Chapter 141: Chapter 141
Giving a quick glance to the guarding knights at the Lady’s doors, Francois gave them the signal to retire further so the three could have some privacy.
"Dioclecià... She has indeed been chosen by the chambers to inhabit it..."
"Is that true?!"
"....." — Shocked for the second time, Francois recoiled slightly, yet he continued to converse with his unfamiliar child. — "Yes... As I said, she has been chosen... However, Dioclecià, have you already learned what the old secret scripts tell on this matter?"
"Hmm?... Not yet, Her Majesty said it was Your Excellency’s duty to communicate such teachings..." — Blinking in curious wonder the child tilted his head, telling the whole truth to the two men.
"Oh... I see now."
"... Is his Majesty going to teach me about it now?"
"... Sadly, it is still too early for you to know... Even the Crown Prince has yet to learn about it..... Which reminds me I have the duty to inform him now that the Lady was chosen... Hohoho~"
"... I knew you were useless.." — Hearing Francois carefreely admit his irresponsible behaviour, Orland mumbled, loudly enough for the man to hear.
"Tsk... My child is here!... Show some respect!!" — He immediately retorted, to then give his child the opportunity to call on the Lady’s door. — "Son, would you like to knock on the Lady’s Door? You can have the honour to announce our presence."
"!!" — Agreeing with a beaming nod, Dioclecià immediately turned to knock on the Honourable Guest’s accommodations, giving the two men a similar perception.
’He... Resembled the cute child/ my daughter just now...’
*******
I’m all ready to go now.
As I stare at my recently made-up visage, Paige was finishing to organise the powders she had used to enhance Marianne’s natural beauty.
Wearing light make-up and modelling a white pinkish dress with slightly puffy shoulders and long tight sleeves that had a kind of Chinese turtle neck with a flat diamond opening on the cleavage and golden solid decorations on the torso along with a not as puffy as yesterday’s skirt, I felt as if we were a fresh lily.
’Yesterday’s hot elegance... Is now Innocent enticement, I see~’
Not forgetting to give my pestering compliments, I told Marianne playfully how nice this new look was.
It was time for us to go any moment now since Paige was about to finish and I had had enough rest from the troublesome preparations.
I was wondering what to actually do since I didn’t really know where to go for my breakfast. And Paige, just as I did, had assumed that Marianne’s father would come to get us or something of the sort at some time...
Yet, we still had no sign of life from him until this hour.
Hence, I decided to go find him myself, since there isn’t much I can do as I am or have someone I can go to and ask about this comfortably.
I could still feel that, somehow, things would work out better than I expected... But that might have been just wishful thinking... Until the knock on my door proved me wrong.
... knock... Knock! KNOCK!!
"..."
’... Welp~... That’s an interesting way of knocking on a door.’
I’m honestly doubting that it could be the well-paced Duke announcing his presence...
"La–..."
’... La...?... A child’s voice???’
"Lady Marianne Elise Sylfinnier! H-His Majesty, The Emperor, His Grace, Duke Sylfinnier, a-and I, Th-Third Prince to the Frotschter Empire, Dioclecià Leodogari Di Frotschter have come to your presence!!"
"!?!?!?!???"
’Huuuuh?!?? What in the... Why the hell are those three HERE???... NO... wait... What kind of combination... Is the kid being Forced(?) to announce the two greatest adults of the Empire?!?!? What in the eff*ng hell... Those bullies!!!’
Not being able to believe the absurd situation I was starting my sociable morning with, I turned to look at the doors with Anne’s impassive face as my inner expression was slack-jawed from disbelief, confirming once more what a clown I inwardly am.
Paige had also frozen to the unexpected visitors that were knocking on my door, and just as fast as she stiffened, she came back to her senses to open the entrance since no answer would come out of my mouth.
As fast as my body enabled me, I turned to stand and receive the high nobility asking to see us, confused at how could it be that the Emperor himself had come all this way to personally meet me.
’Just what is wrong with this novel’s characters??? They make less sense than my random thoughts!! Freaking useless d*psh*t of a fuc–’
"Excuse our intrusion, My Lady."
’–King.... No... Emperor.’
