Lydia
"Ophelia?"
"Who is Ophelia?" the nurse who had just entered the room asked, and I froze. Blinking a few times, I realized it wasn't Ophelia. But why did I see Ophelia's face at first? Or was something wrong with my eyesight?
"Poor child, was she hit on the head?" the nurse asked as she touched my forehead, her face filled with concern. "You have a fever," she added with a sigh. Then she noticed the black mark on my face, making her gasp in shock.
"What happened to you?" she questioned.
"It's was caused by a black worm," Alisha responded.
"Oh my goodness! How come? I thought black magic was forbidden in this park?" she spoke, her voice filled with shock and disbelief.
I wanted to speak, but Alisha spoke instead.
"Well, it was the kitchen head, but I've had that handled. She will be executed soon."
I was shocked by her words. I knew what that woman did to me was really bad, but that doesn't mean she had to be killed. Who made such cruel rules? I wondered, gritting my teeth in anger. It must be the Alpha of this park, that wicked beast! If only my park hadn't been attacked, I would still be with my family, away from all these troubles.
"Lydia, are you okay?" I heard Alisha ask.
I raised my head towards her and smiled. "Yes, I am. Don't worry," I replied. I didn't realize I had zoned out for a few seconds because I was thinking about how harsh the punishment for practicing black magic was.
"It's a good thing. She should pay with her life!" the nurse spoke as she removed an injection from the box she brought. I was scared for a second, remembering my encounter with the head nurse at the royal clinic.
Sensing my fear, the nurse smiled. "Don't worry, it won't hurt," she said, and I nodded. She gently injected the medicine into my vein, and after a few minutes, I felt much better. After checking my temperature and making sure I was okay, the nurse left the room without a word.
"Umm... my work here is finished. You take care of her," Alisha suddenly said, and Mia nodded in reply.
She quietly walked to the door, then turned towards me. "We will meet again tomorrow," she said, and I nodded.
When she left, Mia looked at the door and scoffed.
"Such a cheap bitch!" I laughed in disbelief.
"What happened? Did she do something wrong?" I questioned, knowing well that Mia wouldn't just insult her without any valid reason.
"She is acting all high and mighty because her family is wealthy, and she's a Woody, the family closest to the Alpha and his family. I heard the two families have had a strong alliance for many years," Mia explained, and I nodded.
I actually found her attitude kind of strange, but I didn't mind since I could see a little of my former self in her.
"But she has been so good to me since we met," I said, trying to speak well of her, but Mia's laugh shocked me.
"Good?... Ha! I hope it lasts. I have never known her to be a good person. Since I came here, I have heard good things about her, but she doesn't do good because she is kind. She does it to trap people and gain control over them."
Her words left me even more shocked.
"But wait... Does she think that because she helped me, I will become her follower or her plaything? That will only happen in her dreams!" I spoke, and Mia laughed.
" I don't know you could say such a fierce word, lol," Mia replied, and we both laughed.
" I promise I won't allow her to treat me badly. I'm even surprised she asked me to be her friend, though it was not in a friendly manner. She's such a weirdo," I spoke, recalling the words she had said to me. Though she might act friendly, deep down I doubted everything, and Mia's words made so much sense.
" That is good!"
" Umm..... She told me that the Queen asked me to start working at the Royal House tomorrow," I spoke calmly and watched Mia's eyes widen in shock and disbelief.
" Are you for real???? The Queen???" she asked, both excited and shocked, then her expression dimmed.
" Are you sure this is not a trap?" she questioned with a serious expression. " How does the Queen even know you enough to ask you to work in the Royal House?" she added.
" Sorry.... I forgot to tell you that I met the Queen when I was taken to the royal clinic," I spoke, and Mia gasped in shock.
" Oh my goodness! You must be blessed by the heavens! You met the Queen and were even taken to the royal clinic??" she spoke in shock, and I smiled at her words.
" You are so lucky, Lydia! Since I came here, I haven't even set my eyes on the Queen, and even when she visited the obryn base, I was busy and couldn't see her. I heard she is an embodiment of grace," Mia spoke, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
" Yes, she is..... She is one of the calmest and kindest people I've met in my life. I was also shocked by how she talked to me, and she even offered for me to work in the Royal House, but I thought she would forget about it since she has other important things to do," I spoke, and Mia smiled, holding my hands.
" You are so lucky, Lydia! Please, if you go there and there's any opportunity for me to join you, don't forget me!" Mia spoke, and I nodded. " Don't worry, I won't forget you."
" Thank you for that," Mia said and squeezed my hand softly in happiness. " And also, I want you to be extra careful because you might face bullying since you are coming from the obryn base. The other servants there will definitely look down on you. I know the Queen hates bullying, but she can't see everything going on in the Royal House at once, so you must be smart and stay alert," she added, and I nodded in understanding.
" Thank you for your advice, Mia. It means a lot to me," I said, tears of joy brimming in my eyes.
" What are friends for? Don't worry, I will always be on your side," Mia promised, and I smiled.
" One thing I want to advise you about is that Alisha is very fond of the Alpha of this park. I know you dislike him for taking you away from your family and all, but don't speak badly about him in her presence. It was said that she was supposed to marry him at one point, but I'm not sure if it's true," she said, and I pressed my lips into a thin line.
" The Alpha should go kill himself! I have nothing to do with him. Thank you for telling me because if she had brought him up, I wouldn't have restrained myself from cursing him," I spoke, and we both laughed.
Soon my eyes began to dim. I blinked twice, trying to fight the drowsiness, but it weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't help it.
" Lydia... Lydia..." I heard Mia's panicked voice, but I couldn't even reply, and soon I lost consciousness.
I don't know how long it took, but when I woke up, I saw a terrifying sight, It was the royal head nurse glaring at me and I wondered how I got to where she was in the first place.