Chapter Text
Fourteen-year-old Vincent Fabron stood in the grand hall of his family's estate, a place that had always felt like a fortress of expectations. The polished floors gleamed beneath his polished shoes, and the soft hum of voices in the background felt distant, as if he were already on the edge of a world he no longer belonged to.
He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. His parents had arranged this engagement with the sole purpose of expanding their business into China. It was a union, not of love, but of opportunity. His parents had their plans, and he was merely a tool in those plans. He knew that this was part of the grand scheme—arranged marriages between powerful families for alliances, success, and money.
He looked across the room at his fiancée.
Wei Ling Ying, only twelve, stood awkwardly by her mother, wearing an ill-fitting dress that looked like it belonged to someone much older. She didn’t quite belong here, not yet. Her childish face, framed with long black hair, was still full of innocence and confusion. Her fingers fiddled with the hem of her dress, her wide eyes taking in the grandeur of the event with a mix of awe and hesitation.
Vincent’s gaze narrowed. She looks like a child. This is ridiculous.
Her laugh echoed like a chime whenever she interacted with anyone, but Vincent couldn’t help but feel unsettled. She was too young, too naive. To her, this engagement might be something out of one of those animated romance movies she adored—happy ever after, princesses, and grand celebrations. To him, it felt more like a contract than a promise.
Wei Ling caught his eye across the room and smiled brightly, not noticing the tension in his expression. She had no idea what this engagement truly meant, or how heavy it would weigh on both of them.
Does she even understand what she’s gotten herself into?
Vincent sighed and turned away, the weight of the engagement already settling on his shoulders. His parents wanted this, and for the sake of their business, he had to comply. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.
"Vincent!" Her voice echoed softly behind him, and he turned, expecting to see his parents—only to find Wei Ling bounding toward him, her tiny frame a stark contrast to his tall, more mature posture. She stopped before him, grinning, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I-I’m happy we’re engaged!” she exclaimed, her Chinese accent thick but endearing, the words tumbling out like she had rehearsed them in her mind a thousand times.
Vincent froze, not sure how to respond to her innocent enthusiasm. This is insane, he thought. She’s a child. How can I possibly take this seriously?
He gave her a forced smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yes, of course. It’s… quite the arrangement, isn’t it?”
She nodded eagerly, her wide eyes alight with optimism. “I read in some books that engagements are like those stories where the prince and princess live happily ever after. I can’t wait for us to be like them!”
Vincent couldn’t help but blink, taken aback. He was supposed to marry a child who was envisioning a fairy tale.
What am I supposed to do with this?
He opened his mouth, but no words came. There was a moment of silence, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Wei Ling, unaware of his inner turmoil, continued, “I’m sure we’ll be very happy together, just like in the stories! Don’t you think so, Vincent?” Her voice was filled with such earnest hope, and for a moment, Vincent felt like the villain in a story he didn’t want to be part of.
"Yes," he answered stiffly. "Sure."
But as she beamed at him, a small knot twisted in his stomach.
I’m not ready for this.
Wei Ling smiled up at Vincent, her hands clasped in front of her like a delicate flower, her youthful innocence radiating from every corner. To her, this was the beginning of her very own fairy tale. She could almost hear the soft music playing in the background, the kind that accompanied the princesses in the stories she adored. This is it, she thought. This is my happily ever after.
Vincent, however, was caught in a storm of conflicting emotions. His parents had explained everything to him in detail—the union between their families was for business. They had gone over it countless times, emphasizing how important this engagement was, how it would secure their company’s future, and how his future was tied to it. They even told him to be patient, to smile and nod when Wei Ling got excited about the prospect of marriage.
But Vincent, now feeling the weight of it all, found it hard to muster the same enthusiasm. Every time his parents spoke about it, their voices sounded hollow, full of strategy and calculation, not love.
