******content advisory:Gore,self harm*******
I have been in this world for 10 years and this is the first time I'm feeling materials these soft and high quality.
As the daughter of the only duke in the empire i'm supposed to use only the most expensive things but my whole life i ate the rotten leftover of the maids, wore rags and was beaten up whenever they were in a bad mood.
"Come now head maid mother shouldn't be kept waiting for too long"
Walking out of the tower i have been trapped in for years. It was in a secluded part of the estate surrounded by nothing but trees.
Walking down the path leading to the main building. I thought I would see knights on patrol or even maids but it was desolate. The castle looked magnificent but it felt like a haunted house.
"Where are the other maids?"
"The duchess hated having too many people around so only I, stacy and lacy work as maids here." No wonder the whole place looked dirty, I know she hates living here, but neglecting the castle is vile.
Gisselle led me to a huge door.
The table had a whole spread of food as a lonely woman sat at the head. Her blond hair shone as she didnt bother looking in our direction
"Did you find those lazy girls? I really should fire them and get better employees." Her icy voice screeched
"Hello mother dearest" her head shot up as she glared daggers at me. She tried to stand up from her seat but I used magic to hold her down.
"You.... what....are you doing here? What..... did you do to me? Let me go this instant" she screamed trying to break free.
"Oh mother it's been 10 years and you aren't happy to see me. I'm a bit hurt" I pulled the seat opposite her as she continued to scream profanities and demanded i let her go.
"I'm starving so I decided to have breakfast with you. If I knew you would be so happy to see me, I would have come earlier."
"What do you want? How dare you show your face here? What will people think if you act like this? How dare you let your monster blood show you... disgusting thing"
" oh mother, do you remember our first meeting? I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was just a day old when you came barging into my room screaming I was a monster. Do you remember what you did next?" She glared at me biting down on her lips.
The meals here look extravagant but they taste terrible. I wonder if the chef makes it taste bad on purpose, if he does I would like to commend him for originality.
"You walked over to my crib, picked up the pillow underneath my head and whispered 'you monster you aren't my child' before placing the pillow over my face as you pushed down. I thought i would die that day, but I later realized you were just teaching me to hold my breathe for a long time."
"Stop calling me mother, you monster. I'm not your mother, I cannot give birth to a monster."
"My lady i did what you asked, please can I leave now." Mother glared at her screaming that she was a traitor and she wouldn't live in peace.
"Sure you are free to leave now, but wait I have one question. Last night, who gave the order to poison me?" She opened her mouth shut it, bit her lips
"It was the duchess"
"But you see even mother isn't stupid enough to use poison, because she knows I'm resistant."
"My lady you promised to set me free, you said you wouldn't kill me" she fell to the ground on her knees.
"Well..... I lied" i shrugged my shoulders and she began to scream as the magic circle on her neck turns red heating up and exploding her head from her body.
Mothers face turned pale at the explosion as she stared at the body flopping to the ground.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh" she screamed before fainting.
Oh mother how could you faint before the start of the show, so weak.
"Your grace is everything okay, I heard a loud scream... I'm coming in your grace" Stefan stopped immediately as he walked into the room.
"Do you remember me Stefan?"
"My lady what happened here?" Just as i thought he isn't normal either. 3 years ago when I was locked out of the tower in the freezing cold, that was the first time i met him. That day he knelt down and swore to be loyal to me, the only condition was that I had to stand up for myself. He promised he would wait for me no matter how long it takes.
"Stefan does your promise from 3 years ago still stand?" He took a good look at me before kneeling.
"I am but a dog lost without a master, if you will have me it would be my pleasure to stay by your side"
"Good, first don't ask me anything about today. Take care of the bodies. There are 2 more in the west tower." He didn't question any further. He walked out of the room and brought back 2 knights who i suppose are loyal to him. They cleaned up the body and the blood.
