The Return of Luna

Under the canopy of the prison cell, Emma counted six lice in her long hair. After eight years without bathing, she felt as if she were wearing a thick suit of armor, and killing lice became her only way to pass the time.

Twelve years imprisoned in the cell, Emma raised her head and looked into the space. Every time it rained, her feet would ache to the point of madness.

She was the biological daughter of Beta Henry, but unfortunately, she wasn't born from the womb of Luna Sandra. Instead, she was taken to a low-status concubine. Moreover, being held in the second month, which was believed to bring disadvantage to parents, her father sent her to distant relatives for upbringing. Unfortunately, even her relatives didn't want to raise a child alone and sent her back to the village to fend for herself. Thus, she, a noble girl from the most powerful family in the Blue Moon pack, had to do household chores and even work in the fields.

Like a discarded jewel, she was thrown into the ordinary people. If it weren't for the fact that Felicia, the eldest sister, refused to marry the intended suitor, her father, and Luna Sandra would probably never have remembered her... Felicia and Emma, just hearing their names made it clear who was noble and who was lowly. Returning to Beta Henry's mansion, her heart was filled with joy at the thought that her father finally remembered her. However, she only heard her father happily say to the beautiful and noble eldest sister, Felicia, "Felicia, you don't have to worry anymore. This nobleman will marry you to Alpha Jeffn."

Later, she followed her father's wishes and entered the mansion of the Third Prince, wholeheartedly assisting Alpha Jeffn in ascending to the throne as the Lycan King. She even gave birth to his first son, Phil. Eight years passed until Alpha Jeffn succeeded and appointed her as the Queen.

Alpha Jeffn had once said that her skin was delicate and her eyebrows were like paintings, making her a top-class beauty. But even so, a top-class beauty was ultimately incomparable to the celestial beauties. Just a glance, and she appeared like mud in a corner, truly hard to look at.

What about the future? The future...

Every time Emma thought of that day, she wanted to laugh. Laughing at her younger self, fearless even in the face of the heavens and laughing at how far she had distanced herself from that time.

She still vividly remembered that night when everyone in the Moon Palace endured excruciating torture right on the spot. It seemed as if they were impatient to end everything or hide everything. They didn't even take them to the punishment chamber, and everyone endured torture in the Moon Palace.

The large doors of the Moon Palace were locked, and those subjected to torture had their mouths gagged. In the blink of an eye, the Moon Palace turned into a place of blood and despair. Emma was dragged in front of the Lycan King, Alpha Jeffn.

The always deep and gentle eyes of Alpha Jeffn revealed sharpness, coldness, and indifference to the extreme. "You wretched woman, you can even poison your sister." Emma's heart was filled with suffering, but she still said, "I harmed my sister? I have never harmed my sister!"

Alpha Jeffn kicked her mercilessly in the chest, causing Emma to cough up blood. She received his gaze full of disgust. "You wretched woman, Felicia had a difficult delivery, and I wasn't in the palace. The palace maids pleaded with you, so why did you lock the Moon Palace and avoid meeting them? You wanted to kill her! If I hadn't returned in time, she would have died not once but twice!"

Looking up at Alpha Jeffn before her, he still looked as handsome as ever, as majestic as the sun in the sky. In fact, until now, she still didn't understand what kind of man he was, the man she loved. She didn't know how gentle or indifferent he could be, and she even felt like a joke, as if she was paying the price for her infatuation without realizing that he didn't need her.

Emma coldly laughed, "Does the Lycan King only think of his sister and not our son, Phil? Our Phil was struggling with a severe illness on the day your child with Felicia was born. Did I call the doctor to save him or not? Isn't my sister a human being? Now that my sister has successfully given birth, and as soon as our son was born, you bestowed the title of Crown Prince upon him. But my son, Phil, died! The one who met your demands for Phil to become the Crown Prince! Is Alpha Jeffn, not the Lycan King? Why are you still scheming? Why?"

Alpha Jeffn's icy face made her heart grow cold, and his indifferent gaze met hers. "I made you the Queen, and you're still not satisfied! You hope for the distant throne of the Crown Prince!"

Emma felt blood fill her mouth, her voice like icy water touching shattered ice. "Queen? Yes, I am the Queen. The decree to depose the Queen has long been prepared on your desk, waiting for the birth of your sister's child to seal it! Alpha Jeffn, what did I do wrong? I married you for eight years. How did I treat you?"

