Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Knox, who had been watching the exchange with an amused expression, stepped forward. His gray eyes flicked to Amira briefly, and for a moment, I thought I saw a smirk tug at the corner of his lips.

Amira turned to him, her frustration boiling over. "You can’t seriously be entertaining this, Knox. She’s not even worth your time. She’ll—"

Knox raised a hand, cutting her off. His tone was calm but firm. "The king has given his orders."

Amira’s face reddened, her jaw tightening as if she wanted to argue further, but she didn’t dare. She glared at me instead, her eyes burning with barely restrained fury.

"This isn’t over," she hissed under her breath, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "You’ll regret this, sister."

I didn’t reply.

Amira turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall, her dress swishing dramatically behind her.

The room felt lighter the moment she was gone.

Knox, who had been watching the entire exchange with an air of detached amusement, finally turned to me. He crossed the space between us in a few measured steps, his movements fluid and unhurried.

When he stopped in front of me, he tilted his head slightly, his gray eyes meeting mine with a glint of curiosity.

"Shall we?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, with a hint of dry humor that caught me off guard.

I blinked, unsure how to respond. This man, Knox—z as as enigmatic as the king himself, and yet, there was something in his tone that almost made me feel at ease.

Almost.

Without waiting for an answer, he gestured for me to follow him. "Your room isn’t going to find itself."

I hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward, my legs still trembling but my resolve unshaken. As I walked behind him, the whispers started again, the voices of the crowd following me like ghosts.

But I kept my head high.

Let them talk.

6- Worse Dreams

Knox led me through the winding halls of the palace, his strides confident and unhurried as I struggled to keep up. My new quarters, as he called them, were located on the eastern wing of the castle, far from the bustling activity of the main hall.

When we stopped in front of a massive wooden door, Knox pushed it open and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.

The room was... breathtaking.

Golden sunlight filtered through tall arched windows draped with sheer white curtains, illuminating the polished wooden floors. A grand four-poster bed with dark mahogany frames sat at the center, its plush mattress covered in soft cream linens and adorned with golden embroidery. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its crystals catching the light and scattering rainbows across the room.

To the left, a small sitting area with velvet armchairs and a round table stood by the window, and a tall bookshelf lined one wall, its shelves filled with books whose spines gleamed with gold lettering. Across from the bed, a wide vanity with an ornate mirror rested against the wall, and beside it, a door led to what I could only assume was the bathing chamber.

It was nothing like the cold, cramped spaces I’d grown used to in Amira’s pack.

"Welcome to your quarters," Knox said, his voice breaking the silence.

I turned to face him, my mouth dry. "This... this is all mine?"

Knox smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "For now. If you survive."

His words hit me like a slap, and I blinked, unsure if he was joking or simply stating a fact.

"Survive?" I asked cautiously.

"Alaric doesn’t waste time on dead weight," Knox said bluntly. "He chose you. That means he’s watching, even if you don’t see him."

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like the opulence of the room was a trap waiting to spring.

Knox stepped forward, his posture more relaxed now. "Since you’ll be seeing me often, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Knox, Beta to the king. My job is to ensure you don’t make a mess of things—or get yourself killed."

"I see," I murmured, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"You’ll have questions," Knox continued. "Ask them now or save them for later. Either way, you’ll find I’m not the babysitting type."

Before I could respond, a knock came at the door, and Knox turned toward it. A young maid stepped inside, her expression neutral as she took in the sight of me.

Her sharp green eyes scanned me from head to toe, her lips pursing slightly. She was slender, with auburn hair tied into a neat bun, and wore a simple gray uniform.

"This is Elise," Knox said, gesturing toward her. "She’s here to assist you with settling in."

Elise gave a stiff nod in my direction. "Luna," she said curtly, the word coming out clipped and almost resentful.

"Thank you," I replied softly, though my voice wavered under the weight of her cold stare.

She moved around the room with practiced efficiency, straightening the already immaculate sheets on the bed and rearranging items on the vanity.

I tried to break the silence. "Elise, isn’t it? How long have you worked here?"

She glanced at me briefly but didn’t answer, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"I was just wondering—" I started again, but she turned sharply and strode toward the door.

Without another word, she stepped out and slammed it shut behind her, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

I flinched, staring at the closed door in shock.

"Well..." I muttered to myself, sitting down at the edge of the bed. "That was rude."

Knox chuckled from where he leaned against the wall. "Don’t take it personally. You’re not exactly a welcome sight for most here."

I looked up at him, my chest tightening. "Why does everyone hate me?"

Knox shrugged. "You’re an omega, stepping into a position meant for someone stronger. They think you’re unworthy."

His bluntness stung, but I couldn’t argue.

Knox straightened and walked to the door. "Rest up," he said, his tone lighter now. "Tomorrow, the real fun begins."

He left without another word, leaving me alone in the too-grand, too-silent room.

I closed my eyes, willing the tears to stay back, but they came anyway.

"Oh, Olivia..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "If only you were here."

The thought of her—the only person who had ever cared for me—was enough to break the fragile dam I’d built around my emotions. I curled up on the edge of the bed, clutching the soft fabric of the sheets as sobs wracked my body.

The room was beautiful, yes. But it was a prison all the same.

My sobs grew louder, the tightness in my chest unbearable. I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stop the memories from rushing back, but they came anyway, vivid and unstoppable.

I was back in the forest, the air thick with the scent of earth and blood.

"No!" My scream echoed through the trees as I ran, my legs burning, my breath coming in sharp, panicked gasps. "No, please don’t hurt her!"

The clearing came into view, and there she was—Olivia. My beautiful, kind Olivia. She was on her knees, her golden hair disheveled and streaked with dirt, her hands bound behind her back.

A sharp blade glinted in the fading sunlight, pressed against her throat.

"Don’t do this!" I pleaded, stumbling forward, my voice cracking. "Please, she hasn’t done anything!"

Another guard held me tight.

"Oh princess you are going to watch the consequences of your actions." He bit my ears so hard, I screamed.

The man holding her smirked, his grip tightening on the knife. "Orders are orders, little wolf. You should’ve stayed out of this."

"No!" I screamed again, falling to my knees as tears blurred my vision. "Take me instead! I’ll do whatever you want, just let her go!"

Olivia turned her head slightly, her blue eyes meeting mine.

Despite the fear all over her face, she remained calm and that broke me.

"It’s okay," she whispered, her voice trembling but steady enough to reach me. "Liana... it’s okay."

"It’s not okay!" I sobbed, clawing at the ground, desperate to reach her. "You can’t leave me! Please, Olivia!"

The man didn’t wait.

He grinned as he stabbed the knife into her throat, twisting it while laughing.

"No!" The word tore from my throat, raw and guttural, as I watched the light in her eyes begin to fade. Blood seeped through her tunic, staining the forest floor as she crumpled forward.

I scrambled to her, my hands shaking as I pressed them against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Olivia! Stay with me! Please, don’t go!"

Her eyes fluttered, her breaths shallow and labored. "I’m sorry," she murmured, her lips barely moving.

"Don’t apologize!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "You’re going to be okay. I’ll get help. Just...just hold on!"

But she was already slipping away. Her trembling hand reached up to touch my cheek, her blood smearing against my skin. "I am glad to have known you.... lily," she whispered.

"Stop it!" I screamed, shaking her. "Don’t say that! You’re going to live! Olivia!"

Her hand fell limp, and her eyes closed.

I threw my head back and screamed her name, my voice echoing through the forest like a wounded animal. "Olivia!!!"