Reborn by Moonlight: My Revenge to Alpha

The next few days at Gordondale Manor were filled with tension. The vast, quiet halls made me feel like an outsider in my own plan. Idris had made it very clear that I was to remain in the background, a mere shadow in his life, as if I didn't exist.

I would occasionally catch glimpses of him and Cassandra, walking together through the manor or talking quietly in the garden. Their interactions seemed close, and Cassandra seemed very dedicated to Idris, but her energy felt cautious, as though she feared stepping out of line.

Meanwhile, Idris appeared indifferent to everything around him except for Cassandra. His coldness extended to me, but it was much worse when I tried to speak to him. He would either ignore me entirely or dismiss me with a sharp command.

I thought back to my past life, the terrifying moment when he had murdered my family. Was it even possible to change this cruel man's mind? I refused to give up. If I could survive this coldness, if I could endure, then maybe—just maybe—I could alter his fate.

As I carried a tray of tea into the sitting room one morning, I saw Idris and Cassandra talking by the window. Cassandra's soft voice was almost a whisper as she asked something about the estate, and I seized the opportunity to approach them. My heart pounded as I neared, determined to involve myself in the conversation, no matter how trivial the matter was.

"Would either of you like more tea?" I asked, keeping my voice light and friendly.

Idris barely glanced my way. "We're fine," he muttered, waving me away as though I were nothing more than a nuisance.

Cassandra, however, gave me a kind smile. "Thank you, Isadora."

I nodded, but my chest tightened. Idris didn't even acknowledge me as a person, as if my efforts were invisible. The two of them resumed their conversation, and I stood there for a moment, debating whether to persist.

I needed to be near him, to learn more about what made him this way. With a deep breath, I took a step closer.

"Perhaps I could help with—" I began.

"Isadora," Idris interrupted sharply, his voice colder than before, "you're not needed here. Find something else to do."

My heart sank, but I forced a smile. "Of course, my lord."

Still, I didn't leave. I lingered nearby, pretending to busy myself with tasks around the room, listening as best as I could. But to my disappointment, they were just discussing normal, everyday topics, nothing worth noting.

But it became clear that my presence was unwelcome. As I dusted a shelf, I felt Idris's eyes on me, the weight of his annoyance hanging in the air. I tried to ignore it, continuing my work, but after a few minutes, he finally snapped.

"If you're so determined to be useful," he said, his voice dripping with disdain, "why don't you go check on the pup in the garden?"

I froze, my mind racing. The pup?

"There's a wolf pup in the garden?" I asked, trying to mask the confusion in my voice.

"Yes," Idris replied flatly. "It's been lingering around the grounds. It needs some attention."

Cassandra cast him a nervous glance, as if she wasn't sure about the idea either.

I hesitated, unsure whether this was another one of Idris's dismissive commands or a genuine request. Still, I nodded. "I'll take care of it."

When I reached the clearing Idris had mentioned, I spotted the small creature immediately. A tiny wolf pup, trembling near the hedges, its fur a mix of white and gray. It looked fragile, out of place amidst the grandeur of the estate.

It's a cute innocent little creature.

I crouched down, moving slowly, trying to be gentle. "Hey there," I murmured softly, extending a hand. "It's alright. I won't hurt you."

The pup's sharp growl caught me off guard, but I pressed on, inching closer. Just as I reached out, the small creature lunged forward, its claws swiping at my face with shocking speed. I yelped in pain as it tore through my skin, leaving a burning, stinging sensation across my cheek.

I stumbled back, clutching my face as blood trickled between my fingers. Tears pricked my eyes, but before I could fully process what had just happened, I heard a laugh—cold, cruel, and all too familiar.

I turned to see Idris, standing just beyond the hedge, watching the entire scene unfold. He wasn't alone—Cassandra hurried and came out to help me, her face twisted in concern, but it was Idris's expression that struck me the hardest.

He was laughing at me.

"So much for being useful," he said, his voice laced with mockery. "You couldn't even handle a pup."

The humiliation was like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn't find the words to respond. My hand still pressed to my bleeding cheek, I forced myself to calm down.

"I was only trying to help," I said through gritted teeth, fighting back the anger rising within me.

Idris's smile faded, replaced with the same indifferent expression he always wore. "Then do a better job next time."

I swallowed my frustration, my pride aching as much as the wound on my face. This was what I had chosen. I had chosen to stay here, to endure this, all for the sake of my plan.

Forcing a smile despite the pain, I bowed my head slightly. "I'll make sure to do better, my lord."

Without another word, I turned and left, the sound of Idris's cruel laughter still ringing in my ears.

By the time I reached the relative safety of my small servant's quarters, my hands were trembling with anger and humiliation. "How could anyone be so vile?" I muttered through clenched teeth, grabbing the nearest thing—my pillow—and smacking it repeatedly against the bed.

"How does anyone tolerate him?" I seethed, pacing the room as I threw the pillow down. "No wonder no one wants to be around him—he's absolutely insufferable!"

I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow, letting out a frustrated groan. What was I even thinking, trying to get close to someone like Idris?

But calm down, I had to stay focused. For my family's sake, I needed to find a way to change Idris's path before it led to the destruction I had seen in my past life.

As I lay there, replaying the events of the afternoon in my mind, I heard faint voices in the hallway outside my room.

The voices belonged to the other servants, their casual conversation floating through the wooden door. Normally, I would have ignored their chatter, but something about the way they spoke caught my attention.

"...Well, of course Tristan is easy to serve. He's actually decent," one of them said, her voice laced with bitterness.

"Lucky you," another replied with a sigh. "I got stuck with Lord Idris, and let me tell you, it's like walking on eggshells every day. He barely acknowledges you unless it's to criticize something. He's impossible to please."

"Tell me about it," a third servant added. "Freya is also much nicer to talk to. At least she smiles and thanks you when you do your job. But Idris? It's like he doesn't even see you."

I sat up, these were certainly some interesting gossips.

"And Duke Gordondale doesn't seem to care either," another added. "I mean, have you seen the way the Duke dotes on Tristan and Freya? Idris is practically a ghost in his own family."

A ghost in his own family. Was that really how Idris was considered since young? I had known from the past life that Idris's siblings were well-liked, but unfortunately both of them mysteriously went missing at the end. Maybe Idris murdered them because of jealousy?

The voices outside continued.

"I don't blame him for being bitter, honestly," one of the servants said with a sigh. "Anyone would be, growing up in the shadow of Tristan and Freya. He's the least favored, and everyone knows it."

"Still," another voice replied, "that doesn't excuse him treating everyone else like dirt."

I nodded fiercely, quietly decided to adopt the theory these servants came up with.