Chapter 253: Chapter 253
The spirit’s mention was what made him appreciate the story more.
The daughter beside him now possessed a spirit’s tear and that Forest was protected in name of a spirit.
’... It may seem foolish... But if a spirit truly rests there... the spirits may protect my child as we Sylfinnier have protected its Forest’s nature...’ — Orland thought with hope.
"Since I believe one must protect who one loves... Your Father thinks of this legend as a beautiful testimony of the unlimited lengths one could reach to protect those beloved to us." — The Duke honourably taught the child what he wanted her to also have as belief.
"!" — Nodding to it immediately, Marianne agreed as the foreigner also responded inside. — ’That’s right! I’ve had this belief since before coming here, mister. One must protect and make them happy, so one also can be happy! Do you see, Marianne? Even the duke knows this! Haha. Ain’t he clever~?’
"You think so too, dear?" — Delighted at her eagerness, Orland inquired.
’Yes. I’ve been teaching this to your daughter, so this legend is perfect for her to remember it~’
Happy for the tale told, Marianne’s consensus resounded and was conveyed to the Duke. Ultimately giving her Father the impulse to say why he felt more for the tale aloud.
"I believe it is perfect to visit the Forest House now... My child possesses a spirit’s tear. You hold a kind of link with one through it... The Forest House... It may as well be a protected nest for the lovers in the legend. A place where the spirit remains peaceful..."
"..."
"If we visit now... Your spirit may also remain peaceful, sweetie."
Orland’s words could easily be referring to the tear Marianne was the owner of... Yet inside... Orland alluded to his Child’s spirit.
That soul of hers he is to protect to any length and wants peace to finally reign in it.
*******
I felt quite eager after learning the Forest House’s story.
The Duke mentioning the pretty tear made me a bit impatient to visit since I still have hopes for something fantastical to happen with it.
My experienced reader sense tells me that with such scenery the pretty tear could go flash! Or fwiish~ or maybe say something more elaborated than this morning’s singsonged whispers.
Who knows. Maybe spirits know each other. What if Calla’s Guardian Spirit was friends with the splinter’s Spirit? That is... if it was truly a Spirit that was the bard’s lover... But, Oh d*mn~ I reaaaaally love it when the Duke gets in the storytelling mood~
’Your relentless training when little must have made the poor mister an expert~ hehehe... Such a frightening child you must have been, cutie~’
Teasing Marianne, I distracted myself as I was being dressed with Paige’s help.
"~~....!?"
’Wow! That was a strong squeeze we got there... It’s good we are used to wearing corsets... But... This doesn’t mean we lost weight... right?’ — I told Anne after her glaring sensation was interrupted by the force of tightening the corset.
Our bootie needs plump flesh... And it would suck to lose weight when I’m putting in so much effort.
But, as it can be that we lost weight... it could also be that we are gaining weight! Hence, the need to tighten it... Hehe, alright, I will settle for the latter.
We had jumped a bit by the strength used, but that wasn’t an uncommon occurrence.
Therefore, Paige flinched alongside us as she usually does since she’s always very careful.
"I am sorry my, Lady. I surprised you..."
With sorry eyes, Paige peeked at me and made sure I was alright. To then continue while arranging my skirt and the tiny details of our upper body.
Today’s dress was a simple one... And annoyingly enough, simple is always best.
It was of a pale cream colour in its whole, with only mustard-coloured bits of details in the puffy sleeves and the lower pointy edge of the matching corset.
If not for the shade of cream, it could have appeared white, almost too pure for us to wear since we would be dangerously exploiting Marianne’s beauty with it.
’These creamy and pastel colours suit us too much... I’m afraid of our potential, sweetheart~’
Honest in my teasing, I conveyed to Marianne how much I liked our current appearance.
Looking in the mirror and caressing the fabric, I had gotten used to seeing ourselves look pretty but, of course, it was impossible for me to get bored of it.
Usually, I wouldn’t look at ourselves for very long.
