𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓝𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 - ₐₛₒᵤₑ [𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃]

♖ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻

"Justice Strauss?" Klaus calls out, eyebrows furrowed as he re-read the same sentence for the hundredth time. The children had been at the judge's impressive library for a couple of hours, trying to piece together Count Olaf's plan.

The man acted very suspiciously earlier that morning before they left his house. He demanded the four orphans to participate in his new play, The Marvelous Marriage, but insisted very firmly on Violet playing the bride.

"Yes?" The woman finally responds, entering the library with Sunny in her arms. She had taken the infant to the main house an hour before, deciding Sunny would get bored watching her siblings and Alice read countless books.

"May I ask you something?" The young boy inquired, albeit hesitant.

"Certainly," Was the answer he obtained from Justice Strauss, who placed Sunny down on one of the enormous armchairs. "Yes, as one legal scholar to another?"

"The only nuptial requirements are a statement of active acquiescence by both participants, utilizing in loco parentis if necessary, and the signing of an explanatory document in the bride's own hand." Klaus read the passage on the book he'd been researching. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"Well, I suppose it depends upon what you think it means." Justice Strauss replied, annoyingly vague.

The door was suddenly opened, revealing Count Olaf's figure. "It means you're going to be a star." The actor spoke, entering the library as if it was his own house.

"Oy," Sunny said, earning a dismissive look from Count Olaf who, as usual, didn't understand a word she uttered.

"Count Olaf!" Justice Strauss exclaimed, weirdly pleased with the unexpected appearance of the wicked count.

"Please, call me your guardian actor." The man requested as he marched towards Justice Strauss, doing an exaggerated bow.

The children watched, suspicious, as Count Olaf grabbed the judge's hand as gently as he could, a grin forming on his features.

"Justice Strauss, you are about to find your drab, legal beagle existence transformed into something mind-blowing and yet extremely classy when you become the exciting new face of the next Count Olaf production." He declared.

Justice Strauss' face lit up in excitement with this piece of news. "You mean..." She urged him to elaborate.

"You have got the star quality necessary for a small walk-on role in Al Funcoot's new play." The actor affirmed, making the woman gasp.

"I've wanted to be an actress since I was young." Justice Strauss confessed. "Although, my drama teacher told me my chances were slim because of my posture, and so I went into the law, but now..."

"Now, you can see it." Count Olaf said, spinning her around. "The curtain rises, the audience applauds, and you walk onto the stage, dressed as a judge. It's a very important part, although you won't be listed in the program. You will stand in front of a very handsome man, played by me..."

"I get to share the stage with Count Olaf?" She asked, amazed.

Count Olaf grimaced before proceeding with his speech. "...while a stunningly-costumed bride, played by Violet, stands beside me." The man grabbed Violet by her shoulders, making her stand up and dragging her towards the judge.

"You are so lucky, Violet." Justice Strauss spoke, her judgment clouded by her lost dream. "All my life I wanted to be a bride, but it seems all the men I meet are intimidated by my law degree, or obsessed with model trains."

The actor takes a handkerchief from his coat's sleeve, which makes Alice's face scrunch up in disgust, and places it on top of Violet's hair, mimicking a veil.