Cover Art: Solace O'Autumn

Chapter 56

Lady Ha-rin was nowhere to be seen when Jaune was forced into the theatre hall. Numerous suited men and fancily dressed women mingled around a buffet that was slowly coming to a close. Some had already begun to find their seats. Bon-hwa took Jaune's elbow and led him toward the head table. "

"Lord Joo-won expects us to sit with him."

The head table had few people around it. Joo-won sat in a pristine white suit edged with green and gold, while next to him sat an empty seat for his wife. By far the strangest addition was the woman on the other side of that empty seat.

"Well, well, well." Lil Miss Malachite shot Jaune a smug grin. "What a pleasant surprise to see one of my spiders here."

Jaune bristled. He let Bon-hwa set him down between himself and Joo-won, trapping him on the crime lord's left but thankfully sparing him Madam Malachite's nonsense. Jaune had worn a rented suit for the occasion. Pyrrha wanted to get him a tailored tuxedo, saying he'd look a lot better in a wedding tux, but Jaune didn't want to come across as trying too hard. As unlikely as it was, upstaging anyone here would be an insult. And his Charisma meant he might make even a discount suit shine well beyond its value.

"Chae-young is sick," Jaune said as he took his seat.

"Nerves." Her father waved it off. "Not unexpected given the occasion."

"Can anyone blame her?" Lil Miss Malachite said. "It would only be worse on stage in front of thousands of people. She'll have to get over it if she wants to make it big."

"With all due respect—" The amount of which was dwindling by the hour in Jaune's mind. "—this doesn't strike me as simple nerves. Chae-young is running a high fever and has been projectile vomiting."

"He's correct, sir." Bon-hwa inclined his head respectfully. "Your honoured daughter's condition is enough to raise alarm in myself as well."

Joo-won straightened, frowning. "I will have our private doctor see to her after this performance."

"A stomach bug or fever." Lil Miss Malachite dismissed it. "Exaggerated by her nerves. Anxiety can make even the smallest ills feel life-threatening. A hearty meal, some paracetamol and an early night's rest and she'll be right as rain. I should know. I have two daughters of my own."

"Currently in Vale, are they not?" asked Joo-won.

"Yes. Working with a local information broker and crime lord there. Small-time, honestly, but all the better for them to eventually take over. A little test, really. I can't keep doing everything for them. Eventually, they need to leave the nest and learn how to find and conquer one of their own."

"An interesting parenting technique."

"If it works for birds, it'll work for people."

"My daughter is no sparrow."

"To each their own." Lil Miss Malachite shrugged. "I suppose we shall see today whether she's a songbird or a prize peacock."

"That shouldn't be decided on the outcome of one test," Jaune argued. "Especially not when she's sick!"

"Enough. Both of you." Joo-won hissed quietly. "You are guests here and will abide by the rules of my household. My daughter is mine to raise. Your input, while justified in your own minds, is neither warranted nor desired."

Jaune bit back on his automatic response. Partly because of the implied threat but partly because he was worried it'd take a chunk out of the man's aura and make him think he'd been attacked. Vicious Mockery wasn't something Jaune had played around with much yet, and it wouldn't be of much use here. Reducing someone's aura was no use if said person could kill him with or without it. This man very much could.

I have aura now but it's still unpolished. I wouldn't trust myself to block bullets.

And the men at the doors were all armed, their handguns visible as a silent warning to everyone within the theatre room to remain seated and calm. There were likely guests from outside the family here, like the Lil Miss, and not all of them would be trusted.

"So…" Lil Miss spoke up, drawing an irritated look from Joo-won. Wisely, she didn't push. "Has my little spider been on his best behaviour? I've not heard any complaints but I know how unfalteringly polite you can be about such things."

"He's been more than adequate. My daughter is pleased to have him. He was even able to arrange a conference call between herself and Weiss Schnee to receive advice."

Lil Miss Malachite eyed Jaune strangely. "Really now? He never mentioned that connection to me."

"Weiss isn't a friend." Jaune said. "We're acquaintances at best and she only helped because of the similar situation between herself and Chae-young."

