Arranged Marriage… Great…

Emily's eyelids fluttered as the sunlight hit her face from the window. She groaned, blocking the light with her hands and turning the other way, pulling her blanket over her head. Her attempt to go back to sleep was interrupted by the sound of hurrying footsteps approaching the door. The door knob jiggled a bit before the door creaked open.. "Wake up sleepyhead!" yelled Susan, pulling the blanket off of her. 

The light hits her face again and she lets out a loud groan. She frantically patted the bed behind her, searching for a pillow. Upon feeling the pillow in her hand, she puts it over her head to block the sun. "Go away!" Emily yelled with a sleepy tone. She then attempted to reach down to grab the blanket. To her utmost horror, she could not reach far enough to grab it. She then promptly gave up and simply curled up into a ball.

"No can do," Susan said. "Mother's order. I'm not leaving until you get up!" Susan then jumped on the bed and on top of Emily, tickling her in an attempt to force her to wake up. Emily tried to squirm at first, but eventually, she broke into a roaring laughter as Susan kept tickling her. 

Emily grabbed Susan's hand, trying to pry them away. Her strength was non-existent, leading her to yell out "Stop!" between her laughter. Susan, however, did not yield. 

"Then get up!" Susan ordered. 

Emily successfully held Susan's hand at bay for the moment, catching her breath. "Okay! OKAY! I'll get up!!" She grunted, laying back down on her pillow. "Why do you have to always do that?" she asked.

Susan giggled as she hopped off the bed. "Because it's fun," she said.

"For you maybe." Emily held the side of her stomach. "My sides hurt."

Susan shrugged. "That's what you get for talking back to your dear sister." She slapped Emily's butt and walked out the door. "Better wake up. If I need to come back in, I'm tickling you again" she threatened. Emily threw a pillow out the door, but Susan already moved out of the way. "And pick that up!" she yelled as she walked away.

"You're so annoying!" Emily yelled out the corridor before falling back on her comfy, warm bed. She placed her forearm to her forehead and took a moment to breathe. The birds outside the windowsill were singing their morning songs. Emily turned to look out the window. The green hills of the countryside were beautiful, glimmering from the rain last night. The sound of water droplets from the windowsill falling to the ceramic roof tiles was a calming sound to wake up to. Emily let out a sigh, then sat up on her bed.

She took a moment to rub her eyes and yawned before going to wash her face. Standing at the closet, she decided to eat a modest dress, going a lot past her knee. She then made her way downstairs to the dining room. Sitting at the table was her father, her mother, and her sister. Her father is nose deep in his newspaper, her mother is nose deep in her book, and her sister is nose deep in Emily's business. "The sleepy princess has finally come to bless us with her presence." Susan said sarcastically.

Emily walked over to the table. "Oh hush. I'm still tired because of you," she said.

"Oh, dear sister, you slander me with your words. If it were up to your dear sister, I would have let you sleep until the sun itself retreated back to its bed chambers" she remarked. "But atlas, our queenly mother had wishes for it, and so, it shall be done."

"Proper english and flattery doesn't suit you, dear sister."

Her mother looked up from her book before speaking. "Good morning, my dear." She said, placing a ribbon along the inner crevice of the book before closing it. She gently put it down on the table and interlaced her fingers together. "You're slowly becoming a proper adult, Emily. It's about time you should act like it, my dear."

Emily rests her chin on her hand while clanking her silverware on the empty porcelain cup. "Mother, I can be proper if I want to," she said boorishly. "I just don't see a reason for it."

A maid approached the table and poured tea into her cup, causing her to place her silverware down on the table.

"Emily, etiquette should be natural, not conscious." her father said, glancing over his paper. 

Her mother nodded in agreement. Her sister did the same, gently taking a sip of tea and raising a pinky.

Emily raised her eyebrow at Susan. "Oh don't you pretend to be all proper now, Susan."

