"Marry me," he said through his bad breath and yellow teeth, "Marry me Lelouch."
I watched him through my lengthy lashes in bewilderment. I was looking at Ono Katsu, a noble in direct service to the king, a widowed man who was only rumored to have been searching for a wife. By God how I became I candidate for this I do not know. He watched me with his somber dark eyes pleading me like a lost puppy. I narrowed my eyes at his attempt to convince me; however, it seemed to further please him. He grinned like a fool as I stepped back. With a sharp, rough, quick move with his hand he grabbed hold of my own and kissed it. I could feel the little food in my stomach churning in disgust. Then I did a mental recap:

Mr. Ono was Japanese with dark-black hair and oak-brown eyes.

He always wore decorated black suits all in a similar fashion.

He stood tall and straight but had a plump look about him.

His awfully murderous face was decorated with a similarly dark-black beard which looked like a dark caterpillar crawling across his chin.

He was rich.

He has no siblings and both of his parents are dead.

He was born on December 12th.

He has a single son, Simon, who has ash brown hair and brown-gray eyes. He is known for being a horrible trouble maker.

He was rich.

He is known to love trashy novels and debates.

He was rich.

He probably has the most disgusting set of pimples right over his left brow.

He was rich.

By God he was ugly.. but he was filthy rich.

I watched him politely as he lifted his head and looked at me again with his pleading, somber eyes.

"Father. You will have to ask father." I stammered out despite wanting to keep my exterior calm.

He smiled like a lunatic which made his dimples show. He then clenched my wrist tightly and dragged me from his carriage to my estate, which in itself was reasonably large, paying no heed to the dirt collecting on the hem of my skirt. I could feel my wrist swell as Katsu held it tighter and tighter. I couldn't help but flinch with the pain. I was dragged half-willingly as he opened the door and with his most graceful gesture he somehow managed to push me half across the room into my father's arms. I yelped as my father pushed me away like I was no more than the scum that begged him for food. I fell onto my knees but still managed to scramble away from the scene.. as much as the two men would let me. My father spoke first.

"What is it?"

With that dimple-grin look on him Alfred declared his earlier statement concerning my betrothal. My father almost fell over laughing.

"You want to marry my SON?" he choked up, "Not only son, but the worthless one? You would have better luck marrying Cornelia!"

I wanted to hit my father for that. Alfred on the other hand just reached into his pocket and pulled out a large amount of money and placed it on the glass table. My father and I just looked.
"Yes.. Lelouch. I want to marry Lelouch." Katsu laughed, "Would this be.. acceptable?"

My father looked at the money then at Katsu. Without a second thought he took the money. With this marriage he'd be rich.

"I give you both my best wishes." Charles said with an amused tone.

I on the other hand was not amused. I was horrified. Petrified. Shocked. Just like that I was SOLD away from my family by my own father. Like a woman. I felt used. Yet no matter how much I wanted to voice my opinion I kept my mouth shut. I did what a girl would do, despite how much I hated how that sounded.

"Go upstairs and pack your things.. my son." Charles was barley holding in his delight.
Quickly I ran up the staircase with tears in my eyes. I ran into the room my sister Nunally and I both shared. I started grabbing things in my wardrobe and throwing them in my small bag. I started throwing my quills and papers at the wall, leaving glass and ink dangerously all over the floor. Blinded by rage I got my luggage together and ran away from that house. I ran then forced myself to get into Katsu's, my fiance's, carriage. Only then I curled up in a corner and sat still, shoving my face into my velvet black bag, and seethed. I didn't want to cry. I did not want to cry. Yet I did.

My eyes remained swollen for the next two days as I adjusted to the Enjolras household. It is an extremely large estate and it is completely painted white with adorable white fences, lovely rose gardens, and an outdoor gazebo. It is completely in the middle of no where and the only other lifeforms around, besides the residents of the Enjolras household, is a nearby goat farm. I have yet to meet Alfred's son Simon, for he is out in boarding school, nor am I wanting to meet that hellish child. Alfred had been kind to me, the first day he had not talked to me at all and let me sulk quietly in the study room. (That he had made for me, might I say.) The second day he talked to politely and encouraged me to cheer up. Both days he allowed me sleep in the study instead of his bedroom.

