Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

"BROTHER!" Aeris set aside her homework and rose from the chair as she heard Elias, her older brother, enter their home. Her other two siblings, ages 12 and 16, also rushed out to welcome him.

"I'm home," Elias announced as he closed the door behind him and dropped his bag near the shoe rack by the wall. He then gave his two younger brothers a pat on the head, as well as his only sister, Aeris. "What happened to your ankle?" he asked when he noticed the bandages on her foot,

causing Aeris to break out into a nervous sweat.

"Uhm, I injured myself during the physical training in school." she lied, fiddling her fingers. "I sprained it yesterday, but the doctor at the clinic said it wasn't serious."

Her explanation satisfied her younger brothers, but the expression in Elias' eyes revealed his skepticism.

"I can tell when you're lying." He peered dow

whenever she told a lie.

at her fingers, which she was still fiddling with. It was a familiar habit of Aeris'

"Tell me the truth, what happened?" Elias strode towards the living room of their modest home and settled into a wooden chair, gesturing for his younger siblings to join him.

"Nothing happened...I just sprained my ankle," she said, avoiding his intense gaze, which caused him to frown.

"Aeris, don't make me ask thrice."

She let out a deep sigh as his gaze intensified. She was aware that he wouldn't relent until she revealed the truth. But that didn't mean she was ready to disclose the details of the bullying Graduation was only a few months away, and she didn't want to burden her brother with her troubles.

"I went inside the forest because I was curious and then I panicked when I heard the rustling sound. That was when I lost my footing and sprained my ankle." Aeris' explanation made Elias' eyes widened in shock, anger filling him immediately.

"Are you being serious right now? You're old enough to know that entering the forest isn't a smart thing to do," he said, clenching his jaw at the thought of her possibly going through the same distressing experience he did as a child.

The memories of that day were still vivid in his mind as he stood face-to-face with a massive wolf. If it weren't for the Luna Queen Helga who had saved him, he might not be alive today.

"I know, I know I was dumb to do that, and I promise it won't happen again." Aeris said as she sat beside her brother and hugged his arm, "I'm sorry, don't get mad please?"

"How can I not be mad?" He glared at her, clearly displeased that his sister had done something reckless and dangerous. "What if something terrible had happened to you? Our parents are gone, and the thought of losing one of you..." Elias sighed, not wanting to continue his sentence.

"I'm sorry," Aeris pouted before grabbing her bag and pulling out the invitation she had received earlier, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Anyway, look, the Queen invited us to the royal banquet."

"What?" their two younger brothers burst out in surprise, standing up quickly to get a closer look at the envelope. Their eyes then widened in shock when they saw the royal seal imprinted on it.

"It seemed, the Queen still remembered you, brother. So, you need to take a break from your work this upcoming weekend."

"But we don't have appropriate clothing to wear..." Elias trailed off, and just then, a knock on the door distracted their attention. The four siblings looked at each other before Elias got up and went to answer the door, with the others followingContent from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

closely behind him.

"Greetings, I am the palace seamstress. The Queen has instructed me to take your measurements for the gown and suits you will wear at the upcoming royal banquet." The woman, who wore a dark blue dress, greeted after Elias had opened the door. "Here's the proof that I am from the palace,"

She presented a badge adorned with the royal crest, confirming her as a member of royal pack. At that, Elias gave a nod of approval and allowed the woman, who appeared to be in her mid-thirties, to enter.

The seamstress, whose name was revealed to be Margot, went about her task with efficiency and grace. She had brought along a measuring tape and various fabrics, all carefully chosen by the Queen herself.

As Margot took the siblings' measurements, Aeris couldn't help but feel excited for the upcoming event. It was not every day. that they were invited to a banquet, at the royal palace at that.

Meanwhile, Elias was still feeling a bit uneasy about the whole situation. He wasn't used to such lavish events and was afraid of making a fool of himself in front of the important guests. He knew he had to put on a good front for his younger siblings though, so he tried his best to appear calm and composed.

After taking their measurements, Margot bid them farewell and promised to have their outfits ready by the end of weekdays.

The next few days were filled with anticipation as they awaited their outfits from Margot. Finally, on the eve of Friday, she arrived with their completed garments. The siblings were amazed at how well they fit and how beautiful they looked in them.

"You all look stunning!" Margot exclaimed as she took in their appearance as they tried the clothes she made.

"Thank you so much for your hard work," Elias said gratefully as he admired himself in the mirror.

"It was my pleasure," Margot replied with a smile before leaving the siblings.

"Woah, I look like a princess." Aeris let out a joyful laugh as she spun around, marveling at the delicate details of her sky- blue dress that fell just below her knees. The queen had not only provided them with clothes to wear but also shoes that fit their feet perfectly. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would have the opportunity to wear such exquisite gown. After all, they were raised in poverty, and her parents struggled to make ends meet. Still, despite their financial struggles, they always made sure their children had enough food to eat.

Unfortunately, their hard work took a toll on their health and led to their untimely deaths. Their father was the first to fall ill and pass away, followed by their mother who suffered a heart attack and also passed away.

That tragic event motivated Aeris to pursue a career with a high salary, which was why she was currently focused on studying diligently. As soon as possible she wanted to support herself and help her brother on providing for the family.

The next day, Ivana arrived bright and early at their house to help Aeris and her brothers prepare for the banquet. As soon as she entered, she was greeted with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of excited chatter from the siblings.

Ivana might come from a small pack, but she had attended many high-end events herself. She knew exactly what it took to make a good impression, and she wanted to ensure that Aeris' beauty would stand out among the guests.

And so, Ivana worked her magic on Aeris' face, enhancing her natural features with subtle yet striking makeup. Next, she carefully curled her long honey-colored locks, letting them fall in soft waves down her back.

Aeris could hardly believe her reflection in the mirror once Ivana finished dolling her up.

"Wow! Is this really me?" she asked in amazement.

"You look gorgeous," Ivana assured her with a grin. "I mean you always are. Even without makeup, your beauty is undeniable

and captivating."

Aeris smiled and thanked Ivana. Soon after, a car from the palace arrived in front of their house and a driver alighted from the driver's seat to knock on the door. "Julian, look who it is," Elias said and Julian, the third eldest sibling opened the door warily.

"Greetings, I am here to take you to the palace as per the Queen order." The driver spoke kindly, and Sasha promptly told his brother, who then walked to the door. Elias immediately identified the man and urged his siblings to start leaving the house. After all, he didn't want to keep the driver waiting any longer than necessary. "Goodbye, enjoy the party," Ivana said as she waved her hand when Aeris approached the car.

"Thank you, I'll treat you tomorrow," she said before getting inside the car.

Aeris then nervously fiddled with her dress as she sat in the backseat of the car with Julian and Aeron. Meanwhile, Elias was sitting in the passenger seat.

On the way to the palace, Elias's voice was filled with reminders for his siblings to behave properly once they arrived. He instructed them to greet the King and Queen respectfully and warned them not to wander around freely on the castle grounds. After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the gates of the palace and Aeris could feel her heart beating rapidly, unsure if it was from excitement or anxiety.