Chapter 149: Chapter 149
I am mad.
And surely, he can see it in my eyes now that he has read my message.
"... Have my words not been polite enough? My Lady, lying this bluntly to no other than a Royal... When I told her to be grateful for who she is, it truly meant that if not for her position she would have been sentenced to the dungeons."
"..."
’I know... I know and... I know I shouldn’t really be doing this on her behalf.’
But she is Anne’s sister... And a fellow woman who just has more screws loose after falling in love.
[ I am aware and I thank your generosity.
Yet, She still is my little sister. And seeing that you are disposed to let this incident off with a warning... I only request that next time you stay fixed to these extents when dealing with her. No further. Because her being overly humiliated, more so in my presence... pains my heart. ]
"... She must have often caused you trouble, so much that you keep saying there will be a next time."
’Yeah... "Trouble".....’
"Yet... If it pains you, I won’t ever do so in your presence."
"..."
"If she needs the lesson as you said, I will have your request in mind when the time comes... Rest assured, because now that you have told me about this, I can prevent another reason for you to hate me."
’Pff... Well, I guess that sounds good... I wouldn’t "hate" you for this, though... Just... Maybe... Dislike you a bit...’
There are little people who deserve my hate... And right now he’s not qualified since I kind of have set my two first psychos as a reference to deliver my true hate.
[ Alright. I appreciate it, your Highness. ]
"... It is my pleasure..."
Relieved that maybe Theresa wouldn’t have to go through all the hardship she’s supposed to, I thanked him dryly.
I’m not about to go and be all nice to him just for a favour.
This shouldn’t even be considered a favour actually.
A gentleman should never humiliate anyone. It should be obvious by her behaviour that Theressa only needs to get it together with some warnings to grow up.
If it just turns out that she gets even worse... I might ask a real favour and make him mean...
THAT, only if by the time I can’t do it myself. Heheh...
"... Lady Marianne, has your condition improved?"
’Hmm?’
I was going into the abyss of my thoughts again, but the Crown Prince suddenly asked an unexpected question.
’Uh... I’m feeling fine? Just as normal as it is for this body, so... Mhmm~ Yes~ I’m fine~’
[ Are you asking this because of the strains the journey here took on me, Prince? If so, I have regained the lost energy fairly enough. ]
"..." — Reading my answer, his eyes became serious when looking at me before adopting a more relaxed pose on his seat. — "Then, that is good."
"...?"
’Hmm~??... Suspicious...’
Glaring at him in doubt, I declared on the inside. It looks to me as if he wants to ask more... but then again I don’t want to assume things.
Oh!
’Hey, Marianne. I have an idea, but I should ask you first about it since it involves the two of us.’
In relation to what he had asked, I got an idea that might be good for our condition’s improvement. And so, as I told Marianne about it, I felt her grow curious to know what it was about.
’This guy has seen us make expressions, practice hums and even heard us talk... maybe. So... Perhaps... we could tell him we are trying to get better?’
"??"
’It’s just that, we hear ourselves when we hum and talk... But what about others? When I say it sounds louder does it really sound louder?? It seems that after this agreement we might spend a lot of time with him the next days so we may as well... Make good use of it.’
She was doubtful, but I believe my little red panda understood what I meant by asking — of all people we could ask — the Crown Prince to help us in this matter.
Right now this practice to speak is a complete secret to anyone in the Duchy.
I’ve made sure Paige and the Duke or any other ( especially Paul) in the Sylfinnier Castle know about this little practice we do almost every day to regain our voice.
The reason is obviously because of strategy.
If the Duke knows, he will tell the whole family because he will feel happy to share the good news.
Comprehensible... But bothersome.
Paige could just tell it by accident. I have no doubt that she is very proficient in her job... But that girl gives me all the vibes that if you know what to say... She could blab it all without intending to.
And in Paul’s case..... That’s just too obvious.
He could get so excited about it that he might either make it so I lose my voice forever or keep me captive in who knows where so I can only let my cute voice be heard by him.
I could be wrong... But he’s just that kind of obsessive of a b*stard.
... All in all, the matter is that this guy knows and doesn’t seem the type to share much. As I see it, he really seems to want to get us closer. So having him help us with this little secret wouldn’t hurt.
’Actually, we should at least tell him to keep it a secret. We don’t want people knowing only because I didn’t make that point clear, do we?’
"~"
Alright. That certainly was a "go for it" kind of sensation she sent.
Having her approval, I went for it since I don’t think we have much to lose as we have to gain. Thus, I began writing after taking those quiet seconds to decide, in which he kept observing me, seemingly pondering as he posed in leisure on the armchair with an illegally hot yet authoritative demeanour.
’Cough... Ahem... It’s a good thing that the inner discussion got us away from the fluster his stance could get us in... Such a handsome man... shouldn’t be allowed to exist...’ — I thought as I started to get flustered.
[ Your Highness, now that you have mentioned this, I would like to discuss something with you about my condition. ]
Once I stretched my hand to give him the comment, I noticed his thick brow go upwards making his expression somehow fiercer.
"Something you wish to discuss?... Is the Lady perhaps doubting the honest impression I have of your hush?" — The Crown Prince asked, implying his upset mood on the matter, but also hinting how displeased he felt because of it with the darkening of his gaze.
Taking the other post-it note, I sighed to myself as I wrote a clarification on what I wanted to discuss.
[ I want to believe in the Crown Prince’s sincerity, hence, that is not the issue I want us to converse about...
It is about my voice, Your Highness. ]
Softening his squinted eyes, he relaxed the severe expression he portrayed, only a tiny bit, and said.
"Your voice?..."
He had returned the other post-it. And so, to make the conversation more steady I immediately wrote the true point I wanted to get at.
[ Yes, Your Highness. I believe that, in the encounters we previously had, you might have been able to hear my voice, if only a little... ]
"..." — With both post-it notes in his power, The Crown prince stayed silent for long as he read the latter one.
And so, taking it back from his hand to consult what was crucial for this real favour to be asked... I wrote nervously for a confirmation of my beliefs from him.
[ May I ask if my surmise is correct? Has the Crown Prince indeed heard my shallow voice?]
Showing it to him, practically with my heart in one hand, I wished for him to say he had. Almost to the point of making a repetitive chant in my head since... although I knew he could say no...
If such were to be his answer, then the impression I had of our progress would prove to be a delusion on my part...
And I... Truly despise the idea.
’Please say you did.
Please say you did.
Please say you did.
Please, please, please.’
His silence was killing me, and the fact that the notes were still on my hand as I waited with closed eyes for his response wasn’t making my anxiety go away.
But then... I felt his hand taking mine to lower it... And when I came to look at him... his eyes were fixated on my written words as he said a flirtatious line that somehow...
Somehow... Didn’t seem to be said with that superficial purpose but only to say the truth of his impression.
"...It was not shallow in the least... Only sweet to the ears and powerful in its melody..."
"..."
If not because of how sincere his eyes were once they lifted to look at me... I know the sudden blush of our cheeks wouldn’t have been accompanied by teary eyes.