It's night time, all the people in Welsterven look up at the night sky; there is something happening on the perturbing night sky without a single star, the moon… there are two of it, people freeze in their spot like a statue, what kind of emotion they felt? It's hard to guess, because in the face of the unknown, humanity might feel both fear and curiosity. Some keep repeating prayers to the goddess while the journalist flashes their camera to capture this rare and mysterious twin moon.
One gentleman with a thick brown coat laying down on a hotel bed looking at the room ceiling like there is something on his mind, the old gramophone beside him suddenly made a noise even though there wasn't any vinyl disk on it.
"It's…you!! The one who stole the flip-flop and the black trousers from my wardrobe."
That gramophone talks! the gentleman swiftly looks at the old gramophone with a bewildered expression, pointing his finger to himself then tilting his head and saying.
"Are you talking about me?...what kind of thing are you…"
"I'M THE OWNER OF THIS HOTEL!! THE SCOTSMAN! THAT'S MY NAME!! YOU DARE TO CAME BACK HERE… YOU THIEF SCUM."
The old gramophone let out a shrill voice while the gentleman frantically held his ears in painful expression.
"HAHAHA…TAKE THAT, THAT'S THE MELODY OF SIREN."
The old gramophone became satisfied when it noticed the gentleman kept rolling on the floor, his hands grabbing the tiny foam earplugs and putting it in his ears blocking the noise completely. He supports himself to stand up by grabbing the tall floor lamp.
"Ughh…that was hurtful…my eardrums… what kind of… melody of siren… you're spewing about…"
the gentleman looks at the old gramophone with a weary face, he can see that the old gramophone calms down then he takes off his earplugs and the old gramophone starts talking again.
"Since you are Sir Herlan acquaintance, I'll let it slide… but if you do that again… I'll bury your body behind one of the walls with black cat painting, kid."
"You know Sir Herlan?... Who is he… I… I seem to forget why I got to know him… am I related to him… were he my relatives or something?" the gentleman asked while rubbing his chin with his right hand trying to recall something but he couldn't. the old gramophone let out a sad melody from its trumpet.
"Oh~no~ you lost your memory~ how did this happened, I'm so sorry~"
"Are you mocking me? I'm serious."
The old gramophone stops his melody when the gentleman glares at its trumpet, his glare looks so scary, with a loud noise of mechanical gears inside the box of it, the old gramophone said.
"There is something wrong inside you kid, I can feel it… since I became like this…I became one with this building through my soul, I am the victim of project sacrifice to speed up the progress of this building…you are experiencing the same thing as me, your soul merged with something… did you recall what was it?…forget it you can't remember it anyway… to put it simply, your body right now is akin to a lifeless doll, that's why you didn't have memories…your soul is gone."
The gentleman stumbles back to the edge of the bed… his soul is gone?... why? He didn't do anything though, but at least he remembered his name Vendetta, no… was it Vendetta?... he didn't know, he decided that it's best to ignore it. Then he looks at the old gramophone once again.
"Owner… Sir Herlan told me to rest here…can I stay? I promised I will not steal anything again." Vendetta begged and even drop to his knee to the old gramophone, soon the old gramophone let out a happy melody like welcoming a person as the tone of its voice changed to marry happily.
"Welcome~ to The Scotsman!!"
Vendetta look at the gramophone again with deadpan expression then the room became silent, he approaches the chair near the window to see the outside from his room while sitting on the chair, then he saw it, on the night sky without a single bright star… there are two moons.
"What a beautiful night…"
Vendetta said, while supporting his chin with his right hand, suddenly an image of someone pop up in his mind, a face of a blind young lady with scar on her face, her lush messy brown hair, somehow that's the only thing that made him feel at peace, is it because she is the first person he saw after waking up… he didn't know, it's like that young lady seems special to him.
"I didn't even know her name… tomorrow I should ask for her name…maybe she will be at this The Field club place…" said Vendetta as he pulls out a shining card from his pocket, looking at the shining card, Vendetta seems to have a feeling, like he forgot about things he was supposed to bring with him.
"Forget it…maybe it's not important that I didn't remember what it was." Vendetta decided to put aside the thing that is bothering him while admiring the view outside.
As the twin moon shining brightly on the night sky, illuminating Welsterven street effortlessly, could it be a sign for something?, still the unknown made humanity felt both fear and curious.
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At the same time…
Police Headquarter, it's a big dark blue three-story building with police badge of star as a symbol and the letter Police Headquarter on the top of the building, located in the Royal area, whereas a lot of high-class society resides in, such as the aristocrats and the royal families, to enter Royal area you need to go through a strict identity verification by showing your citizenship card or a permission permit card to enter, you didn't need to go through that if you are an aristocrats or one of the royal families, it was a death sentence if you get caught impersonating aristocrats or the royal families.
Inside the Police Headquarter, in a small office. The room is neatly organized and pristine clean, on the table there is a name card with the name Supt.Bobby G Bee written on it.
A man looks at that name card with deadpan expression, he is Herlan Rewead, he's been here for many hours now to the point he arrived here in the early evening now it's night time.
"Bob, do you really don't know what Antonio's activity now?" asked Herlan, shifting his focus from the name card to an officer with fat belly and cheeks, his curly short black hair and his hand grabbing a donut, his mouth busy munching those sweet delicacies.
