Chapter 4: Attending my Funeral!
Scarlet Pov
My hands reached my face and covered it to get rid of the bright light that was hurting my eyes. My eyes fluttered open only to see that I was in the middle of nowhere. Only trees and shrubs were around with some rabbits looking at me from a distance, as if complaining that uninvited guests had barged into their territory.
I was still leaning on the tree where I hid myself last night.
My veil was still on the place but all of my injuries were covered with leaves and wrapped in a man's shirt.
That commoner must have torn his single shirt to treat me.
"What a naive boy!" unknowingly a smile bloomed on my lips which soon turned into a frown. He said that he lived here. But there was nothing, no matter how far I looked.
"Was he so poor!" I have heard that there are still a few people in the territory who could not afford a house, but I have never thought that they would be living in such a poor condition.
I took out my ruby earrings and then pierced my finger. Soon blood started flowing out. I used it to write a thank you note and then put my earring in it.
"This would be enough to buy a house and live a few years leisurely, my benefactor." I wished goodbye to the woods and took an old short cut from there. I still need to find out if Murid was alive or not.
I walked towards the town and hired a local carriage, "to the palace of duchess Elwyne" I said as I took out my ring and gifted it to the man.
"One more commoner to attend her funeral. Let me inform you in advance, they are not letting commoners enter the palace. You can only mourn for her from the entrance.`` I raised a brow at his remarks. It had only been a few hours that i did not reach the palace and they had already announced me as dead!
"Bunch of bastards." The man looked at me with widened eyes as the woman in our empire did not curse. Tsk.. even the men in the empire did not curse!
"Would you start driving or shall I throw you out and drive by myself?" I asked , narrowing my eyes on the man who shivered and nodded.
Soon the carriage started driving and a smirk formed on my lips.
"It would be interesting to see how the crowd would react when they meet the person they were mourning for."
Crowd could be seen collecting from afar when the carriage reached my estate.
"I am not allowed to go beyond this point." informed the man looking at me apologetically.
"Do not worry, you are allowed to go in today. I am the new heiress of this estate." I informed and he chuckled.
"Everyone knows that the duchess has no family. She had herself killed or banished all the members of her family. She did not call the villainess of the century in vain. So, there is no heir to her estate." the man was laughing like he had heard the biggest joke of his life.
"Just keep moving. If guards will stop you then i will handle them.'' I replied ignoring his words.
"Alright, I want to see the power of this new heiress too." he replied as he continued to chuckle.
I knew he would not take me seriously even if I explained myself. Even if he had trusted me, I was too lazy to explain myself to anyone.
As we reached the entrance of the palace. Five knights stopped the way.
"The carriage can not go further. The passenger has to walk on foot after we search his body.`` The announcement and a laugh escaped my lips listening to this foolish rule.
"And why is that so?" I asked in a lazy voice, still sitting in the carriage.
"To maintain the space and peace inside the palace. Everyone is upset because of the death of the mistress." said one of them.
"Hey! Why are you explaining this to a stranger." said the other.
"Madame, if you want to go in. only this is the way to go. If you would not leave the carriage, i am afraid we have to deny you entry.'' Though his words were polite, he was strict and unyielding in his tone.
Finally I smiled and removed my veil.
"Even if I need to go without a carriage, Asmond?" I asked , looking out of the carriage.
The man stiffened and so did others listening to my voice and then continued to look at my face blatantly forgetting all the manners.
"My.. my lady"
"My lady.. Is.. is it really you?" I would have enjoyed their stunned faces further but I was getting late for my funeral.
"Now, if you are done with staring at me brazenly, open the door. I am getting late to attend my funeral.'' I replied in a tired voice and the men finally snapped back into reality.
"Yes, yes my lady" they stammered as they loosen the rope.
The huge wooden bridge started falling on its palace with a creek sound and finally the gap filled.
"Are you waiting for a special signal to move further?" I asked the coachman who still had not started the carriage.
"My lady.. I apologize for my indolence. Please do not kill me. I have two small kids to take care of." the man started wailing as if he was already on the stage with his neck stuck in the guillotine.
"From which word of mine, did you feel that I was going to kill you, huh? But if you didn't start the carriage right now, i will change my mood.'' This was enough to move his lazy fingers again and soon we entered the palace.
There were many commoners but most of them were to see how I was treated after my death rather than giving me last blessings. Their faces were filled with curiosity rather than pain.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone