Nyssa pov
D
“I was the one who ordered her to do it.”
The atmosphere turned tense and unbearably silent–so silent you could hear a pin drop.
I felt every gaze shift to me the moment those words left my lips, but my eyes stayed fixed on him, my breathing heavy and uneven.
As I spoke, I watched Darius arch a brow, his head slowly tilting as he studied me.
My body trembled under his gaze, and a shiver ran down my spine when I caught the cold, unimpressed glint in his eyes as though everything I had just said was nothing but air.
And for the briefest moment and I was certain I wasn’t imagining it, I saw the corner of his lips curl into a faint smirk. I couldn’t tell if it was amusement or something else, but he didn’t say a word.
No one did. They all just stared, stunned into silence by my confession.
So I spoke again, this time louder as I lifted my head, hit my chest, and squared my shoulders with a determined expression.
“I said I was the one who told her to give the Ashvein to the guard. I was the one who gave the order, so it’s not Serena’s fault, Your Majesty. If anyone deserves punishment, it’s me. She was only following the command of her master, so leave her out of this.”
I said it clearly without stammering, without even a trace of fear or hesitation.
Yes, this was the only thing I could do now–to protect Serena.
I wasn’t saying this expecting Darius to spare me. If anything, he’d probably throw me into a cell and interrogate me for my supposed crime. But he wouldn’t kill me. Not yet. I was still useful to him.
Serena, though… I couldn’t be sure what he’d do to her.
This was my best shot.
At worst, I’d be punished. And if that’s what it took, then so be it.
I stiffened my posture and met Darius’s gaze with a slight smirk.
If he wanted to get to Serena, he’d have to go through me first.
I wouldn’t let anyone lay a hand on her.
As if Darius could sense exactly what was going through my head, his smirk seemed to widen slightly, and I could’ve sworn to the goddess I heard a faint chuckle escape him. But before I could even process that, a loud voice suddenly boomed, making my body instinctively jolt.
“Are you insane, you child?!” my father screamed or rather, shrilled.
When I turned my gaze to him, I found him glaring at me, finger pointed, his face bright red as he hissed,
“Y–You… why would you lie like that?”
I blinked, trying to process what he had just said, but before I could respond, the man turned to Darius and lowered his head slightly.
“P.Please forgive the child. She’s just saying anything to protect her servant. Please, do not listen to her.”
He said it to Darius, and I frowned, blunting out,
“What are you saying, Dad?! You don’t have to lie for me! I really am the one who gave Serena the Ashvein. I did it because I was upset that those stupid rogues had attacked me, and I gave her the drug knowing the rogue would overdose and die. I didn’t tell you because i knew you’d stop me!”
I screamed, my voice just as loud as his and for a moment, he actually froze, taken aback.
I could even see Benjamin and Calen staring at me in surprise along with everyone else.
I wasn’t completely sure, but I think I heard Cassian mutter, “Oh shit,” under his breath.
“Y–You…” my father stammered, as if he couldn’t believe what I was doing.
But I continued without hesitating.
“So you don’t have to lie for me, okay? It was all my fault, and I’m ready to take responsibility, so…”
I turned to Darius and narrowed my eyes at him.
“You can punish me, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know. But this girl-”
I pointed at Serena and turned to look at her, finding her staring at me in a daze.
As I held her gaze, I placed a small smile on my face and whispered, quiet, but still loud enough for everyone to hear,
“Let her go. She was only following my orders.”
Serena’s tears fell harder at my words, and for a moment, time seemed to slow as I looked at her with an expression that could only mean I will protect you, no matter what happens.
She shook her head and sobbed, closing her eyes as though too ashamed to meet my gaze. Just as I reached out to hold her hand, that
familiar cold voice finally spoke.
“So, you admit to the crime, she–wolf?” Darius asked.
Everyone turned to look at him almost instantly, but he didn’t spare any of them a glance, his eyes were locked on me. My breath hitched at
his next words.
“You admit that you were the reason behind the rogue’s overdose and…” He paused, and I saw the wicked glint in his eyes, “You don’t mind being punished for the crime?”
I swallowed hard, a shiver running down my spine. But I had known this would happen. The moment I took the blame, I accepted the
consequences.
With everyone watching, linhaled a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes, I agree, my king,” I said and I wasn’t even able to lower my head before my father screamed,
“Nyssa!”
But before he could say another word, Serena’s soft voice echoed through the room.
“My lady is telling lies, my king.”
She spoke, and my eyes widened as I turned to her.
“She’s lying. She didn’t order me to give the Ashvein to the prison guard. She knew nothing about it, I hid it from her.”
I gasped as she spoke and quickly reached out to stop her from saying more.
“What are you saying? I was the one-”
But she yanked her arm away before I could touch her, shaking her head. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispered,
“No! Stop lying, my lady! Stop trying to save me. I don’t deserve it. I–I don’t… because from the very beginning, I betrayed you and lied to you.”
She inhaled sharply before continuing, her voice trembling.
“From the very beginning, I knew that Sir Kieran and Lady Aria were mates. I knew it but I chose to hide it from you… because of how much you loved him.”
I could hear everyone inhaling sharply at her words, and as I stared at Serena in shock and disbelief, everything suddenly felt suffocating.
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