Author's note: I do not own Hellsing or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list theta. Theme 11: Foolish.

The Only Choice

Integra was almost amused. Almost. Right now her irritation was outweighing her amusement. This really was rather ridiculous. She was no where near an ordinary lady of noble birth courting her like one seemed like a waste of time to her. Especially when she honestly had no intention of accepting a suitor. And certainly not one she had not picked for herself. Integra didn't know what the Council of Twelve was up to with this harebrained scheme, but they weren't going to have any success with it. Honestly, how could they think she would be won over with gifts and fancy words?

Integra also failed to see how marriage would improve her management of Hellsing. If any one of her suitors had shown any sense, it might have been a different story. There were some aspects of the job that Integra would appreciate having assistance with. However, Hellsing was hers. She wouldn't mind having a partner to help with its running, but she was not about to give up her position as head. And she was well aware that exactly that was what most of these men expected her to do if she married one of them. Integra was damned if she was going to marry anyone if it wasn't on her own terms.

With a sigh, Integra began to sort through the assortment of gaudy tokens from her various suitors. She was supposed to choose the token of the suitor she picked. Integra found the whole concept rather archaic. To go with her "tokens of affections" Integra also had hefty stack of files provided by Walter. She was hoping to be able to find reasonable reasons to disqualify all her suitors. She wasn't going to marry any of them anyway, but it would help when she faced the Council of Twelve if she had reasons other than "because I don't want to" to give them.

All of the things were really quite outrageous. It was all jewelry for only thing, something she seldom wore. And everything was far more ornate than piece Integra did wear. There was everything from a thick platinum ring bearing a square yellow stone the size of her thumb to a heart pendant that was nearly the size of her fist and liberally studded with rubies and diamonds. Everything spoke of expense but not much of taste. Integra frowned when she stumbled across a small gold cross pendant among the rest of the tokens.

She didn't remember receiving this piece. It was a beautiful pendant though. It looked antique and had very simple lines. There was a single garnet at its center, and the chain matched the pendant in its antique look. When Integra could not find a file to go with this one token, she began to smirk. She knew who this was from. It was a rather clever idea on the vampire's part. He did fit all the criteria that the Council had laid out. He was male, nobility, and had some military experience. Integra fingered the cross. She wondered what the reaction would be if she announced she was marrying her vampire.

Still, Integra tucked the cross into her pocket and got back to work on more important matters such as the budget. It wasn't until several weeks later when the Council was demanding a decision on her part that Integra actually did something about the whole situation. She wasn't entirely pleased with attire she would be wearing to the meeting (grey skirt and white blouse), but she had a meeting with an informant who would speak only to her afterwards, and Integra knew from past experience that her suits attracted attention in public settings.

Integra took one last took in the mirror at her appearance, and judged it suitable. She could see the shadows behind her moving.

Her vampire wrapped his arms around her waist and rest his chin on her shoulder. "Have you made a decision, my master?"

Integra's fingers went to the delicate cross at her throat. Her choice had been made long ago. Integra would accept no one save for a person she saw as her equal. Besides, who could be of more use to her as a partner than Alucard? "Yes."

She turned in his arms, pressing a kiss the hollow of his neck. "Who better? Besides, I will never have to worry that my husband will not understand what I am. Of course, that assume they still want me to go through with it once I announce who I have chosen. They might simply give up on the idea."

It would go against all their instincts, and they would either drop the whole matter or have her marry the vampire (though that might pose some ecclesiastical problems). Integra was betting on them giving up on the matter for now.

Alucard nuzzled her neck, his fingers covering the pendant. Integra disentangled herself from the vampire and gave him a stern look.

"I have work to do. You can go find something to entertain yourself that doesn't involve me having to fill out more paperwork."

Integra straightened her shoulders and prepared to face the old goats on the Council. She was definitely going to enjoy their reactions to her choice.