Haunted Duke’s Daughter
Prologue

From a certain estates maids diary.

Today was another long day that couldnt have ended sooner. Its been three years today since I started working at this estate, but the work here still feels just as harsh. The lord and lady here are kind and gentle people, but mistress here is a relentlessly unreasonable person. While yelling at the slightest displeasure, her fist would be the next thing to follow. Im just a nice maid girl who can only smile politely while receiving such abuse.

Such a mistress was for some reason acting quite strange on this day. Not to say that she suddenly turned nice, or timid. It could only be described as strange.

From the instant she opened her eyes till the moment she turned in for the night, she was incessantly murmuring strange things to herself. As I was staring puzzled and worried at such a sight, a sudden shout would escape her lips. And even more strangely, such a shout was not actually aimed at us maids this time, and the mistress seemed to suddenly come to her senses and turned away as if escaping from our glances.

It was as if the girl before today was a lie. If the case was that we had failed to meet some sort of expectation, we would surely be blamed. If we touch upon something that we shouldnt be getting involved with, we would also be blamed. Thus, after much consultation, we maids decided to not get involved with the strangeness of the mistresss behaviour today.

And so, for the whole day, the mistresss strangeness only stood out more and more. Always talking to herself, suddenly shouting out. We maids, trying to pay no mind to such things, it took our utmost simply trying to respond normally when called upon.

At the end of the day, the mistress simply quietly went to bed without uttering another word. Looking back on it, other than the eccentric behaviour, today was certainly much more peaceful than usual.

In a room lined with extravagant decorations, the space was filled with various furniture. All of this was forcibly gathered by the master of the room. Through trickery, threats, and sometimes calling upon fathers authority, all of these things were taken and collected in this room.

At a corner of this room, the master here was in fact fallen prostrate on a large table. Sporting long blonde hair and an extravagant dress, a girl who looked no more than fifteen years of age sat exhausted at the table. With a drained expression plastering her features, she seemed to be grumbling, muttering about something all by herself. Things like why did this have to happen and its really so annoying escaped her incessantly moving lips.

Well, well, lets calm down okay?

What resounded in her head was the voice of a young woman. This voice that could only be heard by the girl, had for the entire day been unceasingly brandishing her suddenly new found vocals at the girl.

Heey, dont ignore me, Lilia.

Lilia confronted the girl calling out to her, and furiously stood up.

Enough is enough! You cant do this, or you cant do that! Who gave you the right to tell me what to do!

No no, I wasnt particularly giving you orders right? It was simply advice.

The voice, no matter how enraged Lilia became, continued to keep a calm tone of conversation. On the contrary, the voice seemed to be quite cheerful.

In the first place, what is your advice even supposed to mean? Ive asked you countless times, but I still have no idea!

Havent I answered that question every time youve asked me? At this rate, you are walking towards your own destruction you know. Meaning total ruin yeah? Im here to defend you from such a future, and save your neck you know?

Ha! Ruin? Dont make me laugh. I havent done anything wrong right? Besides, how could a dukes clan fall so easily?

The girl was the eldest daughter of a dukes family. Other than the royal family, anyone would think twice about confronting their influence. At the very least in the current generation, their power was second only to the crown prince.

In such a scenario, it was unthinkable for the dukes clan to collapse.

Why do you even proclaim to know of such things anyways.

Why? Well Im an angel who can see into the future. You should be grateful.

Well, I wonder what my plans for tomorrow are.

Ignoring me, how could you! Okay okay Im not actually an angel, but I really can see a little bit of the future you know!

She may have had an aloof character, but that one line was tinged in seriousness. Lilia was surprised deep inside, and it also showed on her disgusted expression at her own next words.

If you insist on it that much, then at least show me some sort of evidence that your predictions are accurate. If you can prove it to mewell, Ill be able to have a little confidence towards this voice in my head.

Lilia assured herself that such a thing was indeed impossible. Certainly this voice was a strange entity, but even so something likeforesight should be impossible. However, the voice was delighted at Lilias words and laughed.

Really? Its a promise okay! Here we go

The voice, seemingly deep in thought about something, fell silent for a while. A small breath leaked out after a long awaited respite from all the noise. While waiting like that, before long the voice returned.

Here I go, a prediction of two years from now. The season is the beginning of spring, probably.

Thats quite far into the future. Ill say this now but, saying I told you so later on will not make me recognise your ability.

Yeah, okay. After all, there shouldnt be any problems.

Insisting so much on such a thing, will it really prove true come two years? Lilia was innocently interested in hearing about it, waiting for what came next. The voice cleared her throat and said this.

During the spring of two years into the future, entering your senior year of schooling, you will experience the wrath of the crown prince, earning his hatred.

Wha-!

Lilias eyes widened in astonishment. The crown prince was her fiancee. To become hated by the prince, what could be the meaning of this?

There are limits to nonsense you know

Wrath entered Lilias voice. But the voice that resounded through her head paid it no heed, and seemed to be enjoying herself after all.

Of course I understand that. It would be great for you if it turned out false, so theres no need to get angry right?

It was certainly so, thought Lilia. She had confidence that nothing would come of this prediction. And when it does prove false, this voice will definitely go away too. Lilia nodded in agreement.

Well then, until we replace out the result, please do be silent, agreed?

Alright, though Ill be quite lonely But, well. Of course. Itd be troubling if my words were simply ignored all the time, so Ill be quiet.

The way those words were said seemed to catch something in her mind, but instead of dwelling on that uncomfortable feeling the conversation continued.

Well then, farewell. Please dont ever come out again.

Hey that really hurts. Well, I get it. Good bye. Lets speak again in two years time.

Lilia frowned at the unpleasantness of the parting laughter of the voice, as it fell silent.

After that, the mysterious voice that followed her all day could be heard no longer. The words of the voice continued to bother her for a while, but in just a month the very existence of that voice was forgotten.

And so the spring of two years later came.

And with it a declaration from the prince that his engagement-

-was officially annulled.