[TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF PEDOPHILLIA, CHILD-MARRIAGE AND NON-CONSENSUAL SEXUAL ACTS]
It was a rather peaceful day, in a quiet classroom, only the flipping of pages and the sound of a pen scratching paper could be heared. Anyone would fall asleep if they were in this room, especially now that the wind was cool and the sun was not too strong, the sleeping teacher seems to think so as he doze of in his chair as I continue my self-study.
"...."
I sighed and stopped, this was supposed to be a stress free time. But I know, that something big will happen any minute now.
I just sat there waiting until a few moments later I hear hurried footsteps and the door was swung open.
_Slam!
The teacher jolted awake and looked at the door.
A servant panted heavily as they try to convey a message.
"Haa.. haa... Lady.. Lady Eleonorr..."
I stood up, "Yes?"
"The.. haa.. the Vicount and Vicountess are calling for you, they advise you to make haste."
I nodded and ordered, "Lead the way."
I then bid farewell to the teacher and we made way to my father's office.
I am now nine years old, and to be wed to an old man thirty years older than me. Our wedding is supposed to happen when I am about twenty-three years old, but due to his declining health, it's gonna be sped up and now we will have our wedding one month later from now.
Now people might be wondering, 'But why isn't anyone saying anything?', that's because currently there is a Civil War breaking in between the two succesors of the empire.
A fight between the first and third prince.
So noone would actually care about anyone's feelings these days and are too busy scheming on how to use each other for their own gains.
And when they hear about this. A beloved 'daughter' from the Flowelyn family marrying one of the richest persons in the empire, Count Agnock who is one of the few who remained neutral, it will cause havoc and it will mark the start of the true fight between the two factions.
They all know that Count Agnock's health is declining and he will have to choose a successor between his two sons, who are twins, one who supports the first prince and one who supports the third prince, and whoever he chooses will gaurantee the upperhand of either faction. But of course, as cunning as he is, even to his death he still chose to be neutral and support none of them by marrying a young bride who will inherit all of his power and money and will be the one who will continue his neutrality.
It will cause an uproar and people from both factions will either curry favor from me or kill me so that one of his sons will inherit it all.
But they do not need to worry about me, since I will contract an incurable disease and die young. That is the inevitable ending for me which I cannot change.
Upon arriving at the door of the office, I took a deep breathe to calm down my anxious heart.
"Father, I'm here." I called and the door opened revealing my father sitting behind his desk continuing to do his paperwork not looking at me.
"Eleonorr." He said, "Due to some circumstances, you will be wed earlier than anticipated. You understand, right?" he glanced at me.
I nodded, "Yes."
Only then did my father smile in satisfaction, but the smile was not aimed at me, but rather he smiled in a daze as he imagined of what he would gain by marrying me off.
A diamond mine, is what he'll get. I smiled sadly inside, at least the old man that I'm marrying gave me a sort of value. At least he valued me higher than the rest of my family ever will.
After sending me off after a short conversation, my father then went back to work and I'm now with my mother heading to a chapel so that she can make preparations for the wedding.
My mother, along the way, made a few comments about my dress, my manner, my speech, my posture, and my attitude, even though I was just sitting there quietly. I decided to just ignore her.
After arriving to the chapel, my mother then went and talked to some people that will decorate and handle the wedding, while I entered and stood there staring at the statues.
I noticed a priest was praying and decided to sit next to him.
The priest turned to me and smiled, "Hello there little child, what brings you here? Are you also here to pray?"
I stared at him for a few seconds then turned back to the statues, "Yes, I guess so."
"Something seems to be bothering you?"
I nodded, "Mhm, actually I'm gonna get married here after two months-"
"What?" I was cut off as the priest stood up abruptly in shock. "May you repeat that again child?"
"I'm gonna get married here in two months."
I think the old priest mumbled a short prayer under his breath and turned back to me with a rather concerned look in his eyes, he sighed and sat back down.
"Haa.. this old priest... this old priest thought he will never saw another one like you..."
I think he meant a child bride. Well, I can understand him a little bit. Considering his age, he might have seen multiple childe brides when he was younger and when he finally thought no more child was to be wed off, I came and he might have been reminded of those times. A child, a child who could have been enjoying playing around the mud, is now silently crying inside as a white veil is lifted from their heads and a ring is inserted on their finger.
A few sunrays that managed to escape from the dark clouds outside shone on the hugr multi- colored glass windows of the chapel, I blinked a few times and I turned to face the priest again.
"May I dare to overstep, but.. have something like this ever happen to you? Being forced into an uncomfortable relationship with a much older person?"
The priest looked at me and sighed again, he patted the space next to him and I sat down, he was in a daze for a moment as if he was remembering some dark and heavy memories.
"Yes.." He sighed again, "And I hope that it will not happen to you."
He looked up at the statues on the altar, "Oh, how I love this religion, but oh... how I hate how people use it for their own greeds and desires." He clicked his tounge, shaking his head, "I was so, so young, when I.. experienced that. Although I am now old and forgetful, I can still vividly remember the burnung touch of their hands that travelled around places where they shouldn't touch me."
"I was a young priest in training you see, me and my friend were suddenly called into a room late at night, we were confused and they explained.. that they want to teach us something more about our religion. Foolishly, we followed... and... I shall spare you the details."
I glanced at his clenched hands that were shaking and patted it.
He seemed to have calmed down and we sat there in silence, coming to an understanding that history is repeating itself and we cannot do anything about it.
That no matter how hard we might want to try, we were not brave enough to voice it or put it to action. We can only stand there and let the waves wash us to sea.
After what felt like a few hours, I heared my mother call for me and I bid the old priest farewell.
Before the carriage took off, I glanced out of the window and saw the priest standing outside the chapel waving me goodbye with a sad smile.