7: Clouded Moon

“M-m-married?!” Mei stuttered, quickly losing her composure, “but Father, I-”

“Hold your tongue.” Her father interjected sternly. He continued to stare at a pristine stack of papers rather than at his own daughter standing in front of him. “I have not given you permission to speak. Where are your manners? I was told that you excelled in your etiquette class.” He paused briefly for a moment, letting his words sink in. “Yes, as I have just said, you will be getting married around this time next year. The candidate is the son of my good friend and business partner in Japan. He comes from the noble Shijo family, Shijo Hiroyuki, heir to the Shijo enterprises. Like  yourself, he is extremely well-bred. He will be completing his university degree in business at the University of Tokyo this coming spring. There’s no need to make such a forlorn face.” Her father interrupted, glancing furtively in her direction to take in her reaction before returning his gaze to the papers in his hand. “You may think that the age difference between yourselves is great, but in fact, Mr. Shijo is only 17 years old. A genius by all standards.”

Great, Mei thought unenthusiastically, I’m destined to marry a rich and uptight genius at the age of 16. ‘wonder what else my father has in store for me?

He regarded her carefully with a pensive expression before continuing in a softer voice, this time in Japanese. “For the past few years I have been coming and going between England and Japan on many business trips. I have met with and befriended the heads of many world-renowned companies and searched for one with a son suitable to be your suitor. You are my only child and heir to the Yamauchi estate and business.” He hesitated for a moment, “This may sound selfish of me, forcing you into marriage with a person that you have never met before but, believe me, it’s all in your best interest. It’s what your mother would have wanted…”

Mei could draw no connection to how her sudden marriage could be the most beneficial to herself, nor how it was related in any way to what her mother would have wanted, but she didn’t dare voice her doubts for she knew she would be rebuked yet again. Her gaze drifted to the large bookshelf at the side of the room. How on Earth could Father really be saying these things with a straight face? She wondered in amazement.

“Right about now you probably can’t see why I would say that this is all for your own sake,” her father continued in response to her unvoiced question, “I know you’ve lived your past few years… differently from how most people in this world would. Cooped up in this secluded building with only stories of the outside world.”

Mei’s attention snapped back to focus on her father. Was he serious about what he had just said? Her father, noticing that he had just gained her undivided attention, nodded his head with one stiff jerk. “Mr. Shijo will be able to take you away from this house and into the outside world. He can give you many of the things which I have failed to as a father.”

Was that regret in her father’s voice? Mei was taken aback by this sudden unbusiness-like conversation from her father.

“Anyways,” he replied, shifting gears back into an English conversation, “the Shijo family will arrive in two weeks’ time. See that you are prepared and ready to receive your new husband. Carry on with your studies.” After uttering this statement, her father turned his chair to face the opposite direction, signaling to Mei that the meeting was over and there was no chance for debate. Unable to find anything more to say, Mei quickly turned and exited the room.

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