Chapter 15: Forced Marriage
1753 Words
After leaving the manor, Anna tried to forget the troubles within its walls. At least in this otherworldly place, she had her beloved family.
As she walked down Pomegranate Alley, Mark blocked her path with a cheerful grin, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Anna, these are for you!"
Anna paused, exasperated. "Didn't I tell you to stop bringing me flowers?"
Mark seemed puzzled. "When did you say that?"
Anna was about to answer when a thought struck her. "The flowers left at my door before, weren't from you?"
Mark shook his head, looking confused.
Anna suddenly realized that the flowers might have been from Little Tim. She had assumed they were from Mark because he had given her flowers before. But unlike Mark, who handed flowers to her directly, Tim was the type to leave them at her door and hide, a behavior that matched his shy personality.
Taking the flowers from Mark, Anna smiled. "Thank you, but there's no need to bring me flowers anymore."
Mark chuckled. "Don't you like these? I can bring you something else next time."
Anna shook her head. "What I mean is, don't waste your time on me. I'm young and not planning to get married anytime soon."
Mark looked disappointed, scratching his head before asking, "But when you do decide to marry, will you consider me?"
Anna couldn't help but laugh at his earnestness. "Sure."
Mark beamed with satisfaction and left.
Anna's good mood faded when she saw the worry on her mother Gay's face at home. "Mom, what's wrong?"
Gay sighed, her expression troubled. "Bobby came by today."
Bobby? The butcher who had beaten his wife to death and faced no consequences?
Anna felt a sense of foreboding as she waited for her mother to continue.
"He wants you to marry him," Gay said, her voice full of distress.
Anna didn't react with anger. She knew her mother would never agree to such a proposal. "Mom, you turned him down, right? What else did he say?" Anna sat beside Gay, serious about understanding the potential danger.
Gay nodded. "He said he would marry you no matter what. We'll discuss it with your father when he gets home."
Anna didn't have any immediate solutions either. After playing with Adelle and little Evan for a while, she took a nap. When her father Evan returned from work, she got up to join the conversation.
Evan was a quiet and honest man. Due to his work hours, Anna rarely saw him or had the chance to talk to him.
With Jem, Adelle, and little Evan asleep in their room, Anna, Gay, and Evan sat in the main bedroom to discuss the issue.
"Why would Bobby want Anna?" Gay fretted.
"He went to the tavern earlier," Evan said.
Anna and Gay looked at him expectantly. Evan continued, "He said if we don't let Anna marry him, he'll make sure I lose my job."
What a scoundrel.
Anna took a deep breath to calm her anger. Bobby, a violent man who had pushed her down when she tried to stop him from beating his children, was now using threats to get his way.
"Anna, don't worry. Your father and I won't be intimidated by Bobby," Gay assured her.
Anna nodded. "I know. You both always look out for me."
She paused before adding, "Even if Bobby manages to get Dad fired, we can manage with my job at the manor. My salary is enough to support us."
Knowing they had a safety net eased their worries slightly. Money could significantly change the nature of one's troubles.
Evan and Gay were still troubled by Bobby's threats, but Anna's words provided some comfort. As long as Anna kept her job at the manor, their family could stay afloat. Bobby might be able to cost Evan his job, but his influence didn't extend to the manor.
The three of them didn't come up with a definitive solution, but they agreed to wait and see what happened next. Anna's job gave them the confidence to do so.
However, Anna was still uneasy. The manor housed a more dangerous demon, and she worried about how it might impact her work.
The next morning, as Anna was leaving Pomegranate Alley, Bobby, reeking of alcohol, blocked her path.
Bobby was a burly butcher in his thirties, with a menacing face and a strong stench of alcohol. His eyes lit up when he saw Anna. "Anna, I didn't realize how beautiful you've become. I can't wait to marry you!"
Anna recoiled in disgust, stepping back. "Get out of my way!"
Bobby laughed drunkenly, his expression turning sinister. "A big temper, huh? A good beating will fix that."
Anna felt sick. She wished she had a weapon, even a stone.
A door creaked open nearby, and Mark emerged with a large hammer, glaring at Bobby. "Stop causing trouble at our door, drunkard!"
Mark swung the heavy hammer effortlessly, making it clear he could use it if needed.
Bobby, though large, was no match for the muscular, sober Mark. He glared at Mark before stumbling away.
Mark watched until Bobby was gone, then approached Anna with a sheepish grin, hiding the hammer behind him. "Don't worry. I'll be here every morning when you leave for work."
"Thank you," Anna said sincerely. She hesitated before adding, "Can you wait here for me at seven-thirty tonight?"
