Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Chapter 134

’Be care...ful? Uh???’

I was about to give one step ahead but... He was already inside... Totally fine...

’Uh??? Huh?... D–Did I... Did I almost faint (again) for nothing??’

"Mmm~ these accommodations truly are deserved to be called the "best" in all the Empire..." — The Duke carefreely said as he strolled inside.

"..."

’Uhh... Excuse me, Sir... Mind you, but... I almost got a heart attack here..... Care to take a look?? I’m actually sweating cold right now...’

How ridiculous can things get today??... What date was it today?? I should keep it in mind to be careful in the years to come because this is definitely my annual unlucky day.

’15th of Zate... You’ve been blacklisted...’ — I thought staring blankly into space, drained again of any energy I had.

If life gives you too many lemons... It’s clearly because it wants your lemonade to be very sour... That’s the little letters between the lines of that saying, Bruh...

’Ah... I feel like this is when I slowly disappear as I become ashes... I want to become one with the wind~.....’

Sigh... I worried for nothing. How mentally exhausting.

My head started to hurt real bad, and I had to seat back on the bed to get a bit of control over it, while the Duke kept roaming. I even brought my freezing hand to my forehead since it was quite strong.

"Dear?... Are you alright?" — The Duke asked, surprisingly calm as he slowly came to seat by my side.

I knew this wouldn’t be overlooked by Marianne’s Father... But I’m not really in a state to care about hiding it right now.

"Do you have a headache?... Paige said you were very tired, so I came to check on you just to make sure... Ah! Don’t do that sweetie... Your head will hurt more later..."

I had started to anxiously press my nose bridge as well as my tear duct, therefore, he took my hand off of it gently.

’Ngh, but sir...’

"There... There... Maybe you should rest some more... Nonetheless, I do not want you to skip dinner, it wouldn’t be prudent if you do..."

’That’s right. Me neither... Ugh... Sir... I’ve worked hard to wake up... Give me dinner...’

He was giving me soothing caresses on my back to make me feel better, which made me act like a little child again, taking rest on the third person’s shoulders this day.

’Ugh... 15th... Zate... I hate you...’

Sigh, I feel teary... I like watching drama... Not drama happening to me... Bloody life... Bloody novel... Bloody Karina...

... I may as well loathe the uneven grid of the floor for all I care...

"Oh... Dear... You must have been under a lot of pressure..... Come here, let your Father comfort you with a hug..."

’...D*mn it... Now I do feel like a child...’

But whatever...

Marianne also got quite the scare... She’s been actually wanting to hug him for a while now but I’ve been avoiding it... Since I feel like I shouldn’t.

However... I’ll do it since she needs it...

This is her hugging him... Not me...

... Marianne is hugging him, not me...

Just as he is just hugging Marianne...

Not me.

... I’m not who’s hugging him...

"There... My child... You’ve worked hard..."

The duke started to talk, and I somehow started to hear him from afar, ultimately realising that I had managed to do what Marianne does when Paul visits.

Unknowingly, I started to let my soul and consciousness fade into a corner of our body, letting Marianne have more private time with her Father.

I could still see and hear everything as if it was all an echoing illusion from a faraway place and, in that alone time I also got to retain, I started to think about how things have been going for me from some time ago.

Memories of my days here were recalled, being today’s the most vivid ones for how recent they were.

However... This little chance I got to take a look back... Made me realise that it was time for me to take better care of what I had decided little after I got here.

My feelings... I can’t let them grow stronger for the Duke... I have to remember the fact that...

He’s not... And never will be... My real father.

This affection I have for him... Is time to stop it, to not let it develop further...

’It’s a good thing... Now I can let you enjoy more of your Father, darling.’

Telling her this from the distance I had managed to create, I sent a warm and satisfied smile to Marianne, who was now finally feeling most of our body’s sensations on her own... As it originally should be.

From where I was... I could hardly feel her response... But I am sure, she must be having a nice time experiencing again how her Father’s hugs feel.

*******

Orland was happy to be able to comfort his daughter.

Since he had previously learned she was tired, it wasn’t surprising to see her take a seat immediately after she stood up to greet him.

Paige had given him a dark piece of a claw to enter his daughter’s chamber, which made him wonder if the sayings Francois told him were truthful or not once more.

Yet, Orland didn’t mind taking precautions and accepted since it would let him get to his daughter quicker.

They were now hugging.

And, trying to appease all the stress she has been through on this chaotic day, he had lovingly shifted her pose to let her sit on his lap to cuddle more of her weak body in a tight hug.

The only thing that had calmed him when he peeked from the door while trying to ascertain if she was indeed sleeping was how colourful her demeanour was even in the dim light of the candles.

A healthy blush was adorning her cheeks, meaning that she was indeed tired but not because of an unexpected new ailing.

Now, He rested his chin on her head, patting lightly on her back intending to make her relax further.

Yet, something slowly started to snatch his attention.

The girl’s body was growing colder by the second, rigid as stone, along with breathing that felt even more hushed in her than usual.

Concerned, but not wanting it to escalate in a way she could notice, the Duke hugged her tighter, attempting to share more of his warmth to help the child somehow recover her heat.

Then, provoked by the hast her low temperature involved, he started to move his hand through her arm to make her also gain more warmth with the touch.

’What’s wrong... Why is she freezing... Dear... Are you truly alright...?’

His countenance that couldn’t be seen by her, contorted with worry.

The Duke was desperately biting his tongue to not let the question be asked out loud, and his eyebrows had almost become one with how strongly they scowled at the ignorance of what was making his daughter like this.

Ultimately, he swallowed in fright, preparing to inquire about her state once more only to prevent her from going back to being a dead carcass at this rate.

Yet... A sudden and faint tug of his clothing ceased his venture.

"....."

She was returning his hug... weakly in her exhaustion... Weakly grasping his vest with stiff fingers.

Closing his eyes, Orland smiled in pain as the courage to ask evaporated in a blink with her action.

’... Something is wrong... But how can I ask.....?’

Cuddling her more in his arms, affectionately as if she was still the tiny baby he used to clumsily lull to sleep, he worried over what troubled her existence.

It had been made clear to him that the ail of her soul was strong enough to interfere with her physical health, and frustrated at how helpless he felt now that something was surely causing conflict in her gentle spirit again, Orland’s heart twisted, suffering for his precious child battling the unknown haunting works of her heart that had once left her devoid of herself.

’..... My child... I wish for you to not suffer..... Please find peace in my worthless arms since I can’t bring myself to preach on what keeps you shackled.....’ — The Duke began to speak to the child through his inaudible thoughts rubbing his face’s side on the girl’s crown with longing sadness. — ’Yet... I can tell, Marianne, my baby..... I can discern that... What harms you..... Isn’t something you want me to know...’

Orland knew his child very well.

Marianne had always been a girl whose honesty could be reflected in her eyes. Even at the time she had stated her repulse for his presence when younger... He could see in the dull eyes, a hint of her characteristic honesty when announcing her desire to distance herself from her Father.

And after gaining a better relationship recently... Orland could always see her sincerity whenever their sights crossed.

Nevertheless, there is a sort of gaze he has been very attentive to.

One that rarely appears yet is certainly special.

’... I can see that there is something you hide, my bird... Something very significant is being hidden in between the little branches of your nest..... Deeply rooted in it... And..... I can’t help but think you hide it to protect me, dear.....’

The rare gaze she sometimes portrayed flashed through his mind.

The one she would make when he’s happy, that one filled with joy... Concealing an overwhelming pity...

A gaze that sincerely transmitted the delight of being in his presence as well as the desire to maintain his current oblivion to the matters that might ruin it.