Chapter 3: All the best
It took a few minutes in which the father called one of his maids and told her to fetch the messenger until Izaya was released from his stupor.
"I am a man." It was a statement. Obvious as daylight. The maid being gone and the duke obviously pleased with his solution merely laughed.
"You are a lot but definitely not a man."
"But-"
The force that met his neck was as unexpected as it hurt. Suddenly having grasped his throat the father squeezed. The jewellry had been neglected as the son clutched at his father's arms trying to gasp for air.
His son's struggles only seemed to cause the detest the duke felt for Izaya to triple.
Leaning in there were only a couple words he was willing to share.
"Izaya, you are to make this work."
It wasn't a request. Neither did the way the command sounded leave any room for defiance.
Giving a soft nod in fear of what the duke's next actions would be, the ruler of the mansion finally let go.
Wheezing, Izaya broke into a coughing fit as his father returned to inspect the jewellry.
Had his father gone mad?
This had to be a joke.
Warily Izaya eyed the man before raising his voice with caution.
"I lack female parts. Even if I manage to deceive the new king, the wedding night-" their eyes met faster than he liked them to and he quickly shut up at the sight of cold blooded evil residing inside his father's.
"You will be dead by then."
The words fit the expression the duke was wearing- yet Izayas found himself struggling to comprehend the meaning.
His face fell and his guts dropped to the floor.
"...huh?" A soft glimmer of hope elevated his stomach praying that this was all but a huge misunderstanding.
Or a dream. A trickery of mind- witchcraft? Everything would be better than the nauseous feeling clutching his mind.
But his father wasn't joking. He was serious.
"You heard me, Izaya." Pacing towards the fireplace inside the grand hall the duke casually grasped the poker. "We can't have this little charade being found out after all." Firewood was stirred and the tip of black softly turned into the color of crimson. "I know just the man who will be of great aid. It won't be difficult. Just drink a bit of poison right after the wedding." The poker was twisted, fire sparked as one piece of firewood toppled across another as the macabre plan of his father continued. "Once you are dead no one would want to touch you and I will make sure that the corpse of my suddenly deceased daughter is brought back to my manor. Judging the rumors revolving around the king's son the common folk will probably believe he killed his own wife during the wedding night no matter the official statement."
His father paused- as if he were taking a minute to recap his plan. A nod was given to himself as if to approve. "That way no one will ever find out."
A dull sense of numbness clogged Izaya's head as his mind tried to detach from the obvious conclusion he was supposed to face.
His lips felt heavy and tongue numb as he spoke.
"... but I will-"
"Die?" The word resounded in the marble halls way too clear. Loud. Normal.
As if his father had just announced that dinner was to be served in the garden. Like it was nothing of importance or something to be said in silence.
"I hope so. You have been a disgrace for far too long already."
Somehow it was at that moment only that Izaya understood the degree of hatred his father had harbored for him all these years. And subsequently, how serious he was in his suggestion.
"Wait a second, you can't be serious, this-" Urgency drove Izaya's voice, trying to change the situation to something acceptable to replace his death. But his voice wavered as his father smiled. The poker still at hands he twisted it. Hot iron was close to his face and he looked at it almost lovingly as he hummed.
"I wonder where Mairu and Kururi are." The words proved to be a harsher blow to Izaya's gut than the actual blow earlier had been.
Silence continued as Izaya's father turned his attention to his son.
"It would be too bad if something happened to them, don't you agree? They could get sold as whores. Make fine slaves. Or maybe just entertainment for the waste of the common folk."
No way-
"They are your own daughters-"
"They killed my wife. It's not like I can't do the same to them."
This was no joke- Izaya had known his father long enough to see he was serious. He would kill them Torture them. Even if there was no real merit to be gained anymore. He would do it just to spite Izaya- just for his own urge of revenge.
"And-" the duke's expression couldn't grow any more sinister as he leaned in. "If you think I can´t do the same to someone as worthless as you then you are even more stupid than I thought."
