Chapter 202: Chapter 202
The Prince followed behind her, noticing the Lady’s low energy.
’She seems tired...’ — He thought, slightly concerned.
Nonetheless, he did not ask what he truly wanted to know.
"Have you drank your tea, Lady?"
’Tea is all I drink so don’t worry.’
Making him follow her eyes, she showed him the empty teacup at her night table.
"... Then... Let’s start with warming up your throat, let us try to maintain a low tone and slowly change its pitch just as you have done yesterday."
The foreign child silently obeyed. Offended since, once again, she felt his undeserved coldness when this development issue was already difficult for her emotions.
Marianne did her best in every session. Her sound was slowly expanding its volume and, as her features had begun to loosen its continuous stiffness, although austere, she was now able to inflict a light flinch in her edges with great effort... with the sole purpose of someday practising her modulation and turn it into what she desired... A voluntary aptitude she could control no matter the occasion and unbound to her condition. Something any healthy child should be able to accomplish.
In two sessions, she had improved what she couldn’t on her own.
When arriving at this Realm... A minute of her sound would not have happened even when her fortune was enormously generous.
On her own, she could barely manage a joyful song from her past world. Yet now that she had been resting inside the walls Fenrir also resided in and additional to it, the peace this break her body was enjoying away from her body’s brother... Her psyche’s condition was more inclined to cooperate in improving since she also had the guidance of a third.
First, she accomplished ten minutes... Then the double... And today... Yesterday’s double.
’Ungh... It hurts like hell, but... I don’t care.’
Her volume was now a proper murmur. No words could take shape for her jaw had yet to permit smooth movement in the intent to speak... Regardless, her progress was certainly impressive.
"... You surpassed your yesterday self. Drink another cup and rest. I shall come back tomorrow."
"...."
A quick pause to observe the unreturned stare, followed by the sound of her notes that resounded as she wrote a short sentence to then give space to the scrapping sound of them being drawn on the centre table in front of where he stood.
A new message. The first one after deciding it was futile to give any other after their first serious session.
[ There is no need for you to come back. Thank you for your time, Your Highness.
Good night. ] —
The Lady had written.’I don’t need involuntary help.’
From his height, her words were clear. Nevertheless, he still leaned to take them and read them again.
"... Yet... I promised..."
Finally, Zeleskiaz allowed himself to look at her. And as cold as he had been, she shook her head without meeting his gaze.
’No need.’ — Graciously standing from her seat, it was only then that their eyes met.
The Lady’s prominence did not let him get distracted by her beauty. Solely her harsh stance was to be taken in, impassive and condescending.
’You know the way out.’ — Unfolding her limb to the balcony, she calmly dismissed him.
"... Lady? I–"
’Ah~ ah~ not interested~’
Giving her back to him she began to walk away. Yet...
"Lady, wait a moment. Please tell me the motive."
’... Do I have to? It’s pretty obvious, though.’
Her motion stopped, however, no spoken response came for him to hear.
At her silence, his anxiety multiplied.
Deep inside, the Crown Prince knew she was displeased with him and the grief from listening to the truth was unbearable.
"... Lady Marianne... look at me." — Surrounding her, the man said, placing himself in front of her.
’Dun wanna.’
"Lady... Lady, please..."
’Guuuuhhhh... Nope... I’m not giving in. You’ve been a total a**hole. I’m pissed like hell... It felt humiliating when it shouldn’t have been..... I don’t like you because of that, kinky..... So suck it, d*mn f***.’
The man could feel her reluctance as she evaded his attempts to cross gazes, to the point of even stepping back to maintain the distance he also persisted in conserving.
His chest tightened in turmoil and his expression harmonised with the discomfort.
The pained scowl on his brows and the vein at his tensed jaw demonstrated his inner conflict without shame. And... as fast as it invaded his countenance... His honesty also unfolded itself, not even minding his wording.
"Bloody hell..." — The first curse came out between his teeth. — "My Lady please stop this torture... I also will stop my foolish attempts... So please don’t... Don’t give another step away from me because it’s burning every crumble of spirit I have left away..." — Zeleskiaz pledged intensely as his hand finally reached her limb.
’... If you know it’s foolish, why do it... Idiot.’
"I’m sorry..."
"..."
"I wished to express to you... That I could act properly... That I..... Respect you and what you hold dear..."
"....." — ’... There’s a reason why I gave you five chances to mess up, kinky..... Oh.’
