Lydia's POV
Lydia was short of words as she stared at the Queen blankly. "Take it easy on her. She has undergone serious pain and her mind is fogged," the Queen spoke calmly, causing Lydia's eyes to grow moist. She never believed someone would treat her kindly not to talk of the Queen.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Lydia thanked, and the Queen smiled. She took another look at Lydia and found this sudden fondness for her surprising.
"You're welcome. What is your name?" the Queen gently asked, and Lydia replied, "Obryn Lydia Moore."
"Nice name. I'll call you Lydia instead," she added, not really comfortable with calling Lydia an obryn.
The woman who rebuked Lydia earlier watched the Queen in silence and her eyes flashed with a hidden, unsettling emotion. When the Queen wasn't looking she clenched her fist and glared at Lydia.
"Your Grace, you have to give us space so I'll treat her," she spoke in a calm voice. She was the head nurse of the royal park clinic, and for many years she had only treated the Alpha and his family and other nobles but this was the first time she was given the task to treat an obryn, which disgusted her to the core.
"Okay, take care of her, okay?" the Queen spoke, giving the woman a look. The woman smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I will, Your Grace," she replied politely with a bow, and the Queen nodded. Then she looked at Lydia again before walking out.
When the head nurse was sure the Queen had walked a far distance from the clinic, she smirked and walked close to Lydia, giving her a dangerous look.
Lydia's eyes twitched watching those deadly glares coming from the head nurse. She knew the woman had no good intention toward her, so she quickly looked away to avoid her gaze but the head nurse didn't stop staring.
If looks could kill, Lydia would have dropped dead by now. Since the woman wouldn't stop looking, Lydia felt irritated and spoke up.
"Ma'am, would you just stop standing there staring?" Lydia questioned.
"If you dare address me in that manner I'll crush your bones into pieces," she threatened, her fangs displaying in anger.
Lydia felt a shiver run down her spine. Why did she always meet the wrong people who hated her for no just reason?
Picking up courage, Lydia spoke again, "I am in pain. Please do something that'll get me out of here."
The head nurse laughed, a monstrous laugh echoing in the room like a haunted hall. She moved with swift precision, picked a syringe from the table, and held Lydia's hand, ready to inject her.
The look on the woman's face was scary enough to make someone creep out, but Lydia grit her teeth, ready for it. The needle pierced her skin, causing her to scream in pain, but she couldn't struggle much because of the pains in her body.
The head nurse removed the needle and set it aside. Lydia felt a bit relieved, but the woman reached for another syringe, about to inject her again and a voice interrupted her actions.
"Stop!"
The head nurse froze mid-step and looked toward the person who had spoken, her lips drawing into a thin line.
"Ophelia… you're here," the head nurse said in a shocked tone.
"Of course, I'm here to take care of my person," Ophelia replied. The head nurse quickly moved aside as Ophelia walked closer to Lydia.
Lydia was relieved that someone had come for her and even called her, her person. The voice sounded familiar, though the name was new to her.
When Ophelia came into view, Lydia's heart skipped a beat. She was the same woman who had tended her wounds in the clinic and the same one who had given her that strange necklace to wear.
Lydia was torn between feeling happy or uneasy at her arrival because, in truth, this woman was both scary and unsettling. Do they always hire creepy people as medical staff here? Lydia wondered, studying her face.
"You can leave now. I know how much you dislike offering medical care to anyone who isn't royal or noble," Ophelia said calmly.
"Good thing you know," the head nurse replied with a smirk. "I'm sure this little witch was feeling pleased that I was asked to care for her, but good thing you came on time, I was already feeling highly irritated."
Lydia gritted her teeth in anger. Her mind wandered to her past life no one had ever dared to call her or treat her this way.
"It's just a matter of time," Lydia muttered under her breath.
"You should free yourself from such a mentality," Ophelia said, her tone calm but firm. "You never know who'll rise above you someday. Try treating people kindly so you and your family may live freely. Life doesn't revolve around nobles, everyone's fate is different."
She offered Lydia a warm smile, though it still made Lydia's skin crawl.
Lydia smiled awkwardly. The woman's "warm" smile was almost as creepy as her calmness but Lydia knew she meant well.
"Whatever! I don't care what you're saying," the head nurse snapped. "We work in the same field, yet I was promoted to the royal clinic while you're stuck with the low lives. Stop being jealous and accept your fate."
Ophelia slammed her hand hard against the wall, the sound echoing sharply. The head nurse flinched in fear. Ophelia was known for her calm and mysterious demeanor, but this sudden display left a deep mark of fear in the nurse's mind.
"I'll take my leave now. I can't breathe the same air as an obryn," the head nurse said sharply and hurried out of the room.
Ophelia watched her leave, her eyes darkening. "Don't take her words to heart. She's just foolish," she said before heading to the table.
Her gaze fell upon a small vial among the medicines, and her expression shifted to suspicion. "Why is this here?" she murmured and leaned in to sniff it. Immediately, she sneezed loudly.
Lydia had been watching her quietly, but when Ophelia turned around, Lydia's face twisted in horror.
"What's wrong?" Ophelia asked, finding Lydia's terrified expression almost amusing.
Lydia didn't respond she just stared, frozen with fear.
Ophelia quickly reached for a small mirror in her pocket and what she saw made her blink. Her head had taken its wolf form while her body remained human.
She looked back at Lydia and burst into l
aughter, her voice echoing through the room and Lydia screamed loudly in fear.