Chapter 58
Selena
I stood before the growing crowd inside the abandoned storeroom, drawing in a slow breath as I looked at every familiar face.
The room had changed over the past few weeks.
The first time I gathered people here, there had only been a handful of us. Now, eighteen servants stood shoulder to shoulder between old shelves and broken crates.
The stale smell of dust mixed with the faint scent of damp wood, while a single lantern hanging from a rusty hook painted long shadows over everyone’s faces.
Some looked hopeful… Others looked tired but a few still looked uncertain but they had all come.
That alone reminded me that what we had started was becoming something bigger than I had ever imagined.
The room buzzed with arguments before I even spoke.
“We’re wasting our time p>
“No, this is the perfect opportunity p>
“Opportunity for what? To get ourselves executed p>
“Nobles will never listen to servants p>
“They don’t have to know we’re servants first.” Voices overlapped until my head began to ache.
Sally stepped forward and clapped her hands sharply. “Enough p>
The room gradually quieted as everyone looked toward me.
I folded my hands together, trying to organize my thoughts. “The headmaid has already confirmed preparations for the councilman’s ball p>
“So we finally have an opportunity to meet people we otherwise never could p>
Before I could continue, one of the older woman folded her arms. “I still think it’s foolish p>
I turned toward her. “Why p>
She sighed. “Because nobles are part of the reason the tribute system still exists p>
Several servants murmured in agreement.
“I worked in a noble household before coming here,” the woman continued. “You all think the nobles simply obey the Alphas p>
She laughed bitterly. “They don’t. They influence them, they encourage the tribute system because it keeps their own families safe p>
The room became quieter. “They’re the ones who convince poor families to surrender daughters p>
“They call it sacrifice… they call it duty but when it’s time to choose whose child goes She shook her head. “They always find another family p>
My stomach twisted as every word made my blood boil. How could anyone justify such cruelty?
How could people sleep peacefully knowing another family’s daughter had been handed over simply because she was poor?
My fingers curled into fists. “I don’t believe everyone supports it,” I said firmly.
The woman looked at me as I continued. “I don’t! I refuse to believe every noble enjoys living like this p>
She sighed. “You still have hope p>
“I do because even if a handful of them hate this system as much as we do I looked around the room. then they’re worth finding p>
Silence followed and Sally finally broke it. “What if we’re both right p>
Everyone looked toward her. “What if some nobles support the tribute system while others secretly despise it p>
She stepped beside me. “We don’t have to approach everyone p>
Her eyes swept across the room. “We simply observe.” Sally smiled slightly. “Watch them during the ball, listen then notice who seems uncomfortable whenever the tribute system is mentioned p>
The idea spread through the room almost visibly and I felt excitement stir inside me. “You’re right p>
I nodded slowly. “But we’ll go a step further p>
Everyone focused on me again.
“We won’t only identify them. We’ll learn their movements and when they leave we will find out who they speak to… the kind of people they surround themselves with p>
I walked slowly between the gathered servants. “If we know enough about them… We’ll know the safest way to approach them later p>
No one interrupted as I continued. “The purpose hasn’t changed.” I stopped walking. “We need money, we need somewhere permanent to meet, we need supplies and one generous supporter could change everything p>
Ryuiji rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “So this ball becomes our scouting mission p>
“Exactly.” Niamh smiled. “That sounds much safer p>
“It is,” Sally agreed.
“We’re gathering information first.” The tension that had filled the room earlier eased considerably.
For nearly another hour, we discussed possibilities. Which servants would likely be assigned inside the main hall.
Who would serve drinks. Who would work in the kitchens. Who would clean guest chambers.
Every assignment meant another pair of eyes and another chance to observe.
By the time the discussion ended, everyone seemed far more optimistic.
I looked around the room one final time. “We’ll meet again once we know more about the guest list p>
A servant near the back raised his hand. “If the regional councilman is coming… Then several Alphas will probably attend p>
Another servant nodded. “And wealthy merchants, Military commanders and Noble families p>
I swallowed because It would be the largest gathering Blackbourne had hosted since I arrived. Which also meant the greatest opportunity.
“And the greatest danger,” Sally added quietly.
I met her eyes. “I know p>
Eventually everyone slipped away in small groups to avoid suspicion.
The storeroom slowly emptied until only Sally and I remained.
