508 My realistic nightmares changed me when I was young
“No. I will not love anyone in this life.” Jun Ye Rim interrupted while frowning. Jun Ye Rim acted as if she knew what Kazumi was about to suggest.
“That way, no...” Jun Ye Rim paused and placed Plow on Vincent’s lap. She stood up and continued, “No one can betray me when I am not to their liking.”
Jun Ye Rim looked at Vincent one more time before leaving.
Vincent noticed how Jun Ye Rim’s face didn’t look sad. Instead, her cheeks and ears were red, as if she was embarrassed.
Vincent had a hunch it was her tsundere side doing the talking as the words and emotions didn’t match. “Good night, fairy Jun Ye Rim. ” He teased.
“Humph!” *Bam!* She closed the door in a hurry and headed to her bedroom. She met with Iris on the way, and when she was offered to have her arm treated, she accepted with a nod.
Vincent brushed Plow fur. “Plow. Kazumi.” She said their names as he raised his gaze to look at the moon partially covered by clouds.
“I can somewhat understand why Jun Ye Rim constantly fears being betrayed by everyone. Her family betrayed her and her elven friends too.”
“Plow will never betray bed.” *Pho!* Plow stated.
.....
[But Vincent. You weren’t betrayed in your life. You had some hardships after you blamed yourself, yes, but nothing like Jun Ye Rim’s level.]
“I used to have many fragmented deja vu dreams of someone who almost looks like me. In those nightmares, I was always betrayed. I had those nightmares almost four out of seven days a week.”
*Sigh* “In those dreams that felt real, I would sometimes see someone who looked like me yet not at the same time. No one helped him like how I was in the orphanage, and it made me feel worse every time I woke up from my nightmare.”
[Vincent...]
“The man in the nightmare would become a horrific monster that kills blindly. He would always become vicious, crazy, and a criminal that kills anything in his sight.”
*Sigh* “None of the deja vu dreams had a happy ending, and I would end up waking up feeling I shouldn’t exist in the world.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Life was hard living with a guilty conscious, and sleeping made me feel worse because of the strange deja vu dreams. But thankfully, I started to have good dreams from the first time I met Kevin.”
Vincent smiled when he remembered Kevin. “I hope I can be like Kevin to her and give her the courage to start anew.”
[Vincent... I didn’t know you acted so distrustful because of the damn deja vu dream sickness.]
[Regretably, I couldn’t see your dreams. I could only see you sleep on your bed as I didn’t have access to your memories. I only lived and experienced everything like an invisible friend.
[Sometimes wondered why you would act more distrustful than usual. Now I know.]
“Vincent Vincent is a very good bed... ” *Pho* “Good person. Plow doesn’t want to see Vincent sad.” *Pho*
Vincent gave Plow a head pat. “I know, Plow. I am a good bed.”
“I have learned to trust again, thanks to everyone around me. Furthermore, the dreams haunting me have disappeared, and I don’t wish to become a hero anymore to change my fate.”
[Well... technically, the whole world will hunt you if they learn of your identity and don’t believe you aren’t a dangerous person. Well, other than stealing the heart of many women, hehe.]
“Haha.” Vincent laughed.
Vincent understood that fate could only change by so much. Being summoned and unwanted by the world isn’t that bad with the company of a few.
*Sigh* “Let’s stop this subject and go to sleep.” Vincent placed Plow between his arms and gave her a peck on her head. “My little mesmerizingly cute fox looks tired.”
Plow’s ears perked up. “Is Plow mes... mesmerizing? ” *Pho?* She said with excitement heard in her voice.
“Yes.”
Later that night, Plow rested on her favorite warm belly bed and looked at Lupa with a cute smug face until falling asleep.
On the other hand, Lupa wondered what the little fox was planning before deciding to ignore Plow as Vincent’s right arm was still hers.
*Day 153 – 08 November – Sunday*
Sunday finally arrived, and the Lionhearts prepared for the difficult day ahead. Aceon Ponalis was supposed to visit to sign the allegiance contract, and it felt intimidating as Aceon was a Viscount.
However, Vincent didn’t know if Aceon was going to visit alone or with his daughter, Tiffi.
The last letter Vincent and Lilith received was a few days ago. It didn’t contain any information regarding Tiffi’s condition, unfortunately. They could only hope Tiffi had woken up after a long time of being constantly put to sleep.