"Is that a veiled insult aimed at me?" Joo-won rumbled. "Even I'm aware of Jacques Schnee's reputation."

"I meant it in the sense of them having to perform for family gatherings." Though if he caught the other angle then that was fine by him. "Weiss had to start by performing at galas held by her father much like this one."

"Knowing the Schnee, I almost expect there were more criminals there than here," Lil Miss Malachite said, with an overly loud laugh.

Joo-won smiled faintly. "It wouldn't surprise me."

"If I may ask," Jaune said. "Is Lady Ha-rin busy or not attending?"

Bon-hwa tensed, sensing Jaune's question was more than merely curiosity. He stayed quiet, though. Jaune had to wonder if that was his own quiet way of supporting Chae-young. There was no doubting the man's loyalty to Joo-won, but that loyalty didn't necessarily extend to his wife.

"My wife had something of a wardrobe malfunction. She left to correct it."

"Hardly her fault," Lil Miss Malachite said. "A cat leapt up and knocked wine all over her. It wasn't something that could have been avoided. Everyone saw it, so I doubt anyone will make a fuss. On a white dress too," she lamented. "I don't envy the cleaners. It's a shame, too. Looks like she'll miss the performance."

The lights dimmed around the theatre, with only those above the wooden stage remaining, bathing it in a soft orange glow. Conversation slowly hushed. Jaune clenched his hands tight, irritated beyond belief as a door opened and Chae-young stumbled onto the stage with her guitar. Before, she had looked to be on death's door.

Now, she looked drunk.

Her gait was uneven, her face slack. Chae-young walked to the centre of the stage and then beyond it, before realising her mistake and backtracking. Planting her feet a worrying distance apart for balance, she brought her guitar before her and stared at the audience. At him. Jaune held up a hand, fingers extended, and then began to tap them on the table, counting her in.

Chae began to play.

She played with her head down, face staring at the strings, body hunched and knuckles white as she gripped the guitar's neck. No stage presence, no movement, no eye contact. Chae couldn't manage any of those things in her current state, so she focused solely on the guitar, blocking out the audience entirely.

It was…

It was a good attempt.

Whatever was wrong with her, it was too much. Fumbled chords, missed strings and an uneven beat. Chae-young played her heart out but she just couldn't force good music out with how wretched she looked and felt. Bon-hwa closed his eyes and turned his head away, and Lil Miss Malachite winced as well, uncomfortably busying herself in taking a drink. Joo-won watched, steady and silent, as his daughter humiliated herself on stage.

She knew it. The moment she finished, she didn't wait for any response, not even polite applause. Chae turned and stumbled out the back door, leaving the silent theatre behind. Jaune stood.

"Where are you going?" Joo-won asked.

"To comfort your daughter and make sure she gets the medical attention she so obviously needs right now."

The man did not flinch. "Accompany him, Bon-hwa."

"Yes sir."

/-/

The two of them moved through the house in silence. Jaune knew he was overstepping his bounds, particularly to insult Chae's father like that, but he couldn't bring himself to care. The man knew Chae could play better than this. He'd almost certainly heard her, and he'd heard from Bon-hwa on her progress. Apparently, he just didn't care.

It wasn't hard to find Chae-young; they just had to follow the crying.

But it turned out someone had found her first.

"Shh. Shhh. It's okay."

Jaune and Bon-hwa paused outside the doorway. Inside, Ha-rin was down on her knees holding the crying girl to her shoulder. One hand rubbed the back of her head and the other her back soothing the girl.

"It's not fair!" Chae cried. "I never had a chance!"

"You didn't. Neither did I. We're not given chances, people like us. We're born into families that decide things from the day we're born."

"It's… It's not fair…"

"It's not," Ha-rin admitted. "This is why I tried to spare you it, my darling. You cannot have your dreams crushed if you do not dream. Better to live in reality than suffer in dreams. I dreamed once too, you know."

Chae sniffed. "R… Really…?"

"Yes. My family had a lovely horse that I was given lessons on. I loved it and wanted to raise and ride horses, but my family were horrified when they saw me mucking out the horse's stable. They punished me, told me to stop. I didn't. I snuck out night after night to brush her." Ha-rin's voice cracked. "To teach me a lesson, they sold her to a meat factory."

Chae-young cried.

Jaune winced. He didn't doubt there was some truth in it, because there had to be some reason Ha-rin had been so obtrusive all this time. In truth, he'd assumed it was jealousy or general dislike. That the woman was either taking her frustrations out on Chae because she hadn't wanted a daughter, or because she was jealous in some way.

"It hurts," Chae-young cried. "I tried my best. I really did."

"Sometimes… Sometimes our best isn't good enough." Ha-rin continued, even as Chae-young choked back a sob. "Not because we are not good enough, but because people don't care to give us a fair chance in the first place. Sometimes all we can do is bend in the wind and do the best with what we've given."

Bon-hwa silently made a gesture. Jaune followed him, the two of them stepping through the doorway and into the room.

"Lady Ha-rin. Lady Chae-young." Bon-hwa bowed his shoulders.

"Bon-hwa. Did my husband send you?"

"Your husband allowed me to accompany Mr Arc, who excused himself from the meeting to look after his student."

"Did he now?" Ha-rin looked him up and down. To his surprise, she smiled. "That is good of you. Brave but foolish. My husband is a calm man outwardly, but he is not one to let a perceived insult go unanswered."

"That'll be a problem, then." Jaune said. "Since I insulted him several times to his face."

Chae-young laughed bitterly into her mother's shoulder.

"I'll calm him down then," Ha-rin said. "You've come to comfort Chae-young. I did not get to hear her performance but I can guess how it went by her and your reactions."

"Chae-young was sabotaged." Jaune watched the woman's reaction and was confused by her shock. He'd absolutely pegged her as the one behind it. "Her performance wasn't down to a lack of skill but sudden sickness. Projectile vomiting, nausea, and almost drunken stumbling. Even I would have struggled to make anything resembling music in that state."

"He is correct, lady Ha-rin. Was Chae-young ill last night?"

"No. No, she was well when we spoke before bed."

"And this morning?"

"I did not see her; my lord husband had me arranging the event, and my daughter was busy practicing – or so I was told. You know I was given none-so-subtle instructions not to interfere with her, Bon-hwa. You delivered them yourself."

Bon-hwa frowned. "Then please allow me to take Chae-young to see our doctor. Perhaps she can offer us some insight."

Chae-young sniffled as she pushed herself out her mother's hands. As she went over to Bon-hwa, she stopped in front of Jaune and looked down. "I'm sorry…" she mumbled.

Jaune dropped, hand son her shoulders, and forced her to look at him. "Don't be. I'm proud of you, Chae."

"Why? I was awful."

"You knew you would be in your state, and yet you got up there and tried. There aren't many who would do that." He offered her his best smile, lowering his voice. "And I think that's enough to win the reward I promised you. I'll convince Guitar Cutie to spend a day with you."

Eyes watering, Chae-young slowly pushed her hands around his neck and hugged him. She had to do it slowly because she still wasn't all there, still uneven and weak. Jaune hugged her back and handed her off to Bon-hwa, who kindly steered her away. That left Jaune and Ha-rin in the room, and the woman wasted no time in standing.

"You think me responsible," she said.

"I did," Jaune admitted.

"No more?"

"Now, I'm not so sure. You've hardly been supportive to her…"

"Should I support her in something I know she'll never be allowed to continue? Should I smile and build up her expectations, knowing she won't be allowed to reach them? It isn't a kindness to lie to her. Everything I have done, I have done to try and harden her. To prepare her for what will be expected of her."

"You could have said that."

Ha-rin scoffed. "Could I? To whom? You who is a stranger to our family? To Bon-hwa who, for all his softness for my daughter, is a loyal man to her father? Chae-young is a daughter to an old family. Like myself before her, she will not have a choice on how to live her life."

"So, you sought to beat her down and make her give up?"

"Yes."

"And this is your kindness?"

Her chin rose. "Yes."

