The characters from the game belong to Capcom. Some OC's and story background belong to me.
A/N: I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.
Somewhere
"Tell me what you've got"
"Things are shaken and cloudy. She was seen leaving his bedchamber in the castle by the Empress' daughter. The marriage hadn't been canceled so far but the diplomacy has been shaken. The possible scandalous at the court hadn't reached her father because he's in expedition…"
"And I will be the joke if that scandalous comes out!"
"Yes my lord. My best suggestion to you is to cancel the wedding while there is still time…"
"Of course! But not before I teach her how a real man is! And you can be sure that that boy on his diapers will pay a high price for confronting me and will see what a real man can do for his dignity!
The rumors about Katarina started once again and it was evident the break in the alliance of Bohma and Russia as the Empress and her daughter returned to their home without any especial ceremony as the usual habit.
For Katarina's father dismay, the rumors this time about his daughter's conduct were too loud to ignore and after scolding her, he punished her by locking her in the chamber for several days and hoped he could speak with the Duke before the spread of the rumors to his ears.
A couple of days later, the Duke invited Katarina and Pierce to a dinner at his palace, without any of them to have knowledge of their presences. He wanted to confront the infamous couple and teach them a lesson.
The Duke checked the clock. Pierce hadn't arrived yet which made the duke anxious and angrier as the time passed.
"That miserable is not coming… They might have had some sort of contact!" he wondered to the limit of irritation
He burst through the palace doors aggressively, startling the servants that were going on about their business in the room. A bunch of handmaidens rushed over to offer him water and some refreshments but he didn't wait to acknowledge their presence, as he past them to find his fiancée. He roared asking for her whereabouts whilst climbing the stairs and some meek servant told him she was resting in her personal chamber.
At once the man turned to head for the Katarina's bedchamber; the beautiful woman he had been dreaming to make his bride someday. He had done everything and gone out the way to win her heart but she never saw him the way he saw her or even bothered to acknowledge his feelings for her. He was hoping that she would eventually be able to love him once they were engaged but the reality turned out to be something completely opposite.
He was having a tough time believing that of all people, it was Katarina who betrayed his like that. He knew that she didn't like him but he would have never ever thought of it in his dreams that his fiancée could be having a public affair and that too with a mere Knight of the Kingdom.
The Duke's blood's just boiled imagining the woman he desired dearly in the arms of another man. He couldn't stop his mind from thinking about what Katarina and Pierce might have been doing when they were alone together, as walked through the hallways to get to the bedchamber. With each passing second, his over active imagination would inject a disturbing image of Katarina and Pierce in his mind, making him angrier by the minute.
He quickened his walking pace, when the big bedchamber door came into his sight. He ordered Katarina's handmaidens to leave to their chambers and then took hold of both the door handles and pushed it open with as violently as he had before. He stepped inside the woman's bedchamber, too angry to bother about common courtesy. His eyes instantly darted over to the sole figure in the room that seemed to have slightly startled at his sudden appearance.
Katarina let out a bored sigh and rolled her eyes at the Duke, just the sight of the man was enough to ignite her repulsiveness. If it wasn't for her public punishment and the agreement her father and the repulsive man had, she would have never tolerated to be in the same place as him. She tried to ignore his presence and got to admiring herself in the mirror. She put on a golden necklace, which had her family's heirloom, as the Duke closed the distance between them.
"We need to talk", the man tried to civil and control his anger.
The brown haired woman looked at the duke through the mirror, "I am busy", was the only thing she said, grabbing her perfume and spraying it on herself.
"This can't wait", the duke told her, curling his fingers into a fists.
"Do I look like I care", Katarina spoke in a carefree tone moving away from him, towards her bed, "Now get out of my chamber. I need to rest", she spoke with an evident tone of contempt.
"I am not going anywhere", the Duke raised his voice at her and she shot an angry look at him as well, "Are you spraying perfume to meet him behind my back?"
She gasped, "What?"
"That scumbag… Your lover… I need to know if you're having an affair with Pierce Northman."
"That is just another stupid rumor!", the woman response with weight on her voice and shook her head.
"You're my fiancée!", the man said stepping really close to her, "I cannot tolerate more of these stupid rumors! Are you sleeping with him?", he questioned.
