…
…
...
...
She remained rigid in her seat, not moving, not daring to take even a single breath.
What exactly did he mean?
When she proceeded to ask, he smirked again.
"It is as I said, this is a business arrangement. We will both sign a legal contract that contains the terms and conditions of our arrangement. To do that," he leaned back against the chair slightly, "we have to discuss everything that will be written in it."
Well, since he was a businessman after all, it made sense. She felt compelled to voice her concerns though.
"How do I know that you won't be deceiving me? That you won't be turning things completely to your own advantage?"
His widening lazy smirk was truly getting on her nerves – and she hadn't been in his presence for even half an hour. Those already haughty crimson eyes of his held a more arrogant look than usual as he resumed his monologue.
"Having things advantageous for me is not something that can happen, because it was already fact the moment you agreed to all this. You should have been aware of it when you came here today. I wouldn't have accepted your proposal or gone through the trouble of proposing a contract in the first place if I didn't know I would be getting the most benefits out of it."
Arturia wasn't sure how she was feeling about this whole situation. On one hand, she was relieved about the fact that she wouldn't actually be the only one finding use in the arrangement; on the other hand, she was angered by the way he was openly stating that he would be using her.
But then again, it was not like she could openly object it, could she?
They were both using each other… that was probably the best way to think about it, and it made her feel a little less guilty about it since, technically, it was not a lie.
She was brought out of her musings when he began talking again. She noticed however a change as he started up this time: he was no longer smirking, his expression was more serious, his eyes were sharper and his voice was more… more… professional. Unfortunately, she noted to the side, all of his usual arrogance was still there.
For a brief moment, she regretted not having gotten even a wink of sleep that night – her tolerance and attention to detail thus very low – but regretting was useless. She had to make the most of the situation, hope the effect of the black coffee kicked in soon and be as focused as possible.
Her future life was going to be decided on this day. A determined expression settled on her features as she stared into his eyes. She was ready.
During her brief mental escapade, Gilgamesh simply looked at her, very much amused by the way her inner conflicts and emotions were reflected on her face. As much as she obviously tried to avoid thinking about it, he was fully aware of the fact that she was conscious of what she was agreeing to do. He could see that the woman in front of him was valiantly upholding her façade of dignity – which he thought was absurd, especially considering that she had come there to basically beg him for money.
He had to admit that, in some ways, he grudgingly respected her courage for coming to him the day after that offensive incident and actually asking for his cooperation. Even though, he considered, perhaps it was not courage; she was probably not thinking straight because of simple desperation.
Not that it mattered, as it was perfect for him and his plans.
Now it was time to actually begin discussing the contract, therefore he met her gaze. He was ready, too.
"First thing is the living arrangements. Once we get married, you will be required to move into my house. The servants will bring your belongings from your own residence – that will be settled fairly quickly." He gave her a pointed look. "Also to note, in my house, servants take care of everything. This is something I'm certain you're unaccustomed to, so while you will not be asked to do any chores, what you will be asked to do is live up to your role as a 'wife' in the public's eye."
He paused briefly. "That means that you are required to attend all sorts of mundane events and social engagements that take place, with or without me, as long as the public expects it. Nothing but a health illness is accepted as excuse for not attending."
Arturia interjected, with a slight glare, "Illness – mine and my family's. My family will always have priority."
She stressed the word 'family'. She would do what Gilgamesh asked of her, but her nephew and her sister would always come first.
He brushed her comment aside with a wave of his hand and went on.
"As my wife, you are expected to appear in public with me and have pictures taken of you. I assume you are intelligent enough to understand that, since there is heavy media attention surrounding me, there could be disadvantages regarding your privacy."
She tried her best not to glare at him, and a sigh almost escaped her. He assumed. What a jerk.
"I'm aware, Gilgamesh. I know that I will have to be extremely careful in being in outdoor places once the… engagement… becomes public knowledge." Saying it aloud felt incredibly strange, even surreal.
He raised an eyebrow; something about her sentence did not sit well with him.
"There is no need to be so melodramatic. Being engaged to me means that you are granted some form of protection from too invasive media. What can be at risk is your past and the private life of the people in your family. The reporters will dig into everything they can about you."
Arturia bit her lip, but she had more or less expected such a thing, and she didn't really have to worry. There was nothing in her past or personal life that she needed to be ashamed of, and regarding her family…
"I have no family except my sister and my nephew, and they are both at the hospital right now. I believe that this will somewhat help keep their personal life away from the media… at least for a while. And if it doesn't… then I ask you to do all you can to keep them away from the public, since I will be on display, after all, and not them."
Gilgamesh nodded curtly and went on with the things he had to discuss with her, dismissing the brief and unpleasant thought he had suddenly had.
He had not known that she did not have anyone else in her family. Come to think about it, he didn't know almost anything about the woman he was going to marry–
No. He would not succumb to such foolish thoughts.
There was another matter, one he was going to enjoy addressing. He felt a new smirk about to creep on his face, but he decided he could hold it back for a little while.
