Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

Starting a new life in an unfamiliar world turned out to be more difficult than I expected. I grew up in a mansion where I had to do repetitive chores like cleaning and scrubbing. But in this new place, there were many different things to do.

Since we were staying here, it seemed fair for us to help out. Surprisingly, Mamà started working in the tailoring shop on the second floor. I never knew she could sew. It made me realise that there were things about my mother’s life that I still didn’t know. As for me, I ended up serving customers at the café.

Honestly, I wasn’t very good at it. Luckily, Aunt Melanie was kind and patient, even when I made mistakes like burning bread or serving bad coffee. She let me continue taking orders in the end.

It wasn’t all bad, though. I did have some previous experience in this kind of work, even if it didn’t go well in the past. Dealing with customers here felt different. They weren’t just guests; they were regular people enjoying a cup of tea and coffee. They didn’t act like snobby rich folks who needed constant attention.

Back in the mansion, I thought my life was difficult because of Vienna’s childish behavior. I had to endure her silly pranks while working hard and finding comfort in a small cabin. I blamed her for making my life challenging.

But now I realise that life doesn’t become magically easy just by changing locations. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to be here. But everything is new and unfamiliar. Interacting with different customers every day, instead of seeing the same faces all the time, is a big change.

Plus, we’re in a busy city with tall buildings, public transportation, fashionable clothes, and countless people. We must hide our true identities and keep our monstrous nature a secret. We can’t transform or hunt for prey. If we crave flesh, Aunt Melanie has plenty in her refrigerator.

Despite being out in the wide world, I still feel suffocated. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to this environment yet.

In due time, I hope to get more comfortable here, just like Aunt Melanie. There are so many opportunities and wonders waiting for us, things I had never even heard of before. I now realise how much I had been missing out on a lot.

“Good morning. How can I assist you today?” I greeted the customer warmly, with a genuine smile, ready to provide excellent service as a diligent waiter.

I noticed her and realised she appeared to be around my age, exuding confidence similar to Madonna. With her radiant blond hair and beauty mark, she bore a striking resemblance to the iconic singer.

She slightly raised her sunglasses and glanced at me, giving me a disapproving look. Her upper lip curled somewhat as if she was offended by my presence.

Suddenly, I became self-conscious. She was impeccably dressed, exuding elegance with her confident posture, while she judged me from her towering 6-inch red heels.

Her eyes moved up and down, assessing my appearance, before she finally spoke. Her voice exuded a certain feminine elegance, accompanied by an air of superiority.

“Je vais prendre un déca, s’il vous plaît [I’ll have a decaf, please],” she uttered, emphasizing her refined demeanor.

“Will that be all, Miss?” I asked, unaware that my choice of words would unintentionally displease her.

She raised an eyebrow in response, clearly offended by how I had addressed her.

“Oui [Yes],” she replied in French, reaffirming her order in a tone of detached indifference.

As I turned away to prepare her order, my forced smile disappeared, replaced by genuine disappointment. While she possessed beauty and elegance, there was no need for her unnecessary rudeness.

A little kindness and courtesy would have cost her so little.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

I pursed my lips as I stood in the kitchen, holding her order. Aunt Melanie couldn’t help but chuckle at my expression.

“It seems you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Sylvie,” she remarked with a knowing smile.

Sylvie, huh? The name suits her demeanour perfectly.

“Oui,” I playfully mimicked Sylvie’s accent, eliciting another amused chuckle from my aunt.

“Yes, she does have quite an attitude,” Aunt Melanie acknowledged, fully understanding the encounter.

“Don’t worry, Auntie, I’ve encountered worse,” I assured her, reflecting on the fact that Sylvie’s attitude paled compared to Vienna’s wickedness.

“Profitez de votre café [Enjoy your coffee],” I greeted Sylvie with a smile as I delicately placed her coffee on the table, attempting to maintain my composure despite her aloofness.

It had been a week since we were kicked out of the mansion. To my surprise, none of Monsieur’s guards had come looking for us, dragging us back to the suffocating life we once knew. Maybe they have yet to find us, or they’re simply not searching.

After Vienna had unleashed her pent-up emotions, expressing her deepest resentments, I wondered if Monsieur had finally decided it was time to release us from his grip. With her seething wrath and insatiable thirst for revenge, Vienna might have chosen to leave us be and immerse herself in a life of bliss alongside her fiancé.

I fervently hoped this was the case, as I had no desire to be thrust back into that nightmarish existence. My thoughts wandered to Maria, my dear friend who had been left behind. If only she were here, she would have enjoyed the vibrant cityscape that surrounded us. She always spoke of big cities like she had lived in one before. Perhaps she had, but before working for the Crescents, her past life remained shrouded in mystery to me.

I miss her so much, my best friend. It would be easier to adjust if she were here with me. A tear welled up in my eyes, and I sniffed, quickly wiping it away.

The café closes at ten, but my shift ends at 5, so I often take the opportunity to take a walk. Mamà doesn’t like me wandering around; she’s always worried that one of Monsieur’s men might snatch me from the streets. Luckily, Aunt Melanie is there to reassure her.

I also have some money. Aunt Melanie insists on paying me for my work at the café. I initially refused, considering all she had already done for us by letting us stay in her home and sharing everything she had. But she insisted, saying that I would need it.

Currently, I find myself walking along the street, gazing at the various shops. Clothes, food, and makeup, nothing really catches my interest enough to buy. When I first arrived, Aunt Melanie gave me a heap of clothes and makeup. She’s quite the fashion diva herself, and her style is impeccable.

I paused when I noticed a pair of homeless children across the street. I went to a nearby bakery, bought them some bread and water, and handed it to them.

Two of them, a boy and a girl, seemed to be siblings. The boy seemed a bit older, maybe around 10, while the girl appeared to be around 6. The boy thanked me when I gave him the food, and he immediately shared it with his sister. It touched my heart to see them like that.

“You’re so kind and pretty. Are you a princess?” the little girl asked. I chuckled and ruffled her hair.