A Day In The Fated Future
House of the Crowleys
(Dazai Crowley's POV)
"Born as the only child, my parents immediately considered me to be their family's pride and joy. Since the day I was born, they cut no corners in providing me everything I possibly could need to excel in life. Which is nice and all if it wasn't for the fact that my parents happened to be very strict."
I crossed my arms and paid close attention to Blair.
"So what? They were full of expectations?" I asked.
"Pretty much, yeah. You see, as a noble from back then, I was subjected to many tests, trials and challenges. Basically any tactic that could remotely improve my standing within the nobility was used."
"Not surprising. After all, what parent wouldn't want to drive their child into doing better? Especially, with you being the only one next in line to inherit your family lineage, it would make sense they would go that far."
I spoke as if it was all but obvious, but at the time, I knew little of the fact that her story ran far deeper than what it may have sounded at first glance.
"On paper, it may seem understandable, especially from a third person's perspective. Hell, I would even agree with you there,….if it just wasn't for one simple, and…. unfortunate fact….."
"And what's that?"
"They never loved the "me" for who I was…"
".....Huh?"
It took me a moment for me to figure out what she was trying to say. But when I put two and two together, some things started to make sense.
As if sensing me understanding what she was telling me, Blair continued to speak.
"That's right. Instead of loving me as their one and only daughter, my parents only cared about the blood that coursed through my veins. After all, that same blood could crown my future husband as a king and continue our legacy from that point on."
I paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink.
If I was understanding everything correctly, that would mean her parents didn't love her like family, but rather gave her the generous attitude of someone who's trying to make a return profit.
"Only caring for you just because of your social status…That's…. that's just cruel."
"Heh, oh, it doesn't stop there~.... See, at the time, with so many potential suitors being out there to choose from, my entire life quickly revolved around the idea of being, and I quote, a "good princess"."
"What does that supposed to mean?" I asked, being just a little puzzled.
"Oh, nothing special, really~...It just means that while my parents were biding their oh so precious time, they were getting me prepared to be the perfect woman for some rich guy that would come along and insert himself into the family. You know, the usual "pretty as a doll" syndrome?~"
Blair continued to speak in a somewhat joking and playful manner, as if intentionally making light of the dreadful words she was saying.
Regardless, if what she said was relatively true, this would mean her parents literally saw her as some sort of piece of high grade meat they cultured over the years, solely for the purpose of selling it to the highest bidder. Which is actually pretty fucked up.
The crazy part was that they did a fantastic job in their wicked ways.
Blair's womanly charms, her optimistic and cheerful nature, and the graceful way she so elegantly carried herself were all but mere examples of the person they tried molding her into becoming.
Just seeing and hearing these truths was enough to make me mad. A wave of anger suddenly came over me, forcing my hands to bawl into fists. It reached such a point that, albeit unintentionally, my nails dug so hard into the foreskin, it bled a little.
"Aw, don't tell me~….are you perhaps worried about me?" She asked in a teasing manner, perhaps as if noticing my hands.
"Not worried. If anything, I'm a little angry. Even up till now, I don't understand how people could do something so terrible to their own children, you know? Instead of loving you, they treated you as nothing more but merchandise to be sold later. What type of family even does that!?"
Even I couldn't believe how furious I was for her. But at the same time, I think I could understand why.
Because I was one of the lucky many who were born into a stable family and experienced true love from my parents, I could never understand why there would be others who chose to neglect and/or abuse their own children.
In fact, I don't think I ever want to understand.
"....At that point, they aren't even human." I mumbled aloud, unintentionally voicing my inner thoughts.
But those words suddenly caught Blair's interest as her eyes glanced at me with suppressed curiosity.
"Is that so?~ Then tell me. If you think they are no longer worth considering humans~….what exactly would that make them?~...."
That's easy.
"Monsters. No doubt about it."
To match the tone I set, I threw her an equally serious look, unafraid to maintain eye contact.
My words were devoid of any playful manner as I spoke nothing more but what I considered to be the "truth". But after I spoke, a long silence followed afterwards but neither of our expressions changed.
At one point, for whatever stupid reason, I thought I somehow offended her. But the moment I began having those doubts, Blair suddenly chuckled aloud.
"Hehe~….Hehehehe~….HAHAHAHAHA!~..."
What the hell was that laughter? It was ominous, almost terrifying to hear. I even sensed subtle yet rather deranged traces of hysteria.
With it being so off putting, I almost mistook her for some sort of shape shifting demon.
But just as I was starting to consider the use of defensive measures, the other "version" of Blair made her appearance yet again before finally, and thankfully, bringing her chuckling to a halt.
"Haha~....So I'm the precious daughter of these very "monsters", huh~.....My, my how fitting~...."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
Instead of talking, she instead fell silent to take a deep breath to sigh a little out of pleasure.
"Oh~….nothing special~... Oh, but Dazai?~...."
"What?"
She smiled at me.
"You don't need to worry about any of that any more~....Although it may have taken some time, in the end, I was able to get out of that situation~.. And that's what truly matters, don't you think?~...."
"Well, good for you, I guess." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
From the sounds of it, I think she somehow came to terms with her past. Or perhaps was this just another act on her part? Well, either way, it was enough to make me sigh and let the subject go.
Actually, there was one thing I was curious about.
"Wait, how did you "escape" anyways? Did you do what (???????) did and abandon your family?"
Suddenly, Blair stopped for a moment to think.
Her index finger bounced on and off her lips in a pondering manner.
"Hmm, what was it that you said?~....Oh, I know!~"
After coming to a certain realization, she got up and began walking slowly towards me.
At first I slowly back stepped a bit out of reflex, but it wasn't too long until my back was against the wall allowing her to quickly invade my personal space and leaned a little too close to my face.
But when she got within kissing distance, she slipped past my lips and aimed her head closer to my ears and whispered seductively.
"That's for me to know~.....and for you to never find out~…."
This motherfucker…..