Gina's POV
After I was done with my lessons in conception with Madam Margaret, I walked back to my room. It was unusual though that I was alone. Diane had been summoned a few minutes prior by Lady Nydia. As I made my way to my room, I heard Lady Nydia’s raised voice.
“You had one job, report every single action of Regina. What is so hard about that?” I moved closer and noticed that the door was slightly ajar so I could peer inside to see what was happening. I saw Diane on her knees while Lady Nydia stood over her.
“So tell me, who is this prowler?” asked Lady Nydia.
“I know nothing…” A slap kissed Diane’s face at once and although it had not hit me I flinched.
“You know something. I am sure you do, you say that she trusts you completely. Surely, she must have told you about it,” said Lady Nydia. I stood there in disbelief when I heard this. Had Diane’s care been all for a show before? Was she just a spy for Lady Nydia?
“She told me nothing this morning,” replied Diane but as I recalled this morning she had not said the truth. I remembered telling her that Alpha Dagen had stopped by.
“Did she mention Alpha Dagen stopping by?” quipped Lady Nydia.
“No, she did not.”
“If Regina doesn’t trust you with her secrets then what good are you? Huh? Don’t tell me you are trying to protect her?” questioned Lady Nydia.
“of course not,” came Diane’s response.
“Then why did you not tell me about the horseback riding? I had to hear it from my friends. You also hid knowledge of the money she won and her friendship with Lord Edvin. You are up to something, aren’t you?” questioned Lady Nydia as she kicked Diane in her stomach. I wanted desperately to go in there and rescue her but I knew that would only arouse bigger problems. I was relieved though that by tomorrow evening she would have left the palace. It did not mean however that her underlings would not continue her dirty work but without her here there would be relative peace of mind.
“Something will happen to Regina tomorrow. If you try in the least way to protect her I will have your head on my plate, do you understand me?” Lady Nydia asked the groaning Diane.
“I said, do you understand me?” repeated Lady Nydia.
“Yes, my lady,” whimpered Diane in pain.
I walked away briskly from the corridor and entered my room. My heart was palpitating. What is going to happen to me tomorrow? Whatever it was I made up my mind to remain awake through the night so that I could keep guard.
About an hour later, Diane came into my room with my food and a smile. I returned her smile and wondered how she was able to manage that.
“What happened to your face?” I asked, looking at the bruises that were most likely the result of Lady Nydia’s assault.
“It’s nothing, I fell down on the stairs,” she said and I would have believed her if I had not seen Lady Nydia hit her.
I was grateful for such a person in my life but I would rather she spilled whatever she had to, to Lady Nydia instead of getting hit for my sake.
“You should visit the infirmary to ensure it doesn’t leave a scar,” I said to her and she nodded.
I ate my meal in silence and began my overnight watch.
********#*********
When I woke up the next morning I found that I was naked. I sat up in shock. I could not remember waking up in the night to undress myself nor could I recall how I had fallen asleep when I had been so bent on waking up early.
“You are awake,” Alpha Dagen’s voice startled me and I became self-conscious at once so I used my duvet to cover my body.
“I caught the prowler,” stated Alpha Dagen and my eyes widened. Had Tyler tried to enter my room in the night and had been caught?
“You should be scared. I caught him naked with you in bed,” said Alpha Dagen with a dangerously calm voice. Meanwhile what he said drove me into hysterics.
“What? He wouldn’t…” but I stopped myself just in time. I knew Tyler had no romantic interest in me and I could trust that he would not molest me. Was it possible someone else had tried to enter my room in the night?
“You speak as if you know this man,” said Alpha Dagen. He waited for my response but I kept mute.
“You are very lucky indeed that I discovered it and I caught him trying to molest you while you lay unconscious or you would be long dead,” his voice was cold and it sent chills to the base of my spine.
“Who is this man?” I asked. Even if it happened to be Tyler I had to know who it was.
“Who he is does not concern you and henceforth shut your windows and your doors when you go to bed unless I knock on your door, do you understand?” quipped Alpha Dagen.
“Your Majesty, can we speak?” Lady Nydia came into my room. She glanced my way with something like irritation then it struck me at once. It was her doing. She had sent the man to my room. That was why she had told Diane not to defend me when something happened to me the next morning. She had meant that I would be caught in bed with another man and that of course would be the greatest insult to the Alpha and that would mean my death.
If it was not clear to me before, it was clear to me now: Lady Nydia was the epitome of evil schemes.
Even the meal I had consumed last night might have been spiked because I had slept deeper than usual and I knew I was a light sleeper.