The King's Curse

Responsibility

Lara

A lot.
Where should I start.

In the first week I was faced with my first encounter of rebellion. It came from my inner "circle".

An advisor of Lord Johnson had rallied up some council members with suspicion of my vampirism.

To put it bluntly, some members of a vampiric council of organization and Advisor Edmond were very suspicious of wether I was a vampire or a poser. I mean I think my heart beat would give me way but nope. Their suspension lied on the fact that I didn't drink blood. Perhaps keeping my identity as a reaper was a bad idea. It all came to an end when they cornered me in the kitchen leading me to feed on a few of them. I mean it's not everyday that food willing asks you to eat them. They backed off.

In the second week I was faced with a declaration of war from a neighbouring elf village. Which was surprising because one, I didn't know elves existed and two it was because one of the villagers name Asante, I believe, wanted to marry a young lady from our community I don't remember her name but she was extremely embarrassed to reveal that a miscommunication had occured leading to his family believing that she didn't want to marry him because he was ab elf. Talk about drama.

The third week was filled with a bunch of officials being arrested and executed for treason, corruption, murder and conspiracy. I kinda waited my turn but strangely nothing happened to me. I mean my inner circle was down to 2 advisors, not counting Athena who was a great help, from 6 and 4 council members form 15.

Luckily after that nothing much happened.

We received funding from the court. I got close to around me like Zodwa who was my mother's ladies maid. She told me a lot about her. Mr Crowley who was my father's head butler. He was more silent and reserved at first but like Athena he slowly warned up to me.

I was looking at the new light fixtures we had bought for the gate lights with Mr Crowley when Athena came downstairs with her suitcase in hand.

"All of a sudden." I commented.

"I have an emergency back home. I'm sorry for my abruptly leaving." She said apologetic.

"It's fine. Just promise to visit when you get the chance."I said as I took her bag from her hand and helped her carry it to a car that had mysteriously made an appearance on our driveway.

"Princess these are the new writing cards for our manor." Mr Crowley said as he handed her an intricately decorated tin box.

Athena and I exchange our final hugs and goodbyes before she entered into her vehicle and departed.

As we watched her car leave I turned to Mr Crowley.

"When will you tell me your name?" I asked.

"When you are 150 years old." He said.

"That's so far away." I whined.

" Then start waiting." He replied.

We giggled.

Suddenly a young man ran down the stairs towards us. It was Erin, Mr Crowley's understudy.

"There is strictly no running in this house." Mr Crowley said sternly.

"It's a message from His Majesty." Erin said quickly. He handed me a black card with gold writing.

The Duchess of Arlington
Is ordered to appear Infront of the court two moons from now.

Your's
~A~

"What does this mean?" I asked.

"The manner of the letter is quite cold." Mr Crowley said.

"What if I don't go~" I said in a single song manner.

"Then we will all be beheaded~" Erin replied in the same tone.

Well, that's frustrating.

"Mr Crowley please arrange a meeting with the council members and the advisors." I said.

"Yes I can. I'll pass on the message to Zodwa to prepare a luggage for you." He suggested.

"Yes, thank you. You should too." I said.

"I'm afraid I cannot. It take two teams to run the manner and Miss Jones will simply kill me if I up and left." He replied.

"I didn't think of that. It's fine." I said.

When I entered the library were we held our meetings everyone was present with anxious looks on their faces.

"Good evening everyone." I greeted.

"It's not a very good evening Lara." Asanda my cheif advisor snapped back. She was surprisingly anxious. Everyone was.

"Relax everyone. I have a plan okay."I said taking a seat next to Asanda.

"What is your plan?" She asked sighing.

"It's not stupid this time." I said. Everyone turned to look at me.

"I will marry the king." I said boldly.

Everyone sighed and smacked their lips.

"What?" I asked.

"What makes you think that will work?"  Katherine another advisor asked.

"Nothing but I am sure it will be shocking if I propose to him." I said smirking.

" Well lets go draft our last will and testaments." Alyssa a council member commented.

"Lara when you get there if they expose a wrong doing of yours humble yourself and apologize. In this case it's better to be a disgraced duchess than a proud corpse." Asanda said.

Then I realized it. Everyone in this manner is inflicted if I do something stupid. That's 35 people who's lives I would endanger if I were to act out.

Looking at the people in the room current I realized that this wasn't the time to gamble or play chance. I have already lost my family I will not lose the community my deceased parents left behind.

"I won't let anyone die. If push comes to shove I will die alone. Your loyalty may lie with my family but I will ensure that it will not be your undoing. Camila and Elizabeth live a kilometer away and I heard there's a coven 10 kilometers away. If something happens I expected you to discard your loyalty and run away." I said.

"We can not do that." Asanda said shocked.

"You can't but you must." I said.

"We would be cowards" Alyssa said standing up.

"Cowards live long." I said.

Before more arguments could be brought up I stood up and began to leave the room giving them a final glance of good bye.