-how can I be on my own if I am engaged with someone?-

A few days later, the funeral was set up at the Flower House. The spring area turned into fall, and the people who came to the funeral were told by the gloomy cloud that it was time for the rainy season. Everybody was wearing black. The head of the Stygian family stood in front of the row, followed by the head lady, their four kids on the left side by her mother and then Achlys and Serena by her father and the young girl who was supposed to be the main character in this scene because it was for her mother.

Her bright, silvered hair was pulled up, and people only saw black hair on top of her head. She was looking down at the tomb without blinking. And the rain dropped on brown dirt that had already covered the coffin. After the ceremony, everybody left due to the rain, or perhaps the woman who had died wasn't important enough for them. Only the girl who was standing there without any moves.

Serena walked to the young girl who stood there alone and offered her hand to the young girl for the first time. She looked at Serena's hand and she turned around without touching the pretty offer.

Both of them followed their family to the car, and the young girl glanced at people who didn't leave. The old man in a traditional Japanese outfit stood under the tree with his grandson, who was taller and bigger than his grandfather. His grandson wore black, but his hair was so red that it was out of place. She noticed it wasn't bright like before. He was the guy who took her there, and she remembered it well.

"Poor girl."

The old man spoke to himself.

"It's time, grandfather."

His grandson told the old man.

"I see."

The Stygian's mansion

The darkest day of Zephyra Stygian, but not for all the members of this mansion. She knew some part of her future. The future that was so obvious turned to be black, something unclear. Without restraint, her soul would not be found, and no one could help if not her own self. And the part that was so sure was getting out of the black hole that sucked and destroyed everything she loved. That goal was still the same, but for the rest, Zephyra would let destiny take her. Only one year left, and she could let the head of the family run her life like a pawn. A pawn that was nothing on the chessboard but kept it just in case.

Zephyra, in her black dress, was sitting on the grand piano in the living room. She raised her hands lightly and touched the keys.

"*Sigh."

She sighed and started to play.

The melody was so loud, loud all over the room, the hallway, the offices, the library, and the entire mansion. And that day, she played all day and all night.

Achlys came inside and walked to her. He kneeled on one knee on the floor and looked at her swollen eyes, which were red around them, matching the colour of her eyes inside. He interrupted her performance by touching her hands out of the piano.

"..."

"Zephyra, I'll take care of you."

He said it out loud.

It was time. 

The time that had changed my life. I went to my father to discuss my future with him, not to consult but to inform him what I wanted.

"Come in."

"..."

I said nothing and went inside his office. He was sitting at his desk alone, which was nice.

"I would like to inform you something."

"Go ahead."

"I'll be graduating soon."

"..?"

He looked at me

"And then I'll turn 18."

"..."

"I'll be leaving this family when I graduate."

"What!?"

"It's my full right to be on my own after I turn 18."

"..."

"And I would like to change my surname."

"Ha!? You're crazy."

"..."

"I will not allow it!!"

He shouted.

"I have a paper signed by my mother."

"!!?"

He stood up.

"You think you're smart and do something like this behind my back?"

"I always do something behind your back because you've never faced to look at me."

"..."

"And this is my legal right. I have nothing to do for this family."

"You are my daughter, you are Stygian, and you will be that way!"

"Mr. Charon, sir, there's a guest."

And there was another voice behind the door.

"..."

I stayed silent and looked at him.

Then, the guard opened the door, and the old man and his grandson walked inside.

"You're dismissed. We'll discuss this later."

My father was still looking at me with an upsetting face.

"Are we coming at a bad time?"

The old man asked with a smile on his face.

I turned my back on my father and faced those two people. I glanced at the guy who was familiar. He looked at me without fear of other eyes. 

One week after the unexpected guest's arrival, at dinner time, my father exposed the discussion for us, yes, including me.

"We have something to discuss. Well, actually, you, Zephyra."

The head lady spoke up first.

Not surprised.

"The discussion that we were talking about before."

My father said to me directly.

"It is your right to be on your own after you turn 18 years old."

"..."

"But you're not, yet."

"?"

"Since you're still under my roof, you will listen to me. You will have an engagement with a.."

"What!!!?"

I was shocked, as were other family members at this table.

"You will have an engagement. You're still going to school, so do your things until you graduate, and then...you'll be on your own like you want."

"How can I... be on my own if I am engaged with someone?"

I asked.

"It's your problem, honey."

The head lady spoke up.

"You will be great. He's a powerful man and rich. You will be a noble wife and probably will be more mannered."

She continued while eating her food.

"Father?! What is this nonsense?"

Achlys asked.

"It's not nonsense, son. You know what has happened to us. This is an agreement, and he directly asked for her. I can't hold on any longer, and you, Zephyra. You leave me no choice. And your last name will always be mine." 

"Ha...Ha... Don't tell me because of your business?"

I laughed with a little hatred.

"..."

"And you sold me for someone else?"

"We are not selling you. You're doing an honourable thing for our family. You save us. I knew you wanted to get out of this mansion so badly, so why bother? This is the solution for you."

The head lady explained.

"Veronica!"

My father yelled at her, and she stopped talking.

"I think it's too much."

Serena said her words.

"This is not negotiable."

My father concluded.

"I can't believe it. I'd rather be in my mother's grave than be in this family."

"Zephyra!!"

My father hit his fist on the dining table.

"!!"

I got up and left them to enjoy their dinner if they could.