CHAPTER 2
Erza is annoyed. She is annoyed at the fact that she can barely breathe because of her dress, she is annoyed at the uncomfortable feeling of makeup on her face, and she was annoyed at how slow the women in front of her walks. She, along with the women in line will meet the undertaker, no, the matchmaker today. Because of that she is forced in the damned clothing that restricts her from breathing normally.
She glared the women in front of her. They were too perfect, they are the solid example of what a woman is supposed to be. The chances are greater that they will get a good match. Erza frowned at the thought.
Erza knew that she may not be like the women here, but she cannot let herself back down on this. She will definitely get a better match than the rest of them. After all, Erza was not one to back down in a competition.
As soon as they reached the front of the matchmaker's house, they all formed in a straight line. The women took out their umbrellas and bowed, hiding their faces. Erza complied, but she had a little bit of trouble in getting her umbrella open. When the doors slammed open, Erza was right on time when she opened her umbrella and bowed down in the same matter as the others.
Erza took a small glance to look at the matchmaker. She stifled a laugh when she saw the woman. The woman's size was probably twice her size. And the matchmaker had a permanent scowl on her face which definitely did not compliment the thick layer of make-up on her face.
Erza wondered how on earth did this woman became a matchmaker if she can't even get herself her own lover.
"Erza Scarlet" she called. Erza thought that her voice probably came from her nose. Then, Erza tried to knock the stupid thoughts crossing her mind and decided to focus.
"Present!" Erza replied, standing up abruptly when her name was called. The matchmaker didn't seem to be amused at all.
"Speaking without permission" was all she said as she noted something on the pad she was holding.
"Crap" Erza groaned as she put a hand on her forehead as she dragged herself to the door. The matchmaker waited for her to pass through the door before slamming it shut.
Once Erza was inside, she can feel the tension rising in the air. Erza sighed, still disappointed in herself because of her past actions.
Just then, the matchmaker began to circle around her. Her eyes staring at Erza's body from head to toe. Erza had the urge to raise her brow, the sceptical look she was receiving isn't really comfortable.
The matchmaker shook her head as she began to write something again in her pad.
"Too skinny. Not good for bearing sons" the matchmaker said, and Erza rolled her eyes. What can she do? It's not her fault that no matter how hard she tried to engulf two full rice bowls, her body size isn't getting any bigger.
Erza's focus began to shift on other things as she began to get lost in her thoughts. Her thoughts were shattered when she heard the matchmaker.
"Recite the final admonition!" said the matchmaker. Erza almost jumped at the sudden attack of the matchmaker.
Erza nodded slowly until her nods became frantic when she can't recall a single word in the final admonition. She gave a nervous chuckle as she took out her fan and hid her face. Because of this, her sleeve was pulled down, revealing her notes that had smudges on it, it's still probably wet. It's messy, but still readable.
"Well?" the matchmaker was beginning to feel impatient.
"Fulfil your duties calmly and respectfully" Erza said carefully, slightly peeking at her forearm, trying to look at the next word.
"Reflect before you hack… Act! This shall bring you honour and glory" Erza almost said it wrong, thus making her say the last part rather fast. But after reciting it, she felt like a weight on her shoulders were lifted. She cursed memorizing that.
Erza sighed as she put her fan down. She was caught off guard when the matchmaker harshly took her forearm, and took the fan from her hands. The matchmaker eyed the fan suspiciously, searching for notes on the object. At the same time, Erza was staring incredulously at the hand of the matchmaker that was firmly holding her forearm. The forearm where the wet ink was present, to be precise.
After studying the fan and not seeing any cheat notes present, the matchmaker glared at Erza and placed the fan on her hand again before dragging her to the tea table. The moment she released her hold on Erza, Erza saw the matchmaker's palm was soaked with black ink.
"Now, pour the tea" the maker ordered as she placed the pot of tea on the table, urging Erza to take it. Meanwhile, Erza was spacing out, staring at the matchmaker who was touching her face with her inked hand as she explained.
"To please your future in-laws, you must demonstrate a sense of dignity" the matchmaker said as she unknowingly made a moustache on her face. Erza wasn't sure how to react. She could feel the corner of her mouth curving up, ready for a good laugh or she would drown in worry, she would be in big trouble once the matchmaker discovers this most unfortunate happenings.
"… and refinement" Erza was now staring blankly at the matchmaker, as she poured some contents of the tea on the table, rather than the cup. Once she realized this, she quickly adjust her hold of the pot and successfully poured the tea in the cup.
"You must also be poised." Erza can't take it anymore. She was close to laughing her head off the more she stares at the matchmaker's face.
"Give it to me" the matchmaker ordered. And Erza followed, as she took the teacup in her hands and slowly walked towards the matchmaker.
Without even noticing it, Erza felt her foot trip on something on the floor. At this moment she didn't care, all she cared about was that she accidentally pushed the matchmaker and made the teacup fly unceremoniously in the air, soaking the matchmaker with its contents.
The matchmaker howled in pain when the hot liquid fell on her clothes. She took frantic steps backwards and hit the hob where the tea was brewed. Red coals fell on the floor, and unfortunately for the matchmaker, she tripped and fell on the live coals. With this, she howled in pain and screamed as her bottom gets scorched and she ran around, trying to take it off.
"Oh no! This might take it off" Erza bit her lip as she took her fan, and fanned it over the matchmaker's bottom, hoping that it would extinguish the fire that was starting to form on the matchmaker's bottom.
"Or not" Erza squinted when her fanning only made the fire even bigger, causing the matchmaker to fall on the tea table. Her heavy body crushed the table before she picked herself up and ran outside, desperately calling for help.
"PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!" she screamed as she opened the front doors. People outside looked at her in fear, unsure of what to do. Polyrusica watched from the distance. She can see the flames at the distance, this made her mouth curl up in a small smile.
