Chapter 104: Chapter 104
’Alright... Dear Marianne... My Lady. I will say this as nicely as I can... But... If you were Paige... Would you like to walk into our room first thing in the morning and find the floor all dirtied with... THAT?’
".....!"
’That’s right. You wouldn’t, right? I know you are not used to doing this kind of labour... But girl. You can’t stay this way. We are big, independent girls. We can’t just let others clean our mess!’
"...~"
’Also, just think. If Paige finds this, won’t she find it weird?’
"....???"
’Sigh..... Sweetheart.... Look at the distance between our bed, where it would be natural to be dirty, and the place this patch is..... We are like literally five meters away from where we should be. Paige is not dumb, she will ask herself "why was Lady Marianne playing on the ground when she should be sleeping?"..... Do you get it??’
"!!!"
’That’s right. It’s weird, isn’t it? We need to be careful. She could tell the Duke and we don’t want that. We need to be clever and act well so that when the time comes...’
Ah..... The time... I wonder what kind of time it will be... If it is the time when we have to say it all.... I...
’D*mn...’
On the inside, I felt like biting my lip from nervousness. Thinking about having to tell the truth behind Marianne’s condition, I grew concerned knowing that... Those times would be extremely difficult for my girl... and her poor father.
’..uh... Anyways, we can’t just leave it like that. It’s a good thing it’s on the floor. We just need something to clean it and no one will notice... Hmm... Let’s use the towel in the restroom and–’
"~~..."
’Come on! Don’t be like this Marianne... You can’t stay as a young lady when these things happen. I know it’s gross but we have to.’
"..."
’Now, let’s go, don’t whine.’
Feeling like a mother scolding their lazy spoiled child, I made our body do the cleaning as well as I could with the dying light of the candles and after changing the stained nightgown for a new one, we went to bed.
Thankfully, that little interaction we had, where I truly seemed like the grown adult in our relationship, had alleviated the great discomfort we could have felt if we had gone to sleep right after overcoming the convulsions. Therefore, although it did take a while, we found rest sooner than expected.
*******
’Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh..... I’m dying.’
It was morning and I woke up aching all over.
Laying flat on the bed, I stared blankly again at the ceiling.
’... I also want to be the ceiling.... No... I want to be a... Spoon... No... A glass?... I could also become a chalice... I could get nice alcohol if I become a glass or a chalice....’
"..."
’I know..... It’s too early to talk nonsense.... But wouldn’t it be nice?..... I mean, we get to carry delicious drinks and look all fancy..... Ha~AaAAh~h.... I feel anaemic... I better call Paige in now.’
Without moving from my melted position on the bed, I stretched out my arm to reach the bell waiting on my night table.
I had low energy since being in this state was, as always, VERY comfortable. Therefore, I barely managed to ring it well. But, that didn’t matter. Paige has a sharp ear and, as expected from my capable lovely maid, she heard my call immediately.
Her hearing was so good that the second "ding" sounded after she knocked on the door to come inside.
’Heh... Great service as always..... I should share some deserts with her as a reward...’
"..."
’But not today... Or tomorrow...’
I’m on my period, I won’t share my sweets in this state. I need the sugar.
"Young Miss, have you had a good night?"
"...." — From my bed I watched her come in wondering if it wasn’t obvious, and as I thought the following in my head, I slightly nodded. — ’... Not really, Paige. But thanks for asking.’
I sluggishly sat down by the edge of my bed and saw how she left the new rags she brought with herself on top of the shawls drawer. I thought of asking for that tea she usually gives me to lower the pain but, that wasn’t necessary.
Our Paige is a pro, she knows everything without me having to spell it for her.
"My Lady, please give me a moment. I have prepared some herbal tea today for you to enjoy while I prepare your wardrobe. I shall go retrieve it now."
’Ah~ my Paige~ you don’t know how much I want to talk with you normally~... I’ll do my best so we can talk with spoken words and become real friends~ and then, we will finally have desserts together.’ — I told her with shiny eyes.
