Setting: The Dining Hall. Time: Dinner the following day.
I was eating. The meat on my plate was strangely crunchy. Bite. Chew. Cut. It was a cockroach cooked in wine sauce. The taste was bitter, but I swallowed it.
"As I told you, Vanitas." My mother said, elegantly cutting her steak. "An invitation arrived from Miss Aurelia of the Aurum family."
I stopped eating. "Who?"
Aretia laughed mockingly from the other end of the table: "It seems his memory is still in the Mountains of Silence with the rats."
"Son, what's wrong with you?" my mother continued enthusiastically. "Aurelia Aurum! The daughter of one of the Three Great Families residing at the summit of Apex!"
Justitia sighed with feigned dignity: "Still devoid of feelings. He smiles at women and forgets their names the next day. I thought the death experience taught him something."
My father tapped the table lightly. "Justitia. We agreed not to mention the incident."
"Sorry, Father." She smiled maliciously.
Otus intervened with a side laugh: "Look who's talking about morals! What a perfect family."
Amidst this noise, my mother placed her hand on my shoulder. "What...? You finished the entire plate!"
I looked at my plate. It was completely clean. Even the sauce was licked off. I didn't feel it. I was only hearing the sound of chewing in my head.
I raised my head and looked at her with complete seriousness, ignoring the taste of insects in my mouth. "When is the date? I want all the information about her. Her name, what she likes, what she hates... and a picture."
...
Setting: The Celebration Palace room of the Aurum Family in the High Orbits District. Time: The night of the date.
"Like that.. harder.. harder." She was whispering, her voice trembling with ecstasy. "Yes.. like that."
I was moving on top of her in a mechanical rhythm, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. There is a small crack in the right corner that needs repairing.
"Tighten your hips more." She requested.
I executed the command. I adjusted my pelvic angle by 30 degrees to increase the pressure.
"Ah.. ah.. ah!" The sound of her breathing was strange, but it was evidence of the "operation's" success.
"What a.." she whispered obscene words unbecoming of a noblewoman.
I thought with interest: Is this real? She is the whore of Apex, she has fucked hundreds of men. Am I special? Or am I just a number?
"You are the best.. Vanitas."
We finished. I put on the mask (The Enamored Smile) before I put on my clothes. I looked at her. Aurelia. Blonde, beautiful, and used by me and those before me, her eyes shining with the effect of the Emotional Narcotic I planted in her, or so I think?
"And you.. you were wonderful." I said in a husky voice (Voice Technique No. 4).
I kissed her. She grabbed my hand eagerly. "I think, Vanitas.. I want to marry you."
I laughed with feigned shyness. "It seems strange, we just met.. but I feel like I've fallen in love with you."
She replied calmly: "And I too. Don't believe the rumors about me, I am not what they say!"
I looked deep into her eyes. I saw nothing but the reflection of my heart. "I believe you, my soul. Whenever you want, we will be one soul."
[Setting: Motus Exemplar's Office]
The atmosphere in the room was stifling, the smell of premium cigars mixing with the scent of Vanitas's tension.
"What did you do?" Motus asked with a clear tone of annoyance, looking at Vanitas as if he were looking at an ink stain on his white shirt.
Before Vanitas could open his mouth to reply, Motus turned sharply towards his wife: "This is why I told you, woman, not to let him go to that girl's party!"
Superia did not hesitate, replying coldly while adjusting her diamond bracelet, as if the accusation meant nothing to her: "Are you throwing the problem on me now?" Then she narrowed her eyes and continued in a toxic tone: "Where do you think your son learned these actions if not from you!"
Motus's face flushed with anger and he growled: "Woman, don't you know how to hold your tongue?!"
Superia ignored his anger, and Motus returned his burning gaze towards Vanitas and shouted: "And you, boy! All the inhabitants of this cursed kingdom know that she is a whore... even the servants have fucked her!" He took a step closer to Vanitas, his voice dripping with contempt: "And you went and fucked her, and you tell me she asked to marry you? Did you fall in love with a whore?"