"Our marriage may be just a business transaction, but I expect consummation."
He had been right: he definitely enjoyed her reaction. She became rigid in her seat and her eyes widened – but then she composed herself and gave him the blankest of stares.
He snorted internally. Was she trying to feign ignorance? As if that would work on him. If anything, it was going to make him blunter.
Well, she had asked for it.
He leaned forward. His gaze was curious and somewhat thoughtful on her.
"Will you have sex with me?"
She deadpanned. What.
"…I beg your pardon?"
His smirk finally revealed itself.
"Attempting obliviousness doesn't become you, Arturia."
She glared fiercely at him. To hell with manners and attempts at politeness.
"No. I won't have sex with you," she retorted in a low voice.
He had expected such a reply, and decided to tease her some more. In spite of all his arrogance, he would never demand for anyone to sleep with him, but she didn't know that, and he would use this for his own amusement. Her reactions were a lot of fun, if he had to be honest with himself.
"Oh? And why not?"
Her reply was stern.
"I have the option to decline – and so I will, because I'm not interested." She stared straight into his eyes. "I will not sleep with you."
He tsked.
"Such a pity. I can't say I am happy about your decision."
She only gave him another glare, silently fuming about his words. It was obvious that she was holding herself back from yelling at him; she clearly did not want to remain on the subject any longer.
Gilgamesh smirked once again. She certainly wasn't a boring person to have around, and finding topics that both angered and discomforted her like this was very amusing. Briefly, he thought that the kind of blunt dialogue that had just occurred was probably a result of Enkidu's recent, mischievous influence, as much as he tried to avoid picking up things from his unpredictable friend.
Speaking of Enkidu…
"On another note," he began.
She focused on him, seeming a bit wary but at the same time glad about the change of subject.
"Everything we are discussing today and the details of the contract are only for us to know – it can't ever be publicly disclosed. However, I will have to tell Enkidu the real reasons for this marriage, without giving away the specifics, of course. I trust you don't have objections about this?"
Arturia remained quiet for a moment, and then spoke up.
"I believe Enkidu to be a good person – even if he is your best friend – therefore it's fine. However," she completely ignored him narrowing his eyes at her jab, "I will tell the real reason for this marriage to my sister as well… once she is better."
Gilgamesh was ready to protest but, to his surprise, she gave him a sharp look.
"This is not something on which I will have a discussion with you, Gilgamesh. My sister is my closest confidante, and she has the right to know the truth. And, as much as you continually seem to try to prove the contrary, you do care about your friendship with Enkidu – and that is the reason why you don't want to lie to him either."
He could not say he was happy about the woman's insight, but he could not say he wasn't amazed either. That was happening quite often on this day, but once again, he dismissed the thought.
"Another thing must be very clear. Your obligation of having to appear in public with me doesn't mean just being on my arm and looking at the cameras. It means acting as my wife in everything you do under the public eye."
She could not hold back; perhaps her lack of sleep was finally catching up to her, or perhaps it was the fact that he seemed to treat her like a child.
"Right. Tricking the world into thinking that I married you out of love – please don't worry about that."
He did not seem particularly happy with her sarcasm.
"That will be the most important part of what is asked of you. I expect you to take it seriously."
She gave him a dirty look, not happy with his rebuking her either.
"I can pretend I care about you well enough, Gilgamesh… the question is, can you do the same?"
He seemed bored, but she could feel him smirking through his words.
"I don't have to pretend I care about myself, Arturia."
Wasn't he witty. She did her best not to make it too apparent that she felt ready to bite his head off.
"Oh, I don't doubt that for a second, but what I mean is, are you able to pretend you care about someone else that is not you? In the case at present, me?"
He actually seemed slightly perplexed. She rolled her eyes; how conceited could a person actually be?
"I see. You thought that getting a wife would mean that she would have to do all the work, and probably gush and fawn all over you so to please the press and the public attention. Well, I'm afraid it doesn't work like that."
She stopped to take a breath, and then continued, "You want to fool the media and create a good image of yourself – that means that you have to show your affection as well. The tabloids would give a very unfavourable evaluation of you, if they wrote that you got married but do not seem to care about your wife. A bond of marriage is not one-sided, and if you don't see that and agree to do your part, you might as well acknowledge that this agreement will bring you no advantage at all."
Gilgamesh had to be careful not to blink. She – she was talking back to him, and she was saying things that made sense.
Not that he would ever tell her that, but she did indeed have a point.
The marriage arrangement he wanted apparently needed a little more effort on his part. Well, there was a very easy solution to that problem.
He smirked slowly, and she seemed to retreat a little in her seat, as she had been quick to learn that that smirk was not a good sign.
"Very well… so, I will need to show my affection towards you." She waited, warily, for the next part. "That means that you will have to let me kiss you."
His smirk widened, and he added, "In public."
She did not have a reply to that, and he was quite smug about it, deciding to pile it on. "What better way to show my affection, after all?"
