“You look lovely, Scarlet!” compliments my mother. “It’s good to see you in a dress every once in a while. You’ve been suppressing your feminine side, and it shows.”
“Sorry, Mother,” I drone with no real emotions.
All four of us are stuffed inside a horse-drawn carriage as it speeds away from the castle. Guards on mounts, Remi included, follow on all sides for support. My father and mother sit across from me. They’re dressed in their usual noble attire of deep reds, blacks, and golds.
My newly minted baby brother Conrad sits delicately in Mother’s arms. It annoys me how careful she is with him. The favoritism irks the shit out of me. Today counts as the first time we’ve surpassed double digits in seeing each other. Hell, this is a rare moment where all of us are in the same place simultaneously. We’re like an actual family! What a joke.
“I must agree, it’s a good selection. The dress goes well with your hair. It complements you perfectly,” my father adds.
As alluded to, I wear a red dress. It’s an intricate design that felt like stepping into a second layer of skin. Luckily, the staff helped me get inside it, or else I’d be naked right now.
The dress is short; too short for me. The hem stops just below my mid-thigh, but it’s frilly and wide with a black-colored edge to add volume. I don’t usually wear stuff this short, but this is a “special occasion,” and I didn’t pick this thing out, my mother did. My shoulders and upper arms are bare, but I wear red gloves from my elbow down that match the blood color of my dress. And while I show no cleavage, I might as well be. It’s tight around my tits, so nothing is being left to the imagination. There is a second layer of fabric covering them, kind of like the top of the dress was rolled over like a trash bag. It fans out, creating emphasis on my assets. A simple pair of black heels adorn my feet, making my legs appear longer due to the color contrast.
I hate that I know these things. I mean, I look good, but like a whore. A freshly purchased whore.
And it’s all thanks to my parents.
The mixture of Earthly cultures in the design seems odd to me. While there are many retro styles you’d expect in this reality, they’re mostly combined with modern twists from my former existence. For example, my father is wearing a standard suit you’d see on any investor working on Wall Street. But he wears an odd jacket over his shoulders. It looks like a peacoat, but he doesn’t put his arms through his sleeves. Instead, he wears it like a cape. I don’t know why.
I’ve thought it weird for years now. Nothing in any history book gave me a good explanation as to why fashion is like this. I’m left with a bunch of unproven theories.
Mother is dressed more conservatively. Compared to my outfit, she is a nun. I feel like a piece of meat. I guess that’s the point of the outfit. I’m a product, and the clothes are the window to show off my goods.
Life is soooo awesome….
It isn’t degrading at all.
“Waaaaaa!” Conrad begins to cry in Mother’s arms.
“Shhh! There, there, my lovely.” Mother begins rocking my brother back and forth. Love exudes from her eyes. “Mommy’s here. She’ll take care of you.”
The bias is palpable.
When Conrad was born, my parents were finally happy with their family. It was then I truly realized how much they secretly resented me. Well, that might not be the best word. They’d simply prefer a boy to me, no matter how exceptional I am.
“This is your first time going into town,” realizes my father. His tone is more commanding than usual. “Be on your best behavior. We represent the people. They need to see us at our most refined; otherwise, their loyalty will be shaken.”
I nod half-heartedly.
“We will be meeting with the Astra family. They own a series of docks, ships, and warehouses out by the ocean to the south in Port Prosper. Their influence is of vast importance to Zalevet.”
“And this meeting is a chance for you to build ties with individuals deeply involved in shipping. It would make it easier for you to initiate agricultural trades if you had closer connections. I understand,” I reiterate what I’d gathered from Remi earlier last week.
Father blinks. A soft nod dips off his forehead. “Exactly. Very astute of you. I should expect that by now, yet you still surprise me.”
“But do try to reign it in, dear,” says my mother.
My head cocks to the side. “Why?”
“You’ll be meeting the eldest son of the Astra family today. We hear he is intelligent, handsome, and charismatic. However, you are a special case. Men do not like it when women seem more skilled than them. And let’s face it, you’re better than most people at most things. Assess where he’s at. Try to stay beneath him so he feels superior, okay?”
“Yes, Mother.”
That’s the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard, but I believe her. A rich boy with no view of life outside of privilege. Yes, I believe he’d develop an attitude if I showed him up at things he’s enjoyed unwarranted superiority over. Not that I care.
“Yes, listen to your mother,” signals my father. “We shall be meeting with the adults. That’ll give you and their boy free time to do as you please. Spend time around town. Make a good impression. You’ll likely know him for a long, long time.”
My eyes immediately swerve out the window. “Yes, Father.”
The town looms in the distance. It brightens my mood enough to help me ignore my anxiety.
The mix of architectural styles is fantastic! Whoever designed this place is nuts! It’s very reminiscent of Greek architecture. Aqueducts and marble buildings decorate the streets. Likewise, there are Venetian influences as well as old-England style homes. The culture of Tellus, or at least Zalevet, looks as if every popular culture from Earth was blended together and then spewed onto the ground. As I said, I have no idea why.
We cross over a bridge. Underneath, water from a massive lake swirls. Ahead, the city sits like an island. The lake itself is enormous. If I had to compare it, the size is likely close to one of the Great Lakes.
The official municipality nearest to our castle, Castle Gray, is Water’s Bastion. Water’s Bastion was the first city established in this lake, Hopeful Lake as it is called. Yes, I mean ‘in.’ Massive chunks of earth dot the interior of this lake at critical points along the coastline.
The original founder, a famous merchant named Orson Gray, used that design to create an agricultural block based on a ring system. History tells us he was a powerful Earth Typical, so altering the environment as he did would have been possible, though very hard.
At each land block in the river, a city was developed. The inner parts hold housing, business occurs in the middle ring, and the outer ring maintains the aqueducts. The aqueducts then pump water to crucial areas outside the landmasses to fertile areas placated by farmers. With each farm section having multiple hubs, prosperity from farming fueled the cities while the commerce within the cities kept the farms alive.
