Chapter 266: Chapter 266
*******
"I will send letters... so I can announce my visit... and know about My Lady."
I nodded immediately again. Overwhelmed since more things that made me happy kept being said by the Crown Prince.
This sensation of abandonment I’ve been feeling these days since we were to go back and be on our own again had me anxious.
We had started to support ourselves on this guy. And even though I am confident that some way or another a path will open in an idea to get Marianne out of any situation we may encounter...
It had me depressed... that maybe we wouldn’t meet again in a long long time...
Somehow. Since we have more tools we can use to defend ourselves even if they are tiny, I know we will still survive and mess up the original story at some point.
I need to be sure of it. Have at least this intuition.
Because if I don’t believe it, then it won’t happen. And I... I want it to happen... Because I am sure the original was not showing the truth.
However, the dejection of not meeting him wasn’t only because he keeps showing himself different to what I initially believed.
We feel nice with him. It’s as simple as that... and that is enough of a reason for either feeling depressed because we are separating or feeling delighted that he is to visit me... right?
’... Either way... letters... we... At least when it comes to myself, I’ve never received one of those...’
The thought made me feel softer inside. Such a thing... truly befitting of the times this place is settled... It’s thrilling for a maiden like myself... but maybe I’m being stupid... because any would feel that way, right? At the very least, the shared anticipation I am feeling from Marianne kind of makes me think that’s the case.
’Clearly... it will be different to the messages I used to send on the phone, hehe...’
"My Lady."
’hm?’ — To his call, I lifted again to look him in the eye as I felt my mood get once again cheery as it should.
The eyes of the Crown Prince watched us with a curious hint of seriousness I don’t remember seeing before. These days he was... this Prince has been acting differently. But not to a weird or concerning extent.
I still felt he was trouble. Just as strongly as I did when I first saw him. Only that now, I had no reason to fear him.
The sole reason I kept being cautious was his... random intensity that was always threatening Marianne and my purity... But for the most part, even that caution was too flexible for my liking. Since I always end up letting ourselves be kissed and touched by him... In ways no one ever has done with us since we are true virgins, haha...
But lately... this... holding hands like this is the first thing he has done in an attempt to touch me ever since the night of the Summer Ball.
... Maybe that’s why it feels different... Phew. I don’t know.
"... I was going to ask if my intention was the cause of delight by your change of demeanour... yet..."
huh?
’Why... Ah. Did our face change while I got lost in thought?... He kept silent so I...’
As if I was having that missed step of the stairs dream... I felt a little tumble within me once I saw his lids fall, avoiding my gaze.
’Ugh! How many times!... I just keep on letting my thoughts wander and make people misunderstand my lack of concentration with lack of interest!!’
Mostly it’s because I AM interested that they wander around the topic!! They do deviate at times but... I always come back! But I hate that it’s like this!!
To this frustration, I had no other option but to squeeze his hand and draw it near me... Even when I did hesitate while doing so since I need to be cautious not to... make this unpredictable man do unpredictable things... Much more in a place I have no escape like a moving carriage.
However, I still did it. And shook my head to negate whatever else he planned or was thinking to say. Since in the end, he wasn’t mistaken.
’It does cause delight in me! Don’t go thinking weird things! The only weird one is me here but that’s another issue!!’
I could feel my eyelids narrow as I told him these unheard words. It’s at times like these that I feel the most helpless since I want to talk things out... But. I. Freaking. CAN’T!!
"Haha..."
’... Uh?... What...’
Did he... Did this man just laugh...? So softly at that...?
"I tricked the Lady." — The brightest smile I had seen from him... Came with the wonderful change of his manly and handsome features. In that greatly annoying smirk that was dangerously sexy.
Leaning... As if taking the fact that my impulses had brought his hand nearer to even hold it in both of my hands without even knowing, he kept a safe distance and kept the smile... Glancing at our hands with happiness at his successful joke.
"The Lady at times seems to go away, lost in thought. I need to make you pay attention somehow."
He turned in his seat to even raise a bit of his knee to face me better.
"Although I understand the condition you have, I wish for a response... Any kind will do, My Lady... I wish for you not to think much so your demeanour shifts when conversing with me..."
’O–okay... so, not much thinking... just answers... got it.’ — Too focused on conceding this petition, I nodded instantly. Although the feel of his finger that raised to trace my combed hair so lightly made me feel nervous.
Even though his fingertip didn’t even touch my skin... it all made me concentrate on controlling my anxiety, instead of truly understanding his words.
I feel terribly conscious of his actions.
So much that it’s causing difficulty for me to process everything we have gone through during my visit to the Palace. But as he said, it’s not the time for me to let my head wander again... more so since he seems to dislike it as he has just told me in a polite and too kind manner.
I had left my head looking down out of shyness and troubled sensations. And at these last considerations, I lifted to look at him, intending to say something, anything with my eyes since I wanted to tell him (even though he had said it jokingly) that I was happy to know he wanted to visit us at the Duchy after this and that we would also like to receive his letters...
But the Crown Prince was a step faster than me... more like... he was one step ahead already because he wouldn’t let me slide our hands out to take the post-it notes to answer.
"Do tell me now, my Lady... Is this compromise I offer, a source of joy for you as it is for myself?"