"That bitch deserves it" Polyrusica grinned.
As the matchmaker continuously screams, Erza ran outside, with the teapot in her hand. She hastily threw the tea over the matchmaker, soaking her with it. Her thick make-up, along with the ink stains melted on her face.
Erza nervously gave the teacup to the matchmaker before heading out. Polyrusica was waiting outside, Erza went towards her aunt. It wasn't long until the matchmaker furiously marched towards the two.
"YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" the matchmaker screamed as she threw the teapot in front of Erza's feet. Polyrusica pulled Erza away, in case the matchmaker does anything heinous to her.
"You may look like a bride, but you will never bring your family honour!" she screamed, Polyrusica was about to say something but stopped. Instead, she put an arm over Erza, glaring at the back of the matchmaker as she walked away.
Erza looked down on her feet. She was disappointed in herself, that she can't even get herself to look at anyone in the face. What would her grandfather say?
xXxXxXxXxXx
Erza opened the gates of their house. She pulled her horse inside, bringing it to the stables. Polyrusica stayed in town, she needed to fix a few things back there and so Erza went home alone. When Erza was about to open the door to the stables, she saw her grandfather at the door of their house. He had a smile on his face, anticipating the good news.
Erza looked away, and Makarov noticed the bothered look Erza's face, finally understanding the situation. He let her be for a while. Thinking that it would be better to give her some space.
As soon as Erza brought her horse to the stables. She went out for a walk, having the need to do so. She took her earrings and placed it her hands, she has no use for it anyway.
"Look at me. I would never pass for a perfect bride" Erza chuckled humorlessly. Then she saw Makarov and Polyrusica talking in front of the house. She already what they are talking about. Her disastrous behaviour might as well be the biggest talk of town for weeks.
"Or a perfect granddaughter" Erza sighed as she walked away. Seeing anyone in her family pains her. She's a disappointment. She wasn't someone that everyone hopes her to be. She doesn't even belong in this family to begin with. And she brought dishonour in their house. Can it be that she's not meant to play this part?
Erza approached the bridge and she walked over its railings.
"I see. If I were truly to be myself, it would only break my family's heart" Erza thought, staring at her reflection on the stream.
She was beautiful, she looked like a bride. But Erza knew that it wasn't who she was. She didn't know who her reflection was. It was probably an illusion she hoped that she could become.
Erza made her way to the flight of stairs, so that she can reach the shrine of her grandfather's ancestors.
She reached the shrine and fell on her knees. She knew she tried hiding who she really was, but then she knew she cannot force herself on becoming someone she's not.
Erza looked up and saw her reflection on the polished stones of the graves.
"When will my reflection show, who I am inside" Erza thought as she tried to remove her make-up on her face and pulled the ribbon from her red hair, scarlet locks fell on her shoulders. With this, Erza stood up and left the shrine.
Moments after, Erza sat under the rainbow sakura tree, where Makarov approached her. When Erza saw the old man, she looked away, hiding her face in shame.
Makarov sat beside Erza. Thinking how he could cheer the downcast brat beside him. He looked around and watched the blossoms above them.
"Look, what beautiful blossoms we have this year! But there is one blossom that's late" Makarov started and stared at Erza who slightly turned her head to look at the bud he was looking at.
"I bet that when that bud blooms, it would be the most beautiful of all" Makarov smiled at his granddaughter as he took the clip from her lap and put on her scarlet hair.
Makarov was about to say something when he heard the distant drums. Erza seemed to have heard of this too.
"What is it?" Erza asked, and Makarov knew that it was bad news.
Makarov and Erza went to the main road, just outside their home. When they reached the walls of their house, Polyrusica urged Erza to stay inside the house while her grandfather went out. Erza didn't what was going on, and she didn't intend to start a banter with Polyrusica.
Erza went to the edge of the wall and used the box of crates there as a leverage in order for her to see what was happening outside.
She saw Imperial stallions at the road, along with the emperor's councilman. The councilman held a scroll in his hands.
"Citizens, I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! Oracion Seis have invaded Fiore." The councilman announced and this earned his gasps from the people. Erza was surprised as well.
"By the order of the emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army!" the councilman continued as he opened the scroll in his hand.
"The Strauss Family" the councilman called and Erza saw Elfman walk towards the councilman to receive his conscription notice.
"Serving the emperor is like a man" Elfman said as he walked away from the councilman. Erza knew that Elfman was the only man in their family. He is living with his wife, Evergreen. And his sisters, Mirajane and Lisanna.
Erza was lost in her thoughts once again that she didn't hear the other family names being called. But a name caught her ear, and she was against it.
"The Dreyar Family" was all she heard.
"No" Erza gasped as she watched her grandfather give his cane to Polyrusica and boldly went to take his conscription notice.
"I'm ready to serve the emperor once again" Makarov said
Erza ran towards Makarov, pushing the men who were blocking her.
"Gramps, you can't go!" Erza yelled.
"Erza" Makarov frowned at the woman in front him.
"Please sir, my grandfather has fought bravely…" Erza pleaded but was cut off by the councilman who strode his white horse in front of her.
"Silence! You would do well to teach this woman to hold her tongue in a man's presence" the councilman jeered at Makarov. Erza glared at the councilman. The nerves of this person. Is it hard to understand that her grandfather can no longer fight in the war?
"Erza, you dishonour me" Makarov said as he looked away from Erza. Erza didn't know what to say. She never heard those words from her grandfather, and she never knew that it would hurt. Polyrusica took Erza away, knowing that things won't bode well for her if she continues to stay there.
"Report tomorrow at the Hargeon Camp" said the councilman as he gave the scroll to Makarov. Makarov then walked back to his home, and Erza watched her grandfather's back, unsure on how to feel.