The system is magnificent, but Orson Gray created it merely to sustain the towns around Hopeful Lake. There’s potential to make this territory into a veritable breadbasket for the rest of Zalevet, but no baron has been able to see it through. At least, not until my father, it seems.
Water’s Bastion was the first city established by Orson Gray. You could say it was the prototype for the dozens of cities now using Water’s Bastion’s system around the nearly ten-thousand square miles of lake sitting smack in the middle of Zalevet. It is why the baron’s castle is so close.
“What do you think?” Father inquires.
I stare in awe out the window. He must have noticed the look in my eyes. He’s a lousy parent, but he takes pride in his people and his city. That’s something, at least.
“It’s wonderful,” I utter without a hint of sarcasm. “People are amazing.”
“That they are.”
Our carriage finally crosses the bridge to the other side. The city opens up before me. Even knowing the architecture from books and seeing it from a distance does not prepare me for how odd the buildings look.
Close Venetian homes built with Roman and Greek materials lay along cobblestone streets like old England. The architecture has plants integrated into them on the roofs and sides. The island appears to split into areas allowing water through. Small, artistic bridges cross over them to allow foot traffic as boats travel within the streams hauling people and supplies alike.
I stare in wonder at the structures but also the people moving across them.
Again, the sense of style is weird. A mix of modern and old-age clothing. For example, men are clearly wearing jeans along with modern-styled boots. Yet, they adorn their tops with baggy shirts with strings to tie the chest tighter. Some add sashes to their waists. Others wear old-timey hats. Yet the jackets all look to be out of modern America. Pea coats. Trench coats. Blazers. It’s all so bizarre.
People stare as we pass. They point at our vehicle, discussing us as we move along the streets. We’re in the baron’s carriage, and his guards surround us. I’d probably point too if I were not a part of the commotion.
Remi’s horse walks past the window. She waves at me. Today, she’s dressed in her soldier’s attire. She wears a full suit of dark, light leathers. It looks heavy, but nothing she cannot handle. White fabrics poke through at her waist like a side sash. A similar white scarf wraps around her neck. It flows down her back. Her rapier, a delicate sword, sits comfortably at her side.
“The park is up ahead, Lord Embers,” the carriage driver calls to my father. His voice carries through the nearby open window.
“Good to hear,” says my father.
The carriage comes to a stop. The scenery outside has changed drastically. We’re in the middle of town. Artificial meadows, gardens, trees, and hedges adorn the area. A large part of the lake leaks within the middle. The park centers around it. In a sense, it’s a pond within an island in a lake. Benches decorate the area. The people are dressed a little better in this district, though everyone has good style in my view. It’s hard to tell who’s rich or poor. That goes to show the prosperity of this region.
The butler climbs down. He opens the carriage door on my side. Mother hands Conrad to the man. He’ll likely hold him for the remainder of the day. She climbs out with Father following behind her. I’m the last one out of the wooden box.
Our guards dismount their horses. They move off in their own directions. Remi hovers nearby but not in an obvious way. She offers me a gentle smile, and I give one back. Nervousness bubbles beneath my skin.
Out in the middle of the park, a family of three is surrounded by four armed guards. One is substantially larger than the rest. His silver armor is styled around the chest plate which features the face of a bull. The family is all tall, even the mother. All three have blonde hair. Does someone need a prototype German family for a brochure? Poof! Here they are!
“That would be the Astra Family,” notes my father. He stares at the same group I am. “Come. We must greet them.”
The three of us, with our butler-driver carrying Conrad in tow, walk towards the Astra family. Our guards fan out around us as a barrier of protection. Those in the park watch us with awe. Some note our presence with amusement. Others appear annoyed. A random person even seems angry. The reactions are mixed. Such is politics.
The Astra family catches sight of us. The father waves. “Baron Embers! A pleasure to see you again after all these years!”
Father steps forward. Our guards create an opening. The two men shake hands in the middle.
“Likewise, Lord Astra. The pleasure is mine,” my father allows.
Lord Astra is a tall man, though it’s clear he hasn’t worked a day of hard labor in his life. He likely doesn’t exercise either so he must have high metabolism. Fair skin makes his frame glow. He has a beardless face that makes his charming hazel eyes seem abnormally colorful. A warm smile permanently melts across his face. Long hair plumes from his head. It gathers behind his neck like waves.
“I believe the last time I saw you, you were still a general,” expresses Lord Astra.
“Right you are. Time changes all things.”
Lord Astra nods. “Quite, quite. Ahhh, I must introduce you to my wife!” He gestures behind him.
A woman steps forward. She offers her hand to Father. “Charmed.”
Father takes and kisses the top of it. “Likewise.” He turns behind him as well. “And I believe you know my beloved wife already.”
Mother and Lady Astra smile at each other.
“Madeline!” Lady Astra cheers. “It has been too long!”
My mother giggles as they embrace. “Ah, same! You’re still as radiant as ever!”
Huh. It appears they’re acquainted. Does that mean my mother is from the coast or that Lady Astra is from here? I thought my parents got married because of my mother’s father’s agricultural connections. Huh. I suppose he didn’t have to be from this specific area to have them. Dunno. Don’t care either. It’s not like they’re interested in me. Why should I be interested in them?
Lady Astra is a beautiful woman. Her body is not very curvy, but she’s gorgeous enough in her face that it hardly matters. Her blonde, long hair matched with crystal blue eyes is enough to tug on the heartstrings. She looks younger than my mother, though I guess they’re roughly the same age if they know each other.
“Do you plan on returning home to see the coast again? Your family has not seen you in a long time. We still talk about you a lot. I miss my friend.”
For the first time in my life, I see a pang of agony flesh out my mother’s face. I suppose she’s learned to adjust to her own “arranged marriage” thing. Not entirely, but enough to keep up a particular public perception.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a reason to come out in the future,” responds Mother. She fixes her posture, but there’s still a hint of regret in her eyes.
