Chapter 7: Suit yourself

Standing up on two legs straight the raven did his best to maintain balance. It seemed the horrendous creature smelled his anxiety as it decided to make the ride exceptionally rough.

Stones were skipped, trees bypassed and before long the two were gone from the palace grounds.

Forests of green and the pleasant sound of nothing replaced the bussy brimming of the mercenaries' trades.

The horse neighed in protest as its reeles were pulled in.

Ghosts of breath fogged in front of Izaya's face as he barely caught himself from toppling over.

It was freezing. Spring may have already begun warming up most spots of the country, but the king's castle seemed to be an exception to the mass.

Steep mountains left and right encased the mighty home and kept most sunshine from touching the ground.

An exception to the rule seemed to be the king's destination as they had reached what had to be the only spot actually getting any sunlight.

Not far from the castle the secluded piece of nature laid on a small hill. Trees were still frosted and casually losing a drop of water here and there. But the snow glittered, and so did the air when a gust of wind blew through the remains of winter.

Springing off curtly the snow and ice underneath the king's leather shoes cracked.

Feeling the horse shift, Izaya's hands flew to its hair and his eyes narrowed in annoyance. God he hated those creatures. Eyes too wide apart, dark as if they had no soul and a size that seemed discouraging no matter whether you were facing or riding it.

Not to mention their unpredictable movements!

"Careful there-" the king suddenly said and before Izaya knew it there was a pair of hands on his waist.

Izaya froze- and the king did as well.

"You are thin." Of course he was- there was not an inch of extra body fat on his skin. Neither on his hips, nor his ass or anywhere else a woman was supposed to feel soft to the touch. "You should eat more."

Feeling his guts drop literally as physically the raven let himself slide from the horse quickly.

"And you are too prude for your own good," he spat, swatting the brute's hands away as quickly as they had touched him.

The king frowned, then seemed to realize his rather impolite mistake as guilt replaced the glare.

"Ah, sorry-"

But Izaya wasn't too fond of an apology.

He was scared.

This situation, their location-

This was bad-

There was no one around.

The dead king's reputation, his son's and the fact that both were well known for their cruelty and sick tastes resurfaced on Izaya's mind as he took a few steps backwards.

He was actually wary.

The new king was a brute. That much he had already confirmed by himself. Maybe now he would get to see the monster rumored on the battlefield and worse a man.

His intentions were unclear. Back in the safety of the castle with ears and eyes all around the king had to behave to a certain point.

But here?

"Why did you take me here? Don't tell me you already want to break the holy vow of a wedding?" Izaya spat each syllable spoken with the deadly venom of fear.

The king's expression grew sour and a glare drew his honeyed eyes into offense.

"What the hell-"

Surprised, Izaya blinked.

And so did the king as he noticed his fall out.

Quickly clearing his throat he tried again.

"I mean, of course not."

… of course not?

What a fun way to play pretense.

Was he actually trying to lure him into his lies?

Of course.

He needed a wife. A presentable queen, someone to bear an offspring to guarantee his wealth and power would persist after his death.

Was he trying to garner his favor until the wedding?

…

Well.

If so, then two could play the game.

It was a happy alignment of interests.

"Quite the foul mouth you have," Izaya commented, his stance relaxing. The king couldn't ditch him by his own will.

"You don't strike me as particularly mannered either, accusing a man of such things."

True. Point taken.

Izaya decided to ignore the comment.

"... so? If not for committing infidelity, why did you snatch me from public view?"

Sighing softly the king rose his hand to rub the back of his neck.

Awkward. That's what he seemed to be.

Funny, he was showing a similar act upon Izaya's wakening.

"I just don't fancy marrying someone I don't know."

Ah. A commendable act indeed.

"A bit late for that, don't you think?" Izaya snorted.

Shizuo mirrored the action. "A bit sassy, for a duke's daughter, no?"

"Comes from the man hoisting a lady up by her waist-" suddenly the king drew closer, causing Izaya to bite his tongue on the last word.

No action followed, however, as the king seemed mesmerized with his future wife's face.

"What?" Izaya asked breathily, the narrow choker if fear tensing in his neck.

"You have a deeper voice than most women." Chills traveled down his spine. Had he noticed something? Had he- "I like it."

Stupefied Izaya was left to blink.

"... really? Odd taste if you ask me," he quickly said, relief swaying in his words. Even the king seemed to pick up on it as his expression grew a little more relaxed.

He probably thought his wife was glad to suit his tastes.

"Do you always have to have the last word?" the king questioned, a slight hint of amusement wavering in it.

"Do you always run out of arguments so quickly?"

Flabbergasted Shizuo blinked.

This woman-

Shizuo wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or amazed.

A little of both maybe.

This arranged marriage had been to neither of their wishes it seemed. He expected a wife obedient to the word and scared of his sheer presence. But while the woman standing in front of him seemed to have her reserves she was way more than he expected.

Prideful, tempered and willing to speak her mind.

It was better than what he had expected but still somewhat exasperating.

Sighing Shizuo pinched the bridge of his nose.

This woman was sure to give him a lot of headaches.

"You are not going to make this easy, are you?" he asked, and as expected Lady Kururi gave not more but an evasive answer.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You-" stopping himself from another blunder he quickly cleared his throat. "Look, I know I should have been here to welcome you when you arrived. But the battlefield needed my presence. I couldn't leave."

Disdain judged him in her eyes as she replied with sarcasm. "Well, at least you are capable with your sword."

"Was that a praise?" Shizuo tried.