"I told you already…mhhm.. that… he is laying low…mhhm…Antonio." said Bobby while eating the donut, Herlan forced a friendly smile when he sees Bobby attitude to him, Bobby didn't bother to tell Herlan what he knows, it's like he intentionally kept all the important data to himself for his own benefit.
Fat bastard, I've been here long enough and I didn't get a single information from him! That's what is in Herlan 's mind as he keeps forcing that smile to Bobby, he keeps eating that donut ignoring Herlan's sarcastic smile.
"Then how about the Doc- "
"HEY, IS THERE ANYONE OUTSIDE?, I'M RUNNING OUT OF DONUT!" Bobby shouted as he slammed his fist to the table, he finished eating a carton of donuts. Now he is mad because he is running out of donuts. Soon one officer came into his room.
"Buy me a carton of that donut again, I need it for my guest here, he is Herlan Rewead, The Watcher, one of the important people from the church."
"Sir, yes sir." said that officer as he closed the door of Bobby's room, then Bobby looked at Herlan again with a mouth full of sprinkles and chocolate.
"Did you say something, Herlan?" Bobby asked as he licked his fingers, Herlan on the other hand clenched his fist in secret, the longer he is here, the more his sanity runs out looking at this fat bastard in front of him that is always eating, he can't do this anymore.
"Nothing… it seems I have taken your time for a while now… I need to go home… it's already night, good night Bob" said Herlan while getting up from the chair, Bobby looks at him with pitiful eyes.
"Are you sure? I don't mind your company with me… I usually have a late-night shift, so I don't mind having some friends to entertain me."
"No, you had important work after all, you've become superintendent so I can't bother you more than this, now excuse me."
"What a pity really, we'll see you again my friend."
Herlan went into the doorknob to open it when suddenly a man with long blonde hair, blue eyes that look like a clear blue sky, a face that excluded charming and kind aura, he was wearing a royal garment stood there while smiling in front of Herlan. Herlan immediately drops to his knees, because the person in front of him is the prince of Welsterven, the candidate for the next king in the election, Alexander Ashford.
"I didn't expect to see you, your Highness, Alexander."
"Oh, if it isn't Sir Herlan, it's such an honor to meet you, The Watcher…that's a cool title they gave it to you, how is Pope Benjamin been doing?"
"Pope Benjamin is doing great, he is back to the church now, you can visit him if you need to ask for the goddess teaching if you had some spare time, your Highness."
"I see… but it will be hard, the election is near so just pass my regards to Pope Benjamin, sir Herlan."
"Thank you for your grace, your Highness, I think Pope Benjamin will be happy with that, now excuse me."
Herlan went out from the small room leaving Alexander and Bobby in the room, but Herlan conjured his silver cane in secret, the four little hands at the cane gives Herlan a red tiny ball, then he threw it at the corner of the room, the trash can, finally he closed the doorknob with a smile.
"To think your Highness, Alexander, personally came to my office, what do I need to serve you my prince, protection? data of someone?, you name it and I'll do it." Bobby said that with a grin on his face that made all the sprinkles drop to his table. Alexander, who saw it can't help but give Bobby a disgusted look, looks at him, then he sits at the chair in front of Bobby's desk.
"Wipe your mouth with something first, no, I don't need protection, I need something… a data paper for all the prisoners from lowly crooks to the one who is on the death-row list, I want all of it." Alexander said, his hand clasped in front of his body on the top of the table. Bobby, who heard that, can't help but widen his eyes, but he needs to keep calm, resisting his trembling body because the request of the person in front of him is dangerous. What will he do to it?, for what?. Royal families sure have an unfathomable way of thinking.
"That's… too dangerous, your Highness, what did you want to do with that data?...i can't do it… the risk is too great." Bobby said that while wiping his mouth with a white handkerchief and that handkerchief became dirty with sprinkle and chocolate, then he threw that handkerchief to the trash can, Alexander on the other hand, he had a warm and kind smile then, he coldly said.
"Are you sure?, you know I had an evidence that you've been working with The Sanctuary and took a hefty amount of money from them as a protection fees, you sure are a hard worker officer, Bobby~" Alexander said it with playful and sarcastic tone, Bobby on the other hand, cold sweats starts pouring from his face, his fat body is trembling now, his face turned into pale, he grit his teeth and get up from his chair then grab Alexander cloth.
"YOU DARE!! YOUR HIGHNESS I WAS THE ONE WHO COVERED UP YOUR DRUGS CONSUMPTION AND I EVEN DELIVERED IT TO YOU AND I'VE DONE MANY THINGS TO COVERED UP YOUR RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR IN THE BROTHELS AND BARS… THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY MY KINDNESS?"
Shouted Bobby with his eyes that seemed to pop up from his face, his forehead veins that seemed bulge, Alexander who saw Bobby in this state couldn't help but chuckle, a wide grin appeared on his face.
"People say that life is like a piano, to create a beautiful melody you need to press the white tiles and the black tiles, you're saying that you didn't want it?, why? If you give me the data, I'll give you a higher position than this Bobby…if you don't want to… Antonio will turn you into a piano, a human piano with black tiles. Hahahaha"
Alexander laughed while grabbing Bobby's uniform with his hand. Both Alexander and Bobby grabbed each other's clothes, Alexander 's erratic laugh made him look like a maniac. Bobby shuddered and released his grip and stumbled back to his chair with blank eyes.