Mark agreed without asking why.
Anna didn’t plan anything elaborate. She wanted to use her saved coins to buy Mark some treats to thank him. It was common courtesy to thank a colleague for their help. The demon's "help," however, was another matter entirely.
Arriving at the manor, Anna's mind was still occupied with Bobby's threats. As a commoner, Bobby could act without fear, but if she became a noble—or even tested as a Holy Light body or elemental affinity—he would think twice.
Anna spent the morning lost in thought, giving Parich his breakfast without surprise at seeing the demon-possessed Ulysses.
"Dear Anna, you look even more radiant today," Parich effortlessly complimented her.
Tired from lack of sleep and frustrated, Anna grumbled internally, calling him blind. She thanked him while setting the table. "Thank you, Parich. You look more handsome today as well."
Parich watched her with a charming smile. As he reached to touch her hair, she deftly moved away, avoiding his touch.
Anna knew that by this era's standards, Parich's behavior wasn't considered perverse, but she followed her own standards.
Rotgar observed Anna silently, curious about her actions.
Parich assumed Anna had coincidentally avoided his hand and didn't mind. He chatted with Rotgar while eating his breakfast.
When he finished, Anna quickly and cautiously cleared the table, avoiding Parich.
Rotgar had no interest in befriending Parich. His visits were solely to watch Anna, so he left as soon as she did, ignoring Parich's attempts to stop him.
As Rotgar entered the garden and saw Anna waiting, he smiled knowingly. She was ready to act.
Rotgar pretended not to notice Anna, adjusting his path to avoid her.
Anna had waited to see the demon, and when she spotted him, she hurried over. "Esteemed Mage Ulysses!" she called respectfully, her urgency evident.
Rotgar paused, looking at her coldly, waiting for her to speak.
Anna took a deep breath to steady herself. "Sir, I heard your injuries are delaying your departure. Are you alright?"
"A few days of rest will suffice," Rotgar replied, preferring to maintain control. "Did you change your mind?"
Anna hesitated. She wasn't reconsidering his proposal—she wasn't suicidal. She had another idea. She wanted to take advantage of the situation. Some might call it reckless to exploit a demon, but what choice did she have? She knew no one of higher status than this demon-possessed mage, and he could teach her magic.
In the past, Anna had avoided the demon. Now, she approached him. Her hesitation wasn't about principles; the demon wanted her soul, so using him a bit wasn't unfair. She hesitated because she feared misstepping and making things worse. But remembering Bobby's drunken threats, she resolved to take the risk.
"I still believe that as a maid, I can't tarnish your reputation," Anna said earnestly. "But I hope you can teach me to read while you're here."
Rotgar pondered her request. Teach her to read? What was her angle? Her attitude towards Parich seemed ambiguous, but she refused his proposal while seeking excuses to approach him. Was she ambitious enough to want both?
Annoyed, Rotgar frowned. Looking away, he asked, "Why do you want to read?"
"It will greatly benefit my future," Anna answered.
Anna had two main reasons for wanting to read. Firstly, becoming a mage required literacy. Secondly, it offered a solution to her current predicament. If she studied under this talented mage, their relationship would provide some protection from Bobby's advances. She could subtly spread the word about their connection, making Bobby think twice.
Rotgar raised an eyebrow. Future? What future did she have? "And what benefit do I gain?" he asked, his tone mocking.
Anna thought, You get more chances to trick me into giving up my soul. Isn't that benefit enough?
She lowered her head and said softly, "I can't offer anything now, but I know I won't remain a maid. I will repay your kindness in the future."
She almost blurted out that she could see through his guise, but held back. She didn't know if the demon wanted anything beyond her soul. If her soul was all he desired, she had no bargaining chips to secure her life in exchange for other benefits.
Rotgar smirked, his voice alluring. "You only need to nod, and you won't be a maid anymore."
Yes, she wouldn't be a maid; she'd be a soulless corpse. Anna resisted the urge to retort, maintaining a serious tone. "I want to achieve my goals through my chosen path."
Goals? Rotgar frowned, scrutinizing Anna. She seemed different from the scheming woman who courted nobles to escape her lowly status.
But he quickly reminded himself that she was a master of deception. He wouldn't be fooled.
Usually, Rotgar would meet Anna's requests to achieve his ends. This time, he should readily agree.
But—
"If you want to walk your path, don't expect help from others," Rotgar said coldly. "I won't teach you to read."
Whether her intentions were sincere or not, she wouldn't walk her own path. She would only follow the one he set for her.
- Writer
