۞ XXII ۞

One day before Annika's 21st birthday

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"I CHOSE YOU, DIDN'T I? YOU TOOK MY 1ST KISS. You took my virginity. You took all of my first times, and I was happy to give them all to you. I can't say I'm in as deep as you are, which you know, but I am in love with you, Lewis," she whispered. "A week was enough to make me fall for you."

She… she is love with me? I don't need her to love me, as that would be asking for too much in too little time, but she's in love with me? Donna-Annika Corvina Faelyn Beatrice Esmeray Geneva is in love with me! "Do you think we could find a magic-biding bracelet again?" Lewis asked and his eyes burned with desire for her.

Donna giggled, blushing, "Stop provoking me."

"Oh, I'm not. I'm serious!"

She blinked, "For real?" He nodded. "I don't know, but do you want to try looking for one?"

Lewis chewed his bottom lip, "I doubt many people here would have such an artifact. It must cost too much gold." Damn it.

Clarita Classy! "I… I think I may know someone."

❁❁❁

On the way to Clarita Classy's mansion, they stopped at Karl, she made sure they knew she was feeling a lot better, however, she asked him and his wife to go take the orphans food again, and as they were happy to help her out on it given her health state, and the fact that really didn't want the kids to see her like that, she gave them an extra magical bag of money.

As they arrived on their destination, to avoid Lewis from knowing about her surprise before she could tell him, she asked him to wait on the other side of the street as she went to the Classy's house. It was already 10 pm, so they could or could not be sleeping. Lewis was glad to stay behind because he was feeling anxious, so he sat down and waited for her.

Clarita was the one who opened the door, and she was gladly surprise to see Donna there. "My Lady, it's an honor to meet you twice in a night. Have you eaten? Want a drink? How can I help?"

I hope she can help me. "Night, night, Mrs. Classy. Oh, yes, I've eaten. I eat on Meadows Tavern every night. I would be glad with a drink," and she went inside with her as she opened the door.

"Everyone but me and my husband are sleeping. We were having a some bourbon on the living room. Come, join us, my Lady." She walked her there.

Her husband, Gilbert Lockwood-Classy jumped from the couch when he saw her, bowing nobly in respect, "Lady Donna-Annika Geneva, it's an honor to have you here with us in our house."

House? This is not a house. This is a monster mansion even bigger than the one I bought for Lewis and the kids. "The honor is mine, Mr. Gilbert Classy." She sat down in front of them, still not touching her back on the chair.

As Donna's hair was now lose, Clarita frowned when she noticed it had been cut and the white part was gone, "Did they also cut you hair, my Lady?" She asked after giving her a glass with bourbon.

Oh, this is delicious. "Yes. They did. My eye, ears, and back was not enough. But I don't want to make the mood sour with that. Hair grows," even though I won't have time for that.

"My wife told me about it, my Lady. I'm really sorry for what they did to you. It was inhumane," the mister spoke, and his heart ached at the sight of the strong young Lady so wounded by her family. Especially as he is also a father.

"Inhumane kind of suits my family's behavior a lot, to be honest. They do it and blame it on me being sold to the Devil and stuff like that. I'll deal with it, you don't have to worry," she took a long sip of the bourbon. "I'm sorry for coming here so late, I understand that none of you are nocturnal like me, but I really needed to ask you something."

"Anything, my Lady," they said together.

"Do you, perhaps, have any magic-biding artifact in your possession? Such as a bracelet, ring, or necklace. Something that will block the person's magic as long as they wear it!"

Oh? Does she wants that to use it when she kills her family? If yes, we can give it all to her. "We do, yes. It's a new thing in the Royal Capital, and we got out hands in two bracelets, three rings, and a necklace, my Lady," Clarita said with a knowing smile. "We just got them because it was interesting, though we have no use for it."

"If you want, we can give it all to you, my Lady," her husband finished, after reading his wife's thoughts with his telepathy, which he could only use on someone weaker or in the same level of power, and he was an equal to his wife. That's also the reason why he couldn't use it on Donna, since she's too strong.

