Chapter 364: Chapter 364
It was nice to cross gazes with the duchess after that lady asked this.
The way she tried to stay composed was nice to witness while we looked as calm as a glass of water. As we should be since it’s her who should feel troubled.
"... She has remained the same. Nothing has changed."
"Oh goodness, remained the same? She is not a baby anymore, that at least has changed has it not? Ohohoho~"
’Nice job, Lady Felicia. As expected of a senior...’ — I inwardly congratulated that old lady. She has given quite the cues for the others to start more gossip. And so, I drank my tea, peeking at the Duchess wondering what she would say.
"Indeed she is not a baby anymore... yet the inside does not change even after years. She has remained... just the same."
"..."
An awkward silence followed her answer, because there was no smile nor interest in her tone, and moreover, it conveyed she didn’t like the topic after she glanced at me with clear contempt. However, I had quite the backup to my side that made it so her response would turn on her.
"Hmm. Although it is odd for a person to remain the same after growing old naturally... it is somehow befitting if it is lady Marianne who we have in mind."
’... Keep talking Princess, whatever this is I like where it’s going.’ — Glancing at her, I saw the princess graciously smile as she spoke. Provoking hope in me that her comment would tick off the Duchess since she’s good at that.
"Just borns are the purest... As I have shared time with the Lady, it is my belief she has as pure a soul. Kind and patient... Even adorable at times. Very likeable I ought to add." — Taking a near teapot, as she said this, the princess then turned towards me. Elegantly refilling my cup of tea... probably wishing to settle an example. — "Your cup, let myself refill it..."
"!? The Princess served her tea!"
"As I was saying my ladies, such could be the meanings in the Duchess’s statements. Lady Marianne has remained uncorrupted."
"My goodness! They must be close for the Princess to do this much!" — Little murmurs could be heard and yet were ignored. More so as I caught a glimpse of the discomfort in Marianne’s Mother that answered while trying to hide it by sipping on her tea.
"Well... You could say that. Yes."
’Pff! Control that eyebrow Duchess~~ it’s twitching like you got a tic~ hwhahawha! That’s what you get!’
Happy to get this easy revenge, I smiled softly, bowing to the Princess and sipping on my tea, feeling it was the most delicious even if not as hot as I would usually like it.
"... Lady Marianne." — However, then the Princess discreetly leaned to tell me, so no one would listen. — "I hope my intervention will not trouble you. The ladies will believe we are close friends... yet I consider it was the correct thing to do."
"....."
Her comment made me pause for a while, trying to process what she had said... because in a way... Maybe because I’m dumb... it didn’t make sense in my head.
’... We weren’t close friends???’ — In the end, I thought. Wondering if it’s one of those times one discovers you’ve been hanging a lot with someone and they don’t really think of you as a friend... but you do.
’uh... nah~ no way... we are, aren’t we? I mean, I thought it was implicit (?)... We’ve been drinking tea together every afternoon! We don’t always talk but we’re together a lot! Isn’t that being close!?!??’ — I continued thinking, now a bit troubled cause I’m too old to be having this kind of teenage troubles... although I’m a youngster physically... — ’... But no. Wait a minute.’
It was then that I decided to take a look at her. And somehow, I understood what was going on.
This girl...
’She’s freaking asking for confirmation that it’s like that...’
If I think about it, she is quite proper even if blunt. With her Mother, the Empress, I have seen she becomes slightly more youthful and loosens up her strict demeanour. With me, she is always gentle even if blunt in her opinions... but people like her won’t assume until it’s said in this kind of stuff!
Therefore, as I put my brain to work around this, I wrote on my stack. So she won’t mess around with my head anymore.
’Let’s make it official.’ — Handing the post-it notes, I thought.
[ Did I misunderstand, Princess Jasmine? ]
"? What has been misunderstood?"
’I’ll make you feel bad for this... it’s not nice to ask the obvious, dumb princess.’
[ For my understanding, the Princess and I were indeed close friends. Was that not the case? If so, then I would understand your caution while hoping I would not mind... ]
"! I... ahem... L-Lady Marianne, you did not misunderstand... it is I who expressed myself wrongly..... W-we are close friends."
’..... Wow... wooah... I-isn’t she really happy?? She’s fighting her smile! I didn’t expect cuteness from her!’ — Slightly weirded out since her reaction was unexpected, I also felt shy. As if I was making my first friend ever even though I had Paige, Vitor and Dioclecià already...
Oh. Perhaps... was it because when I talk to Dioclecià I don’t use honorifics?? I do still call her princess... could it be that?
’Heh. No way... right?’ — Now I don’t really know...
"... If I may say, as it is my sister who you ladies have inquired on, truthfully, she has indeed never changed." — Suddenly as my head was drifting thinking of the Princess’s interpretations, I heard Theressa join the conversation. — "Marianne has always been just as you see her. Nothing more, nothing less... sister has always been just how she appears."
’... What does that–’
"That is quite vague a description... is there a reason for such little elaboration on a family member’s character?" — Then, Lady Felicia, doing her doings, asked. More strict than before.
Making me nervous, because... Theressa isn’t giving me a good vibe. Less than usual.
"Well, there is simply not much to say. Sister Marianne’s condition has made it a hazard for our family as you may well imagine..."
’W-what...’
"Even so, we have done our very best to supply what is needed so our bond will not be lost because of her lack of words... Marianne being mute and expressionless... Honestly, I would appreciate for the ladies to not judge us on this matter..."
’What is she doing??’
As I watched her act pitiful while saying this, I was bewildered from disbelief. After all...
"Mother also dislikes talking about this..."
It was obvious.
"Yet it has been so difficult! Sniff... it breaks our hearts to talk about these matters that have been a constant struggle to our family..."
She was using this chance to play the good little sister... leave me as if incompetent... and make the women drop the topic.
"ah! Do excuse these tears... I become emotional while recalling... Sister’s condition saddens me greatly..."