Katarina could stop herself from shooting him a disgusted look, "Get out of my chamber!", was the only thing she said to him, before making an attempt to move away from the man, who was extremely repulsive.
The Duke grabbed hold of her arm, "Answer me!", he demanded stopping her from moving.
"Leave me!", she screamed angrily, revolted to having been touched by him.
"I am not leaving without an answer!", he pressed on knowing the answer.
"So what if I did?", Katarina spoke acidly, finally able to jerk her arm off his grip.
"What does he have that I don't?", the noble man asked feeling dejected.
"Everything!", she replied coldly pushing him away, "Now get the hell out, before I call the guards of the palace!"
The Duke was left standing there feeling both humiliated and rejected, while Katarina stood near the bed without an expression on her face. She gave him another disgusted glance and tried to shoo him away like he was some beggar on the street or even worse, a trash a dog had eaten. He spared her a glance, before dragging his feet all the way back to the door, and she told him to close the door on his way out.
He grabbed both the handles of the door, knowing completely well that there was only one way to get what he wanted and it would be by taking it forcefully. He shut the doors and locked it from inside, determined to get what he deserved and to make Pierce feel powerless when he heard the news about him and Katarina and to feel the taste he could do nothing against a Duke as he himself was a close friend of the King's.
Katarina watched the Duke locking the door from inside, and she couldn't help but ask him what he was trying to do out of confusion, as he backtracked back to her bed. She could see a fire raging in his eyes, as undid the buttons of his coat. Before she could understand anything, he was grabbing hold of her shoulders, pushing her down on the mattress with an immense force and climbed on top of her.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?", Katarina asked not keeping the annoyance off her tone, as the duke kept her pinned down with his weight.
"Getting what I want", the duke said leaning in closer to her face.
"Get off of me!", she tried to push him away and hit him to let her go but he didn't ceased.
The Duke didn't listen to her and took hold both in one of his hands while his other hand ran wild, feeling the soft curves of her body. Katarina screamed and struggled, trying to get herself lose but felt somewhat helpless against the man, who was twice her size.
Just as the man leaned in to capture her lips, she managed to release one of her hands from his grip. She instinctively slapped the duke, putting all her strength in that one slap that the sound of it echoed in the room. The duke sat up straight and she thought that he would give up now but the next moment he grinded his jaws and pulled out his belt.
He tried to grab both of her arms and tied her up, but Katarina knew if she let that happen then she wouldn't be able to save herself. She reached out to whatever she could grab off her bedside table and threw it on to her attacker. He moved to dodge that projectile and she got the chance to push him off herself.
Katarina hurriedly crawled off the bed and made a run to save herself. She hurriedly unlocked the door and rushed out the room, calling for help. She looked over her shoulder whilst running to see the Duke following her and she knew he could catch up to her anytime. She tried to run to the entrance hall of the palace, where she thought there were guards and servants that could help her. But just as she reached the top of the stairs, the duke got hold of her.
The brunette struggled, shouting out for help and trying herself to release but this time his grip was even tighter. She hit him, pushed him back and pulled away from him, as if they were playing tug or war. She didn't realize when they both lost their footing and fell from the top of the stairs. She reflexively screamed out of pain, as they both rolled down the stairs together, finally crashing at the bottom of the stairs.
Katarina pulled herself from the Duke and looked down at his limp form, while his blood formed a pool around his head.
Her expression in complete shock as she looked up to see Pierce coming to her way with a perplexed expression
"Kat?"
"It was an accident!" she whispered
The other guards and servants joined them in the room, horrified with the scene.
"Hello my dear Christopher, how are you? It's been a while since we haven't seen each other. How are things there? I wonder everything is all right. I know you know how to keep things in order and well organized.
I've had some of the most restless night of my entire life and all the brief moments I fall into sleep I have nightmares concerning doctors and my body; my sexuality. And to make it worse, the hours seem to be flying and is only a matter of time until the midwife comes to ruin my life forever.
Yes, I said a midwife! My stepmother had the brilliant idea to verify my virginity. I've never been in such situation before. I wonder if it's really that visible the broken hymen. The day she said that I almost panicked, she informed me of the surprise for the next day, but I was luckily saved by the bell and my father returned home on time to stop that. For the first time, I felt he was on my side once in my life!
