The characters from the game belong to Capcom.
A/N:I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.
O'Gregon Castle
The whole O'Gregon family was reunited at the table having lunch as the usual. They rarely skipped the habit of eating together. The patriarch looked enthusiastic and waited all the members to finish their meals before speaking out the reason of his enthusiasm.
"Tomorrow, all the women shall dedicate themselves to house cleaning. I want it to shine like gold!"
"What's the special occasion, my father?" Elizabeth, the younger daughter asked in curiosity
The man smiled, "The day after tomorrow the Duke of Northwest will come to meet Katarina. He is very interested in her as her impeccable reputation goes ahead of her"
"What? Won't you ever give up forcing me to do what I do not want?" the brunette girl protested angrily
"Sit down, you're losing your manners" the man spoke in a disapproving tone
"I will not sit down, I am not a dog!"
"Katarina, I will not say it twice!"
"Me neither! I am sick and tired of you trying to control my life! you know how much I displease that disgusting old man and still you are about to force me to meet him without even previously consulting me?"
"I knew you'd be against it, but you have no word. Women have no word against a man's! the Duke is a highly influenced man and as rich as we are. It's a great deal! Not to mention he's old enough so you won't need to tolerate him for too long…" he shrugged
"Introduce him to Elizabeth then! She is the perfect doll to obey whatever you say or any other man!"
"The Duke chose you!"
"I will not meet him!"
The man stood up angrily from his seat heading to the brunette's, merciless he slapped her on the face, "Katarina. You passed all the limits of education and tolerance. You Will obey to whatever I say as you still live under my command!"
"I will never forget that slap!" she spoke bitterly. Hate could be seen in her brown eyes that seemed to get darker after that.
"I will not either!" the man replied with the same intensity, "You will meet the Duke and will marry him whether you like it or not!"
The brunette didn't back down and immediately stood up staring back at him defiantly, "I die before that!" she spoke bitterly walking away and hurrying to her bedroom
The man grumbled. His enthusiasm was destroyed. He looked at his wife as if blaming her for Katarina's behavior since it was women's duty to take care of the children's education. She looked down in sorrow.
Elizabeth was scared with the whole situation and when she was allowed, she left the table and immediately went after Katarina.
"What are you doing?" the blonde asked as she entered the large room and took notice of her older sister standing before the wardrobe and throwing her clothing on the ground
"Packing!"
"What?"
"I will run away from this torment. I will not meet that disgusting man!"
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I will if I continue living here!"
"You cannot do that!"
"I have done many things women are not supposed to… this one will be just another addition to the list"
"But now you can be executed!"
"That will be great! I will join Christopher earlier in heaven and we shall be happy forever after!"
"Please sister, don't ever say that again. I'm sure you will find happiness soon"
"Not with the Duke!"
"Sister, the Duke might not be as bad as you think…"
"You are absolutely right…He is worse! He is ugly, fat and stinks! No wonder why his marriage did not last that much… I am sure his wife died of disgust!"
"Shhh! Don't be so mean to her memory!"
"I am not mean, I only spoke the truth!"
Elizabeth sighed in frustration, Katarina will never take back her spoken words and watched her older sister keep some of her gowns into a leather bag, "Where will you stay?"
Katarina huffed, "Anywhere but here!"
"Does it mean Pierce?"
The brunette let out a heavy sigh, "I do not know where I will stay and I do not think Pierce is an option after all the rumors being spread!" she spoke with assurance. But the truth was that she couldn't count on her little sister's fearful personality and could be easily pressure to open her mouth on such circumstance
"This is too dangerous…a woman alone out there…"
"Stop it!" she shouted, "I am not like you and I can take care good of myself!"
The blonde woman looked down in sadness. She wanted to help, but she was too scared that time and decided it was better for her to let her sister on her own luck.
Countryside, Lake House
She couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't stop thinking. Those words. That moment. Angelique Stafford still couldn't believe what had happened. Was that real? If she was dreaming, she didn't want to wake up ever again, despite all the fear and insecurities running in her. She could not believe she was having the chance to live a better future. She wished she had her mother and grandmother with her, giving her advises of wisdom, but no… she was alone. She is alone in the world. Fear surrounds her and not rarely consumes her.
However, Christopher made her feel secure and accepted. He supported her in anything. He was serious, right? Or was just he too grateful for had his life saved?
"What he meant by marrying, I don't know exactly. I think he meant I will have a ring to wear on chain, which I can show to publicly and that we will be promised to each other? Or are we exchanging gifts that will confer some magical quality of a possession of one another? Or will I wear a garter that will be hidden under my clothes and no one knows about us?
Now that I think about it, I really am flooded by doubts and I'm not sure if I was right in saying Yes to him. I thought courtship was something different, but well… we live together for a few months and this is so wrong! Maybe he's considering this time as courtship… is he?" she pondered without taking notice that the food was starting to burn in pan. When she realized she let out a scream and quickly worked to try to save the meal left
At dinner, Angelique was eating in silence. Quitter than the usual. Christopher occasionally watched his beautiful fiancé wondering that the reason of her silence is her farewell the next morning.
