Chapter 236: Chapter 236
"....."
It felt troubling to be told this so suddenly. Conflicting... Since the determination in his eyes was unsettling as I don’t know what brought up this conversation.
Nonetheless... Even when I know that something happened for him to say this... I won’t ask about it.
Not now. Although I want to...
Because I still don’t think it’s the right time.
And even if it is, I don’t want to ask when I can’t convey myself smoothly and fully with boring letters on paper.
As long as he’s sure... As long as his eyes keep on not showing waver when looking into our eyes... I know he is sure to get over what is making him say this.
Marianne’s Father... As weak as he may appear sometimes, it’s only his soft heart that melts for his children that makes it look like that.
And as much as it softens for his children, I am sure it can also harden for them too.
If it wasn’t like that, the eyes I am looking at wouldn’t look as composed, clear and determined as they do right now.
"..."
A heavy sigh left my nose, releasing my chest of its stuffy weight and making a soft sound I couldn’t even let out through our mouth.
My eyes stared at our joint hands that, thankfully, were never separated at times like this.
It made me relieved and made me smile fondly on the inside.
... Only because I could feel his usual warmth again and because this common gesture was a kind of reassurance that he had not changed at all ever since our first meeting in his office.
His affectionate ways with Marianne, even when grief might be invading him, never fade away... Never lessen their heartfelt sincerity... And it’s always with this simple care that I know, that I find certainty it is like that.
"..."
Sigh... The things we have to tell this man keep piling up... Haha... Maybe it’s time we make a list so we don’t forget a single thing when the time to say it comes.
Because I believe this kind Duke truly deserves to be told the whole world of love Marianne holds for him in this heart we share...
... But for now...
’Marianne will always need you, Mister. Even if she starts acting dumb saying she doesn’t...’ — I told the hand I was holding, giving him a thankful stroke.
’And...’
What I wanted to say... I needed to look him in the eye to say it. Since this time it was something only coming from me.
Lifting our head so our eyes could meet his, I felt the emotions swell in my eyes. because even if I want to tell these things... It’s not easy... much less when I, Elizabeth, don’t exist in his world.
’Even I need you too, Mister... So no matter which part of Marianne it is... The other will always be in need of your presence.’
Such words from me are probably never going to reach his ears. Nevertheless, holding a safe distance by hiding my being does not mean I, who can’t ignore his existence, am to diminish his person’s value to protect my heart...
It does make it more complicated... But... what isn’t complicated in life, people’s feelings and thoughts?
I’ll just put up with it even when at times it feels like I placed a burden on myself.
"... Dear... You are too kind a soul..."
The way his severe grey eyes became silvery to tell us this was marvellous. So fascinating I could feel our eyes that shared his colour syntonised with his glint.
Sometimes, in my head, I think that if his love for Marianne were to take shape... Maybe it would be in this gleam of his eyes he never fails to emit when looking at her.
Every time, the beautiful way an invisible wave rounds their colour to enhance the light in them, I can even feel in my heart the sweet scent of the huge affection he holds. Along with the interesting shade our eyes summon in his company, to change our previously dull surroundings into a most colourful one.
It’s weird. Somehow... It’s like he had taken us to see through the big space he reserved for Marianne in his heart and made us come to reside there to make sure his care was transmitted in overmuch through our sights and welcoming sensation.
’... Truthfully... I wish you can feel just as much when looking into our eyes as when we look into yours, Mister...’
I hope that’s the case since he just said all of that... And... Sigh... How I beg this capricious body of ours to be showing this fond smile we have on the inside to this lovely Father.
However, if that’s not the case... We can always make it so he knows with a gesture.
Therefore, to make sure our sincerity was transmitted, I made our body seat closer to the Duke. And intertwining my fingers with his, I cuddled to his shoulder. So even if our expression can’t say it, he will somehow know.
’You also have a kind soul... So much we find this comfortable peace whenever you are near, Mister.’
"... I love you, child."
The weight of his head leaned on mine and the tender squeeze I felt from his hand made our separate hearts dance with happiness... since his voice finally came back to the lulling one he always dedicated to Marianne.