But I don't think I'm so spared from that…
And with all that said, I have good news! My father is waiting for your visit to our home. He's looking forward to meeting you! I am so excited but so nervous at the same time! I really hope he will bless our relationship!
PS: remember I told him you are a landowner! We need to find a good excuse for you to be in town and I told him we met in the Peasant Village because I fear they think you live in the lake manor!
PS: More importantly I LOVE YOU!"
(*)
The so waited day arrived. The preparations in the Stafford's' Manor started the day prior to the scheduled date. Mr. Stafford was to meet the husband aspirant of his eldest daughter. He did look forward to that, which got Angelique to feel in the clouds but also anxious. She wished her father would like Christopher and bless their matrimony. However not everything was like roses in the Stafford's, Mrs. Amelia Stafford – Angelique's stepmother – didn't hide her displease about the event, even when she disguised her bitter comments from behind her husband, her bad temper demonstrated her real feelings about the whole situation, which had caused some arguments between her and Mr. Stafford.
Christopher Reed arrived in the Lake Province, where the Stafford's manor situated, on a Saturday morning. The village, seemed more organized in comparison to the Peasant Village. He arrived earlier so he could buy himself more presentable clothing so Angelique's father could buy their story, since his best clothes was his uniform and he wouldn't take the risk to wear it. With the saved money from his work he bought a white cotton shirt with a lace-edged jabot topped with sleeveless waistcoat and a long-sleeved justaucorps, and a long green overcoat. Below he wore green satin knee breeches and silk hose held at the knee with garters. He didn't like wearing the wig of that time, which some considered a rebel side of his.
He checked the address he noted on a piece of paper and with the help of some inhabitants, he managed to find the right location. Standing up in front of the two stories manor gate alongside his horse, he took a long deep breathe before calling out for them.
Ah! His heart was pacing so fast. That was the first time he was going to be introduced to a girl's family, despite his considered sexual appearance. He was so nervous. He wasn't even sure of what he would have to say. His nervousness could be compared to the first time he battled on field, the unexpected, the news. Maybe he even felt more comfortable in a warzone than here, right now, about to meet his girlfriend's family. He sucked in all the apprehension and kept the controlled composure he was known to have when in battle.
For his brief relief, Angelique was the one to come to him happily wearing a simple and long light blue dress with white long sleeves, no cleavage. She smiled to him as she welcomed him.
"You look so beautiful Angely" he complimented her with a gentle kiss on her hand following the greeting tradition of the time
"Thank you! You look really handsome Chris!" she was mesmerized with his charm, a charm she had never seen in him before, which reminded her of his life at the court.
Angelique's father watched the young couple from the window, not missing any detail of the young man. By his appearance, he did seem to have possessions.
"Good morning, Mr.?" the older man greeted giving his grip
"Christopher… you can call me Christopher"
"Christopher, nice to meet you. Please take a seat"
The young man was nervous, but he never faltered. Mr. Stafford assumed Christopher was who he said to be, a landowner. New money since he didn't come from a traditional family, but still a member of the club. The stepmother, of course, could always be counted upon.
"Tell us about where you have your lands and how you got it"
"I have a land in Arthena that I inherited from my father and in the Peasant Village's frontier with the Lake Province" he replied calmly
"And how is it you have means, only by inheritance?" the woman questioned
"No. I learned carpentry and blacksmith from my late uncle. I actually enjoy laboring and whatever labor needs me, I'll be there making more money"
The Stafford's lifted their eyebrows simultaneously sharing the same reaction about the man's skill.
"And where do you intend to live with Angelique?" the head of the Stafford's asked
"Wherever she feels more comfortable"
"And you find that sort of ruthless existence appealing, do you?" the woman asked lifting an eyebrow
"Well, yes ma'am I do. I mean, I've got everything I need right here with me; I've got air in my lungs and functional muscles and professions that I can take anywhere with me. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's going to happen, who I'm going meet, where I'm going to wind up. I figure life is a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you're going to get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you."