He didn't doubt her for some reason. Jaune disliked her, but he couldn't find a lie in her words. "For you to say that…" he reasoned. "It means you believe there's a far worse fate in store for her if you weren't to do this." Ha-rin didn't discount it. "What would happen?"

"Like my family did before me, my husband might seek to steer her away from this hobby of hers with a more lasting lesson. If personal embarrassment will not suffice, if familial duty will not suffice, if losing a challenge as was set to her will not suffice…" Ha-rin reached out with one finger and touched Jaune's throat, then slowly drew it from left to right. "Then she may be made to watch as her stubbornness takes away something she holds dear."

Jaune stilled.

"You have seen a side of our family that few do, that of normal people living normal lives. But remember, young man, that we are dangerous criminals. Monsters worse than the Grimm. My husband has crushed those who would have coveted his position, consolidated power over mighty clans, and he even has the ears of those who run this kingdom. We have no sons. Chae-young is our only daughter and next in line to rule this house – and my husband believes a certain degree of ruthlessness is necessary to rule. The kind not found in a child chasing their dreams of music."

"Your daughter was poisoned, wasn't she?"

"Quite likely."

"By her own father. No wonder he refused to reschedule the event. No wonder he didn't care."

"I was given tea to deliver to her last night. I expect it was that. I knew it, too," she admitted. "But had she not failed so spectacularly today, my husband would have been forced into a corner by their deal. And believe me, he is not a man you wish to corner."

"So, even if she succeeded…"

"There would have been no happy ending for her. For a time, perhaps, but he would have found a way to kill her love for music. Perhaps he would have pretended to accept and arranged for something to happen to her. Either for her to be exploited by a record label or for you to be assassinated by people acting as rabid fans. Anything to make her hate it enough to quit and return to her family." Ha-rin shrugged. "Or he may not have bothered at all and simply cancelled their arrangement on the spot."

"I was right to insult him."

"No. You were unwise. Most unwise. But he will be in a good mood now that Chae-young has failed, and I shall ensure he is in an even better mood tonight." Ha-rin picked at her dress, and once more Jaune was struck by the age difference. She must have been very young when she was wedded to him. "I will take his mind from your words and stroke his ego, along with other parts of his body."

"I'm… sorry…"

"I have little need for your apologies. I will have someone see you out safely. Return tomorrow. I'm sure my husband will want to dismiss your services personally, now that they are no longer required."

"How likely is that to cost me my life?"

"Not very. He has what he wants. Chae-young will become his perfect heiress. He has little to gain by harming you and alienating her. In a sense, you've given him everything he wants. Chae-young admired you and saw your teaching as the best she could get. That she still failed will only convince her she never had what it took in the first place."

"To what end?"

"A strong marriage, and the advancement of the family. Growth of our influence, expansion, profit. Legacy. We are strong, but we could always be stronger. That is how Joo-won works. It is how he has risen so far."

"And his mind can't be changed?"

"He will only listen to those on an equal footing. There are few who qualify for that."

/-/

Cinder stumbled to the dormitory door and yanked it open, ready to give the person pounding away on it a piece of her mind – or a piece of her fingernail driven right into their eyeball. Whichever was more likely to kill them.

The fact that the person outside might one day be useful to her plans saved him. Still, she was tired, and dressed in her pyjamas, while he was in a fancy rental tux. His eyes were red, and he looked like he'd been stood up at his own wedding.

"Jaune…?" she croaked. "It's two in the morning… on a weekday…"

"Cinder. I need you."

Her brain was a little too tired to hear that. "Eh…?"

He stepped into the room, pushing her back. "I need you, Cinder. I need you right here and right now."

Cinder hopped back, for once in her life caught entirely off-guard. The man in front of her was a fool, naïve, but he was also undeniably strong and… well, now that she looked, he was quite handsome, wasn't he? There was an air of mystery around him, and she'd always found power attractive. A kind of power that could also make her more powerful was perhaps even sexier than simple brute strength.

Wait, did I really just think that?

But he kind of was…

No, no, no. It's the exhaustion sleeping. Also, is it hot in here or is it just us?