"Christopher…" she broke the silence with a low tone. He looked at her, "May I ask you something?"
"Yes"
She looked hesitant. Her feet were shaking under the table, she searched the right words in her mind to express herself in a proper way as she didn't want to make him feel offended by her question, "I don't want you to have the wrong idea and don't feel offended, but I need to ask this…"
"I won't. Just ask me"
"Do you promise?"
"Yes, I promise!"
She bit lips letting out a long sigh, "Ehh… Are you…what- what exactly did you mean by marrying me? Proposing to me? I… I never had a courtship before but I wondered that things happened in a different way…until marriage proposal…" she spoke in between stutterers
Christopher couldn't help the laughter. Was that the real reason why she was so quiet all this long? She was really cute to his eyes.
"Why are you laughing?"
He cleared his throat, "Don't take it personal, but I didn't expect this question in such way"
"I need to understand"
"Yes, of course and you are right in asking"
"So why do you laugh?"
"Because you spoke in a cute way and I adore your cute way"
She made a face of not really sure of how to react to his statement
"I know you are inexperienced and I'm not that much experienced as you may think" he made a pause with a thoughtful expression, "but yeah… thinking better now I think I was too impulsive in proposing to you, but… I really mean that! I have feelings for you for quite some time and you are the woman I always dreamed of to be my wife. We do get along and I thought that if we get married you would have a chance to escape from your abusive family. My hearts hurts when I hear you crying in the middle of the night since that dark visit…"
She liked hearing those words, but she interpreted them in another way, "So you're trying to save me?"
"And to love you" he added with conviction
"I'm too young for you"
"So what? I don't see any problem with that. You're not a child anymore"
"I'm not, but it's weird… it's weird and it feels like we have skipped some steps…"
"Angely, it's not like we are getting married tonight, but I want you to know that I do have real feelings for you and I do believe we can be happy together. Until the wedding day we will have time to get to know each other and cut this distance that we still have between us in name of courtesy or politeness or ethics… I agree it was sudden but I believe that you can learn how to love me if you allow yourself…."
She looked down smiling softly and with a warming tone, she replied, "Loving you won't be difficult when I… I myself also have feelings for you"
He smiled… He smiled the angel's large smile as her words sounded like a beautiful song to his ears. She had feelings for him too and she kept them hide all that long without ever demonstrating its existence. Or did she and he was slow to catch up? It didn't matter. Their feelings was reciprocal and a bright future seemed to be forming. His soul was full of hope and he will wait for her as long as needed. A challenge to stay apart, especially now that he lives a new lifestyle away from the battles and court.
He wanted to hug her again in happiness. He so wanted! However, he didn't want to scare her again with another impulse act, so just corresponded to her happy but contended and shy reaction. Although, later that night he couldn't help himself and before parting their ways to their rooms, he kissed gently the back of her hand, which was enough to make her blush like a tomato.
"Good night, Angely"
"Good night, Chris"
Katarina rode her horse as fast as she could, noticing the weather changing by the end of the end of the day anticipating the night. Some cold rain drops touched her delicate skin causing her shivers and despair to reach her destination after running away from her home like a prisoner escaping from the jail, covered by a black cape trying to be as much invisible as she could and not be recognized in the streets and now the long road surrounded by tall trees. The sudden rain drowning out all other sound, sifting through the branches and forming mug puddles on the ground, lightning brightening the sky, the loud noises of the thunders welcoming the heavy rain. Soon after, she smiled at the sight of the familiar house and her only hope for a shelter and hideout, the Palace of Northman.
She knocked the double doors. Her body trembled in cold and after a while, she noticed the door opening.
"Pierce, please, I need your help!" she spoke with a begging demeanor
Without thinking twice, the young man let her in and immediately handled her a dry towel, "What happened?" he asked in concern
"You are my only and final hope!"
"Just tell me what happened"
"I need you… I need you to give me a shelter. I ran away from home!"
"What?" he spoke in perplex
"My father once again was about to force me to do something I do not want and without consulting me he… he scheduled a meeting to a hideous man the day after tomorrow!"
"What? What do you mean?"
"The Duke of Northwest"
Pierce didn't know what to say
"Pierce, I cannot marry that gross man! So please, help me!"
He stuttered, "Kat, I cannot do that! You know men and women only share the same house after marriage or during secret meetings at night on the woman's house…"
"For God's sake, forget the damn society's stupid puritan's rules and listen to my despair! Be empathetic once in your life about my pain!" she spoke breaking into tears
"I'm listening to your pain but can't you see that involving me can kill the both us?"
"Nobody will know I am here! I was too careful and no one saw me!"
"But they might look for you here!"
"Pierce! Look at the weather outside! Do you really want me to leave and get sick to death? Is that how you show me your love for me?"
"Our love is impossible Kat! Your father was very clear about that!"
"It's just until the Duke leaves! Please! I love and I cannot marry any other man but you! " she fell down to her knees in supplication holding his leg tightly
The young man passed his hand on his hair in nervousness. Surely he did want to help her and free her from the marriage arrangements her father insisted, but as a vice-admiral, he should be an example and be the one applying the rules.
