Chapter 147: Chapter 147
Zeleskiaz’s heartbeat began to gain peace as he learned what the long text hid.
A new opportunity that implied he had yet to be hated by the Lady, one that ensured more encounters, more chances to be near her lovely figure and most importantly... To befriend her as he should, learning more of her fascinating personality and at the same time... Redeem himself to show the commitment he placed on the rosy sunset kiss, pledging to own her as she already does with his soul, courting her as the Lady’s elegance deserves.
’The rumours she heard... Might all be true..... Yet I won’t let that harm our relationship, Lady..... My craving’s motive is yet to be known to myself..... But it is certainly not unfounded.’
"It was your intriguing existence that drew me into those cravings, Lady Marianne... Yet... As to my answer to this generous proposal... I ask of you to grant it upon me because the anguish I have felt ever since I left your chambers yesterday... Is one that I only want to suffer if you are not near me, instead of it being over the uncertainty the results of my unbecoming behaviour may inflict on your perceptions."
Zeleskiaz’s response came out with confident meaning as his manly low voice, listlessly peachy and wistful, reached her ears, sending a caress with its pleasant sound, overwhelming her being with suffocating distress.
’Hnnng... This tension I feel is no good..... I feel like he’s driving me in with his natural seduction skills.....’ — Elizabeth thought, frustrated at his passionate eyes, apparently devoid of lies, eventually causing the woman to dainty avert her eyes because her flushed cheeks had started to gain more colour the more their gazes met.
If not for her host’s condition, the girl would have bit her lips in reaction to how strongly she wished to believe his sincere words.
’... His way of acting with me must have turned me dumber..... Use well this chance I’m giving you, Crown Prince... Because seeing how things are turning... I feel you won’t be the only one having a hard time with these conditions...’
Her body was trembling slightly, harmonizing with the thrill of the current silence the two were in. She had not enough experience to know that the weak shivering of her body and the hazy thoughts roaming her, were the manifestations of her own desire to feel his touch as the weight of the man’s fierce eyes laid on her, restraining their lust.
"..."
How she avoided returning her sights to meet Zeleskiaz’s had him on edge for how gorgeous she posed as the embarrassment from his declaration painted her visage in juicy pink.
Admiring her figure... Sumptuously entrancing, he also had drowsy statements to declare in the nonplussed lands of his mind before breaking the agonising pause.
’Hahh..... Lady... If not because of what we’ve discussed... Your body would be surrounded by mine now... This ought to be the most complicated times I have come to experience...’
"... Fuuhhh....." — Preparing to speak, the unsettled Crown Prince dropped a long inaudible breath, and showing a gentlemanly composed stance, he spoke, not letting his voice nor eyes dismiss their mesmerized display. — "Have these declarations... Permit us to seal an agreement, Lady Marianne?"
"..."
Weakly, she answered with a nod as her eyes came back to look at him, peeking shyly because of how blunt her declarations must have been to the Prince for how much he shared.
’Yeah... We did... So please stop staring at me like that. I’m getting too conscious of your hotness and that doesn’t help the agreement, "My friend"...’
"..."
"....."
’Oh! Come on!!! Do I have to do everything?? Speak, d*mn it!!!..... Should I leave? Do you want me to leave, huh?! Exasperating b*stard... This is what happens when you don’t have social skills, Anne. Look at this guy, he’s muter than us. If you didn’t have me here, I can assure you that people would go bald as we are about to do right now when dealing with you too... No offence... But you can also feel the frustration, right?... Great, See? That’s what I mean, gurl~ frustrating as f*ck, bloody hell...’
Seeing how the silence between them had come back after a short sentence, the outspoken soul began to reproach the situation she was in again, establishing a conversation with the naive child sharing her space before taking measures to end the torture she kept falling into from this morning.
Taking grasp of the paper stack, she then came forward to help the Crown Prince who had no notion of what to do next to continue the conversation for he was lost in her delicate existence before him.
