The Ghost of Buda Castle

The Arrival in Budapest

The train ride from Vienna to Budapest had been long, but Erik barely noticed the hours passing. His mind was consumed by the research he had spent years compiling—the accounts of castle staff who swore they had seen the Lady in White, the centuries-old court documents, the secret letters that hinted at a cover-up.

This was not just another ghost story.

As the train pulled into Keleti Station, Erik took a deep breath. The city stretched before him in golden twilight, the Danube River reflecting the glow of street lamps. The Chain Bridge led his gaze to the hill where Buda Castle stood in silent majesty.

A feeling settled in his chest—excitement laced with unease.

He checked into a small, historic inn on the Buda side of the city, its wooden floors creaking under his boots. The owner, an elderly woman named Ilona, regarded him with knowing eyes as she handed him the key.

“You’ve come for her, haven’t you?” she asked.

Erik hesitated. “For the history,” he said, though they both knew it was more than that.

Ilona only nodded. “She waits for someone like you.”

The Castle After Dark

Night had fallen by the time Erik reached the castle. Tourists were gone, the streets leading to Fisherman’s Bastion quiet except for the occasional echo of footsteps.

With special permission from the Hungarian Historical Society, Erik had been granted access to the castle grounds after hours. The security guard, Gábor, was an old friend of his mentor and agreed to let him explore parts of the Royal Palace that were normally off-limits at night.

“Stay away from the lower tunnels,” Gábor warned as he unlocked the main gate. “Some doors are locked for a reason.”

The grand halls were eerily silent. The scent of ancient stone and wax from centuries-old chandeliers lingered in the air. He passed by Matthias Church, its spire casting a long shadow under the moon.

Then, at the Matthias Fountain, he felt it.

A shift in the air.

Erik turned sharply, his pulse quickening. A figure stood at the base of the fountain—a woman, her long dress shimmering as if made of mist.

His breath caught.

Then—she was gone.

Only the whisper remained.

*"Help me."*

Secrets in the Archives

The next morning, Erik made his way to the Budapest History Museum, housed within the castle itself. He had arranged to meet Dr. László Horváth, a historian who had spent decades studying the darker side of Buda Castle’s past.

“I hope you know what you’re getting into,” László said, leading Erik to the archives. “Most people who chase this story don’t stay long.”

“Because of the ghost?”

László scoffed. “Because the truth is dangerous.”

Together, they pored over old court records, trial documents, and letters exchanged between nobles in the late 1400s. What they found painted a disturbing picture.

Katalin Hunyadi had been accused of treason against King Matthias Corvinus, but the charges were flimsy—based on rumors and testimony from a single witness: Count István Bathory, a powerful noble with much to gain.

Further digging uncovered something more chilling—Bathory himself had vanished only weeks after Katalin’s execution.

His last known location?

Buda Castle’s underground tunnels.

The Labyrinth Below

That night, Erik returned to the castle with Gábor’s reluctant approval. He descended into the Labyrinth, a vast network of underground tunnels that had served as prisons, wine cellars, and hiding places for secrets best left forgotten.

His lantern flickered as he moved through the damp corridors. Then, something caught his eye.

A door, partially sealed with bricks.

The whispers returned, softer this time, urging him forward.

Brushing away dust and cobwebs, he uncovered a hidden chamber. Inside, an ornate silver pendant lay beneath layers of dirt. The emblem on it was not Katalin’s—but Bathory’s family crest.

A chill ran down his spine.

Had he just found proof that Bathory was imprisoned here after betraying Katalin?

Suddenly, the air grew heavy. The temperature plummeted.

Then—a voice.

*"You see it now."*

Erik turned slowly.

Standing in the doorway was the ghost of Lady Katalin.

A Plea from the Past

She was luminous, her form flickering like candlelight. Her dark eyes locked onto Erik’s, filled with sorrow yet pleading.

"Bathory lied," Erik whispered.

The ghost nodded.

She raised a translucent hand and pointed to the far wall. Erik moved closer, running his fingers along the stone. Something clicked.

The wall shifted, revealing a sealed skeleton.

Count István Bathory.

The traitor had never escaped Buda Castle. He had been silenced—possibly by the same people who had used him to frame Katalin.

A new whisper drifted through the chamber.

*"My name... Clear it."*

Justice at Last

Erik wasted no time. With Dr. Horváth’s help, he compiled enough evidence to reopen Katalin’s case. The Hungarian government reviewed the findings, and within months, Lady Katalin Hunyadi’s innocence was officially recognized.

Her story was rewritten in history books, and a monument was placed near the Matthias Fountain in her honor.

On the night of the unveiling, Erik stood before the fountain, lost in thought.

The wind stirred.

A soft whisper.

*"Thank you."*

He turned, but no one was there.

For the first time, the castle felt at peace.

Epilogue

Years later, Erik published *The Lost Legacy of Lady Katalin*, chronicling the mystery he had unraveled. The book became a bestseller, bringing thousands to Buda Castle, all eager to see the site where history had been rewritten.

Some claimed to hear whispers at night.

Some saw flickering lights in the halls.

But Erik knew—Katalin had moved on.

Still, when he visited the castle, he sometimes felt the weight of the past pressing close.

And once, just once, he heard it again.

*"Never forget."*

The End