Chapter 204: Chapter 204
Inhale...
Taking her scent with strength, Zeleskiaz’s arms enveloped the Lady tightly inside them. Entranced as the divine delight conquered him; feeling as though his soul was the one surrounding her, weightless like the wind ought to do when finding her in nature.
’Such enthralling sensation... I missed you, My Lady... That is all I can discern from the vast, undefined... Indefinite, emotions you provoke.’
"....."
’... I missed you...’
"!"
The light peck of his lips on her head made her flinch. Yet, he smirked, mischievous at her tiny reflex, quickly taking action before she pushed him aside.
Swish...
As if their first dance was repeating, he swirled with her in his arms with a closer hold. And invaded by the delight, he gifted the smile she unknowingly bewitched him with.
"Thank you, My Lady."
"~..~~..." — ’Wwa– Gaaah! Don’t cheat!! Haha!’
Marianne inwardly stuttered at the entertaining lift and height she reached.
Letting her down where no furniture would hinder her landing, the Prince ended the granted petition, joyfully at the adorable squeeze of her hand on his shoulder.
Wistful to finish their meeting with the spice of a promise, Zeleskiaz leaned near her ear solely for a whisper in her distraction.
"I’ll meet you at breakfast."
"..!.."
Stealthy, he walked away without losing sight of her bewildered eyes. Only to give a last glance before disappearing behind the thick curtains concealing the blessed platform.
*******
’Breathe... Breathe!’
Fuuuuu.....
"....." — ’... What in the lemon caramels???... Did that just happen??’
"..."
’He’s a pro... Marianne, I swear he shouldn’t be like this. I mean... as I recall...’
Oh goodness. Maybe I’m mixing stories?... The possibility of a novel sharing the same names of most characters is high, right?... Right?
Not right..... Unless!... It’s a fanfic!
’That’s right, haha! I’m in the parallel world of a parallel world! Where he’s a completely different person! Sensually dreamy instead of Sensually scary!’
"....."
’... I’m desperate, Anne. If you knew what the multiverse is, you would understand how soothing this crazy talk is!!’
Kuuugh... This is so confusing... He made me falter for a moment there...
What are we? Adolescents in the prime of their youth?
.....
Marianne is indeed eighteen, though.
’.....’
Now that I think about it... How old is he again??
"..."
’Hey~ Marianne~ You know~ It might seem interesting, tehee... But, Just out of curiosity since you belong here and all... Do you perhaps (by pure chance I mean) know how old this supposed heir to the Throne is??’
"________"
’mhmm~? I’m listening(?)’
Judge me all you want, sweetheart. I’m not backing down. Shamelessness is not purely trained, it’s a birth feature too.
I can cope with that pejorative vibe you’re trying to drown me in with a simple wink, and even provoke further annoyance in you.
Don’t underestimate twenty-eight years of polishing.
As shameless as I am, I also am efficient at it.
’Hmm~? Sweetheart~? Darling~? You know, right~? Tell me~ cutie pieee~?... My baby red panda? My favourite teenager?..... B*tch?.... Cheap B*tch?!?’
"!!"
’Oh?? Oho~? Such a nice girl~’ — Feeling how our body was pulled to move, I knew my petition was to be answered.
’...’
So. This is quite interesting... If I insult her I can get information like this much quicker... Weird. But good to know.
She probably dislikes it when I start saying those kinds of words. Therefore, she immediately gives in so I don’t say them, fufu~
• New knowledge acquired •
We took the post-it notes that were dropped on the couch and, deciding to ignore her obvious annoyance at my easy victory, I watched how our hand wrote the number.
[ 23 ]
"....."
’... D*ng~... he’s young... I mean... Not for you Anne. This means he’s five years older than you babe, so I think it’s a good age gap~’
But he’s also five years younger than my real self... And that’s somehow an entirely different issue...
Heh... Suddenly I feel like I’m committing fraud.
... Not like I care, though.
I honestly slay gurl~
To get that sour eye candy at my age? Dayum~! I would be praised back in my world. I only need huge wealth and I could be his sugar mommy, PhwAhaHa!...
... Just kidding.
He will have an Empire. I can’t compete with that.
"..."
’..... So twenty-three...’ — Turning back to a bit of a serious mode, since Marianne seemed slightly concerned as she transmitted a restless sensation to our chest, I pondered on his age joining her indefinite sensation.
"..."
As if sending a soft nod of confirmation, I felt a tiny push. Feeling something similar to our chest making the air filling the void inside it, swirl to transmit her responses.