On the other hand, Wei Ling had been treated like a delicate princess for years, always surrounded by the warmth of her family’s love and admiration. She had been raised on a steady diet of animated movies and fairy tale endings, where love bloomed naturally, where everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Her parents had explained things to her—about the importance of the engagement, the merging of the two families—but it was as if the words had simply gone in one ear and out the other. Her mind had been too preoccupied with the idea of love, the belief that everything would work out because they were meant to be.
Her father had pulled her aside earlier, speaking in serious tones about the future. “Wei Ling, this engagement isn’t just for you and Vincent—it’s for our family’s prosperity. Vincent comes from a powerful family, and this union will help both of us grow stronger. You must remember your duty.”
She had nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with innocent determination. “Of course, Father! I will be the perfect fiancée for Vincent! We’ll be just like the couples in the movies!”
Her father sighed, the burden of his expectations weighing heavy. He had seen how excited his daughter was about the engagement, but he also knew she didn’t fully grasp the reality of it.
But it didn’t matter. As far as Wei Ling was concerned, this was love—she just had to make Vincent fall for her, and everything would be perfect. That was how it worked in her fairy tale, right?
Now, as Vincent glanced down at her, his mind clouded with doubts, she was still beaming at him, unaware of the internal struggle he was going through.
“I’m sure you’re so busy,” she said sweetly, “but I want us to spend time together. We can go on walks and talk, just like the couples in the books. You’ll fall in love with me, won’t you, Vincent?”
Vincent’s heart dropped. She said it so casually, as if the decision to love him was as easy as flipping a page in one of her books. It wasn’t just about spending time together—it was about everything that came with it: expectations, family, and obligations. And right now, he wasn’t sure he was ready to carry that weight.
“Uh…” he started, not sure how to answer. He had to remind himself that this was not her fault. She was just a child who had been taught to believe in the fantasy of love, to believe that everything would fall into place.
“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to… get to know each other,” he said, his tone carefully neutral.
Wei Ling’s smile widened. “Exactly! And after we get to know each other, we’ll be in love, just like the couples in those animated movies. We’ll have picnics, and I’ll wear beautiful dresses like the princesses, and you’ll—”
Vincent stopped her before she could continue down the path of idealistic thoughts. “Wei Ling,” he interrupted, trying to find the right words. “You don’t understand. This… this engagement is about more than that. It’s not just about getting to know each other and ‘falling in love.’ There are responsibilities we both have. We’re… we’re doing this because our families want it. It’s not something we get to choose.”
Her bright expression faltered for only a moment. “But… don’t we choose who we fall in love with?” she asked, her tone quiet, confused. “Isn’t that how it works?”
Vincent looked away, torn between his own discomfort and the sight of her childish innocence. How could I explain this to her?
Before he could speak, Wei Ling’s face lit up again, her previous doubt fading as quickly as it had appeared. “Oh! I get it! You’re just pretending to be serious, right? Just like how the prince in those stories is always cold at first, but he falls in love with the princess later. I’m sure you’ll warm up to me soon!”
Vincent could only stare at her, stunned by her unshakable optimism. She had no idea what she was truly getting into. This wasn’t a fairy tale; this was a business arrangement—a forced future neither of them had chosen.
He sighed, the weight of his thoughts pressing on his chest, but he couldn’t bring himself to break her illusion. Not yet.
“Sure,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, “we’ll see.”
Later that evening, after the engagement ceremony and the countless polite smiles from family members, Wei Ling was sitting alone in the grand hall. Her small hands were still clasped together, but her mind was far from the dreamy world she had been imagining earlier.
Her father had asked to speak with her in private. The conversation started off like any other talk they’d had about her future, but this time, there was an edge to his voice that wasn’t there before.
“Wei Ling,” he began, his tone firm, “this engagement isn’t just about the two of you. It’s for the future of our family, our business. Vincent’s family holds great power in Europe, and this union will strengthen both of us. You need to understand that this is your responsibility.”
She nodded as he spoke, but her mind was clouded, still stuck in the idea of a happily-ever-after, the fairy tale that she had been raised to believe in. Her father’s words were like a distant hum, too far away for her to comprehend.