Her secret response gave her a solution to this turmoil the two held. However, it would not be told yet, since the Prince had more things to say.
"My Lady... I believe that... When it comes to you..... No matter the nature of my intentions they all fail to probe my sincerity. I am... Ashamed to admit it. Nonetheless... I prefer shame before your indifference."
"....."
’... So, in other words... As I thought. You’re socially inept, kinky... If it makes you feel better, if Anne was the only one in this body making conversation, I swear that right now you would be bald, mate... Sweetheart let’s face it. You would be as much or worst at socializing than him without me. Our hair would also be gone, I tell ya.’
Paying attention to his sayings, the foreign woman understood his meanings even explaining to the still upset companion within her the extent of his crisis for she had yet to appreciate the hardship the Crown Prince was navigating on his own, unlike her. Teaching her with ingenious comebacks to place herself in his shoes, even when upset by his actions, the foreign woman replayed his voice of the honest words, repeating them with a curious attitude.
’... "Prefer shame", huh?...’
As they stood silently, she entered a brief ponder before lifting the guilty weight out of his shoulders.
’I actually thought you were showing your true face these days, Kinky Crown... I thought that...’
— The original you I read about was face-slapping me with the reality meant for this novel’s world. —
"..... As it seems... It is better for me to retreat." — Zeleskiaz started, mistakenly thinking her lengthy stillness was in rejection of his words.
His hand gave a yearning squeeze to her arm before drawing it away as a plea for a response.
Disheartened, the loss of his grip emptied his chest. The hollow space was immediately filled with the stuffing shade of regret.
Having announced his retreat the Crown Prince feared taking the step that would guide him to abandon her area, meanwhile she leisurely observed.
"..."
"..... Good ni–"
’Haaaahh... Alright, that’s enough.’
Holding with her tips the long sleeve as he turned, she stopped his steps. And giving him two delicate pats on his muscular limb, she attempted to comfort him in his beliefs.
’I understand so... If something has to leave it should be that conflicted expression you have on your annoyingly handsome face..... And body.’ — The Lady inwardly told him, noticing the muscles under her palm.
She searched for her stack, slightly flushed as she realised again how robust his physic was.
In the meantime, even in his dizziness from the adorable kindness of her graze, Zeleskiaz sensed what her eyes were looking for as his flowery violet hues followed her search.
Wishing to aid the wondrous Lady the hues also searched, ultimately arriving at his left hand.
"I... Your stack..."
Showing it to her, the Lady reached for it.
’Oh~ thank you~... Wait. You were about to leave with this. That’s no good kinky. It’s like leaving a millennial without a smartphone. You can’t do that to me~’ — She halted her hand to give him a reproaching yet playful glare and then wrote what would help them both leave this issue behind.
[ Your Highness, it appears to be the case that a mistake was committed. ]
"... Indeed..."
’Heh... He’s confused.’
[ It also looks like the Crown Prince has forgotten. ]
"....." — ’Forget?..... What could I...’
[ You have four opportunities left, my Prince. Although I hope you won’t need to use them... If you do, use them wisely.]
Her words made him quave in an enormous relief.
She was a rose, elegant and attractive... yet the bouquet of flowers she represented was endless...
At this time, her charm was that of daisies and lilies... Simply innocent and refined in their purity. Lovingly forgiving. His wondrous hope and source of emotion.
"... I will..."
His countenance softened as if the garden of blooming flowers she was had smoothly swiped the quenching smell of misery with her euphuistic scent.
Graze...
The motion of his hand travelled the air, slowly, like a dream. Lightly touching her hair to reach her rosy cheek.
’...!... Mnh... It’s... nerve-wracking if he stares so intently...’
"Thank you, my... My Lady..." — ’... My bouquet of illusion...’
’Ngh... Not that voice.....’
Pained by his involuntary effect, she slightly tensed up, closing her lids as the teasing graze of his fingertips traced her jaw.
’I have certainly upset you, yet you forgive me..... I...’ — "I deeply appreciate this undeserved forgiveness."
’..... Uhh... O-okay I get it... So save me the trouble please...’ — Shyly she thought, as her flickering lashes conveyed her unrest at his velvety mouthpiece.
"....." — ’Enchanting woman..... To think the mere flutter of those seducing lashes causes rouse to hold you...’
The silence settled upon them. Only their thrilled breathing transferred within it, numbing their senses and time... That never-ceasing time the Norns ruled over, demanded their separation.