The seven’s obsession

Ellie

Two years earlier

Living in a castle is like a fairytale when your on the outside looking in, but as a mafia princess on the inside, its like living in hell. You always have someone breathing down your neck, telling you how to act and what you are allowed to do. Ever since my father don Felix of the ‘ndrangeheta, better known as the most robust of the german mafia found out I was a girl i’ve had a role to play, groomed to be wed to a mafia prince to solidify an alliance of my fathers choosing. My father and I have never had much of a relationship but my mother was the love of his life, since my mother died during childbirth before she could provide my father a male heir. Growing up I always received the cold shoulder, forced to be raised by the help, being blamed for my mothers death and it didn’t help that i was a spitting image of my mother all except for my eyes they were the only trait i got from my father. Only here recently did I get the attention from my father, but not the kind that I ever hoped. Being summoned to the Don’s office was the last thing I was looking forward to today, I had it all planned i was going to go down stairs and bring Anton some of the cookies that Emma had made me for my 16th birthday. Anton has been around since i was born his job title is The Huntsman and for very good reason he’s great at his job. But unlike most i get a side of him i’m sure not very many get to see. He’s like an uncle to me and TrueType the only friend i have here other than Emma. After i had planned to go to the center of the garden where the wishing well sets. It was my mothers favorite place and the only place i feel like i can connect with her. I don’t know much of my mother other than what Emma and Anton have told me. Father does not speak of her especially after Marring Grimhilde when i was young. When she came into the picture and it became a rule that my mother was to be forgotten an was to never be spoken of because it upset my father. Along with taking and removing any inkling of my mother being here before her. Thankfully the wishing well was never brought to her attention so i still have that. As I knock on my fathers office door wiping the sweat off my hands on my mid length sage cami dress that I’d chosen special for the day, I hoped it isn’t something i’ve done wrong and getting a scalding for. Knocking on the door before I loose all bravery i’ve conjured up walking here, he speaks out “Come in”, stepping into his office I look up to find him sitting in his chair behind his overly large mahogany deck. Nervous to speak first, he eyes me from afar, then says “ close the door Ellie and have a seat”. I make sure to do as he says, as I sit in the chair in front of his desk wondering what he has summoned me here for and say “ yes father?”. Then he proceeds “ i’m glad you’re looking well, as you know you have a duty to fulfill for the family and we can have you looking grotesque” i’m shocked at the way he is speaking to me, he is never so chipper to see me. I can just feel the way he’s looking at me the news he’s about to tell me he is very happy about. Willing him to continue so I can leave his presence as soon as possible I say “ yes father?”, he sits up in his chair and says “ as you know on your 18th birthday you will marry to solidify the alliance to prince Lorenzo Marchetti son to the Italian Don Vito Marchetti and you will be meeting him this evening at dinner i’m having in his honor for the deal”. Realizing that this is the movement you have been dreading since you were old enough to understand what your future was meant to be. Not to risk angering father you reply “yes father” through gritted teeth. '“What time am I to be expected down to greet our guests?”. Out of all things that could have happened today, this has to be the worst news I could have received, but knowing there isn’t anything that can be done about it. I have to at least act accordingly in front of father and our guests tonight, in fear he will lash out and be on the receiving end of his terrible temper when things don’t go his way. Father replies “ make sure to be dressed presentable and down at the foyer entrance at 6 sharp”. Just when you think you are out of the woods and able to turn and leave to gather yourself before tonight’s dinner father speaks again " Ellie I am sure I don’t need to remind you of what I expect tonight from you, if you embarrass me tonight the punishments will be severe. You will be cordial with Lorenzo or else and I sure don’t need to elaborate what would be to come if you disobey me.” Knowing he is serious about the severity of the punishments he’s promising to give me if I don’t behave I make sure to answer “of course father, I’ve been looking forward to meeting my betrothed since I was a little girl”. Not that he knows you’ve always dreaded meeting my betrothed but what he doesn’t know wont hurt since i’m the only one who knows that. Always acting like the perfect princess i’m expected to be is always hard when you have to fake how you feel and put on a emotionless face. After i’m sure he’s finished with me I turn around and leave his office, shutting his office door releasing a sigh why is it so hard to get any emotion from my own father? Is he so heartless to not love his own daughter and to wish me a happy birthday? Looking down at the floor as I make my to my chambers to make sure I am bathed and dressed for tonight’s events, not willing to run into anyone else today since no one really cares. Finally shutting myself inside my room, allowing tears to flow down my face wishing my mother were here. My mother would have spent the day with me and made sure it was memorable for me, instead I get to meet a man that I do not know and have to act like im happy marrying him. Emma the chambermaid who was responsible for my upbringing walks in my room, “Ellie why do seems so sad love?” Knowing she doesn’t know the events that just transpired in fathers office you tell her “ father has betrothed me to Lorenzo Marchetti and him and his father will be attending dinner tonight at 6”. Emma has always been rather closed off about her feelings with any of the tasks she given to help me with, seems a little lost as to why im so upset so you you also tell her “ father didn’t even wish me a happy birthday, im missing my mother more today of all days because I wish she were here to help guide me through this, maybe I would have had a more caring father if she were still here”. When you look up at Emma, she has a sad smile but soon says “ she would have spoiled you and loved you so much dear, your