However, I started to think he is becoming.. tired of waiting for me. No, rather, I know he has been sick of waiting for me. At the thought I shivered and absentmindedly fidgeted in my seat. As a noble of Britannia Katsu, my fiance, has complete control of the village I grew up. The lord of my land. What could I do to rebel his command? Even as a man I was seen only as a helpless woman. Isn't there a law that forbids marriage between two men? If the church knew I might surely be saved.

But there wasn't any churches around here. I look to the bookshelf nearby me and decide to do a little research. I frowned though to see them all written in Japanese. However on closer inspection I did find on in Britannian text and decided to try that book.

"You see supple colorless orbits ripple with mystery 'neath tresses of crimson. The rogue pivots 'pon robust pillions... auditories alert and gems a-respond... fervid tegument of sorrel hue gleams o'er his suant frame..."

After a slight cough I fold the page in and shut the book. It made no sense to me, even after my years of schooling. I look over across my desk to the window to take a peek outside.
I can see my fiance quite clearly outside the window tending to the golden-yellow and crimson-red roses. I quickly learned yesterday that the garden belongs to Simon.

I intertwine my fingers and watch Katsu. That is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. It was a hard concept to take in that his barbaric man with a lot of money would be my husband. This gentle man who cares for his child. This disgusting man who makes one sick just by looking at him. Who was he really? Before our engagement I had barely known the man.

I absent mindlessly tore a page from the book I was reading and folded a small paper crane. After emerging from my own thoughts I was rather surprised to find the paper craft in my hand. However, when I looked down to inspect my work I frowned. It looked tired and deformed. With my dissatisfaction I placed it on my desk to fix later. For now I got up and left the study (on my own accord) and went downstairs to the kitchen to make myself a snack. On closer inspection though there seemed to be an unlimited amount of fine foods. I had no idea where to start.
"Do you need any help, Master Lamperouge?"

I jumped from fright as I turned around to see a middle-aged Japanese woman. She was physically fit and had short black hair. Unlike Katsu I was rather attracted to her.
"Excuse me," I mumbled, "who are you?"

She raised a brow before smiling a kindhearted smile that reminded me of my sister Euphemia. With that thought I let my face relax. She wiggled her other brow in thought.
"I am Sayoko Shinozaki. How do you do, Master Lamperouge?" She did a curtsy which caught me by surprise.

"I-I'm fantastic, Miss Sayoko. Please, just call me Lelouch." I stammered.
She curtsied again and she quickly made me some tea-food. It was small slices of bread with meat and cheese. There was meat in it. I paused thoughtfully as she set the 'sandwiches' before me. I'll have you know before this point I was a pure vegetarian. Not wanting to complain about the food though; I ate the sandwich. To my surprise the meat portion was quite delicious. I ate it hungrily with appreciation. I was so engrossed in my food I didn't hear Katsu walk in. Surprise, surprise.

"Ah! Lulu, my dear. I see you are more up to spirits! I told you your homesickness will ware off soon enough." He grinned from ear to ear.

I mentally groaned but graced him with a small, fake, smile. Before I could finish my small sandwiches though I was grabbed a hold of and was planted a wet kiss on my lips. I almost coughed up my food.

"Sayoko, go prepare lunch for Lelouch and I under the gazebo. Please?" He kept up his toothy grin as I lay limp in his arms from shock.

"Certainly, Master Ono." She nodded and went off to do her task.

Katsu held me in his arms as took me out to the garden. I did not struggle.

AN: Thanks frenchboys for the passage from Lulu's book!

Also, I do not have anything against women. I AM A WOMAN. But in this time.. period.. things worked a different way.

Britannia is still a growing country at this time, there are no areas at the moment. The Japanese and Britannia have formed an alliance and they are at peace.

Sorry. THIS IS MY BRAIN CHILD. I couldn't write chappies for my other fics without doing this first.
Sadly.

-Lanna