*******
"... By the way, sweetie. I see you had no use for the trick I taught you yet... As it seems, you endured quite well the mass of nobles."
After staying in stillness, too comfortable in this relaxing situation we managed to end in, Marianne’s Father told us.
’Ah... Right, I could have used it, but since it was Paul... Sigh.’ - I answered, still resting on his shoulder since it was nice and cosy.
It’s a pain I can’t use the trick on him... Yet.
Thinking of how his eyes looked when the Crown Prince took me away, the possibility of using new measures is completely on the table now.
We’ve managed to make progress and I have to make sure he doesn’t interfere with this improvement.
"Don’t hesitate to use it wherever you are, alright?... I will tell you since it concerns you, but I have come to decide that... Although it might contradict what I told you, children, when young... That a guard will stay near you from now on."
"..." — ’A guard?... Like... A bodyguard, Mister??’
I slowly lifted my head after hearing this announcement.
"... I know it is sudden, but... You... Marianne. Holding a Title as great as yours demands it. It might be soon that even his Majesty will assign an official trope to serve you too."
’... You’re kidding... A trope?’
A sorry look was given in short silence to my surprise. — "... I don’t know if you remember. But I had told you and your siblings that as you are my children, children of the Sylfinnier Duchy, nobody would dare touch you in the continent... Since we have a strong link with the Royal Family, it was made clear in the past that no finger was to remain untouched if it reached us. Hence, it is why none of us has ever taken personal guards as protection."
’... Only because of the Royal family??... How strong are they to make sure nothing happened a–... Wait a second.’
Bodyguards... I am sure... Theressa had one in the novel. That guard that was practically her lackey...
...
’I thought it could have been because of what happened to Marianne before the original started... But this...’
"Your Mother, Your sister and Yourself are being assigned personal guards this time."
"....."
This... Doesn’t give me a good feeling... Not at all. Even though it’s clear he doesn’t have any ill intentions with it...
The link with the original exists...
"But you are the main reason, dear."
"....."
"I promise... I will arrange it so your current freedom is not affected by it."
’... Well... It’s good you say that. Although that isn’t what’s actually worrying me.’
He may be reading my vibe or something... This man has always been good at picking our little changes in mood. Even though the problem he thinks I may have with this is slightly mistaken this time.
"... We will talk about this further on another occasion. Yes?" — Pinching our cheek with sorry eyes, he finished. — "I only wanted to let you know in advance."
’... Okay... Thank you... This actually helps me get an idea of how to work with it.’
... If he says we will have a bodyguard... I have to make it so I am to choose the person somehow at the very least. This could help me with what I was thinking before he told us this... the measures against Paul’s torments.
Nodding to him, I accepted. Unconsciously gripping his hand stronger out of reflex.
"... Don’t feel nervous. This doesn’t mean you are in danger. It is only a precautionary measure... I don’t know if you have heard about this, yet the previous Noverrne Duchess was attacked recently."
’... How does this have anything to do with that?’
"I believe changes will commence invading the Empire’s peace... I cannot tell you in detail as we are still analysing the situation... But do trust your Father this time... I–... I am doing this as I don’t want anything to happen to you... At least not because I didn’t act with caution..."
"....."
It all became more complicated with this news I have no real clarity on... But he asks for us to trust him... And there’s no way we won’t do that.
’Alright, Mister! Bring the buff guards on! This doesn’t change the fact that we have to survive the prelude, then the interlude and then the post and all the stuff that may come!! D*mm! You can even make a remix! I won’t die that easy–’
— zaaah... —
"_____" — ’...’
A chill travelled me suddenly. Strongly. So much it shook me to drop my blood to the floor by the ominous sensation it gave me. making me freeze in place with goosebumps travelling every nook of our body.
’... What the hell was that...???’
I turned following my instincts, sure that the source came from behind my back.
"Marianne? What’s wrong? You are suddenly so pale, dear..."
I came back to face the concerned Duke who was maybe as confused as I was.
Blankly, I blinked as if it was going to clear the confusion of what suddenly invoked such unsettling fright in me. And I clasped his hand strongly, this time completely intending to hold it as hard as I could to feel more of his protection.
’Bring on the guards, Mister... Your caution might not be far from necessary.’