Ghost of the Castle

By Jessica Fritz

The Ghost of the Castle refers to communication between people. Often when people see ghosts, they cannot hear them. Like how people often see a situation but cannot hear the other person's thoughts over their own.

As well as the fact that often our misunderstandings lead us to feeling like ghosts around others

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662485428

Book preview

cover.jpg

Ghost of the Castle

Jessica Fritz

Copyright © 2022 Jessica Fritz

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-8539-8 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-8542-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Escape

Mother’s Funeral

A New Lifestyle

Books and Adventures

Newcomers

A Day Off

Sick Days

Crystal Lake

Knighting Test

Duke Eric Warrior

Ash and the Marquess

Max’s Chance

Leo’s Truth

My Maids

My Coming-of-Age Ball

My Truth

Fate’s Choice

Adjusting

Traders

Queen’s Crown

My Wedding

Happily Ever After

Escape

Tiredly, I wake up to one of my servants picking out my dress for today. I say nothing as I slowly sit up and watch her. She seems not to notice until she turns around. Then almost jumps to the celling in fright.

My Lady, how long have you been awake? she asks while holding her chest.

I just got up. Is that the outfit I am wearing today? I ask excitedly.

Yes, Your Highness. Your father said that there was something important going on today, and he wanted you to look your best, she says happily.

Really? I say while jumping out of bed.

Together we both head into my bathroom as she helps me get a quick bath and get changed into the expensive dress. The only problem with looking so fancy is that you are expected to wear heels and jewelry. Which is not my favorite thing to do. But for Father I will do it.

Holding myself together, we finish with my dressing in about two hours. Then I can finally go downstairs for breakfast. Quietly, we walk through the castle hallway and down the grand staircase. Before moving into the dining area at the bottom of the steps.

My father’s mistress, Layla, is already here with her and fathers two children. The oldest is fifteen, and his name is Nes. While his younger sister Lyla is eight just like me.

Nes is tall for his age and has Lady Layla dark black hair. Yet unlike his mother’s hateful eyes, he seems to be more cautious. As his green eyes seem to cause me to feel uneasy. Like normal he is dressed in a really fancy suit that almost rivals Father’s.

Lyla looks almost exactly like Lady Layla. They both have long black hair that is perfectly straight. As their green eyes angrily send me death stairs. Both of them are wearing dresses way fancier than that of the ones Mother and us wear. But we do not care.

She is also older than me by one day. Of what Jeremy the head butler says. Lady Layla became jealous that Mother was pregnant with me and about to give birth. So she took some medicine that made her give birth to Lyla when she was only seven months’ pregnant. Luckily, this did not hurt Lyla, and she seems fine.

I was then born the next day. Since a war broke out Mother has been away leading our troops. She is the best knight in all the kingdom and the head general of the army. But it also means that she is not home much and because of that I have no siblings. Yet I still have Lyla and Nes. So I guess everything works out in the end.

Quietly, I take my seat while the rest of the family talk among themselves. At first, I feel a little left out, but then Lyla turns her attention to me.

Oh look, it is the Shadow Princess, Lyla says before her mother and brother laugh.

I look at them confused, but before I can ask what they mean, Father comes into the room overjoyed.

Good morning father, I say quickly as he gives me a kiss on my forehead.

Good morning, my princess. We are going to have a special guest come today. So please do your best to try and stay clean. Once they arrive, I will send Jeremy to get you, Father says happily.

All right, Father, I reply as we start our breakfast.

Since Father asked that I stay clean, I head to the royal library to read. Everything is fine for a while until I hear a conversation from outside the door. Quietly, I stand on my end and listen.

I heard that the king has been upset since he heard the news, one guard says.

Who can blame him? The war is over, yet here we have another attack, another adds.

The one I pity the most is our little princess, a third adds.

Cautiously, I move back away from the door. Knowing that this was a conversation I should not be listening to. Shakily, I force myself to take a seat again and dive into the history of our country. Until day turns into night.

My princess, here you are, Jeremy says, almost out of breath.

Hello, Jeremy. Is Father’s special guest here yet? I ask, while pretending nothing is wrong.

I am sorry my lady, but they will not be coming now. Your father is quite upset by this. So please do not mention anything, Jeremy says while leading me to the dining room.

Unlike this morning, everyone is already here and staring at their food like there is a sour taste to it. Not sure what to do, I take my seat and look around cautiously. Before finally trying to break the silence.

Good evening, father. I read a… I get out before I am greeted with two angry eyes.

The hatred in his eyes is enough to make me lose my appetite even though I did not eat anything since breakfast.

I am sorry, Father, but can I please be excused? I am not feeling too well, I plead.

You did not even touch your dinner, he sternly replies.

Too scared to plead my case, I push my plate in front of me and hide my face on my arms. Trying desperately to calm myself down before I lose the little breakfast I have in my system.

You are being disrespectful! Layla says nastily from her seat.

Shut up! Father quickly yells back at her.