The poker was discarded as the duke got up again. For all it concerned his father the topic seemed to be done. Not a glance was spared as he put the jewellry into the box.
Still sitting in the pile of boxes, the velvet dress that had been dangling from one finally lost its grip.
Sliding downwards and into Izaya's lap the duke's expression cracked into a smile.
"I suggest you try that on. You need a few new clothes before your departure, Kururi."
A chair not too far from the dining table was dragged over and the duke sat down, legs crossed and eyes fixated on his new chance of wealth.
Of course, no one was allowed to know. They were lucky all servants were currently out searching for his siblings. The only maid who would notice what the duke had done was the one accompanying the king's messenger. But if she was any smarter than the lecturer she was going to pretend she didn't see a thing.
"What are you waiting for?" Startled, Izaya's fingers flew to his shirt's buttons.
Fabric loosened and displayed fair white skin, blemished only by bruises of an unhealthy mix of yellow and purple. No reaction was given as the duke took in the sight of his pale and weak son.
Swallowing hard, Izaya continued as commanded.
He had to play along for now.
There was still time, once his father was drunk again he would just bail. He would find his siblings and make sure they were never found. Sure they would have to live all life long being chased by their father. But they were smart, they could do it.
Ignoring the threatening future, Izaya tried to get the dress on. The fabric was smooth. Silky to the touch- way finer than men's clothes. It also came in two parts- dress and corset fitting perfectly to each other.
He helped Mairu dress a couple times when she discarded her clothes in the garden in order to climb up the tree or execute even more unladylike sportsmanships.
A bitter smile decorated his lips at the memory as his fingers fumbled with the corset at the back.
It was hard without seeing the strings- also he hadn't quite put a corset on himself until now so it only became apparent at that moment just how tight and uncomfortable they were. No wonder Mairu discarded them at any chance given.
Breathing out the final layer, the velvet dress, was pulled down his lithe frame.
Funny, it actually fit him like a glove.
His father had been watching the whole time and by now tapped his fingers on top of the dining table in an irritated fashion.
"Is that the best you can do?" His eyes were scanning him from head to toe and the box with the jewelry was flung towards the son in a wordless fashion. Quickly Izaya reached for the necklace that slipped from the box. A set of earrings was put by as well and he quickly unclipped the top.
The metal felt heavy and cool to the touch as it settled on his collarbones. Same for the earrings as they weighed heavily on his ears.
Creaking under protest the chair the duke had been sitting on was shoved aside. A glance was cast as he circled his son.
"You even have hips like a woman," he commented in disgust.
It was at that moment that the maid his father had called returned.
Izaya could recognize a set of ointment colors and brushes wrapped in her white cloth.
They belonged to his sisters. Makeup for special occasions.
Circling to the maid, his father made it a point to brush exceptionally long across her hip.
"Do a good job and the title of duchess might just be added to your name."
The maid blushed before nodding eagerly.
Lies.
All lies. As if his father was going to let anyone live that knew about this charade. He felt sorry for the girl believing that her devotion was going to save her.
Setting everything on the table she gestured for Izaya to take a seat.
It was a weird sensation. Before he knew it some kind of powder was rubbed in his face and dozens of strikes with the brush trailed across his features.
But the one thing unsettling the most was when she used Kururi's perfume. It was equally comforting as it forced the reality of this course of events onto Izaya.
The shoes he was handed, fitting the dress didn't help a lot either.
"Good, this should do," his father suddenly announced, approaching the table. "Just the hair-" Izaya felt his body tense as the duke pulled at the strains.
It was short- not for a guy, for a guy it was too long, but for a woman…
"I could say I had fleas and had to-" he was backhanded across the face before he could even finish his sentence.
