The Duke's Unwanted Wife

Crown Prince Reagan was not without an agenda. It was the first time a King of Ducroft had reached out in a while and he was not going to misuse the opportunity. He had already sent his other servants in search of Natalia, to see if she was truly dead or alive. That was his real purpose for coming. If she was alive, then he was going to take her by any means necessary and in that vein, use her to conquer Ducroft. Persuading a woman that was betrayed by her husband wasn't that hard of a job. But there was no trace of her anywhere. It was hard to believe but it seemed like she had truly passed away.    

    

"If only I could've tamed that wolf properly. He was useful but he was getting a little out of hand. All I wanted to do was discipline him and see him running away from his master. He said he wasn't going to leave me too," he murmured.    

    

As the night came to a close, Wilbur was tasked with taking the Crown Prince to where he was to stay for the night. Reagan felt a little insulted that it was someone like Wilbur that was to guide him.    

    

The density of the curse around him was like an aura similar to one of a ghost. If it could be smelt, it would have a stench far worse than rotten eggs. The weight of the curse had already begun to weigh down on Wilbur even though he couldn't even see that he was cursed.    

    

"You must have offended a god to be cursed like this. Even that is not this bad. It makes one wonder just what kind of life you've lived," Reagan commented.    

    

"You….can see something, your Imperial highness? I have really lived an honest life. I've been faithful to my master all my life and I….."    

    

"You can lie all you want. Curses like this don't come as a result of misplaced malice. You were continuously cursed by not one or two but more than ten people with the same level of malice. Although it was a spell cast by someone, it has repeatedly harnessed the curses that had been harmlessly hanging around you and brought in retribution," Reagan explained, a bit of disgust in his eyes.    

    

"Your Imperial highness, what can I do, no, what must I do to rid myself of this dreadful curse?" Wilbur cried out, falling to his knees.    

    

"You said….you were faithful to your master, correct? Well, let's put that faithfulness to a test, shall we?"    

    

Wilbur left looking better after a simple spell cast by Reagan. It was a basic purification spell that priests used any time they wanted to pray or offer sacrifices.    

    

The curse was the kind that could never be removed. Reagan could clearly see the vengeful female ghosts, two of them, hanging around his head. The curse made them more powerful and they would continue to torment him for as long as they lived. But what was the fun in telling Wilbur that? In exchange for a faithful spy at the side of the new king, he just needed to cast a few purification spells. It was perfect. But he was just curious as to who cast such a powerful spell on him in the first place and how they got the blood of a fairy.    

    

"A-Achoo!"    

    

"Are you cold? I'm so sorry, I didn't consider that. I would get you a thicker blanket," Marvis fussed over her, hovering around her as they walked into the huge and magnificent structure that was the Everon estate. It impressed even him that had been inside the palace for most of his life.    

    

"You two can drop the act now. I know she's not your wife, neither is she pregnant. I happen to know who she is," Duchess Everon said from behind them. Natalia stopped and turned to glare at her.    

    

"Even if we're nothing like that, my concern for her is not fake. With her body in such a delicate state, I cannot just turn a blind eye to it," he retorted.    

    

"And who's fault is it that I'm in this state in the first place?" Natalia glared at him. He apologized profusely for recklessly handling her, his ears lowering. However, in Duchess Everon's mind, she was thinking something entirely different. Her curiousity only soared.    

    

"Now that we're here, I will fulfill my promise and tell you my true identity," Natalia suddenly said.    

    

"Is that really important right now? Your body is…."    

    

"No, it's important. I'm not the type to go back on my promises," she firmly said. She took a deep breath and put a short distance between them.    

    

"My….real name is Natalia Adamantine…."    

    

"No…."    

    

".....the Grand Duchess of the Kristen Dukedom and the deceased Queen to be, I guess. I'm sorry, Marvis," she softly said, looking at his face. The expression of betrayal she saw on his face broke something in her.    

    

All of a sudden, he was gone. She heard a sorrowful howl come from the woods, one that cut deep into her heart. It was not her intention to hurt him but she didn't know it would be that painful.    

    

"So you really didn't tell your lover who you were?" Duchess Everon asked, walking up on the path. Natalia followed after shortly.    

    

"He's not my lover. We were just…. traveling together. He promised he was going to let me explain but…..I can understand, at least. How soon can I get to the palace?"    

    

"I thought you didn't want to go early," the duchess smirked.    

    

"I am not so gracious or patient most of the time, Duchess Everon," Natalia said in a frosty voice.    

    

"You are no fun. It would take us two days for us to book a befitting sky tube and reach the capital station."    

    

"Sky tube?"    

    

"Oh, don't worry. You'll see," the Duchess grinned.