"Now I can see why you and Angelique met. You both share the same vision of life" the man commented
"Yes sir. Angelique's essence is what captivates me every single day. Her talents impress me and because of her I started seeing Art with other eyes and do really enjoy it's meaning and importance"
"What about her physical… talents?" the stepmother jumped in the conversation with a visible acid tone
"Ophelia!" Mr. Stafford scolded her. Angelique looked down in distress squeezing her hands under the table.
She shrugged not feeling intimidated by her husband's advertency, "I shall ask that! As the lead female figure in Angelique's life, I do have concerns about her inviolability. I suppose that a man of your standards might have principles and idealizations for the woman you will share your life with, do you?"
"Ophelia!"
"it's a pertinent question. She has talent to be a nun, don't you think?" she insisted
"As the family's head I forbid you to ask directly any more questions of such levels that are not of your business!"
"I know you prefer to marry your daughter but I'd suggest you to hire someone to verify her virginity. She has the habit to visit the lake manor and stays there for long periods of time 'alone' more than a prude woman could do."
The man frowned at her suggestion, "Are you implying that my daughter is not a virgin anymore?"
"No my dear, I'm not implying. I'm just suggesting you to do something that is normal under the future marital status of your beloved daughter. I presume that her future husband, Christopher, might prefer a virgin… unless they might have met alone there… I wouldn't doubt that…"
"I don't like your tone"
"It's not my tone, but my sincerity"
"Angelique is not that type! She's still the same, shy and quiet as always! I don't need to verify her virginity. A woman changes when she loses her purity and Angelique hadn't changed at all!"
"She seems happier…"
"She's in love!"
"Women give themselves for love…"
"Stop it! I forbid you to speak that way about my daughter!"
The woman gave a single nod with a cynic smile, "Women know women… It doesn't hurt to ask his preferences…" she spoke with a shrug
"It's enough! Not all women are like you!"
"You still married me knowing it all…"
"Yes I did and that's why you don't have a word on that matter about my daughter's purity!"
"No intimacy until marriage" the man spoke with a warning tone
Christopher took a sip of the wine, while Angelique's face turned into vivid red and then looked down in distress as inevitably the blush formed on her cheeks.
Her father interpreted her distress as shyness on the matter, "I'm sorry Christopher. I didn't want to cause you any inconvenience with my wife, but as you could see, she has a tongue bigger than her mouth at times"
"It's alright Mr. Stafford. I don't mind about her –pertinent – concern. We still live in a puritan society and it's not that I see it wrong, but I do believe that women's value goes further than just a mere physical detail… I know Angelique is a pure girl and I don't have the necessity of such verification considering it'd be a true violation of her purity and angelical soul"
Mr. Stafford smiled at the young man's statement and did bless their union. He did agree that such exam would be compelling and disturbing for his daughter. As the hours passed, the man invited Christopher to spend the night in their house, as at that time of the night, taking on a trip could be dangerous. Angelique made sure to prepare the guest chamber for Christopher. She couldn't hide her happiness, but the young couple did control their enthusiasm and caring demonstrations to not get her father's attention and much less the stepmother's.
Mr. Stafford headed to the bedchamber to sleep, his wife was taking care of their child. Noticing everyone had parted to their chambers, the woman walked slowly to the guest chamber and in silence watched Christopher attentively and delighted without losing any detail of him changing his clothes. She could tell there was something different about Christopher, but she couldn't name what different thing that could be. There was a different energy on him, his way to act, his posture. He seemed to be someone with high education and manners, a different composure. She had no doubts he was a man of possessions. He had the looks of it. He also was a handsome man. Quite handsome in her opinion, especially for Angelique and that bothered her to the core. How could such a stupid girl with mediocre looks have such a man's heart?
A couple of days had passed. Angelique was happy with her father approval of Christopher, the older man went on an expedition. Angelique was packing a bag to go to the lake manor in the meantime.
"Going to your hideout so soon?" the woman asked with a mischievous tone
"Yes I am."
"I wish your father could see that!"
"See what? It's no secret I spend my time there. Someone needs to watch out for that place not to mention the landscape increases my creativity!"
"I'm sure your creativity is increased there…"
Angelique rolled her eyes. That woman would never switch the page and without saying any other word, she left to the Lake Manor where she met Christopher.
