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Chapter Text

Prologue:

The deep countryside of the southern United States was filled with farms and wealthy cotton growers. That's where I came from, with a little education from the village priest and my farmer parents. I grew up in one of those small, remote villages, and I had a burning desire to become more than just a farmer...

The most intense period of my life took place when I was 14. I was the soloist in my Catholic choir, and they said my voice was as soft and warm as the spring sun. A regional singing competition took place six months after my 15th birthday.

The audience was captivated, and I was crowned Nightingale of the South. Of course, this also attracted many lecherous glances from older men who wanted to possess me and have me for themselves.

I didn't want any of them. I wanted to live free from all constraints, but this desire for freedom was torn from me...
My parents died in a farming accident when I had just turned 16. I was entrusted to the care of my loving paternal family, which is ironic, to say the least... He was far from loving. My uncle was what you might call a pig. This man had no respect for women, who were only good for being filled up, as he liked to say. I became his plaything.

He never touched my face, but the rest of my body told a different story, covered in bruises of varying ages, until that bastard married me off to an old constable, a repulsive man who made us move to New Orleans. Fortunately, the wedding night was short because he was completely drunk, he fell asleep, and to avoid any further attempts at defloration, I cut myself to put a little blood on the white sheets, making it look like the marriage had been consummated.

Fate was rather kind to me, as my husband was taken from the mortal world by the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which occurred six months after our wedding. The funeral was sober, despite my husband being rich, as he was as stingy as could be, and his entire fortune went to me, as he had no heir. I was the sole beneficiary of his fortune, a blessed opportunity.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1:

June 1919, French Quarter, New Orleans.

The heat weighed heavily on my shoulders, and even though my dress was made of the lightest fabric, my body felt drenched, which was one of the most unpleasant sensations. I finally arrived home and ran a lukewarm bath to cool off. I was one of the few people who had running water in the mansion my late husband had left me.

A glass of wine and a bath later, I was reading on my loveseat when the doorbell rang. The butler opened the door, spoke to the visitor, and returned to me.

"Madam? A young man at your door, named Hartfelt, would like to speak with you."

"Very well, did you ask him to wait in the hallway?"

"Yes, madam..."

"Very well... show him in, Geralt."

The butler left, I finished my glass of wine and went to the hallway where a young mixed-race man with fine features and amber eyes was waiting, looking around with visible disgust.

"Hello, can I help you, young man?"

"Hello, ma'am. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alastor Hartfelt. I am here to inform you that your late husband was my father."

My face turned white. If it became known that this old bastard had an heir, I could kiss my inheritance, money, and estate goodbye. The young man seemed to notice and smiled gently at me.

"Don't worry, I don't want any of it... All of it, it's in such bad taste. I was just wondering if you would be willing to help me pay the medical bills for my mother, who sadly passed away."

The relief was written all over my face. I looked at him, then saw his appearance and turned around.

"Um, are you really giving up all that fortune?"

"Yes, and from what I can see, you're carefully squandering it on things my father hated, so you might as well piss him off in the flames of hell by leaving the inheritance to his young wife."

That made me laugh and then smile.

"Very well, how much do you need?"

"$200 + $100 for funeral expenses."

I wrote him two checks and handed them to him when he frowned and looked at me.

"Why did you write a second check?"

"You seem smart and you remind me of my little brother... We were only a year apart... He died of pneumonia at the age of 15... He had the same quick wit and sharp tongue as you, and I like that.

He was confused at first, then his eyes lit up and he gave me a theatrical bow.

"I'll make sure this money is put to good use."

He left just as quickly, and deep down I hoped to see him again because, even though I had married young to an old geezer, his charm was contagious, and I found myself blushing as I looked at a young portrait of my husband.

You could say that the old geezer didn't have all bad genes, given his son's undeniable beauty and charm.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2:

The days passed peacefully and summer continued with the heavy heat typical of the southern United States, bringing with it a certain joy. The streets were buzzing with life in the early evening, blues and jazz tunes floating in the air, and for once, I ventured out into the warm early evening air and let myself be carried away by the music when I sensed a presence near me. Opening my eyes, I saw two mischievous amber eyes close to me.

"Good evening, Mr. Hartfelt."

"Good evening to you, Ms. Bouchard..."

"Arf... Don't call me that, it's my married name with your father. I told you in my letter to use my first name or my last name."

"I just wanted to tease Angela."

Childishly, I stuck my tongue out at the young man, who laughed amusedly. He took my arm and we continued our stroll down the main street, the music mingling with the sound of crickets and cicadas, when the young man turned to me and said with a mischievous smile.

"How about going dancing at a small club not far from here? It's not very big, but the atmosphere is nice and the drinks aren't adulterated."

"Hmm... Why not? At least it's something different from hanging around alone in my big mansion."

The young man smiled and led me through the maze of streets that narrowed until we came to a rather dark and poorly lit alleyway. There, he knocked on a wooden door, which opened after 10 seconds, and the bouncer greeted Alastor with a nod before letting us in.

The light in the speakeasy was subdued and intimate, and the music was a mix of blues and jazz, giving it a mellow feel.

"Hi Jack, this doll and I would like a glass of your best whiskey..."

The man at the bar turned and looked at the two young people in front of him, then spoke in a deep voice.

"You're too young to drink."

"I'm emancipated, sir. I'm the widow Bouchard, so I'm allowed to drink alcohol, and I vouch for this young man."

The man at the bar sniffed softly, then served us drinks, which we sipped quietly while watching the dance floor. Then Alastor bowed slightly and asked me to dance.

We danced together, and it filled me with a feeling of euphoria and happiness.

I had never felt so happy to be in a man's arms, even though I had only known Alastor for a short time, but I didn't want to scare him away, so staying friends with him was the best option for me rather than suffering from this stupid crush on the attractive 19-year-old. The funny thing was that he probably didn't even realize how charming he was, turning the heads of all the women around him.

The dance ended and for a second our eyes locked, my green eyes against his amber ones, a breath and then a blush that darkened his mixed-race face and made me look like a crayfish with my pale face.

"Um... Sorry... We should go and cool off, all this dancing has made me hot."

A smile touched my pink lips and we headed for the bar to drink a simple glass of water and resume our light conversation.

We stayed late into the night in the bar, dancing and drinking, and very quickly the alcohol took effect and we made our way to my mansion where the butler opened the door for us and we laughed at his attire.

"Alastor, I'll leave you the guest room. Enjoy yourself, knowing that it would make your father faint."

"With pleasure, ahaha."

We arrived at his room, he kissed my hand and wished me good night, then went into the guest room. I went to my room, where the maid was waiting for me, having woken up to help me undress and put on my nightclothes. I went to bed after the maid had put the curlers in my hair, and fell asleep exhausted.