Chapter 4- Oh My Darling Valentine

Chapter 4- Oh My Darling Valentine 

1

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 It's been half a year since that day, 

Joshua was now eleven years old

Over the last year, I had grown quite a bit, not only in height and bearing but in presence and skill. He devoted his time to strength training and losing weight to resemble a sumo wrestler. Due to a growth spurt, he grew taller and slimmer; though lacking knowledge of biology, he believed this was due to his natural charms and abilities.

 "Of course, I look better in a short time; I'm a Llewellyn after all! "

He wanted to be the kind of man she wanted. A strong, handsome man who can stand up for himself and not cry after getting ganged up on while being rescued by a girl. He didn't want that humiliation again; he wanted her hand so he'd become a man.

"Sixteen… seventeen… eighteen,"

 he looked up at Clarice passing by

"Ninety-nine.. One Hundred," he announced loudly 

He pushed off the ground. " Oh, Emlia didn't see you there, just got done doing my routine push-ups, "he grinned, wiping the sweat from his bro. She handed him a towel, ignoring his attempts at showing off

" I see. Well done, master Joshua. However, you must get ready for our guest." 

He titled his head

"Guest?" 

"..have you forgotten? Miss Pêcheur is arriving today."

He went pale

"Pitcher, huh, never met her… tell Father'll be out. I don't wanna get in the way of fathers meeting with a girl I never met!" he said and went for the door, 

Emila grabbed the back of his collar.

"Now, young master, I clearly said Pêcheur, not 'pitcher'. You're well acquainted with the young mistress, aren't you? You should at least greet your friend. 

"Friend is a strong word. " 

"Come on now, no need to be rude, young Joshua. She adores you, she smiles big whenever she's with you, she requires a playmate while she's visiting with her father." 

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No," she said plainly 

2

After getting dressed and cleaned up, Joshua stood stiffly across from Valentine Pêcheur, a girl two years his junior, twice as terrifying . She wore a red frilled dress, that matched the ribbon on her chest, and her long black hair brought out her pale skin and Grey hazel eyes. 

"Good day, Joshua, it's a pleasure to see you again," she said with a cute, soft smile that rose to her ears.

"You look in good health." 

Behind her stood a stiff girl, a little older than her, with a maid outfit that was tailored for hand-to-hand combat 

He stiffened at the sight of the young girl; his father gently smacked him on the back with a look that said, " Go on." 

He looked at his father, and his father looked back; sparks flew between the two, and Joshua lost the staredown.

He bowed 

"Why don't you go take her to play in the garden while I have a word with Mr. Pêcheur?"

"Can I have a witness?" 

"A witness?" Mr. Pêcheur? Blinked in confusion, "Haha, kids these days and their jokes." he placed a hand on his son's head. 

"Ah, father, you're my head, not so tight! He pulled away

, "Alright, fine he sighed. he turned around and started walking towards the garden. "Ahem," his father cleared his throat. He turned around and saw the girl standing there with her hands resting at her front. He gritted his teeth and strode up to her, and outstretched his hand. She smiled and took it.

 As they got outside, the air was crisp, and the day was warm, "What do you wanna play, Joshy?"' He knitted his brow and placed a hand on his chest. " I don't play; I'm far too old to do things like that," he stuck up his nose.

"Oo boo I was excited to see you again Joshy since i missed your tenth birthday and all i know it was a big milestone your you" she looked up at him

 "Well, you didn't miss much," he tried prying her off, "Oh, I don't know about that i heard your birthday was quite the show." She swung their hands together, they walked through the garden, and she smiled big. They arrived at the center, which was a small grassy area with a Gazebo. She let go of his hand and ran ahead, and then turned around with a sweet smile, said, "Well, now we're alone… I have something I wanna ask." 

"What caused you to change Chubs?" 

He chewed on his lip. 

"Whatever do you mean? Oh, have I become more of a dancer? Glad you noticed."

She played her hands behind her back and got close to his face

"That's not what I mean."

He backed away

"Sure, you lost some weight, but you have a different air about you now." She placed a finger on her lip, 

"Hmm, let's just say I'm not a fan." Her smile turned bone chilling, especially one with such a cute, delicate face,

 "Not like… like I care what a mere child thinks, I'm a Llewellyn to a fault. " he put a hand on his chest " No no that's not what I mean. "She pointed over to Reina.

 "You haven't leered at or flipped her skirt yet, you've barely looked her way? Are you sick or have a fever?" She narrowed her eyes,

 "I'm a man now, I don't have time to chase skirts anymore im a mature man." 

