Lavinia Grimwald
"I can't believe he's making me retrieve him. Who even is this random?" I said to no one but myself. I feel like I'm doing that more these days.
"Not to mention, dragging me home from school! So early in the morning!"
I stormed through the halls of the wing in the direction of my room.
"Right, and to top it all off, they put him directly across from my room!"
Arriving at the end of the hall, my room on the left and… his, on the right. I quickly opened the door to my room, tossed all of my school supplies in, not caring where they landed, and shut the door. I hold the handle of my door shut, taking a deep breath to calm myself.
"I must present myself well in front of him. I must present myself well in front of him… I must present myself well in… ughhh, whatever. Monarchs, he makes me mad."
Shifting my body to face his door, I walk with hurried strides.
Opening the door to his room. "Oops, forgot to knock." I let myself in.
"Why didn't he turn the lights on?" I quickly scanned the partially lit room, but didn't see him. Hearing the water flowing from the shower, I make my way to the bathroom.
In one fluid motion, I reach for the handle, turn it, and quickly open the door. "Oops, forgot to knock again."
I looked up to see the boy, Rin, scanning him and his physique, as a habit taught by my father. He was standing in the middle of the bathroom in his underwear.
Crap, did he hear me talking to myself?
I blush slightly from the embarrassment. It's a good thing he can't see me.
Using the body enhancement from my Light Will to see in the dark, I use it to glance my eyes over his form, head to toe.
He's practically emaciated, skinny like any Lower District boy, his bones easily viewable through his skin. His hair is a mess, and an off white-grey colour, and his skin is an unhealthy grey as well.
Shifting my view to his lower body.
I wonder how he got those?
Coiled around his right arm was a scar like a snake, and there was a large oval scar over his stomach. The rest of him wasn't worth mentioning.
"Do you knock?" he said calmly. Making my eyes shoot up to his face.
"Ah, um, ha, right." Shaking my head to get my thoughts in order. "My father would like to see you as soon as possible. He doesn't have a lot of time, so you'd better hurry." I said as calmly as I could, though it seemed a bit rushed.
"Riiight, do you mind?" He said, gesturing toward me.
How dare he talk to a Lady so naturally!
I blinked at him, irritated before realising what he meant. Regaining my composure, I shut the door with a loud bang and left the room.
…
The door opened with a quiet click. A moment later, the boy, Rin, came walking out. He took one step out the door, then stopped halfway through his second, letting it hover, before dropping it to the floor.
He was wearing a simple laced shirt in the house's colours, and black cotton pants. He was even given fancy slippers with the house's design.
"You waited?" He said calmly, looking at me with no confusion on his face.
He looked neutral, like he didn't care.
"At least show some gratitude." I scoffed.
"You say that as if I should thank you." He turns to walk down the hall. "Where are we going?"
Okay, he pisses me off.
Through gritted teeth, "My father's meeting hall." Following behind him in a speed walk.
"I'm Rin, by the way." He speaks. Putting his hand out when I catch up.
"Lavinia." Not taking his hand.
He pulls his hand back upon noticing I'm not reaching for it. "Grimwald?"
"What do you think?"
Without shifting his gaze from ahead of him, or a change in tone. "You know, I've met a beast that is kinder than you."
I rebuke with a bit of venom in my voice. "And I've met four-year-olds with more muscle than you. This way." Turning the corner to head down the Upper North Main Hall, watching him follow me. "What, no thanks?"
"You act as if I owe you something?"
Stopping in my tracks, forcing him to do the same, my tone completely venomous now, "You owe my family something! You come here, into my home, suddenly given all these things you didn't earn. Grabbing the attention of my father, someone with as little presence and skill as you! Making demands of someone of his authority." Stepping towards him, getting close to his face. "Listen here, and listen well. No matter what you do, you won't belong here. This isn't your home, and you have no right to be parading around like some egotistical noble. In my opinion, you're a waste of my father's time, and everyone else's in his house." Stepping away from him, my tone slightly softer, "But that's fine, if you won't leave. Waste time, resources, just stay out of my way. And my life."
