As Lizzy and I stepped out of the carriage Lizzy hold my hand tightly trying to hide her fear of the looming maids that were standing outside of the large double doors of the entrance of the gothic castle. All the maids dressed in full black attire with a white bow ribbon around their necks and the men also dressed in full black attire with one white handkerchief picking out of the breast pocket. Sir Brandon came around the carriage dressed in his knight attire and sword around his waist and stood next to me.The large wooden double doors open wide and a woman dressed in black riding attire with a crop on one hand and a top hat in the other as she descend the stone outer stair to our carriage. Slick black hair tied back into a low bun, pale ivory skin and sharp blue eyes. As the women came closer to our carriage her expression on her face slowly changed from pure irritation and anger to stone shock as her eyes fall on me making her stumble on the last step making her stop in the tracks. I must look like her.Lily.
"Who… who are you?" She said in a shaky voice as she looked at me.
Lizzy step forward and bowed and rose to look at the women still showing a shock expression as she continued looking a me like she was searching for something that was on my face.
"This is Lady Seraphina daughter of Count Lewis Matthew Dox from-"
"Yes from the Capital I know." The women said as she cut off Lizzy.
We all stood in silence looking at the women who still looks to be shocked. I knew something like this would happen and she maybe thinking that since we are from the capital we have come here with underlining intentions and she may think we are danger to her and the household.
I step up and spoke."Yes we are from the capital and as my maid has said I am the youngest daughter of Count Dox."
"Why are you here?" She asked quickly.
"I… I was told that this is where my mother grow up. Am I right to assume that. Lily was her name. She had letters from a women she used to write to that came from here and her name was Daisy." I said.
The letters are true but they existence is false. Well you see my father the Count didn't want to risk me finding out about my mother family and that I am the next GrandDuchess in the RavenCrest household. Why? Cause of a little green eye monster called jealousy. My father the Count could stand the fact that a women let alone his own daughter will be in a higher position than him. So when mother passed away he buried all the letter that came from RavenCrest and block all others coming in. The last letter that was sent to RavenCrest was to inform the current Grand Duchess that Lily has passed away with her child which was me and to stop sending letter and let Lily rest in peace. The irony. That peace of shit Count didn't really care about his wife nor of her well being. It took him two weeks to come and see mother and I after she gave birth to me and by the time he made room from his busy day it was to late for mother. That was one of the truths that Bex told me when I was younger but he only told me out of spite and to show me that I was not love nor cared about by the Count. He only care that he has money and his title. Lily my mother was a reminder to him that his family had to go and beg to the former Grand Duchess family to save them out of a large sum of debt they owed to the crown. This is how they got married.An apple maybe perfect on the outside but the rot can be well hidden beep inside.
"You are Lily child. That not possible she dead in childbirth and the child she birth also passed." She said. As the servant all gasped in shock and surprise as they looked at one another for conformation in the words I have spoken.
"Yes she did dead but I lived." I said in a stern voice making it clear for everyone to hear.
"The Count lied to you. I lived but I was placed in the confines of the Count mansion. I was never allowed to leave nor go to society events for fear that Your Grace would find out and take me away." I said "I will tell you the rest of my story but I think it will be best for us to step inside your Grace. We don't want unwanted ears to hear the next part." I said as I smiled a sweet smile up to the Duchess.
She wait for a moment looking at me the Sir Brandon and lastly Lizzy. "Fine… you maybe right. Scott please take the carriage driver out back and help him unload the luggage into the house and set up a room for the maid and the knight, Lav go inside and open the flower room for the Lady to stay. Make sure everything is cleaned up and well place for her and Tiny go and make tea and some food for our guests they have travel a long way to come here they must be starving."
"Yes Your Grace" the all said in unison and bowed.
"Oh right we have another person with us but is a sleep. Picked him up after he try to feed us to a beast in Meek forest. We need him to extract some information do you perhaps have a cellar where we can lock him up." I said with a sweet tone.
Her Grace look at me with one eyebrow raised and a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Yes we have a place. Levi!" She said in a smooth voice then she called out and a man with a black knight armer and blonde short hair came from the side and stood then bow and rose in front to her Grace.
"This is my commander Levi he can show your knight where to put your…sleepy guest" she grinned "Now come with me." She said as she turned to go back up the stairs into the gothic theme house and we followed.
This is where everything starts.