Author's note: Hey!! I know the first chapter was rubbishly small, I realised it even more sometime later when seeing it on the live preview. Gomen ne! Please don't be disheartened! T-T I have more this time! Thanks to Redmoonqueen who reviewed this story! x3 Please read and review! Constructive criticism allowed, just please be nice! Enjoy.
Chapter 2: Frightening news and a rather eventful meeting.
Shizuka sat on her bed, staring out of the window. She lived with her parents, helping to earn them enough money to survive. It wasn't so bad, as they lived in Kirlsa, but food was still hard to come by. Shizuka was a timid and sheltered girl, who worked in the nearby store. Every day was dull and the same. But she never complained. She was grateful for what she had. Her melancholic mood had gotten worse just a few weeks ago, when her mother had come in with news that Count Woltar was looking for every girl between twenty and twenty four to hand in a form, to be put forward to a nobleman so that he can choose one lady to wed. She did not mind so much, after all nothing would make her life much better anyway.
Until she found out who it was that she was being put forward towards. Albel Nox. The man who took pleasure in destroying much of the Aquarian neighbours. Even if they were at war with them once before. He also treated his own country with much dislike. Shizuka was scared; but there was nothing she could do about it. She prayed each day that she would not be picked to be the one Albel weds. The thought of having to wed Albel brought great shivers down her spine. So she sat there, gazing out at the setting sun, casting orange into the cold air. The orange reflected in her light blue eyes and it moved slightly as the sun moved.
Sometime later her mother came into her room with an official looking letter. She walked up next to the bed.
"Shizuka…I got a letter from Count Woltar. He writes that Lord Albel chose you to be his bride. I am terribly sorry," her mother said. A frozen ice dagger hit her in the back, spreading cold and fear into her blood; she was to be wed to the master of death, the one thing she dreaded over everything else.
"I…see," Shizuka whispered. Her mother pulled her into a hug.
"I am sure Lord Albel will have changed by now, after all he was one of the ones to save the universe," her mother said, in a desperate attempt to cheer her up. Shizuka did not think her life could get any worse.
Woltar was overjoyed when Albel came to him telling him he had picked a girl. Albel muttered something about she being the only one that did not seem like a maggot. He had then walked off grumbling about the old man's stupidity. Woltar did not care; for Albel had finally chosen someone and they could now meet the girl today. He made the preparations and hoped that Albel would awaken soon. Soon a knock came at the door. One of the guards opened the door and led a man, a woman and young lady into the house. The girl was wearing a frilly blue dress and a bonnet. She looked rather down and Woltar smiled a welcome to them all. They all bowed/curtseyed; the girl rather grudgingly.
"Welcome to my mansion. So this is the young Shizuka who will be wed to Albel? What a pretty young girl you have Mr and Mrs. Chizenin," Woltar said.
"Thank you very much, Count Woltar. It is an honour to be here and we are just dying to meet Lord Albel. We have heard so many great things about him," Shizuka's father said respectfully. Woltar nodded.
"He is currently sleeping. But how about we talk a little more in the main room? Then a little later, Shizuka and Albel can have some alone time to get to know each other. Would you please step this way?" Woltar asked. Shizuka and her parents followed Woltar into a spacious room full of comfortable chairs. Woltar talked about how happy he was and how much Albel needed to wed. Shizuka spaced out, not wanting to hear them talk on and on about stuff she did not want. Eventually she was snapped back into reality by the sound of something piercing the chair head next to her. She saw a katana wobbling in the chair head and turned her head to see a young man seething in the doorway. He had shouted at Woltar, asking him why he had one of the guards wake him up. He had then thrown his katana in fury.
"Albel! Do not throw your weapons in this mansion. You nearly hit your fiancé-to-be," Woltar said, with an angry look on his face. Albel did not look like he cared.
"What a pity. You should think before you wake me up. I can sleep however long I want. Now I am returning to bed," Albel said. He walked towards Shizuka, who recoiled in fear, and reached over her to retrieve his katana.
"Get a backbone, worm," Albel said. He walked out again, muttering curses under his breath. Woltar turned to Shizuka and her parents.
"I apologise for his behaviour. He does not like taking orders, I am afraid. We will leave it about half an hour and then Shizuka should be able to spend some time with him…" Woltar said. Her parents nodded, Shizuka just stared off to the side. She wished she was anywhere but there right then…
Half an hour later, Woltar led her up to Albel's room and knocked. A grumbling sound came from the inside. Woltar shook his head and knocked again.
"Albel, I have Shizuka here to see you. You can both get to know each other," Woltar called through. Silence came, but Albel answered saying that she could come in. Woltar opened the door and asked Albel to be nice. Shizuka reluctantly entered and Woltar closed the door behind her. She saw Albel lying on a single bed near the window, his back facing her. Shizuka stood there terrified, her legs shaking. Albel started moving, rolling over to face her.
"Oh ho, you're that worm who was shaking over a little sword play," Albel said, with a somewhat evil looking smile across his face. This made Shizuka stiffen and she stared at the floor.
"Look at you. You are shaking like a leaf. Why? You aren't scared of me, are you?" Albel asked. Shizuka shook her head shakily. Albel smiled and unsheathed his sword and threw it towards Shizuka, hitting the door behind her, not actually touching her. But Shizuka ducked with her hands over her ears, screaming.
Albel smirked. His thoughts were correct. He walked towards her and pulled her up, staring into her wide-eyed face, which brimmed with tears and her mouth trembled with fear. Something about her appearance silenced Albel; he just kept staring at her, the sadistic actions and thoughts flowing away from him. Shizuka did not move, lest she anger the strongest swordsman in all of Airyglyph. Albel then smirked.
"Heh, you are rather interesting. I hope you are not going to be trembling for the rest of our lives. After all, we are getting plunged into this stupid thing. You better get used to it, worm," Albel said. He let out a bit of cold laughter and returned to his bed. Shizuka's legs wobbled and she collapsed back down onto the floor. She stared at the floor, tears threatening to fall down her face. Albel lay on his bed thinking over things, musing at the idea of being wed to this weakling.
About an hour later, Woltar came in and told her that her parents were in need of going home. Shizuka stood up quickly and ran out of the room. Woltar had arranged with her parents a time when Albel and Shizuka could get together and walk around town, so that they could get better acquainted. Her parents nodded and led Shizuka out of the grand house, Shizuka with her head down trying to mask her terror.