Chapter 4: A Fragment of Her Past
Lesley's Point of View
FLASHBACK:
It was rainy day, when I visited the Paxley household. Funny that I prefer to come at twelve o'clock, at midnight. He doesn't know that I would be coming here, for a surprise visit. It's been a month since we last met, a month before my birthday. And now, it's December 24.
I hope he still knows it's my birthday today. I sighed.
As I stood in front of the large door, I pushed the doorbell.
Yet, no one answered.
I kept pushing the doorbell, over and over again... Still, no one opened the door.
Somehow I felt nervous and I panicked, thinking about Gusion and his whereabouts, since we're together but not officially, I tried to strengthen my guts to barge in.
To my surprise, the door wasn't locked. I continued inside, and there's really no one in here.
But my mind kept telling me there is, to be honest, right now... I really feel something wrong and it tells me not to continue this.
But still, I've made up my mind, I really need to find him.
I looked around the living room, the kitchen, and the dining hall. Still, there's no sign of Gusion. The sound of my heartbeat grew louder and I can now hear it, and it beats so fast that it made me feel sweaty and at the same time, nervous.
I nervously walked upstairs, as I reached to the second floor, I heard a loud, unusual noise. A loud thud, my eyes widen.
I knew someone is in here!
But who could that be?
As I slowly walked closer, I took my sniper from my holster, I don't want to be caught off guard. The loud sound grew as I walked closer.
As I reached in front of a door, the loud sound was now clear. Now that I clearly heard the sound...
I cupped my mouth with my palm.
I hear someone moaning.
From what?
I really had a bad feeling right now, my heart races faster! As I realized that my knees were trembling, my hands were shaking, and something in my chest that made me breathe heavily.
I felt my heart ache badly as I heard someone spoke, it was a voice of a woman.
"G-Gusion, m-move faster,"
As she mentioned his name, my heart broke into pieces, I stared outside the window, besides his bedroom teary-eyed.
"Please, tell me this is only a dream," I closed my eyes as tears began to roll down from my eyes.
"G-Gusion, I-I'm about to..."
"G-Guin, honey, wait f-for me,"
I started to cry as I heard his voice clearly. "I-It was really him," I feel like the world turned its back on me, I lost the sun that shines in my life, I lost the one who could make me feel complete, he left an empty void inside my heart that no one could fill it for me. He's the one made my life complete, then he's also the one who ruined it, shattering my heart into pieces.
I really can't believe that they're DOING IT.
Damn it! Goddamn it!
I pulled my hair out of frustration while keeping myself from crying louder, now I really feel angry so I didn't waste time to interrupt them.
As I barged in, I intentionally slam the door louder 'til the door hit the wall. They were shocked at my presence, especially for Gusion who was staring at me wide-eyed.
Gusion was on top her, cupping her breasts, but then, they realized their position, they quickly sat up with the blanket wrapped on them. They're totally naked and they're sweating, it's obvious that they HAD FUN.
Gusion was still staring at me, speechless, my eyes were obviously puffy, I smiled at him.
"So that's why you were gone for a month, didn't know you two had fun." I sarcastically said, as Gusion quickly wore his boxers and his pants, as he was about to come closer,
"Don't you dare come near me, you truly are a liar." I threatened him as I held my sniper real tight.
Gusion didn't listen to me, he tightly held my shoulders, "Lesley, please... Listen to-"
Before he could finish his sentence, I slapped him in his face hard, that left a mark from my palm, a woman stood up with a blanket, "How dare you!" The woman named Guin said angrily.
"Should I be the one saying this to you, you filthy rich bitch." I eyed at her with my cold glare.
"You don't know me, you poor lady! I'm Guinevere Baroque! Gusion is now my husband, we married today. So tell me, Lesley, who's the bitch here? You are. You look stupid with your eye patch, and you're even a disgrace to Gusion's fa-" I quickly slapped her, causing her to spit blood.
"You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through, while you were just being spoiled by your parents acting like a bitch." I said, from the corner of my eye, Gusion was about to slap me as I tripped him by sliding my right foot front to back.
"You can't hurt her, Lesley!" He said as he looked at me with annoyance.
"So now you're protecting her," I said as I tilted my head.
