Chapter 230: Chapter 230 — Disheartening Findings.
The sight of his children had been lost.
Orland had caught a glance of his eldest daughter meeting her brother not long ago, nonetheless, the siblings had disappeared from his sight shortly after turning his head to answer the nobles he and his wife were interacting with.
’Did they not dance together?... I believe Paul would have liked to celebrate their meeting with a piece... I remember him saying he often helped Marianne in her dancing lessons...’ — The Duke of Sylfinnier wondered, glimpsing at the place his children previously stood... Along with the Prince’s company.
’Brazen man... Maybe I wasn’t clear enough last time...’ — Orland grumbled, annoyed at the hard-headed Prince he was against, reminiscing of his first encounter with the man after Marianne’s incident while they had dinner with him; That morning, after the release of winged beasts from the Palace, had occurred.
A furtive meeting that did not last as far as an affable conversation would... One that happened in a hallway the Prince was not supposed to roam, and Orland was coincidentally crossing.
"... Crown Prince Zeleskiaz." — He prominently called for the man’s attention, who leisurely watched outside the corridor’s opening in the direction of the chambers the Duke was coming from.
"... Duke Sylfinnier."
"You are near your Guest’s chambers yet no visit has been done... Perhaps something occurred between you and my daughter without my knowledge?"
"... Something that happened... A Crown Prince also has matters to attend to, Your Grace."
"... Surely you do... As I see you bask in the sun at this lonesome window."
"....."
A displeased gaze was shared between the men who were clever enough to see through each other.
"She seems to be doing well today too. If you were wondering."
"..."
’I know... I saw her this dawn... So fresh in her nightgowns that it pained me enough to promise a visit tonight.’ — The Crown Prince had secretly responded, still in conflict by the hazard it meant to his resolve.
The man’s silence frustrated Orland, who although was reluctant to express it, wanted to thank the man for his efficient reaction to Marianne’s crisis.
"Prince. There is a pair of things I need to convey to you."
"... Speak comfortably, Sir."
’... Of course I will, young brat.’ — Orland one-sidedly retorted, upset to receive permission from the aloof man.
"I wanted to express my appreciation for your quick response to Marianne’s need for assistance yesterday."
"....."
"I had thought the Prince would not be able to act accordingly at the sudden situation, however, you acted efficiently. I can understand why you became the Empire’s Hero if your speed of reaction does not fail at the unexpected."
"... Your words are too kind, Sir."
"I am aware they are." — Orland quickly agreed.
"... As expected of the Lucid Warrior... Too aware of any little thing." — Zeleskiaz retorted, straightening further to also flaunt his prominence to the confident knighted warrior in front of him.
"Yes. Too aware... That I even have the obligation to warn you... Young Zeleskiaz."
Menacing as the experienced warriors the two were... Orland spouted his name with an echoing sound in thrilling tranquillity, causing the light collision of their sharp auras to call the near guards wonder.
"No stress ought to befall my daughter again in her stay at the Palace... At the very least... Hopefully not in Your presence again."
"I had no plans to do so–"
"Even then."
"..."
"... Even then... If she falls ill again, because of something you have elicited as you did in our discussion that dinner..."
"..."
"..... Do I need to spell it to you?"
"... You certainly do not."
Silence followed along the light bow of their heads in feigned politeness. And no words of farewells were said.
"Mother! I lost sight of you for a moment~!... Have you perhaps... Seen..." — Theressa’s voice woke him of the recollections. And even then, the Duke’s sour expression from the distasteful exchange back in those days remained unchanged at one of his children’s arrival.
Silently, he observed the giggling and whispering of two of the women of his Household. Significantly displeased this time, at what now he recalled at the sight of his overjoyed child.
’Theressa... My daughter... This matter can not be overlooked by your Father...’
Rage was menacing to invade Orland, at the little information he had been able to find by mere chance.
Nonetheless, a collected strategy was also his forte. Even when the source to take action was his own offspring.
"Wife, I am to leave momentarily. Theressa... Keep your mother company while I am away."
"Yes, Father."
