Chapter 278: Chapter 278 — Belong.
At the doors of her chambers, Paige and another pair of servants were coming out from the inside. Some of the luggage of the Lady had been brought upstairs already and more were to be brought soon.
However, the young maid did not fail to notice her leadership and at the sight of her prominence, she lit up her busy expression to welcome the beautiful Miss she served.
"My Lady! How was your journey– Gasp! My apologies, Your Highness. I– This server was blinded by joy to see her Master. Please forgive my poor manners!" — To the clue Marianne gave with the movement of her eyes, pointing to the man escorting her that Paige had erased unconsciously from her awareness, the maid bowed deeply apologetically to have ignored the presence of someone as important as Zeleskiaz was to the Empire.
"... It’s alright... It is natural." — Not looking at Paige, he forgave the woman.
"?"
She raided from her deep bow and catching a glance of the Prince, Paige smiled quietly. For, instead of looking at her, his eyes were peeking at the elegant Lady with tender shades in his eyes.
’It indeed is natural~’ — Paige agreed, excited to see the devotion of the Prince to her Lady.
"Umh. My Lady, your chambers had been already arranged for you to find rest without delay. Is His Highness the Crown Prince going to make your company?"
"Yes. It was decided I would take a refreshment here as the Lady wished to return to her private stances."
’Huh?!’ — The foreigner exclaimed at the Prince’s sayings. — ’You are actually having your tea here?!’
"! I understand. Please go inside, my Lady. I shall bring adequate refreshments briefly."
’Uh... bring the biscuits I–... Why do I even try? She won’t hear me either way.’
Watching her close maid rush along with the others, Marianne tried to ask for the sweets she liked inwardly.
Becoming aware that there was no use for the attempt, she turned to look ahead and entered those chambers she had slightly forgotten while in her stay at the Royal Palace.
’... It feels like it’s been so long... But... This is where I came to when I arrived in your body, sweetheart. Our bedroom.’
Pacing inside with the Crown Prince she naturally slid her hand from his arm to look at the familiar chambers where most of her time in this realm had passed.
’... We are back. Truly.’ — The foreigner told Marianne with melancholy in her inward murmurs.
Busy as she glanced through her room, Zeleskiaz had closed the door of her chamber. Giving a light nod to Vitor, her bodyguard, before doing so. Polite for he was aware that the Knight deserved it as he was to protect his beloved.
’... Master, His Majesty, the Crown Prince and the maid called Paige... Only those are permitted privacy with the Lady.’ — Vitor recited in his head. Only adding Zeleskiaz to the list because the mischievous Emperor had whispered it to him the time Orland introduced them.
— Your Master won’t mention the Crown Prince because he’s grumpy. But Zeleskiaz, my son, is in this with us. You can rest assured if he’s near. The ones that are in danger if he’s around... Honestly, is everything but the cute child. —
’... He said "everything" back then... At least His Majesty knows his son well enough.’ — Vitor lastly conceived. Recalling the rests on a battlefield the Crown Prince had visited. — ’Besides corpses, he also destroys his surroundings at times.’
*Inhales*
The knight then commenced concentrating on the sound of the air filling his lungs. Letting his aura flow to feel the manor and its people, indifferent to be noticed by those strong enough to perceive it, including the Crown Prince.
’For that same reason... His Highness should still be aware that I am around... Master’s daughter... I will protect her as Master told me.’
A sense of the Prince’s whereabouts and the Lady’s was now known to the knighted Vitor whose sense was sharp in discerning the bodies’ shades that could tell if they were a menacing presence or not.
’The Prince is a walking threat, but... The shade...’ — "It’s more likely that he will pamper the Lady than hurt her?"
Vitor was confused by the contradiction and it was legit for him to do so. Inside the room, he could not see the ongoing matters. Even less those occurring in the souls’ hearts.
Zeleskiaz had come to realise the knight’s flow immediately. Regardless, he did not mind.
’If you do your job this properly. I can feel less annoyed by the luck you have with this duty, lad.’ — Watching the woman ahead, standing next to that chair and table next to that window he used to watch in his escapes from the Palace... Solely gaining a whiff of her graceful scent every time... Zeleskiaz’s heart throbbed to witness the place where his beloved had been hiding every time. — ’I envy the Knight... For he will probably see this sight many more times than I will while we are apart, my loved one, Marianne.’
He stood silent at the door. Wishing to watch the scene of the Lady in her chambers.
How her fingertips would caress the wood of a table she had forgotten. The shine of her long hair under a roof that granted marvellous light and freshness through the windows, permitting the caress of a fresh breeze from the little forest on the other side. That one he would cross to catch at least a sense of her presence and fragrance... And lastly, he listened... that wondrous silence she emitted that, although it seemed profound in its hush... It vibrated strongly, telling everything about the woman’s gentle and sweet essence which words cannot describe.
’How I love you... How not to love you... My Lady. I feel delightfully breathless when not finding an answer to this acute feeling I dedicate to you.’
"..."
It was her back that was facing him now.
Near the window she used to seat by to appreciate the scene, Marianne stood lonesome. And in his eyes... it was painful of a sight.
For a moment, the vivid colours of the woman were whipped off, and her figure appeared dreadful. Like a long-forgotten portrait, which paint had lost its intensity victim to the merciless dust of an eternity.
Therefore, Zeleskiaz’s first step was given. Purposely loud in the quiet room, before saying something he had been waiting to ask ever since the woman halted their walk to scrutinize him in a quiet stare.
"Lady Marianne." — To his sound, she immediately turned to face him. Slowly as her body permitted. — "Did my attitude upset you?"
’... What?’ — She secretly asked in return, tilting her head as she walked a step to face him. Still touching the table with her dainty fingertips.
"I behaved differently before your family... But I reckon the lady is aware... That my motives were so I could be here with you at this moment..."