"He should be! He's my husba-"
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you, you filthy noble. And oh! You were married today, how sweet, congratulations, I don't need to hear your explanation, Gusion. You left my heart like a debris! You left the empty void in my he-"
"I know, I'm sorry, but please Lesley... Hear me out, please." He was about to kneel as I smack his face really hard and he cupped his face with his hands, he's hurt by the smack I gave him.
"You're too late, I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you it's my birthday today, sorry for interrupting your honeymoon, I'm done with you. I should go, farewell."
He was about to catch up when Guinevere held his hands to stop him, "Let her be, at least she knows we were happy with each other." Said Guinevere as she pulled Gusion down to the bed.
I jumped from the window, and it was really high. Luckily, I landed perfectly.
I went to the woods and there I pour my tears and shouting like a psycho, "DAMNIT!"
END OF FLASHBACK:
"W-Woah, Lesley. That was the one of the most heart wrenching scenes," Said Fanny who had tears in her eyes too.
I looked at her and chuckled, "Well, it's been seven years ago, I'm totally fine now," I reassured her by flashing her a smile.
Well, even now, I'm still not fine. After all, he was my first love.
"How old are you before?" Fanny asked, I looked at her and said, "I was 17 before, and now, I'm 24. How about you Fanny, how old are you?"
Fanny pouted, "I'm 26. I'm two years older than you, I feel old," She frowned, I can't help but to laugh, "We're still young, Fanny. Don't worry." Then, Fanny also laughed.
In the end, we're laughing together like crazy. We stopped laughing as Fanny spoke, "Oh, by the way. Do you want to go back inside the palace?" She asked, then I shook my head.
"Maybe later, I'm starting to enjoy here, Fanny." She nodded, "Are you still going to borrow my violin?" Again, she asked.
"Yes, please?" I pleaded as I showed my puppy-eyes, I hope this trick would work!
"Sure, how can I resist your puppy eyes, and I am gazillion percent sure that Granger won't resist you as well," She winked at me, and gave me her violin, then she ran away from the garden.
Seconds passed I've realized what Fanny said, my cheeks getting red and hotter, "H-Hey, Fanny! Come back here!"
I saw Fanny from the distance sticking out her tongue. Argh! That woman!
As Fanny disappeared, I chuckled, "Oh, Fanny." I shook my head in disbelief.
As I started to roam the garden, I decided to play the violin, a little background music would soothe me.
I'm now playing the second movement of Haydn's Clock Symphony as I wandered around the garden.
While I was playing the violin, I stumbled upon the bush, and I fell onto something!
I screamed, as I fell on the grass, I can feel my back ached, "Ow," I hissed as I winced in pain.
"What was that?" I asked myself as I stood up from the grass.
I looked down to-
HOLY MOTHER OF ESTES!
I gasped as what I saw, I don't know why but my heart races so fast! I blushed harder what I saw, I can't believe, I just... really can't believe. I can't help but to feel my heart beating loudly, and out of the blue, I smiled.
God! Who in the Earth made this?
"Whoever you are, I admire you," I mumbled to myself.
Third Person Point of View
Lesley's eyes sparkled, because of what she saw, she held her chest, as she felt mesmerized. This moment is the moment she could never forget.
The thing what she saw?
It's a painting of her, at the gazebo, with lots of beautiful flowers, around the pagoda, where she stood. She was standing facing to the left, and her eyes closed, the pink flower on her hair was also there, and they way it was painted made Lesley to admire the painting, and also the painter.
"N-Never in my life someone will paint my figure on the canvas," She mumbled, as she stared at the canvas with full of admiration.
She can tell, the painter was really skilled, and it was really beautiful. "Well, what if someone admires m-no, no, no. I think I'm being delusional, it's normal for a painter to paint a person as their subject! Geez, Lesley, you're being overreacting."
But, there was an another canvas which she didn't noticed, as she took the other one, she thought that she wasn't being a delusional after all.
It was her, who stood gracefully while playing a violin, the gazebo was also painted, the grass, and the beautiful lake, but Fanny wasn't there.
She remembered when she started to play the violin, Fanny was sitting at the grass, cross-legged, looking at her with amusement.
"Fanny should be there too, perhaps, my guess was right." She tilted her head.
"I should thank the one who painted me," She looked up the sky and smiled, she felt the warm in her heart. And for her, this painting meant a lot to her.
