Trevor grabbed his water gun and covered his mouth with a hankerchief. A seven year old boy imagined the great war against Adam, whose weapon was just a plastic sword. His army, a bunch of stuff toys was sitting on the grass.

"Adam is from somewhere down the road, holding his sword." Trevor pretended, calling on his walkie talkie.

Adam rose from his feet and raised his arm, shouting. "War!"

These boys clashed themselves against each other. They wrestled and rolled over the ground. They both laughed and giggled. Adam lifted his hands on the air and chanted. "Here comes the spider!"

Then his hands dig into his tummy, tickling him. Trevor screamed. "Adam! No!"

"Boys... Snacks are here!" Victoria's voice can be heard behind. She was holding a tray of chocolate cookies. Trevor got up, pushing Adam away and ran towards her.

Victoria exchanged looks with Adam and gave him a perfect smile. He flushed. Trevor took a cookie and turned to Adam. "Want some?"

Adam nodded. He walked towards the little boy and the woman then took a cookie from the tray. He shoved it into his mouth and swallowed.

"What do you think?" Victoria asked.

"Yum!" The boys commented in chorus.

She let out a sigh. "I don't think the ingredients were correctly mixed."

"Never mind Aunt Vic. Your cookies are very delicious!"

Trevor ran into the manor, leaving the two behind the garden. Victoria placed the tray on the table while Adam was trying to clean up the mess.

"Adam, the maids can do that. Don't worry."

Adam realized that he was wet with sweat and water. He took off his t-shirt and flung on his shoulder. He doesn't have a good workout figure but he had natural toned body.

Sweat dropped from his hair strands. Adam wasn't like other men who had fine jaw with other idealistic appearances. Yet for Victoria, he looked so cool in his normal appearance.

Her mouth drooled. In a feet away, he stood in front and took his crinkled hankerchief. He gave it to her. "You better wipe off your saliva, Vic."

Victoria shook her head and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She rejected Adam's offer. He puffed and grabbed her hand, giving his hankerchief.

They both looked into their eyes. His skin tingled on hers, making electricity ran through her body.

For all the years, Victoria never experienced anything romantic. She's lovely but never passed the standard of most 21st century men.

1.Sexy boobs
2.Round butt
3. Social media influencer
4. Experienced in woohoo
5. Beautiful faces
Etc.

She was a normal person. But loves into boy's things. Luckily, she had been influenced well by her girl cousin. Until she met Adam.

Adam was homeschooled. He grew up with his mother. Much respect for women was his virtue. Chivalry. He honored women.

He had a 18th century soul in the 21st century society.

They both staring each other. There was urge for her to draw closer to him. He also had a sense to kiss her. She leaned forward, a inch of space between their lips.

"Auntie! Granny's calling you!" Trevor's voice interrupted, breaking the intense feeling of these couple.

"I'm coming!"

∞

Victoria closed the door behind her and stood silently. Granny Vine sipped a glass of tea and placed it on the table. Her knuckles began to numb.

"Where did you find that guy?

"In Oxford-I mean in London."

"What's his name?"

"Adam. Adam Earldon."

Granny Vine tucked her hair on her ear. Victoria was about to shake a little. From fear. Granny's voice was stern yet soft. But for her, she's strict.

"Is related to somebody?"

"Yes. The Lord of Sheffield."

"Are you okay?" Granny Vine asked. Victoria swallowed and replied.

"Not really."

Her grandma chuckled. "I'm not going to scare you, Honey!"

Victoria gave a better laugh. "I'm sorry for that!"

"I'm just curious." She turned to the window. "He's a nice person."

"He's weird sometimes. And rare."

"Chivalry is rare nowadays." Granny Vine spoke after sipping another cup of tea.

Victoria's mind rushed back to moment a while ago and the Friday night. The hankerchief and the table.

"Only few men can do that! Pretty weird for these modern gals." her grandma added.

Granny Vine turned back on her table, placing the cup on it. "He's normally good-looking."

"I mean you can say he's handsome if you keep looking at him." She explained further when she found Victoria widened her eyes. "He's handsome."

"I'm not into stuff like romance." Victoria rolled her eyes.

"This isn't romantic?"

Victoria shook her head in disagreement.

"You're twenty seven. Your brothers were already taken. One got married. " Granny Vine huffed. "Then you?"

"I see him as a friend."

