Chapter 41: Beautiful Memories Together

Every day Laura always came to visit Cliff in the hut. During these four days, she always spent her days with Cliff. She left early in the morning and returned to the palace at night. She never gets tired of being beside Cliff, even though he always ignores her.

Laura would ask many questions just to be able to talk to Cliff, no matter how often Cliff didn't respond. Since the incident in the woods the other day, Laura has become more and more convinced that something is wrong with her heart, and Cliff is the cause. It's undeniable that even though the man is frigid and often says words that hurt her heart, that doesn't make her hate Cliff. Laura always felt her heart skip a beat around Cliff, which she liked. Something she had never felt before.

Laura also often takes Cliff for walks. She will be happy whenever Cliff is willing to go with her, even though Cliff often refuses and then agrees to the girl's invitation. However, Laura never gave up on approaching the man of her dreams.

They had visited several places that Laura used to frequent with Nena. She once took Cliff to a flower garden, making Cliff repeatedly curse because he didn't think a man should be invited to a flower garden that was only filled with beautiful blooming flowers. Laura laughed at all the rude words from Cliff's mouth while they were in the flower garden.

Laura also once invited Cliff to relax on the edge of a lake, watching several white swans swimming freely on the surface of the lake water. At that time, Cliff didn't swear as if he also liked the calm and beautiful atmosphere around the lake.

The crazy thing that Laura did to be with Cliff was inviting a vampire like Cliff to accompany her fishing. Of course, Cliff flatly refused the invitation, but her name wouldn't be Laura if she just gave up. I will know what spell to use when Cliff finally gives up accompanying the girl fishing. While fishing, Laura couldn't stop laughing because she saw Cliff's irritated face every time his fishing line broke because of the fish. To Laura, the look on Cliff's face at that time was amusing in contrast to Cliff, who increasingly thinks that Laura is just an annoying and troublesome girl. He only wanted to come along when asked by the girl because he felt bored staying silent in the hut. After all, he also needed to move around a lot so that his wounds would heal quickly.

To recover quickly, Cliff also threw away his ego and prestige, finally agreeing to drink the blood that Laura had brought him. Thanks to frequent drinking of blood, the wound was recovering quickly.

Today Laura returned to visit Cliff. She was watching Cliff drinking the blood she had just brought him. Human blood is put in bags that are sold in some public clinics. Usually, the blood is used for blood transfusions for patients who lack blood. It was easy enough for a princess like her to buy the blood bag without hearing the many questions raised by the clinician who owned the clinic. They respected Laura too much, so they didn't dare to ask many things and immediately did what the princess wanted.

"Cliff, how about we hang out again today?" asked Laura after seeing that Cliff had finished drinking blood.

"No. For today I want to rest," said Cliff coolly.

"But there is something I want to show you. You'll love it," she coaxed again. Cliff stared at Laura's face momentarily before finally heaving a tired sigh and nodding his head forcefully.

"But first, I want to make sure you won't drink the blood of my people, right? Because the place we will visit is a rural area, we will meet many humans." Laura made an expectant face. She hoped that the answer that Cliff would give was what she expected.

"Don't worry. My stomach is already full, so there's no way I will bite another human. I'm not that greedy." As Laura's smile widened, she was pleased to hear Cliff's answer.

"You're making a promise, you know. Then let's go!!" asked Laura while her hand pulled Cliff's hand to get up from sitting.

Laura took Cliff to a rural area. A folk festival was being held there. Many villagers roamed around to enjoy the atmosphere of the folk festival.

"Cliff, wait here a moment, will you?" Laura said suddenly.

"Where are you going?" asked Cliff in surprise.

"Just a moment, there is something I want to buy. Remember, wait for me here. You don't go anywhere." Laura confirmed. She also walked away, leaving Cliff, who was standing behind a tree so that no one else would notice his existence.

After a while, Laura returned with two cloaks in her hands. The cloak of the mantle is black and white.

Again, without permission, Laura did something that made Cliff wince at her. The reason is that the girl is now wearing a black cloak on Cliff. Tied the robe on Cliff's body and put on a head covering so Cliff's head was now covered.

"Why put me in this robe?" asked Cliff, still not understanding what Laura had done to him.

"Because there are a lot of women here. Women will be very terrible if they see handsome men. I will also wear this robe so no one will recognize me as Princess Laura. Today we are enjoying this folk festival as ordinary citizens without the need to attract the attention of others," she said happily as her hands were busy putting on a white robe. She also wore a head covering so that her face was covered.

