It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

Party

With a clap of his large, manicured hands, Karlheinz rearranged the ballroom. Tables appeared from nowhere, plates filled with food decorated the tops. A champagne tower stood tall beside the food stalls, the glasses filled to the brim with the sparkling liquid. The organ began to play its music once more the dance floor had been cleared, leaving room for the first dance.
Athena didn't look at her new husband as he took her hand in his. He led her to the dance floor, placing one arm around her waist, pulling her into him. She placed her left hand upon his shoulder, her new ring glittered beneath the chandelier's light. She looked up, into his handsome, fuschia eyes. She hated them. The dance began.
Carla had spent hours at a time teaching her this dance... and she still couldn't do it well. She winced as she stepped on his foot, a brief look of irritance spread across his face as he led the dance. Her skirt moved to the music as he gently span the pair across the glistening dance floor. Athena wanted to leave - she was an atrocious dancer. Still, Reiji did well in guiding her across the dance floor. As she'd been taught, she maintained eye contact with her partner, a fake smile playing on her thin lips as the dance finally came to an end. He pulled apart, kissing her knuckle as he bowed and she curtsied. It was over.
Applause sounded through the ballroom, congratulating the pair on their wedding. Karlheinz grinned, catching the attention of everyone as he announced, "Let us celebrate!" And so, the party started. Guests separated from the gathering, heading towards the food. Couples stayed to dance the night away, in perfect and elegant form. Athena wanted to huff with annoyance.
Karlheinz sauntered towards the pair with a fake, creepy smile. He said, "Your wedding gifts have been sent to your cottage." Athena's eyebrow quirked up.
"Cottage?" Reiji asked for her, his tone low as he straightened his tie. Was he anxious? He'd kept doing that, she'd noticed.
"Yes," Karlheinz said, "For your honeymoon." Athena's eyebrows furrowed, did she have to be alone with him? "Your carriage will be waiting at midnight." Athena glanced at the large, glowing clock. They had four hours. With that said, the tall man whisked himself away to converse with Giesbach. Reiji and Athena fell silent, neither one wishing to speak to the other.
A giggle sounded and an arm wrapped around Athena's shoulder. Her eyes grew wide as she glanced behind her to see a young, handsome man with auburn locks and dark green eyes. She felt herself stiffen... those were her cousin's eyes... just a different colour. "Aren't you lucky, Reiji?" He asked, his eyes scanning the bride up and down, "C-cup... the perfect size, a small waist of... hmmm, 24 inches? And a slim figure-"
"Who the hell do you think you are?" A gruff voice sounded, interrupting the tall boy, "Get your hands off my sister. Only he can touch her now." Shin had sauntered towards them, he was dressed in white, his bowtie a kind lilac. The colour did not suit him. Athena sent a kind smile his way.
"You look ridiculous," she laughed softly, watching as he scoffed, adjusting his glasses.
"So do you," he retorted, "I remember seeing you running around the castle in a little white dress, fantasising about the wedding. Until you met your fiance that was." He offered a sadistic smirk as his older sister clenched her jaw, swallowing her embarrassment.
"Watch it," she returned with a hiss, her piercing eyes staring into his own pair. Her ears burned red, irritation flooded through her veins.
"I see, I see," the auburn haired boy chuckled, removing his long arm from Athena's tense shoulders, "it was your rotten personality that ruined the engagement!" He teased Reiji, who clenched his jaw and stayed silent, "Ayato owes me~" He hummed with glee as he made his way towards another red head.
"How awkward for the both of you," Shin grinned, sipping a glass of champagne. Athena scoffed, taking the glass from him and downing the rest of its contents.
"Behave." She warned, handing the glass back and making her way towards Carla who was standing towards the back of the room.
He was also dressed in white with a lilac tie - the colour did suit him though. He was silent as his golden eyes scanned the busy room. Athena sighed as she stood beside him, "Another four hours," she said, "an hour of which is a 'family dinner'." Her nails caught on the light as she made quotation marks.
