Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Chapter 157

’Bloody b*stard... Charming my child with that devilish smile... Ack! He pressed so hard! This will definitely bruise!!... Prick of a Duke I have... If not for the cute child I would finish your bloodline, d*mn it!’

Also standing from his seat, Francois thought as he watched his sly attacker speak with the Third Prince, slowly making his way to their side as he grumbled to himself.

"Go ahead, Third Prince. I need a moment with the Duke before we leave."

"...? Yes." — Bowing to the Duke, he replied, leaving the room to wait at its doors.

"..."

Clank...

"You D*mn F*ck! Are you crazy?! Are you also a madman?! You almost broke my shoulder!!"

"... And you think... Your son can’t hear you?"

"... Orland..."

"... Maurice–"

"Oh! I’ve had it!"

"Hah! You’ve had it!? You?! I know what you want!! I know it!! I won’t let it happen!! Ever!!! You hear me!? Over my dead body, my child will... My child will..."

"Oh~? Can’t even say it? I’ll help you, you fool of a Father, hahaha!! Your child will m–"

"Shut it!" — Jumping on Francois, Orland desperately covered his mouth.

"Hmph, mill berry hmm!"

"I can’t hear you~"

"Hmmhp phmm!!" — ’She will marry him!! I’ll make it happen so you can’t sleep at night, bloody freak!!’

"... Maurice... You do know I can easily kill you like this... Right?"

"?! Hmmmph!!! HMM!?!"

"So... you won’t say it?... You promise??"

"Hm! Hm!"

"... Alright..."

"Phwa!...."

"....." — The two glared at each other, suspicious of one another.

"I’ll leave for now." — Francois ultimately declared.

"....."

Opening the door, Francois personally turned to close it on his way out, and not wanting to be the one to lose again...

"They will marry~" — He whispered, loudly enough for the trained noble knight to hear.

"You–!!!"

Bang!

"Come on Dioclecià, hurry, hurry!!"

"Uh? Huh??!"

"Speed up! Speed up! Haha!!"

Walking as fast as he could, the victorious Emperor ran away chuckling to himself from imagining how upset his mischievous whisper made his old friend.

*******

’Hmm... Mmm... Ah...A! aaa.... Well, at least my inner hum and voice are top notch today~’

"..."

’The problem is... the one people are meant to hear, doesn’t seem to be as close to a notch of manifesting.’

I have drank my honey tea and did my best at clearing my throat... But now that I’m supposed to hum...

’Sigh... Even I have trouble hearing myself this time... Maybe this is the retaliation from our body after yesterday’s strain...’

That idea does make sense.

After all, our body is quite whimsy in this type of situation... However, would it hurt it to cooperate from time to time??

"..."

Thinking about it, I shouldn’t really whine about it... If we consider the past experiences...

’Having a bit of difficulty humming is indeed better than falling ill in bed... I’m just saying, girl. We need to be positive.’

I told Anne, who seemed frustrated by it.

It’s an odd feeling she’s giving me, but I can somehow tell that, mixed with her frustration, there is a bit of fear trying to be suppressed.

’Sweetheart... Don’t feel bad. It’s always like this, it will come back soon... As long as we can stand, then we can at least say this time it won’t take weeks to recover it.’

"... Lady Marianne... I do not mean to rush... However, is there an issue with your voice?"

’... We shouldn’t make him lose his time anymore for today...’

Across from me, I looked at the Crown Prince who stared at me curious about the delay in what I was supposed to demonstrate.

His gaze seemed calm and soft, I almost could see in it how much patience he was prepared to use while waiting for me.

The thought of not being able to show him made me a bit depressed. The Crown Prince is the First I’ve confided part of our intentions to, so I was also expectant to get some feedback on what others hear from what I’ve managed to improve...

’Haaa... I’ll be d*mned’

[ Your Highness, it seems I am having trouble summoning the sound. ]

"... How come?"

"..."

His expression changed in a second to a frown, leaving me a bit shaken by the sharp glint they gave as they lifted to look me in the eye after his question.

"Is this a common issue?... Or is it that yesterday’s strain harmed... You."

’Ah... He...’

His voice seems shaky...