"Antonio…That Antonio… Antonio Del Sanctuary… he is moving again…Your Highness… why…" Bobby keeps muttering why Alexander fixes his garments and sits back looking at Bobby's pitiful state he said.
"Didn't you know it already?... one officer broke the truce in the slums area, apparently, one member got killed by him and even the perpetrator of the burning church incident got revealed, I met up with Antonio in my favorite bar, he threatened me while saying that if he didn't get a data of criminals lock up in the prisoner, he will throw me to jail, and you will be executed because you are an accomplice with many gangs in the slum, he said that he is searching for something… I didn't even know his reason for saying that to me…but… he promised me that he will help me to ascend to the throne if I get him that data… you know how happy I was when hearing it?, you must help me too Bobby."
Alexander plead to Bobby in sincere voice while looking at Bobby who is lowering his head and cowering in fear.
That inspector!!! Morgan Jester!! He was the one who disturbed Antonio's peace!!Herlan said he will look for a newbie inspector, but he brings bad luck to us. I'm the one who blatantly said that the perpetrator was captured by me…what should I do?... I didn't want Antonio to hunt me… fuck it…there is no turning back now…
"Alright… here this is all the list of criminals being locked up in the prison… give this to Antonio, hurry."
Bobby has given up, he is giving a thick sheet of paper from his working cabinet to Alexander, Alexander took it and turned the page one by one until he was satisfied with the authenticity of the data. A warm and kind smile appeared on his face.
"Nice, with this I will be the king of Welsterven, my father nominated another person too but the house of parliament didn't like my father's choice, he was an illegitimate child after all, my dear stepbrother, William Feld."
Alexander lips curled up while reading the list of criminals on his hand, Bobby who heard this only nod his head, he didn't want to mingle with Royal families business anymore, he is in the bad position by choosing a side with this mad man Alexander, but he is also the only person that will guarantee his own safety and future, he can't help but swallowed this bitter fate. Suddenly a loud voice comes from the outside.
"DONUT!!!, OFFICER YOUR DONUT IS HERE… HELLO, I'M GERARD, I GOT YOUR DONUT WITH ME, HELLO."
Bobby and Alexander looked at each other, Alexander shrugged his shoulders and let out a long sigh, he got up from his seat followed by Bobby only to find Gerard, the delivery man soon greets everyone with his contagious smile, he didn't know the person in front of him is prince Alexander, he noticed that Alexander is holding a thick paper.
"Oh, I'm sorry gentleman, I didn't know you're at work, I'm so sorry, I'll just drop this donut here."
Gerard dropped two cartons of donuts near the door, Alexander smiled a little when he saw the flustered Gerard, grabbing his tense shoulder, Alexander said.
"Thank you for your Donut sir, how diligent of you, you're working until night, please have a rest."
"Oh, this is nothing for me sir, hahaha, I even got 9 golds from a kind gentleman this afternoon, so i'm just helping my wife by selling this donut, she opened a donut small store near the entrance of the Royal area, and everyone love the donut she made, but it's not enough for our life, we need to pay for the rent, food and the education cost for our daughter, I ended up working as horse carriage driver to support my family economy."
"I see… it's nice to meet you sir Gerard, but I need to go now, excuse me, oh and Bobby, you don't mind if I take one of these delicious donuts don't you?" Alexander smiled, deliberately putting on a warm and kind face, then he snatches one carton of donuts, and leaves without waiting for Bobby to reply.
"He is a kind man, I hope he becomes our next king." Gerard wished, Bobby got shocked when he heard that, is this man crazy?... he can't picture a kingdom where Alexander is the king, it's bound to be ruined, but he didn't care, he looked at Gerard and said.
"Be careful with your mouth, if you don't want to end up getting swamped in the Royal politics scheme."
Bobby's warning made Gerard tremble, he didn't mean it that way. It's just what his impression of that blonde gentleman is. He is just a commoner, he didn't want anything bad for his family. Bobby took the carton of donuts, and he looked at Gerard then said.
"How did you enter this Royal area? You're not a noble nor a royal family aren't you?"
"W-what no sir, I am not, one officer gave me this permission permit card so I can enter this royal area, after that he told me to deliver it to police headquarters."
Explained Gerard while showing his permission permit card, Bobby nodded his head, and told Gerard to leave.
On the outside near the police headquarters, Herlan clicked his tongue because he didn't see quite enough. He saw Bobby widen his eyes after Alexander said something, then a white handkerchief hindered his view.
What could it be that made that fat bastard behave like that, something… Alexander is planning something… and Antonio…could it be that both of them are in cahoots?...that's possible, since Alexander needs a reliable backer for the election for the new king.
That's what in Herlan's mind while he is rubbing his chin, he gets up from his place to go home, looking at the night sky without a single star on it and the two moons, the twin moon.
"What an eerie night…"
Herlan said as he walks through the dazzling streets full of people with fancy clothes and steam powered cars on the main road, one thing that is clear to Herlan is, he felt fear during this night, it's like a calm before the storm, a daunting melody before tragedy unfolds.
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A warm morning sun light pierce through a small room, on the bed there is a young lady in her pink pajamas, her messy wolf white hair, her white appearance from head to toe, she is Silvie, her eyes twitch when the sun light hit her face, then she stretches her body.
"Morning, Silvie."
Said a red velvet haired young lady on black tank top and blue jeans. She has a face with freckles and a cute tiny nose. She is reading a newspaper while sitting at the edge of her bed. She is Velvet. Silvie let out a long yawn when she noticed Velvet.