“And who’s that fine, young man there with you?” Father speaks over the two of them. He gestures at the younger guy nearly as tall as Lord Astra lingering behind the pack.
Lord Astra smiles. He walks over to the guy, puts an arm around him, and brings him forward. “This is my boy, Harold.”
Harold Astra is built very much like his father, though there’s more youth to his features. He wears an all-white suit with a gray overcoat thrown over his body. Red stitching, along with a similarly colored tie, makes the rest of the outfit pop. At his waist is an array of belts. A sword and a knife sit within them. He’s stronger looking than his father, likely because he looks as if he can actually use his sword. Other than that, he’s adapted his father’s blonde hair paired with his mother’s crystal blue eyes.
Handsome, I suppose. The only bright side is that I won’t be marrying someone ugly, so there’s that. Not that I want to marry him to begin with.
Father puts out his hand. Harold takes it.
“A firm grip. One accustomed to the sword. I can see you’ve trained your boy well, Lord Astra,” comments my father as he stares Harold in the eyes.
“You’re too kind,” allows Lord Astra.
God, this is all soooo fake! I’m going to puke….
Suddenly, I feel a hand press the lower part of my back. Without warning, I’m shoved forward.
Father presents me before Harold. “This is my daughter, Scarlet.”
“Oh,” I mutter. My face is marred with discomfort, but I fix it with a smile. My hands set before me. “It is pleasant to meet you,” I lie. The tip of my head bows forward. I grab the hem of my dress, curtseying gently before rising back into a normal position.
What can I say? Beyond my intellectual lessons, I was taught to be a functioning noblewoman. It was boring. Dancing. Etiquette. Traditions. Not worth mentioning. Just things only a woman would have to do. Ha ha ha….
Harold stares at me with a blank expression. He doesn’t seem to care that I’m there. It fixes quickly, though. “Charmed.”
“Oh, you’re lovely! Just like your mother.” Lady Astra steps between Harold and me. She grabs both my hands then pauses. Her brows knit together. She opens my palms and examines them. “So many calluses! Do you ride horses?”
“I practice the sword, Lady Astra,” I reply with a gentle, somewhat nervous tone.
Lady Astra blinks rapidly. “The sword?” Confusion laces her voice. She drops my hands from her own.
“At a young age, I—”
Father cuts me off. “It’s a hobby she’s picked up in her free time. My advisor is a talented swordsman who lives with us on retainer, so he teaches her when he can to keep her thin.”
In my head, I scream curse words at him for belittling me so blatantly.
“A practical notion with a useful skill!” Lord Astra speaks. “Most women do not bother with such things.”
Remi mutters unhappily behind me.
Looooooving the blatant sexism royalty gears towards women. It’s great. I miss not being the butt of the joke. I want to make the jokes! How cruel.
“We’ll have to spar sometime,” suggests Harold. His words seem almost taunting.
My eyes narrow at the notion. “If you would like.”
“Now, now, we do not spar with women, Harold.” Lord Astra places his palm on the top of his son’s head. “Be courteous.” He turns to me. “I apologize for his attitude.”
Attitude? He could tell too?
“They’ll work out their differences without us around, I’m sure.” Father laughs. “Kids always act reserved when watched by their elders.”
“Ah, a perfect segue,” says Lord Astra. He looks at the guard with the bull chest piece. “Sir Wallace, stay with Harold, will you?”
“Yes, my lord,” speaks Sir Wallace.
Sir Wallace, beyond his armor, is a handsome man in a biker-gang sort of way. Long hair. Scruffy face. Dangerous eyes. Very tall. If I were still a guy, I’d be highly intimidated by him. Hell, I am now.
“Sir—” begins my father.
“Good thing we brought along Remi,” I whisper near my father.
Father freezes. “Ah, right.” He pauses. “Lady Remi, watch over my daughter.”
Remi bows. “An honor, sir.”
“Yes, yes.” Father moves towards Lord and Lady Astra. “We have reservations at a fine restaurant down the street. I reserved the establishment for this occasion, so it should only be the four of us. Their summer wines are fresh this season. A recent harvest. It’ll be a treat.”
“Lovely,” accepts Lord Astra.
The adults leave with their entourage of guards. They largely ignore Harold and me from that point forward. The two of us are left behind with Remi and Wallace. I’m sure they’ll air out the details of the engagement over a delightful meal.
The taciturnity is painfully awkward.
I groan. “Okay! Enough of all the fake crap!” My body turns to Harold, much to his and Wallace’s surprise. “Let’s start this all over again, shall we? If we’re being forced together, it’s better to drop this whole act, no?” I hold out my hand. “Scarlet.”
Harold stares at me, stunned. Eventually, his facial features calm. “Harold.” He grabs my hand to shake. His eyes twitch. My callouses rub against his own. “Not just a hobby for exercise, is it?”
I shake my head.
“Fascinating.”
“Aren’t I?” I tease.
Might as well play along for now. It’s not like I have any choice in the matter.
Remi sighs deeply behind me. Sir Wallace watches over us with an odd sense of curiosity.
“I’ve never been here before. Any idea of what’s fun?” Harold asks me. “My parents have been boring to say the least. Parks and walking, mostly.”
“Oh! How about we take a walk in the park?”
Harold winces.
“Kidding! Food and drink would be nice.”
“Is that…suitable…for you?”
“Do you not want to?”
Harold pauses then shrugs. “I suppose if you’re okay with it, I’d rather do that as well.”
I clasp my hands together. “Great! It’s decided!” I point my hand out into the distance. “Onward, Remi! Guide us to greatness!”
Remi walks past. “Thank you for the honor, my lady,” she says with a hint of annoyance.
“Heeeeey, hide your sarcasm in front of strangers,” I reprimand.
Remi suddenly turns. A smirk plays on her lips. “I could say the same to you. It took mere moments for you to drop your charade personality around the Astra boy. Don’t you think you should have tried to maintain the ruse a bit longer than that?”
