~Heir~

Chapter 1

I made my way through the ever lasting corridor. Rolls of scarlet carpet were laid out beneath me, as soft as a cloud, stitched with golden thread, embroidered like a flowing river. Wide open, the scarlet curtains let in the golden rays of the bright sun, while the crystal chandeliers hung dimly lit. Tranquility, aura and elegance. Along the cream walls, which seemed to tower into heaven, hung portraits outlined with golden frames, of all my ancestors, the past grand dukes and duchesses of Ramla. A hall of fame.

Each duchess pictured was a descendant of the goddess of life and carried her power in order to protect and serve her people, I was supposed to be the next heir, I was supposed to carry her power and help the people. It was my responsibility.

Finally, I stopped at a familiar portrait, the portrait of my father, Grand Duke Alfred Vernillet. The man had raven hair, paper white skin and his most prominent feature, his crimson red eyes. Father was a serious man and rarely smiled. In his youth, he led the Royal army during the civil war of Ramla, he led the royals into victory. On the other hand, I was the complete opposite of him, a copy and paste of my mother, I had golden yellow locks while my eyes were an ocean blue. The only thing we shared was our stubbornness. His eyes stayed fixed on me and I glared back refusing to break the eye contact.

"Young miss, your father requests your audience immediately." A voice from behind me said. It was Mr Elliot, he was my father's personal assistant. He was an elder man, yet extremely loving and sincere. It was his duty to stay loyal and serve the Vernillet family. Reluctantly, I broke the eye contact with the picture, "Lead the way." I responded with a smile.

The corridor to my father's office stretched out in front of me. Glancing up, I scanned the ceiling decorated with detailed mouldings and crystal chandeliers, emitting warm golden hues. Adorned with paintings from famous artists the eggshell walls stretched meters high. Running down the middle of the pale marble floor was a thick scarlet carpet, which softened my footsteps.

As I walked, I saw the maids busy at work. One was on her hands and knees carefully polishing the marble floor until it shone, while another stood on a small stool, gently dusting the tapestries.

Finally we had reached the two large, oak doors at the end of the hall. Mr Elliot knocked three times before the doors opened at the sound of a "enter", revealing a large room. With walls covered by bookshelves and a singular large window spanning across the very back wall. My father looked up from the stack of documents on his desk. He stared me up and down before he began, "The royal family is coming to visit. I had a gown made for you, wear it." He commanded in a stern manner.
"Yes father." I replied.
"I suppose it's nearly time for our monthly outing." My father murmured while looking back at the documents he was handling. "We'll go to one of the top class restaurants in the city and then I guess I can buy you a new dress or two." He continued while scribbling something in the pages, clearly under the impression material goods would satisfy me.
"Thank you father."
"Dismissed." He ushered me out and continued working with his stack of documents.

My room was placed on the east side of the mansion. Before my mother passed we all stayed there because she loved watching the sunrise ever morning, she loved it because it symbolised a new day, a better one. However since she passed my father moved to the wing opposite the one my mother favoured.

More maids cleaned the corridors making sure even a speck of dust wasn't visible. All the portraits were being wiped, the white tulips in the vases changed to wine red roses and the red carpet on the floor scrubbed clean. I made my way into my room where two guards opened the heavy doors for me. I was greeted by my own maid, Lucy. A redhead, around my age, with lime green eyes. Unfortunately she wasn't as lucky as me, she came from a poor household where her parents were farmers in the countryside making them the lowest paid. She traveled to the city, at a young age of twelve, in order to support her family and was hired to work at the mansion as my personal maid. She had always dreamed of my life, a life of a high noble where she could ride in carriages and wear new luxurious dresses. This was the closest she had to that type of life.