"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment." – Sarah Dessen

Great Britain in time of 19th Century...

"Isn't it lovely, Sir Scarfone?"

The woman on my left complimented one of my greatest paintings here in the grand gallery display. "Yes, indeed, and this is why I love art because it brings the ember of joy in me," I corresponded with them as I took a sip of my red wine before going over the next display of my work.

"Oh, it will be such a great honor if you will have me as your model for your art, Sir Scarfone," the other woman tried to charm my attention by biting her lower lip in a way that hinted a hidden allure however I simply dismissed her boldness.

"In your farthest dreams, Laurana. Sir Scarfone has many suitable models other than you, isn't that right, Sir?" the third woman interrupted in jealousy as she humbled herself with one of her appealing smiles. I merely smiled in accordance.

Entertaining such kind of women was such a grief to me but I still consummated in talking to them because everything was plain business. These women are rich and they belonged to the top social class in our society, hence the reason why I always found myself feigning on a pretense that I am enjoying their company. It is so to help me gain fame from their status and to also sell my artworks at the same time. It was like hitting two birds with one stone.

For aught I knew, that was how the world goes in our society. You bribe them by any means and they will gladly take the bait. Money was all that mattered in this day of age and if you were wealthy then you'll be the gold in the mines of their hearts.

I'm Dante Scarfone, son of a Viscount and a young nobleman with everything the world can offer. I'm an only child born in my family and still not yet married so that made me the potential goal for wicked kind of women who marry gentlemen for status and money. And that was where they were wrong, because I don't find greatness in money, status or fame.

The only thing I have passion for was art. Being a painter was my desired profession. I love canvases, color paints and paintbrushes. Those were the things I only and truly love in this world.

"So tell me, Sir Scarfone, why pursue such profession when you can do anything more merit than this?" Laurana tried to get my attention again, this woman surely don't know the two words give up.

We now stood in front of one of my famous paintings which illustrated a young woman with her naked back drawn and a garden of orange tulips around her. Painting flowers was one of my secret to my artwork's success. The various kinds and colors of flowers were magic itself. They bear hidden meaning behind different nature of shades and painting such colors was what ignited the passion in me. However that wasn't the only driving force I had rather it was something else, it was a dream.

"It's because I dream to paint the most beautiful thing in the whole world." I said with proud determination.

"That's very admirable! But can you tell us what is this most beautiful that you seek?" the first woman decided to ask in correspond to my answer.

"I don't know, that is why it is the most beautiful because I have yet to seek what it is." I replied before finishing the rest of my wine in one go and my sight happened upon on the arrival of someone I knew.

"Now if you'll excuse me, ladies, I have something more important to attend to." I dismissed myself just after respectfully kissing their hands goodbye and before heading among the rest of the crowds.

I stopped from my tracks after I spotted the person I needed to greet the most. "Thank you for coming, Sir Marcus. I hope you're not tired from your journey." I smiled and offered my hand for a gentleman handshake.

This man is Marcus Ashworth, an honorable Marquess and he is the founder of a prestigious school that my parents sponsored since the foundation day. He was also one of the people who encouraged me to pursue my goal as an artist and he was the one responsible for organizing this magnificent painting display. He smiled too and shook my hand in return.

"You need not to worry, Dante, and besides the wonderful success of your paintings is all worth the long road trip I had," he praised.

"Of course it is," a female voice came behind the blonde man and there she was, the only daughter of the peer, Amelia Ashworth. She was a couple of years younger than me and this very lady in front of me was the most favorite of my parents among the proper girls arranged for me to choose as my future wife.

I didn't blame them because Amelia is such a pretty and well-mannered woman though my parents had to wait for her to reach her legal age for us to wed. Though, instead that made me partially content because I have no wife to pamper on and all the free time I had will go to my paintings.

"Congratulation to your success, Dante," she added with a sweet smile in her.

"Thank you, and I'm delighted to see your beautiful face here, my Lady." I took and kissed her delicate hand gently in mine to which she blushed deep scarlet in response, obviously enamored of me. She seemed to not mind the hundred glares coming from all the women present in the hall, or maybe she chose not to.

The display event was eventually coming to a nearing conclusion when the hired host stood on the small stage in the middle. I took the courtesy to invite the two to watch the ending of the display which everyone was eagerly waiting to see, "Would you like to accompany me to watch the closing of the event?" I asked in endeavor to entertain them and sure enough they both nodded in return.

I offered my arm to Amelia where she gladly wrapped her smooth one before walking with me and her father towards the front of the audience.

