REVERIE: Twisted Reality

Day 8: Roses, White Chocolates, Papers... And Knives

Alexandria Lennon

I did my usual morning routine in this place and headed straight to the Duke's room. 

I decided to see him first and just kill the rest of the time with White. Visiting Joker was still up for debate.

I was determined to get something out of the duke.

I knocked as soon as I was in front of his door. It didn't take long for it to open and the towering height of the Duke was overshadowing me.

"Ah! You are here! Please come in, my love." He happily invited me inside. I walked in without a word and took my usual sit in his room.

"Tell me, what do you like to do in your spare time, my love?" He asked as he took the seat in front of me.

'Is it just me or is he calling me my love again more than usual?'

I thought of an answer to his question. I guess I kill my spare time with White.

But I doubt that's an answer he wants to hear. 

So I answered this instead, "Clipping coupons, I guess... There was a sale at a grocery store a week before I arrived at this place."

"A profitable hobby! By just looking at a coupon book a supermarket hands out, one may be able to deduct enough information about the supermarket's current view of their customer." He happily remarked.

'Okay...So he knows a lot about supermarkets, too?'

I realized we were going off track with our deal. I won't get any information at the rate we're going.

"But that's not the point!" I reminded him. I watched him laugh at my reaction but I just ignored him.

"Stop changing the subject. If you don't say anything useful, I won't come again." I threatened him. 

He smiled flirtatiously and answered in a playful voice, "Don't be so impatient, my love! At least humor me for a little while!"

I gave him a straight face but he just smiled and added, "It's awfully dull to charge straight to the topic without a friendly little prelude, don't you think?"

This time I glared at him.

"But if you must insist, I will give you a little clue: Everything in this house has to do with you."

'What? What the hell's that supposed to mean?'

I didn't ask about it any further and decided to ask my other question, "Well then, tell me how'd you end up in this place?"

'I had to know if he's a reverie dweller or traveler too. Or if he is a Nightmare like Joker said.'

"In order to seek you, of course. I think I might have already told you, but there is nothing I desire more than your heart. I have traveled long distances for the conquest of it."

I looked at him in disbelief.'What a flirt!'

I just ignored what he said and asked about the little clue he gave me, "About your clue, what did you mean about that?"

"That, my love, is for you to figure out." He said playfully. I frowned in disappointment but he just chuckled. "I gave you the biggest hint without literally showing you the truth." He reasoned while smiling but I was still disappointed.

"Not that I can tell you the truth, for that matter. But if you would like another hint, come back and see me again tomorrow. How about that, my love? Hmm?" He negotiated to comfort me. 

I thought for a minute and just nodded. He smiled and opened the door for me, "I'll be expecting you tomorrow, my love."

I decided to check on the brat but as I walked my way to his room I realized how overruled I was with my conversation with the Duke!

'That chivalrous flirt! With his stupidly seductive accent and refined manners!Grr.'

I was totally treated like a kid! The flow of my conversations with the Duke is totally different from the other inhabitants. I can't let him get his way the next time.

I walked in without warning and I found him snacking on some desserts and his tea. He didn't look at me as if he already expected my arrival.

I ignored him and rested on my usual spot. 

I groaned loudly and I could feel him eyeing me. "Hey! Talk to me about anything."

"Are you asking for help? Hmm, I suppose I can give you something useful to spice things up a bit." He casually said while pouring a cup of tea. 

I quickly sat upright because what he said caught my attention.

"That's definitely not what I meant! But keep talking!" I told him eagerly. He gave me a weirded-out look but he continued speaking, "I am NOT handing them out for free." He clarified.

'I know you stingy brat!'

He snapped his fingers and the table was suddenly filled with roses, paper, white chocolates, and KNIVES!

"That being said, you are welcome to buy whatever that tickles your fantasy." 

I looked at everything on the table and asked for its prices. Everything except for the weapons cost a 2/3 fraction of my day.

The knives will cost me 7 days and the decorated daggers will cost me 9 days. 

"Why didn't you tell me you sell these things?!" I asked him in annoyance. "Well, you never asked." He answered as if it was my fault.

"You don't get to be upset." I snapped at him. "Should I just kill all of them with this?" I asked him jokingly.

"If that's what you want." He casually answered. I widened my eyes at him, "I was kidding! How could you approve that?"

I looked at the things on the table. 'Where could I possibly use these things? Plus, it costs a hell lot of time!'

'What a stingy brat!'

Well, I guess I can use this to defend myself against the nightmares but how could I waste days just for a knife. 

"Ah, whatever. I can't think of any use to these things. You can keep it away."

'During that time, I hadn't had a single idea just how dumb I was.'