Hey guys! Thanks for all the views and favorites and follows! Hopefully you guys like this chapter, I tried to show a little more of Soleil's personality while still keeping some elements of her vague. However more will be revealed in time! Let me know what you guys think!
- Kenzie
My Nyas: The story takes place after YGO: DM, just for the purpose of keeping up with the timeline, since I highly doubt 17 year old Seto Kaiba would even consider getting married. Lol. But I'm glad you like it, hopefully this next chapter is up to par.
SkittleLuvr.x3 : Thanks! Hope you like this chapter!
THE RECEPTIONThe ceremony had gone off without a hitch. As a final "fuck you" to her family between the bride and groom arrive together, hand in hand. They even walked down the aisle together, unplanned as it was, Soleil couldn't help but enjoy herself.
It was even more satisfying when the look on Corrine's face morphed into barely contained anger. She was surprised her mother hadn't reached into her Birkin and pulled out the silver flask Soleil was sure she had hidden in there. Her father was disinterested as can be she caught him reaching into his jacket pocket to check on his phone. Most likely updates from his latest mistress.
'If he invited his mistress to the reception, I'm kicking the bitch out, in front of everyone.' Soleil couldn't help but think her new husband would not object to the idea. From what she had read, Seto Kaiba was a very private man, and did not have any scandals to his name. She was positive he wouldn't tolerate one from her father.
The only people in attendance of the ceremony were her family, Mario, Kaiba's little brother Mokuba, and a handful of personal guards he had to make sure the ceremony was kept private.
Mokuba stood at the altar on the side his brother would take, while Mario stood at Soleil's side. She refused to have Nova be apart of her wedding, not that she thought her sister would be willing either way. The twins, sure were excited to play their roles, they ran ahead of the couple. Astrid scattered the rose petals on the floor all demure and lady like. While Aurora threw it in the air giggling along happily.
Soleil couldn't help but wish she shared her baby sisters' enthusiasm, still Seto Kaiba was the lesser of two evils. No one could convince her otherwise.
Mokuba had smiled when he saw his brother and his new wife walking down the aisle together. The raven haired teen really liked his brother's new wife. She was pretty sure but he know from first hand experience that above all, Soleil was kind. And she didn't take crap from anyone. Which though he would never admit out loud, Mokuba knew his brother needed. Too many people were afraid of Seto to ever deny him anything, even when he was being irrational. He knew Soleil would have no problem doing just that.
Mokuba had met Soleil and the rest of the Stryker family at the last charity gala he had gone to with Seto. He had been so bored with the entire affair, sitting alone at their assigned table while Seto reluctantly mingled with the other people there. He remembered wishing he had stayed back at the hotel, before quickly dismissing that thought, he'd be just as bored in a different location.
Still, he admitted he was better off with his brother, he'd hate having to talk to anyone at the event. But luckily he hadn't been alone for long, minutes into his boredom the prettiest girl he had ever seen sat down with him and began to talk to him. That was how he had met Soleil, she hadn't known who he was that much was clear when she merely glanced at his older brother with disinterest before turning all her attention to him. She was kind enough to spend her time with him, even when she didn't have to.
He also met Nova Stryker that night, and well, he could live without her. As soon as Nova had realized who he was she had wedged her way into the fun he and Soleil had been having and badgered him with questions about Seto. That was until Soleil had told her off and Nova had stomped furiously away, annoyed at her sister.
When Seto had shared about the impending marriage contract, which Mokuba still couldn't really grasp why his brother was even going through with, and exactly who he was supposed to marry… Well, it's safe to say that Mokuba had his objections. Sometimes he wondered if he had anything to do with Seto's decision to marry Soleil instead of her older sister. Whatever the reason it was, Mokuba was more than happy with his brother's decision.
The ceremony was short and to the point. They repeated the vows after their officiant and then shared a simple touch of the lips. Soleil couldn't even think of calling that a kiss, it was too clinical. But still, she was kissing Seto Kaiba, who was now her husband, she was the envy of the world now.
According to what Mario told her. And the glares she later received from nearly all the women attending the reception. She nearly rolled her eyes at their idiocy.
Their reception was held in the Grand Ballroom, which was decorated in peonies, Juliet roses, and orchids as far as the eyes could see. She even saw centerpieces with blue hydrangeas spread out amongst the white and pink hues. It must've been her mother's way of incorporating her husband into the ordeal. Mario had informed her that Seto Kaiba had a notorious fondness for the color blue. She was quick to correct him. His fondness was for the Blue Eyes White Dragon, not so much the color blue.
