Chapter 1: A Mind as Sharp as Her Looks
5 Years Ago, On Elijah's 18th Birthday
"Come on, Elijah!" Peter pleaded from the doorway.
"The guest's have already arrived, whilst you're still in bed! Mama won't be pleased once she hears this.".
Elijah popped his head up from the bed covers, showing off his dishevelled mane.
"Like I said, leave me alone and shut the door. Mama already knew that I would dread this day, but she still proceeded with hosting a ball in my honour!". Elijah groaned, his voice as sharp as a knife.
Peter was desperate to get Elijah out of his bed. He knew full well that if he did not succeed in this task, Elijah would have to hear one of their Mother's long tirades.
Both of them knew for certain that if that were to happen, they would never hear the end of it.
After glaring at each other for a solid minute, or two, Elijah proceeds to once again bury his head into his sheets.
Peter gives up on saving his brother and decides to stomp out of Elijah's room and into Angelo's. Elijah hears a few murmurs from the room next door, followed by footsteps. A firm, but gentle, knock is then heard at the doorway of his room.
Elijah reveals his head from the covers to see his brother, Angelo.
He was wearing a maroon coloured coat paired with a white neck piece. The top of his hair was tied back while the rest covered his shoulders and back. Angelo was definitely the heir of the Schuyler family, based off of his looks alone. Unlike Elijah.
"Eli, what are you still doing in bed? Mama will certainly not be pleased with this behaviour." Angelo quickly shot at Elijah.
Elijah then shot back, "Do you think that I care about answering her wishes at this point? She hasn't answered mine, so I have no need to answer her's.".
"Oh Elijah," Angelo spoke in a soft voice, "this stubbornness shall kill you one day."
Elijah's eyes shifted to the side, not able to hold Angelo's gaze. He wasn't hurt by these words, but he was scared because the words Angelo spoke were the truth.
He slowly rose from the sheets, defeated. He then spoke with a sarcastic tone, "Fine, i'll get bathed and i'll put my suit on, Mother."
Angelo rolled his eyes back.
"Dear Elijah, i'm only doing this for you because I just want to look out for my sweet, baby brother." He said in a caring voice.
Elijah gives out a small chuckle because of this. He knows how much Angelo cares about him. After all, Angelo was never wrong about anything.
Just when Angelo was about to leave the room, he quickly turns around to face Elijah.
"Hey, can I ask you a quick question?"
"Go ahead." Elijah responds.
Angelo took a deep breath and quickly asks, "If you were to get married at this very moment, what would your wife's characteristics need to be?".
At first, Elijah doesn't know how to respond to this. Instead, his face decides to go red from this question.
Realizing that his brother wasn't comfortable with answering this, Angelo then states, "You don't need to answer my question. You know that right? I was just curious, that's all.".
Quickly putting himself back together, Elijah gives a brief response.
"If I were to marry a woman right at this very moment, she would need to be loyal, honest, caring and should have a mind that is as sharp as her looks."
"Huh, good answer. I'll keep that in mind the next time I go and try to find you someone to court." Angelo responds to Elijah's answer.
To Elijah's surprise, there was a girl who matched this very description. They just haven't met yet.