"Good thing the paint is now dry," She chuckled. She took the canvases, then she went back inside the palace.
At the Palace:
Inside the hall, Fanny was having a conversation with the princess, Alucard, Harith, and Tigreal, were there, listening. Except for Granger, well, they don't know where he is or his whereabouts.
"Princess, believe me. Lesley is more than just an average violist! I think we should make a request for her to perform for an intermission number! And besides, today is the Lightborn's first anniversary! We better make this more like a royal grand!" Fanny explained, as all of them agreed.
"Yeah, it would be entertaining. Good idea, dear Fanny! How about if Granger would play a violin with Lesley too? The more the merrier?" Princess Silvanna also suggested.
"I don't think Granger would agree to this," Alucard butted-in, and they all looked at him as if he has a point. Yes, Alucard was right. If Granger was here with them, he would just walkout, after hearing their ideas that would make him annoyed.
"Awww, what a shame." Harith said, then he whined like a boy. "Well, there's nothing we can do," Said Fanny, as she looked down.
"But hearing someone playing a violin would make him go nuts," She added.
"Hey, you're overreacting again, Fanny." Tigreal rolled his eyes, as for Fanny, she made a peace sign and giggled, "Sorry, brother."
As they're busy having a conversation, Lesley peeked through Fanny's shoulders, she still had the two canvases and Fanny's violin inside its case. "A-Am I missing something?" Lesley said as they all flinched upon her presence.
"Oh, Lesley! You were just in time! We were talking about the Lightborn's first anniversary!" Said Princess Silvanna, then she flashed a smile, and Lesley smiled back.
"And today's the first anniversary!" Fanny added that made Lesley in awe. "Wow," It was all she could say.
"And, by the way. We requested you to play the violin for an intermission number. Fanny told me you were more than the average player," Said Princess Silvanna, as Lesley glanced at Fanny who was now smirking at her.
"I-I refuse, I'm sorry princess," Said Lesley as they all pouted and pleaded one by one.
"Please?" Said Fanny.
"Nope," Lesley replied.
"C'mon, pleaaaase?" Harith said as he placed his palms together.
"Still no,"
"Please, miss." Tigreal pleaded.
"I'm sorry sir, but no."
"Please?" Alucard pleaded, while he faked his tears.
"Please, Lesley? We'll do anything," The princess also pleaded.
"I'm sorry your majesty, but still, I refuse."
"PLEASE?" They all pleaded and faked their tears just like Alucard did.
Lesley sighed in defeat as she raised her arms, "Fine, just for once." They all shouted and wiggled their arms in joy! That made Lesley giggled and smiled.
"Wow, since Lesley agreed, we should make Tigreal as a piano accompanist! Since he was the best pianist I know!" Fanny exclaimed and they all agreed.
"So, why don't we head to the music room right now? So that Tigreal and Lesley could start practicing their piece!" Said Princess Silvanna, and they all nodded as an agreement.
"By the way, Fanny, thank you for letting me borrow your violin," Said Lesley as she handed the violin case to Fanny.
"You're welcome, you can borrow it anytime," Fanny smiled with glee.
While walking, Alucard and Fanny were making jokes, since those two were really good at making people laugh, Lesley laughed with them too which made Fanny really happy, since their guest, (Lesley) was satisfied by their company.
Suddenly, Lesley remembered about the painting a while ago, so she decided to tell it to Fanny, she poked Fanny's shoulders, "Yes, what is it, Lesley?" She asked.
Lesley's eyes widen as she presented the two paintings in front of Fanny that made everyone halted, facing to her direction, Fanny's eyes sparkled, "Woah! Did you made this, Lesley?" She asked in amusement, but Lesley just shrugged her shoulders.
"I-I don't know, I just found it beside the bushes, under the large tree, and the tree faces the gazebo," Lesley explained and averted her gaze.
"Someone painted you, and you were on the gazebo, and the other one is you were playing a violin-wait! I should be there too, sitting on a grass! But how come you were the only one painted in there? And, it looked just like you!" Fanny exclaimed as she cupped her mouth with her hands with amusement.
"Of course it looks like her, because it was really her." Tigreal sarcastically said, and rolled his eyes.
