The next day, the maids went about their routine as usual. Aria approached Nina, apologizing for ignoring her the previous day. "I'm sorry, I wasn't in a good mood," Aria explained.
Nina's expression turned sympathetic. "I was sad that you ignored me. I was trying to be friendly and even offered to bring you new food."
Aria sighed, opening up about her disturbing dream. "To be honest, I had a terrible dream. Someone was after my life."
Nina's eyes locked onto Aria's, her interest piqued. "Did you see the person's face?" she asked, her tone innocent.
Aria shook her head. "It was a stranger. Someone I've never seen before."
Nina offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. I'll watch out for you."
Aria smiled back, grateful for Nina's kindness, oblivious to the fact that the person threatening her life was standing right beside her.
As they headed to breakfast, Nina repeated her sinister actions from the previous night. She laced Aria's food with poison, handing it to her without arousing suspicion. The other maids were too caught up in their own eating and chatting to notice anything amiss.
****************************
Nina sat beside Aria, watching intently as Aria ate the poisoned food. Nina's eyes sparkled with malice as she pretended to offer Aria water. "Oh, Aria, let me get you some water," she said, exiting the room to avoid suspicion.
Aria savored the food, oblivious to the danger lurking within. Minutes passed, and Aria began to choke, clutching her throat. The other maids sprang into action, alarmed by Aria's distress.
Lady Charlotte rushed to Aria's side, concern etched on her face. "Aria, what's wrong?" she asked, but Aria could only choke and couldn't say anything.
Lady Charlotte shouted for the guards, "Guard! Guard! Call the physician, hurry!" The scene erupted into chaos as the maids scattered, unsure of what was happening.
Meanwhile, Lord nigel sat in his room, admiring the bead bracelet he had found almost under his bed. A faint smile crossed his lips, a rare sight. Suddenly, a guard bursted in, interrupting Lord nigel's reverie.
"What is it?" Lord nigeel asked, slightly annoyed. "A maid has been poisoned." The guard announced
Lord nigel's expression remained nonchalant as he dismissed the guard. "Oh, a maid has been poisoned? Perhaps she offended a fellow maid, and they decided to teach her a lesson. Call the royal physician to attend to her. It doesn't concern me."
His tone turned stern, "But inform them that I won't tolerate chaos in my palace. I don't want any disturbances. Now, get out!"
Lord nigel's voice grew into a growl, and the guard hastily retreated, eager to escape his lord's wrath.
Lord nigel's calm demeanor shattered as Lady Charlotte rushed into his room. "I see you've decided to turn my room into a thoroughfare," he growled, his anger simmering. "Do you think I leave my door open for your convenience? Shall I teach you all a lesson?"
Lady Charlotte bowed, tears streaming down her face. "Aria has been poisoned!" she exclaimed.
The words struck Lord nigel like a blow to the head. Aria? Poisoned?,so the poisoned maid was aria??..His face contorted in rage. "Who dared to poison her?" he thundered.
Lady Charlotte trembled, "We don't know, my lord. None of the maids seem suspicious. They all appear innocent."
Lord nigel's fury boiled over. "Take me to her at once!" he bellowed.
Lady Charlotte hastened to obey, rushing out of the room as Lord nigel stormed behind her, his heavy footsteps echoing through the corridors, radiating an aura of anger and menace.
Lord Nigeel, accompanied by Lady Charlotte, arrived at Aria's bedside,with the physician attending to her. He entered the room with a composed demeanor, careful not to reveal his growing emotional attachment to Aria.
He approached the physician and inquired, "How is she?"
The physician's expression was grim. "My lord, the poison is deadly. We can only hope for a miracle. We hope she will survive it."
Lord Nigeel's heart sank at the physician's words. Who could have poisoned Aria? She was kind and gentle, never one to stir up trouble. He gazed at Aria's pale, lifeless form, and a pang of anguish struck him.
Will Aria die before he can confess his growing feelings for her? The thought ignited a fierce anger within him. He turned to Lady Charlotte, his voice low and menacing.
"Lady Charlotte, take me to those maids at once."
**********************************
Nina was alone in the maids' quarters, hastily packing her belongings in preparation for a swift departure before nightfall. Meanwhile, the other maids lingered outside, whispering among themselves and speculating about Aria's poisoning.
Some of them callously remarked, "She deserves it," while others pitied Aria, saying, "It's a shame she didn't fight with anyone." The murmurs ceased as Lord nigel appeared, his commanding presence silencing the crowd.
"Who dares to poison a maid in my palace?" Lord nigel thundered, his voice echoing through the corridors. The maids trembled, fearful of his wrath.
Lord nigel's face turned crimson with rage as he bellowed again, "Who dares to poison a maid in my palace?" The air was electric with tension as objects began to shake and tremble, as if the very foundations of the palace were crumbling.
Nina, still in the maids' quarters, heard the commotion outside and Lord nigel's thunderous voice. Her heart sank, and she whispered to herself, "I'm done for, I'm done for." Panic set in as she wondered what to do next.
She hastily abandoned her packing and lay down on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Meanwhile, outside, Lord nigel's eyes scanned the row of maids, his gaze piercing.
"Stand in a line," he commanded, and the maids hastily obeyed. Lord nigel counted them, his face darkening. "One maid is missing," he growled.
The maids exchanged fearful glances, their eyes wide with anxiety. Lady Charlotte, standing behind Lord nigel, spoke up, "Where is Nina?"
One of the maids timidly replied, "I think she's in the maids' quarters." Lord nigel's gaze narrowed. "Get her here now," he ordered.
The maid scurried off, running in fear to summon Nina, while Lord nigel's patience wore thin.
At the maids' quarters, the maid found Nina feigning sleep. She tapped Nina's shoulder three times before Nina pretended to wake up, rubbing her eyes.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm sleeping? I'm tired, I'm very sick," Nina complained.
The maid's expression was urgent. "This isn't the time for sleep. Lord Nigel has discovered that a maid is missing. He counted us, and you're the one. Come out now."
Nina's eyes widened in fear. "Why do they need me? Nobody knows who poisoned Aria."
The maid's voice trembled. "I don't care, just come out. I still have my mother and siblings; I don't want to die here. Lord Nigel is furious, and I don't know what Aria means to him, but you need to come out now."
The maid scurried away, leaving Nina to regret her actions. With a sense of dread, Nina slowly made her way outside.
Nina stood alongside the trembling maids, her own fear growing with each passing moment. Lord Nigeel's gaze swept across the row of maids, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Listen to me," he growled. "If the person who poisoned Aria does not come forward, I will have all of your heads. All of you will be killed."
The maids trembled violently, their faces ashen with terror. Nina, too, shook with fear, her mind consumed by regret. Why had she poisoned Aria? What had driven her to such a desperate act?
As Lord Nigel's words hung in the air, Nina realized that she had underestimated the lord's attachment to Aria. She had no idea that he cared for her so deeply. Now, Nina's actions had put not only her own life at risk but also the lives of her fellow maids.