Le Desespoir: The Cursed Paradise

Le Paradis

"They're there," Dr. Chase Allart announced as he turned to Sam and Caroline who were eyeing him suspiciously.

"Who exactly are you?" they asked. "How did you know too much? What's your connection to them?"

The young doctor smiled at them and raised his fingers as he answered.

"First, I'm now Dr. Chase Allart. Second, I know too much because, like them, I have unlocked my past memories— it's an occupational hazard," he chuckled to himself but only he was amused.

"Lastly, I know your friends because almost two hundred years ago, I had lived in Le Paradis too and died on July 4, 1843 in the m******e," he said which made Sam and Caroline’s eyes widen in disbelief.  "I was once their brother…Jacob."

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Late June 1843...

The sound of arguing outside the window woke her up from her deep slumber.

"Yanyan! Yanyan!" the childish voice chanted outside.

"Stop calling me Yanyan! My name is Julian. JU-LI-AN. Get that into your thick head. Just how old do you think you are, that until now you can't pronounce my name," was the irritable reply.

She smiled at the conversation as she opened her pair of sleepy doe eyes, only to flinch at the sunlight and closed them again. She tried to get up, but a strong arm snaked around her waist, preventing her from moving.

"Stay," she heard her lover whisper, and when she turned, she met a pair of almond-shaped eyes looking back at her.

She and her lover remained naked under the blankets, and she felt the heat creeping up her face, making her blush as she remembered how last night was spent. Oblivious to her embarrassment, the man next to her pulled her closer to his hard body and he nuzzled her neck.

"Johann, it's already morning," she protested breathily as she placed her slender hands on his shoulder, pushing him away.

"And so?" her lover retorted as he continued to kiss her neck down to her chest.

Jessica couldn't see her lover's face but at the tone of his voice, she could imagine him pouting and she couldn't help but laugh.

The hot kisses suddenly stopped on her belly, and her lover raised his head to give her a stern look.

"What are you laughing at?" Johann inquired in his usual arrogant way as he shifted to his side of the bed, pulling her as he did so Jessica could rest her head on his arm, while his other hand held her hip so they could lay face to face.

"Well?" Johan prompted, his brow arched in impatience— a habit this young master of the land had which Jessica used to find very intimidating.

Being with him for nine years however, she already got used to it that the gesture did nothing to her anymore, other than make her heart swell with love for this man.

Yes, she was in love with Johann— and she loved him more and more each day. Never had she thought it would be possible for her to fall for the arrogant young master who had saved her life years ago, but it happened.

"Nothing," she answered as she placed a hand on his cheek which Johann caught and kissed.

When Johann turned to her lips, she no longer protested, and they shared a deep kiss.

For her who was a nobody, a stowaway from a foreign land, her relationship with Johann who was the heir of this heavenly estate was like a fairytale come true. Since Johann had saved her life nine years ago, Jessica had been his; heart, mind, and soul, even if Johann didn't know about it.

She had no plans on telling him either. Sad as it may seem, this heaven that Jessica was experiencing in Johann's arms was only temporary. A day would come when they would have no choice but to part.

Johann needed heirs that would continue his noble bloodline, and Jessica couldn't give him those. Aside from the damage to her leg, her plight years ago had injured more of her that rendered her barren. Then again, even if she were capable of giving birth, she doubted if the current master, Johann's father, would let them be together. She was, after all, nothing but a peasant. Still, Jessica treasured all the glimpses of paradise she could have with him.

"Ah, don't be angry at me Yanyanie," the childish voice cajoled outside the window as chickens clucked in the background, and the lovers broke their kiss as they listened in amused silence.

"Tais-toi!" Julian yelled 'shut up'. "I was Yanyan a while ago, now I'm Yanyanie?" his adamant voice echoed in the cottage and Johann rolled his eyes heavenwards as he got out of bed and started dressing.

"They're still having that argument?" Johann couldn't count the times he had woken up hearing this same squabble over the years.

Every morning, his youngest brother would come here and help his lover's youngest brother in feeding the poultry. "How old is Charles now? Fifteen? Sixteen?"

Jessica had to bite her lip to control her laughter. "My brother is eighteen— the same as your brother," she answered, and again, he watched as Johann's eyebrow arched as he sat on the edge of the bed to wear his boots.

"Really? So how come he still couldn't pronounce Julian's name correctly?"

This time, Jessica chuckled as she too got out of bed and started dressing.

"Of course my brother can pronounce his name correctly. Charles is just teasing Julian. Besides, Yanyan suits him," she answered as she buttoned her shirt and went off-balanced when Johann suddenly pulled her onto his lap.

"Huh?"

"And you siblings like teasing us poor de Lancrets all the time," Johann accused seriously, his almond eyes turned smoky with desire as he eyed his lover's exposed chest.

He was totally talking about a different type of teasing, and she felt panic setting in. She didn’t know why, but she felt like she had to explain, lest Johann would misunderstand.