Vanitas's right hand twitched involuntarily by his thigh. His eyes crawled towards the ceiling nervously, examining the decorations to escape his father's eyes. I don't understand.. didn't he understand my words? I explained to him clearly: she is the one who asked, and whatever he sees fit, I will do.. I am sure I told him this.
Vanitas continued to stare at the ceiling, his mind screaming what it didn't understand: I merely pointed out to him that my marriage to her would be suitable, it would strengthen our relationship with the "Aurum" family,
and they would see us as gods who came to save them from their daughter's scandals.. didn't he hear me?I even pointed out to him that it is a much better offer than the previous offer for that girl from the subordinate family that my mother presented to me before I fled.
A cold drop of sweat slid slowly down Vanitas's forehead. The tension was choking him. "Dad.. it's not like that.. I only see that it is the best option but whatever you see...."
Motus exploded. He slammed his hand on the desk: "The next time you talk to me about this subject, I will cut off your dick from its root!"
Superia flinched and stood in front of Vanitas like a lioness: "What's wrong with you shouting at your son like this?!"
Motus exhaled in disgust, and waved his hand towards the door as if shooing away a fly: "Get out now, boy!"
Vanitas bowed mechanically, his face devoid of any expression: "Yes, sir."
[The corridor outside the office]
A step outside. He closed the door.
Vanitas stood in the empty corridor, his eyes fixed on the bronze doorknob. I don't understand.. what happened? Questions spun in his head like rusty gears. Did I say something wrong? My equation was perfect. This is the first time I see my father like this?
He turned and began to walk. Step. Step. He stopped suddenly.
Something solid blocked his path. A polished white sword scabbard blocked the way before him. He traced the scabbard with his eyes to see "Otus" leaning his back against the wall, looking down at him coldly.
"What is it, brother?" Vanitas asked in a faint voice.
Otus looked at the closed office door, where the echo of their parents' screaming was still audible. "It's been a long time since they fought like this." Otus said in a mocking tone.
Vanitas nodded: "Ah, you're talking about that... even I don't understand what happened inside."
Otus smiled, a sideways smile full of pity: "It is said that the person who causes problems doesn't understand why they happened, because simply.. he doesn't see them as problems."
A heavy silence. Then Otus sighed, and adjusted his stance to face his brother: "You can't just marry whoever you want, Vanitas, and exactly 'Aurelia'. She is famous for being a whore."
Silence. Vanitas stared at his brother's face. Is he lecturing me now?
Otus opened his mouth to continue talking: [Noise] What he's talking about... I am convinced of it. I am completely convinced of his words. There is no need for discussion.
...….. replying to noise. [Sharp noise]
Otus continued talking, his face heated, waving his hand. Then why is he repeating the same words? I am convinced. There are no problems or need for a lecture.
Vanitas speaks ... [Continuous noise]
Vanitas frowned. Is there something beyond my understanding? Did I explain my position incorrectly?
Vanitas moved his lips to reply. Otus replied to him with noise. Vanitas looked at his massive brother. He is intellectually "castrated".. he has no right to lecture me.
Vanitas spoke again. Otus replied with [Noise] followed by spitting on the ground.
(He is the one I hate the most). Vanitas thought with extreme coldness. [Noise] rising from Otus's mouth. (I hate this man in front of me). [Noise]. (A bird has no right to lecture a cockroach).
Vanitas nodded in agreement and muttered words. [Noise]. (I understand). [Noise]. (I told you that I was convinced). [Noise]. (Why do I say I am convinced when I was convinced from the beginning? There is no problem!).
Boom. A swift punch. He didn't see it. He didn't expect it. He felt his jaw dislocate. He fell to the ground, looking up with unfocused eyes. "What...?"
