The Abyss

Ch.1 - Silent Bride -

The walk was shorter than I anticipated. I wish it could have lasted longer. But perhaps the walk towards the end of everything you've ever known is meant to be quick and painless, like a shot. All I can do is try to calm my heart.. my mind... my breathing.... try to let myself be content with the fact that my life will never be mine to control, or ever was, and I can do nothing to change that.

Day and I come to a stop before a large door and my heart, if only for a moment, becomes still and heavy, sinking to the bottom of my stomach. She gestures for the butler to announce my presence and he does. We wait for a moment before hearing the door begin to slide open. As I enter the room I realize this is the first time I've ever seen the inside of the conference room.

I bow and greet my father, "Hello.."

He simply accepts my greeting with a nod and gestures for me to sit down across the table from him. I sit, my posture perfect and my face void of emotion. The mask I have mastered, an obedient and meek woman. My father and I sit in complete silence as we wait for my fiancé-to-be and his father to arrive.

A knock at the door draws attention from both of us. We stand and my father gestures for his butler to open the door. I watch as a stunning man and an older, fatter, version of him enter the room.

"Mr. Nahm! It's great to see you in person! Please, sit next to me. The children should be seated together and get to know each other better while we all discuss the engagement, don't you think?"

I almost laugh at my father's words. 'All'? I scoff internally. As if he would ever allow me to participate in the conversation. He knows I don't want this. I can tell by the way he glances at me to confirm that I know not to speak. It doesn't make a difference if I share my opinion or not. My thoughts on the matter don't matter either way. I know my place. I am to be the perfect silent bride. Mute.. submissive.. obedient.. the kind of woman that doesn't need to be reprimanded. Doesn't speak out of turn, doesn't have interests other than being perfect for her husband. The kind of woman that is more of wood than muscle and skin.

Being human doesn't gain you a husband so it is therefore unnecessary. Women in high society are toys, tools to be used and thrown away when no longer needed. I have spent my whole life being taught how to act when the day comes that my father trades me away like a simple cut of meat.

The younger Nahm shakes hands with my father, his sleeve pulling back slightly to reveal a very expensive silver watch. I glance at the watch, noting the diamonds.. Not small enough to make him appear to be less wealthy than us yet not so large as to make him appear more wealthy.. Smart. At least he's intelligent. He knows how to make a man like my father like him.

"Hello, hello! Let us all be seated," my father says with a smile.

My eyes follow the Nahm heir as he gracefully, and confidently, takes steps towards the chair next to me. He pauses in front of me and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. He then stands straight, "Hello Ms. Seong," he greets with a smile.

"Hello Ha-Ru Nahm.. and Mr. In-Su Nahm as well" I bow my head towards him and his father.

Once the head of each of our families sits, the Nahm heir and I sit as well. The men begin conversing among themselves and I lose myself in thought. I don't know this man. I doubt I will ever know him, because I will never love him. He will be nothing but a puppeteer and I the puppet.

I get a feeling there are eyes on me and look up to notice Ha-Ru Nahm staring in my direction with a critical gaze, he is scanning me for imperfections. He won't find any, my father has made it certain that I am perfect as can be. Docile, obedient, beautiful. I am the perfect daughter, and my father is sure that I will be the perfect wife to Ha-Ru.