"Friend? What about the attempted kiss?"

"That isn't makes sense."

Her grandmother giggled like a teenager who met her boyfriend. While Victoria was a bit nervous when she was with Adam.

This is strange. It's normal for her to mingle with the boys but with Adam. She found him very interesting and weird.

"Wait? Did you-"

"Yes! I'm so proud of you, my darling!"

"We never kissed."

"Exactly! I saw it like watching a movie." Granny Vine places her hands on the table and leaned forward to Victoria. "You want to kiss him?"

"Eeww no!" Yes.

"Don't lie to your Granny..."

"Fine. I little bit." Yes. Totally love to.

"Vicky is now a girl!" Granny Vine cheered.

"My goodness! Who told you that she's a boy?"

"You showed us how you act like."

"Thanks to my cousin."

"Oh!" Granny Vine remembered what she wants to say. She grabbed the special envelope with a ribbon on. "Your cousin is engaged to a Billionaire."

"Does she have engagement party?"

"Yes."

Victoria took the letter when her grandma gave her. Her nostrils inhaled the scent of the letter.

You are invited...

"Everybody's getting married." Granny Vine walked beside the table and went to the door. "But not you."

"Granny Vine!"

∞

Adam was walking through the corridor. Wiping all his sweat, he can't stop thinking about what happened an hour ago.

The garden was beautifully arranged with wild flowers. Like Victoria. He keeps thinking about her.

Her smile. Like the ray of sunshine.

His thoughts went vanished when a creepy ringtone sang. He took his phone from his backpockets and read the message.

Hey Brad. How r u?

It's Henry.

Got somebody to take this quest.

Is it a chick?

Not a chick. Harry! I'm not finding a chick to do this!!!

Who cares ;D

Go away. Henry Edwards!

What's her name?

Victoria Stilton

Wait... Remember the girl who broke Mrs. Porter's table?

No. When was that?

Kindergarten days... Before you were homeschooled?

A memory flashed. A girl with a cheeky smile, loose trousers, and pigtails. While Adam and Harry were colouring some pages of the book, a huge trashing sound bombed from the desk.

All kids startled. They looked at the girl who accidentally broke the table with her baseball bat.

"VICTORIA!"

Oh yes... It's her!

Did she changed a lot?

Yes her appearance. But...

But what?

Never mind.

Okay. Have fun with that girl!

Thanks.

If both of you get along together. Make me your BESTMAN. BD

I regret having you as a friend.

Hahaha. See you soon. ;)

He turned off his phone and slipped into his pocket. He leaned over the Corinthian cornerstone, thinking of his kindergarten past-with Victoria.

∞

"Whatcha doing?"

Adam whipped his head around and saw Victoria standing. "Looking at the view."

"Oh." Victoria set her gaze at the garden. "It's a hundred years old."

"By the way, have you remember breaking the teacher's desk?"

Victoria was puzzled. "When was that?"

Adam followed Henry's style of saying. "Kindergarten days..."

"You mean the desk?"

He nodded. Victoria laughed hard and clutches her tummy. "My gosh! Were you my classmate before?"

"Yes... With Henry?"

"Oh yes! Henry. How's he?"

"He's now an engineer. Still single."

"Are you trying to sell your friend to me?"

"NO!" Adam chuckled. He got up from sitting. Victoria stepped back.

"When will we read the letter?"

Adam slipped his hands on his pockets. "Later this night..."

Milan, Italy.

The waters was calm, creating a magnificent view of the sea. On the middle, there was a yacht owned by a rich family of Guidicelli. Their only son, Marvin Harry was the new heir to the company. West & Co.

Not Harry Potter. Marvin was an all-time favorites in Milan.

"Babe..." He kissed her back and embraced her naked body under the sheets.

She groaned. His phone rang. He got up and answered the phone.
"What is the problem, Franz?"

"We've successfully kicked Adam, out of the company."

"Good." Then Marvin hang up. He placed the phone back on the desk and lie down on his bed.

"What's the matter, Baby?" The brunette asked, kissing his lips.

"It's my own business, Babe."

Sheffield, England

It's early in the evening. Granny Vine called everyone to eat. She made the finest English recipes for the dinner.

"Grab a seat for you, son!"

Adam chose the seat next to Victoria and near to Granny Vine. Everybody including the five maidservants sat down and held their hands.