mother was one of the few who didn’t treat us help like dirt, and always had a smile on her face. She loved your father so much, in fact was the only one who could get him to smile and not act so ill as he does now. Since her passing he has become more of a shell and has turned into a bitter man. You know he loves you, just has a hard way of showing it since you look so much like your mother”. Taken aback by her reply since she has never spoke about this before in all the years she has been with you about mother and father, you just give a sad smile and say “thank you for telling me”. Emma knows there is no time to waist since you have to bath and get ready for tonight's dinner with the Italian mafia family, she ushers me into the bathing room connected to chambers to help get me ready and looking presentable. Once im washed and have done my business in the bathing room I walk out into my room in a white fluffy towel wrapped around me to see Emma has laid out some gowns for me. With my longer dark hair, pale complexion dresses with gold glitter seem to compliment me more so you go with the gown she has set out that’s golden with a white trim bodice and has a glitter to it when you move. I personally don’t care to dress up so formally but I know father is expecting me to. As I slip the golden gown on and stand in front of the mirror to look at myself, it highlights my natural features, strapless push-up top making my bust look a little bigger than it is, a tight fit corset waist capturing all my curves for one to see, then flows elegantly down to the floor where im wearing my white pumps. Due to me being clumsy I opted out of wearing anything that can Inpale me if I were to fall. When im finished eyeing myself in the floor length mirror I make my way to my vanity to put on some light make up. Father dislikes anything dark and to heavy, says it makes me look like a bimbo. Leaving my hair down cascading down my back in loose curls, sure to keep it light with my make up just a tad of a wing eyeliner above me eye accompanied by some tan golden eyeshadow and mascara, finishing it off with nude lip gloss. Simple and elegant double checking myself to match my formal gown, I stand up making sure im not forgetting anything, looking at the clock on my bedside it reads 5:45 pm. I don’t have much time left to mentally prepare and give myself a pep talk, and definitely not to let my emotions escape me tonight, I don’t want to be punished for letting anything slip and have my father do what he promised he would if I messed this up for him. Not realizing my inner debate with myself has cost me ten mixtures I hurry off to meet my father in the foyer to greet our dinner guests. Walking down the stairs making my way to the foyer I notice father is already standing there waiting, as I approach the front door open’s and in walks 3 tall men. I never considered myself short but at 5’4 these men tower over me so much I have to crane my neck to greet them. My father is the first to exchange pleasantries with the men, then they all turn to me. Biting back the fear I smile up and say “ good evening”, father seems pleased with my words he says. “Lorenzo this is my daughter ellie, your bride to be in 2 years”. What a way to introduce someone I think to myself, but Lorenzo seems to be brooding over what my father has said at first then a smile creeps over his face at me. Noticing this makes me feel out sorts, he is easy on the eyes, tall dark and handsome. Lorenzo is tall maybe 6’5, all muscle filling in his black suit with that dark hair that not a single hair is out of place. He is definitely a man that wouldn’t be hard to look at, he was elegant in every way, capturing his attention set my body on fire. With the unknown feeling creeping up on me, I force myself to look at the floor. After my blatant attempt to check this man out, my fatrher says “ well seems the bride approves thus far, shall we discuss more over dinner?” Making our way to the dinning room table, I try to pull myself together after such an embarrassing moment. As we approach the table Lorenzo moves forward and pulls my chair out for me to sit, shocked he would be so kind i tell him “thank you” with a soft smile as i look up at him. Lorenzo looks down at me with same soft smile and waits for me to sit, after sitting and Lorenzo takes his seat beside me the diner is brought out by the servers. Dinner is placed in the middle of the table waiting for is it to be placed on our dishes in front of us, i hope Lorenzo doesn’t notice how nervous i am, this is so embarrassing i’ve never been in front of such a handsome man before. My fathers men are all i’ve been around my whole life, and none of them have ever gotten this reaction out of me. Not seeming to notice my state Lorenzo takes it upon himself and places a napkin over my lap and then follows for himself. Bringing my eyes back up to look at him, shocked he did that, i tell him “thank you”. Lorenzo looks back at me and says “you’re welcome beautiful”. Never did i think my face could heart so fast, no one has ever given me such a compliment. Maybe this arrangement wont be so terrible after all, Lorenzo doesn’t seem so bad. During dinner I fall into silence and eat the pork and potatoes that were placed on my plate while my father and don Marchetti discuss business. After surviving the dinner without doing anything to anger father, we all head to the foyer to talk. I look to my father knowing I have fulfilled my purpose of the night, I tell father “ goodnight father” turning to don Marchetti and Lorenzo I tell them “it was a pleasure meeting you, I hope you have a good evening and safe journey home”. Turning back to my father to make sure i have his approval to head back to my chambers, he smiles at me and says “goodnight Ellie”. As i walk to the stair case to begin heading up to retire for the night I hear tapping of shoes and turn around right before i take the first step on the stairs. Whirling around I see Lorenzo walking up to me, he must have forgotten something, He speaks first “ Ellie I know this arrangement is not what either of us were wanting for ourselves but I would love to make the best of it and get to know each other and make the best of this situation we were dealt. If you will allow me to show you this can be a good thing for the both of us”. Not wanting to make him wait to long for a reply I look at him and tell him “that sounds lovely”. With a giant grin on his face i smile back, Lorenzo steps forward and leans forward and brings his mouth to my ear and says “good night beautiful, think of me, i will see you soon”