"Pretend?" Susan said, sounding offended. "I am practicing what our mother has taught us." Susan gently put down the cup of tea on the small plate and gave Emily a smug look. Emily pouted and gave Susan the stink eye.

Her mother sighs. "Emily, at least your sister is trying to learn." She then gently swirls the tea with her spoon. "But you're not even attempting."

"Mother! I promise, I will learn it when I need to." She drank her tea in a large gulp. The maid then poured her another cup. "But honestly, I doubt that I will ever need it at all," she mumbled.

Her father puts down his paper on the table. "You're at the age to marry already. There's a chance you'll miss an opportunity for a good husband if you don't learn to behave like a noble, of which, if you haven't noticed, you are."

The maids came out holding platters of food and neatly placed them on the large dining table. A morning feast including a variety of bread, cooked lamb stew, and some steaks. The maid filled each person a bowl of stew and presented it in front of the four. The bread is neatly placed in the middle where everyone can grab, steam rising from the loafs fresh from the stone ovens. The scent of the food is gorgeous, filling the dining room. "Thank you for cooking, Ariel," said her mother to the maid. "It smells heavenly." 

Ariel nodded gently and smiled. "I am undeserving of your praise, Lady Marlow," she said.

Her father looked up, seemingly remembering what he wanted to say. "Speaking of which, both you and Susan need to take cooking lessons from Ariel someday as well."

"You're kidding," said Emily. "Pick one, father. Is it etiquette or cooking?"

Her mother interrupted. "Both?" she said offendedly. "A good wife should at least know how to cook and act. It's not negotiable, young lady."

Emily grumbled, laying her head on the table. "But mother, I'm not going to get married, not right now, and hopefully not ever." She took a piece of bread and ripped off a piece with her hand and put it in her mouth. She then looked at the bread. "This bread is really good though. Nicely done Ariel," she said.

Ariel smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Miss Emily," she said, bowing down slightly before leaving them to dine.

Emily swallowed before speaking. "But back to what I was saying, my point is, I'm not going to get married anytime soon. I'm still only 17 if you forgot." She took another bite of bread. "Technically, Susan should be worried, not me."

Susan gave her a long sigh and a certain look before shaking her head. Emily looked at her and raised her eyebrow, confused as to what Susan wanted to say. Her mother and father looked at each other as well, but then looked back at Emily. Her mother then leaned in toward her, placing her hands on the table. "Your sister will get married when she wants to. You however, will still need to train your etiquette at the very least."

Emily was put off by how the family is acting. "What's with the glances?" she asked. 

Her mother sat back. "What glance?" she said. 

Emily was a bit confused as to what they were hiding from her. Still, she continued with her meal. After the family is done eating, the maids clean up the table. Her father and mother then got dressed up.

"Where are you going now?" asked Emily, eating a small cake for desserts. 

Her mother was helping her father tie his tie. Her dad looked in the mirror to see how he was looking. "Your lovely mother and I will need to head out for a bit," he said. "Mister Wilson has some business to discuss with us."

"Is it bad?" asked Susan while reading a book.

"Not at all," said her father. "Could actually be good. Apparently he has a business idea that could make us profit big time."

"Is it risky?" Emily asked.

Her father adjusted his tie. "Don't know yet, dear. We're about to find out at the meeting."

Her parents eventually left out the door. "Thomas, keep them out of trouble alright?" he said to one of the butlers.

Thomas bowed down. "Worry not, sir. I will take care of them and the house."

"You kids behave, alright?" said their mother.

"Give or take a broken dish or two," said Susan sarcastically.

Emily gave her a side eye. "What happened to miss etiquette?" she said with a slight grin.

Susan snickered. "Oh shut up. One hour is more than what you can muster," she said.

"Touché" 

Her parents entered their carriage, and off they went, over the bridge, and passed the hills. 

Thomas approached the two. "Would you be alright with your own, young ladies?" he asked.

