Corpse Groom

Chapter 2

Upon arriving at the Pillar Manor, your nerves started settling in tenfold. Everyone exited the carriage, and to your father's delight, your mother didn't get stuck this time and started descending the stairs. Unfortunately, your mother thought it was a great idea to nitpick your outfit once again, thus prompting us to stop halfway up the stairs while she frantically started fixing your hair and shirt collar while mumbling to herself. Unbeknownst to her, the doors opened revealing Mr. and Mrs. Pillar, and their butler... Judging us.

Upon noticing the new pair of eyes watching us, your mother straightened up and smiled at the two. Mrs. Pillar forces a smile back while nudging her husband before discreetly telling him, "Smile, my dear we must be polite." Sighing, Mr. Pillar then proceeds to smile, although strained and visibly twitching he says through gritted teeth, "Why hello, welcome to our humble abode. Please make yourselves at home." your mother's smile grew as she took it upon herself to lead the way into the manor, you and your father following behind.

Once inside your nerves were temporarily replaced with pure fascination. This place was huge, and yet so empty and dull. The floors were a Grigio marble gray, plain yet eye-catching, and the windows were covered up by dark green satin curtains, complimenting the gray flooring and gloomy atmosphere of this place as well as the portraits lining the walls. In the center of the room was a grand staircase leading up to what I could only guess was an even bigger part of the house. Although, what caught your eye was a simple black piano just off to the side at the bottom of the stairs, with a cute little vase with a singular flower resting inside it.

Unbeknownst to you, everyone had continued, and it wasn't until you heard a door slam shut upstairs that you realized you were alone. So, unable to withstand the hypnotic-like calling of the piano, you walked up to it and opened the fallboard revealing the pristine black and white keys just beckoning you to play them, and then proceeded to slide out the bench and start playing. No sheet music is required as your fingers dance across the keyboard playing a song that is by no means foreign to you. After a while of playing, you seemed to be completely relaxed and got carried away to the point you lost track of your surroundings, and you didn't even notice a new presence enter the room until they spoke, "You play beautifully."

Startled, you slammed the fallboard down and stood up so abruptly that you knocked the bench over, resulting in the little vase falling over from the collision, spilling out onto the piano. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so rude. Please forgive me." you say while picking up the vase and cleaning up the spilled water. As you do so the man chuckles and picks up the flower, "Nobody plays the piano, it was quite a nice change of pace around here, and I'm sorry for startling you. That was not my intention." He says before helping set the bench upright, "You must be Lady (L/n), correct?" Realization hit you like a truck as you tried to keep your composure, "Oh! Um yes! Yes I am! I'm terribly sorry, you must be Sir Pillar correct?" He simply smiles before tucking the flower behind your ear, "Yes, but considering the circumstances, perhaps you could call me Howdy?" Flustered, you smile and respond calmly, "Howdy. It's a pleasure to meet you."

However, all good things must come to an end, as Howdy's mother yells from the top of the stairs, "What are you doing? You two shouldn't be alone together!" As she looks at her butler and tells him to take Howdy back to his room, you two whisper a quick farewell before parting your separate ways, him going up to his room, with you following Mrs. Pillar back to where everyone else is gathered in a meeting room of sorts, discussing the wedding plans for tomorrow and trying to keep all tension to a minimum. So, you took a seat next to your father and decided to let your mind wander instead of listening to the conversation that's currently unfolding.

You were put at ease knowing that the man you are to marry isn't a rude snobby rich boy but rather a nice, charming guy. Not to mention pretty good-looking as well. He was a fair bit taller than you and had a long face with gentle eyes. His hair was blue, which complimented his green skin so beautifully, and his arms, though four of them, seemed muscular under his dress shirt and- "(Y/N)! Are you even listening?" After coming out of your thoughts, you looked around and noticed everyone was staring at you. Flustered, you responded, "Ye-yes, yes, I am!... Although, Could you please repeat it?" You said while rubbing the back of your neck, knocking the flower down into your lap that was tucked behind your ear making your face grow redder by the minute.

Your mother sighed, which prompted Mrs. Pillar to speak up, "Your wedding vows. Do you have them memorized?" Her husband decided to join in as well, "Do you even have the ring?" Your sweat dropped, and decided to reply with confidence, "Of course I have them memorized, and do you think I'm incompetent enough to not have a ring prepared?" You lied through your teeth. You didn't have your vows memorized, and though you did have a ring you didn't necessarily have it on you at the moment, but you still had it no less. As for not having your vows memorized, it's not like you didn't try, you practiced every day. It's just that your nerves get the better of you and you become a bumbling idiot, and with the wedding being just a day away it certainly hasn't helped in your favor, but seeing as you seemed convincing enough and having said everything they wanted to hear their attention no longer lingered on you, and instead got diverted elsewhere, eventually stringing up different topics of conversation. Allowing you to gaze at the flower in your lap and get lost in your thoughts again.

(With Howdy)

Alone, the young groom sits in his chair, gazing out the window to his patio at the clear night sky, wondering how he had become so lucky. This maiden, to whom he is to marry, was a flower so precious, it had seemed. The way she became engrossed in the music as if she were in a trance of tranquility, and the way she expressed herself, whether it be her mannerisms or her flustered appearance, was so lovely to him, and the more he thought about her, the less nervous he became and the more excited he was for what was to come. He couldn't wait to marry her, and he could only hope she felt the same.