Episode Eight : Haste to the Wedding

<System Message: < strong>

< Orelei

< Charisma 1/10

< Grace 0/10

< Dancing 0/10

< Music 0/10

< Speaking 1/10

< Knowledge 0/10

< Alignment: Neutral>

Whimbly leaves me in the capable hands of two female maidservants. They smile at me, though, they appear almost sad. Maybe I am simply a lamb being led to the slaughter, as far as everyone else was concerned.

I take a deep breath as they brush out my hair. It was somehow tangled from all of the dancing and the very short-lived partying. I was pretty sure that there were still revelers in the Great Hall below us…and I wondered how quickly the news had spread that Lord Corromoth had denounced Eliza Phillips and was going to be taking a new bride.

The maidservants worked tirelessly, plaiting my hair, twisting it up into a crown around my head, pinning in jewels the likes of which I had never seen in my entire life, and powdering my face so that you couldn't see my freckles. "Thank you," I say, quietly to the girls as they work. 

The shocked expression on one of their faces takes me aback. "Orelei, you mustn't thank us anymore," she says, almost hissing, as if someone may be listening in. "You are to be the lady of the castle. If the Lord caught you thanking us, he's likely to hang us in the courtyard."

I feel my face wrinkle in confusion. "Sure even the Lord of Death isn't that cruel?" I whisper the words though, just in case. Maybe he could hear everything. Maybe he was less human and more magical being than I thought or uncovered in the game.

The maidservant's face flushes. "Lady Orelei, what has gotten into you? It isn't like you to see the best in people!" She stabs another jewel into my hair and glances around. She is young and has dark skin the color of ebony. While the other girl has ignored my questions, she answers them all. I have a feeling that we - Orelei and her - had been friends. For a moment, she pauses, still glancing around like a scared rabbit. "Once, the Lady Anne, the Lord's lover, was insulted by one of his servants. They say that the Lord didn't just dismiss him - he tortured him in front of his soldiers for all to see." The last gem is pinned into my hair as she looks down. "He is not a kind man, Lady Orelei. I am so sorry."

I shiver, feeling suddenly chilled and afraid. He had been a particularly cruel character in the game. I was fairly certain that he would be the Tsundere route…then again, he also could lock me in a cage. I've played that game before, too…

I bow my head and lower my eyes, feeling fear rush over me. I've gotten myself into a true mess now. But, this was good. I could certainly distract Lord Corromoth long enough to set Eliza up with a wealthy match. At the very least, it seemed that he had a lover that may keep him away from me with his carnal desires. The more information I had on him, the better I could use it to plot against him.

As the ladies style me and continue to work their magic, I try to recall all of the details that I remember about Queen's Life. If I recalled correctly from reading some blog called "Otome Creedance", the canon character of the game was a hot red-haired man named "Beron." He was a half-elf who was also the Lord of the Autumnal Glade. You marry Beron and achieve the best ending possible: a wedding and a throne. Who could ask for more, after all?

Beron was supposed to show up at the engagement party, but, seeing as how the party had not gone exactly the way that it was planned, I wasn't sure if he had even arrived.

Perhaps my mouthing off had derailed the plot of the story so badly that the suitors weren't going to come to Eliza's rescue. Afterall, she wasn't even going to marry him now…and, this Eliza, unlike the one I had played in the game seemed…vapid? Self-absorbed? Not the woman that I had been that was kind and considerate and renown for her air and beauty.

But, if "Beron" was one of the eligible bachelors and he was still planning to save Eliza…there must be a way to intercept him.

Finally, the ladies pull out a dress. It is bright pink and covered in lace that looks as if it is hand-crafted. I admire the crafted butterflies and roses that are woven in the patterns. I touch the silk underneath it and marvel at the craftsmanship. I wonder if this was supposed to be Eliza's dress. 

It would suit her.

The women help me to put the dress over my head, the layers of crinoline crinkling as it is pulled over my body. They lace the pink ribbons up my spine, gently tying it and making sure not the touch my skin. 

I feel like I was groomed and perfumed to be presented for…some unknown sacrifice.

I take a deep breath and look into the giant mirror that has been placed in the room. Surprisingly, the dress fits perfectly, as if it were somehow made for me. I suppose there were advantages to suddenly waking up in a video game.

