Ursula’s Nightmare

Chapter 9: Ursula's Nightmare

"He who not trust enough, will not be trusted"

— Lao Tzu

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Year 1212, 21st day of the 7th month – Hayton Castle, Hayton~

[General]

.

In the dining room of the Hayton Castle, The Lord and The Lady of Hayton were entertaining their guests.

Lady Oriana was extremely happy.

She was pleased by the presence of the guests, as they were the ones, who were most loyal to Lucian, and helped him all this time, even though they knew the risks.

She faced the eldest of the group and courtesied, "Sir Battlemoar, you have my utmost gratitude. It was a pleasant surprise when I heard that you threw away your position, just to help Lucian.

I promise you this, your Battlemoar family will always have a friend in the Alvarez House."

Sir Julian replied while smiling lightly, "My dear lady Oriana, I have been in the service of the Franzer Dynasty since I was a boy.

You and I, have been acquainted since you started sneaking into the barracks. To watch the knights train.

Since you were seven years old, I have known you.

And yet you call me so formally.

Hahahaha, and Lucian is one of my students, someone I find worthy and someone I would protect no matter what. So you do not need to thank me for that."

Lady Oriana smiled and everyone could hear Lord Alvarez's loud laughter.

This conversation brought a smile to everyone's faces.

Lucian felt warm inside.

He already knew his uncle and aunt loved him dearly. But it still felt good to witness such a scene.

He stood up from his seat and said, "Now, that everyone is present, I will take on the task to introduce you all to each other."

He then proceeded to call out the names of his party members, and said a few things about them. Trying to get them all acquainted.

Everyone showed proper courtesy. Well, almost everyone.

"AHHHH! YOU ARE LUCIAN'S FAMILY!! HIIII! I AM CELINE!" Celine shouted in her excitement. Which certainly surprised the couple and made Lily glare at her.

But then the surprise turned into laughter as Lady Oriana said, "My, my, aren't you an energetic young lady! It is delightful to meet you too."

Everyone chuckled a bit at this interaction. And Axel was hiding his face, not knowing what to do. But the person who should be embarrassed was even more excited.

And after Casper introduced himself, Lady Oriana made him sit near her, as she started smothering his puffed cheeks.

Casper looked at Lucian desperately as a cry for help, but was ignored with a smile.

'My lord… How could you..' Casper cried in his thoughts, at this betrayal. While Lucian was thinking, 'Sorry Casper, but I will make it up to you in the future.'

And finally the last person to be introduced was Mirabelle. Which made the room turn silent.

Lord Alvarez had a serious look on his face. As did Lady Oriana.

Lily was staring at the girl too, but it was for a different reason. She seemed to notice something.

Lucian perceived the peculiarity of the situation and defused it by saying, "Don't worry. She helped me take revenge for my mother. And I also have absolute faith in her."

The couple didn't let their guard down yet, but they knew their nephew wouldn't talk without basis. So they let it slide, and decided to ask about it later.

Food was then brought to the table, by the kitchen staff. As Lord Alvarez lightened the mood with some of his stories. As he shared his heroic past to the now worshiping Gikko and Spike.

Even Casper seemed interested but was too busy resisting Oriana's babying attempts.

He was starting to think that love was cruel…

And with hearty laughter and light-hearted chatting the feast finally began.

.

.

After the feast was over, and everyone was taking their leave.

Lily stopped Mirabelle and asked her to follow.

Mira was a bit surprised, but she didn't deny the request. But it wasn't a request it seemed.

When they reached an opening. Lily looked her in the eye and asked directly,

"Why do I smell him on you?"

.

.

Around the same time Lucian called Spike, Axel and Casper to his chamber.

It didn't take long for them to answer his summons.

When they arrived, they found a serious looking Lucian. Which seemed a bit out of place.

Lucian then looked at them for a while, finally turning to Spike. He said directly, "You fell in love didn't you?"

"""???!"""

All three of them were surprised. Well, Casper was just confused. But he was still looking at Spike questioningly.

Axel looked at Spike who had his head down and asked, "It's Ursula, isn't it?"

Axel smiled as he saw spike blushing like a maiden as he nodded. He kind of felt some comradely with the lad. As he was almost in a similar situation.

But he was wrong.

When he heard Lucian sigh, "You do know that she is a noble's daughter, yes? And it will take a long time before I can give you enough prestige, for you to ask for her hand the normal way."

Hearing Lucian, Axel finally understood the problem. Spike wasn't like him. Far from it.

Axel was the former heir to the Whitefox line, and getting married to any lady, or at the very least, asking for their hand in marriage, was plausible for him.

But Spike was an orphan, a peasant in the eyes of nobles. He had no such right to speak of, whatsoever.

This made Axel feel incredibly dejected. And he noticed Spike getting visibly depressed.

Spike finally spoke choking while his head was lowered, "I understand my lord, I will try to quell these feelings of mine…"

Hearing the depressed tone of the lad, Lucian smiled as he said, "When did I ever tell you to quell your feelings?"

We were surprised again.

As Lucian continued, "I am no expert but I do know that you cannot force love. When it happens, it happens. I know there is a huge gap between you two, and at the moment she might not even recognize you.

So until she rejects you. No matter what reason she gives, you have a chance.

And as your lord, I promise, if she gives you the yes, I will do my best to get you two together. You have served me for a long time Spike. And I will not sit around when you need me.

So, don't beat yourself up till you get royally rejected! And by that I mean when she rejects you for the umpteenth time."

