I do not care what they say! I am not a monster! I find myself crying myself to sleep more and more often lately.
Grandpapa is really sick now. I am afraid of what will happen if he dies. Where will I go? What will I do? Will I be allowed to go to grandpapa's funeral? God, I wish I knew.
"Aria?" I hear the one servant who is not afraid of me, and very loyal to the family, such as it is. Her name is Mirabelle Tolet, but I call her "Papillon", which means "butterfly", for her love of the pretty creatures.
"Yes, Papillon?" I call back.
"Master Pierre would like to see you in his chambers."
I hurry down the stairs from the library where I had previously been engrossed in a book on legends. I hope the reason is not why I think it is. I hope he is not in his final moments, oh God, I do not know what I would do! I am an adult, barely 20, yes, but I have no real experience in the world outside. How will I survive?
I have reached grandpapa's room, a room I only remember from when I was but eight years old, having been taken there after waking up from a horrid nightmare.
"Grandpapa?"
"Yes, ma chere?"
"Why did you want me here?"
"It is just about my time, Aria. I am dying," he breathed. "This house, everything I own, all my assets, I give to you upon my death. You will also inherit my title, Lord of Shadowlocke, or in your case, Lady, along with being Comtess de Guirre."
"But what about you? Are you not scared? What if mama and papa dispute the claim?" I worry, probably without due cause.
Grandpapa sighs. I start to panic, thinking he has given up the ghost, so to speak. But, no, thank God! I see him take another breath, and I felt relieved. "Aria, it is written in my will for you. Your mother left as soon as she was an adult, and very rarely wrote back home. For, you see, she had run off with an American tourist, whom she later married and became your father. This broke her mother's heart; she never was the same after that. She has no legal say in the matter.
"Do not worry, mon ange. I shall watch over you in heaven… Goodbye…" After he said "goodbye", the expected, but still unwanted, occurred. His breath rattled in his throat and the life died in his eyes I begin to weep openly.
"Aria? Are you all right?" Papillon queries.
"What am I to do? Grandpapa has died! Where does that leave me?"
"You are very welcome to stay, my Lady, the House is yours."
"Mine? No joke?"
"Oui. No 'joke'."