Back at Ashwood Palace, Lord Nigel's eyes snapped open, and he whispered, "Aria..."
As he looked around, his gaze fell upon Lady Charlotte and Davina. Davina rushed to his side, helping him sit up. "Aria..." Lord Nigel repeated, his voice laced with concern.
Lady Charlotte approached him. "My lord, I don't know where she is. I've been searching everywhere for her."
Lord Nigel's expression turned puzzled. "What do you mean you don't know where she went?"
Davina intervened, "Perhaps she's overwhelmed by everything and decided to flee. Who knows?"
Lord Nigel summoned Lady Charlotte, calling for the guards. Three guards rushed in, and he ordered, "Find Aria! Search everywhere, every corner. Leave no stone unturned."
The guards bowed and hastened to obey. The head messenger appeared, bowing low. "Your Majesty, she went to her mother, but I fear she won't return. It seems she's left for good."
Lord Nigel attempted to rise from bed, but his sore body betrayed him, and he fell back onto the pillows. Davina rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. "My lord, don't try to stand. You'll only weaken yourself further."
As Davina reached for his hand, Lord Nigel snapped at her, his eyes flashing with irritation.
Davina pleaded, "My lord, don't try to go. You're weak. Please, reconsider."
But Lord Nigel was resolute. "Messenger, tell the guards to prepare my carriage. I'm going to find Aria. I must see her."
Davina's voice grew more urgent. "My lord, please! You're not well enough to travel. It's not safe."
Lord Nigel's anger flared, and he snapped at Davina, "Besides, what are you even doing here? What business do you have interfering with me?"
Davina's voice trembled, growing weaker as she protested, "I-I was only trying to help, my lord... How can you speak to me like this?"
The physician rushed into the room, concern etched on his face. "Oh, my lord, I see you're still weak. I heard you're planning to travel, but I must advise against it. You're not yet fit for such exertion. Please, rest and recover. When you're well, you can reconsider your plans."
Lord Nigel refused to listen, still determined to stand up. The physician quickly reached for his bag and pulled out a small bottle of medicine. "My lord, take this. It will give you the strength you need."
Lord Nigel eyed the physician warily, but eventually drank the medicine. Minutes later, he began to feel drowsy.
He looked at the physician, accusingly. "What did you give me? What have you done?"
The physician replied calmly, "It was the only way to stop you, my lord. If you had left, you would have likely collapsed on the road. I'm sorry, my lord."
Lord Nigel's head fell back onto the pillow as the medicine took hold, rendering him unconscious.
**************************************
Three days had passed, and Arya was settling into her new life with her mother. Everything about her new surroundings felt heavenly, especially her room, which seemed like a little slice of paradise.
Arya had come to support her mother's advice that they should stay hidden away. Yet, she couldn't shake off two conflicting worries. Part of her feared that Lord Nigel would come looking for her, and she wasn't ready to face him again.
Another part of her worried that he hadn't come searching for her at all. What if something terrible had happened to him? What if he was hurt or, worse still, dead? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
Arya's thoughts were interrupted as she suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She vomited into the nearby flowers, quickly covering her mouth in shock.
"What's going on with me?" she wondered, panicked. "Why am I feeling like this? What did I eat?"
She stumbled towards the nearby water source, desperate to clean up and quench her thirst. As she washed away the vomit, she felt another wave of nausea hit her.
She gasped, "Please... I need water..." but her words trailed off as her vision began to blur.
Arya's legs gave out from under her, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
*****************************
After three days, Lord Nigel finally regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes, he immediately asked for Aria again.
Davina burst into the room, carrying a tray of food, and pushed Lady Charlotte aside. "My lord, I brought you food," she said.
But Lord Nigel was not interested. He stood up, pushed Davina aside, and began to walk away.
"Lord nigel, where are you going?" Davina cried out, chasing after him.
Lady Charlotte intervened, "My lord, wait! You're still weak."
But Lord Nigel was resolute. He continued on his way, determined to find Aria.
As Lord Nigel emerged from the room, he encountered the physician, who approached him nervously.
"You dare give me a sleeping potion?" Lord Nigel thundered. "How long have I been asleep?"
The physician bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, my lord. It was the only way to stop you."
Lord Nigel's eyes narrowed. "How long?" he repeated.
The physician hesitated before answering, "Three days, my lord."
Lord Nigel's face turned red with rage. "Three days?!" he bellowed. "God's sake! Prepare the horses now! Prepare my carriage!" he shouted to a nearby guard.
*****************************
Aria lay in bed, a physician attending to her. Her mother hovered anxiously nearby.
After an eternity, the physician smiled and turned to Aria's mother. "Congratulations, your daughter is a week pregnant."
Aria's eyes snapped opened weakly. "What? I'm pregnant?"
The physician nodded. "Yes."
Aria looked at her mother, then asked, "Mother, can you excuse me? I want to talk to the physician privately."
Her mother, still in shock, rose and stepped outside.
Aria turned to the physician. "Please, is there any herb I can take to... to abort this?"
The physician's expression turned curious. "Why don't you want the baby?"
Aria shook her head. "I just don't."
The physician pressed gently. "Were you raped?"
Aria hesitated, then replied, "No."
The physician's gaze was stern. "You weren't raped. You should have spoken to the person involved,Now, you want to harm an innocent child?"
The physician's tone turned firm. "I advise against doing anything rash. I'll provide your medication, and we'll ensure a healthy pregnancy. Congratulations once more."
With that, the physician departed, leaving Aria to her thoughts.
As soon as the physician left, Aria's mother stormed back into the room. She slapped Aria's hand, causing Aria to cry out in pain.
"Mother, stop it!" Aria exclaimed weakly.
Her mother glared at her. "How dare you, Aria? Look at you now - pregnant with the Lord of Ashwood's child! What were you thinking?"
Aria sat up, still wincing in pain. "Mother, please don't worry. I'll find a way to...get rid of it."
But her mother's expression changed from anger to concern. "Aria, don't even think about it. You won't do anything to harm that child. I'm worried about what might happen if the Lord of Ashwood doesn't accept the child."
Aria's voice dropped to a whisper. "Mother, I won't tell him. I'll get rid of it myself."
But her mother's voice was firm. "Aria, don't even think about it."