"*Yawn… Morning Big sis Velvet…what are you reading?" Silvie asked while scratching her hair and her neck, Velvet looked at Silvie and a smile appeared on her face. She showed the newspaper to Silvie.
"Look at this, Silvie!. Yesterday there is a sweet couple that succeed capturing the heart of the people…people marked yesterday as Valentine day, it means a day where you showed your loved to your loved one." said Velvet with enthusiasm, Silvie looks at the large picture on that newspaper, the picture depicted a person giving a princess carry to a young lady while running on the street, Silvie got fascinated with it.
"I see… that was a nice picture… is that all?" Silvie asked, she wanted to look at more news since Velvet has a newspaper and she's been reading it when Silvie was still asleep. Velvet flipped the next page of the newspaper and showed it to Silvie.
"The next is a rare and mysterious phenomenon called the twin moon. It was when there were two moons in the night sky. It happened yesterday too at night… I witnessed it with my own eyes, this is not a made-up story Silvie." Said Velvet with serious face to Silvie saying that she is not lying to her, Silvie looks at the picture, and the picture depicted two moons next to each other like eyes, this picture is different than the previous one, what Silvie felt when she saw this picture is curiosity, since she is now learning many knowledges she was aware of planetary movements and astronomy, she ponders when she sees this picture while rubbing her chin.
"Hmm…this is a new phenomenon, I didn't read anything about this in an astronomy book… what could it be… a sign for something?..." Silvie said in a low voice, Velvet who noticed her soon folded the newspaper to a rod shape and whacked Silvie's head, Silvie let out a cute noise.
"Go and take a bath first, you stink, Silvie…today is our first class and we have 20 minutes left before the Monday first class begins." Velvet said that to Silvie and pointed to the bathroom telling Silvie to take a bath, Silvie made a sullen face and nodded her head while guarding her head. She didn't want another smack on her head, so she entered the bathroom without saying anything.
"She even forgets her uniform…*sigh, SILVIE!! I'LL PUT YOUR UNIFORM NEAR THE BASKET CLOTH NEAR THE BATHROOM OKAY?" Velvet shouted to the bathroom, then she heard a shouting voice from the bathroom, a loud okay voice indicating Silvie understood.
Velvet opened Silvie luggage, in it there is a silver rapier, a couple of underwear, two sets red and black uniforms, a vintage camera, and many pictures of nature, but Velvet noticed something there are two pictures which is not a nature portrait, it was a picture of person and two-person picture. Velvet widened her eyes when she saw these two pictures because she knew these people, it was a picture of Morgan Jester smiling and waving at the camera and a picture of her and brother Timothy when she was celebrating her 7 years-old birthdays in the past.
"H-huh?... Why is Silvie having these two pictures?...and didn't this picture get burned because this picture is always with brother Timothy if I'm not wrong, did he give it to Silvie?, but I don't remember brother Timothy mentioning Silvie before…"
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Velvet looks at the picture, she feels nostalgic for some reason, this picture is the only thing she had to remember her past, a smile appeared on her lips, her eyes starts to get watery, but she quickly brush it off, she can't be crying right now, because today is her birthday, her brother will be sad if he saw her crying, as she saw her reflection on this picture as a happy little girl who is hugging a teddy bear with a bright smile on her face.
"Big sis Velvet, where is my uniform?."
Silvie approached Velvet who is sitting on Silvie's bed, Silvie is standing there with a wrapped towel on her body, she notices Velvet looking at the picture, a smile appears on Velvet's face when she sees Silvie.
"Silvie… thank you… this picture… br- Timothy… give it to you didn't he?" Velvet said in a low voice, Silvie nodded her head and took her uniform and wore it after she finished, she grabbed her books, and went into the doorknob before she left.
"Happy birthday, Big sis Velvet."
"Thank you, Silvie."
A smile appeared on Velvet's face once more, but this time, it was perfectly aligned with the morning sunlight. Silvie too smiled when she saw this and closed the door. Seeing a person smiling is the same as hearing a beautiful melody from a musician, it can bring you happiness within.
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It's afternoon time…
Vendetta went into the royal area wearing a simple white shirt and black trouser, this time he didn't steal it, the owner, The Scotsman give him that shirt and black trouser as a souvenir, since it already punished Vendetta action and also because Vendetta asked nicely to The Scotsman to give him some cloth, looking at his simple white shirt, Vendetta smiled, is it because of this shirt? no, it was something else, today he is planning to meet that blind young lady with lush messy brown hair and a scar on her face, his heart beats faster every time he thinks about her. Maybe it's love, maybe it's limerence, maybe he is too dumb to know the difference.
Vendetta stops at the royal area entrance, located not far from the hotel, The Scotsman, where he sees a row of people who want to enter from a person wearing formal outfit to a merchant with their goods at horse-carriage or renting a taxi to carry it. As usual the crowds become stunned when they see Vendetta's good-looking figures, some of them bump at each other because Vendetta looks mesmerizing, especially with a smile on his face, that smile, that damn smile.
The crowds soon split into two, they decided to give Vendetta a way, a royal way even the officers didn't need to check his identity nor permission permit card, they thought Vendetta is an aristocrat, but there is something else that excluding from him, the crowds felt it too, that the person in front of them, he is too humble, he is the true embodiment of a noble person, his warm smile and the way he dress even though he is a noble, an aristocrat, he didn't point nor yell at the crowds of commoner, he even waves at them and shake off hands with other who want to do it, a true gentleman.