She gently unbuttoned her outer robe as she spoke, revealing a nasty scar on her chest, pointing to it, and slowly uttering each word. "In the thirty-eighth year of the Emperor, I took a sword for you right in the middle of my chest! In the fortieth year of the Emperor, I knew that the wine the Crown Prince brought was poisoned, so I drank it all for you! In the forty-first year of the Emperor, I knew that the Seventh Prince wanted to kill you, so I rode tirelessly through the night, covering hundreds of miles, just to let you know! When you were away for disaster relief and infected with an epidemic in the forty-second year of the Emperor, I made all the palace maids leave, leaving only me to take care of you tirelessly for forty-eight days! When you ascended the throne, what promises did you make to me? Do you still remember? You said that the day you become the Lycan King, I would still be the Queen! But after that, you fell in love with Felicia, not only making her child the Crown Prince but also wanting to depose me! Alpha Jeffn, you have truly never disappointed me!"

Alpha Jeffn maintained a calm expression, his indifference absolute and unnoticed, as if he hadn't seen or heard anything. This indifference is so natural as if it had been present since birth.

His complexion squeezed Emma's heart, like a tiny, sharp thorn unexpectedly piercing deeply into her heart, causing her such pain that she had to take a deep breath. However, she maintained a resolute expression on her face, though there was sorrow in her eyes.

"Felicia is the one I admire and love. My original intention was to depose you as the Queen, but I still intended for you to stay in the harem so that you wouldn't have to worry about your livelihood in the latter part of your life."

"I don't worry about our livelihood?" Something sharp and piercing seemed to penetrate her heart bit by bit, gradually accumulating from a minor wound to a bottomless abyss until her heart felt as if it had been shattered. Emma resembled a drifting iceberg on the verge of breaking apart. They married for eight years, going through hardships and difficulties together. During the most challenging times for him, she stood by his side. But when he ascended to the throne as the Lycan King, he fell in love with Felicia like this, not only wanting to depose her but also constantly saying that she didn't have to worry about her livelihood.

"I did everything for you, even sacrificing my life to protect you, and all I received in return was the phrase 'not having to worry about your livelihood'? Eight years! Eight years of marriage, not worth a face as divine as Felicia's. Who needs your so-called worry-free livelihood? YOU EASILY GAVE everything I endured, even risking my life, to another woman! And you expect me to be grateful to all of you?"

Alpha Jeffn slammed his hand forcefully on the table, causing the tea tray to fall to the ground, and his face slightly wrinkled. "Shut up! What other woman? Felicia is your sister!"

Emma sneered lightly, "Sister? She is a celestial beauty, the eldest daughter of Beta Henry's family, a cloud in the sky. And what am I? I am just a lowly daughter of Beta Henry, a misfortune that even my father doesn't care about, dirt on the ground! If she truly sees me as her sister, how could she snatch away my husband and the Crown Prince position from my son!"

Alpha Jeffn snorted lightly, looking down at the ground. His eyes were filled with a sinister and cruel glint as he scanned Emma's pale face, his gaze threatening enough to take one's breath away. "Felicia is innocent, virtuous, and pure. Even an ant would be pitied and spared by her. You are not even worthy of her fingertip! As for Phil, you have raised him to be disrespectful towards Felicia. What right does he have to sit on the throne as the Crown Prince?"

Innocent, virtuous, and pure? She had always done good deeds from childhood to adulthood, but the one who received all the praise and recognition was always her sister! She had a beautiful face, enough to be revered as a celestial being!

Emma felt a deep sense of irony. Alpha Jeffn's words were like a blade stabbing straight into her heart, causing fresh blood to flow profusely. It seemed warm tears were slowly flowing from her dry and empty eyes.

Her gaze contained boundless pain. "Fine, I am far inferior to my sister! But Phil is innocent. He is just a four-year-old child who doesn't understand anything. When he saw me crying in distress because of you, he said two resentful words out of temporary discomfort, and you coldly locked him up for three days and three nights!"

Alpha Jeffn looked at her coldly without saying a word.

She felt even more heartbroken. "If it weren't for that, how could he have contracted pneumonia? How could he have died at such a young age? He is your biological son, and just because of a misunderstanding, you treated him like that! What did I do wrong? I called the doctors urgently to treat him; I wanted to save my son! But all you cared about was Felicia.