If you are that sick, you may leave, Father says as I slowly pick up my head.

Yes, Father, I reply as I shakily try to get up.

Yet I soon find myself on the ground, unable to get up. This gets a laugh out of Layla, Lyla, and Nes. While Father seems overly annoyed by my action. While I can barely help it myself.

Your Highness, allow me to take the young princess to her room. She seems to be having some trouble, Jeremy says like an angel sent by God.

Please take her and call the physician while you’re at it, Father orders before eating.

Carefully, Jeremy picks me up and begins walking toward my room. I stay quiet until I am sure that we are alone.

Jeremy, I just wanted to cheer father up, I say while letting my tears flow down my face.

I know, my princess, but he is just in a bad mood tonight. Why don’t I call the physician just to be safe? Then I will read you a story, Jeremy says kindly, like a grandfather.

Yes, please, I say while wiping away my tears.

The physician comes quickly. Most likely because Father called before Jeremy had the chance. After an hour of him asking questions and checking me out, he turns to Jeremy.

It seems our princess was just frightened. A warm cup of hot chocolate and something calming should help. As well as a good night’s rest, the physician says sadly.

Jeremy walks the physician out before calling a maid to get the hot chocolate. He waits till the maid brings it to me before reading me a fairy tale about a wonderful queen that is adored by her people for her beauty, strength, and wisdom.

As he reads, I quickly find myself starting to doze off. Yet I am not out of it enough that I cannot see Jeremy tucking me into bed and turning off the light.

I close my eyes and am about to fall asleep when I hear Father’s voice outside my door.

How is she? he asks Jeremy.

The physician said that she was just extremely scared. He wanted her to stay somewhere safe and calm down before a good night’s rest, Jeremy replies.

This is all my fault. She has no clue what is going on, and I screamed at her. For now, keep her in her room or the library. No one is allowed to tell her anything until I say so, Father sternly says before I hear them walk away.

Just hearing the controlled anger in his voice has me frightened again. Never in my life did father treat me like that before. Nor do I trust he will not do it again. The fear soon has me sick to my stomach.

Causing me to jump out of bed and hurry to the bathroom. Hours pass as I lose the little food I was holding inside. Figuring that it is nighttime, there will be no one to help me until morning. I just need to hold out until then.

But to my surprise, no one comes. Hours seem to pass by before day starts to turn into night. I was just about ready to give up when I heard someone open my door.

Athena! Father screams, causing me to start to puke up stomach acid.

He must have heard me because he quickly opens up the bathroom door. Causing it to bang open. Scaring me even more.

Get the physician! father screams while hurrying over to me.

But his sudden closeness causes me to start shaking as I continue puking. It does not take long for the royal physician to return with Jeremy. Both seem to know what is going on.

Your Highness, can you please take a few steps backward? the physician says before coming over to me.

Hello, Athena. Don’t worry, we will get you all better soon, he says while gently patting my head.

Surprisingly, this seems to calm me down a little. Until I see the anger in Father’s eyes. Just making me feel scared and sick again.

What is wrong with her? Father quickly orders.

"She is dehydrated. It seems that she has not had anything to eat since yesterday for breakfast. On top of being scared, again it is causing her to lose the little fluid and food that was in her system.

She also has some bruises from her time here. Truthfully, I am surprised none of the maids came to get me sooner. It seems that our little princess has been suffering since some time last night," the physician says, confused.

I just nod to let him know that he is right before Father leaves the room and starts screaming at the maids. Desperately, I try to curl up into an invisible ball, but even then, I can still hear the screaming.

It is okay, Athena. Everything will be fine, Jeremy says while picking me up.

One of the maids quickly returns with clean clothes as she begins preparing a bath. Father, however, insists on waiting in my room for me to return before leaving. Even though both the physician and Jeremy seem to disagree.

Is father still mad at me? I ask the maid nervously.

Yet she does not say a thing to me. Instead, she just walks me out of my room and toward Father, who is sitting on my bed.

I remember that once Lady Layla told me that women are to keep their heads down on the floor and stay quiet when men are mad. Then they will calm down. So I do as she says and keep looking at the ground. But I can feel Father’s anger cutting holes into my skin.

Athena, look at me, Father demands angrily.

Scared to death, I look up at him. His eyes still punching holes though my skin. Even as he is picking me up and setting me in bed.

She stays in her room until I say so, His Highness says as he roughly tucks me into bed and walks out.

Both the physician and Jeremy follow after Father, hoping to change his mind. As the maid just laughs at me and leaves. A few days pass, and I only see the maids when they come to give me a bath or to bring my meals.

Desperately, I try to get them to talk to me, but instead they just give me angered looks before leaving. Keeping me alone and locked in my bedroom.

When suddenly Lady Layla comes to visit me in a black dress. I look at her, confused, never seeing her in all black before.

Lady Layla, what is going on? I ask, confused.

"What do you think? Your mother is still a pain in my butt