Life Of Duchess Weatherhail

By Sree Deepthi Gooda

The air was filled with screams ‘Kill that Witch! Kill that Witch! Kill the Villainess! Kill the harbinger of evil! Kill Her!’ On the left side, there was the majestic King of the kingdom Heavensship with his Queen, who was like a delicate lily, while at the center there was a guillotine, ready and sharp to kill. The whole area is filled with guards. The newcomer’s hands and feet made a cling sound every time she walked, as her wrists and ankles were cuffed with heavy metal chains. Although her hair was cut unevenly, her demeanor was filthy, and her body was full of bruises and scars, no one could deny her beauty. Her hair resembled the blazing dawn sun, her eyes were like forests filled with vitality. The guards dragged her using the chains with force, she stumbled and fell but no one offered her a hand. Her face was ruthlessly pushed on the guillotine. She thought “hopefully, this time I am blessed with sweet eternal sleep, or else…” she looked at the king and queen with a cruel smile. The Queen was shocked and trembled with fear, and the King consoled her by embracing her and whispering sweet nothings.

The king then yelled loud and clear ‘Execute Duchess Weatherhail, the woman who tried to kill my beloved!’ the crowd cheered and pitied the Queen as the blade fell on the sinner’s neck. Everyone screamed ‘Long live the King! Long live the Queen!’ the cheers faded to black.

The wish of the “so-called” Witch was not granted. She opened her eyes yet again, in the body of her 10 year old self, facing the familiar ceiling, surrounded by the familiar people, who had all died for her countless times. She sat up and sent everyone in the room out. Stuck in the constant spiral of time, she has seen different ways to die. It feels like being trapped in a constant nightmare, unable to free herself from the vine that chokes her, ever so slightly as if it vowed to torture her forever. She despises seeing everyone she loved die every time. She tries not to love them, but how can she not, when they were the only ones who devoted themselves to her? Several times, she died the same death, she was nothing but a marionette, which danced according to someone’s tune. No matter how she covered her ears, she could not stop hearing the hunter’s song.

Hot tears rolled down her cheek, reminiscing about her past lives. In a certain timeline, she tried to kill herself, but she could not. Every time she tried, someone caught her. Fate doesn’t allow her to do so. She’s caught in a trance. She pleaded to gods, but none answered her prayer.

She pulled her legs closer and wrapped her arms around them and rested her face on her knees. She has lost count of how many times she lived the same depressingly annoying life. Her sanity was hanging by a thread when she massacred people in her previous life. Surprise, yes. In fact, she herself doesn’t know how she did it, but she was able to do so. If her body is under her control now, it’s show-time. She thought “they executed me for being a Witch, how about I just become one?” and laughed crazily.

Scarlet Weatherhail, is the only daughter and the heir of the famous and strong noble family. There is a secret of the Weatherhail family, they carry Witch’s blood in their veins, and hence they are skilled in magic and alchemy. Scarlet, naturally inherited those features. Unlike her mother, who was proud, scarlet was unhappy about it as a child. Unintentionally, she revealed this secret to the young prince who promised not to reveal it if she were to get engaged to him. Scarlet accepted it. How naïve, she was. That one step led to the downfall of the entire Weatherhail dukedom. Unwittingly, she also gave him her heart, which he trampled on and crushed into million pieces. He used her well and killed her when she became a thorn in his side. Later, she got to know that different people are not accepted by the mass, for they fear the unknown.

She extended her hand, cast a spell, and lit a flame in her palm. She crushed the flame with a vicious smirk. She had to test if she really owned her body. She got up and opened the window, and jumped through it. She softly landed on the ground, “no one came” she thought, and her grin became wider as her body wasn’t tied to strings this time at least.

She walked to the garden, her father nurtured, sorry nurtures, he’s alive at the moment. That thought made her feet pace up and run into his arms. He dropped his book and lost balance, but he didn’t fall. He patted her hair and asked ‘sugarplum, what’s wrong?’ she simply nuzzled closer. How warm, thought she. Tears swelled in her eyes again, but she didn’t let them fall and said ‘nothing’ she pulled back and smiled at him and continued ‘is it a worrying matter if a daughter hugs her father?’

‘Yes’ came a sound from behind. ‘Yes, it is if it’s a daughter such as you.’ Her mother, the current Duchess Weatherhail. She was a practical woman, with extraordinary talent and skills. Scarlet looked at her mother. She had given her life every time Scarlet was about to be murdered. She felt sorry for her. How her naïve daughter brought down the strong dukedom of Weatherhail. She hugged her as well. It was the first time, she was back before the biggest mistake she ever committed. So, it was the first time she was able to meet her family in peaceful surroundings. She felt her mother freeze, but then she awkwardly hugged her back. This time without fail, she learned everything there was to be learned about being a Witch. Although she could use her power, she was never formally trained, which led to certain disadvantages. Now, that part got solved.

