Paulina groaned in pain as she slowly opened her eyes. It felt as though a boulder was crushing her entire body. Her eyes and throat were hurting so much. She guessed it was from all the crying and screaming.
"You are awake," she heard a familiar voice beside her and turned her head to the side to find Williams sitting on a chair beside her bed, his legs crossed.
Paulina looked surprised to find him there and opened her mouth to speak, but found it difficult to do so. He reached for a small bowl and spoon on the tiny stool beside him before he stood up and went to feed her the liquid that tasted terrible. She hesitated, but he just left the spoon between her lips, waiting for her to open her mouth, and she reluctantly did. She winced when the bitter taste sent shivers down her entire body, but surprisingly, after a few spoons, she felt a little bit better.
Without saying another word, Williams turned back and dropped the bowl on the stool before he went to sit down and crossed his legs.
Paulina felt very awkward and uncomfortable and wasn't sure what to say to him. She slowly moved her head to the window side and noticed it was already nighttime.
"I am glad you are alive," he said calmly, pulling her attention back to him. "You haven't completed my painting," he added.
Paulina smiled nervously and looked at her hand.
"Isn't... it time for bed?" She asked before looking back up at him.
"I wanted to see how you're doing first," Williams said, and there was a small silence between them since Paulina did not know how to respond to that.
"So you killed Beth?" He asked, startling her. She raised her head to look at him, eyes shining with horror.
Williams suddenly laughed. "You were brave."
"I... didn't k—"
"I was talking about yesterday." He interrupted.
"Oh..." she pursed her lips when she remembered what he was talking about. "I put my mistress in trouble." She said sadly. "I don't think... that was bravery."
"Not every maid can do what you did," he pointed. "Risking your life for your mistress. Although it almost didn't end well. But that was lovely." He smiled at her.
Paulina didn't know how to feel about that, so she just looked down.
"It makes me envious." He paused.
Paulina raised her head to look at him in confusion. Why would he be envious?
"Envious to the point where I want to steal you from her."
She blinked several times, still confused as she began to speak quietly, "Uh... my Lord... I can't... serve two people at the same... time," Paulina said timidly.
Williams's lips twitched in amusement as he said, "I know."
He stood up from his seat and patted her head, making her withdraw instinctively.
"Sleep well," he said, not at all offended as he left the room.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Susan, resting her back on the opposite wall with her hands folded across her chest. She pushed herself off the wall as he closed the door.
"I knew I was going to find you here," she said, giving him a knowing look.
"Are you not supposed to be in your chamber now?" He asked as he walked away from there.
"Yes. But I had questions and I was also curious to know where you had hurried to immediately after we left father's chamber."
Susan said as they made their way down the hall, not minding how lonely and quiet the whole palace was. It seemed like they didn't even need to ring the bell to keep everyone in their chambers tonight.
At least they were both grateful that the people responsible for the lanterns had remembered to light them up before retiring for the night.
"So... Paulina—"
"What did you want to ask?" Williams said, cutting her off.
"Beta's nightmare. What is that?" She asked curiously, leaving that topic for another time.
Williams looked around to be sure it was just the two of them before he told her what their mother had told him when he asked. Susan looked thoughtful as he explained how it worked for different species.
"If it is capable of killing Omegas, doesn't that mean it can also kill humans?"
"I don't know. Mother doesn't know how it works on humans either." Williams said honestly. He had also thought about it. If the potion could kill humans, Princess Amber was a human and she was a weak woman, yet she had survived it.
Susan suddenly remembered something, and her eyes lit up as what happened earlier began to make sense to her.
"Don't you find it odd?" She asked thoughtfully.
"What do you find odd?" Williams asked, wondering what she was talking about and why she couldn't just ask her question directly.
"What father said. I don't think he was referring to the late king's son," Susan said thoughtfully, and Williams shook his head before looking around them again.
"Why are you never careful with your words? Do you want to get us in trouble?" He asked with disapproval, and Susan slapped a hand to her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I was just lost in thoughts," Susan said, and Williams sighed.
Of course, he understood. He only wished she would be more mindful of their environment before speaking. Especially at a time like this when everyone was tense.
"You are going to your chamber, right?" Williams asked, hoping that she wasn't going to be sneaking around tonight.
"No. I have to see Princess Tyra and find out how she is doing, then see if I can check on Princess Amber too..."
"You can't," Alvin said, startling both siblings, who turned to see him standing behind them.
They didn't hear him coming so how come he was so close? They mused, and Susan ran her hands down both sides of her dress as she looked at him.
"Why not? How is she doing?" She asked, and Alvin shifted his gaze from Williams to her.
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