The Alpha Prince's Purchased Maid
Chapter 54: Full Moon Night

The sun had dipped below the horizon and evening had arrived along with the big and bright full moon. Exactly like the other maids, I was inside my room with the door locked securely and my windows closed. Something told me that tonight wouldn’t be a peaceful one. The loud sound of my fast-beating heart was proof of how on edge I was.

My body had been feeling strange again for the whole day. My chest felt tight and at times it felt difficult for me to breathe. It was like something heavy had been placed on top of my chest and I couldn’t remove it. My body felt hot like I had a burning fever as I laid on my narrow bed.

“Mhhmm...” I moaned left my lips.

I squirmed on the bed as I clenched my thighs together. The heat in my body seemed to have worsened and there was an undeniable ache in my lower abdomen which slowly spread downwards to the point in between my thighs.

“Ahh...” I whimpered softly as goosebumps formed on my skin.

Suddenly, my body felt extra sensitive like I had never felt before. I was more aware of my senses. The blanket rubbing against my skin felt unbearable and I had to remove it. The sound of my own breathing sounded so loud as if it was echoing all around me. Sleep evaded me as I engaged in an endless game of tag with it late into the night. I curled my body up into a ball as I laid on my side on the bed.

I began praying for this ominous night to quickly pass. I prayed hard that morning would arrive and that this sickness of mine would disappear along with the full moon.

**Knock Knock Knock**

I must have fallen asleep somehow during the middle of the night because the sound of someone knocking loudly on my door woke me up from my slumber. My mind felt hazy as I slowly opened my eyes before sitting up in bed.

Who is it?

“Yes?” I called out.

The rules were firm, and Madame Cassandra had repeated it to me more often times than enough. I can’t leave my room and I’m not supposed to open my door for anyone but her.

“It’s me...”

I gasped when I heard the voice of my late-night visitor. I quickly approached the door before unlocking it and opening it. Light streamed into my room from the hallway outside and there stood Madame Cassandra.

“Get dressed right now. There’s work for you to do,” Madame Cassandra said sternly, and I could hear the urgency in her voice.

“Work...for me? Right now...?” I asked while feeling very surprised.

...

**Earlier that Evening**

“The prince is waiting for you in his room...” a middle-aged woman dressed in a grey dress uniform politely informed the younger lady walking behind her.

The young woman did not reply as she silently walked behind the older woman with graceful practiced movements. As the only daughter of her noble family, she knew that it was her responsibility to do this. When her father asked her to serve as an honorable maiden in the palace, she agreed without causing any trouble to worry her parents. After going through the intense and scrutinizing selection process, she managed to be pre-selected as a candidate to become an honorable maiden.

Her journey from that day up until now has been anything but smooth. The rigorous training that trained ladies into honorable maidens wasn’t an easy and simple one. Apart from the training, dealing with the politics and competition in the sacred chambers where the honorable maidens lived together proved to be even more tiresome.

Being selected to spend a night with one of the princes is one of the highest honors that can ever be bestowed upon a woman in this land. Doing things right and gaining the prince’s favor could help raise the status of her family significantly and help with her father’s career and business. That was just how things were and how much influence the royal family had on the economy of the kingdom.

“This is the room. I wish you luck and may you bring endless honor to your family,” the older woman said with a proud smile.

“Thank you...” the honorable maiden replied politely.

She watched as the older woman turned away before heading down the hallway and quickly away from sight. A soft sigh left her as she closed her eyes and steadied her nerves. Everything had been for this night. She had heard many things about the prince, but this was going to be her first time meeting him in person and in private.

Well, there’s no point in delaying this any further. I should not make the prince wait for me for any longer than necessary.

...

The night of the full moon was nothing but a bother for Darius. That exact thought ran through his head as he told the wolf inside him to calm down a little. Just like all the wolves in this palace, he couldn’t fully escape the effects of the full moon. Darius sat on a long sofa as he waited for his company for the night to arrive.

Suddenly, there was a knock at his door. He breathed out a sigh before telling himself that the time had finally come.

“Come in,” he said just loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear him.

A moment later, the door to his bedroom opened and a tall woman with ethereal light blonde long hair entered before closing the door softly behind her. She had very straight and very long hair that flowed all the way down to her hips. When she looked at him and smiled, he noticed the beauty of her sweet face along with her pale blue eyes. Her beauty did not surprise him but the friendly way that she smiled at him without fear did. Despite the smile that she had on, he could sense that she was nervous, and he could understand why.

--To be continued...