“Eh,” I mewl. “It was gonna happen sooner or later.”
“It’s better than the stuck-up formalities from before,” says Harold as he walks up beside me. His body slouches forward slightly. “It’s tiring.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “I figured! This is what we call an ‘icebreaker.’ My bubbly personality will make this whole ‘friendship’ thing easier.”
“Heh, okay. Can I do the same?”
“I would prefer so. The real person is soooo much more interesting,” I utter without a feint of ulterior motive.
“In that case—” Harold grabs my hand. “—it’ll be more of an adventure without a knowledgeable guide leading us around. I’ll take the lead if you don’t mind.”
My face stiffens slightly as Harold pulls me forward. “Sure,” I say, generally speechless beyond that single word.
Remi peers at the two of us. With a glance at me, she allows Harold to move forward. True to his word, Harold, without a plan, moves us along the streets of Water’s Bastion as our guards shadow us from behind.
•
Stares follow us everywhere we go. It doesn’t help that none of us blend in well. It’s hard with two armed guards at the rear. Even so, Harold eventually found us a place to eat, and the beer and fried catfish were delightful. A glorious change of pace from the castle that has been my entire world thus far.
It turns out Harold has more personality than I would have thought. He’s charming, funny, and personable to everyone he meets. Whether they’re waiters or random people that bump by, he’s always cheery. His words put people at ease. It’s a dangerous combination for a guy with his looks. I’d have been jealous if I were still Felix.
Wallace and Remi genuinely started connecting during our meal. Go figure. Wallace looks like the male icon on the cover of a romance book sold at a pharmacy. Remi’s gorgeous in a gothic warrior way. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re clicking.
But now, lunch has finished. We’ve had our fill of drink. I’m intoxicated for the first time in many, many years. For the first time in this body, for sure. The high of that first drink was quick. Only a few beers. Lucky! That tolerance will disappear with practice, so I must savor it.
Harold and I walk together back down the cobblestone streets. We enjoy the architecture, nature, and people walking by. Remi and Wallace follow behind us. They chatter like old friends or past lovers.
Remi giggles. “Oh, I could so kick your ass.”
“I’d like to see that,” revels Wallace. There’s a silkiness to his voice.
“Is that all you’d like to see?” Remi stresses. Her words are now smoother than Wallace’s.
“Not in the streets, people!” I turn around, shouting back at Remi and Wallace. I clap my hands together. “Besides, think how much armor you two would have to take off. Geez! By the time you’re unhooking straps, dropping metals, and untying belts, the mood will be looooong gone.”
Remi shoots me the bird. Wallace’s eyebrows merely knit together in confusion while his cheeks flush with mild embarrassment.
Harold laughs. “You are mildly cruel but in an oddly funny way.”
“What can I say? I’m special.”
“That you are.” Harold glances at Wallace. “You may leave if you wish. But not for too long.”
“Sir, I can’t—”
“We’ll be in the park where we met yonder.” Harold points out into the distance. He ignores his guard without a second look. “Feel free to spend some time together, but don’t go too far!” He begins walking off. His hand pulls me along. “The family should be coming back as the sun falls on the evening. Be back before then.”
“Scarlet, I—”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“It’s fiiiiine!” I cut Remi off. “If I die, you’ll know who did it. Besides—” I glance at Harold. “—the two of us have some things we need to discuss. Preferably alone,” I say in a quieter tone only my friend can hear.
“Now, now,” complains Harold.
“As long as no one tells,” Remi utters, resigning herself. She knows what I want to do.
Wallace nods. “O-Okay then.”
Our two guards watch us go for a bit. After a while, they begin talking. Then laughing. They turn away back into the city. Remi allows me a glance over her shoulder before nodding, disappearing out of sight.
If this city weren’t so safe, especially in the middle ring, I doubt they’d allow us this freedom. Remi trusts me and knows I could probably destroy a building with my gifts if needed. Wallace must trust Harold as well, so he’s probably somewhat gifted in combat. They read the room well.
Besides, I think the fact that our parents took most of the guards and left us with only one per person says something about how much they care about our safety in this “dangerous” city. The crime rate’s basically zero and the number one offense is property crime. Murder and assault are at the bottom. There’s really nothing to worry about, especially in the wealthy middle part of the city.
“Time for a little heart-to-heart, I would say,” Harold says to me as we glance after our protectors. “Away from prying ears.”
“Hmm. That would be best. Not like we don’t know why we’re here,” I answer back in a quieter voice than usual.
“Pretty much. Well…this’ll be fun.”
Ugh….
“If you say so.”
Harold leads me back into the park. I follow closely behind. There’s a sensitive gap between us lingering in the air. I do my best to keep up my perky personality, but, on the inside, it’s hard to get completely invested in a forced relationship.
We arrive at a little bridge sitting overtop a channel in the park. No current appears to move the water below. It looks like a strip of blue seeping through cracks in the earth. The bridge, a cacophony of solemn reds and browns, crests over the top of the liquid. The surrounding area is empty, save for a few birds. People have relatively vacated the area, though their voices carry inward from other parts of the city.
Harold leans over the side of the bridge. He beckons me over, waving his hand slightly in my direction.
Resisting the urge to groan, I trudge beside him. The edges of my elbows rest on the wood, and my hands prop up my chin.
I’ve been putting up a good front this entire time, but it’s been damn tiring. If I want to get out of doing things for him, to manipulate him as I deem fit, he’s got to genuinely like me to some degree. If he doesn’t develop any semblance of feelings, he’ll use me to his heart’s content. At that point, I’ll be put in the unenviable position of ending his life or permanently crippling him.
That’s all I’ve got so far as plans go. I don’t have a lot of real options if I want a chance at a life of my choosing. Then again, knowing my personality, I’ll resign myself to my situation until it’s too late to change things. It’s my nature, and I hate it.
