Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Nyssa pov
“So you’re telling me that a maid came to you, claiming the king wanted to see you in his room, but instead led you to the forbidden room and once you got there, she locked you in, and you fainted from lack of air because there were no windows nearby?”
Cassian summed up my story in a single breath, his eyes wide with disbelief as he tried to process what I had just said.
While Zayn continued checking my pulse, Serena fed me porridge, and Isabella massaged my back, I simply nodded, chewing and swallowing before answering with nonchalance.
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I don’t know who the maid was, she kept her head bowed the whole time. But I’m not blind. If I saw her again, I’d recognize her.”
I smiled lightly as I spoke, then opened my mouth again. Serena caught the hint and slipped the next spoonful between my lips, feeding me before taking the handkerchief in her other hand to dab the corners of my mouth. As she did, I tapped my right shoulder, and Isabella seemed to know exactly what I wanted, she added more pressure to it as she massaged me.
I could feel Cassian, and Drake who now stood beside him, their eyes fixed on me, watching everything in confusion and disbelief.
Even Zayn, who had been checking my pulse, I could sense the amusement in his gaze as he pulled his hand away from my wrist.
I also caught Serena and Isabella exchanging quick sideways glances at each other.
I knew why they were looking at me that way, it was because I had nearly been strangled by Darius, yet here I was, not looking the least bit afraid.
If anything, I seemed even happier than usual, a wild grin plastered on my face as I allowed myself to be spoiled by both Serena and Isabella.
But why wouldn’t I? I had finally regained my memories, my true self, who I really was.
Looking back, as Nyssa, the daughter of Ethan, I had always felt incomplete, as though a part of me was missing. No matter how happy I appeared, I could never feel truly whole. No matter how hard I tried, I could never figure out what it was that I lacked.
Maybe that was why I had tried to find that happiness in Kirean.
Why had I loved him so deeply in my past life, convincing myself he could fill that emptiness? Yet in the end, I realized the void existed because of the Lycan King… it was my soul itself that had been desperate to return to him.
The corners of my lips tugged into a faint, sad smile as I imagined how desperately the Liana in me had wanted me to remember who I was but now… now I didn’t need to be sad anymore..
I remembered.
“Did you hear what I said, my lady?”
I heard Cassian calling out to me, and I snapped out of my daze to see everyone’s gazes still pinned on me. That’s when I realized he had been speaking
to me.
I blinked and answered the question he had just asked, if I would remember the maid.
“Yes, I will be able to remember her from her scent alone. She had a faint smell of pineapple, and since we had pineapples for breakfast today, she must have been a kitchen staff, particularly the one who cut the fruit, because I could smell it on her. She also had a small mole at the back of her neck, which she kept lowering her head enough for me to see. She looked a little taller than most of the maids here, at least taller than me.”
I spoke, opening my mouth as everyone watched in surprise at how much I had remembered. Even Serena, who was supposed to be feeding me, froze in astonishment. But when my eyes met hers, she quickly blinked out of her daze and slipped the spoon back between my lips.
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Chapter 177
As I swallowed, a soft sigh of relief escaped me. I was already starting to feel a little better.
When I had woken up, after everything that had happened earlier, I’d been exhausted and weak. But with Zayn’s medicine and now the food, my strength was slowly returning. I felt ready, ready to track down the maid who had locked me in that room, before doing anything else.
“I see,” Cassian murmured, his voice low as his fingers stroked along his chin. His gaze flickered toward Isabella, and I noticed the way her body stiffened instantly, her hands on my shoulders pausing mid–motion.
“Do you know anyone that fits that description? Or anyone that comes to mind?” Cassian asked. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Drake jotting everything down, no doubt recording every detail I’d just given.
I shifted slightly, glancing at Isabella as she lifted my arms, her own hands trembling faintly. She shook her head, her voice a little shaky as she answered, clearly nervous with all attention on her.
“N–no, Beta Cassian. I don’t know who fits that description. We had new maids come into the packhouse just yesterday, and I haven’t had the chance to meet most of them yet. But judging from the lady’s description, it must be one of them, because I don’t think any of the older maids have a mole on their necks or are that tall.”
I nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. I don’t think it’s anyone I’ve seen before either. Even though most of the maids are scared of me and usually keep their distance, I still take
notice of them.”
I stated firmly, and everyone’s expressions grew serious. Still, I didn’t think it would be too difficult to track down the culprit from this morning.
If I had still been the old Nyssa or even Liana, I probably would have brushed it aside, saying we should forget about it because I wouldn’t want the hassle of dealing with a maid. But not this time. Not anymore. I wasn’t going to let this slide.
She had acted with clear malicious intent, trying to get me in trouble with Darius. She knew how sentimental that place was to him, and she knew that if I was caught there, I would face serious consequences.
There was no way in hell I was letting her walk away unpunished.
I opened my mouth, ready to tell Cassian that there was a faster and more direct way to catch her but before I could speak, Zayn beat me to it.
“I mean, you could arrange for all the new maids to gather and let her take a look. It shouldn’t be that hard to identify who it was,” he said, voicing the exact thought I’d just had.
My gaze flickered to him, and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. He was indeed a very smart man.
“Zayn is right. Let’s gather the new maids, and I’ll know her the moment I see her again.” I said, then placed a hand lightly on Serena and Isabella to stop them, before turning my gaze to Cassian.
He gave a small nod. “That can be arranged. We’ll have the maids brought in.” He was about to turn toward Drake to give the order when I spoke up again, my tone sharpening with seriousness.
“However, I want to ask something,” I said, making Cassian pause. His brow lifted as he turned back to me in question.
I met his gaze without hesitation.
“If we find the maid… I want her given to me. I’ll be the one to punish her myself.”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed at my words, and perhaps seeing the seriousness in my expression, he didn’t dismiss me outright. Instead, he took a deep breath and answered.
“Alright. But I’ll have to report to the king first and hear what he has to say.”
I nodded with a grin. At least he was willing to hear me out and believe me about the maid, unlike someone else. I nearly rolled my eyes as Darius’s furious expression from earlier flashed in my mind.
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Chapter 177
“Thank you, Cassian. I really appreciate it,” I said, and he gave me a small smile before turning to leave. Drake, who had been by his side, lingered a
moment longer.
“You should rest well, my lady,” he said with a sincere smile.
“Thank you,” I replied warmly, returning his smile as he followed Cassian out, closing the door behind them.
Before I could even look away from the door, Zayn’s voice cut in as he stood from the bed, closing his medical kit with a yawn and a stretch.
“Well, that’s my cue to leave. You’re looking better now, but you really need to rest and stop getting yourself into trouble, you know,” he said, flashing me his usual teasing grin.
“The fact that you keep passing out isn’t a good sign. Your health doesn’t look great… how are you supposed to bear the king a pup like this?”
He had meant it as a joke, but the moment the words left his mouth, both Serena and Isabella gasped in shock. I stared at him, just as stunned that he’d said it so casually. His eyes widened too, as if realizing what had slipped, and he opened his mouth to add something else.
But by then, my face had already flamed red. I awkwardly reached up to scratch the back of my head, nodding in agreement.
“Ahem… you’re right. I should take care of myself, shouldn’t I?” I said with a shy smile.
My response seemed to shock not only Serena and Isabella but even Zayn, perhaps because none of them had expected me to agree. But then again, there was no reason not to.
I mean…
My gaze dropped to my stomach, and my throat tightened as memories surfaced, of the children I had lost twice. The one I carried as Liana for Darius before Dalton stabbed me… and the one I carried for Kieran.
Even though I hated Kieran with everything in me, I couldn’t help but feel a sharp ache at the thought that I had almost been a mother twice, only to have it ripped away both times.
“Are you okay?” Zayn asked quietly. I felt his gaze narrowing on me, and when I turned to look at him, I caught a glint in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. Instead of dwelling on it, I forced myself to smile and nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
He didn’t press further. After checking one last time to make sure I truly was alright, he finally walked out of the room.
