Chapter 265: Chapter 265
She was troubled enormously by his unshakeable grip.
That even when her slim and delicate fingers moved to slide away, Zeleskiaz’s reluctance to heed attention to her attempt, caused Marianne to resist any further intention after a few tries.
Falling resigned. As she kept glancing at the composed man with shut lids that did not appear conscious of her wishes, for he had feigned slumber to make her give up the retrieval of her limb.
’How come he fell asleep so soon?!? Wasn’t he supposed to entertain me??... Are our movements so unnoticeable???? I did my best trying... but he didn’t– his hand didn’t even move a millimetre...’
Unsettlement had subsided once she thought the man was not conscious. And so, as she figured no escape would come unless he woke, Marianne moved her hand again. This time wishing to grasp his palm better... To find the comfort her resistance had robbed their linked hands.
’... It’s even noisy because of the people... but he still fell asleep... Impressive.’ — The woman thought, watching how only a bit of her fingers could be seen while covered by the Prince’s Palm.
Peeking at his profile, to then turn her head away, as shyness was sure to unsettle her being again if more appreciation of his manliness was allowed into her sights.
’But I wonder... when will he wake and release me...’
Unbeknownst to the Lady who now tried to distract her thoughts by trying to listen to the cheers of the far crowd watching the march of her carriage... other thoughts crossed the man’s head... while feeling the heat in his palm raise as he could feel her graze that had found settlement in his touch.
The wish of his soul to let the gratifying smile emerge in his countenance had been battled strongly from the moment he noticed her reluctance to stay holding hands with him. Yet now... a thick swallow was requested by his nervous throat, which wished to peek at the woman beside him and caress shamelessly the softness of her hand to make her learn a hint of the affection he desired to gift her.
’The moment I entered this carriage... I could not let myself make the same mistake I committed on that Masquerade Night...’ — The disrupted man contemplated as his lids opened slightly to catch a delightful glimpse of her pink fingertips grasping his hand’s edges.
’This lovely hand...’
Finally, to the scene, his hand could not help a wishful flinch. Delightfully receiving hers and inciting the man’s lids to close in restraint of his sentiments, as more thoughts crossed his head that fought the turmoil of his anxious heart to her small feel.
’It’s good... that I ignored common sense... that I came to seat beside you and feel this silence so differently...’
Once, on a Spring night celebrated by the nobles... he had watched the woman rest as he took her to the Guest’s Palace. The experience had served this time for their current situation, and the conflict ignorance invoked back on that mysterious night, was recalled by his body intensely in this magnificent moment.
With great gratitude. For now, he had vanished the confusion clouding his chest and could enjoy the instances with the conscious and loved Lady... That one he had followed blindly. Solely directed by the beastly instincts residing within him, that from the very first moment she was caught by his violaceous auroras... Its wildness manifested... with thirst and cravings so very different, so very elating and dazing; that at this time the Prince could enjoy even as he resisted the impulse to take her for himself in the yearnful embrace of his arms.
’The sound of people... it’s slowly fading... My Lady...’ — Zeleskiaz told his beloved in secrecy, for it was his wish to maintain the touch until the impossible arrived. — ’Yet... It is I who is sleeping in your eyes... Such a sly action you have made me do... solely to feel how my heat makes your fingertips as appetizing as your lips... those I wish to relish my soul in, My Love...’
The strength of his affection became suffocating as it danced in his chest. Causing his body to tense and, consequently, produce the Crown Prince’s hand to grasp her hand much tenderly as he dismissed the closure of his lids for he could not resist only the sensation... but he wanted to see her fairness that kindly was accepting this selfish scheme he placed on them.
Naturally, as it was expected of the thrill of having the view of her body’s lines, his gaze first saw their anxious hands that fiddled involuntarily. To then, follow the length of her soft limb of clean skin, reaching the visage of a woman he had thought was facing other ways... yet had done the same as Zeleskiaz’s stares had at the light movement his once unshakeable hand had made from the feelings he concealed in his heart.
A difficult melody commenced to be played by his being’s core once their eyes met.
The Lady’s entrancing coals appeared like precious gems that contained hypnotising sweetness and pureness. One that contrary to their gentle nature invoked a disruptive sound of his heartbeat that menaced his breathing so marvellously with every glance and flutter of her lashes.
Once again... he swallowed aghast at the filling sensation invading his soul and body. Barely vanquishing his features under sanity’s control that was menaced by how the world was sensed as a thick essence of paradisaic exuberance, that grew further and further, by each flicker of time, influencing every speck composing his being.
The moisture was, thankfully, the aid the Crown Prince needed to at least manage his breathing to continue granting him life and finally speak to the mystic woman whose dainty gaze had fallen to watch their hands, glancing back at the man with unsure eyes.
’He... His eyes seem surprised... Perhaps he’s shocked... for falling asleep... like this...’ — The woman conceived, wishing to excuse his silence as the carriage leaving Dahlka, the Empire’s Capital, also granted the quiet of dying cheers saying farewells to the Ninth’s march.
"... Your..." — Zeleskiaz managed to say without much thought, searching his psyche desperately for some other excuse, some other distraction... Anything that would permit them to keep as they were for slightly longer.
Swallowing again as their eyes met to say. — "Your home is not that far from the Capital, I believe..."
’.....umh... w- what the hell...?’ — Marianne thought, conflicted at how he avoided mentioning what he should have. Lowering her head to secretly question his actions pointing at the problem. — ’Shouldn’t you... take it away? Apologise for kidnapping my hand and then talk about other stuff??... Are you really not... letting go...?’
The reminder he had mentioned was truthfully more cause of turmoil for the woman.
Uncertainty awaited her in her bloodline’s territory. And she had kept concealed within her corners great concern for at that place a visit much different to that one the Lady awaited in the Palace could happen at night. Yet... what saddened her was not what such a visit entailed, but what it lacked.
’You’ll have to let go at some point... and we won’t see each other for some time after that kinky...’ — Lifting her head as she finished, Marianne kept her eyes on him to close them and nod. — ’The duchy isn’t that far as you said.’
"I will..." — Zeleskiaz commenced short of breath from the undescribable emotion he saw on the woman’s hues. Regardless, he continued, desperate like the time he asked for a piece to be danced at the Ball. — "I... May I visit the Lady?"
"..."
"I wish to pay a visit to the Lady... Am I allowed to do so?"
The heartfelt request invited his hand to squeeze hers, hoping for permission. Even when he was to do it without such approval, as he already knew the path that led to her chamber’s window that faced that little forest near their manor.
Marianne could not hold his deep hues out of shyness from happiness. Her head fell to nod immediately in acceptance. Relieved for she had been waiting for the man to say this since he knew their scheduled encounters would end once she left the Palace.
’Please do...’ — She responded in her insides. — ’I truly... I’ve been wanting to hear you say that... Ever since the Duke said we were going back.’