My son was burning with a high fever, and he cried to me, 'Mother, it hurts so much!' Do you understand my suffering? I would willingly give my own life to save him if I could! Your precious Felicia has you, but my Phil only has me! Why did Felicia give birth while I had to take care of her? My son was fighting on the brink of life and death at that time! Now, I don't want anything else! I only want Phil to come back to life! I hate Felicia, and I resent her. I loathe her! I wish I could tear her apart piece by piece!"

"You despicable person!" Alpha Jeffn grew angrier, his disgust for the woman before him increasing. "You want to hate, then hate me! She didn't want to enter the palace, but I deliberately brought her in and made her Empress! She is so kind and pure; how could there be such a terrifying sister like you!"

He swiftly approached Emma, his expression cruel as he grabbed her hair. "I will never forgive you! I want you to live a life worse than death! Guards cut off this despicable woman's legs and throw her into the dungeon!"

Then, Emma saw something dazzlingly golden. In the dark palace, its color surpassed everything, shining more brightly than any lamp, shattering the entire world. She knew it was the decree of deposing the Empress! The deposed Empress!

The attendants continuously proclaimed, and somewhere, there were gazes like poisoned arrows, seemingly wanting to pierce through her heart. But her soul felt empty, as all thoughts in her mind disappeared, leaving only the two words, hatred. Finally, she couldn't hear anything more. Her complete soul had discarded her tattered body and flown towards the distant sky.

Alpha Jeffn, your thoughts are fierce and so cruel! Emma embraced her heart and lay down on the ground. As for him, he didn't even spare her a glance, lifting his foot without a hint of mercy. This kick injured her physical body and trampled on her dignity and soul.

Emma laughed maniacally. She had once said that she loved the scenery of Mipiaa the most. One day when the dust settled, everything ended; she would go to Mipiaa to admire the view, drink good tea, listen to the best folk songs, and travel across the mountains and rivers. Alpha Jeffn said he would remember it well for a lifetime. Because he remembered it well, he used it now to punish her! Didn't she say she wanted to travel across the mountains and rivers? He would cut off her legs! Didn't she say she paid attention to her position as the Empress? He deposed the Empress and locked her in the dungeon. Alpha Jeffn, you are genuinely sinister, truly cruel!

Under the awning of the prison cell, Emma narrowed her eyes. Later on, Alpha Jeffn made Felicia the Empress, bestowed their son with the title of Crown Prince, and she lived a life of endless glory. Meanwhile, Emma was forgotten by the world.

Her existence now was just a lingering breath. Still, she told herself, she had to live longer than Felicia, she had to live longer than FeliciaAt this moment, the prison cell door opened, and Emma saw a faint ray of warm sunlight seeping through the dark gap. "Emma, kneel to receive your sentence!"

Kneel? Her legs had been cut off; how could she kneel?

Emma didn't understand what he was saying. His hoarse and sharp voice echoed in her ears, making her unable to comprehend. Someone else dragged her across the ground and taken to the corridor.

"By order of King Lycan, the unworthy Empress Emma, who failed to reflect on her actions while imprisoned, has been sentenced to death by poison!"

"Luna Emma, please don't blame others. The Empress is filled with sorrow and fear, unable to sleep peacefully. His Majesty believed your life force was too strong, threatening the Empress. To protect the Empress, His Majesty decided to end his life. May you find peace in the afterlife!"

Poison, of course, it's poison! Throughout her life, she had been a good wife, working tirelessly for him, and a good Empress, neglecting her illness to comfort the officials. In natural disasters, she risked distributing food to the people without hesitation. She didn't hesitate to fix Alpha Jeffn's mistakes and treated the courtiers and palace maids with kindness and compassion. And now, what does she get in return? When she faced danger, did anyone stand up for her? No one did!

Emma laughed hysterically. "Alpha Jeffn, Felicia, well done! You have treated me so well! In my next life, I swear, I won't do good deeds or enter the palace again! I swear I won't become Empress!"

The old servant looked at the deposed Empress Emma with a touch of pity in his heart and sighed. "Take her away."

In the room, a small bean-sized lamp flickered.

Emma lay on the bed, her body tilted, suddenly becoming alert. She could hear a conversation outside.

Outside the room, Omega Hana spoke hesitantly, "Mother, should we find someone to examine Miss Tam? After all, she is a member of the Beta Henry family. If anything happens to her..."