She folded her arms as she said. “So p>
I already knew that tone. “So, what p>
She smirked. “Now is probably the time you’ll disappear to go see whoever you normally meet p>
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, you’re acting?” She raised an eyebrow. “You just mysteriously vanish every few nights p>
Heat crept into my cheeks. “I have things to do p>
“Mhm.” She looked thoroughly unconvinced. “I also think those things you refer to, have been helping us through this revolution p>
I groaned. “Sally p>
She laughed. “I’m not asking questions because I stopped doing that p>
She nudged my shoulder. “I’m only saying whoever keeps helping us pull strings inside this castle, you should go meet up with them because we need them at this moment p>
I avoided looking at her because she was right. “I’ll… think about it p>
Her smile widened. “I knew it p>
I shook my head, unable to hide my own smile. Thankfully, she didn’t press further.
Instead, we returned quietly to our chamber. By the time we reached it, exhaustion had settled deep into my muscles.
Everything seemed to demand pieces of me. I barely changed before collapsing onto my bed as sleep came quickly.
Morning arrived far too soon and the castle buzzed with unusual activity.
Preparations for the councilman’s visit had officially begun. Servants hurried through corridors carrying bundles of linen while others polished silverware until it gleamed.
Kitchen workers hauled sacks of grain and barrels of ale toward the pantry.
Different orders echoed from every direction. “No dust on those shelves p>
“Those curtains need washing p>
“Hurry!” The headmaid’s sharp voice seemed capable of reaching every corner of the castle.
Soon enough, assignments were distributed. “Selena p>
I stepped forward. “You and Marqee.” She glanced toward a nearby stack of buckets. ” Wipe those windows p>
I nodded immediately. “Yes, Headmaid p>
Marqee joined me moments later carrying cloth and soap. For several minutes we worked without speaking.
The silence between us felt awkward.
I climbed onto the small wooden platform to reach the upper sections of one enormous window while Marqee worked beside me.
She stretched a little farther and her foot slipped.
“Marqee!” Without thinking, I reached out and caught her wrist.
She gasped. For one frightening second, her entire weight leaned away from the platform.
Then I pulled her back toward me. She stumbled against the wall, breathing hard.
“I’ve got you.” I said and she looked at me with wide eyes.
For several moments neither of us spoke, then finally she let out a shaky laugh. “I almost broke my neck p>
“You almost gave me a heart attack p>
She smiled properly for the first time in days. “The soap is far too slippery p>
I laughed softly. “It really is.” I glanced at the bucket below us. “We never used soap like this back in… my village p>
She chuckled. “We didn’t either p>
“What did you use?” I asked her.
“Sand and wood ash.” She said with a small smile on her face.
I couldn’t help laughing. “You’re serious p>
“It worked.” She shrugged. “My grandmother swore by it. I always complain but looking at this She wiggled one slippery boot. maybe she had a point p>
I laughed again and the sound felt strangely refreshing.
Before long we were talking much more naturally. She told me stories about growing up among ordinary villagers.
About sharing tiny cottages with large families… About children inventing games with sticks because toys were luxuries.
About winters when several families slept together inside abandoned shrines simply because they couldn’t afford enough firewood.
Some borrowed enormous sums from nobles and when they couldn’t repay them… They worked for free for months and sometimes years.
Listening to her, my heart grew heavier. “I knew life wasn’t easy,” I admitted quietly. “But hearing it like this… It makes it feel different p>
Marqee nodded. “Our pack is still better than many others.” She dipped her cloth into the bucket again. “But poverty is still poverty p>
I stared through the clean glass toward the village below. Rows of rooftops stretched across Blackbourne. Some families probably laughed together every evening while others wondered where tomorrow’s meal would come from.
I thought of Alpha Kael, he truly cared about his people.
I believed that but perhaps even someone as capable as him couldn’t see every struggle happening beneath his own roof.
“If only The words escaped before I could stop them.
Marqee glanced at me. “If only what p>
“If only the wealth sitting inside noble homes reached the people who actually needed it p>
She looked away thoughtfully as I added, “Life would be kinder p>
Silence settled between us again. After a while, I lowered my cloth. “Marqee… I’m sorry p>
She frowned. “For what p>
“For pushing you.” I took a careful breath. “I know something must have happened before… I don’t know what but whatever it is… you don’t have to carry it alone p>
Her expression changed as she stared at the window instead of me.
“If my revolution frightens you… I understand but you can always tell me why p>
Several long moments passed and I wondered if she would ignore me again.
Instead… A small smile appeared on her face as she began speaking. “It wasn’t your fault.” She looked at me. “My childhood friend p>
Her voice became quieter. was sold to the vampires last year. The worst part was Her eyes filled with old pain. “It was her own father who sold her to the noble family who used her as a replacement to save their daughter p>
“So She swallowed. “They offered money and my friend’s father accepted p>
The words struck me like a blow.
My chest tightened painfully and the cloth slipped from my fingers into the bucket below.
For several seconds, I couldn’t find a single thing to say. Only one thought echoed through my mind.
My hatred for the vampires had just grown even deeper p>