Chapter 179: Chapter 179
Silence reigned.
Orland had been intently listening to the short exchange and, letting the pause set in their ambience, he sipped his wine leisurely to moisten his throat to convey the words that followed.
Giving a glance at the main topic of the conversation, he noticed without difficulty the nervous state his two dear daughters were in. One anxious by being who the Prince referred to, letting a tiny drop of sweat demonstrate her fluster as her visage did not change its expression. And the other, certainly uneasy for once again the Prince made less of her.
"... Indeed. My daughter Marianne has an exhausted tone. Yet I must differ with his highness’s statement."
"..." — Lifting his gaze from his cup, Zeleskiaz moved it to watch the Gracious Duke.
"Theressa’s company could be a part of it. Yes... However, if I am to blame someone... It would be You and Francois, Crown Prince."
Clatter!
"Father–!!" — Standing from her seat, horrified by her Father’s threatening attitude, Theressa turned pale. Once watching how impassive he was at her outburst, she flinched; aware that at that moment her Father had come to a point of anger she did not wish to prod in.
His eyes were cold as dying ashes, his countenance seemed relaxed, yet his inner temperature was escalating from rage.
’Marianne could barely stand a few days ago. And a simple afternoon with her sister is to blame for her low energy?... Don’t mess around unthoughtful brat.’
"... You mean ’His Majesty’, Duke." — Nonchalantly, Zeleskiaz answered, correcting the Duke.
’Oh God.’ — The foreigner got to say as she alternated between the two men.
"Hah."
"..." — Hearing the burlesque laugh of the Duke, Zeleskiaz scowled slightly.
"I know what I said." — Orland uttered.
Elegantly leaving the napkin on the table, the Duke then stood from his seat and aloof to what may insurance the man on the other side, he continued with contempt.
"Crown Prince, Zeleskiaz. If you so desire my daughter to be ’energetic’ whenever you meet her... Then be truly thoughtful for once, young gentleman."
’Woah woah woah! Wa–wait! S–Sir! Calm down!!’
Elizabeth felt the danger. Marianne’s body was also tense at the scene. The always soft and caring father they knew was nowhere to be found. Orland was greatly offended on his daughters’ behalf. Two of his three life’s treasures were being looked down on. No less by a shortsighted Prince whose violence was known all over the Empire.
"... Such defiance..." — The Prince smirked drinking the last sip of his wine, preparing to stand, irked by the Duke’s hostility.
The two Sisters crossed eyes and, in a split second, the two understood each other.
’We have to stop this!’ — The three girls in unison agreed.
And so, the unique child, the older soul of the three women took action.
Knowing that it was up to her to bring this situation to an end because of how frozen Theressa, her little sister, appeared to be. Standing between the two men who once were each seating at her sides, she sent a clear message asking for help with her confused eyes.
’Sister do something!’ — The girl’s expression told her. Fearing a battle breaking out at any moment.
’I– I got it!!’
She had no true plan in mind, yet that wouldn’t stop her. In her mind, the possibility of someone dying was too real thanks to the memories of the story she had read previously.
Therefore, she stood quickly from her seat aiming to bring attention to her in the meantime by the noise of her seat. However...
’Sto–!!... Uh? Wh–....?..?’
Instant dizziness came over her from the rushed movement. Falling right back on her seat fighting to keep her eyes open because of her low pressure.
"Marianne!"
"S– Sister?!"
Orland rushed to her side for her colour turned blue.
Meanwhile, Theressa covered her mouth in disbelief for the hue she had adopted was far more intense than this afternoon.
An appalling sight she had never witnessed, had been too crude in the naive child’s eyes.
"... Marianne, dear. Keep your eyes open, please. Breathe." — Orland told her, fighting the fear from taking control of his composure.
His child was colder than ever and her eyes seemed lost as they tried to follow his petition.
’Uh.....gh..... Wo..ah..... I..’
— I wasn’t planning on this —
The foreign child struggled. Ultimately, Her words couldn’t take form of clear thoughts anymore.
"..... M– Ma.. Marianne...?"
The Duke’s voice broke for a moment.
A horrifying and grieving void opened in his chest instantly.
His hands trembled. The sight he was being shown... Was one he feared for years.
A thin, yet thick in colour liquid was falling from her nose.
