Chapter 247: Chapter 247
Bang... Bang!
Suddenly, I could hear how noise from outside my door started to arise. As if the volume had been steadily turned on so I finally could listen.
"Marianne!"
Bang!
The sound of Marianne’s Father’s voice resounded strongly. Quite desperate. Making me open my eyes more widely at what was happening.
—... if awake... open... —
With the melody I have been welcomed to my chambers lately thanks to the tear, I heard a cutesy voice say in my head along it. My instincts made me look at the pretty tear... And as expected the shine was titillating as the confessed culprit.
BANG! THUMP!!
"Huff.. Has..... Marianne! Dear!"
One last big hit was heard. Pushing the for open violently with a last sound. And flashing my head to look at the door... I saw the Duke, running towards me with a desperate expression, while I still held the coffer in my hands nervously from confusion.
’??? Mister–!?’
I was too shocked to understand. But by the looks of it, something was wrong.
After all... For him to come running to hug me with such wretched strength... Something weird must have happened because of this tear.
"... Dear... Oh, dear.....!"
’nnh! Mister...! Don’t squeeze me so much...’
His embrace was clearly anguished. I could feel how scared he was by the little trembling of his voice and arms while holding me.
"... Marianne..."
Hearing him speak with such a weak voice... Ultimately made me ignore the difficulty his hug was giving me. And instead, I came with the need to pat his back to return his hug.
The Duke’s back was certainly shaking in my hand. And his desperation was contagious to me because now I truly wished to calm him down somehow.
’We are fine, Mister... Calm down... It’s good to see you...’
Patting him and even stroking a bit of his back with my hand, I tried my best to transmit that I was alright and that he could breathe calmly now. Fighting the frightening squeeze I felt in my chest from seeing him like this.
"..."
"ngh...!" — I heard him resist a sobbing sound. That if not for the nonexistent distance, I’m sure I would have never noticed.
’... It’s fine, Mister.’ — Sadness invaded me further... Since I knew with this that he probably had the scare of his life just now.
... Because of us...
’I swear it’s fine...’
"... Dear... Are you alright?... D–did nothing happen to you?"
Slightly separating from me, I saw his eyes’ edges become red in tearful expression, and I noticed in them the struggle of an eternity in the tender shine he looks at us.
It broke my heart to listen his shaky voice trying to remain composed. And more so it did to Marianne, who also had begun to tear up at the sight of a vulnerable Duke.
’We are fine, Mister. Nothing happened... To us, at least.’ — Nodding and looking at myself to then meet his gaze, I tried to answer him with my eyes.
"T–truly?... Truly nothing happened, sweetie??"
Glancing around me to confirm I was unharmed, Marianne’s Father made sure I was telling the truth. Making me nod once more as he inspected my eyes one last time.
’Seriously, mister. Nothing happened to us. We even woke up recently.’
"..... Haaaaaa... What..... Bloody hell... I swear..."
Clearly relieved yet frustrated, he released a big sigh he held after inhaling hard and resting his head on my shoulder from exhaustion, for the first time I heard him say a curse. One really befitting.
’... Yeah... Bloody hell, Mister...’ — I repeated looking shocked at the sight of my door that had become hollow on one side. Which is where I assume he had been desperately hitting to open it.
Along with that, I was able to see the other people that had followed behind him into my room.
Paige, doctor Talmhach and Deslys along with a pair of guards that were usually standing at my door stood concerned in a row while watching me and the Duke.
I say concerned... But they were probably more confused now that they had made it inside a calm bedroom.
"... I am so sorry dear... To make you start your day with such a surprise... Haha... Sigh."
"....."
His sorry expression accompanied by a lethargic laugh made obvious his fatigue from causing "such surprise".
’It’s fine... I’m wide awake now at the very least, haha...’ — I answered also feeling sorry, taking hold of his hand that didn’t seem confident of grasping mine on his own.
"... Let me explain this to you, dear. But first... A good morning kiss for my precious bird." — Slightly standing from my side he kissed our forehead sweetly. Beaming with relief while holding my hand and showing new mood at our well-being.
"~..."
The happy sensation of Anne’s stomach at her favourite person’s greeting made us feel funny inside. Even with the concern after this kind of start of the day.
"Paige, please open the curtains and let the air in."
"Right away, my Lord."