"It needs to be done," Carla merely replied, "if it makes you feel any better, you look beautiful." Athena pursed her lips, thinking for a moment.
"I wanted to wear mother's dress," she said, "on my big day." Carla nodded, staying silent as he sipped his own glass of champagne. He then leaned forward, his lips to her ear.
"Murder is always an option," he whispered, sending her a smirk as he pulled away.
"That defeats the purpose of this entire marriage," she replied, rolling her eyes, "at least this way, people are under the impression that we aren't at war." Carla, again nodded. The pair fell into a comfortable silence.
Reiji sighed as his bride left him to speak with her older brother. He shared an intense stare with her younger brother who sneered.
"Just because you've married her, it doesn't make you better than us," Shin hissed in a low pitch, "if you so much as hurt a single hair on her pretty little head, I'll break you."
"Noted," was all Reiji said before the strawberry-blonde haired man stalked off. He adjusted his tie once more before heading towards his brothers. They were chatting - well the triplets were - as they crowded around the champagne tower.
"How do you feel?" Ayato asked, "Knowing you've got a gorgeous wife?"
"A wife that cannot dance to save her life," Reiji responded, picking up a glass of his own. Laito let out a joyous laugh.
"Really? I couldn't tell," Subaru said, he was scratching his neck with discomfort.
"I'm sure she's just nervous," Kanato said, hugging his teddy close to him, "she's being sold by her father, she'll never see her brothers again and she's going to live with six strangers, and she cannot stand the one she married."
"I'm surprised she hasn't hit you yet," Ayato teased, "she seems to think you have a hitable face."
"She did step on my foot, I'm sure you'll be glad to know."
"Very glad," Shu said, opening his eyes slightly. Reiji scoffed, avoiding looking at his older brother.
After what felt like forever, the party came to a slow end and guests eventually left, leaving the two families behind for their first meal. With a click of his fingers, the tables were rearranged to form a long table with eleven chairs. Giesbach and Karlheinz sat at either end, Athena and Reiji in the middle. Shin and Carla sat on the other side of Athena, Reiji's brothers were scattered everywhere else. Piping hot bowls of soup appeared before everyone, the roasted scent filled the tense air as Karlheinz cleared his throat.
"We welcome you with open arms, Athena," he said, his tone dark when he said her name. Shivers cascaded down her spine as she bowed her head towards him.
"Thank you Lord Karlheinz," she replied, watching as Kanato began to drink his soup.
"Yes, we are... enthused about this... union," Giesbach commented, staring at Karlheinz with his harsh eyes.
"And of course, our terms will be met. Once a year, Athena will be allowed to visit you for a week. Her first year with my son will be spent alone on their honeymoon." Athena's heart squeezed and her eyebrows furrowed. Once a year? A year-long honeymoon? Judging by her brothers' reactions, they felt the same way. Carla stayed silent, glancing at Athena whereas Shin glared harshly at his father.
"Of course," Giesbach said, "keep her for as long as you'd like." Her hands rolled into fists beneath the table as her father spoke. "We don't need her back."
"Such kind words, Father," Athena spoke up, she chewed the inside of her cheek as venom laced her words.
"Naturally."
"Once a year?" Shin asked in disbelief.
"Are you complaining?" Giesbach returned.
"Yes," Shin returned at the same time Carla warningly called his name.
"We're immortal," Athena said, "a year will pass in no time." She wished her words were true. Dinner was silent after that... Athena was dreading midnight.
Forks scraped the surfaces of plates, the sound of chewing echoed through the thick tension. Athena didn't touch her meal, instead she handed it to Shin. Laito and Ayato kept sneaking glances at her, causing her to shift with discomfort. Throughout it all, Karlheinz had an awful smile upon his lips, his golden eyes pierced Giesbach's stormy pair. The clock chimed midnight, alerting everyone. Karlheinz grinned once more.
"Enjoy your honeymoon," he said unkindly.