The Criswell's Curse

I gasped for air the moment my eyes opened. The maids all screamed, some even dropping whatever they held in their hands, causing the items to roll through the carpet and onto the wooden floor.

“Milady! You’re awake!” Alphie stood by my side as Jade rose from his chair at the end of the room.

“Master! How do you feel!?” Almost immediately, he dashed towards me, grabbing my hand reactively. The strands of his soft hair touched my skin once he pulled my arm upwards, resting it against his forehead. “I’m so glad you’re awake...”

“What?” I couldn’t understand why they were all so worried, so shocked to see me awake.

“You’ve been asleep for two days, milady...” Olivia placed a tray with a glass of water beside me, her eyes slightly red, probably from crying or working too many hours in a row without any good sleep.

“Two days...? How...?” Her words sounded made up. How could I sleep for so long?

“We should bring the good news to the Duke at once.” Alphie signaled some of the maids who hastily left towards the corridor. “Get a bath ready!”

“Leave.” My voice mumbled, head hanging low.

“Milady?” Olivia tilted her head, confused by my reaction.

“Leave!” The maids shuddered, frightened by such a mood. They quickly exited the room alongside Jade who seemed unable to understand such rash behavior, leaving me alone.

For some unknown reason my body felt highly energized as if thunder had struck its being, electrifying the wholeness of its core. My gaze fell upon the wounded arms who were now completely clean and void of wounds, as if the events of that night had never come to pass. When my hands pulled away the bedsheets, surprise struck ever further, realizing my body held no scars, no blood, no cuts nor crusts.

How could this be possible?

The room was shining, void of dust or confusion – as if whatever happened had been nothing more than a nightmare. Everything was in the same place as before: the once broken mirror was now perfectly intact; the carpet laid in its usual color, without a shred of blood left; the desks held the papers and books perfectly as if my hands had never touched them.

“What the fuck is going on...!?” Worriedly, I rose from the bed, observing my body repeatedly. Nothing hurt; I was completely fine.

Could I have imagined everything? Could I have fallen asleep and experienced an extremely vivid nightmare? One of those that haunted me to often?

Not knowing what to do my figure headed towards the windows, opening them up abruptly. The chilly morning air flew in, cooling down my thoughts and nerves, in a pitiful attempt to bring my mind back to reality, to reason.

Whatever happened that night was not a figment of my imagination – it couldn’t be.

Meow. Nero popped from under the bed, rubbing his head onto my leg. His glimmering red eyes blinked, as he yawned.

“Perfect timing... as always.” I lowered my body, petting his soft fur. He purred, intertwining his tail on the bottom half of my leg.

It was impossible for me to explain what happened, no matter how much my mind yearned to. Whether it was some sort of gift, magic, curse or blessing – or if I was simply losing myself in this timeline – none mattered. My body was healed, feeling better than ever by the grand grace of another. Wasn’t this the best scenario one could ask for?

After opening the door, my gaze fell on Olivia and Jade who stood by, waiting for my call. “Olivia, summon the rest of the maids. And you, come in for a moment.”

Once the entrance door closed and the maid rapidly left, my figure laid on the couch. Jade kneeled in front of me, his beautiful eyes sharpened like the cuts of a dagger through flesh.

“I already told you to stop doing that, didn’t I?” Every single time, the slave got onto his knees as if this was a true depiction of loyalty and not what his heart harbored. “Someone was in my room. A man, I think. I want you to find him.”

“Was it your father, Master?” Frustrated by his own incompetence and lack of awareness, he bit down on his lower lip, probably imagining the wicked things that man would do if not stopped.

“I don’t think so.”

“What about Gilbert?” Jade knew that finding a ghost would be rather time-consuming, leaving time gaps which could expose me to further danger lurking within the mansion.

“He’s still in bed and he won’t do anything for now. He isn’t foolish enough to attack without knowing the terrain.”

Gilbert wasn’t an amateur, but he was far from an expert. He was selfish, but rational. First, he would recover and only then would he study his environment, the people, and their schedules. Everything had its time, its own procedure, and he knew that.

“He still needs to memorize the mansion and think of an escape.” I reassured him, knowing full well that rat wouldn’t be able to make a dent on me even if he tried. “Now leave.”

Jade nodded and quickly exited the room. Even though my being was rather thankful for such blessing, I couldn’t stop but to be concerned. The events of that night were real and someone, a man, was in my chambers with too much ease. Whoever it was, surely had ulterior motives.

My maids then entered, however, as I was about to assert their tasks, my chest clenched. One of mine were missing.

“Where is Ivy?” No answered. They traded guilty glances, but no soul dared to reply. “Don’t make me repeat myself, you know my patience has its limits.”

Olivia stepped forward, tears in the corner of her eyes, threatening to escape yet again. “Lord Terrel summoned her... to the palace.”

“When?” My nails dug deeply into the outer layer of the couch, pushing it inwards.

“The carriage left thirty minutes ago milady.”

“Alphie.” Hearing her name, the maid straightened her back, resolute eyes glaring into mine. “Fetch me the fastest horse we have. You lot will help me get dressed.”

“A horse, milady?” Alphie questioned, as she should.

In the kingdom only men, nobles or knights knew how to ride as it was considered a masculine activity. It was unheard of for a woman to practice horse-back riding, and yet I dared to do so. According to the etiquette books, women shouldn’t engage in any activity that required sweat or blood as it would disgrace their standing.

A woman shouldn’t run, she should gracefully walk.

A woman shouldn’t scream, she should calmly speak.

A woman shouldn’t exist unless her husband tells her to.

“Is there a problem?” I frowned, knowing far too well time wasn’t on my side.

Alphie’s complex paled, still rather unsure of what has about to pass yet she quickly bobbed her head and left, obeying my orders. Simultaneously, Olivia quietly removed a dress from the end of the wardrobe as the remaining maids cleaned the room and combed my hair into a high ponytail.

“Do you think I can ride with that on?” The naïve maid gulped, rapidly placing it back inside. “Get me what’s in the back.”

Once Olivia’s hands took out a rather old looking box from the bottom of the wardrobe, all gazes fell on her, eagerly waiting for the contents within to be revealed. Their curiosity, however, caused audible gasps to float through the space as their eyes couldn’t believe the audacity of the item within. A pair of trousers and a shirt lingered inside, both rather used and slightly dirty. Clearly, the rules of society were far too imbued in their minds, blinding their reasoning, their will to contest the morals created by men who forced them to fit in the paradigm of a pretty doll.

Breathless, Alphie returned. “The horse is ready, milady.”

“Get some rest.” Seeing the small drops of sweat dripping from her pores caused me to understand the poor girl had just run as quickly as her small legs allowed. As she left, my gaze fell on Olivia. “You will tell the Duke I am retrieving my assigned maid from his son.”

Instead of bickering and attempting to question my judgement, she quietly left the room. Had she, perhaps grown more obedient? Or was she simply worried for her own?

“Do any of you know how to write?” At my question a rather young maid standing at the back popped, her thick arms grabbing the bed sheets. “Good. You will write an invitation equal to the one on my desk.”

“To whom shall I address it to, milady?” She questioned as my fingers finished closing the cuff buttons on my wrist.

“Every noble house in Ashen.”

“All of them, milady!?” Another maid said, intruding in the conversation, clearly taken aback by such information.

When I opened the door, a grin rested on my lips and gossip flew through the space at an abnormal speed. “All of them.”