But the bigger problem was not yet addressed, at all. Why was the loop happening, what triggered it, and why her? And several other questions were there to be answered. They could only be done so if she could access the books in the Weatherhail underground dungeon or if she could get into the imperial library or in the temple. The first two could be accessed with little difficulty, but the third option was extremely dangerous. She thought “there’s no need to rush”

Days went like water. Scarlet turned 18 and took over the dukedom and her parents left for down south, forever. Now was the time to investigate the reason. The underground dungeon was the first place to be scouted. It was full of old books which had turned yellow and were filled with dust. Coughing while the opening, Scarlet read through the pages of old.

When the world was new and life was just sprouting. A witch lived in a forest deep. One day she met an injured animal, healing it with her powers, the animal became familiar in order to repay its debt. The animal turned out to be a dragon. The witch and the dragon traveled far and wide helping humans. Until she stumbled upon a human, who wanted to become the king and help others. Seeing his kind the witch helped him, regardless of her familiar warnings. The king his heart to her, which she politely declined, but get was caught in jealousy when he saw her with her love-the duke of Weatherhail. The day of his coronation came, and the new king stained the throne with the crimson blood of the witch psychotically yelling ‘If you’re not mine, then no one can have you!!’

The dying Witch with the remaining power cursed the king ‘When a of mine descendant who has seen the World countless times, meets with a dragon, on that day, O Tyrant! Your dynasty will perish! And you, I curse you to live as long as this world exists!’ and so the witch passed away.

Scarlet couldn’t believe what she read. It couldn’t be her. She was probably just overthinking, but ticked all the boxes, didn’t she? Discarding useless thoughts, the young Duchess tried to find the solution to her predicament.

She went through all the records in the mansion, imperial library, and even in the temple. The experience in the imperial library was disgusting though. She had to meet the 5th Prince and even entertain the likes of him. The Prince couldn’t help winning her favor.

For the prince, who was greedy and ambitious, scarlet was someone who would get him the throne and everything he ever wanted. He tried to woe her and lure her to make mistakes, but Scarlet had gone through his ministrations multiple times. She just dusted him and minded her business. The prince even got the King involved. The king definitely liked the idea of having the Weatherhail dukedom under him. Hence, he supported the 5th prince’s advances and summoned her to the palace.

Scarlet greeted him ‘Glory to the sun of the kingdom.’ Monotonously. The king said ‘Raise, O Duke. Traveling on such short notice must have been tiring.’

‘Indeed it was.’ Replied Scarlet nonchalantly.

‘I have noticed the 5th prince showing interest in you, young lady.’

‘Duchess, your majesty. It’s Duchess’ correct Scarlet coldly while looking directly into the king’s eyes.

‘Indeed, indeed. Pardon my mistake.’ Laughed the king pleasantly. Scarlet mocked his laughter with her own snide chuckle. The king’s grip on the armrest hardened. He said ‘Let’s directly talk about the matter, shall we? How about you marry my son-‘

‘I refuse’

‘P-pardon?’

‘It seems that the king’s hearing has gotten worse due to aging, shall I recommend my personal doctor; he’s brilliant.’

‘I heard you loud and clear, Duchess. Do you not know the consequences of refusing?’

‘Political fight, assassination attempts, and possible civil war.’

‘Yet you refuse? You must be very confi-’

‘I am. In fact, if any of these were to happen, Weatherhail would win, like it always has.’

The king was dumbstruck by her declaration. He fiercely said ‘Are you challenging the royalty, Duchess?’

‘Oh, my apologizes-’

‘You will be pardoned-’

‘I was stating the truth’

The squabble went on, and in the end, Scarlet was sent to the southern borders to fight the rebels. The winds were in her favor, for she found her dragon. Now all her doubts were clear. She was destined to kill all. She bit her nail and grinned madly. She shouted at the sky ‘My time has come!’

Blessed by a dragon, Scarlet was able to free herself from the loop and drag the kingdom to the hellhole.

She waged a war on the king and turned his castle in a pool of blood. She stabbed him so hard that the sword pierced the throne. And the first King was hiding in the basement. He had gone insane. Scarlet actually didn’t want to kill him, she liked watching him suffer. So the 1st king and 5th prince were publicly humiliated. She stripped them in public and tied them to a pole and sent them on a tour of the country. She socially destroyed their life and locked them in the same basement, she was once locked and filled the cage with poisonous insects. “Although, it does not satiate my thirst for revenge, but oh well, it is indeed fun.” Thought she.

She made the 2nd prince the King, they went on the conquest to conquer the empire. Scarlet lived a long life filled with only warmth and happiness.

By Sree Deepthi Gooda