Empire of Dreams

*30*

The world around me seemed to shatter. What did Sia mean- the Archduke was murdered?

I felt like dying then and there. I wanted to wail on the ground until my tears turned into a river of vengeance. I wanted to wield a sword and begin slashing throats one by one, but I did none of that. Instead, I quietly went inside, told Aunt Catherine that I had some urgent business so I'd go with Sia in the carriage she had brought and she could come in our carriage.

She knew something was wrong. She was also wise enough not to ask me what. She just hugged me tightly which almost brought my tears back up again, then nodded in understanding.

The smell of flowers now felt sickening and all the laughter inside the room made her want to jump from a cliff and die. Why was everyone so happy when someone was stripping away her happiness from her?

The servant's carriage was full of discomfort. Unlike the carriage they used, this carriage wasn't meant for princesses in ball gown so I had a lot of trouble simply fitting inside. Then began the painful journey. I wasn't going to burst into tears now, when I needed a cool head. I needed vengeance but a well planned one.

By the time we reached the Archduke's mansion, the sky was filled with grey clouds. It should've been a bright dawn but instead it was a grim grey sky. Good. Atleast the sky understood how it felt.

Liselle and Weston spotted me. The Lord and Lady shot me glares while Archduke Leonard stepped up to meet me.

"I know all this is not your fault, my lady, someone was plotting against both you and him but the Lord and Lady are extremely devastated. They think your association with the Archduke was the reason for this murder so it will be better if you steer clear of them"

I just nodded. Just what I needed right now in midst of so much grief was for the blame to be shoved on me.

I wondered who would do such a cold blooded thing? Who hated me so much?

Liselle walked up to me, her smooth round face stained with tears. She hugged me tight and began to sob on my shoulders. After sometime she controlled herself.

"I am sorry. We're all being ridiculous right now. Come inside with me. I'll tell you all about what is happening"

I followed Liselle silently, having no other real option. We sat in the room I had been given during my visit. Those days seemed so far away yet as if they had been happening the moment before. The rain, the regal balls, the library, everything....

"It was so terrible!" Liselle said shakily before bursting into silent sobs. I remembered what I had thought the first time I had seen her.

She seemed innocent, as if the world hadn't yet left its mark on her. That was because of Gerardo. Now she would face the world and learn its ways. She would have to live without her brother.

"We were all out in the grounds, playing and laughing and chatting until suddenly those murderers bursted in from nowhere! They just came with the swords and spears! There was- there- I mean..... There was so much blood! They completely gutted him out. They tied us all  and made us witness his death. As I said, it was terrible" Liselle sobbed. It seemed she was losing her ability to speak quite quickly.

I mentally scolded myself. She had just suffered such a huge loss. She was trying to cope, but here she was, complaining when Liselle's brother had just been murdered probably due to her.

I walked back slowly into the gardens. The dark green grass almost looked black because of the thunderclouds overhead. I had almost reached her carriage when something sharp slashed my feet. Blood began to ooze out of the wound, but my attention was stuck on the cause of my injury- a broken badge.

I picked the badge up to examine it. I hated what I saw. The badge was similar to the ones my father made his soldiers wear. My father was responsible for the Archduke's murder.

The storm finally began with a quick but heavy downpour. It made her sick. How could her life change so terribly between just two downpours?