I'm blessed. I can't believe I'll be able to be with Lewis again. Gods' above. "I would be deeply grateful for that."

As she said that, Clarita used her spatial magic to teleport from the living room to the vault, and when she got the jewels, she teleported back to them. "Here, my Lady. Make an amazing use of them," and kill those monsters in the most deadly manner we know you can.

Donna put them on one of the empty magical bags she has with her, that she emptied back in the mansion, as she poured all that money on Lewis' vault, then she put it back on her pocket. "Thank you, very much, Mrs. Clarita and Mr. Gilbert Classy."

"You are welcome, my Lady!" He exclaimed with a smile.

"Anything you want, you can just tell us!" Clarita stated.

She chewed her bottom lip, "So, hm, do you have more of that bourbon? I would like to have a bit later and to give some to my boyfriend too!"

"Of course, we do," Gilbert exclaimed. He got up and went to the bar at the left side, then got two bottles of 2-liters for her. "Here. It's from our brewery factory in the village. I hope you like it, my Lady."

Fuck, they are too damn kind. I don't care about the reason, but it feels good. "You are a pair of angels!" Donna exclaimed. "Thank you, again!"

Clarita smiled, she's so adorable. "Go, my Lady. Enjoy your night with your boyfriend. I hope you two enjoy the big bed in the master bedroom in the mansion," she winked at her and Donna blushed.

"We will. Have a good night," she said as they walked her to the door. "Sorry the late hour!" And after she left and they locked the door, she crossed the street and walked to Lewis, handing him one of the bottles. "I got two bourbons for us," she winked at him.

Of course, she got more drinks. And did she get the magic-blocking artifacts? Fucking hell, I'm genuinely anxious. "I've heard lots of things about their bourbon brewery on the center of the village. It must be amazing."

"It is. I drank a bit inside," then she held his free hand with hers, as she held the bottle with the right. "Lewis, there's something I've been wanting to tell you, since I got to the tavern earlier!"

She just deepened my anxiety. "You can tell me anything, babe."

I really like when he calls me that. "I've made an investment. A big investment with 90% of the gold I had hidden into the vault in my room. It's really a big investment!"

An investment? "Isn't that good?"

"Yes. But what I'm trying to tell you is that I invested on you. It's an investment for you. For you and the kids. But even bigger for you," she didn't look at him as she spoke this time, as she could smell his shock. "I kept thinking about what I should do to keep you and the orphans safe after I'm gone, and I came to the conclusion that, for that to happen, I would need to buy a place big enough to comfortably fit you all, in a good location, and that would allow you all to have more opportunities. So, I made some business with Clarita Classy and bought one of the places she put on sale a bit ago. It's already paid, decorated, flooded with everything you will need. Especially your room, which is the master wing on the top floor."

What? Lewis blinked, stunned. She did what for us? Is that why Mrs. Classy said it was the second time they met tonight? Was she with her before she came to meet us in the tavern? "Are you for real? You did all of that? For me? For the kids?" When she nodded, his heart almost stopped. I love this woman so much. To think she care for me and the kids like this. "Is it in your name?"

"Ours. Mine and yours," Donna blushed. "When I'm gone, it'll be passed down entirely to your name. I made sure that no one will be able to avoid that from happening. There are copies of the ownership documents on the vault of your suite, with Mrs. Classy, and on the village bank." He isn't mad, right? "I wanted to surprise you!"

Oh, she did. Definitely. Lewis thought still too stunned to speak.

"Lewis?" She turned to him. "Are you mad at me?"

Fuck no. "Absolutely not. I'm just thinking that each action you take makes me fall harder for you, babe. I can't believe you did it all for us, and that me and the kids will have a better place to stay than the shabby orphanage building that is falling apart. You are changing my entire life, babe. Giving me the possibility of a Knighthood future, stability, and a place to stay with the kids. They were sad that you didn't come yesterday, and they will be overjoyed to know what you are doing for them. I'm sure they will be forever thankful to you, Donna, as I am. You are giving us a future we never thought we would have before you came into the picture six years ago. Many of them owe their lives to you, babe!" I know I do.