At the moment, I’m banking on Remi coming up with a different plan. She’s the one that suggested manipulating my future marriage partner into being largely submissive to me. That takes effort since they actually have to like me for that to work, but it’s better than nothing.
It’s not like I have a better idea.
Though I would appreciate other options, obviously. Preferably ones that wouldn’t ostracize me from my family’s resources, ruin my life, make me a wanted individual, have me kill someone, or generally make me give up on my future’s potential before it even starts.
So…nothing right now.
“You’re very charming,” Harold comments.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The complete opposite of what your father pitched to our family.” Harold looks out at the water below.
“Hmmm. Suppose I’m not the reserved, intellectual he described?”
“I believe the word he used was passive,” corrects Harold, scoffing. “Not accurate in the slightest.”
“Passive, huh?” My eyes narrow. “How lovely it is to hear that. What exactly was said about me?” I ask with the sweetest, fakest voice I can muster. “I’m dyyyying to know!”
Harold winces slightly. “Ah, I see.” He pauses. “Very intelligent. Opinionated. But a passive personality that falls in line with the slightest call to authority.”
Huh. I hate how spot-on that is.
“I would say that is not evident in your interactions with me thus far.” Harold glances in my direction. “A funny person with a good personality. Caring towards your friend. I also get the distinct feeling you could beat someone up if you wanted to.”
“I do have gifts.”
Harold’s eyes widen. “Really? What kind? Even I don’t have any.”
That rare, huh? I suppose a trade merchant’s son wouldn’t have the same access to military items like Divine Treats as the daughter of a baron. I bet his daddy could grease some palms and have one “appear” if he wanted. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be anyone outside of the government with Divine Treat abilities, yet there are many.
With my palm outward, I point towards the water. Harold’s eyes follow. Pressure builds inside me. I release it outward through my arm. A segmented beam of concentrated light hits the water. The blue liquid swells, bubbles as if boiling, then surges upward like a small geyser before settling again.
“Light gifts!?” utters Harold.
A black tendril snakes around my arm. The tip of it dances between my fingers. “And dark.”
“That’s insane.” Harold stares at me blankly.
“Ha…sorry,” I cock my head to the side, applying a nervous smile.
“No, don’t be. You are…too interesting,” says Harold as he closes the distance between us. “You truly are a special person.”
I instinctively go to take a step back. Before I can, Harold grabs my hand. He pulls me closer into his body. His sword and knife slap against his frame. They make a clanging noise in reaction to the jolted motion. His clothes move with him. They flap about in mingled curiosity.
“Oh,” I mutter. My eyes widen at the sight of his face drawing closer.
I-I think he’s…trying to…kiss me?
The face moves closer.
I turn away.
Harold stops. He moves back. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t really want to do that. It’s…too soon.”
Harold looks at me. There’s...relief? Then his eyes suddenly narrow as he shakes his head. “Y-You don’t get to do that.”
“What?”
“We’ve already agreed on the price for you,” Harold spits. His anger grows. “First priority for food shipments from the port abroad and internally. All of that shit because we’re getting married. We’re bound together. You don’t get to say no.”
My mouth sets into a taut slit. Unblinking eyes burn into the man’s soul.
“And all we had to do was take care of the unwanted daughter.” Harold sneers. There’s a healthy amount of venom in his words.
I can’t help it.
Violence rises within me.
Before I even notice it, I’ve taken the knife from Harold’s belt. It took a fraction of a second. Now the slender sting of the short steel lingers by his Adam’s apple.
Harold freezes. His mouth remains agape. A slight tremor of fear permeates his flesh as sweat.
“I know I’m not wanted,” I say calmly. My eyes do not leave Harold’s. “If no one values me, I at least value myself. I won’t make the mistake of disregarding myself for nothing in return. It’s too painful. Know this, I may be sold, but I will never be bought.”
Harold’s eyes twitch with anger. It seems as if he wants to protest, but he stops. A flash of sadness passes through his eyes. It shocks me. But as soon as it appeared, it relapsed back into his mind. Calmness takes over him.
“Put the knife away, Scarlet.”
Context clues piece together. His personality thus far has been an overcompensation. Too friendly. He didn’t give off those vibes when we first met. That, plus all the mood changes, makes me think he’s hiding something.
Now, add in the context of my little speech, that hurt in his eyes; yes, he’s missing something. Or someone. I remember that look. I used to have that look. Something would come up, then this distant pain would pull me out of a conversation for a brief moment. It’s a guy thing. Barely apparent on the surface.
“Oh, I see now,” I whisper. The blade withdraws from Harold’s throat. I let it lay limp at my side.
“Hm?”
“Who do you really love?”
Harold blinks rapidly a few times. “How di—”
“I didn’t notice at first, but it makes sense in context. You’re being too pushy on the ownership aspect. It’s more like you’re saying it to yourself rather than me. Like I’m a consolation prize for your sacrifice. Then that quick look of pain. The erratic, confusing mood shifts.” I tilt my head to the side. “You have someone you love, but you’re being forced to marry me instead.”
The facade breaks away. Harold’s reserved face turns to one of profound sadness. “Yes,” he answers quickly. His eyes turn away from me as he glares out at the water.
“What’s her name?” I lean next to him, offering him his blade back.
Harold takes the knife. “Nathaniel.”
“Nathaniel? Not a very lady-like name.”
Harold chuckles wryly. “That would be because it isn’t.”
I freeze. “Oh. Ohhhhhh! Your life suuuuucks!” My tongue glides atop my upper lip as a tinge of stress eats at my neck.
“Thanks for that, bitch,” quips Harold sharply. He shakes his head. “Sorry. Yes, yes it does. Not like yours is much better.”
“So I’ve heard. Thanks for that whole ‘domination’ speech by the way. It was really enthralling. A great boost for my mentality.”
“Sorry.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter. What now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are we both going to go through a loveless marriage for no other reason than to satiate the desires of our parents?”
“What other choices do we have?” Confusion laces Harold’s eyes. “And that’s easy for you to say. Your reasoning for not wanting to get married is that there is no love. Do you have someone in your life?”