"We'll be alright, Thomas.," said Susan. "Actually, we'll also be heading out to the market for a bit. You just go ahead and take a break before your back acts up again."

He laughed. "Very well, milady. Please stay safe and be careful of the mud." He bows to them before returning to the butler's quarters.

Emily waved him goodbye for now as he walked away. She then turned to Susan. "Why the market?" she asked Susan.

"Why the heck not?" Susan then walked to her room as Emily followed. "I want to buy something at the market. That's all."

Susan then undresses and gets Emily to pick something for her to wear. Since Emily was wearing a short dress already, she decided Susan should wear one of similar length. "Tryna match are we?" asked Susan.

Emily shrugged. "Think whatever makes you happy, dear sister," she said. "I would just hate to make the maids do extra laundry from mud splatters."

Later, the two are walking through the market. The place was loud and busy, people selling and haggling, trying to negotiate for price on goods and products. The two sisters stood out a bit from their fancy dress and umbrella. Young boys stared at them as if they were goddesses among men. Susan seemed to love the attention. She leaned in toward emily. "Which one are you interested in?" she asked quietly.

Emily looked toward her before quickly replying, "NONE?"

Susan chuckled. "Yeah, none for me too. They're not to my taste," she said nonchalantly.

Emily looked over to Susan."So what is your type?" 

Susan thought for a moment. "Someone rich, handsome, responsible, and a good foot to dance with if you know what I mean." she winked and nudged Emily with her elbow. Emily gave her a disgusted look. "I also like mature men, not some man child that oggles at me like some sort of fine art."

Emily was taken aback. "But you love the attention those boys gave you." 

"Sure I do. I like to be worshipped, but not by my lover, no. God forbid he bows his head everytime he sees me…" she then pauses. "Although, he also needs to fawn over me and treat me like the delicate woman that I am."

"You are so complicated," Emily remarked. "Maybe lower your standards a bit. Maybe then you will find someone."

Susan closed her eyes and thought of some comparisons. "Does a queen lower their standard to love a peasant? Does a rose let itself be pollinated by lowly weeds? Does the sky let itself be touched by the muddy ground beneath it? Does-"

"Okay, I get it, Shakespeare," Emily said, interrupting her grand speech. "You're injuring my brain with your nonsense."

Susan laughed, then turned to Emily. "But I don't suppose you have someone already?" she asked politely.

Emily scoffs. "God no, and I don't plan on having one." Emily nudged Susan. "I'll leave that to you."

Susan sighs and keeps walking for a moment. She looks from stall to stall, checking for something interesting. Emily squinting her eyes at Susan, looking closely at her face, trying to find some hint of what she is thinking. The only thing on her face is a gentle smile. Susan then pulled Emily to one of the accessory stores. Susan looked at the goods for a moment. Ivory and jade necklace and jewelry were laid out neatly on the counter.

The shop handler welcomed them to his shop. "Welcome, ladies!" he said. "May I interest you in some expertly crafted merchandise from the Hestia Kingdom itself! Jewels crafted by some of the best craftsmen they have to offer."

Susan took her time looking at the jewelry. She then stopped on a gorgeous necklace, made from shiny pearls and gems. "Well, this one has caught my interest." she said politely. "May I be so bold as to request to try it on?"

"Please, be my guest," he said. He gently picked the necklace up and handed it to her. She delicately took hold of it before giving it to Emily to help her put it on. Susan holds up her hair behind her neck as Emily unclip the hook and clips it back on when the necklace is around her neck.

The merchant handed her a mirror as she gazed at herself, turning left and right to see it from multiple angles. She gave an affirming nod. The merchant then speaks his mind about how she looked, saying "my my, the necklace makes you look stunning, even more than you were a moment ago milady."

"I suppose I must agree with your statement." she said before looking at him again. "How much will that be, fair merchant?"

