See? You cannot answer me,” said Kane.
“What you feel for Nydia is gratitude for staying by your side when things were tough. If you truly love her you would not have all those secret affairs you indulge in from time to time,” Kane continued.
“Those affairs meant nothing, I…”
“You want to give another excuse. How about this? Since you slept with Regina you have not slept with another woman save Nydia and even when you sleep with Nydia you do it out of guilt and fear that she will discover your heart is with another woman.”
“Do you know why you sent Nydia away? Because you know she has been hurting Regina. You know about the poisoned…”
“That’s enough! None of the things you are saying is true,” I returned.
“Do I lie then? Why did you make love to Regina just now?” asked Kane.
“She is like all my other affairs. I feel nothing for her. My heart is loyal to Nydia,” I returned.
When I approached the door to my room I saw Abbot standing at my door.
“Your Majesty,” he bowed his head in reverence.
“What is it, Abbot?” I was exhausted as it was.
“There is a letter for you from the garden palace,” he said as he presented me with the letter. The scribbling on the envelope told me at once that it belonged to lady Nydia. My heart was enveloped with guilt at once.
“Thanks, Abbot,” came my response as I collected the letter.
When I had settled down in my room I opened the letter and read through its content. Everything was going smoothly at the garden palace but Nydia complained that she was lonely without me and hoped for our reunion in the near future.
I sat down with a quill and paper to write a reply but my mind was blank. I felt too guilty to say a word. What could I possibly say to reassure Nydia of my love? I had no words to say and I felt too burdened to lie to her. At the moment I was doubtful about my feelings.
***********
Gina's POV
I woke up the next morning feeling sore all over. I was so tired that I could not get out of bed.
“What happened to you, my lady? Your lips are swollen and your neck is red. Are you sick again? Should I fetch the physician?” asked Diane with worry.
“I am alright. I am only tired,” was my response. Even if I told Diane, she would not understand.
“Diane?”
“Yes, my lady,” came her response.
“Are you married?” I asked. The question surprised her.
“No,” came her response.
“Do you have a lover?”
“A lover? Of course not,” she replied hastily and with a blush that told me she was lying. There was someone in her life, I was sure of it.
“I see.”
“Oh! My lady, you…” it was as though she saw my swollen lips with a different eye.
“Do not exaggerate, Diane,” I said coldly and she giggled. I laughed in spite of myself.
“Should I tell Madam Margaret that you will need more time to rest?” she asked me.
“Not at all. I only need a few minutes to get back on my feet,” came my reply but it took me more than that.
The moment Madam Margaret saw me it was evident she knew what had happened to me. Perhaps everyone knew upon seeing me. Alpha Dagen was a rather passionate lover. I had thought that he would peel my skin off the night before.
Madam Margaret cleared her throat.
“Well, we shall move on to the itinerary of the day,” she said, avoiding my eyes.
“Another lesson in posture?” I asked her with a bored tone. If that was what today’s lesson was about I was going to feign a headache and return to bed.
“No, no. You appear rather worn out so our lesson today shall be an instruction on hygiene,” came her response.
Then she went on to drone about hygiene tips while my mind constructed an image of the last novel I had read. Then it struck me, the map! I had not sketched it yet. I dashed at once out of the room where I had my lessons with Madam Margaret and bolted to my room. Diane ran behind me with worry.
“My lady?” she quipped with concern for my sanity.
“Before you ask I have not lost my senses but I need a quill and a paper,” I said in a rushed tone.
“A sheet and a paper? Whatever for?” she asked, confused.
I ignored her and searched frantically for one in my room. She joined me in the search even though I had not answered her question.
“My lady?” quipped Diane and handed me the necessary materials. I smiled my gratitude and closed my eyes. I could see the map in my mind’s eye. I opened my eyes and proceeded to draw what I had seen. When I was done, I examined it against the light. It was similar yet I knew I had missed a few things.
I sighed, disappointed that I had not taken a better look at the map Alpha Dagen had shown me yesterday.
How was I to get the map now? Since there were no maps available in the library, my only way out of this hell was to get the map from Alpha Dagen. But if I asked directly, I would appear suspicious.
“My lady, I believe Madam Margaret awaits you,” Diane said and I rolled my eyes. I followed her back to Madam Margaret regardless.
“I apologise for my abrupt exit,” I said by way of apology.
“It is alright, my lady,” she replied. I hated this version of Madam Margaret where she acted with reverence to me. I wished she would remain her true nasty self.
She continued her lecture about hygiene while my mind created diverse scenarios on how I could recover the map.