Nonetheless, even if I wanted to be on the same wavelength as her current mood... after being so bummed these days I can’t hold back my true self from ruining my attempt.
’Sorry, but..... Why was it that I asked his age? I can’t recall, hehe...’
"___"
’I said I’m sorry~ sweetheart~... I know how you feel. We don’t share a body for nothing, you know?’
"..."
’However, we gain nothing pondering on what this weird uneasiness is. I’m as ignorant as you are about it.’
"...?"
’Really, I swear! I can’t know it all, sweetie... Although I do know a lot of stuff, that doesn’t mean I’m omnipotent.’
"..."
’..... Marianne...’ — Feeling how a sensation I knew too well was sent... although I could also feel how she wanted to hide it, I called for her, slightly saddened.
The "I wish I also could" kind of sensation was unwillingly sent through the thin wall separating us in her body.
Probably she felt like that because I don’t pay mind to what I can’t solve or get an answer to, just by thinking about it without a clue to follow... And I get it. She’s not like me in that sense.
She probably can’t be, after living the life she lived.
I wonder... Is she on that stage I once was at?
Trying to understand everything that happened to me; the reasons, the thoughts of the people making me doubt... If what my eyes and ears... hands and thoughts felt, were truly the correct conceptions to have about everything surrounding me...
The foolish phase of mine.
...
’Sweetheart?’
"?"
’I do know that feeling you just gave me.’
A soft smile from my soul... I wanted to give her a wholehearted one as I teach her a few things that wander in my head from time to time.
’You’re not me, Anne.’
"... . .."
Ah... I feel her tearing up...
’And I’m also not you.’
A sensation I thought Paul was the only one who could make her feel emerged.
A scared trembling, desperately trying to restrain itself, came up from her at my blunt words. Although I tried saying it in a fond tone.
We closed our eyes and even when feeling her shake like that, I continued.
’But that’s alright, my cute girl... What you aren’t, I am... And what I’m not... You are... The two of us have been making a new us together this whole time, see?’
Lightly lifting our hand, I showed her.
’This is your hand, isn’t it? But see? It also responds to me.’
"..."
’We share our thoughts and feelings... Our concerns and delights... That’s all we are.’
I felt the shared hollow in our chest suffocate for a second. Marianne was not convinced. And I can’t blame her.
Two souls in one body, wishing to mix yet can’t... She’s not the type who fights to get the goal.
If she were...
The situation I found when I arrived wouldn’t have been as it was.
’Yeah..... I know that too. Although we are together we’re also separated...’
"... .. . .. . .."
My affirmation pained her, but that’s alright.
’Therefore... You just need to get infected, sweetheart.’
Our heartbeats felt energetic yet still chaotic from her confusion. My words were indeed weird but she was able to understand. I was infecting her as I told her, and vice-versa, I was getting infected as she listened.
’As long as we share this body of yours, we can infect each other with our everything. I’ll get infected by the innocence you ooze and I lack, as you get the shamelessness you need and I can leisurely gift~ You’ll catch my "I don’t care unless it’s food" illness and I will catch your "Manners make a Lady" skills~ I’m also aiming for the "nice and soft character" you have~ You have made it obvious that my bad mouthed tantrums need to tone it down a notch... But I think we should get to more of a middle ground in that aspect... Sometimes people do deserve a nice cussing... but... I’m just saying~ just giving a few ideas~’
If she were ruder, a scared flinch wouldn’t happen to each bad word I say.
"...."
Slowly, my friend pondered in my sayings, but I could feel how she liked it.
The idea of complimenting each other as if what she finds useful in me was an illness... I bet she found that idea outrageously funny. She was happy now. Just as I was.
’So infect yourself thoroughly with my indifference at this uncertain sensation we get from the Prince. It will become clear with time. That’s how it sometimes is with emotions. So don’t worry, sweetheart~... Hehe! Isn’t it wonderful that we have each other? Look how fast we solve things!’
"~~"
’You know what? I feel like we haven’t talked properly in a while after all that’s happened... I guess the two of us were a bit concerned...’
"~!"
’I know, right!? It was just so annoying to be ignored like that~ There are some people we don’t have another choice but to put up with it. But guuurl~ You say he’s twenty-three?? He should just say he’s troubled and save us the concern~ Unlike us, his mouth works just fine, so-..... Okay, young Lady, don’t share your flashbacks when it’s beside the point. I meant he can TALK! He can TELL us and-... Ouff, you d*mn maiden!!! Now I’m recalling unnecessary things!!’