Feeling Haunted

"Achoo!" I sneezed loudly as I filled out the pile of paperwork. Why- why do I feel like someone is talking about me? Must be that I caught a cold. Or that trouble-maker magnet talking behind my back;

"You're cursed!" Alastair shouted, pointing his fingers at me.

"You will be sent to jail for falsely accusing a noble," I calmly said as I was finishing my work.

"Hmph! When did I ever accuse you? Besides I was just stating a superstitious fact, You nobles are just too greedy!"

"Greedy my ass, you're blaming the wrong person. It's that trouble magnet who is cursed, greedy, and annoying." I say cursing the Emperor inside the head. That damn man isn't the one doing the paper-work of war. I am!

"Hmph! Look who is talking! You will be sent to jail for talking bad about the Emperor," Alastair snorted angrily.

"Unlike you, I never mentioned his name. How do you know which person I am referring to? It could be some dirty bad Baron too you know? Whatever..." I say as I fill out the entire work pile.

"Sigh..." Alastair sighed loudly as he said, "I thought it would be fun staying by your side, it seems useless if you ask me,"

"...no one asked you to be staying by my side," I say pointing out the obvious. Can't this guy read the atmosphere? He's bloody annoying on one side, then there is that Emperor who is bloody annoying on the other side!!

"Tch... I wouldn't even be here if-" he covers his mouth and then quietly glances up at me. I shrug. So someone from the upper realm came here to spy on me??? Damn... Satan is watching over me.

Well not to blame him or anything, I mean I would have done the same thing if I had nothing to do except for yawn and laugh at them. Someone's got to watch over the bad dogs.

"*Yawn*" I yawned loudly. I rubbed my nose. Spring festival was coming soon, and here I am- sitting down and doing work. Other people get to sit back and relax during the season. Everything was going alright until that damn emperor made my life worse.

"I thought you were so happy that the Emperor will be your life savior, give you a free premium ticket to vacation right??" Alastair said. Tch... he is right.

"...didn't you say you were going to help me??" I say angrily. "What happened to my vacation!"

"I said I'll help you if you help this world!"

"What is there to save?" I say. The world was going fine for me. No murder. No tyranny. No evil schemes by the Evil Queen. What kind of rebirth am I living?? What happened to my happiness?? I'd rather be dead than be here!

Where is that Satan Devil?? I need to file a complaint. I know you're watching!

"I can help you if you form a life-long contract with me. You'll get benefits,"

***

"Mademoiselle! Lord Monsieur Archduke is to be arriving!" the maidservant said. Curse the horses. No, I mean the Gods! The Holy Murderer of the War Hero is arriving to call the war!

"Prepare the mansion! I'll get ready as fast as I can. And you-" I say pointing at Alastair who sat there eating cookies, "disappear,"

"Rude!" Alastair shouted as I barged out of my study room.

***

"Apologies for the long term wait, Your Excellency, "I say as I reach the sitting room. The shy-boy of a war-hero nodded. His intimidating figure shook the servants in the mansion. His cloak had a long-lasting smell of blood around him. His aura was too powerful. But little did the people know that he was actually so shy.

"No need," the Translator from our previous talk, Knight Antonio said. I twitched. Unwilling to talk again? Shy boy? I looked at the Archduke who barely moved his lips. Dude! I Are you sure he's the all-talk-Emperor's grandson?

"Come inside, what is your reason for coming without a letter ahead?" I questioned. Meaning: Don't barge without a reason! We're not related by god's sake! ୧( ಠ Д ಠ )୨

'At least have some decency and respect.' someone inside my voice filed a complaint. Tch. Fake god. Are you talking? Leave.

"Ah~ Mademoiselle, there is an important meeting we must discuss privately," Knight Antonio, the word dictator translator of the Archduke, said as he looked around the room. Ah... must be about that goddamn war!

"Leave." I signaled the maids and servants as they all flurried away. The room was finally quiet, and not so crowded anymore. Though it didn't help me relieve the ease.

"Is this about the upcoming war?" I say, forcing my plastered smile.

"Right," Archduke said. Ah... finally felt like talking? Tch.

"So?" I ask. Questioning them to initiate the conversation. Though my sane mind wanted to slap them in the faces and declare that I didn't want to deal through this frustrating matter anymore! I was tired so freaking leave my house and my sanity alone!

"Mademoiselle, as you might know, that the Castano household manages all of the trades between the Kaos and the other countries. The Emperor asks you to cut off ties with the Kaos and then try to communicate with other nations."

'So to simply put it: Work Harder!' Alastair called inside my head. I twitched.

Ah. This granny's heart took a stab! Work yourself, you damn Emperor. I am not your dog! ╰（‵□′）╯

"Anything else?" I ask. Meaning: Is that all? Huh?

"The Emperor passed an imperial decree that all of the High Noble aristocrats will have their debuts to their high-society from the age from 15-19. Meaning it is time for you to inherit the Dukedom and pledge the alliance to the Emperor. And prepare for war."

'Meaning: Prepare to die... doom and work await you!' Alastair translated the words inside my head. I clenched my fists.

（╯‵□′）╯︵┴─┴ That clumsy harbinger of Trouble is asking for a freaking Beating! Go eat your own sh*t your damn potato man! I ain't your dog!

Do you know what I have to do? Prepare the army! look for my secretary! Look for more connections to the Highsociety! And furthermore...

I WON'T GET MY VACATION! Because I can't run away with my duties! I will have more paper-work on my table!

And you sh*tty messengers sure know how to freaking ruin my mood. My vein popped as I watched the Archduke calmly staring at me and Knight Antonio explaining the messages.

"Oh... so are delivering the messages of the Emperor?" Like loyal dogs? As expected of the Grandchildren fighting for the Throne.

"No, we want to form an alliance with the Volpe Archdukedom and the Castano Dukedom."

Ah... Alliance? Make your alliance with the Emperor! Don't come knocking on my doorstep. Besides... I looked at the Archduke. I don't see you talking, your Translator sure knows how to talk than you do.

Fighting for the throne?? Are you going to stand there like a statue when you become King? Or are you also an icon of: 'I sit, you talk.' Where is your script bro??

'Tch... where is your script then, Mirabelle? Stop rambling my head hurts.' Alastair complained. Ughh... Whiskeeey! Where are you! I need to vent my anger! Uggh!

I want Vodka... it cools down my throat and my mind. Where is it! I think I am going crazy! I want to file a complaint against everyone. ᕕ(˵•̀෴•́˵)ᕗ I unconsciously fanned myself.

"Yes... I don't think I am prepared... I am scared actually," I say, "about the war and all,"

"Naturally," Sir Knight Antonio said as if he guaranteed that I will whatsoever not suffer. He gave me a light smile.

"And about the engagement..." I muttered quietly.

"That will be taken care of, rest assured," Antonio said as if he was a shop managed talking calmly to his client. You- work in Castano! I need this guy's help! He's great at talking!

"Is that all? Then thank you," I said with a fake smile that was written: 'Leave!'

"Mademoiselle, I think for your Dukedom army to be prepared, why don't you send them to the Archdukedom?" Knight Antonio said. My eyes brightened. Is he willing to take responsibility for the Knights of our household? This is great!!

"Ah, why thank you!" I say smiling. My body cooled down slightly.

'Tch... that's a trap, you stupid woman! If you have no army- then who will protect you against the other army?'