Vendetta went into a club in the royal area, he noticed it easily after he pass the entrance gate because it was too fancy and people keep swarming to that place like a moth chasing after the light, Vendetta stand near that building, a golden three story building with big sign in front of the building, it says gentleman club The Feld, Vendetta can't read what it says but he thought he is in the right place when suddenly, a blonde haired man shouted to him in front of that building.
"Mr. V!! here, here. "
Said that blonde haired man waving enthusiastically with a smile on his round face, Vendetta approached him, and showed him the shining card in his trouser.
"Are you Mr. William… is this where I supposed to use this card?"
Said Vendetta while looking at William and the building behind him, the crowds look at them and murmured, they can't believe that the owner of The Feld gentleman club, William is giving a warm welcome to a stranger that looks like a commoner, in royal area.
The Feld gentleman club is a hotspot place for the highest status person, usually a successful businessman, an actor and actress, a member of house of parliament, even the royal families came to the Feld gentleman club as a destination place and a place where they can have fun, the owner of the Feld, William, rarely gives a warm welcome to a person other than his daughter and his son, even the prince, Alexander Ashford didn't get this kind of hospitality from him.
"Hahaha, you're right, welcome to my club, Mr. V, how is it? Did you want anything?, a movie or theatrical performance?, a bar?, high class restaurant?, shooting activities?, cards?, all sorts of entertainment are available in my club."
Said William while escorting Vendetta to enter his club, he closed the door so that no one can enter it, a lounge of red rose couch, white wallpaper wall and a painting of waterfall that's what he saw, a scent of expensive perfume greeted his nostril, a fragrance of Bulgarian rose, both of them sit at the red rose couch, Vendetta nose twitch when he smelled it, William who noticed this asked Vendetta.
"What's wrong Mr. V?"
"Hmm… I noticed you use a strong scent perfume for this place, well… my nose can't handle it… I'm sorry"
Vendetta said that while covering his mouth and nose, William rubbed his chin and nodded his head when he heard this.
"So, you too can notice it huh?, this is my concern of this place whether I should use a strong perfume scent or not, most guest didn't even bother but I think they are purposely didn't want to say it, thank you for your honesty, Mr. V"
William said that while lowering his head like a manager that apologize to the customer, Vendetta told him that it was nothing, a smile appear on William face.
"So, what did you want to do? We have many interesting things here. Now that my children are in the academy I can't help but feel lonely in this big and shiny place…sigh… even though I have so many acquaintances… They just want to spend their money here. Money isn't what I need right now…"
William said with a melancholic expression on his face, his gaze fixated on that waterfall painting, Vendetta who noticed this asked William.
"That painting… is it from someone?…it didn't fit in with this kind of place…"
"Hahaha… of course it's from someone… that's my wife painting…she has a hobby of painting, there are tons of her paintings in my house, this one is her first painting…isn't it looks bad compared to other masterpieces you saw Mr. V?"
William said with a bittersweet feeling, it's like there is a story behind this painting, Vendetta went silent for a moment.
"Forget about it Mr. V you didn't come here to look at mere painting didn't you? beside this painting its... "
"It's a beautiful painting, Mr. William."
Vendetta blurted his thought, cutting William's words. His eyes fixated on that waterfall painting, William widen his eyes when he heard this, how long is it that someone made a comment like that about her wife painting, usually all the people who come in here just saying, it's an ordinary painting, or even saying with a mocking laugh it's an ugly painting. But this man, this man with a simple white shirt, black trouser and white flip-flop said that, a smile appeared on William's face.
"I wish my wife was here, I bet she will be delighted to hear that Mr.V." William said, he let out a long sigh and shook his head.
"Where is she now?" Vendetta asked William about his wife, but what greets Vendetta is a warm smile from William, a silent descent to the lounge and then William said.
"She's… in a better place than here, where she can paint all the time, hear all beautiful melodies and eat delicious food." William said he didn't notice that his eyes became watery, he quickly brushed it off with his fingers.
"I'm sorry… Mr. William, I opened up your old wounds." Vendetta said with pitiful eyes, he didn't know that the full story was like this, William laughed it off while rubbing his eyes, he laughed to hide his sadness.
"Hahaha… that's fine, Mr. V how about I show you my shooting area activities since you didn't know what to do…" said William, he get up from his seat and went to the waterfall painting, then he presses a red button behind the painting, there, a hidden staircase shows up replacing the couch.
"That's cool… alright I'll come to see this shooting area activities." Said Vendetta with a fascinated face after he witnessed that cool secret mechanism in this place, William laughed out loud when he saw Vendetta became fascinated like a child.
William guides Vendetta to the basement level where there is shooting area located in it, a vast place with lots variety of guns and swords, there is also a shooting practice dummy and a place to shoot, the area was a makeshift one, Vendetta can see the walls roughly made by using metal and copper, a strong scent of rusty iron and the smell of gunpowder greets his nostril, William raise both his hand to welcome Vendetta.
"Welcome to probably my favorite place… I really love guns you see, they are simple, didn't eat much space except for rifle, sniper, and machine gun, when Dr. Benedict Devlyn introduced the concept of gun, all the blacksmiths in Welsterven became wild, some refused the idea of switching it from the old regular swords, rapier, great sword… the blacksmiths split into two branch because of that, those who works on gun is called The Arms while those who works on swords is called The Steel, how about you try to shoot using this little boy."