I frown. “Not at all.” Not anymore, at least.
“Well, I do. And he’s a man.” Harold bites his lip. Fury fills his words. “We cannot reproduce, so the Gods declared we cannot marry. If I were to bring up the matter, not only would I get disowned, but my family would become a laughing stock. Father might have to sacrifice me for his reputation. The relationship itself is not a scandal. The idea of staying with Nathaniel permanently though? For life in love? No. They’d keep us apart by force.”
“There’s no way your father would do any of that,” I quickly remedy his fear with no particular foundation in my assertion. Even I don’t really believe my words.
Harold looks at me. His eyes are tired. “Scarlet, of course he would. Your parents would do the same damn thing.”
My skin tingles.
Harold is probably right. Why wouldn’t he be? We’re already being used as political pawns. It wouldn’t be entirely off base to assume that our lives are essentially forfeit if our actions cause irreparable harm to our families.
Now, do I think my family would kill me? No. They’ve been distant, but they don’t hate me that much. They’re just shitty parents. Am I going to take the chance that I’m wrong? Hell no.
“At least we know how each other feels,” I say. “It’ll make the marriage easier.”
“There’s no way I can have sex with you to produce an heir. No offense, but you repulse me. You’re charming, and men probably love you. You’re slim with a big chest, kind of like a sexualized figurine given your height,” says Harold. “Alas, it’s not for me.”
“Besides all those unnecessary details, I agree. I’ve never been with anybody. No offense, but I don’t want my first time to be with a man who’s thinking about a guy named Nathaniel the whole time.”
Nor do I want a man in general. Ugh….
“You’ve never been with anybody?” Harold’s eyebrows crinkle together. “How is that possible?”
Well, I’ve not been with anybody in this iteration of reality.
“I don’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment.”
“Not a guard when you were bored? Villager? Fun servant? Barkeep? Hunter? Farmer? Handsome guest?” Harold lists off people. His demeanor grows erratic as I shake my head at each suggestion on his list. “Nobody? Really?”
I pat Harold on the shoulder. “We’ve lived veeeery different lives, it seems. Besides, we have more in common than you think.”
“Meaning?”
“You prefer the stem; I like the petal.”
Harold realizes my meaning. Laughing, he says, “What are the odds?!”
“Exceedingly low. My parents don’t know.”
“Mine either,” says Harold. “Then…that guard with you?”
“No, she’s my friend. She prefers beefy men with giant cocks,” I joke.
Harold chuckles. “Don’t we all?”
“Afraid not.”
“Heh, right…okay then…ah, to hell with it. What do you suggest we do?”
“About…?”
“Getting out of our marriage.” Harold rolls his eyes. “If that’s even the smart idea.”
“What’s the other choice? Just sucking it up, going through with it, and holding off for as long as we can? I don’t want to do that.”
“It would buy time.”
“Maybe a few months, true,” I somewhat agree. “Since we’re on the same page, it makes things easier. The engagement period would take months.”
“I don’t know about months. The way my parents are talking, they want this done as quickly as possible. Your parents too, probably.”
“Meaning?”
“We’ll get married off as soon as possible. Then to secure the arrangement, we’ll be pressured into bearing children. The only thing we’ll be putting off is the childbirth, not the marriage.”
“That’s way too soon!”
“It’s better than nothing.”
“Then we’d get more time ruining this thing than prolonging it,” I decide. “I thought I could put it off for at least another four or six years to find a solution. First, stretch out the courting period, then the engagement period, then the childbearing. That was unrealistic then. You’re saying the whole thing will be wrapped up in months?!”
“Yes. Trust me, you’re high in demand even with your father’s comments about you. He must get offers all the time. I’m surprised you were still on the market, honestly.”
And yet this is the first time my father’s acted upon these requests. This might be an exception given the Astra family’s “value.” Meaning he won’t sell me out for just anyone. Only the “special” offers.
That means I have wiggle room.
“Marrying you isn’t an option. Sorry, I don’t like the timetable you just gave me.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then our only option is to ruin things.”
“But that won’t be enough. I’m a man, so my timeline for eligibility is much longer, but you’ll be right back where you started with someone new in a week or two. Sorry, but that’s reality.”
“I wonder about that? But even if that’s the case, all we need to do is damage things beyond repair. Enough to not only destroy this but embarrass our parents,” I say. “Then all I need to do is keep ruining things until my parents give up. Then maybe they’ll listen to my feelings. But first, what to do about us?”
Holding up a finger, I pace about, thinking.
Harold watches me.
Some minutes go by.
“I’ve got a plan. I think. Sorry—” I clasp my hands together in prayer as an apology. “—buuuuut it might hurt your reputation a teeny, tiny bit.”
“Like I care.”
“Perfect.”
•
“Is that them?” I ask Harold
“Yes. Right on cue. They took a long time,” complains Harold.
“That’s partially your fault. You were too encouraging.”
“Sorry.” Harold closes his eyes for a moment. He seems to be in pain. They open. “Are you ready?”
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Don’t kill me on accident,” orders Harold with a firm look.
“I’ll do my best.”
Remi and Wallace come closer into view. They’re just outside the park. Neither are stumbling about but knowing Remi, she likely has a high tolerance for alcohol. I’d assume the same for Wallace. Go figure. They have demanding jobs. Alcoholism is the obvious consequence.
Harold grabs me, as planned, and begins caressing my inner thigh. It travels upwards at a sporadic pace. The sensation alarms my skin. Even though I know it’s an act, I’m still disturbed by the action.
“Come on, you’re already bought and paid for,” Harold says loudly enough for Remi and Wallace to hear. I see them perk up at the noise and look towards us.
“I said no!” I scream in Harold’s face. My arms lash out as I push him away. Not too hard but enough to sell it.
Harold’s hand goes between my legs. He forces himself on top of me. “Stop yelling!”
“No! Stop! Leave me alone!”
