Chapter 2

It's over the town, the news of the Coplete's engegemt with the Soner. Yet Ryeo, the Coplete's heir, don't even bother an inch! 

Why would he anyway? As like he would like to see the situation, it is just for show. He sure about that, so the thing he have to wait and wish is for the Soner to completely accept defeat. 

And better if gone from the town.

That's would bring peace, and of course, his freedom to do what he want in the town!

He grind to the thought. “Not bad.” 

How bad he looking forward to that day? Not a single Soner will stay in the town, his parents will never do the damn of things that may tied his ass on the process. 

He will be...free, finally!

Not that he is a prisoner of the Coplete. It just suck to see anyone, other than a Coplete like him to wander the town freely, raised their head as if own the whole town. That upset his parents, especially the thought of the slump who never ever support a Coplete, the people on the west side of the town who kill the dream of her sister, who kill a Coplete. So if it's happen, means his involvement again that may never ends if one don't accept defeat, if people in the slump continuosly hide the fact of her sister's sudden death. 

He know it's sound selfish, but he just can't help seeing her parent's in despair without doing something, not having the chance to know what and who it is that responsible of her sister's death.

“Ryeo, son, are you alright?” her mother, the mistress of the Coplete stared at him with warning. He straightened his gaze and not bother what her mother meant by sounding so good to be her mother but not the way she really is.

Even her smile as she introduce him to the family of Soner earlier is as elegantly as the woman in front of him, the mistress of Soner, that even in her silent scream elegancy. 

He amost forgot where he is at the moment, at the Grand Mansion of Soner, and he have to be good even it's not in his will to do so. 

Her mother look at him and as if curious to what he is thinking, she said in an elegant voice, “You sure are worried about your future wife, eh? Don't worry, son,” she look at the family of Soner who silently observe the conversation with Coplete mother and son, “I hear she is not just doing well because of her work, you know? Though I really hope she will going better after the night...” she directly stared the mistress of Soner, his so called future mother-in-law who only smile a bit.

“Of course, my daughter...will be alright,” in her careful use of words, the mistress of Soner force a wide smile, “and apologize if it worry you, Glenda. And rest assured, you can talk to my daughter soon...” Then in his surprise, the mistress of Soner look at him with a sincere look in her eyes, pleased to finally meet him, “Ryeo Coplete, what a wonderful man you turn to be!”

“That's way so formal, Fiska!” His mother laughed, gently but with warning in her voice, for unknown reason they nodded in agreement, “Shall we drop the formality? In no time, we'll be a one big family... So let's try...to be one?”

Fiska nodded, “That's would be nice, then” she said, and stared at him, that in his sleepy eyes wondered and in surprise, when she said, “I'll be glad to welcome you in the family, and of course, in no time...you'll be the father of my grand-son and a grand-daughter.”

“T-that's...would be my pleasure,” he utteredly response in a much more surprise than earlier. His sleepy eyes revived to wake in an instant, “I'm glad too...” he gulped when he sight the man that scream honor and authority, the Master of the Soner. Although having conversation with his father about their own business, he look at him, silently, as if observe the entirely of his being.

And the night ends without meeting the not-so-well Soner, his soon-to-be wife. He may say he never like the idea of meeting her, but he like to be certain if she passed the quality of being wife for a Coplete.

Honestly, he never thought about tomorrow when it finally come. He never ever realize how he regrets on dining with a Soner that night. How his principles shifted and ideals just having a conversation with them, which shamelessly, he never realize how he continously stuttered. 

So unlike him.

“Ryeo, ready your things,” her mother strict gaze meet his eyes, not at all given much room of objection. Unlike that night who she smile greatly, now she saw her son, again, as a tool to achieve what she after. “You have to do whatever it is to get the Soner in your hands. Manipulate her if you want.” 

“Ah, yes...” Though he never know why he have to ready a thing. He shrugged.

“Use your charms if needed,” she added without a second thought.

 “Well, gonna go, mom.” He just sighed and let everything she said vanished before reach his understanding. 

“Don't forget to know her, as deeply as you can,” her voice deepened, as if plotting something silently, “I don't know why, but I have the feeling behind the reason of why we are not aware of her existence as the heir. It feels like...” she continued as if trying to deduced something is going to happened. 

He just wave his hands and bid goodbyes before she can say something that not helping at all. Though his face show nothing but burdensome about what happen, he keep his cool while not minding the stares he felt as he walk to the center of the town. 

He have thought that what happened that night already over, but it seems is really not what it seems. But he feel like his parents have no other plan...but the marriage with a Soner. He ever thought of potesting but it already happened, even he don't give a damn about other people may thought about, he has pride to protect. And as a devil that they coined to, he has to be emotionless, like having nothing to oppossed on just a simple agreement.

Not that that the world will gonna mad and throw him somewhere in the slump if he follow her parents decisions, he have nothing to lose beside the freedom to wander freely in the town. He saw how a husband in the town, even in power have to be careful to walk with just anyone but their wife. The thought of it give chills all over his body, how can he walk with someone, anyway?

And talking to the slump, he stopped and looked how unusual to the town to be crowded in morning. As if everyone overcome the fear of encounter a Coplete in daylight. Not that he proud of doing so, he just feel like it is safe to walk on your own, away from the slump' people. And he never wrong when he thought the people in the slump gather like ants. 

He sighed. “What a sight.”

“Ryeo!” before he even walk away from the sight that cannot be unseen, he heard a familiar voice that scream in distress.

It was Edward, his friend, running like his life is threatened. 

“Oh, what happen?” he asked, tried to hide the anxiety for the sudden pressure he felt as he see something in his friend's eyes. He tried to joke, hit his shoulder with disgust, “You grossed, bro!” and then laughed like a real devil ready to engulped the world in darkness. 

But his friend, he saw how his eyes watered for unknown reason. 

“Edward...?” 

Edward turned his back and keep the distress in himself. “This is not time to be gross nor to be wondered, bro,” he said.

And for a moment, he realize how he never tried to understand his friend, when he whispered in despair with eyes watered in worry, “I overheard it...she's g-gone...” He cursed in his breathed as he faced the supposed husband, “your wife... gone mysteriously in the Grand Mansion!” his voice cracked.

“W-wife...” he can't help but wondered, and thought that his friend gone mad, he curse like hell, “no way!”

“Ryeo, please...” He almost kneel and beg for help, “Help me find her...”

Ryeo sighed, give his free time for the day and find a missing wife, “Of course...” he said, realize as he saw how desperate his friend is, how he become a mystery. On why he have to react as if he was the one who lose a wife?