“He is unsuitable for marriage. Simpleminded, materialistic, and self absorbed. He’s only good for his looks, so it’s no wonder he’s an actor.”

Her mother had said, to which she retorted something equally shameful.

“Your mother was a prostitute.”

“Who managed to escape being captured by my grandfather for two weeks. While pregnant.”

“What are you trying to say, mother?”

“That your Verrat couldn’t withstand the Strogameer’s wrath, even if he tried.”

“We don’t know that. Your mother was under very different circumstances.”

“We value those who can withstand the worst of the worst. Mother led a life of hardship and cruelty in the slums of the Empire. Yet her intelligence held off the House of Strogameer.”

“So her circumstances shaped her intelligence?”

“Not necessarily. Her intelligence lay within her because of her bloodline. They could’ve been part of the elite advisors if they were born in a noble family. However, only she escaped the cycle only to be brought into another.”

“So you’re saying that if Verrat had adequate intelligence, I could marry him?”

“What would you define as intelligent? There are differing kinds.”

“Hmm…in terms of your House it would be defined as the intelligence of survivability. But also deception and gathering information.”

“I asked what you considered intelligent?”

“Is this a test of some sort?”

“You’re far past the age of testing.”

“But why do you want to know my interpretation of it? To deter me from Verrat I suppose.”

“In a way, but I wish to further understand your mentality.”

“So you can manipulate me.”

“I can’t stop you from marrying him, though I wish you understood that love cannot save you.”

“So you speak of yourself.”

Suddenly, Anmutig awakens. She had forgotten where the conversation had went after that comment.

Her phone had continually went off with various notifications so she snapped her glove on and opened the phone. Huh. She’s went viral.

Well, her wedding went viral. She scrolled through a few comments.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“I love her dress!”

“She’s wearing Hannah M.”

“Wasn’t Verrat just with Michelley?”

“They’re such a cute couple! #couplegoals

“He’s sooo sexy.”

“Vertig is their ship name, which is unfortunate.”

She doesn’t know how to feel about this. However, as she scrolls through her phone she sees that Eisen hasn’t texted back yet.

Should she text him back or wait for a response? She’s horribly worried yet knows he can handle himself. Perhaps she should visit her parents to get a few details?

Before she can decide, Verrat bursts into the room.

“We went viral baby!”

“I saw, it’s great!”

He jumps on the bed and projects the phones screen onto the television. Comments flood the screen while he excitedly reads them aloud.

Anmutig matches his energy but deep down feels a nervous premonition come upon her. From the details she gathered weeks ago, Eisen and her father were working on an assignment in the Lower District which involved locating Count Zorn’s mistress.

As a newlywed she can’t just wander off from Verrat so quickly. Plus, if she suggests they take a trip to the Lower District he’ll surely decline.

She excuses herself to the bathroom and slips a burner phone in her pocket. On her way to the toilet she looks around the house.

It’s typical Upper District architecture with dark marble walls and shimmering glass chandeliers which hang from the ceiling. Fake golden crystals are embedded in the walls which glow when the hall darkens. Though the floor is glass, one cannot see the ground, but she’s not worried about that.

The house is filled with cameras. Green lights blink rapidly in every corner, including the television and appliances. Supposedly none exist in bathrooms, so they watch even as she slumbers. These are the makings of Xander Corp.

Once in the bathroom she takes out the burner phone. This technology is illegal and may warrant execution if found. They have no anti gravity features so they must be held and can only be used twice, as any further use has a higher chance of being detected by the government.

“Mother?”

“Stay low for a while.”

“What’s happened to Father and Eisen?”

“Listen to me Anmutig Strogameer, the documents are in the grave and Xander technology ceases to function in the kingdom. Remember. I’ll get back to you when I can.”

She hangs up and Anmutig’s heart races. How could locating a Count’s mistress lead to this? Her mother wants her to cross the border, so what madness is this? There is no use in pondering.

She goes back to Verrat and sees he’s still engrossed in social media so she leaves through the front door.

The Lower District can be reached in one hour using hyper trains, but on foot it would take three days.

There is a cosmetic shop that can digitally change someone’s face or hair for a limited time, but it only works in certain districts.

What’s in fashion right now? Oh right, fiery red hair is currently trending so it wouldn’t look too strange if she bought that. From her observation, girls in all four districts were wearing these digital hair dyes. If she’s questioned a simple explanation will follow.

She browses the shop and buys one that has authorized use in three districts. Physical currency is still in use but mostly by the poor so when the shopkeeper scoffs, she pays it no mind.

Once outside she activates the dye. She can feel the static as it fizzles around her hair and boards the train.

Unease pricks at the back of her neck, but she dares not to turn around. Someone is watching her.

The feeling is akin to a lion waiting to pounce. It might be one of her haters, though their gazes are different. The paparazzi are out of the question since her fame barely warrants a scoop. Plus she’s only met a few fans over the years and they definitely harbored nothing but goodwill.

She freezes as a thought strikes her.

Why was her wedding hounded yesterday by the paparazzi? Verrat is the main lead in the drama while she’s a supporting character, yet their union couldn’t warrant a dozen journalists to the occasion.

Weddings go viral everyday so it’s not too outlandish to see herself on multiple sites. And yet the impending sense of doom doesn’t lessen.

She can’t dismiss the thought that someone may be targeting her. It’s too coincidental though her paranoia could be just that. Still, she keeps looking oblivious and gets off the train in the Middle District.

She doesn’t risk taking another hyper train and rushes into the woods.