Holding Everything

Chapter 15: A Moment of Peace

Kou

I sit in silence, unable to say anything; a moment later I'm able to finally stutter, "th-that's...insane!" Eren looks at Rika in agreement, who then sighs as if she saw this coming.

"Yes but we don't have much of a choice here, Kou." Rika says, crossing her arms.

"Yes but that plan gets us deeper involved in the stuff we're trying to get away from." Eren says in protest.

"Well at least it's a plan that'll assure our safety, without something concrete backing us up we're sitting ducks for Merila to just kill off!" Rika rolls her eyes at the mention of Merila.

"It's still not a guarantee, you've been trying to put this plan into action for over a year now and still nothing has come of it."

"Isn't that obvious why, though? You are still showing how uninterested in me you are, there's no way father would let us marry if he sees you being miserable with me."

"That's because I AM uninterested in you that way." Eren's cheeks turn pink but his expression shows discomfort and slight disgust.

As the siblings argue I see where both sides have their pro's and con's over the idea; for one, Eren doesn't even have a plan yet, and Rika's plan is alittle...extreme.

Rika: Listen, I think if Eren and I convince our dad to keep the business in the family for the next few generations, that'll basically get rid of the risk of Merila taking over. Since father is still very ill, he may go any day; I think if we decide to convince him to issue his Last Decree and make us basically untouchable, we'll be safe. Merila is useless to us therefore disposable, and with us as the leaders we can do whatever we please, that means even tearing down this business. After that is done, we can divorce and continue our lives like nothing happened, and it can all be done before they start expecting us to create heirs.

Kou: What's this Last Decree? And how can you both take over when Eren is the heir?

Rika: The Last Decree is the final order from the head, it is basically upheld until either the next head dies and overrules the previous Decree, or if the Decree is in all ways impossible to uphold in any and all ways. If we can get our father to announce his Last Decree, stating that we will keep the bloodline in the family until its decided otherwise by the Head, then anyone involved with us with be forced to obey this, meaning all marriage meetings and marriages in general will be forbidden until we make the decision to disband the Decree.

Eren: And she believes if we get that sort of protection, then our rise to the Head throne will be ensured and no one can take it from us, not even Merila, which is technically true, but still I don't like the idea of being even more tied to this place.

Rika: And that, my dear brother, is why I think being the Heads together will make it all the more possible to tear it down, from the inside-out.

Eren: Ugh...

Rika: Mhm, if we become the head, we can destroy this business, or completely change it into something else. This family's goal was originally meant to rid this world of the bad people and keep the innocent safe. But everyone, including our own ancestor's became so greedy; only accepting customers who paid well, ignoring the actual calls of distress, killing innocent people all because rich bastards didn't like how they were stared at wrong. Our ancestors started a respectable business that people looked at with hope for protection, but over the generations it's become so tainted with money, it's almost like we've become torture boys for the wealthy; bending to their will when they wave a bit of money in our faces, I hate it!