Chapter 7: Lightborn's First Anniversary [1]
Lesley's Point of View
I'm standing at the stage, and the curtains are closed so that we're hidden, Tigreal's with me, "Are you ready, Lesley?" He asked me, and smiled.
"I was born ready!" I confidently said, and smiled back.
"Everyone, let us all remain silent before this party starts, I'm Fanny, and I will be the emcee for today. Good evening to everyone, before the party starts, Harith will be leading a prayer." I heard Fanny as her voice echoed through the sound system.
As I peeked through the red curtain, everyone was silent as Fanny gave the mic to Harith.
"By the way, Lesley, have you met Granger before?" He asked that made me froze.
"I only met him today, why?" I asked in confusion, then he shook his head and muttered nothing.
That's weird.
"Let us all close our eyes and feel the presence of our Lord," Said Harith, then we all did the sign of the cross, and Harith started to pray.
"Lord, please guide us and we're hoping for your presence for our safety before the anniversary party starts. Thank you for guiding us through our countless journeys..." I closed my eyes as I can feel myself tensed, I clasped my palms together, and I continued to listen to Harith's prayer.
As the prayer was finished, "It's our cue," Tigreal whispered as he went to his seat, facing the piano. And I took Fanny's violin from her violin case and I placed the case on the table behind the curtain.
"And now, we're having an intermission number before the party starts. We have Lesley Vance, and my brother, Tigreal Vander as they're going to perform a classical piece called 'La Campanella'." Said Fanny, as the curtains shoved away, we readied our positions, as I gracefully held the violin.
I noticed someone from the crowd staring at me, which made my heart beat fast for an unknown reason, Gusion.
He was here with Guinevere, and the whole family of Paxley and Baroque.
All I need for tonight is to focus on my performance, I was about to countdown, but the lights at the stage, and even the lamppost were turned off. And then, a spotlight appeared above me that made me flinched a little. And it's clearly obvious that I was the center of the attention.
I looked at Fanny who was hiding in the dark, while she's the one who made those kind of stuff, she's in charge of the spotlight that she turned on, "You can do it, Lesley! It's for that damn Paxley and Baroque, wreck them, Les!" She whispered, and winked at me while raising her hand, giving me a thumbs up.
I nodded and Tigreal did the countdown, I positioned myself, "In 3..."
"2..." My heart beats fast as he started to countdown, I feel nervous since we were about to start performing, I calmed myself down as I took a deep breath.
"1..." Tigreal said in a low tone.
I saw him nodded from my peripheral vision, which means he signaled me to play.
As I started to play the violin, I emphatically closed my eyes, feeling the violin on my shoulder, every stroke I made with the bow feels like it brought me back to the days where I performed the violin in front of the audiences since I was a little kid.
As we performed, I can feel the enigmatic presence of I-don't-know-who, but all I need is to focus.
I swayed, and dancing gracefully around while playing the violin, I glanced at Fanny who was in charge of the spotlight, and the spotlight follows me everywhere I go, how I missed this feeling.
Third Person Point of View
Lesley and Tigreal were still performing. While Fanny, was moving the spotlight, following Lesley everywhere she goes.
The princess, and Fanny planned all of this spotlight scene. And there was Lesley, gracefully swaying around, as she noticed something but she can't divert her attention, she focused on the performance.
While they're performing, Gusion stared at her with a longing look. He never seen Lesley looking like this.
Gusion admitted that he was stunned by her beauty and grace, her wavy hair that flows and sways everytime she moves around while playing the violin.
Most of the violin performers, only stood at one place. While Lesley dancing, and swaying around, it was her style of playing the violin, where she can express her emotions freely.
Gusion wondered how she can play the piece beautifully with her eyes closed. "I know what you're thinking right now." Said Guinevere as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"It's been seven years since you last saw her, bur still... you can't move on from her. What about me, Gusion? Now that we're already married, and yet, you're always thinking about her." Guinevere said, and her voice cracked.
"Like I told you, what I did before... It's a mistake. We we're only forced to be married just for the sake of our family's wealth." Gusion said, as he shoved his hair and stared at Lesley with a longing look.
'I can see that you've changed a lot. And here I am, still haven't moved on from the past, missing you.' Gusion thought as he let out a sigh.
"I t-thought you wanted this?" Guinevere said, as she placed her hand on his, holding him tightly.
"For the sake of my family, but to return your love that you gave... I can't. You're the only one who wanted this," Gusion said as he didn't took his eyes off Lesley.
"Why can't you just look at m—"
"Shut up, I don't want to hear anything from you," He said, and that made Guinevere taken aback.
