Visitors

In a single night, so many things had changed. This change stretched into the days that followed.

Felicia was still unconscious and Alex had personally assigned two knights to stand guard outside her door as well as another two to stand beneath her balcony. He wasn't taking any chances.

The physician tried to reassess Felicia to find out why she was still asleep, but Alex dismissed his concern stating that his sister would wake up once her mind was ready.

"It is nothing more than sheer trauma that is keeping her unconscious," Lord Alexander asserted. "Everyone copes with danger and fear differently. She will wake up once her mind has recovered."

Well, that was the true. Fear and dread could prolong the recovery rate. The physician had no rebuttal. He simply handed the Young Master more vital strengthening medication.

The Duke trusted his son's judgement. He came in to see Felicia a few times and she appeared healthy enough, just asleep. He wasn't too concerned.

Hildegarde had been reinstated as Felicia's nanny. She was permitted to enter the Emerald room to feed her sleeping lady medicine, bone broth and wipe down her body when she got too hot. 

Tyren was beyond furious that the old hag who kissed Moniqua feet had returned. She tried to kick her out, but Alex had already given her a room and she was on the payroll. Alex informed Tyren that Hildegarde was old, poor, alone and needed a comfortable place to live out her golden days. He felt it was the only proper way to repay her for her faithful service in the past. The Duke agreed.

With the heightened security in the manor, Tyren was forced to scrap her initial plans of hiring an assassin to kill Felicia in her sleep. She could do nothing but observe from the side, disdainfully.

She wasn't bothered by the attack that had taken place at Hildegarde's previous residence.

It was foolish for them to wander away with only young boys to guard them. What did they expect? They bear the name Del Montague. Naturally, they got attacked and robbed.

Though she was pretending to be concerned, she cursed the fates for not claiming Felicia's life. Still, she had hope. With the girl refusing to wake up, perhaps something truly was wrong and Felicia would die in her sleep. The thought made Tyren's heart sing with joy.

Helena was jealous of all the attention Felicia was getting. All the servants did was discuss the first lady who had yet to open her eyes. She wished Felicia would just die already so everyone would stop talking about her!

She especially hated the new nanny Felicia got.

She is a grown woman! What the hell does she need a nanny for?!

Like her mother, Helena didn't care about the attack. Felicia probably did something to deserve it. After all, her reputation is hideous! Some vigilantes probably thought to take justice into their own hands and get rid of the disgraceful bitch! Alex should have just let them kill her!

In the city, the hunt for the assailants was all consuming. The entire city of Delgard was in lockdown as the knight division sought out the criminals. The faces of the deceased were plastered everywhere and everyone was taught with tension. A curfew had been established and all the city dwellers, rich and poor, were scared that they would be attacked next.

Amongst the nobility, the gossip was rampant. Thanks to Alex's clever tongue, it was painted as a robbery and attempted kidnapping for the sake of extortion. Many affluent families sent letters of condolences to the Del Montague household. They sympathized with the horror that the first lady and young master were made to endure. Others sent flowers.

The Cromwell family conveyed their care with gifts of consolation and allocated some royal knights to further assist the city constables in finding the criminals.

Alex tried to keep Felicia's state concealed but the stupid creature named Helena sent a letter to Prince Constantine informing him whilst trying to vie for attention as a grieving sister. Constantine informed his father, who instructed him to immediately head to the Dukedom and check on his betrothed's condition.

Somehow Liam got wind of it, after growing uneasy having only received letters of reassurance from Alex and none from Felicia. 

Both men arrived at the same time and demanded to see Felicia. Helena was blind with a jealous fury to see them show up only for Felicia. Alex apologized for lying, claiming that he did not wish to worry them. He simply told them that Felicia was taking longer to recover because her body was delicate.

The men didn't buy it.

Given how Felicia had been badly injured after taking a tumble down the stairs not that long ago and now this, they were determined to see her condition firsthand. Alex conceded and they headed to her room.

The servants were surprised to see how much both the Crown Prince and Marquis Liam cared about the scorned first lady.

Things really are changing in this household.

Opening the door to the Emerald Room, Alex led his guests inside.

Felicia was sleeping peacefully with Hildegarde at her bedside. The latter promptly stood up and bowed.

"Greetings, your royal highness! Young Marquis. I am Hildegarde; Lady Felicia's longstanding nanny."

Prince Constantine lifted his hand in acknowledgement. Hildegarde sat back down.

Both men took in the delicate beauty lying on the bed with her flaming hair spread out. They glanced at each other, a knowing smile forming on their lips. Each was aware the other was smitten.

Liam turned his attention back on the older woman. "I was not aware Lady Felicia had a nanny. She told me a lot about herself in all the letters we exchanged, but she never mentioned you."

"If your name is Hildegarde that means the attack took place at your residence," he concluded.

Hildegarde nodded. "Thankfully, we all survived."

Alex pulled additional chairs to the bedside. "She was recently reinstated. She was Felicia's nanny five years ago. She'll be safer residing with us and I don't really trust Felicia with anybody else here."

Prince Constantine raised a brow. "What do you mean? This is your home. What trust---"

Suddenly, Felicia's body jerked up and the infinity symbol appeared above her head. It glowed briefly before disappearing. Liam and Constantine are taken aback. They look at each other and then at Alex.

"What was that!? That wasn't a trick of the light, was it?" Constantine asks.

"It wasn't! It had a shape and we both saw it." Liam answered.

Hildegarde isn't fazed as this has been happening at least 3 times per day.

"Alex you saw that too, right?" Liam inquires.

Taking in a deep breath, Alex decides it's time to confide in his two best friends.

Outside, Helena was leaning against door trying to hear the exchange. The guards had relented after she threatened them with her authority and reluctantly left their post for the allotted time she had ordered them to do so.

Helena was still angry over not being allowed in to see Felicia's state. This only confirmed her previous suspicion.

The bitch was faking it for attention!

She's pretending to be asleep whenever father visits her. Alex and Hildegarde are both lying about her still being sick! Even now, she's acting pitiful in front of the prince and marquis.

Helena moved her ear around and lowered herself on her knees until she was able to make out the voices more clearly.

Perfect!