Chapter Text
“Why can’t you just hold still!” Maxi winced as her nanny tugged and pulled painfully at her hair. She could see the wrinkled skin of her Nannie’s face twisting into displeasure and annoyance as she tried to tame Maxis wild red locks.
Dispite it being her wedding day, Maxi had never felt so much despair. To her, marriage was just another transaction, she’d be married off to the highest bidder and used as a brood mare until she either died of exhaustion or died in childbirth. Her own mother had died the same way, who’s to say she wouldn’t.
It was no secret that her nanny hated her hair, ever since she could remember the old women would make remarks on its unsightly appearance. At this point Maxi had started to believe it, actually maybe she started to believe long ago, so long ago that it was just part of her everyday thoughts.
“If you move one more time I’m calling the master down. And you know how he hates to be disturbed.” The threat lingered in Maxis rigid spine as she tried not to make another move dispite the endless burning on her scalp. But she’d endure that if it meant not getting beaten again, the ache from yesterdays beating still lingered in her back.
After what felt like forever the nanny finally put the comb down and stared coldly at Maxi through the mirror, “stay still I’ll be back with the wedding dress.” The door shut without another word and Maxi was finally left alone. The pain in her head had now turned into a throb and Maxi couldn’t help but stare at the ugly heap of red locks piled upon her head in a bun.
Some parts were so tight she felt like her hair was being ripped from her scalp while other parts were making strands fall out of the bun. Maxi couldn’t help but grimace at the sight, she was sure that no matter how she looked her soon to be husband wouldn’t care, it’s not like he ever second glanced at her. But it was her father who she worried about.
Yesterday he’d made it abundantly clear that if she were to embarrass him or bring shame to the Croix name in any way she’d pay the price. Just then the door banged open and her nanny and a maid walked in, her nanny had the white wedding dress in her hands while the maid quickly pulled Maxi off her seat and started to strip her.
Maxi stood there like a wooden doll, letting the maid put whatever sort of weird and tight undergarments on to her. “Even lingerie can’t save you.” Her nanny tisked and quickly grabbed Maxi by her waist, her cold unwelcome hands sending shivers up Maxis spine but she stood still as the old women pulled at the top of her breasts, making them protrude out of the lingerie.
“If only you could look more like Miss Rosetta…” it was an off handed comment from the maid but it struck Maxi in the face. She of course new that she was hideous compared to her gorgeous younger sister Rosetta, but to be reminded so clearly hurt her more than she’d like to admit.
The wedding dress was heavy and itchy, the material rubbing against her skin in ways that had her fidgeting uncomfortably. It might have been the most expensive and elaborate gown that she’d ever worn but Maxi felt like a cupcake under all the layers of white gauze. Her deathly pale skin seemed to almost blend into the gown, making her red hair stand out like a sore thumb.
Her nanny looked as displeased as ever as she forcefully spun Maxi around, inspecting every inch of her. “Make her corset tighter.” The maid nodded and Maxi held her breath as her corset tightened to its tightest point. When exhaling she felt as if her lungs were being restricted under layers of white fabric and lacey lingerie.
When she looked in the dusty, cracked mirror Maxi couldn’t recognize herself. In the mirror stared back a ghostly girl with unruly red hair covered in a gown of white tule and gauze, her breasts popped out at the top, almost spilling out from when her nanny adjusted her. Maxi couldn’t help but think that she looked like the saddest most pathetic bride in the world.
She even pitied her soon to be husband, Riftan Calypse, for having to marry someone like her whilst also being forced to go to the dragon campaign in the place of her father. She really didn’t blame him for hating her. She alone hated herself and she wasn’t being forced to go to a dragon campaign.
Suddenly the feeling of something stabbing something in the back of her head had Maxi gasping as she was pulled out of her thoughts. The maid of shoving a veil at the top of her bun while her nanny critiqued every possible position until she was finally satisfied. With a few final adjustments her nanny finally sighed and sent the maid off.
“Wipe that look of your face before I do it for you. This is your wedding day, plaster a smile on your face and suck it up.” Maxis lip wobbled but she bit the inside of her cheek, the pain distracted her long enough as she started to exit her tiny bedroom, following her nanny obediently.
“The master wants to see you before the ceremony.” Maxi suddenly felt complete dread as the stopped outside the heavy double doors to her fathers study. They stood as imposing as ever, taunting her with memories of all that had transpired behind those same doors for the past nineteen years.
“N-anny?” The old women got a sour look on her face as Maxi turned to look at her with those watery eyes. “W-ill I en-joy marri-ed life?” The question came out before she could think but to her surprise and utter horror it wasn’t her nanny that answered but her father.
“If you pleasure him well enough.” It was as if a bucket of ice had poured over her, when she turned and saw the imposing figure of her father with his cane and deathly eyes staring at her Maxi felt as if she’d pass out right there. He stood inside his dark office, all the curtains drawn as her nanny shoved her inside and shut the doors.
“Listen well Maximilian.” His tone had her unconsciously shivering with fear. “In only half an hour you will be married to that brute and I expect you to complete your marital duties without fuss or hysteria.” There was no room for arguing, her fathers word was law in the duchy. “If you fail to do so and that bastard annuls the marriage consider yourself dead.”
Maxi felt like crying, everyone around her kept talking of marital duties but nobody explained to her what marital duties were. The closest she’d ever gotten to learning was last night from her nanny, “lie completely still and let him do whatever he pleases with you.” And that was it. Maxi felt panicked, how was she supposed to complete something she didn’t even know about.
The knock at the door had her snap out of the spiral she was falling into. “Your grace? Everyone is ready to start the ceremony.” Her father wordlessly pulled on his coat as the doors opened, he gave her one more deathly look before dragging her by the forearm down the hall. With each passing step Maxi felt as if she was a step closer to her grave, her fate sealed with the searing grip of her father.
Now standing before the doors to the hall where she’d be married in just a few minutes, it felt as if her gown as closing in on her, as if her throat had been squeezed shut. A maid suddenly lowered her veil over face and Maxi felt grateful, the tears now spilling freely out of her eyes. Once the music started there was no escape in sight, only a path to her death.
“Remember what I told you.” With that her fathers icy words were drowned out as the doors opened and the faces of hundreds of complete strangers stared right at her. The one that stood out the most was the face of Riftan Calypse, staring at her with a hard look as she took the first step to her new reality.