Corpse Groom

Chapter 1

  Upon a cold September morning, a soon-to-be bride sits at her desk, pen in hand, frequently gazing at the beautifully aligned marks adorning a butterfly's wings, one that flutters about within a glass cage, awaiting its freedom.

"Hm, not so bad," says the bride, gazing at her work. After a few minutes of looking over her drawing, she opens the window and releases the butterfly from its cage, and with a quick spin around the bride, it flies out the window into the chilly morning air full of bustling streets and bored-looking vendors. All seem to feed into this old Victorian village's dark and gloomy nature.

"(Y/N)! What is taking you so long? Hurry before we're late!" Your mother screams from downstairs, followed by her lecturing her husband to do the same thing. "Coming!" You reply and quickly look over yourself in the mirror, fixing the collar of your dress shirt, considering you had to wear the "most sophisticated" clothes you owned to impress your soon-to-be husband's parents. Says your mother anyways... Once done you head off downstairs and outside where you see your mother stuck in the doorway of the carriage, with your father and coachman, or should I say employee, Eddie, pushing her posterior trying to get her inside and unstuck, while your mother continuously yells for everyone to hurry up. To which your father replies, "I'm trying dear, it's just that your posterior is a bit-" "It's not me it's the dress!" your mother snarks.

With a sigh and a shake of your head, you watch as Eddie takes a few steps back before running full speed at your mother and father, ramming into them and sending them both flying into the carriage. Surprisingly enough, the carriage didn't tip over as well. "Hello miss (Y/n), are you ready to go?" Eddie greets you with a smile and holds out a hand to help you into the carriage. Always so helpful and cheerful, seems to be the only person in this village who knows how to be cheerful, even when he's feeling under the weather. Speaking of which, "Hello to you Eddie, say you don't look so well, are you becoming ill?" you say while accepting his hand. His smile falters just a bit before replying "Just a bit run down is all, don't worry about it miss!" With Eddie's help, you get situated in the carriage and give him a weary smile "Well take it easy, no use in working yourself to death." Eddie lets out a small chuckle before closing the door, taking his seat up front, and leading us off to our destination.

As your mother and father start lecturing you about how to act and about the importance of not embarrassing yourself thus embarrassing them in front of the Pillar family, you can't help but drift off in thought. You wonder if the Pillar's son is dull, just like everyone else in this village, or if he's even nice. You've heard so little about the Pillar family, only that of their riches, which leads to a superior title, followed by a snobby attitude... Then wondered why they agreed to this arranged marriage in the first place. Shouldn't he marry a duchess? Why settle for a simple fish merchant? "(Y/n)! What's going on in that head of yours?" Your mother says pulling you from your thoughts. "Well..." you start timidly, "I was just wondering... why did the Pillars agree to this arrangement? I mean, shouldn't their son be marrying a duchess or something of the sort?"

Seeing as your mother wasn't taking a liking to your question your father tried to speak up, "Well actually that's-" Before he could finish your mother cut in "That's none of our concern right now, for our sake please put those thoughts to the side and be grateful they approved of this marriage. This marriage is what's going to make our business strive for greater things! Then we'll be swimming in riches like we deserve." Your face fell, as did your spirit. "But what about what I want? Does my happiness mean nothing compared to some riches?" Your mother started fixing your hair before replying "Of course it does, just think about how good this will be for us all and you'll be happy." After that, you decided to just be quiet for the remainder of the ride.

(Meanwhile at Pillar Manor)

While the maids and butlers walk around the manor dusting everything and arranging the portraits on the walls to hang evenly with one another, Mr. and Mrs. Pillar walk around examining everything, making sure everything is in perfect shape for when the (L/n)s arrive. Everything must be perfect after all.

"What a terrible day it is." Mrs. Pillar exclaims with a sour look on her face. "Why is that, my dear?" Her husband replies looking up at her with a bored expression on his face. "Our son is to be married to a merchant this time tomorrow. A fish merchant no less. I figured you'd be delighted." "Delighted? HA! Your sarcasm entertains me. Oh if only our ancestors could see us now." Mrs. Pillar replies with a dramatic swipe of her hand at some dust on the railing of the stairs, where a maid is quick to follow behind dusting off the railing. "They'd be revolted that we've had to come to this." Her husband sighs and approaches the safe, opening it to reveal nothing but dust and cobwebs before replying, "Well my dear, you have a point, but unfortunately these merchants are the only ones in this village making enough money to scrape by, and as much as I'd prefer our son to marry a duchess this decision is what's best for this family." His wife sighs, "As long as everything goes according to plan."

Meanwhile, upstairs a groom is getting ready to meet his soon-to-be wife. "Oh Bently, what if she's horrible or doesn't want to marry me? Mother and Father will be so disappointed in me..." The groom's butler looks up from tying the groom's tie and replies in what he hopes is a reassuring voice, "Oh sir, don't fret so much. I'm sure she's a lovely gal who is just as nervous as you are right now." The groom looks at him with hope in his eyes, "you really think so?" The butler smiles and fixes the groom's collar, "I know so! Have I ever been wrong before?" The groom thinks for a moment, "No I'm afraid not." Not long after their exchange a maid comes knocking on the door before entering, "Sir, the guests have arrived."