CHAPTER EIGHT;Tames by love

Davina traversed the chilly forest, the rustling leaves and snapping twigs beneath her feet serving as a reminder of her determination. She had been told that a poor old witch with a crooked heart resided in these woods, a witch rumored to possess magical powers.

As she walked, an old house came into view in the distance. Davina's heart skipped a beat; this must be the witch's residence. With renewed purpose, she quickened her pace.

Upon reaching the old house, Davina was greeted warmly by the old witch. The witch's eyes sparkled with an otherworldly intensity as she welcomed Davina into her home.

"Please, child, come in," the old witch said, beckoning Davina to enter. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

Davina took a deep breath before explaining her situation. "I've come seeking your help, old witch," she said, her voice laced with desperation. "I want to be loved by Lord Nigel, but I fear he doesn't return my affections. I want to make him fall for me. Can you help me?"

The old witch's eyes seemed to bore into Davina's soul, as if seeing beyond the surface of her words. A knowing glint danced in her eyes.

The old witch creaked her way to a dusty shelf, retrieving a worn pot. She began to add various ingredients, her hands moving with a deliberate slowness. The air was thick with anticipation as Davina waited for the witch's verdict.

Finally, the old witch turned to Davina, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "You cannot be loved by Lord Nigel," she declared, her voice firm but gentle.

Davina's face fell, her eyes widening in dismay. "Why?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

The old witch's expression turned solemn. "The heavens have destined someone else for Lord Nigel. His heart is not yours to claim."

Davina's face darkened, her eyes flashing with anger. "Who could that be?" she spat, her voice venomous. "How dare they?"

The old witch's eyes seemed to cloud, as if veiled by a mysterious mist. "I cannot tell you," she whispered. "You would see it yourself, in time. But I sense that person is already close to Lord Nigel, perhaps even within his inner circle."

Davina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. Who could this mysterious person be? And why did the old witch seem so certain that she was not meant to be with Lord Nigel?

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Lord Miguel sat in his chamber, cradling his tea cup as he savored the warmth and flavor. The serenity was broken by a cautious knock on the door.

"Enter," Lord Miguel called out, his voice firm but measured.

Little Charlotte stepped inside, her eyes cast downward. Lord Miguel nodded for her to proceed.

"Speak, Charlotte," he said.

Charlotte's voice trembled as she spoke. "Please, my lord, have mercy on aria. She's been standing in the sun for over an hour now. Please, my lord, have mercy."

Lord Miguel's gaze settled on Charlotte, his expression unreadable. A moment passed, then he shouted:

"Guards!"

The door burst open, and two guards rushed in. Lord nigel's voice was crisp and authoritative.

"Release that maid from the sun."

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Davina's face twisted in desperation as she pleaded with the witch. "Isn't there anything that can be done? Can't you make Lord Nigel love me instead? Can't you... eliminate the girl who's meant for him?"

The witch's expression remained serene, but her eyes held a deep sadness. "I'm sorry, child. There's nothing I can do. The threads of fate are already woven. Lord Nigel's heart belongs to another, and no power on earth can change that."

Davina's face contorted in rage. She slammed her fist on the table, making the candles tremble. "You're useless!" she spat, her voice venomous. "You're just a fake, a charlatan! If you were truly powerful, you'd be able to help me!"

With a final glare, Davina stormed out of the witch's hut, leaving the old woman to shake her head in pity.

"How childish," the witch murmured, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow.

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Aria rudged wearily to the maid chamber, her body aching from her prolonged exposure to the scorching sun. As she entered, she caught a whiff of her own scent, like iron and sweat. She silently cursed Lord Nigel, her heart seething with resentment.

After having a bath and eating a simple meal, Lady Charlotte approached her with a gentle smile. "Here, Aria, take this," she said, offering a small, steaming bowl. "It's a special broth to help you recover from your ordeal."

Aria accepted the offering gratefully, feeling a small sense of comfort in the kindness of Lady Charlotte.

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The guards knocked on Lord Nigel's chamber door, and as it swung open, he asked, "What is it?"

The guards bowed. "My lord, the advisers and counselors are causing a disturbance. They're shouting and making a great deal of noise."

Lord Nigel's expression turned cold. "Take care of it," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Throw some sleeping draught into the cell. I'll deal with them tomorrow morning."

The guards nodded and hastened to obey.

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Nightfall brought an heavy downpour, casting a bright gloom over the castle. Lord nigel felt the weight of his loneliness, his mind consumed by thoughts of his lost family. He wondered what his life would be like if they were still alive.

Lost in his reverie, Lord Miguel was startled by a knock on the door. "Who is it?" he called out, his voice a little gruff.

"It's Lady Charlotte, my lord," a soft voice replied from outside the door. "I've come to ask if you'd like to have your night snacks."

Lord nigel took a deep breath, composing himself. "Bring it in," he said finally.

But then he added, "Have that maid bring it to me."

Lady Charlotte's eyes widened in surprise, a fleeting thought crossing her mind: Could it be that Lord Miguel has taken a liking to aria?.because she knew he was definitely talking about aria.She quickly shook off the thought, scolding herself for such fanciful thinking. Hurrying away, Lady Charlotte went to arrange aria to deliver Lord Miguel's snacks.

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Aria settled into the maid's chamber, ready to retire for the night. The heavy rain outside created a soothing melody, she was disrupted by the chatter of the other maids. They giggled and whispered about Lord Nigel, their voices filled with excitement and longing.

Aria's frustration grew as she listened to their conversation. How did they manage to get so infatuated with him? She couldn't sleep with all the noise, and just as she was about to tell them to quiet down, Lady Charlotte burst in.

"Sorry to disturb you, Aria," Lady Charlotte said, her voice gentle. "Thank goodness you're not asleep. I need you to run an errand for me. Come with me, please."

Aria felt a surge of irritation. What now? Was she the only maid available? But she had no choice, so she followed Lady Charlotte out of the chamber.

As soon as they left, the other maids shifted their conversation to Aria. "I already hate her," one of them said. "Why does she get to see Lord Nigel all the time? It's just not fair." The others nodded in agreement, their voices filled with envy and resentment.

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Lady Charlotte's expression turned serious as she handed Aria a tray laden with an assortment of snacks and a red liquid that resembled wine. "Please, Aria, be careful," she pleaded. "This is no trivial task."

Aria felt a pang of envy as she gazed at the luxurious snacks. Lord Nigel was indeed living his best life, and she couldn't help but dream of experiencing such life herself.

Lady Charlotte's urgent tone snapped Aria back to reality. "Please, don't be careless or clumsy," she begged.

Aria nodded, taking a deep breath as she lifted the tray and made her way to Lord Nigel's chambers. The guard rushed in to announce her arrival, and Lord Nigel invited her in.

As Aria entered, she placed the tray on a table beside Lord Nigel and turned to leave. But just as she did, she heard the most unexpected, the most unbelievable thing ever:

"Stay."