The Dungeons of Savant

Chapter Two: Vivetta

The guests cheered and congratulated Faisal and I, but I couldn't hear them. I couldn't even breath. I saw my siblings practically run to Fai so they could welcome him into the family. I tried to smile, and to be polite. I couldn't stand it. I stood up and left the banquet as discreetly as I could.

Once I was out I ran for my room. My heart was pounding and my heels weren't helping me run. The servants stared at me as I ran, but I paid them no mind. I slammed my bedroom door then buried my face in my pillows.

How could I marry Faisal? He was an arrogant, and idiotic brut! He always acted so entitled. I hardly thought of him as a friend, and now I'm expected to marry him. Was there a worse punishment?

I heard the door crack open, but I didn't bother to look up.

"Why'd you leave?" I recognized Popova's voice then sat up to face her.

"Because marrying Faisal is the last thing I want to do."

"What? I thought you liked Fai?" she tilted her head to the side.

"Maybe as a friend, but I'd rather throw myself in a river than marry him."

Popova moved to my vanity set and began playing with my perfumes, and powders. "I don't know what you're complaining about. I'd say Fai's handsome."

I let out a chuckle. She wasn't wrong, he was quite handsome. He had a strong jaw, and muscular build. He had dirty blond hair, and hazel eyes. "Yes, he's handsome, but he has the brain of a horse."

"See! You too have so much in common." She let out a giggle before getting it in the face with a pillow.

"Will your husband look like a goose then? You will look more alike him than me." We giggled as my mother poked her head through the door.

"They're missing you down stairs."

"Let them. I don't want to go back there."

"Aren't you excited? You found out who you are going to marry a year before most do."

"I'd rather wait a hundred more, if I could marry someone other than Faisal." I flopped back down on my bed in frustration.

"Well you have two years to make peace with him."

"I'll need closer to twenty actually."

My mother scoffed "Come, Popova. Leave your sister to sulk." She started heading for the door and my sister followed. I let out a sigh and began to take down my hair and get ready for bed.

The next morning my sister, Hazeal, and I got to watch the rest of our family as they tried to recover from the previous night of heavy drinking. Neither me, Popova, nor Hazeal liked to drink so it was always a pleasure to watch everyone stumble as a drunken mess. My mother was having trouble keeping her eyes open, Ramore seemed to still be drunk, Monty looked at everything like it was the most complex thing in the world, and my father's hands were trembling.

The three of us giggled as they each turned their nose up at their breakfast.

"Fun night? Or did you forget it all ready?" Hazeal joked.

Ramore groaned. "Zeal I would hurt you if I could see straight."

Popova and I chuckled before our father put an end to the shenanigans.

"We are all tired and I would appreciate if you would keep the noise down," he scolded.

"Yes, father," we said in unison.

A few minutes went by of us eating in silence until my father spoke up again. "Vivetta, I've arranged for you to spend the day with Faisal."

"What? Why?" I questioned.