III. As soon as she was done putting on finishing touches to her appearance, she went down to the drawing room, where her father and the guest waited.
“I’m here, father.” She stood by the open doorway, a sight of brilliant, ghostly platinum. The only hue that made her more real was the warm shade of dark pink painted on her lips, but even that didn’t even seem to dispel the overall frosted appearance.
“Venris, you’re as beautiful as ever,” greeted her father with an odd cheer as he stood up from the chair by the fireplace, opening his arms to beckon his only daughter, his precious Venris, into his arms. The guest, who was seated at the chair opposite Lord Dastonia’s stood as well, and bowed. His piercing gaze bothered Venris slightly.
Like a dutiful daughter, Venris kept up the facade and stepped into her father’s embrace, but immediately removed herself and stepped back.
Her father continued to smile his sickly-sweet grin. “I’m so pleased to see my daughter looking so stunning today, especially at this very special moment.”
“What’s so special about today, father?”
“Well, Venris,” her father gestured to the guest, “Meet Diradem Tarkis.”
She regarded him with a slight nod of her head. “Nice to meet you, Sir Tarkis.”
I know him.
“My pleasure, Lady Venris,” Diradem replied, offering his hand which Venris gingerly shook. “And please, call me Diradem…” His voice trailed off, somehow distracted.
By what, Venris had no idea.
“Venris, Diradem,” Lord Dastonia clasped his hands gleefully. “You are to be married next week.”
Venris gaped at her father, forgetting all about her air. Diradem shifted about nervously.
No one spoke a word for a few moments. Venris stared at her father, who was smiling proudly, then at Diradem, who now couldn’t look her in the eye, and then back at her father, who either didn’t know about her daughter’s disbelief, or just feigned ignorance.
Her conscience’s voice replayed in her mind.
Don’t you see? He doesn’t care for you. He sees you as nothing more than a pawn. In fact, he could very well sell you off to the highest bidder if he so chooses.
“Am I to be married…to a thief?” she murmured numbly. Trembling ever so slightly that the two men didn’t notice it, she caught hold of the ornate mantle behind her for support.
Lord Dastonia’s eyebrows shot up to her remark. “Now, now, my dear Venris, don’t be so unkind,” he said, trying to appease her. “Those were just mere rumors. Diradem here just happened to be…”
“That is alright, Lord Dastonia,” Diradem interrupted, hastily cutting off Lord Dastonia’s awkward explaining; his voice now firm. “Venris has a right to know about the identity of her future husband.”
“But…”
Diradem ignored him. “Yes, you are correct, Lady Venris. I suppose you know about the Guild of the Albertan Shadows, though calling us mere thieves do us a great disservice. We prefer to call ourselves adjusters.
“We alter Alberta’s economy to the most favorable arrangement.”
Venris was not impressed. “A pretty long-winded explanation, Diradem Tarkis, but a thief is a thief,” she said coldly. She then turned to her father.
“I want to know what the Albertan Shadows has done for you, father. I want to know why you’re giving me away so…” her eyes narrowed. “…Eagerly,” she added nastily.
Her father, if he was just pretending to be in good spirits right from the start, just as easily turned into his true colors. “Do not use that tone on me Venris,” he said, clearly indicating where Venris got her demeanor. “You very well know that I am doing this for your own good. No parent would--”
“--wish harm upon his child,” Venris completed for him, her voice replete with venom. “You told me that almost a million times, father. Those words mean nothing when they come from your mouth.”
“Why, I should--” Lord Dastonia lifted his hand apparently to strike Venris, but Diradem caught his hand.
“It’s not right to strike a lady,” Diradem said, then roughly dropping Lord Dastonia’s hand down.
Lord Dastonia seemed to be a tad chastised after that. His face red with held-in anger, he started to walk out of the drawing room, but paused as his hand gripped the door handle.
“You will marry Diradem Tarkis whether you like it or not, Venris Dastonia,” he said, not facing his daughter. “Escape is impossible, all of the people in Rune-Midgard would gladly hand you over back here when they learn that your return will reward them with one billion zeny.”
With those words he left, closing the door behind him.
Venris covered her face with her hands and inhaled deeply, then composed herself. With a grace only she could muster, sat down on a nearby chair and crossed her legs, elbows planted on her knee. Her chin rested on her laced fingers as she regarded Diradem with hooded eyes.
“If you’ve got any decency, Tarkis, you’d know that it is not right to marry an unwilling woman,” she said quietly.
“I know.” Diradem sat himself on the windowsill, arms crossed. “I am willing to retract the engagement--”
It was Venris’ turn to cut him off. “That’s not necessary, Tarkis. My fiancé. My father is right. I have nowhere to go to if I try to escape this marriage. He has probably announced our imminent wedding,” She laughed mirthlessly. “Backing out would probably brand me as a scarlet woman. You know how society goes,” she remarked off-handedly with a wave of her hand.
“I’ll…take care of you. I promise,” Diradem said, gazing at the sprawling garden of the Sea Side Villa outside.
“That won’t be necessary either,” Venris answered. With her total disappointment, her being violated, and her numbness, she was getting the hang of contradicting people. It was so easy after all.
She took a rightful perverse pleasure from it.
“All I want, fiancé,” she called him with mock sweetness, “is that you leave me alone at daylight.” She cocked her head to one side and smiled her usual cold grin. “You only need me at night anyway. I shall do my wifely duties whenever you so wish, Tarkis, even nightly.”
Diradem snapped his head up, looking at Venris incredulously, his face reddening. “My Lady, I-I…”
Venris ignored him. “You may own the right to my body, Tarkis. I don’t care.” Despite her grin, tears started to well in her eyes. “Now that’s over and done with, I’ll leave you now.” she stood up from her chair and started to walk out of the room.
“I’m not like that, damn it!” Diradem tried to catch up with her, but seeing her tears he just stood there, rooted to the spot.
“I don’t care,” she repeated as she closed the door.