Guinevere did not said a word as she let out a sigh of exasperation. 'Everything I did for him was only a waste... maybe I could find another way,' She thought.
They remained silent, watching at Lesley, and Tigreal who also had a spotlight like hers.
Little did Lesley know, someone was staring at her with amusement and his eyes sparkled. He hid himself behind the crowd, he was standing at the broad, defensive wall of the palace... like a rampart. He can see all the way up where he was...
It was Granger.
Standing under the moonlight, he didn't took his eyes off her, he slowly hovered his face, up to his hair, and down to his ear where she caressed, as he remembered the unbelievable spicy scene inside the palace.
He felt mixed of emotions in his heart, and what bothers him is... The way Lesley looked at her, he admitted that he could feel his whole body burning, and what's worst is: she pulled his necktie closer to her, that he could feel his heart going to explode anytime.
And what made him go nuts, was his body... was pressed against hers, he could feel her hot, mint breath as she leaned closer to him, her smile that made him oblivious what her smile really meant. And her, caressing his face, that made his knees tremble.
That flick on his forehead made him totally embarrassed, and flushed as red as Lesley's hair, and at the same time, he felt amused.
'She's really different,' He thought.
No matter what he does, still, he can't stop his heart beating simultaneously fast as he stared at Lesley. To fall in love with someone, is not what he's thinking right now, but the way Lesley acted to him... was unbelievable, and it made him totally shocked. No one has ever done that to him before.
Somehow, he felt... desire in a different way, not the desire he felt to kill, like how he killed the demons just to make him satisfied... and the other desire, felt somewhat new to him.
Carnal? No... or maybe.
'What the hell are you thinking, Granger? Damn! I must've been out of my mind, ugh!' He thought to himself as he shook his head and sighed out of frustration.
After they performed, Tigreal stood beside Lesley and they bowed with their hands held to each other, all of the guests, gave them a round of applause, except for Gusion and Guinevere.
Lesley gazed at the sky, but her gaze went to Granger who stood at the high wall, that serves as the palace barrier, currently pulling his hair out of frustration, but he stopped as he knew that Lesley was staring at him. He stared back, he thought that Lesley's gonna fluster, and look away from him... instead, she smiled radiantly that made his heart skip a beat, and they made their way to the backstage.
"W-Why are you doing this t-to me...?" He whispered to himself, and he looked at her with amusement.
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Lesley's Point of View
I'm at the backstage with Fanny, I was about to put back the violin inside the case when Fanny called me, "That was splendid you did out there! To be honest, you were full of surprises!" Fanny exclaimed as she hugged me.
I chuckled, and I hugged back, "Thank you, and Tigreal did great too!" I said and I smiled, that made her smiled back.
Harith butted-in, "Sis, you're amazing!" He said as he went closer to me, I hugged him and lift him up from the ground, "Thank you, little brother," I giggled and snuggled my face on his soft, silky, white hair.
I put him down on the ground and chuckled, "By the way, where's Alucard?" I asked.
"I'm right here," I looked behind, and it was Alucard, smiling at us.
"You guys did great!" Alucard exclaimed, and Fanny put her arm on my shoulder, "It's Lesley who did the job well done!" She winked.
Fanny leaned closer to me and whispered, "By the way, when's your birthday?" She asked.
Then I whispered back, I was hesitating, whether if I fake the date or not. I don't wanna lie to her.
I whispered back, "My birthday's today, and I turned 24 this day." Fanny widened her eyes, she took her arm off my shoulders, and hastily ran to the front stage, and took the mic from the speaker.
"Anyways, my dear guests, before we start this oh-so-awesome anniversary party, there is also one thing we should celebrate," Said Fanny, while giving a stern look at the audience which made the crowd go silent.
Fanny stared to jump like an idiot which made the crowd laughed, "We should celebrate the 24th Birthday of Lesley Vance! Everybody, sing!"
Suddenly, Fanny went to the backstage and dragged me in front of the crowd and stared at them wide-eyed, with a smile plastered on my face.
They were all singing 'Happy Birthday' with a happy smile on their faces, while clapping their hands. Which made me teary-eyed, because of joy.
"She says, thank you," Fanny added, and I went back to the backstage.
"Sister, how come you never told us about your birthday!" Said Harith as he frowned and pouted.
"You never asked," I laughed.
"And now, we are going to start the party, here's our beloved Princess Silvanna, for the speech, please give her a round of applause," Said Fanny, as she went back to the backstage.
Princess Silvanna walked to the stage, everyone bowed at her, and she bowed back, and smiled. Fanny gave her the mic, tapping it softly to check whether the mic is defected or not.
