Countess (Count Olaf x OC)

(Unedited)

**Above is the song I imagine Edith plays later in the chapter**

I watched as several of Count Olaf's henchmen came in through the front door with dinner in hand. I was immediately handed the bag and the bald man said, "Go take that to the dining room."

My face stung as a reminder of what could happen if I disobeyed. Although I had just kissed Olaf willingly, I had no clue of how he would act in front of his henchmen. I feared that it would be much more demanding and rude unlike how he acted when the moment was shared between only us two.

I rushed through the messy house and into the dining room; I set down the warm bag of food and began unpacking it. I managed to retrieve plates and silverware and set them at each place in time when the entire troupe had entered the dining room.

"You've done well with this one Olaf," One of the white-faced women said to the Count who watched me as I stood next to his place at the head of the table.

"Yes," The other agreed. "She is much better than those siblings of hers."

"Yes indeed," Olaf told them, heading over to sit in his chair as the others did the same at the sides of the table.

The bald man must have retrieved a bottle of red wine from the Count's stock.

"Edith, go fetch us the wine glasses," The Count ordered me, yet not harshly as he would my siblings.

"Yes... Count Olaf," I added hesitantly before going into the kitchen like he asked, bringing back several wine glasses.

As they began pouring their glasses, I couldn't help but wonder what sort of 'entertainment' Count Olaf had planned involving me.

They began to eat their takeout and I went to go into the kitchen to prepare some sort of dinner for my siblings. I was stopped by Olaf.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked dryly, his liquor obviously already going to his head.

"To make dinner for my sisters and brother," I told him honestly. "They haven't eaten since lunch so they're probably hungry"

"Who cares if those brats are hungry," The Count scoffed. "I promised the troupe entertainment this evening."

"What kind of 'entertainment' were you thinking of?" I asked firmly, ready to know what he was planning on doing with me.

He rolled his eyes. "What did you think I was gonna have you do?" He grumbled. "The piano in the front room won't play itself."

My eyes widened.

Oh...

The entire troupe was looking at me then, all of them showing interest in my talent for piano.

"Go and play for us, dear," One of the twins said.

"Yes, yes, anything you'd like," The other added.

Olaf looked at me as if to say Go on.

"I'd be more than happy to play for you and your troupe Count Olaf," I told him, "after getting food for my siblings. Just a little bit I swear and I will play for however long you want me to."

The Count scowled and I braced for whatever nasty words he might say about my siblings.

I was shocked when instead he replied, "You have five minutes. If you're not back here, your siblings will not get any food tomorrow."

"Thank you," I said, rushing into the kitchen to gather whatever I could for my siblings.

I managed to find leftover produce from our shopping trip yesterday and grabbed a bowl to put it in. I swiftly raced up the creaky stairs of the house up to our shared bedroom where I found my siblings.

"Edith!" They exclaimed.

"What is Count Olaf having you do?" Violet asked.

"You've been gone for a while?" Klaus said. "Has that nasty man done anything to you?"

"No," I lied, ruffling Sunny's little hair. "He's just made me serve dinner. They ordered takeout and had me set the table. I talked him into letting me bring you some food."

I handed the bowl of fruit to Violet who took it gratefully.

"I need to go back now, Count's orders," I joked lightly, although there was no joking matter in our situation.

"Edith," Violet called as I turned to walk away. "Thank you."

I smiled and left the bedroom. I quickly went back downstairs and into the dining room.

The Count and his troupe were finishing up their meal, the former pouring himself another glass of the red wine. His shiny eyes glazed over me as I returned to his side at the head of the table. I saw as he looked down at his cup and at his troupe before making eye contact with me again.

"Edith," He said slowly. "Would you like a taste of wine?"

"No thank you," I declined.

"Oh but I insist," He pushed, leaning forward in his seat. "Just one sip won't do you any harm."

I tried to think of an excuse not to take a sip but as I stared into Count Olaf's eyes, I thought that there was no getting out of this without someone, most likely me, getting hurt.

He handed me his nearly full glass, filled with wine that was the same hue as blood, the comparison making my empty stomach churn. Hesitantly, I brought the glass to my lips and took a tiny sip of the wine.

Olaf smirked at me as I swallowed, the dry wine causing a slight burn in my throat. I returned his glass, butterflies erupting in my stomach and my cheeks flushing as my fingers brushed the cold skin of his.

"Now, the entertainment I promised my troupe," He announced and stood up from the dining room table. The Count's hand went to my back and led me over to the piano in the front room, the troupe following behind us.

I slowly sat down at the bench and looked at Count Olaf; he took another hold of my hair and said, "Play for my troupe, Edith."

I took a deep breath and placed my fingers on the piano keys and began to play.

The piano's music echoed through the airy house, probably being heard from outside. My fingers glided over the keys and in my head, I could see the music from when I first learned the piece I decided to play.

I zoned out the Count, the Troupe, and the situation around me and simply focused on the piano and the music I was making with it. After I let the last chord fade out, there was only silence in the house.

Afraid I had disappointed them, I turned around with an apologetic look only to find them all standing in complete awe.

After they realized how silly they looked standing there with their jaws on the floor, Count Olaf recovered quickly. He offered me his hand and I took it as he pulled me up to stand.

"The dining room needs cleaning," He told me plainly, as if he didn't just find himself amazed by what I had played. "We're off to the theater."

With that, he summoned his troupe who were still dazed and they left the house quickly. The twins whispered their compliments to me as did the person of indeterminate gender. I heard the bald man tell Olaf, "We could use her in the theater."

I stood in the front room and watched as they all filled out the door, Olaf giving me a smirk as he closed it behind him. 

Author's Note: Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know Count Olaf sends the Baudelaires to Justice Strauss after revealing their parts in the play but in this AU, they will do that one day later that way this scene can happen. The next chapter will have more plot but I hope this one wasn't boring. I'll be very busy in the next few days since I'm a musician and have a recital but I should update again some time next week if I don't this weekend!