Chapter 123: Chapter 123
".... I understand. If so, I will pay attention to the Lady as suggested.
Lady Marianne, do excuse my hasty judgement. Now that I’ve learned of your circumstances I am expectant to learn your unique ways."
The Princess apologised, conveying her new interest in the well-liked Lady with a sincere smile.
Marianne, who nodded in acceptance to her words, inwardly frowned, wondering about the Princess’s true character since, adopting this new attitude, the Ruler’s daughter had made her first impression confusing.
"Oh, the food is here. Lady Marianne, take your seat and let’s forget this exchange’s bad taste." — The Emperor said, watching the row of servants enter with numerous dishes.
Obedient to his suggestion, the Lady sat, and lifting her gaze, she met the Princess’s eyes again.
Sending a soft smile Jasmine nodded, somehow giving her approval.
’Hmm..... This Princess... I don’t think she’s bad...’ — The foreign soul oddly thought to herself.
The plates began to rain from the sides to be placed on the table and their glasses were filled with expensive wine singing their fall into the glass as it spread a strong but fruity aroma to bless their nose.
Delighted by the Banquet in front of her, Marianne’s body slightly straightened in excitement to taste every dish prepared for her welcome to the Palace.
"What kind of dish does Lady Marianne like?" — Inquired the happy Emperor, noticing the shine in the pure child’s gems.
"I shall serve my daughter, your Majesty. I know what she likes." — The Duke dryly responded.
Irked by the shameless Francois, who seemed to have forgotten the beating he thoughtfully gave him earlier, Orland prevented Marianne from engaging in conversation with him.
"... Duke? I asked Lady Marianne." — ’F*** off, stinky Father.’
"... And as you can see she won’t answer." — ’Don’t mess around, puny Emperor.’
A battle went off between their eyes sights, meanwhile the implicated subject paid thorough attention to the eye-catching dishes in front of her, trying to decide which was to be the first to try.
’Oh, God... Everything looks awesome..... Is there any pork? I’m craving some good pork today~’
"It is no problem. Lady Marianne has that thing where she writes Duke, she may answer with..... Huh?"
After a tense silence, the Emperor retorted, however, as he did, something he never expected occurred.
The Lady had eaten a bite of a dish, yet that was not the action that surprised him most.
As usual, the one sharing her body was acting eagerly and truthful to her spontaneous personality.
She was trying to get the ones surrounding her to agree with her opinion on how delicious the dish she tasted was by serving them a piece personally, just as she was accustomed to.
She offered the dish first to the Emperor, who received the plate confused, and then to her Father who cheerfully accepted it concealing his annoyance for receiving it later with a beaming smile.
The Duke gave it a bite immediately and eloquently praised the dish to make his daughter happy with a sincere opinion.
"Mm!... I taste sweet mustard on the pork’s sauce... You have a good eye, sweetie. Thank you, it is delicious."
Enthusiastically nodding, she turned to look at the Emperor, forgetting how dangerous it was to offer a man of his status food without much thought.
Francois hesitated to her kindness, conscious of how brazen she was being by doing such a reckless thing. However, his eyes met the Duke’s staring intensely at him from behind the excited child.
’Eat it. Now. ALL OF IT.’ — The Emperor heard the Duke’s threat in his head.
... Gulp...
"..... Let’s see... Mhmm~ Indeed, this dish truly is nice..."
Bouncing in joy the emotionless Lady’s expression seemed to beam by his comment and continued to eat the rest of her food as if nothing had happened.
Amazed at the Lady’s innocence, the Emperor giggled and thought. — ’I shouldn’t have hesitated.’
Nonetheless, Francois was not in the wrong for doing so.
As a member of Royalty, he was brought up in a luxurious but threatening family and position. The numerous times he had been poisoned could not be counted at this point anymore. And so, his caution on receiving each meal had become a habit that no one should be preoccupied with in the first place.
It had been years since the last time he was offered a bite without fainting right afterwards.
’... Child... I’ve decided. You’ll only leave this Palace after you call me Uncle Frois.’ — Observing the Lady gracefully try more dishes, witnessing how with each bite caused the flutter of her lashes with shining joy, The Emperor decreed in his head as a pleased grin invaded his countenance.
Everyone continued to eat, being the two old friends, the only ones to cheerfully engage in conversations, trying to pamper the child between them.
