Chapter 298: Chapter 298
I gave the letter to the Duke since I wanted to share their funny sayings.
And as expected, he laughed softly at it, probably glad to see that we had made friends of those two.
"... Haha, these children... They are already expecting your visit, dear. At the very least the dress’s issue is already solved if the Princess wishes to join you in it."
His hand came again to lay on my shoulder, giving me a peck on the side of the head and stroking my arm affectionately.
’His affection keeps escalating. All I’m grateful about is that he hasn’t been carrying us around like a baby. If he does that, this daughter will have to put a stop to this fool of a father.’
There have been moments where I’ve gone into my "corner" when he decides to pamper us and Marianne feels eager to be pampered.
At this point, I’m not sure if it’s a good thing. Since she might become more of a daddy’s girl... But I can’t get myself to deny this from my baby red panda...
She always feels so delighted I just can’t. And it’s fine if she’s a daddy’s girl. As long as she has me, I’m certain she won’t turn into the dumb kind of daddy’s girl at least... so on that side, we should be safe.
Soon after, Paige and a pair of other servants came to join us to set the picnic lunch I suggested doing a few times... Which turned into an everyday thing.
It’s not bad. I think that since we are so close to nature we should just make the most of it and enjoy it as much as we can.
’Back in my world, it would suffice with seeing a picture on the phone. Many people wouldn’t go out, including myself.’
If not for Granny Martha the only outside I would get to feel would have been the park twice a week, the pastry shop and my way to the office...
’Here I have no phone so I better look at nature face to face, haha.’
I would be stupid if I stayed home with the sights this place has, to be honest. We even have the resources to travel, which I didn’t have in my past life.
The lunch was tasty and the meat was right on point. Apparently, it was deer meat and I had never tried it so it was simply a new flavour.
I did feel bad after learning about it... Deers are cute, but one has to eat in a historical kind of setting.
’The forest let you be hunted... I’ll not let it be in vain.’ — I told to the imaginary deer in my head to drown the guilt of eating b*mbi.
Vitor, Thomas, Paige and the two other servants ate with us, which made lunch more lively in my eyes. Having a lot of people at the "table" is really nice and more so if they are people one is comfortable with.
Once we finished, the Duke and the servants left after cleaning up. Paige would come back later, but Vitor was to always stay near me.
I rested for a bit and then decided to take a little walk to digest the food.
[ I will go for a stroll. Do you want to join me today, Sir Vitor? ] — Giving Vitor a note, I informed him as usual.
"..... I will stay."
I had been inviting him every day, but only once he accepted. It seems like he feels lazy after lunch, so he would always answer the same thing every time.
At first, I thought he wasn’t doing his job but he explained to me the first time he said no that he could sense a certain radius around him. So if I was about to leave that radius he would immediately move so he could still track my whereabouts.
’My bodyguard is like a GPS, hehe~’
I gave him a graceful nod and went off on my own. It might seem like he’s cold but that’s just how he is. Vitor has been really nice, even if he doesn’t talk much my knight is always near and answers me if I ask him things. He’s also very careful and well-mannered, he’s basically a sweet buff guy. But I have yet to feel comfortable calling him just Vitor on my notes. He’s a knight after all. So it feels like a shame not to call him by such an awesome title.
I went off as informed.
Slowly at my usual pace, I looked around the places I walked through intensely. Many colours could be found, with wildflowers and trunks of trees filled with their seed’s life.
Going by the labyrinth it appeared to be with so many tall trees emerging wonderfully from this fertile ground, I would touch the many textures I found interesting. Although not those I had never seen before as well as any mushroom since I knew that nature also could be dangerously deathly with its beauty.
’Siiiiiiigh... this place really... It’s just too nice to be real... It’s like a daydream but I know that nature hides many things we cannot even imagine.’
Maybe I should have travelled more... I know there are as magical places as this one in the world I am from.
"...f.. hhh..... a..." — ’Hehe, we’re getting better too.’
Hearing the bare whiff of air we could manage to utter with our strained jaw, I also made another sound. I sincerely smiled at it since this could have never been possible a few weeks ago.
I feel proud of my improvement and now I just take these strolls to hum some songs... Beautiful songs that make me feel more bonded with this untouched place.
’It’s not winter but...’ — Thinking of the song I wanted to sing, I smiled, starting to hum as the lyrics were recalled.
’Walking in my sleep... Like these naked trees~’
"hm.. Mhmm~mhm...’
’Will they wa~ke up one day~?... If they do... what have they dreamed~?’ — Changing the lyrics as I walked, caressing the same trees I could picture from the song, I felt more inspired while singing in my head... While humming this seemingly sad song that now I want to feel differently.
"mhmhm..hm~mm...hmmm~mm.."
’Feel it as the wind~... filled of leaves... it strokes my skin... Hm?’
Bending at the sight of a tiny pond at the birth of the tree I was surrounding, I stopped singing.
’Would you look at this? Haha... !? Oh my God! Anne, there is a tiny frog! Ah.’ — Finding a tiny frog hopping near, it dived into the... Pond...
Huh? Wait, this is... this feels like Deja Vu???
— And so, the tiny frog dived into the pond to meet his family. —
’OMG!!! It’s just like that book I glanced through on my first visit to the library!! Wahaha Hahahah!! What the–?! Hahaha! Oh my gosh! This is so funny!’
To think I would laugh only by finding a frog! This is awesome~
Standing thrilled by the coincidence, I walked away to avoid the pond while glancing at it truly entertained at how the world works in wonderful ways.
’Really, I’m too easy to please~ isn’t it awesome? It was so tiny and pretty~’ — I told Marianne while holding our hands behind our back, honestly relaxed by the gifts and laughs this place was giving us.
But then again... it would keep surprising us.
"Careful where your steps go."
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"I wouldn’t want for the Lady to fall."