"Brother, I mean... The painting really looked like Lesley, perfectly looked like her. Like-some sort of a printing machine!" Fanny said in awe, while caressing the two paintings.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Harith commented.
"I was about to ask, I just wanted to thank someone who painted this." Lesley shyly said as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Looks like you got a secret admirer, lady." Alucard teased, that made Lesley laughed, "A secret admirer? You've got to be kidding me,"
"Well, when it comes to art, none of us were interested, since we don't have that kind of talent," Fanny said, tilting her head.
"Yeah, I know two painters in this empire, and they can never go inside the palace without my permission, and they come here very occasion." The princess also commented which everyone agreed.
"And come to think of it, this kind of professional painting is no an ordinary painter, everyone in here doesn't have a taste when it comes to art." She added.
"But what if there's an outsider?" Alucard asked, that made Fanny furrow her eyebrows.
"Dude, I'm the guard here and I guard this palace twenty-four-seven! I can always feel whether there's an intruder, or not!" Fanny exclaimed.
"Well, if it wasn't the intruder. It may be one of us, but who could that be?" Tigreal asked, that made their eyes widen.
'Well, I do paint, but I don't have an art material.' Lesley thought, then she pouted.
"It wasn't me," Said Fanny.
"Not me," Said Alucard.
"Neither do I," Said Harith.
"I'm not that good at drawing," Said the princess.
"You got a point somehow, brother. If it wasn't the outsider, maybe it could be one of us!" Said Fanny, but she stopped for a while, glancing at everyone, and she added,
"But we clearly know each other! My brother can draw an average, but the problem is he can't draw the nose right. And you, Alucard, you can draw a human too, but you like to draw with their eyes big. Harith loves to draw only a cartooned eye not a whole face, I can draw too, but the problem is I can't draw the hands properly," Fanny explained, and the princess butted-in.
"Yes, and I don't know how to draw so I hired two painters," Princess Silvanna also commented.
Lesley was confused about their conversation, it's the painter that really bothers her, and she can't get it out of her mind.
"But what about Granger?" As Alucard mentioned his name, Lesley blushed, and looked down.
There was a moment of silence, not until Fanny broke the ice between them.
'G-Granger? That would be impossible!' Lesley thought to herself, while she shook her head.
"Dude, never in my life I saw him draw." Said Fanny as she mindlessly shook her head and widened her eyes, while staring at Alucard.
"Me neither," Tigreal and Princess Silvanna both commented.
"Yeah, me also," Harith also commented.
"Me too, y'know, he always sits and stares at nothing, or play his beloved violin when at battle. Sometimes, we don't even know where he is," Alucard stared out of nowhere.
"But he's not here right now, maybe he's at the garden with us the whole time!" Fanny commented.
"But, guys... That would be impossible," Said Lesley, then she gulped, it would be impossible if Granger could be the one who painted her, she only met him a while ago. And she guess it's the same for him.
To her, he's a guy who loses his patience easily, playing a violin as his passion, lurks in the darkness, hunting demons, speaks one word at a time, and with his infamous cold stare. It was her first impression, maybe those impressions would last. As soon as she get to know him.
'Come on, Lesley, he's not even sociable! It would be impossible to know him. Well, it wasn't bad to try, though.' Lesley thought.
But she can't ignore the fact that he's handsome even though half of his face were covered, a scar won't make him look ugly. Thus, it made him look more handsome.
'But what if Granger was the one who owns the two paintings? Geez! I must be out of my mind!' Lesley thought, and she can't help but to blush, and feel her cheeks hotter.
"Well, it's better not to jump into conclusions, we don't have a proof," Princess Silvanna said, then everyone nodded.
"You're right," Fanny and and she smiled.
As they stopped in front of a large door, "This is our music room, come in!" Said the princess as she opened the door. The door creaked, and Lesley can tell that the door is very old.
Lesley was surprised, as the musical instruments greeted her eyes, she felt her heart flutter, especially the grand piano which is one of her favorite instruments.
"Woah, this is amazing." She mumbled to herself, admiring every instrument she saw.
'I missed playing the piano,' Lesley thought to herself while giving the piano a longing look.
"Ehem," As Tigreal took Lesley's attention, standing beside her. Lesley looked at him and smiled, "Shall we start practicing, miss?" He asked.
"Sure," Lesley answered.
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