Engaged to The Duke of Death

Unwelcomed Visitors Part 2

I've had newfound solace from my...'brother' Demetri for the following days since he had his rather unexpected tumble – I had become more familiar with the estate, now. I was glad that I've had some time to fully take in my situation if only to realize how completely boned I was.

I didn't know this country, apparently didn't know the written language, or even how the world seemed to work here. I still hadn't the faintest idea about how these 'aura's work or why Annette couldn't seem to use one. Since inhabiting her body I didn't see any difference other than it wasn't as lean as my own and it didn't have nearly enough muscle. Besides those two observations, it didn't seem weak and frail to me.

Upon another intensive search of her room, I found that Annette had an empty notebook located in one of the drawers of her vanity. I had been using it to catalog and document everything that had happened so far. My own writing came out in English, and I still didn't understand the discrepancy behind the languages of this world.

We were getting ready for bed and I sat at said vanity. I was perched on the chair – the one that Demetri thankfully hadn't destroyed with his aura when I had that altercation with him a few days ago.

I casually looked down at one of my hands that had been situated in my lap as Mary began to brush the long brown locks from behind me – I started to flex it out to test the barely existent muscles that Annette seemed to have. Aside from that very first day when I woke up in this body...nothing was signifying that Annette was incapable of physical activity – it was yet another thing that I couldn't explain.

The more questions than answers that formed caused my scientific brain to short circuit.

"My lady, have you heard??" Mary asked excitedly, drawing my attention over to her lightly. I nodded my head in her direction, silently telling her to continue. Her grin felt contagious, and despite myself, I even felt a small smile beginning to tug at the corner of my lips. "Duke Elis has finally returned from war!"

"And who the hell is he?" I asked, not really interested in this topic as my smile dropped.

Mary gasped in surprise.

I had thought that she would have answered, but she continued to be in shock. She stopped brushing my hair and I looked at her through the mirror that I was sitting in front of. I shook my head and raised my eyebrows, trying to trigger a response from her, who seemed to be perpetually frozen in time.

"Hello?" I asked for good measure, my patience waning thin.

Mary cleared her throat and almost seemed hesitant in answering me – "He is..." she spoke as she looked away for a small fraction of a second. She tightened the hold on the hairbrush that was in her right hand. "Well, he is the Duke, my lady."

I nodded my head -- obviously.

"Surely, you must remember Duke Elis at least-?" Mary asked, hopeful.

I was quick to shatter any lingering hope she had.

Nothing gave me greater pleasure.

I wasn't a people pleaser when I didn't have to be.

"Not at all," I responded without any emotion, and she slumped her shoulders immediately while shaking her head. "I didn't even remember my own name, who my parents were, or even my alleged brother," I explained. I raised my right hand up in the air, palm up. "Why would I remember some...?" My brain scrambled for a few seconds to come up with a noun that was inoffensive – "Dude?"

Mary clicked her tongue in disappointment – "He is not some...dude..." She spoke, and it seemed as though she didn't know what the word 'dude' had meant. Mary probably only repeated it to try and connect with me as well as refute my point...she was definitely sassy. "He is the duke!" She exclaimed placing down the brush on the vanity in front of me. "He is deeply connected to the King of Alaris!"