Temporary Crown

22 | The moment of dread

In that very same moment Nesta heard the words of the butler, everything went blank as though her eyes and ears were shut of everything. Her feet wobbled as she tried to maintain her balance. It was a good thing that she was able to hold on to the railings of the bed.

Nesta’s eyes wavered and blurred vision appeared on her. She started hearing voices and sounds but all felt like it doesn’t make any sense.

“My lady!” the butler walked his way to Nesta but she remained paralyzed and frozen holding her bed not moving at all. She looked like she was trying to absorbed the given news but her own body and consciousness was rejecting it. She can’t accept it. She doesn’t want to accept it.

Nesta only had one reason after coming back. She was meant to help this family but now, all she could think in the back of her mind was the collapse she experience in her first life. The cold lifeless corridors and lonely moments she tried to endure almost making her insane.

Frustrated as he seemed the butler moved hands placing on Nesta’s shoulder trying to move her. He was aggressively shaking her but the lady was still in trance. The butler started t beg. He was also feeling the helplessness the lady was feeling but he knew in his heart that he had to be strong. The only one who can help the duke was the lady herself.

“My lady! Please!”

“My lady!”

“Lady Nesta, please!” a desperate voice resounded in Nesta’s ears making her flinched. She looked at the butler shaking her up. He pleaded, “The duke needs you my lady!”

As though a cold water was splashed through her, Nesta shuddered. As if someone had dragged her out of the deep dark ocean and prevented her from drowning. Her breaths became uneven and her body was shaking. However, she knew to herself that this was not the time to act weak.

Her purpose! Her choice of actions. The future she wanted depended on her actions and her decisions! She can’t just be scared like this!

She overcame death!

She can overcome this!

It’s not too late.

Nesta deeply hope and prayed in her heart that it was not too late.

She immediately gathered her wits and stormed outside her room following the butler. She doesn’t care if her clothes do not look presentable, or if the servants might question her. What she needed to do right now was to ensure that the duke was safe.

That there was still time.

That he can still wake up and see the sun rising again.

Both of her and the butler ran towards the duke’s room and without any warning the butler opened the door. In that very instant, Nesta’s eyes moved frantically as she was searching something. Right on the bed, the duke was laying there however, dark green veins like plants started to crawl on his skin as though it was eating his life. The green patterns then changed color blending in the skin turning dark. It looked like the shade of ink being splattered on the skin and was just let out to dry there and then.

Immediately flashed backs from her previous life appeared like a broken recorded replaying the same dread scene over and over again instilling fear inside her heart.

This scene was so familiar to her.

“No! No!” Nesta hurried to the duke’s side. She tried to shake him up but it was no avail. She turned towards the butler. Eyes burning and turning red. She looked too desperate at the same time anxious.

“Call the doctor now!” she demanded.

The butler did not need to be told twice as he stormed out with the servants not even caring if they wake all of the people in the mansion.

Nesta was left alone not knowing what to do. She was panicking however, she knew to herself that she cannot do anything if she panic and lost her rationality. Furthermore, if Lucien heard this, she might need to calm him down.

Right on the heels of that, Nesta’s eyes observed the duke as her heart begun to pray. The duke who always looked high and might now looked like he had aged twice his age. His wrinkles formed and he became pale. At the same time, dark green vines turned black and formed onto his skin as though they were snake that can’t be killed by ordinary people.

She tried holding his hands but it was too cold. “Lit the fireplace now!” she asked the remaining servants present. Affected by their mistress behavior, the servants moved without any question and lit up the fireplace. Nesta’s eyes was just fixed to the duke afraid that if she turned around, he might die.

Seeing this, Nesta plead again. She saw this before. In her previous life. However, the difference was now, the duke was still breathing. Nesta can feel it. She can see it!

She doesn’t want to sound naïve but she knew, she hoped and prayed that it won’t be too late for him. That they still have time. That they will all have their own happy endings.

As Nesta heaved her breath her nails were digging on the skin of her palms forming a red lines almost cutting into her skin. She tried her best to act like she had everything in control but she was breaking.

Duke Charles was someone whom she always admired and someone who saved her from that damned s**t whole. He was the one who gave her hope in both of her two lives. She won’t let him die in vain like this.

She still have many plans for this family. Her purpose was to save him! To save this family and all be damned She won’t just watch idly. If she needed to fight fate and time herself, she’ll do it!