Her usual manners were demonstrated, yet they felt different in his eyes at the recently born doubts.
Smoothly, Orland did as he said and walked away. Clearly aware that at a time like this, the one he needed to make contact with would easily find his way to him in a crowded Palace.
— Has the Young Miss hurt you again? —
— Debra... Don’t speak about that... Much less so loudly... —
— But... Louisa... I found strands of your hair when she called me in to clean her bedroom... —
—... I’m fine... Lady Theressa... From what she mumbled..... I think she truly needed to release her rage with violence this time... I’m already used to it... It doesn’t happen that often either. —
— But... —
— No buts... I cannot... My Lord... He is a kind Lord... Yet between a maid and his child who would he believe, Debra? We’ve talked about this before. —
—... Louisa... —
— I owe My Lord this silence... You know well what would be of us if not for his willingness to take us as servants. —
"..." — Throe invaded his countenance at the words he had heard once Orland had gone to speak as promised to Marianne with his youngest child.
’The bruise on Louisa’s neck... Probably... It wasn’t made by a man as I had thought... The covered bruise... If I had seen it better...’
Orland contemplated, sure that the obstacle of the servant’s high neck had covered enough for the thickness of the bruise prints to confuse his initial deductions.
’This cannot stay as it is... I need to know everything I’ve ignored.’ — Determined the Duke of Sylfinnier stated with cold firmness, as his expression hardened at what he was to find lying under the impression Theressa had made him believe.
— Why is your sister shivering? —
—..... She is fine, nothing truly happened... —
— I must differ. —
The voice of the man he had warned before resounded with contained fury.
— Crown Prince... care to explain the meaning of this? —
The Duke was already reticent to listen to the man who once more witnessed his daughter’s crisis. Simply by the assumption it had been his actions that had incited the ailing of the frail Marianne at the time.
Hence, his tone was as dangerous as the one used by the Prince, demanding with obvious severity the reasons behind the scene.
—... I believe it is the Lady that ought to tell. —
Without the desire to hide his glare, Zeleskiaz had pierced his youngest child, inviting her to answer her Father’s inquiry with honesty.
And... although the act was not pleasant for the affectionate father...
— Speak, Theressa. —
He pressured her to tell.
—... Sister is overreacting. I was simply telling her to be careful of what she does. Should I have not, the Crown Prince would be tainted by her unthoughtful actions. —
Silence fell heavy on them, yet Orland contemplated on her words, ultimately going back to watch how Marianne continued to shiver in her small figure, lonesome in her seat.
— I wonder when "telling" came to be "yelling" and "insulting" to the Young Lady. —
—... What? —
Orland could not believe what he was hearing.
It was a given that Marianne’s condition deserved a careful approach, yet the sayings of the Prince were condemning to his Youngest.
—! I– I didn’t mean to– —
— That is indisputably questionable. Such a high pitch for a Lady cannot be done if not used to it. The Lady did not even hesitate to address her quiet Sister as "stupid", after startling her by knocking out the chair in an unsightly manner... I truly doubt... That you didn’t mean to scare her further by accusing her of trying to cause trouble for me. —
— Th–That... —
— Furthermore, she seemed ignorant of the allergy you mentioned. Not only did you insult my Lady and worried her by what her forgetfulness could have turned into... But you also scared her... Screaming she could be dead by now. —
"..."
The Duke painfully repeated the conversation the three had, clearly in his head.
Yet it was the following words of his youngest, along with the remorseless eyes of his child when putting on a sorry expression, that made his heart ache extensively.
— It is true I did that. Yet father! Had I not done that, it is not only the Prince who would suffer the consequences but I too! Truthfully... I don’t believe this shivering act of hers is real! —
The words of the child were hideous... And in Orland’s bottom, he wondered... What was it that had made his youngest act so miserable towards the Sister she had witnessed struggle throughout the years?
’I had told you... That no stress should come to your Sister... I asked you to take care of her well-being... And I cannot even place doubt in the man accusing you...’ — Orland had thought at the time, conflicted by his child’s attitude. — ’Because..... Even on my way here... I could hear a tad of your outrage, Theressa.’