[ It is not unusual. ] — I quickly wrote, a bit hurried by how his low tone made me feel.

"Haaaa... Sh*t."

"...." — ’... Excuse me... But I heard that.’

I know it’s a huge disappointment. But, hey. No need to use "sh*t" there. Weren’t you trying to be a gentleman? Ladies don’t like bad words~...

’You can say all you want in your head though... I’ll help. Instead of "sh*t", next time you could say "sugar!". I know the two must taste quite different... But it’s nicer to hear for a Lady. I’ll understand the hidden meaning of the curse too, so, all well~’

Putting my silliness into work, I told him as I watched him in silence, knowing that the situation deserves more of a "Bloody f*cking hell! ’usual’ the crap pigs bath in" kind of expression.

... I would use that one at least. Sh*t is just sh*tty...

"....."

"... I apologise, My Lady. That was unbecoming on my side. I shall restrain my tongue."

’... Sure... It’s fine... Do restrain it from other.. things.. too...!!? I... W– oh God... Why am I like this??!’ — I flipped as I tried being nice.

I curse my dirty mind!! I am too quick at retaliating!!

Sure, Elizabeth! Go ahead! Tell him!! Tell him he should watch his tongue from doing what you know he did yesterday!! Go! Go and be an idiot!

’Agh! How shameful!’

The thought brought me down. I couldn’t contain my inner embarrassment from showing on the exterior as I covered my face with both hands.

Unable to look at him, I started to scream on the inside from how flustered my shamelessness had hijacked my composure.

’Aaaaaaaack! Idiot! Stupid! You shouldn’t comment on the novel if you’re in it! It will backfire, you dummy ~~~~~!’

Hng... Hic... I’m so happy I can’t talk right now... Just thinking that my spontaneous personality could have...!!

’Oh my gosh... Marianne... Marianne, darling, maybe we do... No, not you. I! I need to stay mute! I’m too dangerous, for f*ck’s sake!!...’

"?! Lady?"

Clatter!

’Ah! No! Don’t come near! Don’t look at me! I’m a dirty old Lady! Sob!’

Hearing his voice call for me, and the sounds of him throwing my post-it notes... and his clothes graze as he came to my side... made me turn redder in shame.

And annoyingly enough... The thought of his... "Tongue’s work" from yesterday, kept repeating in my head like torture the guilt of my dirty remark enjoyed playing on my troubled heart.

"...ng..."

"Lady Marianne, what’s wrong?? Is it that the pain came back?"

I could tell he was conflicted on what to do.

I could feel him by my side, maybe crouching down as he watched me with that concerned expression he displayed before, probably considering if it was alright for him to reach his hand out to me for help.

’Agh... I’m so sorry, I’m just not...’

"..m–..mn..."

"Lady, please excuse me. Let me see your face for a moment."

’No!’ — I screamed inwardly, turning to the side in the quickest movement I’ve ever done.

I’m desperate at this point! To think I would say something so outspoken to someone! Not in a million years would I have done it!!

This is the problem when one reads too much! If one is the audience, is all fine, but, d*mn it!! This is not right at all!!

It might be because of what has happened between us but this seems to be too much for me to handle... I have to forget it... If not, I should at least control my ingenious responses because they can actually cause more damage than entertainment when I’m with this idiot.

"... Lady?... Lady Marianne, look at me."

"..." — ’Get away you ar*e! This is all your fault, anyway. Deal with it!’

If I could yell, he would know how much I resent this situation.

I don’t want to even think about what face he’s making. All I know is that I need to pull myself together so this doesn’t become a scene I will regret...

Yet...

’Aghh–... He– He stood. D*mn it, his cologne smells so nice!’

His presence felt stronger for some reason. It might have been the work of my eyes being hidden under my hands, but my other senses felt sharper and... It wasn’t helping me calm down.

My mind... Or maybe Marianne’s body... Maybe it was both, but... All of my being felt strangely bothered as flashbacks kept coming without permission.

The heat from my embarrassment became stronger and... I... I never thought I would feel so happy about how well covered my body was today thanks to our dress...

If not... I know that with this milky skin Marianne has... The flush would be obvious!! Even on my shoulders!! I feel myself burning in shame!!