wait for me [illumi zoldyck]

Chapter 3

(updated: Feb 12, 2021)

Mia

Illumi's fist meets the wooden door leading to my father's office room. He knocks curtly before stepping away from the door, patiently awaiting a response. My eyes drift from him to the door nervously.

"Come in." A gruff voice sounds from in the room.

I begin to reach for the door handle but another hand reaches out and beats me to it. I look up at Illumi, wondering why he is so acting so urgently. It's very much unlike him to act this way.

"Don't show your fear." He mutters quietly, sparing me a glance before pushing the door open.

The brittle cold of a breeze hits me as I walk inside, following after Illumi.

The room is mostly empty, except for the walls which as lined with formidable bookshelves. The luminescence of the evening lingers through the countless windows and cast a golden glow upon the books. In the center of the room sits an enormous mahogany desk whose legs are detailed with intricate hand-carved patterns of lilies and blossoms. The serenity of the room does nothing to dispose of the fear biting at me from within.

I'm frightened, adrenaline weighs beneath me and only seems to amplify as my eyes land on my father. Then onto the man who lingers beside him. I know who he is because we've met before when we were much younger. Takeo Akagi, the eldest son of the Akagi family.

Takeo seems to be indulging in some light reading as he sits on a small chair near my father's desk. Only when Illumi and I seat ourselves, in front of father's desk, does he look up from his book. He wears dark clothing which contrasts his light hair and his striking amber eyes. His gaze is piercing, daunting almost. I barely notice Illumi, beside me, grip the arms of his chair tightly.

Suddenly, the meaning of my presence here is very clear.

"This is a private matter." Father looks to Illumi, narrowing his eyes at him. He knows how much Illumi's sudden absence hurt me. He must be wondering why he is suddenly here.

"Father, it's alright." I smile nervously, fiddling with the material of my dress.

My father opens his mouth, about to speak, but is cut off by the orange eyed man behind him. "Let him stay, Riku. It's better that he hears this as well." Takeo speaks up.

My father glances to his side, regarding Takeo's words with a curt nod. 

"As you may already know, this is Takeo. He is the eldest son of the Akagi family." Father gestures towards the man to his right.

Takeo smiles warmly towards me. He does not spare so much as a glance towards Illumi, who sits closer to him. My dubious impression of him earlier completely vanishes.

"Oh, hello." I smile awkwardly, shifting in my seat.

Takeo sets his book down and slowly rounds the desk until he reaches me. My breath hitches as he reaches down to grab my hand and places a small kiss on my knuckles. "It's a pleasure." He hums, his eyes gleam mysteriously.

I'm stunned by how striking Takeo is, despite having met him before. His eyes seem to almost glow as he looks back at me.

My father clears his throat, raising a brow. "I called you here, alone originally, to announce your engagement with Takeo. Our families have decided that this is the best way to begin integrating our family affairs." Father explains, crossing his fingers together over the desk.