“Vincent may not show it, but this is important. You must support him, help him in any way you can. Your future is tied to his.”
“Of course, Father,” she said with a cheerful smile, her youthful enthusiasm still alive. “I’ll make Vincent love me. We’ll be like the couples in the movies! He’ll fall for me eventually, just you wait.”
Her father’s sigh was long, heavy with the weight of reality. “You still don’t understand, do you? This isn’t about love. It’s about duty. You must grow up now. This is your future, Wei Ling.”
Her heart raced. Duty? Grow up? The words seemed so harsh, so cold compared to the world she had imagined. She had always thought that love, the kind in her books and movies, would be enough to carry them through anything. But now, it felt as if everything she had believed in was slipping through her fingers.
Wei Ling tried to shake off the uneasy feeling gnawing at her insides, but the truth began to settle in like a weight she couldn’t ignore.
“I… I understand,” she whispered, but it was clear from the way her shoulders sagged and the uncertainty in her eyes that she was far from okay with it.
Minutes later, she found herself in her room, her hands trembling as she packed her bag. The fairy tale had crumbled, and now all she wanted was to escape. She grabbed her belongings in a flurry of motion, tossing them into the bag with the hope that somehow, she could run away from it all.
Her breath quickened as panic began to set in. This is too much. I’m just a child. I can’t be forced into something like this.
She didn’t want to be engaged to Vincent. She didn’t want to live in a world where love was a business transaction, where she was bound by promises she didn’t make and a future she didn’t choose. The idea of spending her life like this, trapped in a contract, made her feel small, helpless.
“No! I’m going back to China!” she muttered to herself, her voice desperate. “I don’t want this anymore.”
She swung her bag over her shoulder and marched out of her room, determined to leave, to go anywhere but here. Her tiny footsteps echoed in the grand hallway as she made her way toward the door, her mind set on escaping.
But just as she reached the front entrance, her plans were halted by a familiar voice.
“Wei Ling?” Her father’s voice was soft, but the weight of it was enough to make her freeze.
She turned slowly, facing him with a look of defiance. “I’m leaving, Father. I don’t want this engagement anymore. I can’t marry Vincent.” Her words were shaky but firm, the decision final in her heart.
Her father’s face softened, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his expression. “Wei Ling, this isn’t a choice. You are part of a much larger plan than you realize. You need to stay and fulfill your duties.”
But Wei Ling was too far gone in her panic. As her father stepped forward, she turned and ran for the door, squealing in her frantic haste to get away.
“Wait—Wei Ling!” her father called out, but she was already sprinting, her feet slipping on the polished floors as she made a break for the exit.
Her movements were so frantic and uncoordinated that she almost tripped over her own feet. She flailed wildly, her bag swinging awkwardly in her hand, as if she were a child caught in a dream that had turned into a nightmare.
She reached the door and tried to twist the handle, but it was locked. “Open! Open!” she squealed, tugging at it with all her might. The ridiculousness of the situation wasn’t lost on her, but the desperation to flee was all-consuming. Her small frame strained against the heavy wooden door, her mind racing with only one thought: I can’t stay here. I can’t marry him. I don’t want this life.
Vincent, who had been passing by the hall, watched the scene unfold in stunned silence. He had been following her silently, unsure of what to do. But seeing her in such a state, hearing her squeals of frustration, he could hardly believe what he was witnessing.
“Wei Ling,” he called, taking a step forward. “Stop, you’re making a scene.”
But she didn’t hear him. Or maybe she was too far gone in her panic to care. With one last desperate push, she flung herself against the door, her foot caught in her own bag as she tumbled forward onto the floor with a soft thud.
She lay there, breathless, staring up at the chandelier above, her chest heaving with the weight of everything she didn’t understand.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, her father stepped forward and bent down to her. “Wei Ling… it’s too late for that.”
But her heart was still racing, and she couldn’t bring herself to stop shaking. The reality of what was happening, of what she had just tried to escape, was starting to sink in—and it felt like the walls were closing in.