"Let's have fun!" she asked while holding Cliff's arm. Cliff tried to distance himself from Laura, but the girl only tightened her hold on him, making for the umpteenth time Cliff could only sigh tiredly with all Laura's strange and rare behavior in his opinion.

That day they walked around enjoying the folk festival. Laura bought many things as if her money stayed supplied. If you think about it, it's only natural that she has a lot of money because she is a wealthy princess.

Meanwhile, Cliff silently followed wherever Laura took him, more precisely, wherever Laura took him. Until it feels like night has come.

"Wow, look how beautiful the fireworks are," Laura said with a happy face when she saw the fireworks forming windmills and beautiful flowers appearing in the sky. It makes the night sky look very charming.

Unlike Cliff, he was amazed to see the fireworks because this was the first time he saw such a beautiful view of the sky. The night sky, which was usually scary for Cliff, now looks resplendent with various lights decorating it.

"What do you think? It's beautiful," asked Laura, to which Cliff only nodded. Cliff's gaze was still fixed on the sky, which showed endless beautiful scenery.

"Do you guys often light fireworks, too?" she added. This time Cliff looked away. He looked at Laura with a frown.

"You mean?" he asked, not understanding.

"That, I mean, where you come from. Do vampires often have fireworks festivals like this too?" Cliff was stunned or instead froze where he stood. According to him, Laura's question was shocking, and at the same time, he did not expect it. How Laura was so innocent and innocent that she seemed to think the lives of vampires and humans were the same.

"No. This is my first time seeing fireworks," Cliff answered firmly. Laura didn't say anything else. They both went back to enjoying the beauty of the fireworks in silence.

After the fireworks were no longer visible, they continued their walk until a crowd invited their interest to come closer and join in.

"Wow, that's great. It looks like there will be a people's opera here," Laura said, as excited as when she saw the fireworks earlier.

"Folk opera?" muttered Cliff sounding confused.

"It's like a drama show. Don't tell me you've never put on a play either?" Laura asked anxiously, and when she saw Cliff shaking his head, Laura slapped her forehead dramatically.

"My goodness, it seems that living as a vampire is very boring, huh," she said successfully, making Cliff narrow his eyes, disapproving.

"Oops… sorry, just kidding," Laura added with a chuckle realizing that her words offended Cliff a bit.

"Come on, let's join in. It would help if you liked to see them. Usually, they present a drama that is funny and full of comedy." Laura grabbed Cliff's hand and forced him to sit with the other villagers already seated, preparing to watch the show.

Not long after, the opera performance began. Throughout watching, Cliff never took his eyes off the people acting on the stage. Occasionally he smiled when the cast said funny dialogues, according to Cliff. Cliff's spontaneous smile never left Laura's sight.

After spending time together, even though it was only four days, Laura realized the other side of Cliff. Indeed, the man had always been cold and indifferent, as if he had built a fort so that others could not approach him. Laura also often saw Cliff daydreaming as if many things were bothering his mind. Not only that, Laura even noticed that there was a burning hatred that filled Cliff. She could see it from the look in his eyes—hatred, sadness, pain, and loneliness. Laura could see it all in Cliff's eyes. Laura always wanted to discover why Cliff could have all those feelings, but Cliff's cold and introverted attitude made it difficult for her to find out.

But tonight, she returned to find another figure from a Cliff. She knew that Cliff was a kind and soft-hearted man. For some reason, Cliff buried all the goodness in his heart. Laura wanted to eliminate the hatred, sadness, pain, and loneliness that Cliff was feeling, and then replace them with happiness, joy, and comfort. She wanted the hatred in Cliff's heart to be replaced by love. Laura cares about Cliff and is determined to make her wish come true.

After the people's opera was over, they resumed enjoying the folk festival, which seemed to be going on for a long time, even though it was almost midnight.

"What are they doing?" asked Cliff as his eye caught some people flying colorful round objects, which was the first time Cliff saw him.

"Oh, that, they're making a wish. Then tie it to a balloon and fly it. They believe that the balloon will carry their wish so that it will fly through the sky so that God will grant their wish," explained Laura, while Cliff was just stunned to hear that.

"Come on, let's try it too!" asked Laura, who knows how many times she dragged Cliff's hand to follow her.

"This balloon has been filled with gas to fly high. There are many color choices. What color would you like, Cliff? You can choose your favorite color," Laura suggested but got no response from Cliff. The man was busy staring at some colorful balloons in front of him.

"Hey, what's your favorite color?" she repeated.