Like the previous Sunday, Jun Ye Rim complained yet still followed them to meet with Maira.
This time, the meeting between the two elves was different. Sofy smiled at Jun Ye Rim and told her good day. It appeared the two of them had become closer after having a long conversation.
On their way home, Vincent asked Sofy to stop the carriage in the south middle district. He explained how he needed to visit the library with Ester to bind a book and return in a hurry, hoping to return before the guest/s arrived.
“Don’t worry, Vincent. I will tell Head Maid Xu to keep calm.” Sofy responded as if she heard Maid Xu bad mouth Vincent multiple times for placing too much responsibility on her hands.
Vincent cleared his throat and acted as if he didn’t hear the last part. He opened the door and offered Ester his hand like a gentleman.
“Thank you.” Said Ester while descending the steps.
Vincent chuckled when he saw Lupa and Plow gazing at them as if they also wanted to join. “See you later.” He said before closing the door.
“Hehe. This feels like a date.” Ester held Vincent’s hand and continued, “Let’s go make your first book. This date is exciting.”
Vincent smiled at the chirpy Ester. “Yes, my dear Ester. Let’s start our short date.”
Later, the two of them entered a nearby library. A familiar librarian greeted them before he recognized who they were.
“Lord Vincent Lionheart and Lady Ester Lionheart. What a pleasure to see the two of you today this morning.” Said Belowin with a pleasant smile. He looked both professional and happy to work in a place filled with books.
Vincent summoned a stack of papers and requested, “I would like these papers I wrote bound with a book cover. How much will it cost?”
“Most certainly. As for the cost, it will be one silver coin. It will have a low to mid-grade book cover material, and the binding will be a special resin imported from the desert continent’s Mirage Kingdom.”
Vincent was surprised the cost of the book cover and resin cost this little. He thought it would cost three silver coins at a minimum and ten silver coins at the highest.
“Sure. ” Vincent agreed without asking why.
Vincent trusted Ollie’s brother, so he handed the silver coin first. Then he handed the papers to be bound into a book.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWhile Belowin worked on the book, he chatted with Vincent and Ester. Apart from his teammates living without any difficulty, Belowin mostly spoke about books.
Belowin was the opposite of his brother Ollie. The muscular man Ollie spoke about everything apart from books.
The book was later bound. Although the cost wasn’t too high, the quality was exceptional, surprising Vincent, Ester, and Kazumi.
Ester received the book with a beaming smile, and her heart fluttered with excitement as she opened the book. There was no need to mention how excited Ester was as it was painted on her face.
“It’s perfect. ” Ester said with joyful tears welling in her eyes. This was a gift Vincent wrote only for her while only thinking about her.
In the previous days, when Ester conversed with the romanticist Lilith, Ester started to see the book differently.
Based on the romanticist Lilith’s professional opinion, the author’s handwriting can reveal the feelings placed in the book.
When Ester showed Lilith a page to seek a more romanticist professional opinion, Lilith instantly said, “Vincent is pouring his heart into this book. I wonder when I will receive a book made by Vincent too.”
The book Vincent poured all his effort into became Ester’s new treasured item.
Later, Vincent and Ester said farewell to Belowin and left the library in a hurry. The process took longer than Vincent expected, and upon looking at the time, did he realized they might arrive late.
Fate works in mysterious ways. On their way home, an old carriage passed them. However, it quickly stopped, and a man waved at them.
[Isn’t that the Ponalis family carriage? And that man is one of Aceon’s butlers. He is the man you almost planted in the wall for blocking your way to Tiffi’s bedroom.]
“Looks like we met our guest before arriving. ” Vincent said. He looked at Ester and noticed how she looked tired. “Your maid outfit must be heavy. How about we catch a ride?”
“Thank you.” Said Ester while using a red handkerchief with a small green lion’s head on it to wipe her forehead.
Vincent and Ester approached the old carriage. Soon, they saw three people inside.
One was the old maid, and the other was Aceon. The third was Tiffi. She was curiously looking at them.
“Good morning.” Both Vincent and Ester greeted.
“Good morning. Do you want a lift, or do you have other plans this morning?” Aceon kindly offered.
Vincent and Ester accepted and entered inside. The old maid, Tiffi, and Ester sat on one side while Vincent and Aceon sat on the other.