I smooth the silk over my stomach as the maidservants back away. I am suddenly left in the room by myself, staring at someone I don't recognize. Despite my flaming red hair, the pink dress is a light shade that somehow goes perfectly with the pale color of my skin and the tendrils of curls strategically falling down around my face. My face is smooth and made over. They painted my lips a blood red. My hair is braided intricately with pearls and gemstones pinned carefully in places. The dress hangs off my shoulders, purposely. My collarbones are beautifully framed in the neckline.

Anyone would be lucky to have such a bride.

Except…I wasn't the one who was supposed to be here. 

I feel my breath shakily leave my lungs. 

"You look radiant," a deep voice behind me makes me jump.

I hadn't seen him come in through the reflection in the mirror. I wasn't sure if that was more unnerving or if the fact that he was here, in general, was the reason I nearly jumped out of my skin. If I were capable of having a heart attack in this fictitious world, I think I would have done so. As I spin around far too quickly, I see Lord Corromoth, standing on the other side of the room, his black armor still in place, his hair still intricately braided. Even though his words are kind, his arms are crossed across his chest, making me feel uneasy. He likely just said the words he knew I wanted to hear.

I know I turn bright red because of the way I feel my skin burning. "My Lord," I curtsy low, hoping that this will appease him. "It is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding." I try to smile, sweetly, despite not meeting his gaze. What was he doing here? Why had anyone let him in here?

I glance up under my eyebrows and look at his face. I see him looking me over, appraisingly. I feel immensely uncomfortable under his discerning eyes. Whatever he sees wrong, he doesn't voice it, but, I know from his tone that there is something he doesn't like. 

"I came to bring you a gift. It's tradition for the groom to present the bride with a token of his loyalty on the day of the wedding," he says, awkwardly. I never thought the General of the Dead would be..awkward. He pulls open a pouch at his belt and from it brings out a velvet package. With the black bag in hand, he walks across the room, so close that I could reach out and touch him. Instead, though, he hands the bag to me, gently. "Open it, if it pleases you," he says, as if he doesn't care either way whether it remains open or closed.

Shakily, I pull at the ribbons on the velvet satchel, opening it. I look inside and something sparkling catches my eye. With gentle and lithe fingers, I pull out a necklace and inhale a sharp breath. The necklace is inset the entire way around with small diamonds that will encircle my throat. In the center, the design cuts down into a triangular shape that is inset with larger, teardrop-cut rubies placed within the rainfall of diamonds. It is exquisite and too large of a gift…

And meant for Eliza.

I clear my throat and place the necklace back in the bag. "My Lord, the necklace is lovely, but, I do not think that it is right to take a gift that was intended for my sister," I smile, kindly. "The gesture is appreciated, but, I have no need for fancy stones." 

I see something alight behind his eyes. "I think you misunderstand, Orelei Phillips." The way he says my name makes me concerned, but, I square my shoulders and continue to smile. He steps toward me, closing the very small amount of space we have between us. I gulp. "This is a gift for my wife. The Lady Corromoth. That would be you, would it not?"

It was intended to be Eliza, I mutter internally. 

I nod, obediently to him. "Yes, My Lord. It will be. However, I feel that my sister would better appreciate this gift than myself."

He takes the velvet pouch from my hand with surprising deftness and much more gently than I thought this brute was capable of. Even though he clearly towers over me, his air entirely intimidating, he doesn't seem to want to harm me at the moment. It's just the way he carries himself.

He unearths the necklace from the pouch once more and slides his hands around my throat, dragging the diamonds across my skin in their wake. The stones are cold and the feeling of his hands around my throat is terrifying. But, he fastens the necklace quickly before he trails his hand down my shoulder. 

He's too close. This is dangerous. His hands are on me…

He places two fingers under my chin and tilts my eyes up to meet his. Without another word, he closes the gap between us and presses a rough kiss to my lips. I don't know why my body melts into him, but it does, as if it is natural, as if it's what we are supposed to be doing. He tastes of salt and pine and all number of other wonderful things. He pulls away from me just as abruptly as he kissed me, leaving me dazed and horribly confused.

What just happened?

"You misunderstand, Orelei Corromoth…there has only ever been one Lady Corromoth." And, with that, he turns on his heel and leaves me in the chamber, wondering how I had gotten into this mess and what his meaning could possibly be.