"I don't know," Cliff replied lightly, successfully making Laura giggle to hear it.

"Oh my gosh, you, you don't even know what your favorite color is?" Laura giggled again.

"Okay, let me choose," she added. She was busy sorting out balloons whose colors she wanted. Until she chose a red balloon, she also bought a piece of paper with an envelope and clear plastic. She also borrowed a ballpoint pen from the balloon seller to write her hopes on the paper she had bought earlier.

"I chose a red balloon because it is the same color as your iris. You know, Cliff, I think your eyes are gorgeous. I like it," Laura said with a sweet smile.

"Oh yes. State your wish. I will write it down on this paper," Laura added as her hand prepared to write something on the paper she was holding. However, Cliff didn't make a sound at all, making Laura growl in annoyance because, again, Cliff ignored her.

"Quickly say what your wish is!" Laura was getting annoyed with Cliff's stiff attitude.

"I have no hope," said Cliff. Laura couldn't believe it.

"Huh? When you have no hope? It's your dream, desire, and purpose in life. Everyone must have dreams and desires, right?"

"Hopes, dreams, desires, and goals... I don't have them," Cliff answered lightly. Laura sighed tiredly, looking frustrated with Cliff.

"Okay, let me write down my wish," Laura exclaimed, then started to write down whatever hope she had because while writing that wish, her sensual lips kept a smile on her lips.

After that, Laura put the paper into the envelope, then put the envelope into clear plastic. The next step was to tie the envelope containing the hope on a string connected to the red balloon she had bought earlier.

"Finished. It's time to fly the balloon. Let's fly the balloon together so that our wish will come true!" asks Laura.

"I think I have to remind you it's not our hope because what you wrote is only your hope. So, you fly it," said Cliff. He was interested in something other than following Laura's request.

However, Laura could only give up once she got what she wanted. She held Cliff's hand and forced him to grip the balloon's string. Laura glared when Cliff was about to move his hand away so that Cliff couldn't help but give in to Laura's wishes.

"On the count of three, we release this balloon together," Laura called again. As she said, she started counting to three, and on the count of three, both Laura and Cliff let go of the balloon's string. Their balloons flew high in the sky.

"Hopefully, the balloon will carry his hopes up to the sky," muttered Laura.

"Hahaha… ridiculous." Cliff laughed crisply at Laura's behavior which he thought was ridiculous and childish. Laura was also not angry to hear that Cliff was mocking her beliefs. She was too mesmerized to see Cliff's laughing face.

"Oh yes. Cliff, do you have a girlfriend?" she asked suddenly. He was hearing it made Cliff stop laughing immediately.

"I've never had a lover. But there is a girl I love, even though we were never lovers. We had decided to be together, but before that happened, she left me forever."

"What does it mean?" asked Laura, not understanding.

"She is no longer in this world."

"Y-You mean she died?" asked Laura to make sure while covering her mouth, feeling guilty when she saw Cliff nod his head.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reminded you of her," she said with a downcast face.

"No problem," said Cliff.

"Is she a vampire like you?" Somehow this question suddenly slipped from her mouth, maybe because Laura was curious about the girl Cliff loved.

"Yes. She's a pure-blood vampire."

"Wow ... she must be beautiful because she's a pure-blood vampire."

"The most beautiful girl I've ever seen," replied Cliff, who unknowingly hurt Laura, who heard it.

"Oh yes. It's time we went home. It's already late at night," Cliff added when he noticed Laura's residence.

"You're right. I'm enjoying this festival so much that I forget the time. Haah, my parents must be scolding me for coming home late." Cliff didn't say anything. He preferred to walk towards the hut that had been his residence for a week.

Soon they arrived at the hut. Laura was getting ready to ride a horse tied to one of the trees in front of the hut.

"Tomorrow, I will come again. I will take you to see other places that are no less beautiful than the places I have shown you," Laura said, smiling enthusiastically.

"No need. Tomorrow you don't have to come here because I'm leaving." In an instant, Laura's smile vanished.

"Go? What do you mean?"

"For one week, I stayed here to recover my condition, and now my wound has healed. I'm going back to where I came from," Cliff said, looking sure of his decision.

"No! You can't go. You have to stay here," Laura refused, making Cliff frown, surprised.

"I have no reason to stay here. So, let's say tonight is our last meeting." Laura gasped and was about to shout again, but Cliff bolted into the hut without noticing her.

Laura began to spur her horse to run towards the Palace with both eyes shedding tears.