Chapter 287: Chapter 287
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"Maid." — Meeting Paige as she went back to the quarters to return the aid goods servants kept, Zeleskiaz made it in time before she disappeared into the hidden corridors behind the magnificent stairs in the Main Hall. — "Give me a piece of bandages before you leave."
"!? Yes, Your Highness... Umh... If it is not impolite of me to ask... Have thou gained an injury...?" — Closing the distance in flustered hast, the maid hesitatingly inquired.
"... No. I am fine."
His cold response as he took the bandages, made Paige feel nervous. However, in his indifference, he continued the conversation... only to demand information on her ladyship.
"How is the lady."
"!... My Lady requested to be left alone, however, I am sure–"
"Don’t bother her... I will take my leave now. Follow her request... Paige (?)"
"... Yes, Your Highness... Have a safe return. Let Fenrir walk beside you." — Dejected, the young maid conveyed her sadness at the Prince’s departure. Thinking about her gentle lady, Paige felt uneasy to be the one informing her of the Crown Prince’s departure.
Nonetheless, the man before her, although quite serious, contrary to how she had done, repeated once more the instruction after wrapping his hand in the given bandages. Conveying in the audacious confidence of his height the same essence she indicated previously as an accomplice.
"... Remember not to bother her."
"...!!"
It took the young maid a second for her eyes to widen. And as he noticed she had understood his meanings, Zeleskiaz gave her his back to receive the ferocious nods of the bewildered maid, covering her mouth to contain the excitement.
’Goodness!!’ — She thought.
As the great entrance closed by his own hand and at the cue of its sound she walked the original path she should have walked. Flustered and happy, for she knew...
’My lady will be delighted! The Prince! Hehe~ The Prince truly likes my lady~ kyaa!!’ — Giddy, she hugged the box she carried back, greatly elated.
And meanwhile, he who had found an unexpected ally in the Lady’s maid... He thanked the woman who quickly understood and was willing to help him with her silence.
Smoothly, his skills were used to fool the eyes and senses of the knights that were to escort him back to his Royal residence. And walking a path he had not crossed before, Zeleskiaz made it to the side of the manor he knew truly well, that if he rushed a bit more, the place where her window was... would eventually become visible and her delectable scent would become marvellously stronger. Signalling her lovely presence being near.
Cautious to not be found even though unspoken permission had been given, the Crown Prince observed the gap placed high in the wall. That one they had stood by before any distasteful occurrence interrupted.
"Aah... I can tell... You are near that window, my love..."
Looking around, he then smirked content, for in his surveyance, he understood that reaching that window was easy for his skill.
Taking slight distance he jumped to lay one foot on a salient column of the wall giving another jump with a new impulse to, barely, yet sufficiently reach the edge of her window he would easily climb for his physic allowed it.
"Huuff..." — He breathed out, taking in her chamber’s sights once again as he stood on the window’s edge.
Nonetheless... He had to search for the woman, for he somehow missed her presence on the chair at first... and once he came back to it...
"Was this too big of a surprise to my Lady?" — The Prince joyfully smiled, for the woman’s wide eyes could not even blink from stupefaction.
His words woke her from the daze and terrified, Marianne stood from the chair, hurriedly to nervously move her hands. Pale because of the dangerous place he nonchalantly stood on.
’What are you doing!!?! Get down! Get down!!! You could fall, kinky!!’
Amazed at her motion, the man hopped down falling right before her, making her flinch from another surprise as his hands took careful hold of her wrists.
"It’s fine... I am already on the same ground as you, my Lady... Forfeit the concern from your eyes..."
’... Ah... Uh... Y–Yeah... I got it. It just.. surprised... Me...’
Her inner voice answered as it lowered its intensity at the sights of him she now realised... as well as the little distance they currently enjoyed.
"... The red on your hand... Does it hurt?" — Sad eyes of the man remained fixated on her skin, careful not to touch the harmed place with the fingers that still caressed her limb lovingly.
’! Ah– er... No... I-it doesn’t.’
Shaken by the sight... The confused Marianne denied any pain, for the scene of his fingers on her, made the red ache for his touch instead of harm.
"It doesn’t?"
’... It doesn’t...’
"Truly... my Lady?"
’..... T–truly...’ — Nervous, she answered inwardly without a gesture to convey it.
Because she was dazed... Dazed by the scene of the man whose mouth talked to her hand as his hues seduced her unconsciously.
Yet timely enough... He realised the danger of himself. Lowering her arms as he gave a step back, although without intention to release the skin of the woman.
"As long as my Lady is not hurting... I can–..!?" — As soft as his voice was, her hand was the one interrupting his words now.
Surprising him this time with her motion. Showing a truly concerned expression with her eyes and brows in the usually stiffened visage of a beautiful woman... As colour left her because sight was found of the bandage wrapping his clearly swollen finger.
’Kinky! What is this?! How–!?... Ugh... It looks so swollen...!! Why is he... You’re who should be in pain... Why...’
The sad eyes, this time on the woman... they entranced the Prince only a tad stronger than his did to the Lady.
Yet he could speak... And he would convey the thoughts born from the mesmerizing scene that complicatedly pained and delighted his spirit in so hazardous manner.
"No... Lady... Such gaze... Please do not portray it..."
’... So it’s showing?’ — Releasing her other hand from his hold she gently came to take his injured palm. Careful not to touch the finger. As she continued to speak solely for herself to hear. — ’That’s good... At least you know... how much I... I...’
Coming to meet his also troubled gaze... Marianne decided not to say any more of what her whole self felt.
"... I apologise..." — Still conflicted, he said. Looking deeply into her eyes as his corners still lifted because of the correct understanding he deemed from her concern. — "Please do not think badly of my delight, my Lady..... Please be aware that it is not born from entertainment to see your concerned expression..."
Coming closer as his injured hand twisted carefully to let it rest on Marianne’s cheek, as her hands still held onto it; Zeleskiaz breathed out, entranced by the lock of their hues. Conveying the whole truth within the secrecy of his heart.
’It is solely... the words on your stack... I can see their honesty as clearly as I remember them... ’I care for the crown prince’... My Lady... My Love... I am terribly sorry... That I feel so happy about this expression you show for me this time...’