[Margaret's POV]
"The Lycan King might be here tomorrow. I'll check the reception area again," I said with heavy dark circles under my eyes.
"Oh, Margaret, you look terrible." Elizabeth feigned surprise.
"I know. I don't have a choice. Fortunately, the preparations are almost done." I could sense how bad I was looking. My eyelids were puffy, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I'd been relying on strong coffee these past few days to bolster my energy as I went from one venue to another. It had been three days since I'd showered and changed my clothes.
"You should go back and rest."
"So are you going to check on the reception area?" I glanced at Elizabeth. "Anthony has gone to check on the frigate. Someone has to go to the reception area."
Elizabeth stopped talking. I knew she wouldn't go. Even if she did, it would be useless. She didn't know anything about the setup. I was the only one who made the arrangements.
"Alright, you should go back." I waved my hand and reminded her, "Remember to wear the dress I told you about tomorrow."
I arrived at the entrance of the venue and took a look at myself.
Oh yes, Elizabeth was right. I really looked terrible.
My grayish-white dress was wrinkled and there appeared to be food stains from the past two days on it. My shoes were also covered in dust.
I looked at my reflection on the polished pillar by the door. My hair was a mess, like a tuft of seaweed. My face was pale, my eyes glazed, and my lips were dry. I tried to straighten my hair with my hands. It was useless.
I sighed. After I checked out the place, I would go back and have a good shower and clean up. I couldn't be so sloppy anymore.
The venue was luxuriously decorated. Two rows of dining tables lined both sides of the hall. On the tables were wine glasses and cutlery, all of which were polished and sparkling. There were also bottles of top-quality red wine that had not been opened. When the Lycan King arrived, exquisite food and snacks would be served here.
"Margaret!"
I heard someone call me and looked back to see Anthony running over, panting.
"What is it?"
"The Lycan King is here early!" Anthony said. "I saw the royal family when I was on patrol. They will probably be here soon."
"What?" This was a full day ahead of our expectations.
"Fortunately, we've almost finished setting up the place. I've already gotten someone to inform Luna Elizabeth," Anthony said quickly. "I'll bring the Lycan King here with Elizabeth later. You'll be in charge of the reception here. Is that alright?"
"No problem."
I couldn't care less about my appearance. I first informed the kitchen staff to start preparing the dishes, then instructed the servants to go where they were supposed to go. Then I sent someone to inform the tribe that the Lycan King had arrived and tell them to come quickly.
I made the arrangements without stopping. It did not take long for the venue to be filled with a messy crowd. Even though the ladies came in a hurry, they dressed carefully before leaving the house. They were all dressed luxuriously and had exquisite makeup on.
I wished that I could look more presentable in front of the Lycan King. He was the most powerful and dignified man in the entire werewolf world. Elizabeth was right. No girl would not long for him. Even though I was a little humiliated to be the Luna's elder sister, I was glad to stand beside her so that the Lycan King would notice me.
But now I found myself standing quietly in a corner, not wanting to think too much.
"Yo, isn't this Margaret?"
I heard a delicate female voice. I knew who it was. It was Elizabeth's sworn enemy, Selena.
There was another very unfair thing that I had to endure. Elizabeth was very popular but her glory did not rub off on me at all. It only made me feel ashamed and inferior.
However, her arch-enemies would somehow shift their hatred onto me at the same time. Whenever they met me, they would mock me. I did not understand why. They could not hurt Elizabeth by hurting me, but they still enjoyed doing so.
I didn't want to talk to her, but it was obvious that Selina didn't want to let me off the hook.
"Look, what is Margaret wearing? Is this a rag?"
She teased loudly, attracting the attention of some people around her. They all laughed.
It was always like this. No one would speak up for me.
"You are going to meet the Lycan King in such tattered clothes. If the Lycan King finds out that the sister of the new Luna is like a maid, what will he think of our pack? You're really embarrassing us."
I clenched my fists and couldn't help but retort, "Everything in this venue was arranged by me. I'm the one who contributed the most to the pack!"
"You set it up? Everyone knows that this is Luna's job. Even if you did it, the credit would go to her. Oh, right, I think I'd forgotten. You always thought you were going to be Luna, right? Hahahaha," Selina sneered.
"Let me think, who was it that bragged to us that the Alpha would make her the tribe's Luna? As it turned out, on the day of her coming of age ceremony, her younger sister snatched her boyfriend away. Your younger sister is the pack's Luna, the Alpha's fated mate. Are you worthy of the Alpha of our pack?"