"And who do you think wants to marry a woman with fleas!?" Stinging pain radiated from Izaya's cheek and he decided to not reply anything further unless his father specifically requested it. "You say nothing. If anyone asks it was an act of rebellion because you thought the wedding would be called off that way, but you saw that it was stupid." The duke nodded to his own reasoning. "You will marry the king, disguised as a woman, drink the poison handed to you on the wedding night, is that understood?" A soft nod was given as Izaya's father circled his son once more. Disgust displayed on his face as his glance hit Izaya's hips. The feeling was mutual.
"At least you look the part."
A heavy knock on the closed door caused the maid to flinch.
"Don't disappoint me again," the duke quickly hissed, before straightening his stance.
"You may enter."
The leaves of the heavy marple door were pushed open and the messenger resurfaced, accompanied by the maid his father had sent with him earlier.
His eyes instantly fell on Izaya.
Just for a moment the messenger seemed to hesitate. Of course even if he hadn't looked properly before he must have caught at least a glimpse of Izaya's face.
But underneath layers of makeup and a fairly feminine stature to begin with he was easily swayed by words.
"My beloved daughter, really all my children seem to own a striking similarity to my late wife, don't you agree?" the duke questioned, steering the conversation into a favorable direction. No man in his right mind would tell a loving father that their daughter looked similar to a man they had seen. Even less when it was nobility they could offend.
"Of course, she is a striking beauty just as the rumors said," the messenger quickly agreed as he bowed respectfully.
"Lady Kururi."
It was odd- just a greeting of course, but mimicking the light bow Kururi would do which Izaya had struggled to teach Mairu felt awkwardly indecent. The messenger didn't seem to notice Izaya's discomfort as he turned to his father once more. "The other siblings aren't going to bid her farewell?" Ah. So he did realize something was off after all.
A small spark of hope blossomed in Izaya as he realized this whole charade would be over if the messenger looked through their attempt despite him doing exactly as told.
"You know how they are, parting is a difficult thing." The duke was quick to follow up, realizing just as much it seemed.
For a moment the messenger hummed, his eyes resting on Izaya for far longer than the duke liked to.
If he blew their cover now everything would be over. The duke would fall out of favor with the king, the marriage would be blown off, Izaya would be free to do as he pleased as they would be stripped of their status- and his siblings, he could simply search for them. Find them. Then start a new life, a poor one maybe but at least-
"I see. Now then, shall we, my lady?" All thoughts and hopes froze at the sight of the hand that was now extended towards the duke's daughter.
Ah.
The messenger was stupid.
He hadn't realized.
Feeling his tongue go numb his body acted on auto pilot as he followed the man out of the hall.
Nonexistent shackles snapped around Izaya's wrists, legs, waist and throat. This was it. His last chance had passed.
Fear welled up in his throat as he neared the carriage.
He didn't want to die. But fleeing was no option.
If the new king himself didn't execute him the moment he realized he had been fooled by the duke then Izaya's father would. He would find his sisters eventually, but most importantly before Izaya could. He had more subordinates, more connections just in general-
"Queen Kururi," turning around Izaya's body, felt heavy as stone.
A bow was given by his father and a smile that couldn't have been warmer with satisfaction. "I wish you all the best for your marriage."
to be continued~Alright so we caught up with the story's description xD
Shizuo will be turning up soon now.
Also would you look at the perfect updating score so far?! xD 3 out of 3 updates, damn xD I wonder how long it will take until I start procrastinating even with this story hahaha
And that despite being busy crafting cosplays hahaha
Albedo from overlord and Kai'sa from League of Legends xD Yes, me n my sis are both League addicts in tft and sr hahahaha but no flaming just gaming C;
Anyway~
Gonna be on the Aninite, an anime convention in vienna next weekend xD I'm gonna do Shen'he from genshin too haha gosh how I love all these hot chicks
ANYWAY XD
Our favorite new king will be entering the scene soon, let's see whether that's a good or bad thing C: C: C: C:
SnS and Sotd is updated as well and the rest will follow tomorrow/Thursday
I hope you have a nice summer xD
With that being said see you again in the next update on 1st of September 2022! :3