Chapter 577: Chapter 577
"..." — With awe, her silence almost appeared to hope for distance as overwhelming sensations, complex, confusing in delight, warmth and uncertainty came over her being. Taking her back into the intimacy they wanted with the subtle caress of his hand.
"Come to me even if I cannot understand it..." — Watching how his skin could wipe lovingly a tear’s traces, Zeleskiaz resumed. Absorbing Marianne’s attention in the intensity of his yearning hues. — "It does not matter what happened. Yet knowing that emotions invaded you, at the very least I am most certain that my hands will hope to tend your spirit into peaceful breathing again... just like this... remaining near to share your grief, my lady..."
"... haha....." — Marianne sighed a little laugh, refuging herself on the prince’s hand. Cuddling her cheek to it so his sayings could do as promised more thoroughly. — "So in the end..."
"..."
"You simply want to be there if I hurt..."
Watched by the ultramarine, she delicately took his hand to permit more warmth, meeting his eye briefly to feel more emotions emerge sensible to his sincere gaze.
"That is just... It is just what I needed to hear, my... my dear and sweet Zeleskiaz..." — A smile full of sorry feelings could not allow her eyes to look into his anymore, leaning on his chest slightly embarrassed to let herself be swayed from the concerns into the love so readily... knowing that if the needed time was permitted, his warmth and scent, the grasp of his careful hands... would easily enable her poise to restore overly much. — "Thank you..... your presence reassures me... I am now much better."
Watching her step back, Zeleskiaz did not lose the grasp in cautious concern. Looking at her demeanour for a second before asking for confirmation. — "... Are you certain? The tears... they have left your eyelids with a shade of red..."
"Ah... oh no, how embarrassing, haha..."
"... Use this." — Offering a handkerchief, Zeleskiaz said. Tucking her strands so her eyes could be seen. — "It is best to dry them with soft fabric."
"! Oh... no, please... It will go down, do not worry. We better head where Theressa is now."
"? My lady, you are obviously exhausted by emotion, we should go back."
"No... I am alright. Truly."
"How could you be when I feel your tremble?" — Worried as she forced herself to smile, Zeleskiaz retorted while holding her hands. Keeping the handkerchief on hers so she would eventually use it. — "You feel cold like ice... this exchange has drained you, lady Marianne."
"... Even so, I need to do this."
"... You can do this some other day-"
"No. It needs to be now." — Taking control of herself as she comprehended the prince was reticent, Marianne replied. Conscious of the weakness her limbs felt after relieving the tension because of meeting Paul. — "I know you are concerned and with reason because of how my health has been lately... yet if I do not do it now... this unwanted apprehension might triumph over my will to come back here."
"..."
"I need to leave here... solely after meeting both of my siblings." — She said, determined.
"Sigh... I understand. Let us leave this floor as it may be affecting your forces even while I use skills to prevent it." — Affectionate, he held her countenance, caressing the cheeks to dismiss more of the paths left by tears, feeling how a cold sweat had made her skin grow colder and bearing the need to aid her however possible. — "... I will carry you there."
"?! No, it is not-"
"My lady’s tremble worries me. At least up the stairs so you may find more ease for a tad. Please." — The request was more of an announced decision from the prince. Shaking her as his gaze appeared strict in its softness.
Once her nod came, the lady was carried in his arms, quick and yet careful so the motion would not disturb her insides.
Even Marianne was unable to understand such a reaction to the encounter, for she honestly believed the exchange had not been enough for such effect to fall upon her. Nonetheless, she also could tell for even when against her will the scraps of her past would not easily synchronize with her psyche.
... Meeting Paul... was in itself what her scars would naturally use to revive the hazards of painful wounds.
’Why do you need to be so strong my love...’ — Zeleskiaz mourned while she gracefully accepted his aid, leaning her crown on his frame gently to recover while he could not help to notice how her eyelids continued swollen. — ’It maddens me... how these siblings of yours may believe it is but little harm they actually did because of your courage...’
"... Am I not heavy?"
"... My lady is like a feather."
"Haha... Father calls me his feathered child at times..."
"..."
"Because he says I am a bird..." — She said trying to relieve the tension of the prince with casual talk. Knowing this all would be later informed to her loved father. — "Your Highness, from here is alright for myself to walk. It is best if I finish the stairs on my own. The warden may tell us to return if he sees otherwise."
"I can carry you for a tad more."
"There is no need for that, seriously, my prince. This much was enough for myself to feel better... Look." —Taking his hand to link their fingers, Marianne demonstrated with warmth her much more colourful demeanour. — "I am cold yet gaining warmth. The trembles have subsided... if we can move slowly I will be completely ready to meet Theressa."
"... If you need me to carry you or anything else that may help, do not restrain yourself from telling me, my lady."
"... If so, let us hold hands until others’ eyes can see us. That way, I can support myself in his highness’ gentle grasp."
In the silent fondness of their hues’ exchange, there was a request made that the man could understand between the deepness of sincerity. — ’You are right to feel concerned... yet with this the aid you give is greater than you think.’ — Such was her pure belief... Yet even so, there was still something the prince wanted to do in another way to help his love.