Lucian laughed lightly and gave his trademark smile. Which made the others smile as well.

Spike with his renewed courage said, "Yes, my lord, I will not give up!"

Lucian nodded.

"Excellent! Now the main reason I called you all here. I have reasons to believe that the lady, our little Spike wants to court, is in danger."

Hearing Lucian all of them perked up. Spike was visibly distraught.

Lucian continued, "So I want you to go to the Umber Mansion on the west part of the city, where she is staying.

Casper, you secretly watch over her and gather information.

Axel and Spike, both of you will be on stand-by and reinforce Casper, when the need arises.

Understood?"

"""YES MY LORD!"""

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Year 1212, 24th day of the 7th month – Umber Mansion, Hayton~

[Ursula]

.

I have been staying at my sister's in-law's mansion for the last few days. The experience was pleasant so far. The only thing that bothered me was my sister's words.

But I tried not to think too much about it.

The Viscount and his wife were truly kind people. They both seemed to think of me as the daughter they never had.

So things weren't difficult here.

As for my sister's husband. He always stayed out late and I have only met him once in the last few days. So no issues there either.

And recently I have been dreaming of the cute little Casper. Aww! I really want to cuddle him again.

'Maybe the reason I see him in my dreams, is because I miss him.

I wonder where they are now.' I thought.

They did say that if I needed to find them then I could visit the store 'Yearning'.

I heard from my sister that it was an incredibly famous store which sells beautiful dresses.

I sure want to check that out when I have the time.

My life was good for the time being. I wasn't in constant fear of being kidnapped like before.

But I knew this wound't last.

.

.

And it came true.

Around the midnight my sister rushed into my room looking all panicked.

She woke me up with a jerk and said as softly as possible.

"Run! Run away now, Ursula. I am sorry, sister is sorry, I couldn't stop the man. I can't stay here too long, or they will suspect me.

There is an escape route through the cellar. I have picked a maid to show you the way. I have paid her enough, so don't worry about her.

Make sure you follow her properly. And listen to her directions.

There is no time for you to pack. Just wear this robe.

Now take the maid and go.

You can't bring Emma. Or they might get too suspicious.

I love you sister. So run. Run faraway.

Please just run. NOW!"

She shouted a bit at the end. And I knew things weren't looking good.

I believed my sister with my life and followed the maid down the cellar. As she was showing me the way out.

Through the journey I did have the thought that this might be a trap.

But, fortunately, there really was a path to outside from the cellar.

As we got out through something that looked like a cave hidden in foliage. I looked around to perceive my surroundings.

And I saw the great wall of Hayton.

"We are outside the City!" I exclaimed.

The maid nodded in answer. Now that I noticed. Thus far she has only gestured and never spoken a word.

I was curious and wanted to ask, but I kept to myself.

Right now wasn't the time. And I needed to find my way to the shop 'Yearning'. Those people have helped me once already, and I believed that they would help me again.

I know I sound like an ingrate. But I have no other choice. And the truth be told, I became quite attached to Lady Celine. She was a noble lady as well. Yet she was so,

Free…

I was jealous of her. But I also admired her.

I knew that if I could locate her. Then my problem will be solved. I knew that she will help me escape.

So I turned to the maid and said, "Please help me find a way inside the city to the shop Yearning."

But the maid simply shook her head and pointed at a direction.

Her eyes seemed lifeless. And I couldn't understand the reason for the silence.

I thought we needed to keep quiet in the cellar to not give away our location. But now that we were outside the city, I didn't see a reason for keeping mum.

So what was the issue? Curiosity got the better of me.

And I asked her directly.

She shuddered a bit and after a while of deliberation she opened her mouth.

I was horrified. I didn't want to believe the scene.

The inside of her mouth was a mess. There was only messy flesh and no tongue and burned marks all over.

There was still blood coming out of her mouth, but she was using a small cooling stone to stop the spreading of her wound.

I knew this was recently done.

I finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

And vomited my guts out…

I asked her weakly, "Was it my sister?"

She kept silent and stood still.

I then asked, "Were you given enough money to live peacefully?"

This time she nodded, affirmatively.

I was okay with that answer. I now knew, how grave the situation was. If my sister had to go this far to keep her mum. Then there was something big coming my way.

I tried to calm down and collect my thoughts when I realized.

'I have sacrificed Emma, haven't I?'

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I sacrificed my best friend. The person who was always beside me since I was young…

The maid looked downcast as she looked at my tearful face, but she pulled the hem of my robe.

She pointed at a direction and made some hand signals.

I think she was trying to tell me to follow her to a shelter for some food.

I nodded and followed her.

My mind was broken and I was grieving.

I started following the maid while looking at the ground with sad, tearful eyes, till I suddenly stopped. I hit the back of the maid.

I looked up and wanted to question her, when I noticed her horrified face.

I turned to the direction she was starting at and…

There were five men standing there.

I even recognized two of them…

My sister's husband …. And Jarkas…

I looked at the scene in disbelief when I heard loud laughter as my sister's husband said,

"Little Ursula, I hope you didn't believe, that I didn't know what your sister was up to, right? When she burned the Maid's tongue to keep her silent, she made way too much noise, that one of the guards noticed and came to tell me.

Heheheh, if she had trusted the maid a bit more… You might have escaped… Well… Tough luck."

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[A/N: Next chapter will be from the three boy's POV

And if you want to talk about the story! Here is the link to the new discord: ht tps://discord .gg/DZpzQbdWKg]