William hand over a flintlock pistol to Vendetta, he explained how to shoot, the correct positions and how to reload it, Vendetta can't hit a single target after practicing for an hour, he is about to give up and abandon the idea of using a gun, but William keeps encouraging Vendetta he even said this to him.
"Remember Mr.V, if you want to shoot a target, you need to focus on it, throw away the negative thought like 'what if I miss this shot?, what if the target is too far?,' all you need to think is to pull the trigger and prepare for the next shot by reloading… and my last lesson… remember that switching a weapon is always faster than reloading, that's why the military didn't protest it when there is a gun even though we already have a sword… it adds more variety and increases the odds to survive after all."
Said William in his instructor tone, he handed over the flintlock pistol again to Vendetta after reloading it.
"Understood, Mr. William."
Soon Vendetta did the correct posture and hands position then he focused fully on the target, he took a deep breath and emptied his thoughts, his point finger felt the sensation of the trigger, then he pressed it.
-*Bang
"Congratulations!!, Mr. V, now you're an official marksman… hahaha." said William while clapping his hands and laughing at Vendetta shooting result, it was a clean, perfect headshot, keep in mind that an hour ago Vendetta is a complete newbie to the point that he positions the pistol pointing at him not the target and after an hour of intensive learning from William, he became a full-fledged marksman.
Vendetta looks at the target that has a hole on its head area, he can't believe what he sees, he really succeeds, he looks at the flintlock pistol on his hand while trembling, this is quite fun that's what is in Vendetta 's mind. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at William and said.
"Thank you for teaching me this Mr. William."
"Don't mention it, think of it as my gratitude for your praise over my wife's first painting back there."
Said William, then he tidying up the place and putting all the guns to its place with Vendetta helping him, Vendetta noticed something about William, the fact that he really loves his wife.
"It seems you really love your wife Mr. William, how did the two of you met?"
Asked Vendetta with curiosity, William tilt his head when he heard Vendetta question then burst out laugh, then he sit at the wooden stool and gives another wooden stool for Vendetta to sit on it too.
"Hahahaha… how should I tell you, ah yes… we first met at the plaza, near the water fountain, ironic isn't it? My soulmate is a commoner while I'm a noble, and let me tell you this secret Mr. V… I'm the king illegitimate child… I was so sick in rural area that one day I decided to run away and I ended up at the water fountain, and then I met her sitting alone while painting at the scenery she saw, we became closer since I come to the water fountain every day and I even waiting for her even if it's rain or snow… I'm a man who can't be moved back then… and before I knew it, I was proposing to her… and we got married, it was perfect, a happy and wonderful life, one I could hope for, we even got two lovely children, Luis and Margarett, but one day she fell ill and each passing day it keeps getting worse until she needs to be supported to even stand up, and she passed away doing what she loved the most, she was died sitting on that stool you sit on it while painting a picture, our family picture, only my portrait, a picture of me, unfortunately she didn't complete it so, only my picture that didn't have color."
William said with a melancholic tone, Vendetta nod his head throughout listening, and silence descend the room, then William continued his speech.
"And her name is…Evelina"
Said William, his lips curled up when he omitted his beloved wife's name, his soulmate. Vendetta felt an immense sadness of longing and a sense of someone who lost his happy melody, a white tile in a grand piano called life.
"I think I need a moment for myself, Mr. V do you mind?, oh and you're welcome to come here again tomorrow, I will promise to take you to the famous theatrical troupe of my club tomorrow"
Said William while rubbing the flintlock pistol with handkerchief, Vendetta nod his head and said.
"Understood, see you again, Mr. William and thank you for everything you've done today."
Said Vendetta while William just waving his hand to him, Vendetta decided to give some time for William to proceed his emotion, having heard William story, Vendetta decided to go to the plaza, a place where there is a water fountain, maybe the young lady she's been eager to meet is there, just like William story.
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Vendetta left the royal area and went into the plaza, a place with water fountain, he seems to recall that he was once visited that place, but he can't remember why and what did he do there, he let out a long sigh, looking at the steam-powered cars transportation service called taxi and the people walking leisurely across the streets and near him, of course they are stealing a glance to see Vendetta's face.
After walking for quite far to the point that it's now early evening, Vendetta finally arrived at the plaza, he felt tired, but soon all his tiredness vanished when he saw the blind young lady with lush messy brown hair sitting at the bench near the water fountain, his heart beats faster when he saw her, he unconsciously smiled when he saw her, time seems to stop when Vendetta eyes fixated while looking at her. Then that blind young lady noticed Vendetta as she gets up from her bench and waves her hand with a bright smile on her face, Vendetta hurried his steps and sit beside the young lady, he catches his breath for a moment, his lips curled up because he really meets with her in here.
"Hello, good sir! did you come here to relax and listen to the calming voice of the water fountain?" said the blind young lady beside Vendetta with a smile, Vendetta noticed that there was a repaired wooden guitar on the young lady's hand, it seems she finished repairing it.
"I'm here to see you, I didn't expect that it would come true." Said Vendetta with a warm smile on his face, the blind young lady freeze for a moment there, the evening sun light made Vendetta smile to be more beautiful and colorful, her heart skips a beat, her face reddened up witnessing that smile, that damn smile, and she immediately switch the conversation.