Gently, the Duke turned to ask Paige. And patting my hand as he waited for the sunlight to light the room, he kept meeting our gaze, grinning as he inhaled strongly and released joy. As if gaining peace of mind at what he saw.
"The door wouldn’t open as much as I tried to break it open."
’... break?’
"Last night something similar happened, but it opened a little after I arrived... I knew you were accompanied back then too... yet today, your Father became a little desperate since I was denied to see you, haha."
’Well, it’s understandable...’
From what he said, I also felt relief.
He said "Last Night"... meaning I did sleep only for one night and that time hasn’t passed me by. Besides...
’The Duke wasn’t here because of the door, Anne. We really didn’t know and yet he was here~’
Admiring how cool such a thing was, I told my cute Anne that fluttered a tickle in our chest from joy at such realisation.
"You seem to be fairing well today, sweetie. How was your sleep?"
’Awful. I keep dreaming lots, Mister. But I don’t remember anything about those dreams... It’s getting more and more annoying.’
"... You had a tough night it seems... I don’t blame you... It appears to be the case that events are your new allergy, sweetie." — Softly chuckling at his own joke, he pinched our cheek like he was used to.
And I couldn’t help but straighten in huge agreement at his joke.
’I know, right?! Ugh! Mister~ I was telling the same thing to Marianne this morning! Events really are a red flag!’
"Haha... The Emperor took care so your absence would not appear rude to the assistants. Talmhach and Deslys took a look at you while you were with the Crown Prince since I was not present... Everything was taken care of... I am saying this so you can be at ease, alright dear?"
’Oh... I see... Okay. That’s good. Though I don’t care much about what others think~’
... It’s nice that the Emperor took care of the trouble.
’I should thank him properly next time.’
I had to lower my sight for a moment after hearing him. The fact that so many people had been involved in taking care of my matters made me feel shy, troubled, thankful and happy. Maybe even a few more things.
Not only I felt it. But most importantly Marianne, who hasn’t experienced this before also felt it.
Seeing obvious concern and delight at one’s well-being from the people close to us is quite nice. And Anne surely hasn’t seen this as much as she deserves.
Even I, back in my reality, recently started to enjoy these little things after meeting the geezers at the Park.
...
Sigh... It’s not the time to miss them right now... But...
"..." — I kept silent as I went through a few memories while gazing at the pretty tear.
’Granny Martha would have taken this to the jewellers to get us some good money fufufu~ We would have bought new canvases and watercolours for our paintings since it looks like a precious stone... And we could have eaten caramel cookies like crazy even though she had diabetes~ hehehe~!’
I commenced chuckling at how things could have been if I was back in my world.
Going back to my good mood and synchronizing it with Marianne’s.
"... Were you taking care of your treasure, Marianne?"
’Um... More or less, yeah.’ — I answered the curious Duke. Tilting my head to then bow in affirmation.
"I see... Haha... I suppose that’s why you didn’t attend the door... Right?"
"..."
His question made my brain halt for a moment to think over what this meant.
What he was saying made sense. I didn’t attend the door. But it was because I heard nothing until the voice from the tear permitted it.
With all the confusion, I had forgotten these little details.
Peeking at the door once again, I went back to look at the tear in my hand. And came to a definition for this.
’If this tear is going to continue doing this, I cannot keep it a secret from the Duke... More so with how concern seems to constantly invade his eyes these days.’
"...."
Marianne’s father did not seem to be asking for a reply from us since his eyes stayed downwards looking at the tear just as I was.
I fear he is assuming I want to hide everything from him at times like these.
Him wanting to ask but not asking... Sigh... It’s our fault... And with good reasons since I indeed cannot tell him EVERYTHING... for now.
Not right now.
This might as well be the time to show him though.
That we are going to tell him things at some point... Right?
’...Alright! Time to write a few little letters to daddy, Marianne~... Nice letters by the way.’
Recalling the one letter I knew Marianne had written for the duke when I came here, I felt the need to address that it would be a nice letter in my awkwardness.
"~...~!" — I felt how she whined in reproach telling me an upset but playful "I know~" with our shared senses.
We unfolded our hand to the night table where the new post-it notes could be found so I could write our message.
Nonetheless, I got a bit distracted for a second... Because letters from a different handwriting were engraved in that first sheet...
[ Once you wake, I shall join your presence, Lady Marianne.
Rest marvellously.
Zeleskiaz. ]
... Such a nice handwriting.