Memories of the Dark: ''Everything Is Fascinating"

Peronell Keen,

"What are we doing by the academy's fountain?'' I asked the person beside me, Fendrel.

''This is where we will have our lunch, Miss Peronell.'' He answered.

Fendrel still has his hands on my shoulder and I felt a chill go through my back, not because of Fendrel's touch. Josef was looking my way and staring like there was no tomorrow. What's his problem?

"Is there something on my face?" Josef looked away when I awkwardly asked.

Henry unfolded a picnic blanket and laid it on the ground by the fountain. Meanwhile, I noticed that Ulric had picnic baskets with him.

They are gonna have a picnic and eat lunch here? Isn't this a thing that teenage ladies do? Why are they doing things like these?

"Let's take a sit. Sit beside me, Nell. Can I call you that?" Fendrel looked at me with a flirtatious smile.

"You've just met her today and you're already calling her that? How many girls have you been doing these things to?" Josef was annoyed and the other men just watched the two.

"Ha! Are you jealous right now? Well, this is a first. I can't believe that the soon-to-be Grand Duke of Swindmore is capable of having romantic feelings for a woman. Have you taken an interest in Nell, Mr. Grand Duke?" Fendrel continued to tease Josef.

"I think that's enough..." I put a hand on Fendrel's shoulder, signalling him to stop.

I felt bad for Josef; who probably doesn't want to be affiliated with romance. Much more with a lady; who he has been giving his hatred to, which is me by the way.

"So what? What does it have to do with you? A mere son of a Marquess trying to offend a future Grand Duke?" It scared me that he didn't deny having romantic feelings for a woman he wholeheartedly hates.

"Tch, you're ruining my mood. Nell, I'm off to go somewhere nicer, you can come with me. Only if you want to." As Fendrel said that he continued to walk away.

I wanted to follow him since I don't want to face the awkward situation at the same time I cannot leave Lianna here all alone. Tristan was nowhere to be found at all. He probably escaped while they were taking us away.

"I'm close to Fendrel, but sometimes it's hard to know what's going on that head of his." Henry tried to laugh it off.

"I honestly never seen him like this. I have known him because of connections, but he always acted with tranquillity." Peyton added.

"Well, I say we just eat the food I made before it gets cold." Ulric sassily said.

Lianna was awfully quiet the entire time, I bet she doesn't want to get in any more trouble like the last time she opened her mouth.

We ate the food Ulric made and it was surprisingly good. When he said he made it, I was shocked to know that he cooks, but then I thought that maybe he isn't good at it. However, now that I'm eating the egg rolled with ham, it's delicious. I dare say much more delicious than the Keen residency's head chef's cooking.

I looked at Lianna, and I could tell she was also enjoying the food. Her cheeks were flushed red and only delicious food can make her have this expression on her face. I looked to see the others, but my eyes met Josef's. This dude, when will he stop looking at me?

"I—" I couldn't even finish since he cut me off.

"I wanted to talk to you." Josef started as he moved his eyes away from me.

"About what?" I quietly asked, I didn't want anyone to hear us conversing.

"Let's talk later." Josef replied. What is he? The law?

I sighed since I knew I wasn't able to escape from him. Or should I just use an excuse not to talk with him alone? I can bring Lianna. However, I think she's too tired to even listen to Josef and I get angry. Lianna's not even sane anymore. I bet her sanity will soon appear if Cedany was with us.

Lianna Morris,

After the surprisingly delicious lunch, Peronell told me that she had unfinished business with Josef. Dumphry was flying around the area. Ulric and Henry were cleaning, while Peyton leaned back on a tree.

"Aren't you gonna help them?" I asked him.

"No. They like doing this kind of stuff, so I let them be. They'll just tell me to fuck off since I always end up making a mess while cleaning." Peyton had his eyes closed.

So this is what they mean when a guy is feeling his coolness? I've read plenty of romance books while being stuck inside my bedroom all day. This is what a real-life 'bad boy' looks like.

"Fascinating..." Those words escaped my mouth and I didn't even notice that he could hear me.

"What is fascinating?" Peyton looked like he was about to get angry again.

How come he teases other people, but when it comes to me, it's like he's going to bite my head off my body?

"Everything is fascinating! The tree that you're leaning on, the beautiful red sunset, the fountain with a weird guy shooting pee from his private part, and the magnificent smell of grass!" I sniffed the air, "Fascinating!" and I wholeheartedly said with the biggest voice I had.

