Sabrina's eyelid fluttered open slightly, so slight that it could go unnoticeable then it closed again.
"S-she opened her eyes " Nina gasped, her heart seared with a new ray of hope.
Her teary eyes found that of Lady Harriet, who looked stunned as well, she saw it too.
" M-my lady is safe right?" She sobbed.
Lady Harriet nodded,"She will, Nina. Alaric will be here again by noon, we'll inform him of the progress"
Alaric had gone back after tending to the princess, Lady Harriet had released the three other maids to catch some sleep too.
But Nina had been so adamant to leave the princess's side, so they both stayed.
None of them slept a wink.
Nina sniffled, her mouth trembled with every sob she dragged. She grabbed the princess hand and started stroking it gently.
"I- I'm so s-sorry my lady", she prompted, her voice hoarse with tears. "I-I'm sorry, I-I couldn't protect you, I failed you. I'm sorry. But you can't leave m-me"
Lady Harriet struggled with her own tears, it was too much seeing Nina cry so miserably like this.
How can a mere maid love her Lady this much? It explains only one thing, the princess has been nothing but good to her, absolutely.
"Y– You are the only family I h-have. You said I am your family. So p-please, stay with me. P-please" she cried, her hands trembled badly but she kept on stroking her princess hands comfortingly.
Lady Harriet lost her own composure and let the tears spill. She has been holding it in since the second she saw how damaged the princess was. She cried, but it was silent.
"I'll get you out of here. J-just stay with me. P-please" she said amidst sobbing then leaned closer and kissed the princess forehead, her tears splashing on her face.
Lady Harriet sniffled and dabbed her face discreetly.
"You should get some rest, Nina"
Nina shook her head adamantly, her gaze not averting from the princess's face.
" You will get ill. You haven't slept a wink since midnight" she scolded.
"M-my Princess, I want to be with her. Please"
Lady Harriet sighed, the girl can never be persuaded, she won't leave.
"You should rest Lady Harriet. I will stay with her" Nina suggested.
The woman bobbed her head with an exhausted sigh, her back ached and her feets were sore from running around all night. It had been a very long night.
" What about you?" She queried, not helping but worry. Those two needed her more than she needed to rest.
"I'll be fine" she managed a small smile, "Thank you so much for taking care of my lady. You are really a good person"
Lady Harriet shrugged, "Anyone would do it"
"No, not everyone" Nina mumbled under her breath. But the woman heard her anyway and she knew what she meant.
The atmosphere grew a bit tense.
"Inform me when Alaric arrives. I'll get a maid to deliver to you food. Make sure you eat well" she said lifting the tension.
Nina smiled appreciatively, "Thank you lady Harriet"
"Take care of her and if anything unusual happens before the arrival of Alaric, get him immediately"
Nina nodded, "Yes Lady Harriet. Thank you for your kindness"
Lady Harriet simply nodded and walked out of the room. She wanted to go see the king but thought against it.
Each one of them had gone through a lot during the night and she isn't even fully ready to see him.
Maybe later, when she gets enough rest. She would go see him.
⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️
Indiana stomped her feets on the ground angrily, her face red with anger and embarrassment.
She had wanted to see the king, but his guards had outrightly stopped her, claiming the king ordered not to let anyone in.
She had tried to distract them severally and even threatened to report to the king for disrespecting her but they didn't budge. She had no other choice than to leave, dissatisfied and disappointed.
"What are you looking at?" She snapped at her handmaid, pansy who quickly lowered her gaze.
She threw the girl a dirty glare and drawled out a loud hiss.
"Bunch of useless lowlife"
The girl cowered at her back, her head bowed out of shame.
She started towards her quarters, fuming. It's been long since he last summoned her and now he is refusing to see her. All because of that stupid Princess.
Has he been summoning her to his bed instead of her or does he not fancy her anymore. Many possibilities roamed her mind, which infuriated her the more.
Truth to be told, the princess is a very beautiful one. Her beautiful hair long and silky which matched perfectly with her snow white and eventonned skin. She is effortlessly beautiful, one glance from her could make any man swoon.
Everything about her angered Indiana, she is a beautiful woman too but she knew deep down she can't compete with the princess, something she will rather die than admit to.
" But the king hates her" it dropped in her mind.
Yes, the king hated the princess. There was no way he would ever favour his enemy's daughter in place of her. Never.
A small smile tugged her lips triumphantly.
Her mood now a bit better, she increased her walking pace. She saw a group of maids hovered around, obviously gossiping but she shrugged it off.
But then something made her stop. A name.
" Hey. Get over here " she ordered.
The maids almost peed on their pant on seeing who had caught them.
They scampered to her, their head bowed out of fear.
" Your Ladyship" they greeted in unison.
Indiana cleared her throat and asked, "What was that?"
The maids shared glances.
"You were talking about the princess, right? What was that?" she snapped
"Forgive us mistress. Please don't punish us for abandoning our works" One of the three pleaded.
Indiana hissed then pointed out at one of them who seemed more bolder.
"You! Speak!"
The girl pursed her lips, "Yes, it's about the princess"
Indiana smiled mentally, she knew it.
"What is the matter?" She demanded.
This time she hesitated and avoided her gaze.
"You speak or I really will have you punished" She threatened.
"T-The princess is badly injured "
Indiana's brows furrowed, why would the princess be badly injured?
"What happened?"
"The king had summoned the royal physician and the three of us to tend to her at midnight. When we got there, she was bleeding profusely in between her thighs and had many bruises on her body" The maid explained.
She smirked as realization dawned on her, so the king had exerted one of his punishment on her?
It stung that he had went to her for sexual pleasure, but the feeling of knowing she is in no good condition after it made her so elated .
Her lips curved into a wide smile, her day had just became better from hearing this big news. She can magine how the princess would have screamed and writhe in pain as the king abused her body.
Oh! How much she would love to witness it.
" You can leave" she dismissed, her tone more lively than seconds earlier.
The maids bowed and scurried away instantly, glad they didn't end up punished.
Indiana started to her chambers, elated.
"Is the sky not so bright today, pansy?" She hummed.
" Very well My lady"
Indiana smile widened, her inside jumped with excitement.
" I know, right?" She mused.
She had worried herself for nothing, why would the king even favour that monster's daughter?
She strolled down to her quarters, humming on her favourite song happily. She wished she could celebrate this on wine with the king, too bad.
The Princess can never take her place, not now. Not ever.