Harold’s words do not match his face. You’d expect someone saying such things to appear evil. In reality, Harold’s disgusted. He doesn’t want to do this at all. The idea of touching me in this way almost seems to make him ill. His forehead drips with sweat. His eyes squelch together. He bites at the bottom of his lip as his jaw tightens firmly.
“Lady Scarlet!” Remi charges. I watch her shape rush towards us.
Wallace steps in front of her. “Wait a moment, Remi.”
“Fuck off!” Remi draws her sword. I can feel her pressure from where I’m being ‘forced down’ on the bench.
“That went too far too quickly,” Harold hisses. A tad bit of fear traces his eyes.
“What can I say? She’s a loyal friend,” I whisper back. “We need to wrap this up.”
Harold nods in agreement.
“Back up!” Enhancing my body with light gifts, I push Harold away. Far away. Maybe too far. He lands painfully on his back, even with me holding my energy at a weaker level.
“Ow!” Harold holds the back of his head. He stands up quickly. “You bitch!”
“Fuck you!” I flip him the bird. It’s hard for even me to tell if we’re acting at this point.
Wallace rushes towards Harold. He no longer minds Remi. “Are you alright, sir?”
“Alright?! Screw him!” Remi races past them. She stands by me. Her hands land on my shoulders. She scans me over. “Are you hurt?!”
I shake my head. “I-I’m fine.”
Remi’s eyes narrow. “Shall I injure him?”
“Remi, you’ll lose your head. He’s not worth it.”
Remi bites the edge of her lip. “Yes, my lady.” She turns back to Harold. Her eyes glare daggers into him. “I think it’s best if we go our separate ways for now.”
“Yes, that would be best,” replies Wallace.
Harold and I stare at each other. Our plan is going well, but we need a home run swing. Two guards reporting back sexual misconduct? That might not even be enough to ruin the “marriage.” We need one final push to destroy the relationship.
Without warning, I sprint forward. Remi watches me, mouth agape. Even Wallace seems surprised. Good. Quick reactions on his part wouldn’t have sold our dilemma. I rush past both guards, cocking back my hand until I’m standing before Harold once more.
Harold smiles at me briefly. Only I catch it.
“Asshole!” I shout. At the same time, I wink.
My fist launches forward. It connects with Harold’s nose. A sickening ‘crunch’ pops from my fingers as blood showers my pasty digits. Harold cries as he falls backward. His head hits the ground once more.
Harold screams as he rolls about in agony. “You fucking broke my nose!”
It’s probably not acting even though we planned it this way, unfortunately for Harold. Though he did decide to go along with the plan, so he cannot really complain.
“You deserved it!” I chide.
Wallace grabs my arm and lifts it up. The force he puts on my wrist is insane. My bones creak inside my arm. The pressure feels like it’s cutting off the blood supply to my fingers.
“Ow,” I mutter. My gaze pierces Wallace angrily. “Do you mind?” I comment sarcastically through the pain. The bones beneath my skin glow white as I switch on my light gift.
“You go too far,” says Wallace, but his eyes are conflicted.
A sword suddenly appears near Wallace’s throat. “Release the lady, please,” orders Remi. I can see the malice in her eyes. Many dozens of sharpened roof tiles levitate above Wallace’s head. A product of Remi’s ability.
Wallace glares back at Remi. They have a stare-off. Guess that bridge is burned.
I’m released.
Quickly, I grab my wrist. I release my energy, returning my skin to normal. My none injured hand massages the joint. “A little aggressive, are we?”
Wallace ignores me. He walks over to Harold. With his large frame, he easily aids Harold off the ground then holds him up, using his shoulder as a crutch.
But Harold is not done with our little performance.
“I never want to fucking see you again!” Harold spits at me.
Wallace flinches. Remi frowns. I smile back.
“Likewise!”
The two men depart.
“Now you’ve done it,” Remi mutters next to me. She stares at the trail of nose blood left behind from the interaction.
“You’d prefer I let him have his way with me?”
“No. He was going to do that eventually, though. Someone will. It’s not like you have any say at this point.”
“Oh, shush! If you actually believed that you wouldn’t have bothered saving me.”
Remi huffs, “This was different.”
“Doesn’t feel that way to me,” I grumble. “Not that it matters. I bought myself some time and so did Harold. Now neither of us will be forced to marry the other, right? I’d think so,” I say with a knowing glance towards Remi.
“You two planned that?!”
“It worked, didn’t it?” I lightly nudge Remi. “All you have to do is report exactly what happened. You don’t even need to lie. What’s more important is that Wallace is none the wiser. He’ll be the integral piece to getting the engagement abandoned.”
Remi glares at me. “I would’ve liked to know what was going on.”
“There was no time to tell you. Besides, you sold it well regardless.”
“I almost killed both of them.” Remi crouches down. Her hands grasp the sides of her head. “Shit, Scarlet! Screw you!”
I squat down beside Remi. My hand pats her head. “There, there. I’m sorry.”
Remi knocks my hand away. “What are you going to say to your father?”
I flinch slightly. “Oh yeah. I’ll have to deal with him too, huh?”
Remi deadpans.
•
The two of us wait in the park for what feels like an hour. Nerves light up my flesh as a slow, stress-filled period of unenviable time aggravates my body.
“You think he’ll be mad?” I ask Remi. She sits beside me on a bench.
“Yes.”
“Why? How do you know?
Remi points forward. “Because he looks mad.”
I follow her finger. The hair on the back of my neck rises. Remi was right; he looks angry. Father’s guards jog behind him while he walks quickly towards me with reckless disregard for who or what is around him. My mother is nowhere in sight.
“Father, I—”
“Leave,” Father orders Remi on sight.
Remi looks at me for a brief moment. She stands. A light bow is offered towards my father before she takes off.
“Make sure no one enters this park!” Father orders the guards behind him, Remi included. “I need to talk with my daughter.”