Jennifer's face turned cold, her response indifferent. "This lowly girl thinks she'd of a noble lady. I've heard people say that she is the illegitimate child born from the womb of a concubine who washed her feet. And she was born in February, a complete calamity. Emma belongs to a noble clan so we couldn't kill her. That's why we dumped her off with distant relatives in Miami City. And afterward, the Old Madam and Master Beta Henry kept falling ill. Isn't that harming their own family? So they panicked and brought her to our place in the countryside! Hmph, I see her as a calamity and a lazy and rotten girl who pretends to be sick whenever she's asked to do even a small task!"

Emma listened to this conversation and suddenly jolted. Instinctively, she looked around the room. There were few belongings in this room, only a square table, four long wooden chairs, a storage cabinet, and the wooden bed she was lying on.

This place is... Her mind suddenly became hazy, but the conversation outside remained clear.

"When the girl was at the Beta Henry's house, she had servants attending to her. She never had to do any hard work. It was just because she slipped into the crack in the ice today that she fell ill. We can't blame her..." The weather was freezing now, and Jennifer let a young child like Emma wash the clothes in the icy water. Omega Hana couldn't bear it, and her voice filled with worry.

Jennifer sneered coldly. "A dead baby still has some affection, but this spoiled little miss is truly worthless. She pretends to be helpful but does everything reluctantly. Whenever she's given a small task, she pretends to be sick. Useless girl!"

After speaking, Jennifer's face turned icy cold as she stared intently at Omega Hana. "Do you think I don't know for sure? You pity that wretched person, don't you? If you feel sorry for them, why don't you wash their clothes too!"

Omega Hana hurriedly continued, "Yes, Mother is right. Your daughter-in-law won't speak out of line anymore..."

Jennifer released an exasperated sigh, stood up, and shut the door with a loud noise.

What's going on? Didn't I die already? How can I still be lying here? Emma tried to move, but her whole body felt powerless, as if her bones were utterly disjointed. She could remember everything so clearly. Just then, someone suddenly lifted the curtain and entered the room. Emma found herself lying in someone's arms. This person had slender shoulders, a soft chest, and the fragrance of jasmine.

"Eat the porridge, and it'll make you feel better!"

The warm breath blew onto her face, and Emma felt like seeing a ghost. She stared at the peculiar complexion of the woman in front of her. If she remembered correctly, the woman before her was Omega Hana, the eldest daughter-in-law of the rural family she once stayed with twenty-three years ago. But how could this be? She was supposed to be dead, poisoned with wine. In the blink of an eye, why was she meeting someone she knew from twenty-three years ago...

At sixteen, she married Alpha Jeffn, and eight years later, she ascended to Empress. She spent twelve years in prison, and she was thirty-six at the time of her death. But Omega Hana still had the appearance from twenty-three years ago. It was unimaginable!

Instinctively, she glanced at her hand. It was thin and fragile, and the fingertips revealed a pale moon-like color. This was not the hand of a thirty-six-year-old woman; it was the hand of a young girl! Thinking about it, a trace of fear hid in Emma's eyes.

Omega Hana worriedly asked, "What's wrong? Are you still feeling cold?"

Her voice was familiar, and Emma could tell she genuinely cared about her.

"We should find a doctor to check your illness, but my mother... Sigh..."

Emma looked at the bowl of porridge in Omega Hana's hand. She didn't know what kind of rice it was made from, but it smelled strange. For some reason, tears slowly welled up in her eyes. She hoped to keep dreaming and never wake up if this was a dream because she had a feeling that she was still alive!

As Emma was about to speak, someone suddenly pulled back the curtain and walked in.

Holding the bowl of porridge, Omega Hana looked at Jennifer's expression and trembled with fear.

"What are you doing? Stand up!"

Omega Hana startled and quickly released Emma, standing up. She was about to place the bowl on the table, but due to her nervousness, the bowl tilted slightly, causing some liquid to spill out, scalding her hand. She felt intense pain but tried to endure it and placed the bowl on the table.

Seeing her daughter-in-law daring to be clumsy and serving food to Emma, even spilling it, Jennifer's anger flared up. In one smooth motion, she grabbed the bowl of porridge from the table and poured it directly onto Omega Hana's face. The hot porridge poured onto Omega Hana's head with a splash, drenching her entire body. Jennifer pointed at her face and scolded:

"You little wretch! Didn't I tell you not to give her food? Haven't you heard a word of what I said? If you don't want to live in this house, leave immediately! I can't stand to have even a grain of sand in my eyes, let alone let you disgrace me."

Poor Omega Hana, drenched with a bowl of hot porridge by Jennifer, her whole body swollen and red, tears streaming down her face. She didn't dare say a word, just huddled in the corner of her clothes, gently wiping off the porridge and turning to clean up the broken pieces on the floor.

