In love with my nemesis

Olive walked down the aisle with her father by her side. Everything about this wedding screams ridiculous. Who gets married under the moonlight? To the Almond family, the time the wedding takes place doesn't matter as long as their aim is achieved.

"Did you Olive Oscar accept Richard Almond as your husband, to love and cherish him, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for all the days of your life?" The priest asked and Olive took deep breaths in.

She could do this. She could. Five years of marriage was nothing compared to the mission ahead of her. Three days ago, her eldest sister's corpse was brought home. She had lost another sibling yet again, leaving her as the only surviving child of the Oscar family. Getting married to someone she didn't love was nothing compared to getting protection and being alive to get revenge for her siblings who were massacred by the infamous 'M'.

"I do," she responded as she stared at her soon-to-be husband. Under the moonlight, she couldn't see his face clearly. Funny how she had never seen the man she was getting married to before.

The priest repeated the same words he said earlier and Richard responded with a forced "I do." Olive noticed the strain behind the voice which was barely audible and couldn't help but stare intensely at him.

The ring was brought forward as they both exchanged rings under the moonlight.

"By the power bestowed on me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." The priest said and Olive's heart beat louder. The moment she feared was here, and she didn't see herself escaping this phase.

Her eyes scanned around the small guests which consisted mainly of families from both sides before her gaze finally landed on Martin, her guard who she had been in love with for years.

"We will skip that part." Richard said and Olive's throbbing heart finally relaxed. Kissing someone else was akin to cheating on her lover even though he never reciprocated her love for him.

The priest concluded the ceremony and the newly wedded couple left the church to the waiting vehicle.

"Olive," A tender voice called, and she stopped in her tracks as she turned to the source of the voice.

"Don't hold a grudge against us. We did this for your best. We couldn't afford to lose you too." Mrs. Oscar said as she stared at her daughter sympathetic, wishing she could understand that their decision was to protect her.

Olive moved to her mother as she engulfed her in a tight hug. "I know mother, I know. I am sorry for being unreasonable. I promise I will find the murderer and get revenge for my siblings." she said reassuringly, breaking free from the hug as she entered the vehicle to avoid breaking down in her presence.

The ride to Olive's new home was silent, and she was grateful that he didn't start any conversation with her. She blamed herself for being weak and unable to protect herself from 'M' who was massacring the Oscar family forcing her parents to seek protection from the Almond family.

"Madam, we are home." The driver said to Olive, snapping her out of her thoughts. She was lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Richard get out of the car.

"Jerk!" she mumbled under her breath as she made her way to the mansion which was going to be her home for the next five years.

She opened the door and was greeted with flower petals which were thrown at her by the maids.

"Welcome to the Almond family madam." They chorus and Olive scoffed dramatically. Why pretend as if their marriage were based on love? It was a fu*king contract. She gets the protection of the Almond family, and she's in turn expected to produce an heir before the five years contract exclapse.

"Come with me, young lady." Grandmother Almond said as she appeared behind the maids, walking with the support of her walking stick.

The flower welcoming was obviously osculated by her, and no matter how Olive was displeased with the marriage she couldn't disrespect the elderly woman before her as she trailed behind her walking at her pace.

Grandmother Almond led Olive to the terrace as she sat on the only available chair there. "I'm sure you have questions, ask, and I will provide answers to them."

Olive looked at her wearily. What was she supposed to ask? Why did they decide to protect her? Or why she had to birth an heir, which she didn't intend to.

"I don't." she responded a bit rude, not liking the old woman questioning gaze directed at her.

"Don't you want to know why your wedding took place at night?" she asked again, not a bit offended by Olive's raised voice.

Olive clasped her hand over her mouth as an absurd thought ran through her mind. "Had her parents married her off to a vampire to protect her?" she thought before discarding it. Her parents' love was one thing she would never doubt. They won't do anything to hurt her, right?

She finally mustered courage to hear the reason as she asked "why?" in a voice barely about a whisper.

Grandmother Almond cleared her throat loudly, as if wanting her voice to be audible enough to convey her words.

"You see, Richard had been a sweet little boy since he was a child. He has changed since the death of his mother." she paused as she glanced at Olive, wanting to see if she had her undivided attention.

Olive listened to her words keenly, not understanding what his mother's death had to do with him getting married at night.

"He had shut himself away from everyone after his mother's death and his illness had worsened. He's suffering from Porphyria. Please help my grandson overcome his fears, so he could mingle freely with others again." she concluded as she held firmly onto Olive as if she were her Messiah.

Olive took in deep breaths, among the thousands of thoughts that ran through her mind, nothing prepared her for grandmother Almond words.

Her husband was suffering from Porphyria, and she wanted her to help him. She also had her own matters to tend to.

"I will see if I can help, but I am not promising anything." she said to her.

Another task had been added to the one at hand, and she had to accomplish all within five years.