"Pfft! HAHAHAHA! I didn't know that you had it in you to be this..." Peyton didn't even get to finish his sentence because of his laughing.

I just stared at him laughing, but the more I stare, the more I realized that he is kind of adorable at that moment.

Wait a minute... What am I thinking!? No way in hell would I ever think that! What has happened to me? As if a demon has possessed me.

But with that attractive face and blushing cheeks... How can I not find him very attractive? Just at this moment, I'll let it be.

"I had it in me to be this?" I waited until he finished laughing.

"Nothing..." Peyton suddenly looked away from me, but I could see his ear were red.

"Oh, so now you're acting embarrassed, huh? You should've been embarrassed the moment you let out your laugh! Tch, these extra hot chilli peppers are something." I gritted my teeth and crossed my arms.

"How adorable of you." Peyton said and when I looked at him, his cheeks were flushed red.

"What are you talking about, man?! You caught me off guard. You're just joking right, right?"

I'm sure this man is just bluffing nonsense. There is no way in hell this dude would find me adorable.

"Ahem, I meant your familiar is adorable, not you." Peyton quickly changed the object of the conversation.

So the adorable one was not me, but Dumphry? This man is trying hard not to show it, but it's so obvious that he called me adorable. I mean it came out of his mouth, it's his own words. I bet this dude has an ulterior motive!

"I already know that I'm adorable, you don't have to try and take back the compliment." I flipped my hair, "I know what you're trying to do, sorcery boy! What is your motive?!" and I quickly put my hands on his shoulders.

"What are you going on about?" Peyton looked shocked.

"Hehe, I bet you didn't expect me to catch on quite quickly, huh, Sorcery Boy? Even saving my cousin, Mari Juana! So you can plan an act of revenge on me, huh!?" I pulled him towards me, expecting him to be scared.

Instead of having a scared look on his face, Peyton looked frustrated. Why does he look like that? I'm the one who should be frustrated!

"I'm plodding on catching up with my feelings. But you're much slower than I am." Peyton flicked my forehead and I yelped in pain.

Damn, his hand is very strong to have such an impact on my beautiful shining forehead. My eyes can't help but build up tears. It's not like I'm going to cry, but it did hurt so much.

"You are abusive!" I smacked his arm and it didn't quite go well.

It was double pain for me. Now, the bones of my hand made a cracking sound. I think my hand is broken. Huhu!

"What's wrong?" Peyton looked at me, for the first time he looked worried.

"Do everything look fine to you, to not know what's wrong?" I asked as I pumped down to the ground.

"Let me help you..." Peyton kneeled to his knees and checked my hand.

He moved my hand around while asking if a certain position hurt. Every time he moved my hand, I just yelped in pain. Peyton is starting to grow on me, he doesn't seem that bad.

Peronell Keen,

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked the person in front of me, Josef.

"I apologize for our last conversation and the things I've said to you. I didn't mean it, I just wanted you to stay far away from me." Sure, Josef was talking to me, however, it didn't seem that way because he was facing the wall.

"If you want to apologize shouldn't you be facing me? Do you feel sorry for the wall?"

It's hilarious to see him facing the wall while apologizing to me. This situation made me laugh, but I can't laugh because he might kill me if I did.

"I'm facing the wall, so I can speak comfortably. I don't feel comfortable facing you." Josef crossed his arms.

"Oh~ so your Grace's comfortableness is the top priority? I understand."

"So what do you say?"

"What do you mean? Should I say anything?" I was confused.

"I just apologized..."

"Yes. If that is all, I shall go then."

Before I could go further, Josef had his hands on my arms. I looked at his hands which were shaking.

"Why are you shaking?" I looked at him worriedly.

"I used to want you as far away from me as possible. I didn't like it having women near me. However, now it's different. I don't want you to think that I hate you, I don't want you to flee far away from me when you see me, and most of all I want you to be close to me." Josef looked shocked at his own words and I was too.

"Close to you? Like this?" We are in a position where our faces are close to each other.

"I—" I immediately cut him off by hugging him by the waist.

"Apology accepted! I know you're probably going through something. I think you should apologize to my friends too! You have deeply offended them." I looked up at him and smiled.

Josef placed his hand on my head. He was acting strange, very out of the ordinary. He is very quiet too. He usually has a lot to say. Has he run out of banters?