The Corpse Maiden

Chapter 3

Red Stilts belongs to LillianDuncan

"Alright Jaune, once more from the top," Corsac Albain, one of the town preachers, said.

Mr. Nikos grumbled to himself as Jaune once again stumbled through his vows before stealing a glance at the living room clock. The wedding rehearsal had been going on for hours and Pyrrha and Jaune had yet to make it completely through their vows.

Jaune froze up, "um what am I supposed to say now?"

Everyone in the room, minus Pyrrha, groaned.

Corsac's brother Fennec looked at Jaune, "your vows are 'with this hand I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty for I will be your wine. With this candle I will light your way in darkness. With this ring I ask you to be mine.' Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes sir," Jaune said before taking a step toward the altar to say his vows.

"Bring Miss Nikos up with you!" Corsac snapped.

Jaune blanched, "S-Sorry."

He walked back and offered his hand to Pyrrha. She took it and they took two steps forward together.

"Three steps! You're meant to take three steps!" Fennec yelled.

"Do the number of steps really matter?"

The two preachers gave him scathing glares.

"Apparently it does," Pyrrha muttered.

Her groom chuckled nervously.

"How about we just pick it up at the end shall we?" Corsac asked.

Jaune nodded and picked the candle up off the alter. "With this candle I will light your way in darkness." He attempted to light it using the already lit candle on the alter but he couldn't seem to get the wick to ignite.

"C'mon....stupid thing..."

Pyrrha giggled a little bit as she watched, but her parents, mostly her father, were not amused.

"Are you sure you don't have any other sons?" Mr. Nikos asked.

Mr. Arc shook his head, "no. Just seven daughters."

The other man groaned causing his wife to place a hand on his arm, "dear be nice."

Just then the butler rushed in, "pardon me but someone is here to see you," he handed Mr. Nikos a calling card.

"Red Stilts," Mr. Nikos read, "Hmm honey is he from your side of the family?"

Mrs. Nikos thought for a minute, "I'm not sure."

"Well regardless let him in," Mr. Nikos told the butler.

The man nodded and quickly left the room before returning with Red Stilts. It was the same man that Hazel had interacted with earlier in the day.

"Apologies for the intrusion," Red said as he sat down in a chair, "I always mix up my days, I was under the impression the wedding was tonight. But carry on, pretend I am not here."

The bride and groom to be exchanged looks before turning back to the two preachers. However just then, Jaune's hand began shaking.

Corsac noticed this and sighed. "you know it almost seems as if you do not want to be married Mister Arc."

"No no of course not," Jaune stammered.

"Wait you don't want to?" Pyrrha asked.

Jaune paled, "no that's not what I meant I do not, not want to get married meaning I do...wait is that right?"

Fennec scoffed, "I'll bet you didn't even remember the ring."

The blonde young man reached for his coat, "no no I brought it. See."

He extracted the piece of jewelry from his pocket but his hands were so sweaty that the ring slipped from his fingertips and went rolling across the floor.

Jaune immediately ran to grab it, but he forgot he was holding a lit candle in his other hand. This meant that when he bent down to grab the ring the flame on the candle lit a small portion of the rug on fire! The fire itself was small but that didn't dissuade anyone from panicking and running around trying to find a way to put the flames out.

Red, however, calmly picked up a glass of water that had been left on a nearby table and dumped its contents onto the fire, putting it out.

Jaune sheepishly picked the ring off the floor and saw everyone stare at him.

"Uh...I got it," he chuckled nervously.

"Mister Arc you must learn your vows!" Corsac said, getting into his face.

"Yes," Fennec echoed, "or this wedding is doomed."

The blonde young man hung his head down in shame and quickly made his way out of the room before running out of the house.

"Well," Red scoffed, "he's certainly a winner isn't he?"