***

"A pleasant evening to everyone. I would like to offer credit to Sir Dante Scarfone for his undeniable success. I want everyone to please give him a round of applause," the old man said loud and clear in which I simply raised and gestured my hand in pleasure as they showered me with heart-warming applause.

"To commemorate this event, I have reserved a special music piece for our handsome gentleman of the night. I believe it is difficult to end the evening without a beautiful melody, that is," the old man said as he circled around the black grand piano that was situated there before leaving the platform with all the lights soon going out.

In the dark, I could hear footsteps on top of the wooden platform and a figure of a man was all I could take in from the shadows. The same did to the thrilled audience as they tried to see the face of the unknown man standing there in the center of the small stage and Amelia was as enthusiastic as the others, unlike me. I didn't anticipate for anything other than the closing music but something burned instantly within me upon the bright flicker of a single spotlight. The radiance of light immediately shone down on the stage and the scene I saw stole my breath away.

A stunning young man stood confidently in the center of the solid platform with his platinum blonde hair glittering against the brightness. He held his lean but perfect built in an straight posture as his cream toned skin glowed so entrancingly in plain sight. He looked at us with his enchanting and piercing silver eyes full of wonder, and the audience looked back at him the same, where the others looking at him with interest especially from the women.

He was a gorgeous man.

He was dressed in a white dress shirt with long sleeves and black trousers. He took a silent bow before sitting on the grand piano's seat and placing tender touches on the white keyboard. I was smitten and soon he began to play. The musical piece was so romantic for a night such as this. He was playing the exquisite piece of Beethoven which was famously known as 'Historia de Amor' or in English translation means Love Story.

I was captivated by the harmony that I found myself never looking away from his fingers that were dancing graciously on the piano keys. Every single tune made by him only mesmerized every fiber of my existence. The rhythm was inching its way into my heart that I could feel each descant of my heartbeat skipping along the tune. I was besotted by a man I barely know.

He would close his eyes now and then, and he would sway his head so flawlessly like he was floating on cloud nine although his actions only made him better-looking than earlier. His actions were fascinating in every way. I was captured in a moment by this man his name I don't know. But strange enough, I found myself wanting to be spellbound by a man with bewitching handsomeness more than narcissus had. The music lasted for only short minutes but surprisingly it felt like I was entrapped in a music playing in an endless time.

I slowly blinked back in reality as I was immediately greeted by the deafening applause made by everyone around me. It was truly a splendid performance and a single applause was not enough to describe how awe we were because of it, especially me.

"It was marvelous!" Amelia and her father both commented.

I couldn't help but remained beguiled in my own footing since my mind was still, and literally, blank at said the moment. There was never a musical performance I became riveted such as this and it was truly an unexplainable experience that even I found myself wondering why.

"Let's see and meet that pianist. I want to compliment his outstanding performance," Sir Marcus said.

I nodded in silence and followed behind him speechlessly with Amelia walking next to me. I was still caught in unknown high which I couldn't escape but again strangely, I felt myself wanting to be immerse in this kind of feeling.

Time went by slow and the surroundings distorted from the corner of my eyes as we walked through the crowds before finally stopping before the beautiful man earlier. He was busy entertaining a lot of guest wanting to congratulate him too so I took the opportunity to composed myself back because I certainly didn't want to look like a fool in front of him, and after a while he turned to us with a friendly smile in him.

"It was an outstanding performance! My name is Marcus Ashworth and it will be an honor to be acquainted to you," the blonde man offered his hand for a handshake and the beautiful man hailed him in respect.

"Thank you and I am absolutely glad to be acquainted with you too," the man replied and I swore his voice was as beautiful as the music he played. His vocal tune was ringing to my ears and I liked the sound of it.

"This is my daughter Amelia and the man beside her is her fiancé Dante Scarfone." Sir Marcus introduced us in our behalves and the man greeted us with a stunning smile.

He kissed the back of Amelia's hand before looking at me and offering his hand for a shake. I reached for it nervously and as soon as I touched his hand, I felt something from it that I never felt before. Something that I never felt from anyone I ever had physical contact with. It was questionably weird and when he let go of my hand, I can still feel it. It was almost scary when I felt myself wanting to feel that sensation against my body. It was both tempting and creeping me.

Somehow the lifelong dream I had to paint the most beautiful thing in this world was kindling from the depths of my soul and what was more was that, I found myself wanting to paint the image of this man into my canvas and admire his divine beauty in every way my paintbrush would describe.

He was all my imagination could think.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Julian, Julian Hartwell," he introduced himself.

Historia de Amor by Ludwig Van Beethoven