Now what do I do with you mother? I don't want you to die so easily. Your death must be painful and agonizing. You will feel the weight of 10years while you die slowly.
"My lady, is the duchess dead?"
"Not yet, Stefan send a letter to the vassals and prepare for a funeral for tonight."
"Yes my lady" he doesn't ask unnecessary questions and is very efficient. I think i just acquired an invaluable asset.
Ever since I walked into the main building, I have heard a voice calling out to me. It will have to wait a little longer, mother deserves the best farewell.
"Stefan where is the duke"
"He is in his office" from what I gathered from the previous head maid, the duke has been locked in his office since the day he took over 15 years ago. He only leaves to go subjugate the monsters outside the wall and the only person that has access to him was Stefan.
"Lets go say hello to father dear now"
"Your grace, its me Stefan. I'm coming in with lady robelia" the door creaked open to show a dark space. There were papers littered all over and hunched over at the far right corner was a person. He faced the wall hugging his knees as if trying to dissappear.
"Hello father, this should be our first meeting" he stayed silent still glued to the wall.
According to the novel he was also abused as a child and when he turned 15 he watched his mother commit suicide as she called him a monster. His father followed shortly leaving a traumatized 15 year old child to take over the duchy. He got married 4 years later and spent just one night with her and she got pregnant. After that night he locked himself in his office only leaving to go on monster subjugation.
"Father, i'll give you one week hand over your title to me then kill yourself"
"My lady" Stefan's shocked voice rocked the silence. He must be shocked that I'm asking his previous master to kill himself but I know from the novel, he has always been waiting for the day he could die.
"Can I really? I never wanted the position, I'm a monster. People will stare and point their fingers. So can I really die now? Will you take over? Can I really end it all?" His deep voice rang out in hushed whispers as if he was scared that someone would get mad if he spoke louder.
Maybe it's because I didn't have a good father even in my first life but I feel nothing for him, not even pity.
"You have 1 week, the vassals will be here tonight give the succession announcement then" I turned around walking out as he whispered 'thank you.'
"My lady are you really going to take over from the duke? But you are only 10 years old the vassals would never agree to that"
I understand stefan's concern but I don't care.
"Well I'm the heir of the dukedom, their opinion doesnt matter. If they dont like it they should move to another territory."
The voice it's louder, I turned around to see a black door at the end of a long hallway.
"That room is a forbidden library my lady. Only the head of the house and his successor have access to it" thats where the voice is coming from. It keeps calling for me.
"Stefan make sure the preparations for the funeral proceed without any problems and make sure no one approaches me during the funeral."
"Yes your grace"
The funeral was grander than I expected. I thought since it was on such short notice not allot ot people would come but the place is packed. They all kept talking about how the duchess was so young, how the monster's blood probably killed her. Some called me pitiful, others speculated that I may have been the one who killed her.
I walked over to her open coffin looking down at her. She looked like she would wake up at any minute but I know better.
"Oh mother, how i wish you would just stand up and hold me like you used to" people whispered among themselves, as the coffin was lowered into the grave. Good bye mother, I hope you succeed this time.
Stirring awake her eyes open slowly to the darkness.
"Whats going on?.... that monster.... she came to the main building... the damn gisselle betrayed me.... who turned off the lights?" She tried to stand but there was no room to move. It was like she was in a small box.
"Where am I? Help.... Stacy.....lacy.... Stefan...." she clenched her hands and a fainting glow illuminated the box.
"What..... what is this? Helppp...." she turned her head around in the limited space and a note was tapped to the side.
'Dear mother, I made sure your final moments were filled with love. Allot of people took the time to mourn your loss. I'm glad you grew up loved....' that crazy girl no.... noo....
"Helppppp....helppppppp.... did they bury me alive... nooooooo..... help" turning to the other side there was another note
' p.s I placed a pillow under your head, you should know what to do with it. You failed once but I'm sure you will succeed this time. Love, your little monster'
No...no..... get me out of here .....get me out of here.....