"Is that so?" Valentine crossed her arms. "What brought this on?"

"He looked off dramatically. "When a man loves a woman, it inspires him to better himself. And that's what I'm doing. You don't have to like it, Val—but I know what I want now."

Valentine sighed exasperated. "Here I thought you were a true noble, who's the one who taught you maids can't complain when you flip their skirts?"

"You did."

"And who is the one who taught you to upturn your nose at lower life forms?"

"You did."

"And who-"

"Ok, that's enough, all I'm saying is that someone has captured my heart. She knitted he brow, "Oh, and who might that be?" he placed his hands on his hips proudly. "Miss Akirui Nicco, of course. "

Valentine narrowed her eyes. "Her, out of all people? You have strange taste in women."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"She a diamond in the rough, she's a high-ranking noble and yet she doesn't act like one, shes way to soft and lenient she the kind of noble i can't stand, she's way to Principled to the point it's stifling." she huffed and walked towards the training swords that sat leaned against the wall and took one out.

 This action made him sweat a bit, as it had been a part of their childhood. " He..hey, what are you?"

 She swung the sword and pointed it at his chest. " I can't let this slide; face me, Joshua."

 He raised his hands in mercy. He sighed, "Come on, do we have to do this now?" Renia walked to his side and held out a sword flat. He then realized he had no choice in the matter. He could feel the bruises he used to get when she whacked him with the swords, as before it was seen as "playing." He took the sword. Maybe this will be different? He's been body training and working on himself; perhaps he won't be humiliated by Valentine. They stood five paces apart. And took a deep breath. 

 Regina stood in the middle. "…Begin."

Valentine stood, one hand on her hip.

Joshua slowly lowered into a warrior's stance.

"RAAAHHH!"

He charged.

She dodged left effortlessly, tapped the side of his head with her sword. He barely ducked.

"Oh? Look at you—you've gotten nimble, Joshy! Congrats~"

Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were demonic.

He gritted his teeth. Charged again.

"You really think that's gonna—"

He pivoted sharply mid-step, swinging his sword at her hand.

CRACK!

Her sword clattered to the ground.

He grinned. "Ha! Gotcha!"

Valentine blinked.

"You may have gotten slimmer," she said coolly, "but don't get full of yourself, Joshy."

Her aura changed.

"…One more time."

She charged. So did he.

And then—

Sniff…

A pleasant fragrance hit his nose.

"Huh… what the… no—not again—"

His face flushed. His knees gave out.

"You… play dirty…"

He dropped to the ground.

WHACK!

She kicked him in the face. He flopped onto his back.

"Dammit! Getting a big head just 'cause you got one good hit?! Who do you think you are?!"

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

She kept hitting him with the wooden sword as he turtled up on the ground.

Humiliated. Again.

3

Clairce pressed the cold slab of meat against his cheek. 

Of course, Joshua was blamed for Valentine's wrist being red and slightly bruised, while his face was battered and bruised. 

"She's a girl, you don't need to play so rough," His father said " She's the one who started it, and i'm in much worse shape than she is!" 

"Doesn't matter, you're a man, and do you really expect me to believe that, that young sweet child did this to you? Hurting yourself to blame it on Miss Valentine is shameful." 

"She's

…whatever," he stopped himself. There was no point in discussing this with his father. he never believed him when it came to Valentine; she acted all prim and proper and sweet around adults, but she tormented him when alone, "That witch is a sadist..and using the seven's blessing is playing dirty…" he muttered." Emilia why didn't you tell father what you saw?" he looked up at her " I saw nothing of the telling him, i only saw two children playing" Clairce said, "thats a load of-ah cold, cold don't press so hard!"

Later that evening..

"It was fun playing with you again, Sir Joshua, " Valentine curtsied 

"You mean torture?" his father smacked him upside the head

"It was fun for me to " he bowed

And then they were off

He worked hard all this time and was still beaten and humiliated by a girl no less.

What was the point of working so hard if he was still gonna be this weak? He wanted to be a manly man for Akirui, but at this rate, he wouldn't be strong enough to face her again.

That was when he got an idea. Elaine had used a blessing against him, he would've won without that dumb trick. He had never been one to take his studies seriously, be it alchemy or history, but one thing came to mind: he finally knew what he needed to do to win her heart

"Father… i want to learn magic."

 His father looked at him, puzzled "...What?"