The Emperor Investigates

The noble class were taught with tension and fear.

Three weeks.

For three whole, bloody weeks they would have to do their best to evade the witch's curse!

Why?! Why was the Del Montague girl this wicked? Why did she have to lash out at people who were well outside her household? People who had only seen her in passing and never exchanged a word with her. People who had done her no harm. Were they guilty simply because they watched her execution? What would happen to the commoners who had thrown rotten food at her? Who was more likely to fall victim to her curse? Surely the lower class since they were less worthy.

But the witch had gone after her own brother. Didn't that mean they were all at risk equally? Including the emperor and empress.

Goddess please save us! Do not just warn us with your red tears! Please save us!

Word was spreading quickly, especially after the ceremonial prayer done for Lord Alexander. Although the priests were encouraging calmness, insisting that people not allow fear to control them, the opposite was happening. Many aristocratic families were discussing it, which trickled down to their servants and knights who then spread the word to their own family and friends. Soon it was the hottest sensation in the capital city. It would spread into the rural areas in record time.

The Emperor was especially concerned and sent a royal decree to the Pope, ordering him to come to the palace and explain himself firsthand. After all, he was the one who explicitly stated that Lady Felicia was a witch and needed to die. He had said that her death would guarantee the empire safety from her demonic prowess. 

He had not said anything about a potential death curse.

Emperor Cromwell had received a letter stating that the Pope had travelled to Lake Joan to pray to the Goddess for answers. Unsatisfied and nervous, he went to the central Cathedral and witnessed the statue of Kartara shedding red tears. He was informed by the priests that the tears were continuous and would sometimes flow heavier. He instructed the head Bishop of the first faction to immediately inform the Pope of his summons to the palace upon his return.

After that the Emperor headed to the Del Montague estate to see the Duke's heir and determine the nature of his sickness and what the rest of them may be facing. 

The royal carriage came to a halt in front of the closed gates of House Del Montague. The knights stationed were surprised by this sudden visit as none of them had been informed of it. Two of the men in armor on top of the wall rushed inside to spread the word as the gates were opened.

The Emperor's ensemble was small. Just him, two servants and fifteen royal guards.

The air was taught with tension.

Alighting from the carriage, his boots stomped against the stone pathway. His knights formed a protective circle around him and only parted in front when the Butler of the household stepped forward to greet them. All of the servants were anxious. The heavy mood growing even heavier. 

It had been two weeks since the execution of the first lady. They had thought the hard times were over and the Del Montague family would be able to rise above all the shame she had brought upon them.

How wrong they had been!

Only when a week had passed since the Duke's only son and heir had returned from the church unconscious with a high fever caused by a curse his dead sister had placed on him. Since then, the Duke had been a mess. The Young Master had still not woken up and day by day his condition had grown worse. Despite, the physician and Saintess Helena doing all they could to help him.

Though the Duke held onto the hope that his son would miraculously recover, the rest of them prepared for his death.

The servants only spoke in whispers since the Duke would snarl at anyone he heard gossiping. He had even ordered the whipping of six servants after overhearing them daring to say that Master Alexander was going to pass. Still, the consensus was the same. They accepted that another tragedy was going to unfold. They cursed at Lady Felicia for her cruelty. They feared they may also suffer from her curse. Who's to say she had not cursed them all with death? Some had taken a work leave believing that being away from the Del Montague manor may spare them of the curse.

The Butler dropped to his knees before the emperor. His heart was heavy as he had just privately placed an order for a casket. He knew the Duke would have his head for it, but he was aware of the evitable. His master was too unstable to accept it. The Butler had worked for the family from the very beginning. He had seen everything. And his heart bled at the state of the Del Montague household.

That poor man. First he lost his beloved Lady Moniqua and unlike his second wife, I know he genuinely loved the first Duchess. Then his daughter turned into a monster. I don't know what went wrong with Lady Felicia, but I know the Duke did love her. But that loved was destroyed after she caused her mother's death. Perhaps their bond could have been mended, but the first lady chose otherwise. Ultimately the Duke lost her as well. And now his only son is going to die from a curse his own sister placed on him.

I wasn't there for the execution, but I heard about the first lady's behavior. She was unrepentant till the very end. Curse you Lady Felicia! Curse you for doing this to your own family!

"Where is Roelle?" The Emperor intoned.

The Butler kept his head lowered. "His Grace is at his son's bedside. Master Alexander has not woken up and his health has been deteriorating everyday. His Grace has refused to leave his bedside."

The Emperor nodded. "Take me to them. Is the Saintess with them?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Lady Helena has been using her holy powers to help Master Alexander every single day. Sadly, there has been no effect."

The Emperor followed the Butler through the manor and up the stairs with his guards in tow. The sound of footsteps and the soft clinking of armor the only noise. It was most unusual. The place appeared dead.

Curse you Felicia! Moniqua loved you so much! Why have you repaid her by doing this to her family? You are already dead, so what do you stand to gain from this?