Episode Five

<System Message: < p>

< Orelei

< Charisma 1/10

< Grace 0/10

< Dancing 0/10

< Music 0/10

< Speaking 0/10

< Knowledge 0/10

< Alignment: Neutral>

<System Message: Current Quest: Engagement Party< p>

<Required Tasks:< p>

< - Dance 1/3

< - Hold Conversations with Guests 1/2

< - Speak with Eliza 0/1

< WARNING: AVOID SPEAKING WITH LORD CORROMOTH. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN HEAVY CONSEQUENCES.>

The Archbishop laughs. "Have you forgotten the deal that your parents made?" The smile on his face is villainous. I don't recall any deal, but, then again, I don't recall any of the real Orelei's memories…just my own from when I was Emilia…

These memories are confusing. I sneer at him. I am slowly deciding that Orelei is not the nice and quiet demure sister I thought she was. She needs to stand up for herself…and I need him to go away so that I can find Eliza. "I don't know to what you are referring, Uncle, but, I can assure you that I am no one's wife yet." I take the goblet of wine to my lips and drink deeply, completely content and cool as a cucumber.

The Archbishop looks as if he is about to explode in rage. His face turns red and he rips the wine goblet from my hands, causing it to slosh back on me and leaving a small stain on my bodice. I gasp in shock before I feel myself flare to anger. Existing in this world seems a little bit more complicated for a woman than I thought it would be.

"Ex…" I try to exclaim, but the man slapped me across the face.

"Know your place," he practically yelled at me. There were so many people in the party, it didn't seem that anyone noticed, though, as I grabbed my face, the skin stinging and likely red. "Your parents promised your hand to me im exchange for setting up this union between your sister and the Lord. You will be the wife of the Archbishop of Lestall. You are to be behaving as such. Not dancing, not drinking, not…"

Someone put their hand on my shoulder. Tears are stinging my eyes from the force of the slap as the large hand enveloped my small shoulder. I glance briefly at the fingers, the nails with dirt underneath them, the veins that popped from his hands. "Ah, Archbishop," a smooth voice said. It was dark and deep and…vaguely threatening. And he had just said two words.

The Archbishop's face turns a different color, then. Ghostly white. As if he were about to see his world ended, or, as if he were terribly afraid of whomever was standing on the other side of me. I don't look up at the man behind me, but his grip was tight enough it threatened to bruise my shoulder as his finger dug into my skin. I could understand the fear of my Uncle's face…because I was starting to feel it, as well.

I gulp, suddenly under pressure. The Archbishop stammers, unable to complete a coherent thought, it seems. Then, he bows, low. "M-my Lord Corromoth!" The Archbishop's face is nearly on the floor. He begins to kneel, as if this man whom was so bold as to hit me, to proclaim his power, suddenly had lost it in the face of this being. "Joyous congratulations on your engagement, My Lord!"

The man loosens his grip on my shoulder only slightly. I want to squeeze my eyes shut…to pretend it's a bad dream. If this were a game, I could load to a different place and try again. Avoid this area, enter at a different time, not accept the wine…

"Reload?" I mumble under my breath. Nothing. "Save file?" I try again. This time, I do get a response, albeit, not the one I expected.

< System Message: WARNING: AVOID SPEAKING WITH LORD CORROMOTH. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN HEAVY CONSEQUENCES.>

I pay attention to the wording. "Avoid speaking." Perhaps…I just need to remain silent. Loophole my way out of the situation?

"Yes, a joyous occassion…if only I could find my future bride…your niece, correct?" I can hear the cruel smile in his voice. I look at the floor, studying the stone tiles. The less attention I draw to myself, the better. Perhaps I could get through this unscathed.

The Archbishop laughs, gently and nervously, as if the man had told an off color joke. "My Lord…I am sure she is here somewhere with her parents as chaperones…enjoying the festivities!"

*bing*

The system pops up with a reminder of the quest. I ignore it, trying to focus on the conversation as the stranger still has a grip on my shoulder. I knew Eliza was somewhere. If I could speak, perhaps I could excuse myself to find my sister and get around this awkward exchange.

"Or, perhaps, she and her lover have snuck off somewhere to be alone before she is a married woman," growls the man, cruelly.