She went out immediately after receiving my nod in approval and, as usual, she surprised me with how fast she came back.
On the tray she came back with, a teacup and a teapot were brought. And even from the entrance, a whiff of the herbal tea’s aroma reached me without effort. The scent had a hint of bitterness in between the grassy one, and even though its taste was indeed a bit bitter, the effect it had was majestic. My nerves would calm down and my aching body would become oblivious of the discomfort little after drinking a few sips.
I also used to drink herbal teas in my past life to help in these cases, however, there is something special in this world’s herbs. If that weren’t the case, then there would be no explanation as to why I feel better a lot faster than I did when I drank this on my old body.
Meanwhile I enjoyed the tea, Paige did her duties organising today’s clothes, arranging my bath, bringing new oils, opening the curtains and so on.
She went from one side to the other of my bedroom getting everything organised so that once I finished my cup, I wouldn’t have to wait for preparations to be finished.
’Such a hardworking girl~...’ — I thought as I blissfully felt better with the miraculous tea I was drinking.
Once I had finished the teacup, we went right into business. My bath was already prepared and so, I only needed to soak in the scented water for a while and clean myself as she continued to do her thing.
However, it didn’t go so smoothly.
"Miss Marianne, I have noticed you have changed nightgowns..... However... No trace was left on My Lady’s mattress..."
’Ugh... See, Anne? I told you she’s clever.’
But, I was prepared for this question.
It’s a good thing she asked while we still haven’t gone to take our bath.
I went for the post-it notes and wrote the previously planned reason.
Although, while doing so, I thought to myself...
’Wait... Why do I bother to explain this?? I’m her master... Sigh... Maybe I’m not made to be a young Lady...’ — Knowing I didn’t need to excuse myself, but feeling bad about not doing it, I presumed myself unfit to play an arrogant Young Lady role.
Hence, without much details, simply wrote.
[ I woke just as I felt it coming. I stood up and prevented it from falling on the floor only with the gown. I do not like my bed getting stained.]
"Ah....!.. I–... Excuse my intrusion, My Lady. It was out of place for me to ask such a thing."
’Hmm? Was that not a nice way to say it????’ — I wondered by the sudden apology she gave, after reading the content of my note. — ’... Oh well, whatever.’
From then on, everything went like usual.
We waited for the Duke all cleaned and refreshed from the nice bath and tea we previously had, and in the blink of an eye, our breakfast time came.
The characteristic knock on the door from the Duke reached our ears and opening the door, we found the always anxious Duke standing outside.
"...!... Uhm... Good Morning, Dear..... Hahah..... It appears to be difficult for me to grow accustomed to be received by my daughter’s beauty every morning..." — He laughed shyly once he saw me and greeted me.
Somehow, once we met eyes, I felt a great desire to cry. I don’t really understand the meaning behind it, however, seeing his kind and affectionate eyes this morning made me emotional. Maybe it was because Anne felt ecstatic to see him, or because seeing his face after all what happened yesterday sent some kind of guilty feeling to my heart.
However, I truly want to believe it was just delight from seeing the only one who won’t hurt Marianne show himself with that innocent smile in front of us... And not the sadness of imagining his despair if he were to know what has happened at night in these four walls we’ve been eating peacefully all this time.
On the inside, I smiled at him with a sorry look before greeting him with a bow. And as I did, I couldn’t help but say an honest wish out loud in my head.
’Sir... I really hope we can keep you smiling like this for a long time... And...’
The rest of it wasn’t said for Marianne to hear, however, that didn’t mean I never said it to the Duke.
— Sir, I am sorry. You don’t know this, but I’m not your daughter. So when the time we can’t make you smile anymore comes... I will make it so all the blame falls on me. —
The truth is always the best option... But... This time, I pray that the truth of my existence will never see the light. Because what my presence hides... Is something that would break the Duke’s heart.