Chapter 135: Chapter 135
His train of thought was menacing to make his body shiver from sadness. And trying to deal with it he interrupted them shortly to give his daughter a peck on her head and tell her an undeniable truth as he forced his voice to say it in a steady tone.
"I love you, my precious bird."
Responding with sluggish cuddles, the true Marianne now granted with most control of her body attempted to hug him tighter... Although, unfortunately, her grasp still felt loose enough to easily fall.
’That’s why... I can keep waiting in this ignorance.’ — Orland stated, resigned to how weak she was at the moment.
’I’ve told you that I will wait for you to tell me, and I certainly will... If my ignorance brings you peace... I won’t preach..... Yet... The Gods shall know... That whatever it is... Whether you tell me or not..... All I want is for your soul to heal and find serenity, dear child.
A bird like you should start to fly free from the cage into the vast sky.’
Marianne’s coldness had stabilised in a low temperature and noticing his warmth wasn’t doing much he cuddled her again, this time simply to declare his last thoughts.
’Sunlight will warm you up by then, sweetie... Say it all to me, my child... Because even if the truth saddens me..... Your freedom... Will surely bring back new happiness to this powerless dad you have.’
*******
Time passed incredibly slow in the "detached from the outside corner" I made my soul’s presence go while Marianne was cutely spoiled by her Father.
In the meantime, besides deciding to keep a distance from the Duke with this new skill I managed to unlock today, I also contemplated on what to do respecting the odd position I find myself in this Palace now, thanks to the unexpected behaviour of the Crown Prince.
The way he’s acting toward Marianne is truly strange since it doesn’t fit his personality in the novel.
It was said that he would act arrogantly even with the Female lead, with who he started to be possessive and authoritarian to the point she was mostly treated like a bought sex slave than a lover.
Karina even narrated how she found pleasure in his bossy attitude which later lead to... Certain events that helped him gain the title of "Kinky Crown" by the readers...
But... He’s showing only the pestering side to me... with a bit of arrogance, yes, but... Somehow..... It’s not really like he’s imposing himself on me... At least I can’t say I was "completely" against it...
I can’t really pinpoint the matter that bothers me but I can say he’s slight — only by a speck — slightly different from the impression I had from him on the original.
Regardless, I still can’t confirm he’s actually different to the novel, though.
I would be stupid to declare that when I’ve interacted so little with him... Interaction where we really haven’t talked much, actually.
...
Tsk. We can’t risk it.
That is why I’ve come to a decision concerning this... "Ambiguous" relationship we are in right now.
The original is soon to start, so until then, I plan on placing a limit on his weird attitude.
Although he’s all hot and nice to look at and... Taste...
Ahem! He’s a man who we barely know and what I do know is not giving him positive points.
Hence... The next time I see him... I have to make it so he can stop acting so rashly...
I do feel like he’s easier to handle than the other two psychos that I’ve met... But... I’m not quite sure of how to go about it with him...
The idea of giving him a peck in reward like I accidentally did when trying to make him leave doesn’t sound right to me.
Even letting him kiss me this much doesn’t seem right... It’s like he just... Wants Marianne’s body or something, and that’s surely not something I can overlook...
Ah!
... Now I know. Hahaha... I think I can work with that for now... At the very least, he’s sure to consider the offer... Right?
*******
I felt little vibrations calling for me.
Curious about what was making me able to feel them, I started to get myself out of the corner I was concealing myself.
Slowly, my sights became clearer and clearer, and the sound became less muffled and louder.
I can’t really be sure of how much time had passed, but given the comfortable position we were placed on the Duke’s lap... It must have been quite a while that has passed to be in this relaxed posture.
’Well... This is an awkward position to come back to.’
"... Should eat now, before you end up going back to sleep, dear..."
’Huh? Anne??... Did you even take a little nap like this??’
"~..."
’Oh my God..... Fufufu~ our Marianne missed daddy’s cuddles huh~? How wash ouh Lady’sh nap? Gud? Likely?? No likey?? Pff~ so cute~’
"~~!!"
"Marianne?... Sweetie, are you still asleep~?"
’Fufu~ answer your dadda, Marianne, ~’
"....."
Her silence said it all.
The feeling of a killing stare... Wow... I guess I was too annoying there, hehe... I am now who’s recovering more of the body’s control so... It’s my bad.
’Ok, sorry. I’ll stop.’ — Giving her a heartfelt scared apology, I simultaneously shook my head to the Duke.
Trying to regain a bit of the lost dignity a woman my age needs to keep, I elegantly got up from the living seat I was seating on as I felt my body gain some flush from the embarrassment.
Marianne’s Father only watched me stand attentively, and once I had been standing for a while waiting for him to also stand up — since what I heard him say was something about going to eat — I glanced at him forgetting my embarrassment and saw an expression on him I can’t really understand.
He looked the same as always... However... He wasn’t smiling as he watched me. He had a serious yet... A mild thinking expression displayed on his always gentle face.
However, It was only for a moment that I caught a glance of it, because he quickly changed it, replacing the flat line with a convex one with a soft smile.
’... Weird... Is he overthinking something again?... Anne did something happen while I wasn’t here?? I didn’t pay much attention but I know you guys didn’t talk much..... Did I actually miss something??’
"..??" — An ignorant response from her was all I got since she apparently was wondering the same as I was.
’Hmm... Then, This is weird.....’
I just hope he’s not getting any weird ideas...
This is troublesome... Having to care this much... Sigh...
’Sweetheart, we will have to pay attention to him to know if there really is something, alright? Your Father has a record of growing concerned over anything, so let’s not think too much of this yet, understood?’
Telling her this, I attempted to calm her down from also growing worried. These two have the overthinking trait in common, so I need to at least ensure my roomie from getting all fidgety over uncertainties.
’... Now... Let’s go... Mister.’ — I said, unfolding my hand in front of him as Marianne sent me a stranged sensation of how I had addressed her Father.
Even I felt it was weird to call him "Mister"... But I feel like it’s necessary for me to call him this way now.
I need it, but I won’t tell her why I do.
’Does it sound weird?... While I was on my own I kinda thought it was better than "Sir"... I have these whims sometimes... Like, you know... the one about your rear, for example, hehe.’
She gave me a dubious sensation to my carefree comment and pouted when I joked about my honest wish to make our booty more squishy.
With that, she left the issue as one of my random impulses, making my new lie a success.
I am sorry darling, but with this one, I’ll have to lie to you forever.
"Hmm? Where do you want to go, Marianne?" — Standing as he took my hand to wrap it on his arm, Mister Sylfinnier asked.
’Hmm? Didn’t you say we should eat??’ — In my head, I answered with another question as I gestured with my hand the action of drinking tea.
"... Oh... No, sweetie... I cannot make you walk all the way to the Dinning Hall when you are this exhausted... Paige should be waiting outside... We can ask her to go fetch a nice meal for you... Oh! And don’t let that head of yours worry about His Majesty. He told you to rest knowing how overworked this journey has been for you, so do not feel concerned about any other thing for the rest of the day....."
Although I hadn’t even thought about the Emperor until he mentioned him, I appreciated his being preventive, and so, he watched me nod to his warning, and pondered for a second to lastly say.
"... You’ve made me truly proud today, Dear... Yet... only take care of your peace of mind and don’t let these unknown things overwhelm you. Be sure to rest well after we eat and... Don not forget that I love you, alright?"
His last words were certainly told with heartfelt truth, as well as faintly coated with a hint of sadness.
The Mister must have been overthinking things as I had thought... But the fond smile he gave me as he finished... Gave me the idea that maybe he had overcome his inner conflict without the need for my intervention.