"What do you think?"

Of course not.

This woman-

Annoyed Shizuo turned around.

The sun gleamed just past the brim of the mountains. Quite like golden water flowing from the sky. It was a beautiful sight as much as it was warming.

Gazing at a tree nearby that had decided to show a few first attempts at growing buds, Shizuo strolled towards it.

Following close by, the horse advanced into the direction he dragged the cords. Quickly binding it to one of the branches he decided to sit down on a stone laid next to it.

The soft brim of warmth had thawned the ice off it's surface and upon touching it Shizuo noticed it was almost warm

Signing for his future wife to take a seat he waved her over.

Like a deer called to a hunter, Lady Kururi glanced at him in doubt.

But she did as told at last as she took the place next to him.

Clouds passed by and for a few seconds Shizuo just let time pass, watching his breath become soft puffs of white air.

"Are you alright?"

The question seemed to have thrown the Lady off guard as she blinked in visible confusion.

"You fainted in case you forgot," Shizuo reminded her, seemingly filling in the blanks as she shrugged.

"Don't women faint all the time? It's nothing to fret over."

This time it was Shizuo's time to shrug.

"I wouldn't know. I have no sisters and you will be the first I really get to know."

Of course.

A soft frown spread across Izaya's face as he sighed.

He was starting to get fed up with this.

It was cold despite spring and his chest hurt. Like ice the air pierced his lungs inside out. Sitting down had only worsened his condition as that damned corset did its best to add extra pressure.

He wanted to go back.

What were they even here for?

"... aren't you tired of this charade?" he questioned with an exasperated sigh.

Confused, Shizuo blinked.

"What?"

"Look, you don't have to cater to any need you think I have. I don't care for flowery speech nor do I expect you to fly at my wishes. If it´s a yes you want to hear on the day of the wedding I assure you there will be no unwelcome surprises."

Stupor ruled Shizuo's expression at the words.

Wow.

So this was his future wife. Cold like ice and a personality more rotten than his father's it seemed.

Shizuo was fed up, he knew she was going to be this way. What did he expect from an arranged marriage? Father always told him he was a good for nothing, the rumors revolving certainly weren't any better

and she had summoned the mercenary first thing when she arrived.

Just how elevated were her tastes?

Was spending money the only thing on her mind? Did she have no free will? No. She did.

All she probably saw in him was a necessary burden to get rich.

Shizuo was annoyed.

Angry.

If he could, he would call off the marriage.

He could skip on marrying a woman like that- if it just weren't for his stupid father's dying wish-

"So you are just going to do whatever I tell you to?" the king asked and Izaya noticed the hostility in his words.

"Of course," he replied, only matching what he heard.

Hands of iron lock gripped his shoulders and before Izaya knew it he was on his back, the king hovering above him like a predator ready to slay its prey. "And the wedding night you are going to stay still like a corpse?"

Izaya flinched involuntarily at the words.

He knew the king meant to imply he would just let him do as he pleased, but for him the word corpse just rang truer than he liked it to.

"If you wish." Izaya replied with a bite to his eyes Shizuo didn't expect.

Perplexion as much as anger ruled his mind as he let go of Lady Kururi.

He knew he had overstepped a few boundaries there, all he wanted was a real reaction.

What he had gotten was something he wasn't quite sure how to take.

"Guess I need to thank god for receiving such an obedient wife then," he mumbled bitterly.

Izaya felt confirmed in his thoughts.

"If god existed we wouldn't be having an arranged marriage."

Shizuo clicked his tongue as he pushed himself off the stone.

"Blasphemous, aren't you?" he asked, the conversation accumulating more and more venom by the second.

"Do tell, has praying ever saved anyone?" Izaya spat.

And suddenly the king's expression changed.

The anger seemed as though it had been extinguished like a candle's flame. His eyes had grown wide. It was obvious Izaya had hit a nerve with something he said although he wasn't sure what.

"Fuck you."

Surprised, Izaya bit down the words he meant to reply as the king turned.

The king was angry.

Even he could see as much.

Stepping aside he unfastened the horse from the tree.

Well, Izaya couldn't care less. It was better that way.

Looking into the direction they came from Izaya sighed.

"Take me back."

A glance was cast.

Anger bit down.

"Of course, my lady." The sarcasm dripped heavily from Shizuo's tongue as he pulled the horse over.

Thank god.

Glad the charade was finally over, Izaya pushed himself off the stone.

His back hurt from being forced down and his chest heavier by the second.

It was just when he got up that the lack of air went to his head.

Lightheadedness ruled as Izaya struggled to breathe for just a second.

"Are you okay?"

Only barely he caught the words. The king had closed their distance and was suddenly just a bit too close for Izaya's liking.

Especially that hand, reaching out for him as though he actually cared.

Swatting it away, Izaya glared.

"Don't touch me." He didn't need pity. He didn't need an act of care.

Shizuo scowled. Had he not already been mad then he would have been by now.

"Suit yourself."

to be continued~

Hey hey~ well this was quite the rough start for the two i guess xD but hey! If you thought things can´t come worse- well

you know me

they can xDDDDDD

Be prepared ahahaha because just some fight of words is just too little drama for me xDDDDDDDD

Sadly this is the only story I can update this week because I actually got sick on tuesday and still am as of today x'DDD no covid haha just your regular - giving me headaches and dizziness flu with a kind sprinkling of not fucking off for ages xDDD

I still hope you liked it, and yo, see you next friday for the continuation~ ;3