The neglected lady raised a wolf

Prologue

"My lady" a maid bellowed, "the young lady is still unable to speak or walk: she can barely crawl!" The Duke and Duchess stoic faces turned pale, their averted their eyes at each other, but neither could formate a response. The Duchess had tried yet she began to stumble over her words, as singular tear formulated in her eye.

The Duke broke the uncomfortable silence as he composed himself and assertively said "call for the doctor", His voice: rouge and cold. Then both directed themselves to young Astrid Harper's room: the newest addition to the family, a girl born after three healthy boys, no one would dare have any doubt about the young child's health.

Entering the room, the young Astrid asserted her arms out, laying on the floor she pulled herself slowly over to her parents: waiting for a warm embrace. However neither parent out-stretched their arms to the princess, instead they stood tall, towering over the young lady. Astrid giggled and shot a huge smile, bouncing on her bottom she again waited for an embrace. The Duke and Duchess returned her warm welcoming with a scornful but pitiful expression.

The Duchess whispered "God please, no. Spare my young child..." she turned her head away from the still joyful princess. "My Lord, you called?" A sudden voice appeared from behind the room, waiting for the permission to enter.

"Come in"

"Yes my Lord" a skinny aged man appeared from the door: bald spots and wrinkles permeated the entirety of his head.

"You wish for me to examine the Princess on which grounds? What concerns do you have of the Princesse's health? I hadn't the time to ask the maid".

The Duke let out a long sign, " I have reason to suspect that my dear daughter may have been born with 'defects'... , only a month ago was her fourth birthday passed yet she still remains unable to speak or walk".

The doctor had froze as he feared the results of the examination and the explanation of the reason to the Duke and Duchess. "Ah... well, you see their had been a recent study that concluded that the relation of the parents... impacts the chances of a child born disabled"

"...My lord, you and your wife had a arranged marriage due to your similar standings in society, both your households held great wealth due to your relation to each other..."

"Are you trying to suggest it is my fault or the Duchess than our daughter could be born with 'defects'...?" The Duke shot his eyes at the doctor, akin to a dagger.

"Ah... no, my Lord. I'm sorry please forgot my previous remarks: you wish for me to check for such 'defects'?"

"Yes..."

The doctor than picked up the young Princess, placing her in the soft embrace of her bed as he began to examine her body. Applying pressure, he navigated his fingers up and down her legs, searching for signs of weakness. One leg was drastically to the other: her left leg was limp and weak, seeming brittle to the touch. Then the aged doctor took a deep breath, turning his attention back towards the Duke and Duchess.

"Whilst I am unsure of the specific condition, your daughter clearly suffers from some sort of muscle control, currently it only seems to be affected her left leg but it may affect other parts of her body as well, also it may be the cause of why the Princess has yet to speech"

The Duchess broke down onto the floor: her face flooded with tears "what do we do? what do we do..." she seemed hysterical. The duke had attempted to keep a calm demeanor but fear clearly seeped in. Not for his poor daughter but his reputation amongst other noble families.

If they find out my daughter was born deformed, the duchy will fall to ruin and ridicule. That can't happen... can't.

I have to get rid of the chances even if it means getting rid of her...

The Duchess bolted up and grabbed her husband "I know what you're thinking, you can't... I won't let you..." The Duke dug his nails deep into her skin "think reasonably, our reputation is at stake. We can have another child"

The Duchess screamed "are you crazy!!!, you think replacing my daughter with a new one will solve this?!" The Duke signed and turned his head from the Duchess

"Then we compromise? We'll fake her death and lock her away in the tower north of our castle"

"The tower next to the monster invested forest?!!! You might as well kill her" the Duchess screamed again

The Duke rolled his eyes and we'll build a walk separating them, are you happy with that" the Duke said sarcastically.

"Is this the only way...?"

"Yes"

"Okay..."

***
The morning sun shone brightly on my face. I pulled back the blanket and lifted my body: grabbing the cane that laid beside my bed. I hobbled over to the open window and stared endlessly at the green fields: the dancing flowers in the song of the wind, and the green grass that had been warmly embraced by the sun.

I imagined: dashing across the fields with a wield smile plastered across my face, watching as my white silk dress changed color in the cling of the mud. Dancing and singing with brothers, I had never meet... how I wished for such a life.

* the daughter of a duke can be referred to as a princess