"My dear guests, welcome to my humble abode! Here, we will celebrate the first anniversary of Lightborn. And I, Silvanna Lightborn, the princess of the Moniyan Empire, and a founder of Lightborn Defenders, I'm here to announce that PEACE will be brought, with the help of our chevaliers," Princess Silvanna paused, and glanced at us.
"And now, we will have dinner, and a champagne for a toast!" Princess Silvanna exclaimed, as she raised her fist in the air, and the crowd yelled in excitement!
Princess Silvanna was in her armor suit, her lance was with her. And she really looked beautiful! I admire her. I smiled.
"And now, I will present to you, the Lightborn Defenders!" Said Princess Silvanna, as she glanced at the chevaliers beside me.
"Lightborn - Defender," Princess Silvanna glanced at Tigreal, "Well," Tigreal muttered as he went to the stage beside the princess, at the left side, everyone looked at him with amusement, since he was carrying a shield and a sword.
"Lightborn - Ranger," Said Princess Silvanna. Fanny smiled at me, "It's my cue!" She winked and she hastily went to the stage beside her brother. As Fanny childishly waved her hands in the air that made everyone laughed.
Fanny is an ideal comedian.
"Lightborn - Inspirer," Harith beamed at me, "Yay, sis! It's me!" He said, and he happily went to the stage, smiling at the guests. He went beside the princess, at the right side.
"Lightborn - Striker," She said as Alucard smiled at me, and went to the stage beside Fanny, Alucard waved his huge sword and flexing his arm like an idiot, which made everyone laughed.
"And the last, but not the least... Lightborn - Overrider," My ears rang as I heard the word overrider.
His devilishly handsome face appeared in my thoughts, remembering the scene a while ago. His eyes were closed and his lips were slightly parted, and I can feel his chest on mine, and his hand on my waist which made me feel insane!
Why the hell am I thinking about him?!
I pulled my hair out of frustration and stomped my feet like a kid throwing tantrums.
"Mister... Overrider?" She called him once again, and then, there's no sign of Granger. Seconds passed, he came, walking to the stage and went beside Harith. And the awkward silence came in.
He didn't even shot a glance at me, I guess he was back to his old self.
"What took you so long?!" Harith exclaimed.
"Tsk," Granger said as he looked at the audiences with his cold eyes.
"Ahem! And here are the defenders of the Moniyan Empire, please give them a round of applause!" They clapped their hands, and as for the chevaliers, they smiled at them radiantly, and bowed in front of them. Except for Granger who still had the cold stare.
"And now, let us all proceed inside the palace!" Princess Silvanna said, then she went down the stage, causing all the guests to follow her inside.
The chevaliers called me, "Hey, Lesley, come with us!" Fanny said, and winked at me, while pointing at Granger. My eyes-widen. "Fanny," I warned her, then she gave me a peace sign, "Sorry," She muttered, and smiled.
Fanny grabbed my wrists and dragged me with them, "So, any plans for our birthday girl?" Tigreal said, as he looked at me and grinned.
I glanced at Granger, and it seemed that he didn't even payed attention to them, and that was good.
"Drink some champagne," Alucard suggested.
"Play some games!" Harith added.
"Give her some musical instruments as a gift," Tigreal also suggested.
"Or lock her up with Granger in his room." Fanny added that made us all shocked, expect Granger.
We halted and looked at Fanny, wide-eyed. I can feel my eye twitching and glared at Fanny while my face was blushing furiously, I was about to grab the pistol from my holster when she quickly ran away inside the palace.
"GET BACK HERE!" I exclaimed, and Fanny giggled and squealed!
"Yippieeeee!" I heard her annoying voice from the distance. I let out a sigh of exasperation.
Then we continued walking, "That was awkward," Said Tigreal as he scratched the back of his head, "I couldn't agree more," Alucard also agreed.
And we noticed that someone's missing...
We looked from behind and saw Granger was still... standing. His face was still shocked, and I can't tell if he's angry at Fanny or not.
"Let's go, Granger," Alucard caught his attention, he flinched a little, and followed us. As Granger catched up to us, he's walking beside Alucard.
Alucard whispered something that made Granger glared at him, he chuckled.
I wonder what he whispered to him...
Before we could make it to the entrance, I flinched as someone grabbed my wrist that stopped me from walking.
I slowly turned around to see who grabbed my wrist, as I faced someone, I froze. Tons of old memories came back, and flashback into my mind.
He gave me with a longing look, he held my wrist tightly, like the urge of not letting me go.
I stared at him, and my lips curved into a frown.
Of all people, why does it have to be you?
"Lesley, w-we need to talk," His voice cracked, I gave him a cold stare, and I replied,
"Gusion,"
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