Meanwhile, the rest of the present members silently ate trying to ignore the unusually elated Emperor.
Theressa kept silent, aware that she was not to speak if not required to.
Nonetheless, that did not prevent her from building more hate against her Sister, who was receiving the attention she so desired...
And believed herself was more worthy of.
’Sly b*tch.’ — She thought as she glanced at her.
Regardless, Theressa did not continue to stain more of her mood by watching her unbecoming sister.
Instead, the youngest of Sylfinnier’s Duchy ate her meal while discreetly peeking at the man she had an infatuation with.
’Ah... Crown Prince... How handsome he looks as he eats... Oh, how I wish those hands had held mine in a proper greeting...’
The young girl began to fantasise about the Prince, imagining the walks and the words they would exchange on their nonexistent dates.
On the other side, Princess Jasmine observed the beaming three eat with great interest, slowly getting a gist of the mentioned "charm" of the Lady.
’My, oh, my..... I can indeed discern what they talked about..... Maybe... I ought to pay more attention the following days.’ — Expectant to see more, the Princess decided, quickly arranging in her mind the schedule for the next days to leave time to meet the Guest again.
The Third Prince, also took notice of the ambience reigning in the Guest’s surroundings, causing the child to grow curious and fidgety wanting to join them, impressed at the beautiful silent Lady who was responsible for that enviable harmony involving any who went near her perimeter.
Even the servants, who usually portrayed a severe expression were infected by the happiness her energetic but graceful interactions gifted.
’The clever Lady... Seems more like a kind fairy...’ — The pure Prince thought, immersed in the beautifully dressed Lady, whose visage did not seem dull anymore in its stillness... but surprisingly gentle and learned.
’I wonder..... would she also feel bothered if I joined them... She seems nice.....’
The insecure child contemplated ways to approach the nice Lady, however, Dioclecià ultimately abstained from doing so.
The Empress and the Second Prince merely ate their meals with no intention to mind any of the assistants, merely staying to fulfil their duty as they were summoned by the Emperor to receive the Guest.
... Lastly, in our knowing eyes falls the figure of the most elusive one.
Zeleskiaz, the promised to inherit the Throne as Crown Prince, ate in a gentlemanly manner as usual.
In his distinguished posture, there was only one gesture that was unlike his common behaviour.
His gaze, which usually avoided meeting other people’s figures to ensure his food would not be tampered by their displeasing sight... Kept returning to contemplate the Fair Lady’s existence.
Flawless manners with statuesque prestige in her silhouette, adorably unique for her presence... felt livelier than any of the humans at the table. Lady Marianne had the Crown Prince caught in a golden web that led his fierce pupils in her direction greedy to also rapt her every movement into his ultramarine hues.
Watching the Lady scantly separate her soft cherry lips to get a taste of the offered meal, his mouth grew thirsty. The little movement as the Lady chewed with delight her bites... her swelling edges acquiring a stronger red, glossy by the swift trace her tongue left as she innocently tasted the last bits of her meal... Had Zeleskiaz entranced.
Even after gulping down his wine to appease his arid throat, the Prince’s thirst only continued to grow thinking of the taste he could not try earlier when the Lady was in his bureau.
The remembrance of the tender graze of their lips, pressing against each other, unbelievably soft and appetising... Caused him to bite the inside of his lower lip in regret, wishing to have nibbled on them to do them apart and finally taste her insides instead of politely asking for their opening.
’... Fuuu..... I won’t ask next time, my Lady... I am...’
"Too hungry..." — Mumbling with outspoken desire, his thoughts took form leaving his mouth.
Only Jasmine and the Empress heard his whisper, noticing his eye colour beam with the invasion of a dangerous red.
Unaware of the true meaning behind his beastly indication, the women shared a discreet glance alerting the menace the sapphire hue entailed in its claws.
Continuing to observe the dangerous Prince, conscious of his delayed outburst, the two began to question the abnormality of his serenity when there was certainly a growing blood thirst invading his penetrating orbs.
’... What has provoked you... Fenrir?...’ — The women asked inwardly.
The Sinister works of his family’s deity had been blamed by the women, permitting the true culprit... His body’s lust for a certain Lady’s tender flesh... Slip past their sharp eyes.