Jennifer remained unchanged in Emma's memory, oppressing others without affection, whether towards herself or her daughter-in-law, Omega Hana. Emma stared at Jennifer intently, instinctively wanting to speak. Still, Omega Hana blinked at her as if silently warning her not to open her mouth, as speaking would only bring more trouble upon her.

Omega Hana was a gentle daughter-in-law, but no matter what she did, this wicked mother-in-law, Jennifer, never paid her any attention. She spent her days nitpicking and finding faults. When she saw Omega Hana trying to help Emma, she immediately assumed she was deliberately defying her and became even more ruthless towards them. Emma gritted her teeth and stared fixedly at Jennifer.

Instinctively, Jennifer glanced at Emma and noticed a coldness and a hint of icy indifference in her gaze. A sense of unease rose as she scolded, "Are you out of your mind, you little wretch!"

Emma hadn't even had a chance to question why she had reverted to her thirteen-year-old self. Her thoughts were spinning when she felt something in her chest. She reached inside and indeed touched a gemstone pendant. It was warm to the touch. Her biological mother had left this pendant for her to remember her by. General Beta Henry had brought her to the Beta Henry family, where she stayed until she was seven. At first, they were still looking for a nursemaid but later discovered that General Beta Henry had no intention of taking her back to the capital. Someone must have instigated him to decide to send her to a rural family for foster care with a monthly living allowance of ten silver coins. Half a year ago, even the living allowance was cut off for some reason. Jennifer sternly went to the door three times to inquire, but the Beta Henry family ignored her. That's why Jennifer grew even more resentful, treating her not only as a nursemaid but also subjecting her to a hundred times more mistreatment, not allowing her to leave and occasionally ordering someone to beat her until she was bruised.

Jennifer looked at Emma's appearance, furrowed her brows, and scolded, "You foolish child!"

This gemstone pendant was the only thing left by her birth mother for her to cherish, so she had hidden it at the risk of her life, not daring to let Jennifer find out. But today... Emma raised her head and looked at her. Her eyes showed a fleeting glimpse of a fierce and icy light. A smile that touched one's heart appeared on her face in the blink of an eye. "Aunt Moona, since I'm here, you've taken care of me to some extent. I have nothing to thank you with, so I'll give you this pendant."

If she remembered correctly, this ordinary Pisces gemstone pendant was discovered and stolen by Jennifer half a month later. She had wanted to take it back at that time but was ruthlessly beaten. Later, when she became the Third Imperial Consort, she sent someone back to find it. Still, the village had experienced an epidemic, and many of the people who had been there years ago had died, including Jennifer. Therefore, she couldn't retrieve the pendant.

Jennifer never expected that the pendant she had always wanted to find and that nursemaid had hidden so carefully would be handed to her by Emma herself. Her face brightened considerably, and with a cold snort, she snatched the pendant from Emma's hand and said, "You finally came to your senses!"

Omega Hana was startled as she looked at Emma as if she didn't recognize this little girl. In her memory, Emma had always been cautious about hiding the pendant, ensuring that no one could take it away. How could she suddenly give it to Jennifer?

Jennifer held the pendant, feeling much better. With a cold snort, she said, "Forget it, you've been lying in bed all day, but you have to get up and work tomorrow!"

Emma smiled sweetly, "Of course, Aunt Jennifer, I will work tomorrow!"

Emma's gentle obedience took Jennifer aback. She was about to say something when suddenly a tall man walked in. Upon seeing the scene inside, he seemed accustomed to it. His angry face glanced briefly at Omega Hana, appearing annoyed. He chuckled and said, "Mother, why are you so angry? Today, I bought you a piece of woven fabric in the market. You'll look just like Lady Li in the town when you wear it. Hurry up and come with me to see!" He pulled her along as he spoke, urging Jennifer to go outside.

As Jennifer left, she turned to Omega Hana and said, "Let me catch you giving food to her, or I'll skin you alive!" Muttering angrily, she walked away.

With Jennifer gone, Omega Hana burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Emma looked at Omega Hana and shook her head slightly. She had to pretend to be weak and not reveal her true strength. As for that pendant, of course, there were many ways to retrieve it! Dealing with someone as despicable as Jennifer required nothing less than stripping her of her skin!

o0o

It was now the 31st of the Blue Moon pack, the 12th of February, thirty-one years ago. In other words, Emma had returned to the events of twenty-three years ago when she was thirteen years old.