The times I pay too much attention to our expression had mostly been times when we kind of feel strongly about something. It has gotten to be something I find special.
... How to explain... It is this sensation that I want it to keep being something unique. Looking intently at ourselves would show me new things every time. And I don’t want to waste it by doing it so often... It is that kind of thing... Could be called a superstition even.
But today, I wanted to look for a good while. Not at our outfit, but at our expression.
’... You know... I can see a difference.’
Our expression had not changed in the slightest... But it felt so different for some reason.
’Hmm... I can’t put my finger on it... But... I feel... Yeah... It’s that, Anne... I feel like we are alive.’ — I finally came to tell her, feeling some longing for the past I came to.
In the beginning, when I first saw our expression... It was dead.
It had stayed like that for a while and, even though I had seen and feel it move in continuous changes... I still had the sensation that it was lifeless.
I believe it was because... although I was eager to get Marianne to feel better and infect her with good vibes; even when we were having a hard time, Marianne who tried to go with it, had yet to truly let herself stay in that good mood. I feel she just... Superficially accepted it.
The circumstances have been too much for her to take and it’s no wonder if she has had that same low mood for so long.
Getting used to feeling fearful and sad is something one can’t overcome easily after all. It’s actually the opposite... It’s hard as hell.
I had given her ideas and new visions of what I wanted for ourselves... Attempting to make her have expectations for our future. And I know they worked at the time I said them.
I know I felt her have expectations and feel eager to experience what I wanted to show her... But that doesn’t mean she stayed with that enthusiasm.
Even I didn’t.
Making her recall helped. But... That just means she hadn’t made those expectations I wanted her to share with me... Her own.
’I’ve been telling you so many times that I want a happy future together... That we will see and live many fun and interesting things...’
Today when I look at our inexpressive features... When I say we looked alive... I think it’s just a way to say that Marianne has finally started to share my expectations for our future.
’Seems like even when we’ve had it tough... You’re finally starting to believe it, Anne. I’m... Truly glad, sweetheart.’
I now can see it in our eyes... Even if it’s just a little... But she wants to see what awaits us.
’I wonder what has made you feel like it, though~... Could it be that our cute baby red panda has found the true charm of drama~?’
Teasing her as I looked directly into our eyes inside the mirror, the uniqueness I previously mentioned of this activity finally surfaced.
There weren’t tears or a change of expression. Neither there was a sensation of looking at another person.
This time it was simply... A mixture.
Our eyes were complicated. They looked so complicated...
Confusing even, since when looking into them... I saw that there were two people contained in the grey.
’Would you look at that... Aren’t we an interesting pair?’ — I told her fascinated at the sight.
A shameless glint that looked entertained was definitely mine in there... While there was also a feel in it of shy enthusiasm. I could say there was even a bit of a nervous chuckle hiding in our eyes.
It’s nice that it was confirmed by the waves she then sent me.
’Just look at us... The both of us are here...’
"...."
Obviously, I felt overwhelmed by the sight.
We both did after I said that.
We both wanted to cry.
Because... It was as if the two were there somehow united and separated at the same time.
But... I wouldn’t let the tears happen this time.
There are times we must preserve happiness without happy tears. And I think this is one of those times.
Thus, I moved our arms to cross them before us and straightened proudly at our reflex.
’Well! ain’t we awesome?!’ — I started to act foolish. — ’Just look at us going~ All pretty and unique~ I even have a song just right for this, darling~’
Preparing for it, I made the sassy duck face we deserved to forget the wish to cry. And as it demanded, I moved our hands and body to express the nice lyrics. That (if you ask me) merits some good dance moves.
’Oouf! Who’s that cutie thing I see over there~? Oho~? That’s us! Standin’ in the mirror~’
Pointing at ourselves with graceful wrists, I made us blink as we couldn’t wink yet. Turning merrily on my feet with little disco moves in a happy mood since it’s a great way to celebrate.
’What’s! That i–!?... Icy... Paige...... Dayum.’
... Noticing a bit too late that I had forgotten that Paige was watching us.