I snap my head up, looking at him for the first time. And, there, in all his glory, stand the Lord Corromoth. His purple eyes shine cruelly down upon my uncle. His long, raven hair is plaited down his back and around his face, skillfully arranged around a golden circlet to call attention to his face rather than to the black scale mail armor that he is wearing. I note the red rubies inset across certain plates and realize that he is likely wearing true dragon scales - the rarest material in the kingdom. I'm glad he removed the gloves before touching my shoulder. Though he is wearing the armor ceremonial, I knew that the armor was worn in battle. I remembered him being called the "General of the Dead" because of the way his nearly sickly pale skin shown against the black armor.

"My sister would do no such thing!" I say, accidentally. Even the system seems confused by my annoyance and anger.

The man raises a perfectly arched thin eyebrow, as equally surprised as I am to hear me speak, but seemingly amused. "My sister doesn't even want this wedding!" I begin defending Eliza. Eliza is pure and innocent and there was no way I was going to let this man ruin her chances of marrying well either false accusations of adultery. "Eliza is only marrying you because it will benefit her family…because her family has asked it of her! She would not dream of ruining this union!" I turn to the Archbishop, "And you! You have no right to play games with my life! I would rather marry the General of the Dead than marry you!"

The people around us freeze, watching the chaos. I feel my face burning when I realize that I have done and knowing there will be consequences. I wasn't sure what the system would do to me, but, I was sure it wouldn't be pleasant. I squeeze my eyes shut in preparation for a gruesome end…and find nothing, save the face of the Lord Corromoth studying me in surprise.

Finally, he speaks, "You are the second niece to the Archbishop? The elder daughter?" His voice seems much gentler towards me now than it had been toward to Archbishop. I nod, my face still heated. He nods, as if this answer pleases him, then turns back to my Uncle. "This is the girl that you wanted so badly that you would marry you precious Eliza to me, the Lord of Death?"

My uncle flounders then. "I…W-well…my Lord! Eliza Phillips is a much more desirable match for you than any other woman on the continent! She is pure and has the makings of a wonderful queen!" My uncle turns toward me, helplessly, his skin somehow appearing more pale and ashen now. His eyes implore me for help. I say nothing.

Corromoth let's out a breath that sounds K like a snort. "A servant girl? Whom is renown for her beauty?" He smirks, his bright white teeth gnashing together and showing a threatening smile. "She is no queen."

Corromoth finally loosens his grip on my shoulder and turns away from me, a blood red cape swirling around him. "I renounce my engagement to Eliza Phillips. And with that your claim on this girl is void." He meets my gaze, harshly. "You have earned your freedom from his tyranny."

It is me who find myself ready to beg now. "My Lord! No! Please, reconsider!" What have I done? This isn't supposed to happen! The other suitors haven't even shown up yet! This can't happen! I throw myself on the floor, on my knees and I grip the hem of his cape."This will bring shame to my family! It is the last thing Eliza would want. Please…I will apologize to the Archbishop! I will serve as your personal consort. Please, My Lord Corromoth! Allow me to right this insult that I have done to you!"

The Archbishop joins me on my knees. Now, we are gathering a crowd…and among the members I see Eliza's face, tears shining on her cheeks. She heard more than she should have.

The Lord of Death looks down on me, his expression unreadable. "Did you truly mean you would rather marry the General of the Dead than serve as the wife of the Archbishop? A life filled with fear and war is better than living in lavishness at the side of the holy man?"

"What?" I'm confused. I feel tears on my cheek, the eyes of others watching me. I don't know what he's trying to say. "I…I did, my Lord." I admit the truth, though I'm unsure how this choice will affect me.

It's only then I see the blinking red "warning" at the top of my screen.

The Lord of Death smirks down at me, his eyes hardening. "Then, Archbishop…I suppose there is to be a wedding, afterall."

I watch him stalk away, his hands clenched at his sides, my knees still rooted to the floor. I look up at Eliza and see her sobbing.

<System Message: You have failed your quest. < p>

<System Message: Your actions will have consequences.< p>

<System Message: New Quest Unlocked!< p>

<System Message: Goddess of Death now available.>