Throughout the night, Emma was tormented by the memories of her "past life." She lamented silently, unable to cry out loud because the room was too small, and others would overhear any sound. She feared that even the slightest noise would turn her into a disabled person abandoned by the world, trapped in a prison cell. She was terrified at mentioning the Beta Henry residence but despised the two people she hated, now living a luxurious life in the capital. She yearned to bring a knife there and slash them a hundred thousand times...

After shedding tears for a while, Emma cried until she had no tears left, exhausting all her emotions. She gradually calmed herself down, raising her head to look at the dark sky outside the window. Her gaze became gloomy and dark. In her past life, she believed that as long as she fulfilled her duties and wholeheartedly did her best, she would overcome the hardships and enjoy a peaceful life-a withered tree would encounter spring. But who could have anticipated that it was all illusory, like a moonlit flower in the water, a mirage? She had used her righteousness and patience to trade for terrifying betrayals. Betrayed by her indifferent father, mistreated by her cruel husband, and even her beloved sister turned against her...

Although she was inferior to Felicia in appearance, Emma had devoted herself wholeheartedly to Alpha Jeffn. She had forgotten about life and death for him. Without her, Alpha Jeffn would have died long ago. How did it end up with him ascending to the throne of the Lycan King while she became nothing more than trash thrown into a prison cell?

The heavens had granted Emma a chance to return. She took a deep breath, her gaze determined. Why would she still want to spare them? Someday, she would reclaim everything from them, piece by piece!

The night gradually faded, one day had passed, and a new day would arrive in the blink of an eye. Omega Hana hesitated, unsure if she should wake Emma up. The rooster was about to crow, and if Emma was still asleep, Jennifer might scold her.

She contemplated and hesitantly entered the room, only to find it empty. Panic immediately set in. Where was Emma? Seeing the neatly arranged room, she was astonished.

Emma moved back and forth in the kitchen, having finished preparing soy milk and pouring hot porridge into bowls for everyone. She carefully arranged a few pickled black radishes on a plate and then placed the pot of porridge on the table. When she saw Omega Hana's surprised expression as she entered, Emma smiled and said, "Sister Hana, I've finished cooking our meal."

Emma had never called her by name so affectionately before. She had always appeared timid, as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

Emma had no idea what was happening in the other person's mind. Others took care of her life before the age of seven, and suddenly, she was thrown into a self-destructive rural household. Naturally, she couldn't bear it, especially with Jennifer becoming even more ruthless in the past six months due to the lack of money. Emma became even more frightened, like a fledgling bird scared of a bending branch.

But now, after experiencing the heartlessness of Alpha Jeffn and the twelve years of erosion with two broken legs in the prison cell, Jennifer? She was just a minor obstacle, not even a block, just a tiny stone on the road. What was there to be afraid of? Thinking this, Emma smiled and said, "Aunt Moona and the others are about to wake up. Sister Hana, please prepare yourself."

In this house, there were a total of five people. Beta John, the head of the family, used to be the peripheral steward of an Alpha family and was often away from home. His wife, Jennifer, and their eldest son, Mason, along with their daughter-in-law, Omega Hana, and finally, their youngest daughter, Amie.

The more Omega Hana looked at her, the more confused she became, while Emma continued to smile and turned to leave.

In the dilapidated mansion of the Beta John family, the large door slowly opened, and a twelve or thirteen-year-old maid walked out with a wooden tub. The tub was filled with clothes. The maid wore a tattered blue dress that had turned black from repeatedly soiled and washed. There was even a patch on her back. She had two tiny buns of hair tied with a rope on her head.

She was dressed in rags, but her appearance was delicate and graceful. She had an oval-shaped face with fair skin. Her long and slender eyebrows matched her clear black and white phoenix-like eyes, which were agile and lively. Additionally, she had a delicate nose and a small mouth. Her jet-black hair shone, turning even the tattered clothes into something adorable. Compared to the majority of maidens in the village, this young girl was undoubtedly much more beautiful. As a result, numerous eyes followed her along the way.

Emma was dressed in coarse clothing, with no makeup on her face, and she maintained a calm expression as if she didn't see anything. She carried the wooden tub, stepping toward the river bank.

What did it matter if she was beautiful or not? Before, she thought she was extraordinary, but after arriving in the capital and seeing Felicia, she realized her true beauty, akin to a celestial being. Compared to her, her appearance was quite ordinary.