He shook his head vexed. Divided between love and duty.
"Nobody will know and I will not stay here forever! You said there are secret passages…if anyone looks for me I can hide in there."
He let out a long sigh, "Please, stand up"
"Only if you tell me I can stay…" she replied looking up
Her begging eyes were too much for him to bear. A different woman like her humiliating herself at such level was too much even for him. For his principles and personal codes. He never thought he would ever see Katarina O'Gregon so submissive.
"Please, I beg you!" she pushed more
Defeated by her insistence and his own feelings he exhaled, "Only for tonight because of the weather…" he spoke with a nearly failing voice. Who was he lying to? A day or more days would not make a difference anymore.
Katarina smiled largely and immediately stood up to her feet. Without any warning, her arms enlaced his neck and she planted a long kiss to his lips. Completely surrendered, he corresponded to the kiss warmly. He loved her lips, her kisses, her caresses. He knew her sweet side, her soft side.
The kiss progressively increased as Katarina moved her tongue into his mouth. A wet kiss. Pierce's body started to react in a different way. A way that still hadn't been crossed by them and surely not without attempts from her side. Katarina had a fighter that demanded a phenomenal strength from him to not surrender and burn into the flames of her love. Question was, for how long he will resist?
The next early morning Angelique was arranging her belongings in her bedroom. After a long restless night, "the day" had arrived. She was in countdown to return to hell. Mixed feelings. A part of her was sad, really sad in having to leave her estimated house. Another side of her was glowing for being in love for the very first time. She had a long trip ahead. She had finished placing her belongings on her horse when she heard Christopher's voice.
"Angely"
"Yes" she turned back to him
"Were you leaving without saying goodbye to me?"
She smiled awkwardly, "No of course not… I just didn't want to disturb your sleep"
"I was waiting for you to call me as you know how worried I am about you going alone…"
"I told you it's not necessary. It's a short trip and I'm already used to the road. I will be in town by the sunset"
"That's a long trip!"
"No, it's not… it's just that I will walk slow enjoying the landscape before reaching the hell…plus by the time I get there I won't need to face many people because about that time they tend to be locked in their bedrooms"
He sighed in frustration, "I wish there would exist a way for you to tell me you will be safe"
"I will be safe! I promise I will return in a few weeks to check on you" she smiled kindly in attempt to assure him
He smiled softly, "There's something else before you go…"
"What?" she asked
He put his hand into his pants pocket, took his uniform's scarf and gave it to her to symbolize he will be with her whenever she is and a proof that he did belong to her.
The redhead girl could not believe it and helplessly tears of emotion formed in her eyes. That was the seal of the exchange their commitment provided as she rather borrowed her house to him and now she had a part of him with her.
She smiled happily, as she thanked him for the gesture.
There was a different vibe in his gaze. He looked at her with a warming way that made her heart burn and her body temperature increased in a weird but good way.
He took her grip as he pulled her to him slowly. Then, he placed one hand at her waist and the other caressed her cheek gently. Slowly he leaned over his face close to hers. They could feel each other breaths. He so close. They were so close like never did before. She couldn't move even if she wanted. She wanted to anticipate his next move, as if she could do it. An unknown ground to her, even though exciting. She had dreamed many times about this moment and practiced in her own hand in secret.
He approximated his face according to her permission. An unknown field for them, in the sense that they had never been there before with each other. Although he knew how it felt like kissing someone, that was a territory he didn't explore that much either. However, an unknown ground to him, as he had never kissed with love before.
Eyes closed. A kiss of love. Their lips finally touched. Soft. Warm. Kind. Her first kiss. Their first kiss. He could feel her inexperience and he was understanding. Patient. Slowly guiding her. Slow gentle moves.
They separated for a brief moment to look each other's eye. She smiled blissful. There was passion in his light brown eyes. Eyes honey-like he had. She had never noticed that before and so close. She kept every detail of his face in her memory before their eyes closed and their lips danced again. Still weird, but comfortable. A delicious act before her departure. He knew how to be remarkable.
"Angely my love. I will so miss you!"
"I will miss you too, Christopher my love"
She so wanted to stay…
Thank you Herpderp for the review :D
Thank you everyone who has been reading and following the story, your support is huge! :D
I hope you liked the chapter and slowly we get to know more everyone.
I really have studied a lot to portray this fic's background, of course I won't say it will be very faithful to reality, after all... it's a love story! xD and I'm really trying to write a beautiful tale here and use elements I haven't used before or that are not my forte and that's why I'm developing everything slower than my usual.
However, I must tell that by December the schedule might get a bit slower because of my real life education. I won't stop updating or writing! But I'm not sure if I will update regularly weekly if I don't manage to write spare chapters during the next two weeks. I really hope I can, but I can't promise :(
Four young people in love in a time that interactions were so different. I'm sure there are still places like that nowadays, but the point here is another. The predominance of the old-fashioned way of love and date.
It's been a challenge to portray that, but also a good lesson!
Let's see what happens next and Stay Tuned! :D