Adam was fascinated with their short prayer. He's not religious yet still believes that there is Superior in the heavens.

"I'm so sorry to tell you that the room you slept in was a forbidden room for past hundred years." Granny Vine quickly told Adam. "We've successfully opened it last year."

"It's quite horrible!" Trevor showed his 'O' mouth with a grasping horror.

Kevin chuckled. "It's not like other horror movies, Trevor."

"Granny Vine, Do you know everything about Lady Vivorie?" The curious redhead Victoria asked.

"Lady Vivorie brought the Manor after Lord Adam of Sheffield died in his thirtieth birthday." Granny Vine shoved her spoonful of broccoli salad.

"Why he died?" Adam asked after sipping his pink lemonade gin.

"He committed suicide."

Trevor poke his ears and giggled. "Strict Parental Guidance."

Everybody laughed and continued eating their meal. The sun rays started to fade away, forming a beautiful sunset. At nine o'clock in the night.

Adam stood in the balcony, feeling the slow cold breeze against on his skin. He only wore sleeveless shirt with ripped trousers.

On the other balcony, Victoria came out with over-sized t-shirt and shorts. "Hey man!"

Adam faced her. "Hey Vic!"

"Sorry for the situation a while ago." The redhead apologized.

"What do you mean?"

She blushed. Her cheeks went red as she remembered something.

"Oh right! Yeah never mind."

"Did you go to college?" She scratched her head. She had been graduated for a few years ago and works as a Royal Historian.

"Yes now. In Business Administration."

"Oh" Victoria bowed her head and looked at the garden under the balcony. They're on the second floor of the Manor.

"Why did you end up doing the project with me?"

"Because I was curious about Lord Adam who previously owned this house." She looks at him with eyes glistening by the moonlight. "And it turns out that he's your great-grandfather.

"Yes... This would bring trouble if I can't found who his lover was."

"Stupid!" She reached out her arm and pushed him. "Be optimistic!"

"And what if?"

"So what? You will know if we have to do it together!"

Victoria. Full of hope that brings light on Adam's shady mind.

"Okay I hope we can."

She scratched her head in frustrated manner. Her reddish brown hair shuffled. Victoria leaned over the cement railings and sighed. "You're too negative."

"I am. Negative."

"You're not. You're just weird and I like that."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." She bit her lip. She could feel the warmth of her cheeks as the blush crawled over her face.

"Are you blushing? Are you cold?"

Victoria quickly shook her head. "No! It's just-"

"I have a jacket here. It's a bit chilly here."

Adam left and went to get his jacket. Victoria was left standing on her own balcony. He went back and gave her his jacket.

"Adam uh thanks?" She supposed not to accept it but because she doesn't want him to feel unacceptable. So she decided to accept it.

Their skin throbbed, creating a feeling that Vic never had in these years. Adam shook the letter in front of her.

"I've read it."

"Really! Is there any riddles?"

"No yet they almost kissed." He smiled. She could see him smiling under the moonlight.

His smile. Gosh her stomach ached. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach. She couldn't breathe. Goodness' sake! I can't breath!!! She thought.

"Really?" She couldn't control her feeling.

Feelings?

"Are you okay?" His eyes were filled with concern.

"Y-yes! I-i alright!" The redhead stuttered. She quickly wore the jacket. "It's c-chilly h-here!"

"Yeah it is."

"So... What's next?"

"He said that she's lovely. But they aren't lovers yet mutual feelings grew."

"Okay?" She took her phone to check the time. It's 11:36 pm. "I think I have to sleep. Good night Duke of Sheffield."

"I can't be a Duke. Silly girl!"

She chuckled. She's waiting for his answer but her yawn keeps forcing her to sleep. As when she turned around to her bedroom, she heard something foreign to her.

"Good night, beautiful girl."

Now after lying on her bed. This girl cannot stop thinking about Adam. His concern was so sweet.

Beautiful girl...

Through all the years, she haven't met anyone and told her that she's beautiful. She had freckles over her face and red curly hair sprawling over her head.

A tomboy fallen for the pessimistic guy? This can't be true!

He had long blond hair with aquatic blue eyes and pale skin. Yes, her Granny Vine was right! It took 15 minutes to say that he's handsome.

She stared at the decorated ceiling. Her lips stayed smiling and she squealed silently.

Oh Victoria...