*******
[ Then, Your Highness... I was told that this is your office. Do you spend many hours here? I believe your position must have many responsibilities to attend to daily... May I be mistaken? ]
"..." — Staring at the text I had just written... I’m sure my inward dead eyes were the same we usually display since the message was as dull.
’... Meh~ it’s better than asking about the weather. At least, with this one, I won’t seem that desperate to stop the awkwardness.’
No one can help me here, and it might be the Prince who actually needs more help right now if you ask me.
Hence, with that in mind, I handed the post-it note to the mute comrade.
He took a moment to read the note and after lifting his eyes to look at me again, a corner of his mouth lifted mischievously before speaking, giving me a restless sensation.
"Yes... I do have many responsibilities, however, I do not stay here all day... There are many things to do, yet I have come to find very efficient ways to execute them."
’Oh... That’s good...’
"... Although, I believe I must convey... That there is no need for you to concern yourself about my schedule, My Lady."
’Uh??? I never–!’
"Any schedule I have... I shall arrange it so I can spend it with you."
"....."
"... I truly wish to befriend you as we have agreed, Lady Marianne... To start with, the previous days before your arrival, I had advanced in most pending procedures to leave more of my time at your disposition."
’... W– Woah..... Th–... I have to say that’s some dedication to show for a guest...’
Amazed at his comments, I blinked multiple times since I never expected him to say and do that much.
And so, feeling that it was time to add my share to the conversation, I wrote some more comments on the free notes that weren’t in his power.
[ It must have been very exhausting to leave most of it prepared, thank you for taking the trouble as I guess you wanted to make me, your guest, comfortable. ]
’That’s right... If he invited me and never appeared I would have felt really out of place.’
"... Exhausting... I may differ on that, My Lady."
’Huh? Then what? Did you like working that much??’
"More exhausting... Was the wait for the Lady’s arrival."
"...."
’Goodness~... So... I’m guessing that... This is how he’ll play it... The "befriending" thing.....’
What can I even say to that? He clearly is being friendly... but the light flirting is making quite the impression...
These are the times when I like our condition...
Ah~ it’s so good he can’t see how taken aback I am every time those smooth flirtatious lines are said by that illegally nice face... And body...
’Right... He’s very muscular and buff... How much does he train to be that yumm–... Well built...?’
It could be a Male Lead setting too... In the book, it was mentioned that he went to war and came back like a hero. So I guess it’s a given he would have such a large physique...
"My Lady?"
"?"
’Huh? Oh... Right... Was I staring too much??’
Finding his curious eyes once I lifted my eyes to look at him, I understood that my mind was diving right into its favourite hobby.
Fortunately, he called out to me. If not, the wandering doofus I have for a brain would have just shamelessly gone into a trance about his muscles when I have him right in front of me.
’I shouldn’t go there~ dangerous thoughts are no good for my pureness~’
Taking a better grasp of the pencil, I resumed the conversation telling a singing playful truth to the one who held most of our purity.
[ I am sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment, Your Highness. ]
"... Is there something else causing concern to the Lady?"
’Oh boy... You can’t even imagine how many things I should be concerned about~’
But...
[ There is nothing bothering me at the moment, Your Highness. ]
"..." — I stayed silent at the message I was supposed to be giving him, pondering if I should add something else I had in mind.
For a second, I thought of simply hand it to him as it was, but then, the realisation that I was holding back on being truthful to my honest personality made me add what I was just avoiding to add.
Although he could misunderstand it’s meaning, I feel like not telling all I want to say wouldn’t be right.
The Duke gave me these notes so I could communicate. And whether people don’t get what I mean or add meaning to my words, I shouldn’t just shove them inside and keep them locked.
One must always say what they want to say... Even if one isn’t heard.
Because then, later no one will be able to tell us those cowardly lines...
— You never told me. —
— You never said anything. —
— Why did you never talk to me about that? —
’Heh... F*ck it... I won’t feign my thoughts for anybody.’
[ There is nothing bothering me right now, Your Highness.
It is only that, suddenly, this conversation felt oddly pleasant to have. ]