Curse this man. And to think that she had been the one to involuntarily give him that idea. She could obviously not back away from it, but she would give him her rules nonetheless.
"Kisses in public… can be acceptable and actually a good way of expressing affection," she reluctantly conceded, and did her best to pay no attention whatsoever to his grin. "However," and her expression did not leave any room for argument, "only when there is a valid motivation for the gesture, and nothing more than chaste kissing."
For some reason, her being so specific on that detail irked Gilgamesh. It amused him too though.
He leaned forward, elegantly resting his chin on his palm.
"Are you truly unable to carry out a conversation without being confrontational, Arturia?"
Sarcasm dripping from every word, she replied, "No, Gilgamesh. Please consider yourself more special than you already do… this is only for you."
He scoffed, not very amused anymore.
"Hmph. Impudence. How derisible."
She seemed unconcerned, and he decided it was time to change the subject once again. There was still a lot to discuss, after all, and he had to make sure she knew what he wanted from her, as his wife.
"This other thing must be made completely clear. Getting married and making sure that the public believes it's a love match doesn't mean you will have to cling to me." He looked at her haughtily. "I demand a wife, not a fangirl."
She raised an eyebrow, seeming scornful. Indeed, conceited didn't even come close to what this man was.
"I am not a fan of your way of thinking and your behaviour, Gilgamesh, so you needn't worry – don't expect me to be anywhere near you unless it's necessary. I will be on display in public, do what is suitable for a 'proper' wife and fulfil my role to the best of my abilities, but that is merely the façade I have agreed to keep up. My family is what comes first, and what truly matters to me."
"I expect nothing more of you – but also nothing less, Arturia. For the public, you will have to be my wife – and that means that things you do in private might be monitored by the press and exposed as well."
He looked – was it really possible? – quite sombre and serious. She nodded briefly, not truly surprised by his warning. She was aware of that kind of danger, but it wasn't what actually concerned her, and she intended to clarify what she meant.
"The loss of privacy is unavoidable, and I am conscious of that. But, regarding several matters we have addressed today, let's make something very clear. I will not be considered your inferior, or someone you can order around. I am expected to be your wife – therefore, your equal."
Her words interested – and actually offended – him to some degree.
"What makes you feel the need to say something like that?"
She looked him straight in the eye.
"The kind of person you are, Gilgamesh. As I said, I don't approve of your way of thinking. You are used to having everything done with a snap of your fingers, and you look down on everyone." She was silent for a second, and then amended, "Except your friend Enkidu, probably. But here is the thing: you may as well despise me for accepting to marry you because of selfish materialistic reasons, and I will by no means fault you for that. But you will not mistreat or humiliate me, neither in public nor in private."
His expression turned sardonic.
"You mean, the way you humiliated me just yesterday?"
She could not avoid a blush of mortification. He was right.
Very uncomfortably, she nodded.
"I will publicly apologize for that. Even though I still believe you deserved it for the contemptuous manner in which you addressed me, that certainly did not warrant the following quite derogatory scene."
He actually had the gall to seem amused.
"Well, well. While it's very… fair of you to offer to do that, it won't be necessary."
She raised an eyebrow.
He continued, "We are going to make an official announcement for our engagement – I will take care of it – and then we'll let the gossip magazines speculate wildly about the reasons for the slap. It will be good publicity."
She was confused for a second, but then understood.
"You intend to use that – to your advantage."
He smirked.
"Always, Arturia."
She was a little startled. Not by the fact that he intended to turn things in his favour, but by the way he called her. She didn't know when he had gone back to using her first name instead of the formal 'Ms. Pendragon', yet she hadn't even noticed the switch.
She refused to think about it any longer, and went back to the matter of discussion once again.
"Very well, then. Is there anything else expected, 'as your wife'?"
He pondered over the question, taking another sip from his coffee cup.
"The most important thing is truly being seen in public with me." Suddenly his expression changed as he focused on her completely. "As I said, appearance is what matters most. Therefore…"
She noticed how his eyes gazed at her form keenly. She was ready to launch in a verbal tirade against him if he stared at her inappropriately, but he seemed to have at least enough decency not to do that.
He grinned widely, drawling out every word.
"Not that your taste in clothes is necessarily bad, but it's certainly too modest if you are going to be seen around with me." His gaze, firm on her face, became piercing. "I can be lenient over your everyday wear wardrobe, but you will be dressed in an aesthetically much more pleasing fashion from this point forward. The wedding day is just the first of many occasions in which you will be dressed under my directives."
Her eyebrows shot high. She would be on display, yes, but she would not be a doll.
"No, I won't. This–"
But, on that, she soon found out that she was not going to be able to find a compromise.
"Yes, you will. It won't be a real wedding, but that doesn't mean that you will not dress up for the occasion." His eyes swept her form up and down once again. "I'm not asking anything unreasonable. I demand for you to dress well for the wedding, since it will be a very public one."
Suddenly he grinned, and she knew she was doomed. "And as part of the marriage contract, this new thing will be added." He leaned towards her. "You will come shopping with me."
...
...