’Blood?... No. No... no no no. No!’
Graving her in a rushed impulse, he turned to the Frozen Prince.
"Take me to the Physician!! NOW!!!!"
Even in his bewilderment, not a second passed for him to rush in front of the Duke.
"Use oryx run! We’ll make it faster!!"
"Use fulmen!!" — Giving instructions on the knight’s skill, Orland speeded up with Marianne in his arms. — "Dear, listen to me, don’t close your eyes. Don’t close them my bird... Please, please..."
Tears were welling up in his eyes as Hers kept weakly blinking... Yet... So void of light his heart was in great despair.
—..... Let’s... —
’..ke..ep..... o..en...’
The foreign child managed to tell the real Marianne.
A shared desire by the two souls was conveyed in that intermittent phrase the older gave.
Last time... They had closed them and sent their Father into hellish grief.
This time...
—... We can’t make him suffer again... —
*******
Her hand trembled in shock trying to reach the chair’s back to support herself.
’She..... She wasn’t acting...’
Theressa felt faint at how gruesome her fading colour looked in contrast with the thread of blood coming down her nose. Aware that she had reacted in an attempt to intervene in the tense menace their Father and the Prince were amassing, the young girl knew that even if she was a master at feigning innocence... Such obvious ailment could not be pretended.
Letting her body fall on the chair with difficulty, Theressa looked at the place her Sister had previously been a few seconds ago.
The image of her weak body giving out. Unable to lift her thin arms that had dropped powerless... Her Father’s despair at her unresponsive gaze... The flinch of her cheek when fortuitously her drowsy eyes met hers in a flash...
’... I... I should have told Father she didn’t seem well this afternoon...’
It had been a thoughtless desire she always let out when wishing her death. A part of the hate laid carefully within her, honestly wished for it. Yet this scene she had witnessed... after interacting with the human-like side of her statuesque Sister...
’... S–... She wouldn’t... Die..... would she?’
Her shivers continued strongly. The child felt concerned over the Sister she had been hating and hoping to harm out of jealousy.
"..... I... I should– ah."
Crash!
Stumbling as she stood, her hand dropped one of the plates on the table.
"..." — Staring at the broken porcelain, she paused for a moment.
Nonetheless...
"... I should go too..."
Taking her skirt up, she began to walk and gradually speed up.
"Take me to the physician’s!" — She demanded to one of the guards that stayed behind as she closed to the entrance.
"Yes!"
Following the man in hast, her blank mind began to fill itself with new thoughts to chant herself to find calm.
’She won’t die... Father said so..... He said she wouldn’t die because she was strong..... Sister can’t die...’
"... Not like this..."
’... Not because of me!!’
*******
CRASH!
"Talmhach!!!" — The Crown Prince’s roar resounded through the dark Palace, calling for the Royal Physician.
"!!? Your Highness?!"
"Duke Sylfin–"
"My daughter is about to faint. Her pressure is falling. Abrupt nosebleed too. She just recovered from a grave fever, she was already weak." — Walking into the physician’s office, Orland immediately gave detail of his daughter’s situation striding with no hesitation to lay her on the near mattress for patients.
"Her body is growing colder. She’s still conscious..." — Carefully placing her head on the soft pillow, his eyes met hers. — "... It’s alright, sweetie..."
The experienced specialist took measures immediately as he listened to the great report the Duke gave. Searching his office for the right concoctions, he quickly came to her side and, carefully yet hastily examining her to corroborate the report, Aindreas Talmhach proceeded to treat her... whilst in great shock at the miracle it was she was still breathing.
A concoction meant to race her fading heartbeat was forced onto her to drink, along with one that would enhance her blood’s vitality granting it the rush and strength it had suddenly lost.
"Shhh... It’s alright, dear... Dad is here... I won’t leave your side." — Orland told her as she weakly glanced at him while the Physician supplied treatment.
Stroking her forehead trying to contain his tears, Orland continued to observe her flickering eyelids, begging them with the intense presence of his soul and heart... That if they were to shut... To please open immediately after.
—... We know... Thank you, mister... —
The girl, in her frail state, could not truly discern his expression. Nevertheless, her spirit heard his words clearly in their echoing sounds and responded sincerely with the warmth of her essence.