Deep in the heart of Transylvania, in a crumbling, ancient castle on top of a hill, a piercing scream filled the air. It echoed through Castle Duckula's halls. The scream originated from Count Duckula himself, who was eating in the dining hall. He covered his mouth while Igor and Nanny watched. Nanny looked concerned, while Igor just stared with his usual stoic expression.
Sitting across from Count Duckula was a teenage girl who looked a lot like him, only with lighter green feathers and red eyes. She wore a long-sleeved black dress that reached the floor. She looked up from her meal and asked in a monotone voice, "Father, what is the matter?"
The Count uncovered his mouth. "The soup is too hot!" He was quite annoyed, mostly with himself.
The teen went back to slowly eating her dinner, which was a bowl of red soup. "Perhaps if you'd have waited until it cooled, you wouldn't have burnt your tongue."
Duckula sighed. "Yes, Patty, I know. I'm just hungry."
"Please don't call me that, Father," the young countess said with no emotion.
"Patricia, I really wish you wouldn't call me Father," Duckula said, as patiently as he could. "It's so stuffy and formal."
"What would you rather I call you?"
"Dad. Pops. Pa. Anything but Father."
Patricia stared at her father, blankly, for a moment, before replying, "Those terms are...unelegant."
Duckula sighed. "Never mind." He ate, his vegetable soup cooler than before. He made a face, attempting to chew. "Nanny, what did you put in this soup?"
"Carrots, turnips, celery, and rocks."
"Oh, alri-ROCKS?!"
"Yes. We ran out of potatoes."
Duckula, exasperated, got up from the table. "I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late, Patricia."
"Yes, Father."
Duckula shook his head and went upstairs. Patricia kept eating, quietly.
"Countess, it is Wednesday," Igor said.
"Hm?" The teenager seemed distracted.
The butler repeated himself. "It is nearly time for you to go hunting."
"Oh, yes," Patricia said. "We'll go after I finish my soup."
"Very good, milady."
After Patricia finished her meal, she and Igor left the castle and headed to the village.