But she had barely any time to really take it all in. As soon as they had walked in, Kaiba had lead her to the white tile dance floor that had been set up and straight into their first dance as a married couple.
A slow viennese waltz, Soleil wasn't even slightly surprised that her new husband could flawlessly execute it.
"Surprised about something?" He must've seen something in her expression, cause he asked.
Soleil merely smiled softly. "Not really, but I would like to eventually know more about my husband." She could feel everyone's eyes on them just as he spun her before pulling her close to him once more. "And not just what other people tell me."
Kaiba's cobalt eyes bore into her own amber ones, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lip. "And what do these people tell you about me?"
"That you're evil incarnate." Soleil smirked, staring right into cobalt sapphire eyes. "But I don't believe it." That seemed to catch her husband's attention. "If anything you're the lesser of two evils."
He watched as her eyes narrowed and her attention drifted off to another place. Seemed like his new little bride had some secrets. He would leave it alone, for now. But he'd make sure he got everything out of her sooner or later. Seto Kaiba did not like secrets, especially from those who were near him. He'd have to keep a closer eye on her.
Their dance came to a slow end and they made off to the head table. Kaiba watched his young bride, he nearly rolled his eyes at the thought, she was only a year and several months younger than himself. Her assistant, Mario, as the background check he had done told him, came and removed the ridiculously long veil attached to the crown she wore.
It was ridiculous but she looked every inch the royalty she practically was. At least his bride was beautiful, Kaiba had to admit. Now, if she were more than her beauty, that was yet to be seen. But from the short instance he'd spoken with her, he'd gotten the impression that she more intelligent than the people surrounding her seemed to believe. Though her expression betrayed nothing, her eyes were expressive.
He noticed that she pointedly avoided her family, at least her parents and her older siblings, the youngest were busy running around actually enjoying themselves. When they did make towards their sister, Soleil was all smiles. Her attention was entirely focused on the children before they were off and running away again. The children seemed to be the only ones who were managing to enjoy themselves. Well apart from Mokuba who had now taken it upon himself to entertain his new sister in law. He watched with rapt amusement as his brother laughed freely with Soleil, her mood clearly brighter since the beginning of this whole affair.
The inspection on his new wife however was cut short as a tap to his shoulder had his attention shifting.
The scowl on his face intensified. "Anderson." He all but spat out in disgust. "What are you doing here?"
Rylan Anderson was little more than an annoying pest in Seto Kaiba's book. He was president of Carson Financing, one of the leading financial backing companies in the United States. But the man in charge was little more than a rat in a suit. His time was spent cavorting with different women and spending his time gambling away his company in any casino he could find.
"Corrine invited me." Rylan smirked, green eyes dancing with mirth at the scowl on Kaiba's face. "That was an invitation that I couldn't refuse."
Kaiba watched as Rylan's attention traveled to Soleil, now seated and in deep conversation with his younger brother. He didn't like the way Rylan was staring at Soleil, though he'd never admit it. "Shouldn't you be learning how to run your company and not attending social gatherings that have no interest to you?"
Rylan's smile was as grimy as the man himself. "No interest?" He scoffed out a disbelieving laugh. "The great Seto Kaiba gets married, to the daughter of one of the richest men in the world no less, and it's not supposed to be of interest to me." That time he cackled.
Seto's face was the epitome of disinterest although internally he cringed at the infuriating sound of Rylan's cackle.
"This is the biggest event of the century!" Rylan declared. "The world's most unattainable man just managed to secure one of the biggest - if not the biggest financial backers on the planet. And you managed not to get the ugly daughter, either!" This time he pointed directly at Soleil with his champagne flute. "You're the luckiest bastard this fucking planet ever spit out." The last part was growled out with undisguisable malice. "Let's just hope your pretty little bride's loyalty is with you and not with her family. But then again, Soleil has always had a more rebellious streak."
Seto's patience was worn thin with the man. "You're pathetic Anderson." He scoffed, annoyed he was having to deal with this pest. "Don't come bitching to me about your ridiculous inferiority complex, I'm not your therapist, I don't care to hear it. If you're going to sulk why don't you do me a favor and get the hell out of my sight or I'll have my guards throw you out." He looked the man up and down, not seeing any redeemable quality whatsoever. "You disgust me."
He left the idiot sputtering in his wake trying to come up with some sort of comeback. By the time he had come up with something Seto was taking a seat at the head table with his new wife, his little brother, and his wife's assistant. He wouldn't bother delving into exactly why Anderson chose to speak to him. He'd deal with that later, for now he had to make it through the rest of this evening.
Soleil glanced at him quickly as he sat down beside her before quickly turning her attention to the crowd watching their every move intently. She placed on an award winning smile before turning to her husband.
