Chapter 235: Chapter 235
I made my way back into the crowded Hall with heated cheeks.
I don’t know what came over me to say such cringe-worthy things... But I can always find the excuse of being in the world of a novel to feel less of a crazy twenty-eight-year-old who likes acting like the Young Lady she isn’t.
’It’s just a waste if I don’t act accordingly~ Besides, he’s cute... Making little promises with him is thrilling... And right now, it’s a good thing to use in our favour.’
Cold or what not... It’s not like I initially did that to take advantage of it, though.
Honestly... I just...
I just wanted to do something special... Something that could reassure this gentle and amazingly sweet man... (that often becomes a beast when I less expect him to) that if he wasn’t the one to find me, it would be me who would go to him this time.
— Keep this stack, if the Prince will not be who joins me, then it is I who will come to join you. —
’U~nnnghhh ~~~ Gosh! What am I! This is so nerve-wracking ~~!! I feel so silly for telling him that!!’
It was so cliché that I ran off right after shoving the post-it notes in his hand too!
... Sigh... These kinds of things don’t suit me... But Luckily, they surely suit my baby red panda, so...
’Ugh! ... Lend me your hair, Anne... I feel so shy, I suddenly want to hide.’
My head was in chaos.
It selfishly kept repeating tonight’s encounters like a broken record.
... So strongly... that I couldn’t continue to walk wherever I was walking to. And I had to find support on the kind wall beside me to then use our hair as a hopeless hideout.
’Gaaah... I’m in the hole... Like... Seriously... Just what has my life come to be...’
"~..." — Marianne’s thrilled sensation answered my frustration too sweetly... So sweetly, I felt done with life.
... I need a drink.
A fruity one.
Made of grapes to be specific.
...
’D*mn~ our hair smells nice.’
"....."
’Just let me be... I feel like we go out of a whirl to get into another... I don’t know much about your life when I wasn’t around, but this is too much. Haven’t I told you that my afternoons were only about buying desserts to eat at home? Alone at that? I may look like it but I’m not that good with people, sweetheart...’
It’s true... But I guess that even if that’s true, I still am better than Anne and Kinky Crown in that aspect.
... Oh? Maybe it’s that.
That little difference between her and I is what gets us in these situations... Like, it’s our charm to attract trouble since we are that different to the common in this world.
.....
’Wait. So in the end it’s still part of my fault?... No, but... It’s not like I chose to come here??...’
Hey, doesn’t that mean that not getting involved in the original story was always doomed for failure??? Is this some kind of principle to transmigrators I never picked up???
’... No way... So a peaceful life was never an option!?’
You have to be kidding me?! So even if I hadn’t decided to mess it all up out of spite, then I would still be in the hole??!
’... F*cking laws of dimensions or multiverse or whatever this sh*t is... I’m done with caring anymore...’
"...."
’... Yeah, I never cared that much. But let me whine! Goodness! One can’t even be dramatic anymore!! I’m trying to relax here even if it doesn’t look like it!’
"Marianne?"
"!!?" — ’I swear I’m not eating my hair!!’
The sudden call of our name made me jump from the wall holding my forehead.
I immediately panicked since it made me feel like the nine-year-old me, secretly chewing on my hair after using the shampoo mom bought with a strawberry scent... Because I was just about to start chewing on it out of frustration.
"Dear, are you alright? Why are you here on your own?" — Marianne’s Father asked, clearly concerned.
’Oh... Ah... That? ... I don’t think you actually want to know, Mister...’
Why am I here? Mopping around on the wall like a loser?... Because adolescence is a b*tch, Mister. That’s why.
I’m sure he wouldn’t like to know how the most troublesome stage of his daughter’s life is ongoing right now.
Therefore...
’Act tired... More tired. So tired that he thinks we’re here only taking a break from the crowd.’
Which is true in a sense.
"... I guess it was meant to happen. You must have had a long day..." — To the pitiful tilt of my head, he said. Also without much energy.
"..."
"Would you like to rest a bit more in your Father’s company?" — The Duke then said, trying to put a smile on his tired expression. — "It’s a shame we haven’t shared some quiet time only the two of us lately..."
