Chapter 271: Chapter 271
It was overwhelming as everything she made him experience. However, the sight of his beloved leisurely peeking at her notes forced Zeleskiaz to forbid any imaginary conflict, to keep the softness of her visage untouched nor disturbed by himself. Instead, on the contrary, to enhance it further as her inner brilliance was mesmerizing joy.
"The green in the Forest behind the house will be the Lady’s source of awe. I can assure you that your drawings will only make them more splendid, my Lady."
"..."
[ Thank you. I shall portray many sights to show the Prince later. ]
"... When are you intended to leave for the forest, if I may ask?"
’... it’s odd to feel happy and sad at the same time because you asked this, kinky...’ — She thought for a moment as words were contemplated to write.
[ A pair of days after arriving today. Solely so I can rest this travel. ]
’... So soon?... that is odd.’ — Zeleskiaz thought to himself.
"I see... if so, the Lady’s whereabouts are prone to change."
[ I believe that is the case. ]
An impulse to tell her his hidden intentions almost left his lips at the sorry demeanour she now carried in her hues. Still, with a downy countenance, dejection was visible in the woman. The Crown Prince battled the instinct to confess his schemes for the long moment of silence that followed her message. Ultimately continuing their conversation with another rushed idea.
"Lady Marianne, it may seem sudden, yet looking at your stack, I have recalled something I left in them the night of the Ball."
The mention of the busy Ball made her lightly flinch, as many memories had been roaming her mind with disruptive images of passionate exchanges, during the days he had been keeping his distance.
’No. He’s not talking about that. Don’t go there traitor head of ours!’
Dismissing the memories with desperate order Marianne blinked multiple times to appear calm. Waiting to listen to the rest of what the Crown Prince was about to tell.
"Have you perhaps ripped the page? I would like to see it and show the Lady."
’... I... couldn’t rip it.’ — She confessed in secrecy. Handing the stack for him to find it.
"... this... Umh... Did the lady notice my attempt to resemble your small sketches?"
Peeking at her for permission to seat closer to show her, Zeleskiaz moved nearer in composed enthusiasm, pointing at the corner of the note he had left after departing her chambers whilst her slumber maintained her unconscious.
"I aimed to imitate the Lady’s... Yet, after talking about the difficulty of portraying people, this clumsy attempt was reminded."
’hehe... I did notice... it’s not that bad, kinky~’
Entertainment quickly was lit again on the woman, whose smile deepened in outside manifestation as a shy hand tried to hide it at the charming topic he had provided.
"... The eyes are the only ones that appear nearly appropriate... Even when small, a sketch can be difficult for unskilled ones..." — Serious in his comments, he looked with a tad of shame at his shaky attempt of a smile.
"Sigh... it is truly horrendous. The light that night deceived my beliefs..."
"....."
Glancing at the man that seemed conflicted by the pauper sketch he had dedicated with pure intentions for his sleeping beloved, Marianne took a moment to consider her next actions trying to appease the fuzzy sensation his lovely concern summoned in her troubled chest.
Leaning dainty, Marianne who still held onto her pencil took the hand of the man that had drawn further as he focused on his creation.
Softly, her fingers led his hand nearer, without intention to retrieve the stack from his possession. Instead, with a shy wish to write on it the short thought she still held for the detail he had given to his message.
Right next to the attempt he deemed disgraceful, her cheeks turned rosy as she timidly wrote what would trouble the man with the same velvety sensation that made her gain youthful colour.
[ It is cute. ]
Shyness restricted her eyes from meeting his straightforward. And he who observed... did not know if he was grateful for such action.
’It is disrupting how even this kindness you show is not enough for my enamoured soul... I am greedy. For your everything, my Lady.... Yet I am to endure...’
"If the lady believes it is... then I am glad to fail."
"..."
"..."
He could tell that his words could lead them back into the dangerous tension he liked to indulge in the Lady’s presence. A silence as brief as a breath was preserved between the youthful pair, almost muffling the noise their carriage made as it moved with its intense influence.
The determined Zeleskiaz swallowed the enticing impulses his body demanded. Leaning to her side with great effort, for he was closing the distance she had retrieved after writing the shy thoughts.
Seemingly innocent, he moved gracefully. Although his next suggestion was one that would ensure a closeness that would be dismissed otherwise. Hence... a suggestion the impatient man had crafted as an excuse to indulge in some interaction with the Lady, even if it was not the passionate one he wished to caress her in was told.
"Maybe the Lady could teach me." — Flickering his thirsty of love gaze, unconsciously seductive and conflicting to the woman, Zeleskiaz’s husky tone conveyed an unexpected activity. — "... Perhaps, that way my letters will not be as shameful as this message."
A friendly smile emerged on the man who truthfully laughed at himself on the inside. For he was baffled to admit at his actions the foolishness his enamoured self had arrived to.
’I cannot even feel ashamed at my actions anymore... each is worthy... Let me be foolish for eternity if it means I can feel the vibrating essence of your soul, my Lady...’
The scene of the frail woman, giggling in her tender silence that solely conveyed her timid amusement with the lovely lift of her corners... as she shrank in fluster at the Prince’s sayings was the sole reason Zeleskiaz required to forbid any care he could have for sanity.
Shy, she covered her pleased lips without meeting the gaze that had stunned her with its brilliant softness and thought to herself, accordingly with the man, for she also judged his ways as foolish... but fell for them with delight as the charm did make her spirit resonate in wondrous shapes.
’Such a silly suggestion~ haha!... So silly... could even be useless... but, sigh... this Prince has the charm.’ — Marianne’s stares came to meet her escort’s, whose closeness easily lifted anxiety. One she enjoyed and would continue to permit as long as the adorable man was a source of flutter for the souls within her body.
Her delicate hand moved consequently.
[ The Prince’s letter was not shameful, yet this practice suggestion you request, I accept. ] — Amid the nervousness from the Prince’s warmth, Marianne wrote wishing to enjoy the thrill the rest of the journey would have.
’You trained my voice during our visit... so I may as well train your hand this one time, adorable male lead.’
Her cheeks flushed at the thought while she also observed the handwriting on the stack he still held. Forcing her to take his hand to write... However, for once, she took unconscious advantage of the situation.
Relishing in the feel of a fresh warmth from their brushing limbs... her fingertips drew away from the stack, wistfully caressing the palm of the Prince before meeting the hyacinth hues that watched hers as entranced by the alluring graze.
"... Thank you..." — The man dazedly uttered. Thanking not her agreement, but the touch that tickled his enamoured heart.