viewed me as his daughter.

‘I am your real daughter, dad.’ He recently referred to the beta's daughter as his own daughter.

After which, they both strolled off, with his embrace encircling Ophelia’s midsection as she rested against his shoulder. She looked back briefly and gave me a teasing smile, making me feel sick as I tried to hold back tears.

…..

“Hmm… Mom and Dad, I'm going to be tardy for school today because of that unhelpful girl, Serenity. I'm not sure why she’s…”

As I entered the dining room, I noticed Vivien, the Beta's daughter, complaining, but she stopped talking when she saw me.

The trio sat together at the table, and the scene evoked memories. It reminded me of how I used to sit with my mother and my father, who was once a great dad.

‘It was supposed to be us, sitting there together, eating and happily chatting.’

Everything had transformed rapidly. Currently, I fulfill the role of a maid, attending to their needs rather than joining them at the dining table. The daughter of the Beta has replaced me.

“Here are the dishes you ordered...” I softly spoke while bowing and handed it to them, silently hoping for the tranquility and stillness to persist until I departed.

I have asked the Moon Goddess for protection from harm, and it appeared that my prayer was granted when I distributed the dishes and prepared to depart.

“Serenity!” My father's chilling and terrifying voice echoed my name, causing me to stand still, overwhelmed with the urge to burst into tears.

I really want to be able to disregard him and leave. I really despise having to face Vivien and endure all the insults and physical abuse.

Still, I had no choice, so gradually, I twirled and approached them.

“Have a taste of this food first. I no longer have faith in you," my father commanded, and I fought back my tears while my face turned crimson.

I had completely forgotten that things have always been like this. They always considered me a suspect, even though the true culprit, Ophelia, is sitting right next to them.

Despite having assigned personal security to monitor me closely while I prepare meals, he still found ways to embarrass me and shatter my emotions.

I sampled a bit of Dad's meal, followed by a taste of Vivien's dish. But when I reached Ophelia, she shot me a cold, piercing look that made my hands tremble.

Trembling intensely, I grabbed the spoon and plunged it into her meal, scooping up a spoonful as well.

But as I was about to bring it to my mouth, she swiftly struck my hand with the back of her palm, causing the stew in the spoon to scatter across my face and directly into my eyes.

“Ahh! M-My… e-eyes!” I let out a loud cry of pain as the fiery sensation overwhelmed me, causing me to lose my footing and collapse onto the floor.

“Help!” I closed my eyes immediately while I fumbled and let out a loud scream, desperately calling for assistance. I pleaded for some water to cleanse my face, but all I heard was laughter.

“Poor thing! Could you believe that she actually wants to take advantage of the situation to satisfy her hunger with the food I have?” Ophelia chuckled, and they continued to laugh as I felt a burning sensation in my eyes, causing tears to flow uncontrollably.

“Help me, please. I-I'm losing my… v-vision! I need assistance with water, please!”

I shouted and trembled, desperately attempting to remove them using my hand, but nobody shows concern.

The only thing I could hear afterwards was the tinkling noise of their silverware and dishes, indicating that they had already begun eating without any concern for my presence.

I tried my best to open my eyes, hoping I could handle everything and make it to the kitchen sink, but it was useless.

I only assisted the ones clinging to my eyelashes to enter my eyes, resulting in excruciating agony that violently shook my entire body. “Ahh!”

Once more, my eyes closed on their own accord, and this time I was unable to reopen them; darkness enveloped my world.

“H-Help me, p-please.” As I searched, cleaned my eyes, and cried out for assistance, my eyes felt more of the painful sensation.

I felt an intense burning sensation behind my eyes, as if they were being engulfed in flames. I couldn't even open them.

“Could someone please assist me? Can someone please bring me water so I can rinse my eyes? It's extremely painful! Please!"

As I let out loud sobs, the sound echoed through the walls. I struggled to navigate my way to the bathroom, relying on my senses.

However, my mind was foggy, intensifying the unbearable agony my eyes were experiencing.

“Shut up, will you? You have to be quiet while we finish our meal. It wouldn't be fair to ask any of us to interrupt our eating to fetch water for you!” Vivien shouted without any regard for the excruciating agony I was experiencing.

“She brought it upon herself, I felt the urge to hit her in the face, but she attempted to appear clever by using the spoon as a defense! She should not have helped herself to a spoonful from my plate!” Ophelia complained while they continued to eat while I was losing my vision.

My dress was wet from the tears streaming down my face, and I was covered in sweat as I crawled on the floor, panting and sobbing in intense pain.

“I hope she becomes visually impaired from this point forward! Perhaps that is the retribution bestowed by the Moon Goddess for taking the life of my mate!”

I was taken aback when my dad contributed, and it made me flinch.

His voice's icy chill stabbed my heart, causing intense pain. The agony of hearing my father's words was overwhelming, causing me to let out a loud cry.

The intense dislike was genuine and it would never diminish as I anticipated; I understood the depth of my father's affection for my mother, treating her with utmost care like a precious jewel.

I anticipated his disdain for me after her death, but not to such a degree. I am still his daughter, the fruit of their bond.

I believed that his anger would diminish as the year came to an end, but I was unaware that it would actually intensify every time he encountered me.

“I believe she has understood her mistake; we should instruct the guards to give her a bath.” Ophelia let out a snort, and her words echoed in my ear like a bell, jangling and pounding my mind with their meaning.

I could hear her perfectly, but I couldn't bring myself to accept that my ears didn't trick me just now.

“Yes, that's a great suggestion for someone like her who practices witchcraft!” Vivien let out a frustrated sigh, and I could hear my father summon the guards.

"Undress her and assist with her bath in the bathroom," my father commanded, and I was shocked, shaking my head as I sobbed, more warm tears streaming down my face.

‘No, please. No!’

I felt my lips trembling, and I longed to be able to open my eyes and escape; running seemed like the ideal choice, but being visually impaired prevented me from doing so.

The idea of these guards witnessing my unclothed form gave me a shiver.

"D-Dad, please reconsider your command. Please? D-Don’t listen to Ophelia's words! She’s not…” I got scared and my voice broke.

I couldn't find the courage to tell him once more about Ophelia's true identity.

That moment, I realized that my father was serious when he promised to make my life a living nightmare, as his biological child.

I made a foolish mistake believing that being my father would lessen the torment. And now, I will find myself exposed before these ordinary sentinels, whom I had previously commanded.

The royal lineage within me sent shivers down my spine, leaving me utterly shaken. I just wished it wouldn't occur.

‘How can I face these men once they witness my nudity?’

“Can't you hear anything?! Please follow my instructions precisely!” My father roared, pounding his fist on the table, and my jaw dropped as I struggled to breathe.

The intense discomfort in my eyes cannot be compared to the distress my heart experiences.

“D-Dad, please don't do this to me!” I cried, holding onto myself tightly, as I couldn't determine my location within the room.

“The audacity, huh? Even though you've disowned her years ago, she still continues to refer to you as daddy. That is not right!” Vivien complained, and I sensed a pang in my heart from her words, then my father chimed in.

“I know. And that is the reason she should receive any possible penalty on this world. Such a stubborn and cold-hearted person! I don’t have a daughter like her!” He let out a contemptuous snort, devoid of any sympathy or care in his tone.

“Please…” I attempted to plead once more, but before I could utter a word, the sound of loud footsteps echoed, and suddenly, four powerful hands seized hold of my limbs, forcing me into silence.

“No!”