He looked at his piece of paper. "That will be… 9 gold pieces if you would be so kind." Emily opened her purse and handed him 9 gold pieces as requested. "A pleasure doing business with you, milady. Do come again when you fancy it!" he said, smiling and bowing his head.

They head away from the place and back into the busy market. "Let's head home now, shall we?" said Susan. 

"Sure."

The two made either way back the way they came from. On the way, a begging family begged the two for some spare coins. Emily showed pity on them and handed them 2 silver pieces before leaving the market.

"He tricked you, you know that right?" Emily said.

"By how much?" Asked Susan while walking ahead. 

"Around 2 gold." Emily replied. 

Susan laughed a bit. "Well, may that 2 gold feed his family for many days to come."

The two walked quietly for a bit. The trees move past them as they go. The smell of the fresh night rain filled their nostrils as they walked. Emily still can't shake the feeling that her sister is hiding something from her. The curiousness only worsened as time went by, and eventually, it overcame her. "So why did you really want to come to the market, dear sister? I doubt it was to get swindled by a merchant for a slightly above average piece of jewelry."

"No, it wasn't." Susan replied before falling quiet for a moment, reluctant to tell Emily what she wanted to. Eventually, she thought to tell her dear sister anyways. "So tell me, Emily. What would you do if I say you will be marrying someone very soon?" 

"I would laugh at your face."

Susan laughed. "Then start laughing, dear younger sister."

Emily looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Start laughing, because that is exactly what I got you out here to tell you."

Emily stopped walking. Susan, upon hearing her sister's footsteps stopped, also stopped. She turned back to face Emily, walking to her with her umbrella to give her shade from the sun. Emily raised her eyebrow at Susan. "You're kidding right?" she said.

Susan shook her head. "I'm afraid I'm not."

"What?! Why??"

Susan shrugged. "How should I know? They only talked about it before I got to the dining table this morning."

Emily is now screaming. "Why didn't they bother to tell me anything?!"

"Probably because they still aren't sure yet." said Susan

Emily placed her hand on her hips and the other, holding her forehead. "No wonder why they were so determined to make me learn etiquette."

Susan places a hand on her shoulder. "Look at the bright side, at least if that's the case, he's likely a high ranking noble."

Emily looked up at her with a confused look. "Was that supposed to make me feel any better? Because if you don't know, it didn't work."

Susan patted her shoulder before letting go. "Hey, just trying to make you see the bright side of things. Either way, I recommend you just not think about it too much. I just wanted to be a good sister and tell you what I know." She then poked Emily on the tip of her nose. "But don't you go talk to our parents about this or I am going to be in a lot of trouble, okay?"

Emily was quiet in thought for a moment before reluctantly nodding her head. 

"Good girl," said Susan with a smile as they went home.

Later that night, Emily walked up to her parents, who were sitting on the couch in the living room with her sister. Emily was clearly upset and stomped into the room and sat down. Her maid attempted to give her a cup of their freshly imported tea. Emily held up her hand, dismissing the maid's attempt. "Why didn't you tell me you were marrying me off to someone without my knowledge?!"

The maids took the hint and all left the room, excusing themselves. Her parents looked at her with a confused but surprised look. Susan, who was laying on the couch looked at her, eyes wide opened and mouth agape. "... you backstabbing swine…" she said with her mouth wide open, her face casting a thousand curses on Emily.

Their mother turned to Susan, with her mouth gaped wide open. "Watch your language, young lady!" she yelled. "And why did you tell her!?"

Susan looked at her mother, then Emily, then her Mother again. "I have no idea how she knew," she finally said.

Emily slams both hands on the table. "That's not the point!" Yelled Emily. "She told me you were planning on marrying me off to someone I don't even know!"

Susan gave Emily a death stare, her mouth opened wider than before. Their parents sent Susan away to her room. As Susan walked past Emily, Susan poked her on the forehead. "I will remember this betrayal of the utmost level, dear sister."