"I reckon our presence must be quite unexpected by you Lady Marianne. However, I could not restrain my concern this morning about your health. Since I never received a notice of your demeanour from early morning, I took it upon myself to pay our esteemed Guest a visit.
It is a wonderful coincidence that I met my youngest son and Your Father on the way here... Isn’t that right, Duke?"
"... Indeed... Truly a coincidence we all wanted to see my daughter..."
"Hahaha~ Yes~. Then, My Lady, how was your first night at the Main Palace’s fairest Chamber?"
"..."
’... So... You guys..... "Spontaneously" decided to gang up on me?! Huh?! Have some d*mn consideration!!! In my past life I would have used "I may not seem like it" to say this, but here, I’m actually a d*mn hot, respectable Lady!!’
I was having such a carefree and relaxing morning today! How can they just... Go gung-ho on me, you unthoughtful troop!!
Do these people don’t know a Lady needs to prepare their heart for these things??
He’s an Emperor! There’s a Prince! And the Duke...!
’Mister! I had you on a pedestal! But, how could you let this happen!?
I’m the type that would hide whenever relatives visited my house! How could you do this to meeeeeeee!?!??!!!?’
"..."
Marianne was sending me weirded-out vibes as I continued my inner drama, and feeling that she was right about me exaggerating, I took a second to close my eyes and calm down to act completely opposite to my inner unsightly self on the outside.
Giving a deep reverence after making my long pause less awkward by taking a few more steps in their direction, I told Marianne my thanks for bringing me out of the bewilderment with the slightly judging void she installed on our chest.
’Thank you, sweetheart... I was about to let loose some crazy goats to the mountains there~....
Yes, that means I was about to go coo-coo just now. Don’t pick on every detail, darling, we are busy at the moment.’
"Hmm... The Lady must have slept well. Your elegance is as nice to look at as ever, child. That is a relief."
"..." — I gestured a humble thanks to the Emperor’s gentle response as I thought... — ’It’s a good thing you know how to compliment us, Emperor friend... You were very close to making me upset...’
"Indeed... Sweetie, Good day." — Smoothly making his way, Marianne’s Father placed himself right in front of me, unusually taking our head in his hands to greet us with a peck on the forehead. — "Have you regained some energy for today?"
It was embarrassing to have him act like that in front of the two present Royals... But, oh well... Who cares...
Nodding to his warm greeting, Marianne flushed a bit, happy to receive her Father’s affection again.
"That’s great, Dear... I’m glad you had a repairing sleep."
’That’s true... I did have a better night...’
"Dioclecià... Have you lost your words in the Lady’s lovely presence? Where are your greetings to our Guest?"
"Ah..."
Hearing the Emperor talk to his son, I turned to find the little Prince a few steps behind his Father.
’Hahaha... What a cute child... I wonder if they really forced him to do the announcement... He seemed like the shy type yesterday...’
"Good day, Lady Marianne... It is a pleasure to meet you on this wonderful morning..."
’... Oh, d*mn..... He’s really cute but...’ — The thought came up as I watched him softly speak with timid eyes. And tilting my head to observe him a little longer... — ’He’s too far to hear him well.’
I only pondered on it for a second, knowing that he’s still a prince to an Empire but... he’s also a kid, who, the one time that appeared in the novel... Was shunned by the events. Therefore, it wasn’t much consideration I gave to the idea.
Walking towards him at my predetermined slow pace, I stood in front of him, taking a better glance at his beautiful golden white hair as I took my notes out.
Lowering my height, slightly bending my knees, I handed him the note, fully aware of his shy awe as he watched us from up close.
[Good Morning, Prince. Wonderful indeed for being in your presence.
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your schedule to visit me.
Were you supposed to be studying at this time, Prince?]
The child read it with wide, intent eyes and his joy slowly faded once I assume he reached my ending question.
"Yes... At this time I usually have lessons to take my Lady..." — He said as I noticed him grasping hold of his thick books tighter.
’Fufu~ don’t think bad kiddo... This big sister has a plan~’
Asking for the return of my notes for a new message, he became adorably fidgety, so, I quickly gave it back to him once it was all done.
Reading it, his face beamed as I also did on the inside to his reaction.
There wasn’t only Marianne who was left out in the novel, so... As a fellow side character... I’ll take him into my wings.