They were sitting at the lakeshore, admiring the beauty of the landscape. The contrast of colors of the vivid green of the trees and the crystalline blue of the water accompanied by the enchanting sounds of the birds chirping.
"I'm so happy Chris! I still cannot believe the lake has brought you to me and soon we will be together for the rest of our lives as husband and wife with the blessing of my father!" the young redhead woman spoke in excitement resting back and head on her lover's chest as she was sitting between his legs
"Yes indeed! And I never thought that jumping in that river wondering it was going to lead me to my death, actually led me to the love and happiness of my life!" he replied smiling largely as he hugged her tighter and kissed the back of her neck
"I love you so much… I wish we could stay like this forever…"
"And we will!"
"How?"
He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Just close your eyes… This is our place, our sacred place… imagine a portrait of us in this exact moment. Our energies will remain here, the portrait will get eternal life through your exceptional hands, and when you finish it, we will hang it on the wall where everybody who enters the manor will see and feel this moment lingering that will endure through time and generations…"
Angelique was smiling at the image. She opened her eyes slowly and turned her face to him who smiled tenderly before leaning over to seal their kind moment while in the redhead's mind a full movie formed for her next set of portrait tale.
A set of several paintings. A set that was called: Love Beyond Time.
21st Century, Bohma
Museum of Art, Beyond Time Exhibition
"I didn't know you liked art that much…" the second in command of Chris Redfield commented with a tease
"I didn't know you did either!" Chris replied not falling in the tease
Piers laughed in distress
"Learning a bit of culture won't hurt anyone, will it?" Chris commented with a jokingly tone
Piers shrugged, "I know what kind of culture you came to learn…" he teased making a face
Chris frowned defensively, "I just came because that girl invited… I couldn't just say no…"
Piers gasped, "Why not? You do that all the time!"
"I don't do that all the time" Chris protested
"Right!" Piers spoke with incredulity
"I'm trying to change…" Chris replied in distress turning his face to the other direction
Piers laughed, "Let's see about that!" he spoke with incredulity, "I know you're just trying to score with her"
"So what? Is there a problem with that?"
"No, not at all. Actually it's good to know you're a human too… I was starting to wonder if you're a virgin…"
Chris rolled his eyes, "Hahaha, not funny!"
"Come on! You know what people think after knowing so many declines you do to people… and you also knows what else they say…"
"I don't give a fuck to what they say. My private life is no one's business, including you!"
"True that, but so why did you bring me with you to this exhibition?"
Chris smiled with a mischievous expression, "Because you seem to enjoy art as much as I do!"
Piers rolled his eyes
"Because I had two tickets, that's all!" Chris added after noticing his friend's reaction to his provocation, "And don't tell me you're not enjoying because I noticed how mesmerized you are with that brunette painting…" he paused to read the name of the painting, "Katarina…" he added
"I don't deny she was a beautiful woman…"
Chris gave another look at the painting, examining it. Unconsciously he frowned, "I have seen better… possibly the artist made her look better than she really was…"
"Geez! Why so much bitterness? I think she's intriguing"
"I think she's deadly! Her eyes… remind me of mutated Alexia Ashford!"
Piers laughed, "What? Who?"
"A B.O.W. I destroyed several years ago when I saved Claire in Antarctica"
"I think you are exaggerating by comparing Katarina with the B.O.W."
Chris shrugged. He wouldn't change his opinion just like he knew Piers wouldn't change his opinion about the brunette's stunning beauty. Chris wouldn't say that loud, but it was undeniable the woman's outstanding beauty and by the portrait he could tell she was a forward woman for her time. He could tell that by short-sleeved dress exposing her arms and a generous cleavage. Shy less. Probably he was just poisoned by the story his sister had told him about her trip to Bohma some time ago.
Thank you Herpderp for the words dear, you're amazing! :D
Special thanks to my friend JennaWilliams for helping me with a part of the chapter
So the Duke is dead, huh! Katarina "got rid" of his influence once and for, but how will that impact her? What consequences will it bring?
In the other hand, Angelique living the best phase of her life!
I'm sorry for taking longer to update, I'm busy with my education and hopefully I will update soon! :D
And as the usual, Stay Tuned!