Susan left, slumped down as she walked to her room. "Tried to be nice and this is the thanks I get…" she grumbled as she waddled to her bedroom.

Her parents got off the couch and sat at the table on the opposite side of Emily. Emily's voice was strong and stern. "So, what's with this arranged marriage, huh?" she said.

"Look, I know this sounds bad," her father said.

"Yeah, no doubt about that," she confirmed. " I thought I made it clear I don't want to marry anyone!"

Her mother leaned closer. "Surely you jest. A woman must get married sooner or later."

Emily shrugged. "Sure, 'later' might work, but this is 'sooner', isn't it?"

"Your father and I realize how hard this must be for you, but this might be the best opportunity you can ever get to have a husband."

"Well I don't want one!" she said, leaning forward and placing her hands on the table. "Last time I checked, Susan wanted one, not me!"

"We are well aware," her father said.

"The issue is, the family doesn't want to marry their son to someone older than him due to their tradition," said her mother.

Emily sat back and crossed her arm. "What sort of stupid tradition is that? Susan is only a year older than me. How old is he anyways?"

"He is also 17," her father said. "He will be 18 at the end of next month."

"Well, I guess that's a good tradition then." Emily said. 

"Well, umm.. We are glad you find it acceptable?" said her mother, slightly nervous as to why Emily suddenly agreed.

"Yeah," said Emily. "In fact, I like it so much I want to adopt it."

Her mother looked at her, smiling awkwardly with confusion. "What?" she said.

"Yeah, I want to adopt it. I don't want to marry someone older than me either."

Her father squeezed the ridge between his eyes. "Please, Emily, don't be like that."

"Father, mother, with all due respect, even if I do want to marry this spoiled brat, which I don't, I don't even know how to be a wife. What would make you think their family would agree to this?"

Upon hearing her asking, father excitedly described their partnership. "We are the co-owners of the largest lumber company in the kingdom, my dear. They are starting to dive into the construction scene and housing industry." he aggressively pointed his finger to the table. "You see, if they can somehow form a partnership with our family, in other words, by marrying into our family, I plan on giving them priority treatments with our source of lumber. In return, they vow to share their wealth with us in the form of… well… your marriage." He was smiling, hoping Emily was impressed.

Emily's face turned stoic. "So you're using me as a tool for money?" she coldly said.

Her mother interjected. "Well, not ONLY that," she reassured. "We are also trying to get you to marry into a good life…for you." she smiled and nodded her head repeatedly, agreeing with herself.

"Precisely. It is a win-win-win-win situation. 4 wins in a row." her father added.

Emily raised her hand in confusion. "Where in the world did you get four from?"

Her father lifted his hand and counted on it. "First is our win," he said, pointing to himself and her mother mother. "Then, it's their win, for the lumber, then it's his win for getting to marry such a beautiful, bright, smart, gorgeous, genius girl."

Emily looked at her father judgmentally. "You only mentioned two attributes in total, father."

He shrugged and continued. "And finally, it's your win for marrying into a rich family." Her mother nodded her head repeatedly through her father's explanation.

Emily looked at them blankly, giving them both a judgemental stare. "At best that's 3. The last one isn't a win in my book." 

Her mother shrugged. "Well, a win-win-win is also pretty good, isn't it?"

Emily sighs, knowing that her decision won't really matter here. "Alright," Emily said. "What's done is done." she took a long deep breath. "So, who is this family anyways?"

"The Leonheart family," said her father excitedly.

Emily's face turned into a shocked expression. "What," she said.

Her mother enthusiastically clarified. "You are planned to be the future bride of the second son of the wealthiest family in the kingdom of Denfort, the Leonheart Family, Alexander Leonheart."

She is still in shock, only able to repeat, "what."

Her mother followed her father's excitement, saying "And since you know now, we can bring you with us to meet with his family tomorrow! Isn't this great?!"

"WHATTTTT!!!"