Lilith looked at Nymia deeply. She knew Nymia had been obsessed with the seventh prince from a long time ago. As both of them practically grew up together, Nymia had known Raphael all her life.

She was one of the most beautiful women in Cretea and countless men wanted to take her hand in marriage.  However, Nymia always made an excuse that she was not that interested in a relationship.

She was too young, or she was not ready. The truth was, she was waiting for the moment when Raphael had enough of adventures and settled down to raise a family.

They were both quite young for immortals standard and it was understandable if they didn't want to immediately bind themselves to another individual for the rest of eternity. Not when they could have so much from life.

So, seeing Raphael suddenly come back with a wife, a mortal one at that, must have been a devastating blow to Nymia who had been hoping to someday settle down with Raphael and spend the rest of their lives together.

Her hatred and disappointment were understandable. If Lilith was in her shoes, she would feel the same way.

However, could she really help Nymia with a potion to hurt Rowena? Lilith was not sure. She felt sympathy for Nymia, but she also didn't want to face Raphael's wrath if he found out Lilith had anything to do with what happened to Rowena.

Lilith was conflicting.

"Please... I know you are the best at these things." Nymia waved her hand and the wooden table was fixed. "Sorry for the table. I didn't know the liquid is very corrosive."

"I already told you it's dangerous," Lilith pursed her lips. "You just have to try it."

"Look... tell me you have something," Nymia looked at Lilith pleadingly. "I will be indebted to you forever if you help me this one time. I care a lot about Raphael and I can't stand seeing him being  dragged down to the mud by this temptress."

"..."

"She could get away this time with a relatively easy punishment. I'd say it's only a slap on the wrist," Nymia continued with displeasure evident in her face. "I think it will make her feel more arrogant and continue to influence Raphael to do whatever she wants."

"Oh, so you already know what punishment she got?" Lilith asked curiously. "Tell me."

Begrudgingly, Nymia explained to Lilith what she had heard. Lilith sighed when she heard it. She, too, disagreed with the king's decision. 

"Ahh.. you are right, Nymia," she said. "The king is being unfair to us by giving the woman a light punishment for the sake of his own son."

"That's why I want to do something and just add a bit more punishment to teach the wicked temptress a lesson," Nymia replied. She looked at Lilith seriously. "Can you help me?"

Lilith was silent for a moment. She would not be called an expert in apothecary if she didn't know how to make the potion that Nymia requested earlier.

"So...?" Nymia asked again, in an urgent tone. "We don't have much time. They can break the spell anytime."

"Ugh...  fine. I can make something." Finally, Lilith nodded reluctantly. "This only to make the test a tad bit harder. They shouldn't have got it too easy."

"I know I can rely on you," Nymia gushed. Lilith took a deep breath and went to her shelves to take out some bottles of ingredients.

***

The potion was tasteless and odorless. Easy to put in any food or drinks and that's what Nymia did. She asked Raphael's loyal servant, who was close to her, to put the potion from Lilith in the wine cup served to Rowena during dinner.

To avoid confusion and prevent Raphael from taking the potion, the servant rubbed the potion on the bottom of the cup, and the plate, not on the wine or the food.

When she prepared the table for dinner, she craftily organized the cups, dishes, and cutleries for the master and his wife and carefully put the tampered plate and cup on Rowena's side.

Nobody suspected anything. Dinner went well. Despite the initially tense atmosphere between the two, Raphael and Rowena seemed to have a good time. 

"You must eat more," Raphael commented when he saw Rowena push her plate forward and stopped eating. "You look famished."

"I... I don't feel well," Rowena admitted. 

"Oh.. is it the food?" Raphael asked.

He touched Rowena's hand gently, but the woman instantly yanked her hand in surprise. At that moment, she thought she saw the servant's skin looked like it was melting. When she cast her glance to the other side, the other servants also looked so horrifying.

"Don' touch me," she muttered.

"Hey.. hey... This is me," her husband got up and walked toward her to calm her down. "This is Raphael. Don't be scared."

Rowena looked at him reluctantly and bit her lip. She knew it was him. She still recognized his voice. He was hideous like before. However, now, not only Raphael, but she also saw the servants change and looked like monsters.

She was wondering if it was just her imagination or they, too, were punished because of her.

Didn't they realize how they look now? Why nobody batted an eye? She was wondering.

Or... maybe they knew that they were punished because of her but they didn't dare to complain or say anything for fear that Raphael would punish them.

Ahh... no wonder their gazes earlier had not been friendly.

Rowena felt really awful.

"I am sorry..." she said weakly. "Everyone in this home is cursed because of me."

"What do you mean...  cursed?" Raphael asked. He wanted to touch her arm to calm her down, but he was worried she would push him away again. "What curse?"

Rowena lowered her head. "You are all changed into monsters because of me."

"Monsters?" Raphael didn't understand. 

Rowena looked up and see Raphael. He was still hideous. However, the servants were now back to normal. None of them looked like the monsters she saw before.

Wh-what the hell was going on? She was so confused. Was this just her mind playing tricks on her?

"Rowena... tell me what happened?" Raphael asked again.

The beautiful woman quickly shook her head. "Nothing. I guess... I was just too tired and my mind make up things."

She took her cup of wine and downed it.

.

.

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From Missrealitybites:

I was doing interpreting work all day and I'm exhausted. I cannot write for today. So, this is the only chapter today.. I'll write more tomorrow. xx

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