63

63
Nova's POV
“Don’t take this lightly, Daniel. We’re in a serious situation, and if you continue to act like this, you’ll only make things worse,” Diego said, his angry voice echoing in the space.

“I know very well about our situation,” Daniel replied, his tone turning more serious. “But I also won’t let myself be intimidated. We all have roles to play.”

Diego didn’t say anything more. He held my hand tightly and pulled me away from that place, walking quickly out of the garden. His steps were firm but filled with tension. I could only follow him in silence, feeling the turmoil of emotions that had yet to settle.

Once we reached the main path of the castle, Diego paused for a moment and looked at me. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but full of concern.

I took a deep breath, trying to ease the anxiety that still gripped my chest. “I’m fine,” I replied, although my heart was racing.

Diego held my hand tightly as we sat in a small reading room not far from the back garden. His face was still tense, his jaw clenched as if holding back the emotional turmoil within him.

“Nova,” he said slowly, “I don’t like hearing that conversation. I’m afraid for your safety.” There was honesty in his gaze that made me feel calmer.

“I understand, Diego. But we need to focus on what’s coming,” I replied, trying to soothe him. “We need to prepare ourselves.”

Diego nodded, but I could see the worry in his eyes. “If something happens to you... I don’t know what will happen to me,” he said, his voice trembling.

I reached for his face, trying to provide some calm. “I will be fine. We will get through this together.”

“What really happened, Nova?” he finally asked, his voice soft but clearly filled with concern.
I looked down for a moment, then began to tell him everything.
“I was just… I was walking in the backyard, just wanting to get some fresh air. But as I passed near the south garden, I saw a man with Daniel. I don’t know who he is… but their conversation…” My voice began to tremble, and I swallowed, trying to continue. “I heard Daniel say they would carry out an attack. Tonight.”
Diego straightened up immediately, his eyes staring sharply at me. “An attack?”
I nodded quickly. “Yes… he said it clearly. I don’t know who the target is, but his tone was serious. I wanted to leave, but I accidentally knocked over a small pot from the plant shelf… and he saw me.” My fingers began to tremble as I recalled Daniel's gaze when he approached.
“He asked who I was,” I continued. “And when he saw my belly, he immediately knew I was your wife. His expression changed. I was scared, Diego… not just for me, but also for our baby.”

Diego stood up slowly, his body tense. “And he touched you? Threatened you?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. But the way he looked at me… as if I were a pawn he could eliminate anytime. I didn’t like that look.”

Diego took a deep breath, his face growing more serious. “You don’t need to worry. I will protect you. We have to inform everyone about what’s happening.”

“I know, but we also need to be careful,” I replied, feeling the fear enveloping me. “If Daniel is involved, he might have a bigger plan.”

“I won’t let him get close to you again,” Diego said firmly. “We will make a plan to face this threat. We can’t let him disrupt us.”

Diego closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled heavily. He looked at me again, this time with a softer gaze, although the fire of anger still burned behind his pupils. “Thank you for telling me this, Nova,” he said quietly. “You did the right thing.”

I bit my lip, feeling guilty. “I know I should have run away immediately. But I couldn’t; I was curious, scared, and… I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.”

Diego shook his head, then knelt before me. “No, Nova. You’ve been brave enough. And now I know who I will stop tonight.”

There was something in the tone of his voice, a promise. That he would protect us, no matter what happened. A sense of calm flowed through me as I saw the determination in his face.

“You won’t be alone,” he continued, looking at me intensely. “I will always be by your side.”

Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes, realizing how much his support meant to me. “Thank you, Diego. I trust you.”

“But it seems we can’t keep this to ourselves. I will go to Marian’s room,” he said, but I grabbed his hand.

“I’m coming with you!” I said eagerly, and Diego nodded in agreement.

We both walked quickly toward Marian’s room, trying to prepare for whatever was about to happen. On the way, I felt the tension in the air, but also the strength from our decision to unite.

“If we tell Marian, she can help us organize everyone,” Diego said. “We need to ensure everyone is ready to face this threat.”

I nodded, feeling more confident. “Let’s do this. We can’t let fear take over us.”

Diego and I walked quickly down the main corridor of the castle toward Grandmother Marian’s private room. Diego’s strides were long and firm, while I lagged slightly behind, trying to match his pace while holding back the anxiety that filled my chest. Each heartbeat felt heavy, as if reminding me of the importance of our mission right now.

Along the way, the castle walls that usually felt comforting now felt oppressive. The candlelight flickered, creating dancing shadows around us. I recalled all the stories Grandmother Marian had told—about courage, love, and strength. Now, I hoped to gain a bit of advice from her to face this situation.

“Nova,” Diego’s voice broke my reverie. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, even though my heart was racing. “Just a little nervous. But we’ll be fine, right?”

Diego looked at me, and I could see the determination on his face. “We will face this together. Grandmother Marian will know what to do.”

Diego opened the door without knocking. Inside, Marian was sitting by the fireplace, reading an old book with her glasses perched on the tip of her nose. She lifted her face as she heard the door open, her eyes narrowing immediately at our serious expressions.

“What’s wrong? You both look shaken,” she said calmly, placing her book on the small table.