"....." — ’Uh... Alright...’
The offered hand of his made me a little anxious, to be honest. I don’t know if Marianne saw it as I did... But it looked lonely after hearing him so downwards...
He seemed almost scared for a moment. As if he had gone back to being overly cautious when interacting with us.
’Has he had a difficult day too?’ — I thought, concerned. — ’... He seemed fine when he greeted me earlier.’
I took his hand before even thinking of this.
I don’t believe there was even a need to. Since, if it was up to Anne... She would always take her Father’s hand with no hesitation.
"... Hmm... Interesting." — Grasping my hand, he softly mumbled as a little smile that wasn’t as forced came to his expression. — "I feel like your hand is warmer than mine... That’s a first."
’Oh. That’s true... He’s... Um, wait. Why are you so freezing cold, Mister?!?’
The clear difference was surprising.
Even if he had gone outside, he was too cold for it to be only a result of the night’s weather.
Out of custom, I took his hand to wrap it between mine. Worried since the Duke’s touch had always felt warm.
"I am fine." — Seeing my wonder he must have said. — "I felt a bit... Overwhelmed... So I came here to get some air..."
"....."
"It turned out wonderfully since I found my sweet child in the end."
The hand of the Duke that had joined ours went to lovingly pinch one of our cheeks, as he gave us one of those fond smiles he always gave us.
"Should we seat for a moment?"
’Okay... But you still seem odd, Mister...’
I just hope he’s not sick...
We walked to a near seat he pointed, tightly holding each other’s arm.
He was firm while holding mine. And especially gentle... While stroking my knuckles, not letting his eyes leave my face that inwardly looked at him with wonder.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look today, sweetie?"
’Hmm~... Gasp! I don’t think you did, Mister! Are you actually ill?!?’
The realisation made me jump in surprise. There has not been a day, Marianne’s Father has not reminded us how gorgeous we looked. And so, I thought immediately that something truly was wrong with him.
"So I didn’t, huh?... Sigh... Must be because I was speechless."
"..." — ’Oh... Y-you were...? ’
"My daughter... Entering by the Emperor’s arm... Sigh... I was even thankful his annoying presence was escorting you since if not, I would still be lost on how fair sight you appeared under the candles."
’... "annoying", you say?...’
It’s scary how little he respects the Emperor at times...
"Haha... I guess I am just jealous I couldn’t be the one by your side at the time... I know that even if it’s not obvious... You were nervous, were you not, my bird?"
"....."
Hearing him, after looking stunned at his know-it-all’s eyes, we had the need to lower our head to confess.
’... I was... It all seemed to be proven real all over again, Mister...’
Being received by all the noble assistant’s stares... Joining no other than the Royal Family in their entrance... It was very suffocating.
The fact that, as the Emperor had said, I was now as powerful as his lineage was made clear and explicit in my eyes.
I was somehow aware since he had said it.
I had tried in my own way to get used to it, sometimes reminding myself jokingly about it. Trying to be conscious about it to some extent and to what that meant in my head...
But as always... Experiencing things even after trying to prepare for them... Is never up to the real circumstances.
"... You did very well, dear. So much... It saddens me that maybe you have grown enough to not need your Father anymore."
"...." — ’What is he saying...?’
His words... Were simply crazy.
How come he could say such a thing when Marianne’s top motivation to do better was him?
The depressed look in his downcast eyes made me enraged. So much that I wanted to hit him for such foolish thoughts.
’Duke, have you lost your–’
"But I now know that is not true."
The change in his eyes shut my mouth cleanly.
"Maybe now you need me even more than ever... Marianne... My precious child that I love so much..."
The hand that caressed my temple and combed my hair for it to stay behind my ear... sweetly grazed me and... I suddenly felt faint for a moment because of how light it felt on my skin... yet so full of the love he saved for Marianne... that my heart felt heavy and stuffy when meeting the deepness of his eyes.
"No matter the age or the maturity you get to accomplish... Remember that Your Father will help you... I will be there for you... Even when you think you don’t need me, my dear child."