"Seto." She called quickly gaining his attention.
He quickly glanced at her but said nothing. She took this as an invitation to continue. She chose not to dwell on the fact that that had been the first time she had called him buy his name.
"What did Rylan Anderson want?" She asked leaning into him, trying to speak as lowly as possible.
Soleil saw the cobalt eyes darken considerably at the mention of Rylan. She couldn't blame him, Rylan was a sleaze ball, but she needed to know what they had been talking about. From the look Seto was giving her, one of dangerous suspicion, she probably shouldn't have asked though. Did he suspect she had an involvement with him now? She nearly cringed at the thought of ever being anywhere near Rylan. If Seto thought that then she'd definitely have a problem. So to appease him, she decided to give him a gift of sorts.
"Idiocies." Was the gruff response. "Why? Is there something about Anderson I should know?" It wasn't a question she knew that much. He had phrased it as such but she was more than capable of reading between the lines.
What's your interest in Rylan Anderson? What do you know that I don't? Tell me.
Soleil's smile was genuine now and for the first time in the evening since speaking to Mokuba she was enjoying herself. He was in for such a shock. She plucked the champagne flute from in front of her, taking a delicate sip of the bubbly drink before focusing on Seto once again.
"The idiot is doing everything he can to get his hands on someone's money now that Carson Financing is going bankrupt." She said enjoying the subdued shock on his face. If she hadn't been looking at him she would've missed it. "Apparently darling, Rylan squandered so much of his own money that he took to embezzling. He stole so much that by the time they caught up with him company reserves were nearly wiped out. Plus he has a horrible addiction to cocaine and women."
Seto's eyebrow rose watching his wife with rapt interest. Where in the hell had she gotten all this information from? If all this was true then having a wife would prove to be very beneficial to him. A pretty face and a cunning mind, his mind was already racing with the possibilities.
"How do you know this exactly?" He asked interested but maintaining his practiced air of indifference. He needed to know her sources.
Soleil shrugged, a dainty gesture that only someone with years of practiced social graces and a rigorous upbringing could achieve. "He likes to cheat and his girlfriend likes to drink. Unfortunately for him, Kristen is a very talkative drunk, and spills everything she possibly can. I think it's her way of getting back at him."
She leaned closer to him once more before glancing out into the crowd. "I probably have more dirt on all the men in here than any corporate spy could ever manage to acquire." He ignored how close her lips were to his ear.
She turned to him and Seto saw a devilish smirk on those blood painted lips one, dare he say, all to similar to the one he gave competitors when he knew he had won. His eyes shot back to hers instantly.
"Never underestimate the power of a scorned girlfriend." She said. "They're the ones that hold all the power in relationships like this, not even the wives have the information most of these girls do. The girlfriends are the ones they tell everything to because they think they'll always be under their thumbs. Unfortunately, most of the time they're right because girls like those don't know what to do with information like that."
Seto was more than amused and even more impressed with how cunning Soleil really was. He had feared when he picked her that she would be another heiress with nothing more than money and expensive clothes to their name. He was worried she'd be another airhead with absolutely no sustenance. He was happy to say that he had been utterly wrong about his angelic looking wife. She was nearly as conniving as he was. A smirk found its way onto his lips.
"And you do?" He asked, taunting her. He wanted to be impressed with her, so he had asked if only to see the answer she would give him.
Mirth danced in a fiery haze through her now golden eyes. "Of course." She smiled. "I'm not one of those girls they pick. I'm a completely different creature."
He had been ready to be disappointed by the answer when Soleil had caught him off guard going on to explain the differences between herself and the girlfriends of corporate magnates.
"See these men all have a specific type; beautiful face, killer body, and low intelligence. What most of them will do is get a girl in a lower station than they are, give them the Cinderella experience, make them believe they're in some sort of fairytale. But there is always the threat hanging over them; if they slip up everything will be taken away from them."
She took another small sip of the champagne before continuing. "I on the other hand have money, have a family name, and grew up in the same social circles that they reside in. There is no fairytale that they can offer me. There's no fantasy life with them that I will buy into. And I know their wives, not that that's much of threat, but it is enough to cause them a headache. What I do have is the intelligence to know that anything information they give me is something I can use against them."
"That's what makes me so dangerous to them. I'm smart enough to know that knowledge is power and that they're stupid enough to give it away for a simple fuck." She finished off with a smirk so antagonising in its nature that it didn't sit well on her innocent face.