Otus stood over him, wiping his fist with disgust: "You fool.. to this extent.. that whore snake controlled you?"
Otus gave him one last look, full of disappointment, then turned and walked away leaving him behind his back.
Vanitas remained on the ground, wiping the blood from his lip. (I don't understand.. controlled me? I don't think any of this happened. I am convinced by your words from my soul, every mask inside me agrees with your words).(So.. why did you punch me?)
Standing up. He stumbled a little, then regained his balance.
Walking. Step. Crunch.
He looked under his foot. A crushed cockroach. Step. Crunch. Another cockroach.
Vanitas stopped. He blinked his heavy eyes. The cockroaches crawling on the red carpet weren't normal. They were wearing a familiar black and white uniform... very small maid outfits.
Muttering.. clicking.. rustling. Whispering sounds pierced the ringing in his head. Insects whispering and watching him.
He looked away. Tried to ignore it. Just another hallucination. The palace is clean. Keep going. He took a step to go.
But the clicking grew louder. The cockroaches began making more annoying sounds, gathering in the corner of the corridor. And from among them, a massive cockroach advanced, an unnatural size, wearing a stained white apron, and began making a sharp, continuous sound, piercing the eardrum as if laughing with brazen mockery.
Vanitas stopped entirely. The noise in his head stopped. Everything in existence was reduced to that annoying sound.
He walked towards the largest cockroach very slowly. The insect didn't run away, but rather continued making the provocative clicking, raising its antennae towards him.
Vanitas raised his fist... and brought it down.
Boom. Punch.
A warm, sticky liquid exploded onto his hand. But the sound didn't stop. The cockroach was still moving beneath him, clicking.
Another strike. Punch. Punch.
The only sound in the corridor was the sound of the hard shell shattering, and the red sticky liquid splattering, staining his face and formal clothes. Clicking... clicking...
"Shut up." Vanitas whispered coldly.
A deeper punch. The other cockroaches started running wildly in every direction, scrambling to escape the scene, leaving behind the largest cockroach being crushed.
Punch. Punch.
He continued to hit, his bare hands sinking into that disgusting stickiness, tearing the tissues, until the head was completely smashed.
The clicking stopped. Absolute silence prevailed.
Vanitas stood up slowly over the mashed remains, panting lightly. His hands dripping with that warm sticky liquid. His mind was silent. No thoughts.
[Appendix to Chapter Three: The Wreckage of Nobility - Recording of "The Golden Bottom" Tavern]
Time: A week before the meeting (Vanitas/Aurelia) Setting: The Lower City - The Subordinate Nobles' Tavern
Man (A):(wiping beer foam from his beard, laughing with faint hysteria) "I swear to you, 'Roland'.. if someone told me I'd see the daughter of the 'Aurum' family in this state, I wouldn't have believed it. Last night was completely out of control."
Man (B):(shaking his head in amazement) "Don't remind me.. I was there too. Did you see when the four men entered through the side door? She didn't hesitate for a second. The room reeked of sweat and liquor, and she was in the middle.. as if she were directing a theatrical show."
Man (A): "What amazed me was the brazenness! She wasn't even trying to hide it. We were all there, five or six men in the same room, taking turns while she laughed and screamed the same words to each of us. 'You are the best'.. 'I've never felt this before'. Good God, she's a brilliant actress even while drowning in filth."
Man (B): "What's worse is that foolish noble who was waiting at the door to take his turn after us, thinking he was on a 'romantic date'. Aurelia doesn't fuck men, she swallows them to pass her time. She fabricates these 'group parties' to feel that she still has some authority over this rotten society."
Man (A): "Imagine if one of these 'spoiled' little nobles fell in love with her? He would think himself a king, while the truth is that half the palace guards passed through her room that very same night."
Man (B):(laughing with bitter sarcasm) "May the 'Observers' take pity on any fool who thinks he will own a heart auctioned off to anyone holding a bottle of wine and a petty title."