"I-I-…My name is Vilily, I forgot to introduce myself yesterday, nice to meet you." Said Vilily while extending her right hand but she is not looking at Vendetta face, she is looking at the opposite direction, why did she do that?, did i do anything wrong?, i was just being honest to her, though, that's what in Vendetta mind, while the truth is Vilily can't keep herself calm whenever she saw Vendetta face, he was the only one that has a color in her colorless world, every time she saw his face, she became mesmerized and wish to only look at his face for a day to cherish every color on his face, then Vendetta suddenly do something with her hand, he kissed it like a charming prince to his beloved princess, Vilily swiftly looks at Vendetta, she got embarrassed but for unknown reason he didn't mind it at all.
"To just know your name is a great joy for me, Vilily… My name is Vendetta." Vendetta releases his grip of Vilily's hand, she freezes up in her spot even with her hand still hanging up after Vendetta kisses it.
"Vilily are you alright? Did you feel dizzy again?" Vendetta closes his face to Vilily's face until his forehead touches Vilily's forehead, while Vendetta is concerned about Lily's sudden heat increase, he doesn't know he is the reason for that. Vilily didn't know what to do, it's her first time someone looking at her this closely and the first time someone getting concerned if she was sick, her heart beats wilder, her eyes keeps looking at Vendetta face, it was majestic, his face is full of bright and saturated color in her grey colorless world.
T-this…this is bad…if he keeps doing that, I'll end up passing out…why did he behave like that towards me… I'm not special…i'm not a noble nor a princess…I don't have any attractive features, i'm blind and my face has a hideous scar…d-don't tell me he l-love… Vilily blushing when she finally realized the truth, she frantically grabbed Vendetta's shoulders and said it with nervousness, her lips can't stop trembling.
"W-why did you do that?...do you have a feeling for me?... do you…l-l-love m-me?" said Vilily after she finished saying that she feel embarrassed, her embarrassment suddenly went through the roof of her head, she swiftly turn her head to opposite direction, why did I said that…i'm so stupid…of course no, right?...he probably just care for me because I have disability…he didn't have a feeling for me at all, I'm ugly and not the brightest lady she met…I bet he received love letters everyday…and here I am telling him that… he probably looking at me with disgust- that's what in Vilily mind, she turn her head to look at Vendetta face again, she thought that Vendetta will make an unpleasant expression, who would want to love a blind young lady with a hideous scar on her face?, no sane man will do that, but Vilily is wrong, because the gentleman in front of her, he smiled… he is smiling so brightly, his cheeks reddened up and Vilily can see it… the most beautiful color in her life, in her grey colorless world, that's what stopping her deep thought.
"Hehehe…you got me…yeah, it seems… I love you Vilily… I can't keep your face out of my mind." Vendetta said it without showing any disdain and disgust on his face, his face clearly expressed his true feelings that stem from his heart. Vilily eyes started to get watery, a shed of tears escaped her eyelids, her lips were trembling as she lowered her head and muttered.
"B-but why?...I'm not a pretty lady, I didn't have anything on me, even my face has this hideous scar…why… it's better if you forget me… if you are with me people will mock you, your reputation will be worsened if you're with me… why…why did you choose me?" Vilily said with a quavering voice, her chest felt tightening, her tears cascaded down like a waterfall, each drop carrying the weight of her pain in her heart and leaving her gasping for breath.
Without wasting anymore time Vendetta embraced Vilily, he can feel his shoulder became wet from her tears, he keeps patting Vilily head with his gentle hand, he can hear Vilily sobbing voice along with her sniff until she calms down, then Vendetta lift up Vilily face with both his hand on her cheeks and said this while looking straight at her eyes.
"Vilily… even if I get the opportunity to shine with the stars, I would still choose to sit on this bench near the water fountain with you beside me…your beauty never ever scared me… you're the most beautiful lady I've ever met." Said Vendetta while rubbing Vilily's eyes to remove her tears. Hearing Vendetta's heartfelt confession, her crying slowly turned into a series of giggles, as Vilily said while holding Vendetta's right hand and placing it to her right cheek.
"Hehehe… that sounds a little bit corny… but I love it… thank you…Vendetta." said Vilily with a smile on her face while the sunset perfectly aligned with her. Vendetta widens his eyes when he sees that, it looks straight out of painting, then, he smiles too at Vilily.
"Maybe… maybe that's my name. Corny… if you like it I don't mind being corny." Said Vendetta as he teases Vilily, Vilily lightly punches Vendetta shoulder, and soon both of them laugh for quite a while, suddenly Vendetta asks.
"Is that your new guitar?" Vendetta points at the repaired wooden guitar at the right side of Vilily, there are a lot of nails on it to keep the guitar shape intact. Vilily raised the wooden guitar and put it on her thigh, she rubs the wooden guitar as if it's her pet.
"This is my old guitar…I got this when I was 7 years old… in the slums area… I was born there, but I didn't want to settle there. One year later, there was a gang war in the slums area…my parents…they were…killed…on that day to evacuate me to a safe place." Vilily said, while biting her lips and forcing a smile, Vendetta knows that she is holding her tears, it's hard to open yourself to someone after all.
"I…I'm sorry… It seems today, I ended up opening up many people's old wounds quite often…" said Vendetta while scratching his hair, Vilily grabs Vendetta's hand to reassure him that it means he is a good person and that people didn't mind sharing their past with him.