Jaune's hands settled on her shoulders. They were, she noticed, quite big. And warm. He stared down into her wide eyes with deep blue ones sharpened with almost murderous intent. His fingers tightened, squeezing her flesh. His lips curled back into a snarl, and she realised the anger within him. Distantly, she was aware of Emerald and Mercury startled awake by the noise, watching with wide eyes.

Some bodyguards they were. Emerald was blushing, too.

"H… Here…?" Cinder whispered, eyes wide. "Right here and now…?"

"No better time."

"But… But Emerald and Mercury are watching…"

"Let them. Maybe they'll be useful for once."

Emerald "eeped" and Mercury whistled. Cinder, meanwhile, was left unsure of when she'd lost control of the situation and why she wasn't fighting to reclaim it. Then again, she'd promised herself before she would give anything and everything for power. She'd given her loyalty to Salem, for all that she intended to betray it later. Giving away her body didn't sound that much worse – or even that bad if it was to someone as undeniably handsome as he. Someone who could use his Semblance to make her better at any and every task.

"W—Well. That's… unexpected. But not unwelcome," she teased, doing her best not to blush as she wound a lock of black hair around her finger. "I'm sure we could make something work. But you're rather overdressed, don't you think? Do you want to…" Cinder swallowed. "Get a little more comfortable…? Also, did you bring… protection…?"

"Protection? No. I think we'll be safe here."

Emerald choked.

Cinder blushed, unable to stop it. "I… I don't think that's how it works, Jaune…"

"Why? Do you think the gang is spying on your dorm?"

It was a bucket of cold water. "What…?"

"The gang. The Malachites. Do you think they can hear what we're talking about even here?"

Cinder blinked. "This is about the criminals?"

"Yes." He cocked his head. "What did you think this was about?"

"Nothing!"

Cinder twisted on her heel, showing him her back so he couldn't see her thunderously embarrassed expression. Or the glares that promised murder aimed at Mercury and Emerald. If either spoke of this – if they so much as talked in their sleep – she would kill them both.

"Absolutely nothing!" she hissed, made even angrier by the small twinge of disappointment she felt in her stomach. "What is it you want, then? And why can't this wait until the morning? It's late and I'm tired – and now I'm frustrated as well."

The last bit was a little slip she had meant to think rather than say.

"Cinder, I need you focused for this."

"Yes, well, focus comes when I'm in a good mood and rested. Not at obnoxious hours of the morning." Controlling her expression, she crossed her arms and turned back to him. Now that she knew it wasn't her he was after, he looked a lot less handsome. Still useful, though. Annoyingly. Or she'd have kicked him out the room. "Get to the point, Jaune. And this had better be good. What do you want?"

"What do I want?" He scowled and stepped into her space. "I want to change our plans, Cinder. I want to take over the Malachite criminal family. I want to grind them beneath my boot and take command and then march on the East Dragon Company and demand its leader face me on equal footing. I want power, Cinder. I need it." He grasped at her shoulders once more, leaning in with fiery eyes. His words were bitten and hard. "And you're going to help me get it."

…

"…hahhh… hahhh… hahhh…"

"Cinder…?"

She blinked away the stars bursting in front of her eyes, then swallowed, wetting her incredibly dry mouth. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as well, and she leaned on him since her legs had turned to jelly.

"Y… Yes…?"

"Cinder, you're trembling. And sweating. And breathing heavily." He touched a hand to her suddenly very warm forehead. My, but they were big hands. She wondered what else he could cover with just one palm. "You're running a temperature, too." He cursed softly. "Don't you start getting sick as well. Maybe I should have waited until morning." He let go of her. Cinder unconsciously took a step toward him, chasing his big hands. "I'll come back tomorrow. Then you will help me take over and crush these petty criminals. Got it?"

"Yes daddy…"

"What?"

"Yes Jaune." Cinder coughed into her hand, righting herself. "I said yes Jaune."

Pyrrha: "Oh no, he's hot!"

Cinder: "Oh no, he's power-hungry!"

Ren: "First time…?"

Next Chapter: 2nd February

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