The Beta’s Regret

(Eden's Pov)

The moment Alice stepped out of the room, I let my guard down and relaxed.

I took a deep breath, and allowed the fury I felt to evaporate. I never intended to get so worked up, but Alice had a way of bringing out the worst in me, and I wasn't about to back down.

If my plan was to go accordingly, I couldn't allow anyone else to stand in my way. This wasn't only about what I wanted or about saving myself. This was about saving the people that trusted me to protect them, saving the people I failed.

I felt uneasy as my heart hung heavy in my chest. I had a fight ahead of me, one I wasn't sure I would come out of unscathed but one thing I was sure of, was that I wouldn't fail my people, not again.

A knock on the door caught my attention, and I turned to look at it in curiosity.

Was Alice back again?

I went to the door and pulled it open. My brows raised when I saw two maids one taller than the other stood behind it with fresh bath towels in their hands.

"My lady." They chorused.

"What do you want?" I asked.

One of the ladies, the taller one replied. "His highness asked us to get you ready for the night."

I looked back at the towels in their hands and I sighed. What I needed was time alone to myself, not to have people running around trying to please me.

However, I couldn't turn them away. I needed to act as if I wanted this much more than anything else. Pison has to think that I was just as vain as the other women trying to get the crown. If I turned them away, Pison might suspect I hadn't really changed. I pulled the door open wider.

"Come on in." I said softly.

The maids entered, heads bowed. They hurried towards the bathroom, and spent a few minutes adding various oils before they coming back to my side.

"The bath is ready." The tall one spoke again.

I shook my head in answer.

the maids got closer to me

them. "I will do it

look and nodded before stepping

discomfort. This was all a part of what I had to do. When I was done, I allowed the maids to lead me to the bath they had drawn, and slowly, I soaked myself

second, I allowed it to work its magic on

was what I needed, but I would have preferred

suddenly yanked out of my comfort when I felt the maids hands on me, touching my skin as they washed my

stepped out of the bath and the water dried off my skin with the towels they brought along, after which they helped me into an expensive

done, they bowed and scurried out of

noticed it was a thing in the palace, maids running around in fear. Was it all because they were scared of

fixed on the ceiling. I was

sat up with

That voice. Zion?

parents come along with my son? Or

she took over. I dashed for the opened room window and jumped out, shifting midair as I

the side as she listened for the sound trying to detect where it

Thankfully, there was no one else in sight. It was past midnight and the maids had

probably about to

shifts. It would be over if Pison caught me, but I needed to know why

side of the palace to

saw a small girl in white picking flowers. The girl turned, the light of the moon casting a glow on her face as she shone.

assumed she was killed in the war

kill her in an instant if he knew she

a frown, I looked around. There was no sign of

began to get suspicious when Lamia smiled and

had to make you come, and I knew you would if you heard the voice of your son" she

is Zion?" I narrowed my gaze at her.

"No. I used

strange girl. Till now, I had no idea she was aware

widened. "You