5: Crescent Valley

LAYLA

I'd been to very few places all my life and the woods were my favorite place in the world, so I was convinced that nothing was prettier than the nature I basked in whenever I was in the woods closest to my home. But today, I'd been proven absolutely wrong by the awe that enveloped my entire body when I set eyes on the beauty beyond Crescent Valley's gates as they opened.

Without regard for how shy I'd been feeling earlier, I poked my head out of the Carriage's window and my eyes widened in appreciation of the land that might become my new home. I equally couldn't conceal the smile that crawled up to my face when I saw cute little bunnies hopping in the flowery bushes that lined the path we were riding on.

Next, my eyes wandered to how the buildings were lined up asymmetrically but it somehow looked perfect, they were the most beautiful and intentional lineup of buildings I'd ever seen, especially because they also were adorned with beautiful flowers and door ornaments that looked foreign to me, yet I could appreciate their uniqueness.

However, I noticed that as I took note of the sights around me, the people around me were staring at me as well. For some, it was the sort of awe-inspired stare that I usually got from Alpha Arnold, and for others, it was a stare that depicted confusion or displeasure at my presence in their home.

I, on the other hand, remained too smitten by the incredible views before me to dwell on their judgmental stares. I had thought the city was beautiful, but the palace was what I'd describe as heavenly, and what particularly gave me that impression was the bejeweled fountain that stood tall right before the main palace entrance gates.

As we reached the front of the thrilling fountain that now had me in a chokehold, the carriage finally came to a halt and I knew we'd soon enter the palace and I truly couldn't wait to see how gorgeous it would look on the inside, my tummy churned with so much excitement at the mere thought of it.

A guard opened the carriage door and Alpha Arnold stepped down before stretching out his palms to me in a bid to help me down.

"You ready to see the rest of Crescent Valley? The Palace where you'll stay?" He asked as he waited for me to take his hand patiently.

Such a gentleman, Nena whispered to me gently and I couldn't possibly agree more.

"Yes, of course. Thank you." I responded as I lightly rested my fingers in his palm, he gently grasped them and helped me get off the carriage carefully and I nodded gracefully at him.

Immediately, we entered the palace doors a woman with the body of a literal goddess leaped into Alpha Arnold's arms and snuggled his neck in a very intimate hug, I hadn't witnessed intimacy often because of how I'd grown up being exempt from social gatherings but intimacy such as theirs was difficult to miss when you witnessed it.

I looked closely at her facial and bodily features and in no time I understood why he'd be intimate with a woman such as her. She had a body that any man would die for, even I noticed her oozing sex appeal as I watched her playfully fondle with the Prince's arms and laugh loudly.

I really doubt he'd said anything funny though.

She had wine hair, it was straight and long enough to reach her butt, it also shone beautifully as she moved, her waist was adorned with gold chains that accentuated her curves which she gathered in all the right places, and her eyes were almond shaped and covered in expertly done catty eyeliner to make them look bolder and sensual.

One would definitely stare at her after she walked past them, even her wrists were adorned with multiple crystal bracelets that caught the eye immediately, and her lips were full and perfectly lined as well as glossy, she was definitely a goddess on earth.

But my admiration for her quickly died down when I noticed the unkind stares she was sneaking at me before she spoke loud enough for me to hear her conversation with Alpha Arnold.

"Ugh, why's she wearing my dress?" Despite the fact that the words that left her lips annoyed me, her voice was nothing short of enchanting, I couldn't help but wonder if she was a siren.

"Did you give it away to her as charity? It looks a bit off on her, I would've picked out something different" She continued when he brushed off her earlier question, she was definitely ugly on the inside while she was so beautiful on the outside.

"Let it be, Hera. She'd look just as beautiful in anything else." Alpha Arnold replied and while a light blush rose to my cheeks, her face contorted in Jealousy and I was so tempted to laugh in her face but it was too soon to stir up enmity.

"Hello, you there—" He gestured to a maid who was standing by the entrance of what I assumed was the throne room and she quickly ran over to where we were standing and bowed respectfully.

"Yes, show Layla to the room I asked to be prepared specially for her and get her everything she needs so she's comfortable okay?" He instructed calmly and the maid nodded quickly at his request.

"Understood, Alpha Arnold" the maid curtseyed and turned to face me expectantly.

"She'll take good care of you and I'll come to check on you soon, darling. I have some duties to attend to first." He said to me and placed a soft kiss on my fingers before he smiled at me and walked away with some guards trailing behind him.

"Come with me please, miss," the maid said to me and I eagerly followed her because Hera's piercing stare would've been the death of me if I didn't leave there immediately.

We went through two flights of stairs before we finally reached the door to the room we'd been headed for, all the way up I'd fed my eyes with the lovely statues and rare jewels that were placed strategically at different corners of the palace and my heart was overflowing with joy at the ethereal beauty I'd been privileged to witness.

However, just when I thought I'd had enough of the surprises, the maid opened the door to what was meant to serve as my new room and my jaw dropped to the floor as I walked in with her.

"This is ours?" Nena lost her cool and tripled the excitement I'd already felt the minute the doors to the room had opened.

I didn't respond because I was too busy taking in everything before me, the room was so huge that I could swear it was much bigger than the entire house I'd grown up in. It was designed with tributes to the moon goddess and golden ornaments that made me marvel.

I walked over to the dressing mirror and while I admired the cute flowers that lined it, I noticed through that mirror that the maid was standing behind me and staring at me in awe so I turned around to face her.

"You're the most beautiful girl the whole of Crescent Valley has ever seen!" She gushed before I could even say a word and I smiled at her heartily.

"I'm not sure how to respond to compliments, I never learned. What's your name?" I was excited at the prospect of having a friend.

She squealed excitedly first, "You're definitely straight from the moon goddess' palette and I'm Nadia."

"Lovely name, I'm—"

"Layla, I heard. By the way, I noticed how Hera tried to intimidate you, don't worry about her she's simply jealous and trying to hide how much your beauty intimidates her" She cut me off, but strangely she'd read my mind about Hera.

"Who's Hera anyway?" I asked immediately and she moved closer like she'd need to whisper.

"She's the head of Alpha Arnold's harem, however unlike the common whores, she's a favorite of his and was dignified by being placed in the palace and it's gotten to her head." She stated

"Oh, and she even attends balls, and special functions and she eats with the royal household" She added and I nodded as I processed the information she'd just shared carefully.

Against my will, a pang of jealousy hit me at how much access she had to him but I quickly brushed it off as I was reminded of the reason I was in crescent valley. I was grateful for the opportunity to live comfortably while I searched for my aunt and uncle's murderer.

And I had no intention of leaving until I had all the answers I needed.