His face and voice still completely neutral. "Planning to, princess. You seem like a headache." He walks past me, leaving me fuming in anger. "I'm sure I can find my way from here."
"Monarchs, I wish it were that easy!" I whisper under my breath. Catching up to him, yet again. "As much as I would love to leave you, my father asked for me, too."
He doesn't respond.
An infuriatingly long walk, with him, later, we finally reached the door to my father's meeting hall.
Sir Chiron was already there waiting for us. Opening the grand doors upon our arrival, all three of us head inside.
The inside wasn't set up with anything special, but even then, the atmosphere is pretty ostentatious. My father has several meetings with higher-ups today and an even bigger one, at the Royal Estate, in a few days.
A simple boardroom table was set up in the middle of the large room. My father was already seated at the head of the table.
"Take a seat, up close." He said, not even looking at me, but rather at Rin.
We walked to the far end of the table, me on the right and Rin on the left, taking a seat just next to my father, with Rin sitting across from me.
My father, still looking at Rin, spoke up once we got comfortable. "How do you like the estate, Rin?"
"It's big." He said bluntly, as if surprised by that fact.
My father gives a fake formal laugh, the same one he does in any meeting. "Why, of course. We must ensure the comfort of all the people living here. Which I hope goes for you too, Rin."
For the first time since I walked in, he finally looked at me. "I'm glad you came. We'll talk later, but why don't we get started?" He looked away from me, shifting his gaze to the front of the room. "Sir Chiron, why don't you join us?"
"As you wish, my Lord." Sir Chiron bowed before walking over to the table, standing behind and off to the side of my father.
"Rin, Sir Chiron alongside myself, will train you and nurture your Will. Beginning in two days. We will spend tomorrow going over what is expected of you."
Why am I even here? This conversation has nothing to do with me.
My father continues, "There is, however, one issue. The nobles of this Kingdom will not ignore the incident of this family taking in a boy from the Lower District. Word will get around, and rumors will be spread. I need to appease these rumors where they start. Their roots. The Elites of the Kingdom will know the truth, as I will discuss it with them in a few days. As for the others, we shall spread a rumor. A lie of our own." He looks at me in a way I've never seen before. "That is where you come in, Lavinia. Our lie will be simple, yet effective. Rin will pose as a noble from a neighboring Kingdom, set to marry in convenience."
He can't be serious! There is no way that's why I'm here!
I leaned back in my chair, weary. My eyes widened.
"What will be the Kingdom I hail from?" Rin asks calmly.
With his focus still entirely on me, my father answers Rin. "The Yusura Kingdom. We'll go over everything tomorrow."
Realising his intentions, I jumped up from my chair. "Y-you can't be serious?" I pleaded, my voice cracking as it rose in pitch. Pointing at Rin. "You want me to marry this boy?! Do you know how improper that is?"
My father's face changed back to how it always looks, unalive, and unimpressed. "To be precise, Rin is older than you, the same age as Leo. And I want you to do what's best for the family, Lavinia."
"What's best?! Is ignoring me, and acting like I don't exist, until you need something, what's best?! Don't I get a say in this?!" My voice rose higher, practically yelling at him.
Nothing has changed…
"All I want… is to take care of the family, Lavinia. For it to be the best it can be. Prove to me, you can satisfy this endeavor. Then, you will be given a choice." His face was neutral, but his tone was harsh.
My voice doesn't matter, not to him.
Without saying anything else, I turn to leave, storming my way to the door.
Behind me, I could hear my father continuing the conversation with Rin. Acting like nothing happened.
Nothing has changed…
He's always like this. It barely even bothers me… it doesn't bother me.
It can't… bother me…
Even though I didn't want it, I couldn't help but fail to hold back the tears streaming down my face.
Between quiet sobs, I could still faintly hear my father's and Rin's conversation, "…Rin, I want you to be… my Substitute."
A harsh yell rips through my throat. "WHAT!"