Countess (Count Olaf x OC)

Part 11: Proposal

(Unedited)

Count Olaf scoffed at Klaus. "Tell me, bookworm," He said as he leaned back in his chair. "Can you name me a language that was spoken by ancient Romans and is still spoken by very irritating people today?"

"Latin," Klaus answered straight away.

"That's right," said Count Olaf. "And can you translate the latin phrase 'in loco parentis'?"

"Acting in the role of a parent."

"That's right," The Count said again. "And that's me. You see, Edith can get married if she has the permission of her legal guardian. And she does." He smiled before leaning on the table towards me. "In fact... she has more than permission. She has enthusiasm."

Sick of them not addressing me despite me being the topic of their conversation, I stood up and said boldly, "All the enthusiasm in the world won't get us to participate in your horrible plot."

Klaus added, "Mr. Poe will hear about this. Your play will not be performed and you will go to jail!" He took my hand and we left the dining room to go upstairs and get our siblings.

"Here comes Count Olaf. Throw the rice pilaf," The troupe sang outside as Klaus and I emerged from the dining room.

"Excuse me," I told them, twisting through with Klaus following.

"Sorry to interrupt everyone," Count Olaf announced, "but that brave and clever boy with the horrible glasses has just figured out our dastardly plan."

Klaus and I continued up the stairs where Violet had been coming down. We met in the middle and stared down at the troupe and the Count.

The troupe gasped in mock surprise at the Count's words.

"Yes. Thanks to his stupendous library book, the orphans have achieved a grand victory over our evil ways," Count Olaf said mockingly.

"Oh no-"

"Whatever will we do?" asked the twins.

"I guess we will go to jail-"

"For a very long time."

"I guess that proves that reading really is fundamental," The person of indeterminate gender chimed in.

"Edith," said Count Olaf. "Do you think your booky little brother is very brave and clever?"

"His work speaks for itself," I replied, feeling hurt and used.

"Count Olaf wants to marry Edith for real," Klaus informed Violet who gasped. "While everyone else thinks it's just a play."

"But she's not old enough to get married," Violet protested.

"I can with the permission of my legal guardian," I told her.

"In loco parentis!" Violet realized. "We have to get Sunny and get out of this wretched place!"

The three of us ran up the stairs and to our shared bedroom to get Sunny.

"Sunny wake up!" called Violet as we entered the room. "Sunny. Where is she?"

"Where is she indeed?" asked Count Olaf who was standing in the doorway. "It certainly is so strange to find a child missing, and one so small, so helpless. When did you see her last?"

"What have you done with Sunny?" Violet asked Olaf.

"Here Sunny Sunny. Where are you girl?" He raised a hand to his ear. "Did you hear that? It came from outside!"

Violet and Klaus immediately ran out while I stared down Olaf. "What did you do with Sunny?" I glared at him.

He only smirked. "Follow your siblings to find out, Edith." His hand grabbed my shoulder, pulling me with him outside the room and outside to the backyard.

"Sunny?" Violet called.

"Oh, you're not looking in the right place," said Count Olaf.  "For children who read so much, you are remarkably unintelligent. "

"She's not here," said Violet as the Count walked closer towards us.

"Don't look so down," Count Olaf replied. "I'd say things are looking up... up... up."

The three of us followed his gaze to a small cage outside the tower. Inside was Sunny who was restrained by ropes.

"Oh no," Klaus muttered.

"Let her go! She's done nothing to you!" I said firmly, my tone venomous. "She's an infant."

He faced me and frowned. "I think we all know that if I were to let Sunny go, she would not survive the fall to the ground despite the fact she's in a cage. But if you insist..."

"No!" The three of us shouted.

"Please, we'll do anything, anything," I pleaded.

"Anything, anything," He mocked. "Would you, for instance, consider marrying me in tomorrow night's performance?"

"You would have control over our entire fortune," I state quietly in defeat. I turned to face Olaf, tears brimming as I looked up at Sunny.

The Count crept closer to me, close enough to feel his breath on my cheek as he whispered in my ear, "Come now." He wrapped a lock of my blonde hair around his finger. "Would it be so terrible to be my bride, to live in my house for the rest of your life? You're such a lovely girl, after the marriage, I wouldn't dispose of you like your brother and sisters."

I glanced up at Sunny, hanging in the tower. I looked at Olaf. "If you free Sunny and send them somewhere safe... I will marry you."

"Mazel tov!" Voices shouted and I turned my head to see the theater troupe throwing rice in the air.

"I will let Sunny go after tomorrow night's performance," Olaf answered. "And I will let that banker with the annoying cough handle your siblings."

"You're a horrible man," Klaus spat as Olaf took a hold of my hand and began escorting me inside.

"I may be a horrible man but I have been able to concoct a foolproof way of getting your fortune," Count Olaf said back. "What have you done?"

With that the Count headed inside, leaving me and my siblings to stare up at our youngest hanging high in a cage. 

I began to lose hope when I noticed Violet pulling out her ribbon and tying back her hair, indicating that the gears in her head were turning wildly and that not all hope was lost just yet. 

Author's Note: Hi! This chapter may be a little shorter but I plan on making the next one longer! Hope you all are enjoying the book. I came back to see that this story has 1.1k reads!!!! I was absolutely mind-blown! Happy reading!