No protesting is heard. Quick nods bounce about. While there is already no one around, that fact is now assured.
“What were you thinking breaking the boy’s nose like that?! You two were to be engaged someday! Now he’s talking about calling it off. With the damage you did to him, I can hardly blame him. His parents support it!” spits my father. “Lady Astra commented that she could tell you were an animal by the feel of your hands. There I was, apologizing to a fucking merchant! Me! A baron!”
“You didn’t defend me?”
“Defend what!?”
“Your daughter,” I clarify. My eyes hold onto my father’s face as he speaks.
“No, I didn’t defend you,” Father admits without a hint of embarrassment. “What you did was stupid!”
“Father, he was trying to rape me.”
It’s not true, but he doesn’t know any better.
“Then you should have let him!” he screams in my face.
My skin tingles, and I freeze. The back of my eyes feels as if they’ve been scooped out with spoons as tears of pain tickle my eye sockets.
Father seems to comprehend his words. He recoils, saying, “Oh. No. I-I don’t mean that.” He pauses. “You—”
“You did mean that.” My expression deadens. “I’m your tool. You’ve spent years propping me up with education, power, and training. None of it was to make me a better person. It was to make me a more profitable sell to the highest bidder. Of course you mean what you said. It’s not like I loved Harold nor would I ever. I don’t have a choice in the matter. You’re already forcing him on me. What’s the difference with him doing the same in a more literal sense?”
“Scarlet….”
Nothing is holding me back now. My voice is calm. Cold. “I’ve seen Mother maybe a handful of times my entire life. She’s never happy and she doesn’t love me. Why? It’s probably because she’s in the same situation I’ll be in. Forced into a loveless marriage with a man she does not know. I used to blame her for not caring about me, but now I get it. How could she love something she never wanted?”
Father continues to stare. He gives no sign of stopping me, nor does he appear remorseful. He’s merely listening. Closely.
“It only got worse when Conrad was born. You finally had a boy. Unlike me with my gendered uselessness, he can take over, right? Be your heir, right? Me?” I force an evil smile. “Why, I’m here to make it easier for you to trade some fucking plants across the ocean. Isn’t that nice? That’s what family’s for, isn’t it?”
Father blinks.
“What do I want to do in my life? I’m not sure, but I sure as hell don’t want…this!”
“Then what good are you?!” Father’s face hardens. His reverence from before dissipates as his hatefulness returns.
Literal fire flares around him in a sharp circle. The area heats up as his gift resonates with his sudden surge of anger. Pockets of flames lick at his clothes, skin, and hair. They accent his fury, making him seem larger than normal.
My body naturally takes a step back as I flinch.
“You’ve been obedient for years. I’ve supplied you with your every need. You’re brilliant. Athletic. Beautiful. I can easily find another suitor for you that fits my needs, and I very much will. However, none of my efforts will matter if you continue to be a nuisance.” He closes the distance to stare deeply, angrily into my eyes. The heat and fire increase around him. “I thought you were raised better than this. Are you going to continue being a problem?”
I cower away under the pressure of his ability, his presence. Fear drips within my heart.
“You will marry. You will have children. You are my child. You shall do as I say. Are we clear?”
My face trembles. Father continues to back me down.
“ARE WE CLEAR?!”
“Y-Yes sir!” I yelp.
Father eyes me for a moment.
I struggle to maintain his gaze. My pupils focus on his feet. I can feel my entire body trembling.
Father backs away a bit. “You are special. It’s obvious. Everyone who meets you knows this. This arrangement…was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I always wished to do a ball since it would increase the quality of beneficial suitors, but then the Astra family contacted me. The arrangement they relayed seemed suitable, so I accepted this meeting. Talbert was right, things went poorly as he predicted. I should have foreseen it, too. You’re headstrong, though submissive and loyal.” His eyes narrow. “Don’t make me regret all I’ve done for you, Scarlet. Everything all of us have done. All in the hopes that you’d serve your family. It’s why you were born. Your uniqueness is evidence of that. Our family will grow into a powerhouse that lays the foundation of this country for generations. Don’t squander it. Be a good girl like you always have and listen to your father.”
I nod slowly. Fearfully. The old me, the one that meekly accepted my lot in life, dominates this moment. The “yes man.” The coward. Felix.
“Fantastic.” Father claps his hands together. The fire sticking to his frame dissipates. “You’ve been good to the family thus far. I’ve never had to yell at you like this. You’re generally compliant. I trust you’ll do the right thing when the time comes.”
Sweat drips from my forehead as I stare unblinking at this man’s feet.
“You have three years. I believe that is fair. Now that we are both in agreement with your purpose, you can work towards refining yourself as a woman. It’s where you lack the most.” He pauses for a moment in thought. “I’ll allow you free reign from the castle to Water’s Bastion, but you must always be accompanied by guards. Do what you must to find yourself, as you say, but in the end, know your place is here. Put your foolish desires aside. You are my daughter. You will do as I say. Understand?”
Dammit. I was naive. Stupid! I underestimated how much he gives a shit about this. What the hell was I thinking? That this one upset would make him reconsider the restraints he’s imposed upon me these last few years? That he’d let me do whatever I want now that this one engagement fell through?
No. It was never going to be that simple. Clearly.
I can’t run away. If he wants me, he’ll find me. Father’s the equivalent of a governor where I*'m originally from but with a free-standing army at his disposal. I can’t kill him either. I don’t have it in me to do that, nor would that provide me any advantages. I’d be one of the most wanted fugitives in the country.
My only path forward...this shitty, shitty marriage...
There’s got to be something I can do to bide time...to turn this ordeal in my favor...
I...I need to think...
But for now...
“Y-Yes father.” I nod in mock agreement. Any semblance of freedom I thought I had slips away as visions of what to do next dance before my eyes.
“Good. Come. We should head home.”
I stare blankly at the back of my father’s head as he walks away.
It’s like staring off the edge of a building.
He recedes into the distance.
My feet follow until I’m falling after him.