Seto smirked, more than impressed with Soleil. The girl was incredibly intelligent and cunning and most importantly she had knowledge on all his business rivals. He'd be unstoppable with her by his side. For once this marriage wasn't making his stomach acid churn in disgust. Now all he wanted to do was set her loose and destroy all his rivals. Who would have thought that his greatest asset would be the dark haired beauty he now called wife.
"I'm impressed Soleil, who would've thought you'd be so ruthless." He took a sip of his own champagne his eyes never once straying from hers.
"My parents are horrible people, and my family is full of horrible people, unfortunately that means I inherited some of that horribleness." She mumbled, quick flashes of anger and sadness crossing her delicate features. "But that horribleness is what makes me invaluable to you."
He was about to comment on that remark when both their attentions were captured by the man steadily approaching their table. He tensed instantly, fist clenching at his side, and anger coursing through his body. What the hell did he think he was doing? Showing up here, of all places.
What the hell are you plotting? Seto couldn't help but think trying his hardest not to break his calm exterior.
"No way!" Mokuba had exclaimed watching the man with wariness.
Soleil watched as Mokuba scooted closer to his brother and herself, his eyes never leaving the figure approaching them. Something in her gut told her that whoever this guy was he was exceptionally bad news. And with the way Seto had shot out of his chair and was glaring at him she'd say he was not a fan of the man. About 200 odd eyes were on them again in an instant.
Soleil stood as well grabbing onto Mokuba making sure to maneuver him behind her. The poor kid was nearly shaking.
The older man stopped right in front of their table on a couple of feet separating him from Seto. Soleil watched the grey haired man intently as Seto tried to set him on fire with his mind given the glare he was sending his way. He was dressed in a suit sure, but he wore sunglasses inside. She was sure the sun had set at least a couple of hours ago there was no logical reason for the man to be wearing sunglasses indoor and that alone was enough to send warning sirens flaring in her head.
"Croquet!" Seto growled, the menace in his voice crashing throughout the ballroom in turbulent waves. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
Soleil could see people trying to subtly glance their way but most had kept their distance, so she knew they wouldn't be able to hear their conversation. The tension however, was palpable. That couldn't be hidden. Especially not with the deadly look Seto's face had taken on.
The man, Croquet, simply smiled unaffected by Seto's threatening aura. "I come on behalf of Master Pegasus, to deliver a gift to the new Mrs. Kaiba."
The man turned to face her then, and Soleil was more uncomfortable than she ever remembered being in her life. She couldn't tell what he was thinking with those glasses over his eyes. It was unnerving.
"Mrs. Kaiba, my master sends his regrets for not being able to attend but he did send this for you." He handed her a small wooden box, intricate and polished. It reminded her of the box where her favorite Harry Winston watch resided. Had she remembered to have the maids pack it?
Not the time or place Soleil, focus! The little voice in the back of her head chided.
She took it with all the grace social custom dictated, a pleasant smile on her face as she did so. "Thank you, please extend Mr. Pegasus my deepest gratitude." She nearly rolled her eyes at herself she was really laying it on thick.
Croquet bowed his head at her assuring her he would extend her thanks to his employer before turning once more to her husband. "Your gift has been sent to the Kaiba estate as Mr. Pegasus thought it more..prudent." The polite tone he had used with Soleil was nonexistent at this point. It was safe to say there was bad blood there, you would have to be an idiot not to notice that.
He bowed, a mockery of respect, before quickly making his departure. Seto hadn't stopped glaring at the man until he was sure he was out of the building and even then he had called in his head of security to make sure Croquet had actually left. They needed to get the hell out of there and back to Domino now!
"Come on," He said taking a hold of Soleil's arm. "We need to leave, now!"
"What? Why?" She protested. "We just got here, we haven't even had cake."
Seto scowled. Of all things she was worried about cake? "You can have cake when we get back to the manor." He had no patience at the moment. He had to get back to the estate who knew what the hell Pegasus had planned. He wouldn't be caught off guard in the middle of Pegasus's schemes once again. "Mokuba, let's go!"
Mokuba was more than ready to leave. Soleil on the other hand was still reeling but sure, why not leave in the middle of their wedding reception?
As sarcastic as that had sounded in her head, the more she looked over the crowd the more she found she did not mind leaving. Most of the people her mother had oh so graciously invited were businessmen and people she rather would have nothing to do with. Not to mention the whole thing was a complete borefest. And her friends weren't even in the country, Corrine had made sure to keep them away at all costs.
The only thing left to do was leave. So she let Seto pull her along with him, belatedly remembering to wave goodbye to Mario and her younger siblings. Everyone else she ignored. Just like she tried to ignore the weird feeling in her gut that something was coming.
What have I gotten myself into?