"Hmm… how about… I sing a song for you, Vee, you didn't mind if I called you Vee right? Because it suits you, and it's inconvenient to keep calling you Vendetta." Said Vilily while scratching her hair and looking at Vendetta.
"I guess it's fine… if I can call you Vily." Said Vendetta, nodding his head for confirmation of Vilily's request, Vilily got surprised when she heard that cute and lovely nickname of hers, then she said.
"Oh! I love it! of course, it's settled right, hehehe." Vilily giggles, for the first time someone gives her a nickname other than the 'ugly witch', how happy she was especially that nickname sounds cute. Then grabbing her wooden guitar and adjusting the strings and the keys, meanwhile Vendetta slowly tried to cover his ears, he didn't like anything that made a sound, that old gramophone gives him PTSD of melody.
Vilily strums her guitar with a slower gesture hand, the guitar makes a nice, slow, and soothing tempo sound, Vendetta widens his eyes, this melody… it's different from the shrilling melody the old gramophone made… the guitar made a peaceful and relaxing melody, Vilily opens her mouth to starts singing,
Heum~ heum~ heum~
Na~na~na~
The endless passage of time… carrying one presence…
A familiar presence that I knew well~ but I can't put it in a sentence…
Looking at the boundless sea~ once again to reminiscence~
Vilily looked at Vendetta's face, and she smiled while catching her breath, her fingers still strumming the guitar strings in a nice and slow rhyme that made a crisp sound coming from it.
Your dazzling smile~ and your kindness that made me head over the heels~
But why I can't tell you … all my conflicted feelings~
Vendetta noticed that Vilily lips is trembling, and the guitar sound is becoming slower and slower again, and then, all of the sudden she fastening the tempo, her finger strums the guitar with faster speed than before, the sounds of continuous harmony of melody comes out from it, while Vilily sing this word with faster pronunciation and loud voice almost like she is screaming.
When you keep struggling~
When you feel all of this feel suffocating~
When you know deep inside you feel nothing~
When you know that life is full of suffering~
When you grow old and starts forgetting~
And Vilily went back to the first tempo, the nice, slow, and soothing sounds, her finger strums the guitar string in slower tempo again.
Please don't give up~
Please keep your head up~
There are many things you forgot.
Being here sitting on this water fountain beside me~
So please my lovely dear…remember me~
With last strum to the guitar string, Vilily ended her song, her face is brimming and her smile illuminates the dark night sky, Vendetta look at that beautiful young lady with a guitar, there is only one word to describe her, a soulmate, she is his soulmate.
"That was a beautiful song, Vily…you're amazing!" said Vendetta, he gets up from his seat and gives an applause to Vilily, soon a barrage of applause keeps coming at Vilily, it seems some people listened to her song. Vilily got embarrassed and scared because the crowds exceeded 20 people surrounding this bench near the water fountain. She hides behind Vendetta's back to avoid people's gaze, Vendetta patted her head and smiled at her. She looks like a cute kitten to him.
"Hohoho that was an amazing song, what is the name of it?" a grandpa with hunched back and a wooden cane, beside him is an old granny hand holding the grandpa hand, he asked Vilily the name of the song, Vilily whispered to Vendetta ears the name of the song.
"Hmm… it's 'Remember me'… that's the name of the song, old man, thank you for listening, she said." Said Vendetta with a smile while he kept patting Vilily's head, the old man smiled too and gave 1 gold coin to Vendetta and Vilily.
"You two reminded us of our youth, thank you, that's for giving us a nice nostalgia feeling with your song." said the old granny beside the old grandpa, soon the people gives a tip of 1 silver coin to Vendetta and Vilily, then the crowds dispersed, a total of 1 gold and 19 silvers coins, Vilily looks at her hand that was full of these coins, never before she ever received this handful of coin, usually it was just a little of it that barely enough for her to eat a bread. She hugged Vendetta tightly with a happy feeling.
"This must be a dream right… this… this is so…Vee, i'm so happy today, I-I don't know what to say…thank you Vee and I love you!" said Vilily she showed the coins to Vendetta and wanted to give him some, Vendetta politely rejected the idea.
"All those coins are yours, I'm satisfied with just hearing your song" said Vendetta while smiling at Vilily, but she made a sullen face when she heard that, then a wide grin appeared on her face.
"Well~ I'm not saying it's free though, but now I demand you pay a royalty for hearing my song." Said Vilily while giggling to Vendetta, looking at Vilily and her playful attitude an idea came up in Vendetta's mind.
"A payment huh?, can you sit still for a second?"
"Sure, what are you—"
Vilily freeze up on her place, a warm lip meets her red rose lips, she can feel her heart beats faster, her face reddened up again, her whole body became hot, her breathing became unstable, not in her wildest dream that she hoped for a kiss from a person before, someone who truly love the way she is without pretending to be pretty nor wealthy, it was her first kiss, the perfect moment she can't describe with words. Time seems to stop for Vilily when she can't feel Vendetta lips anymore.
"I hope the payment sufficed for the performance earlier" said Vendetta with a smile as he playfully touched his lips, Vilily swiftly turned her head to Vendetta while blushing and lightly punched him.
"No! the payment is not enough, I'll leave a bill for it, so you need to pay it again, hehehe."
Both of them giggled at each other. Tonight, is a night to remember for Vendetta and Vilily. On this bench near the water fountain, one thing that made a lasting impression for Vendetta is Vilily's melody, a melody of hers, melody of Vilily.