Curse for a King: 3
The funeral was more crowded than Leo expected. The nobels stood circling the coffin, some mourning, some with eyes full of tears and some crying so fake that even Vixen could figure it out. The Hunters, including Leo and his wolf, stood outside in the court's garden. There was a pitch of silence among them.
"Mr.Hunter, would you like some?" a young Maid asked as she presented Leo with cups of tea, blue as sky. "I'm not much of a tea drinker" Leo said as he tried deviating from the fair maiden's eyes. She was indeed pretty, her skin white as snow, Brown eyes and a drop of innocence and kindness on her face. "It's Tea from Novella, you can't just drop it sir. King Esmon's favorite.." she stumbled letting her sorrowful emotions flow from her eyes. "Here you go" Leo pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her.
"Thank you sir..?"
"Leo and he is Vixen"
"A gray wolf..it's been long since I've seen one without blood on its teeth" The maid softly laid her hands on the wolf's head. Surprisingly Vixen didn't mind.
"He likes you" Leo complimented with a small smile. She then rubbed her hands across the wolf's fur. "My name is Lisa, Lisa Marcket."
"Tell me Lisa, did you know the king well?"
"Absolutely. I was his helping breath till today..A kind man..I was his personal maid"
"And what signs did he show? Anything unusual?"
"None, he was calm. But old age catches up to one quick someday"
"Weird how the Princess believes it to be a curse. Anyways, what last words did he have with you?" Leo questioned as he finally sat down on a wooden bench. "He asked for the Novella tea as usual..". Novella tea, not a nice evening drink for Leo. it was pretty much a death sentence if you poured too many leaves of it. Too strong for men even like Leo who gets drunk on ale often.
"Interesting. Anyways I would like my departure. It's about time I get to examine the body itself" Leo said as he final smiled at the maid and walked off to the funeral. Vixen soon followed.
The hall was empty and silent with the coffin laid open and Helen standing beside it. "You finally came. Take your look before I let my father finally rest.." she spoke with tears running down her already wet cheeks. Leo walked closer and now stood in front of the late king. Darkish Blue skin, Eyes too dull and dead, Body swelled and finally a deep red mark on the forehead, A demonic red mark on that matter. "Bloody demons..took away my father.." Helen spoke, trying her best to control those tears. "This mark, it's recent. It's fresh and something I've never seen.." Leo spoke as he ran his fingers on the pale blue skin. "One more Hunter with no clue of the curse..Please leave." Helen now took off the stand and let the coffin come shut. "I had a few expectations from the wolf tamer but even he had nothing to speak about.." She broke down as Leo had the last look on the blue king with that fresh disturbing mark on his forehead as the guards walked away with the coffin, leaving behind sorrows, tears and in some faces of the nobles, a smile.