Chapter 194: Chapter 194
"..." — ’mn~... Come on kinky... Don’t do this to me when I’m trying to remain calm...’
I know what it is that he means by this.
On the first day at the Palace, he came out of nowhere to my bedroom’s balcony and I’m assuming he might have a spot from where he got there.
’You can rest assured it wasn’t because I didn’t want to... Paige has been very intense in taking care of me. Right now, she despises the balcony because the strong breeze could "harm my health"...’
She’s right. But it’s a bit over the top if you ask me.
Nonetheless, I obey. Because I don’t want her to become Quasi*odo with that pretty face of hers again.
Sigh... Alright. Let’s make an effort and answer for a change.
Pausing, I slid away from him and in my notes, those that feel I’ve not used in so long thanks to Theressa’s presence, I wrote:
[ Although I am impatient to do so for I truly find the sky a delightful sight.
It is unfortunate that the day I ailed has disheartened my close people.
In sights to bring them lull... I am avoiding the windy balcony to keep myself healthy. ]
Handing it to him, I continued to walk on my own as if I was actually doing the stroll he told the Duke we went on.
Leisurely, since we were in the mid of a conversation, my steps were soft only to wait for him to follow me yet also weak because I had yet to recover completely from the wobbly sensation our... " encounter" gave me.
"... Even so..."
’Hm?’
"The lull you gifted them was robbed from me."
"..."
I froze as I turned to look at him.
He didn’t seem hurt. But his eyes were sincere when telling such things and I knew he was serious about whatever this meant for him after how his features appeared pacific while his eyes conveyed how deep he felt about it.
It shook me because it was incredibly palpable to me even in the distance. However, I wasn’t going to fall for it again... At least not today.
Composed, I walked to him to get the notes and wrote:
[ Indeed, Your Highness.
However, I have already repaid your patience. ]
Graciously handing it, I felt the urge to act malicious after his intent to manipulate my kindness.
Waiting for him to lift his eyes from it, once he did, I tilted my head... and wishing my smirk could be slightly seen on the outside, I brushed my lower lip with the back of my finger as I added a secret message on the inside.
’... And you surely enjoyed it... Kinky Crown.’
I turned around and continued to walk giving him the chance to follow me after overcoming his awe. Victorious, since I think I won this battle of wits.
He eventually followed me, walking the whole time a few steps behind me.
I could feel his intense gaze. Regardless, I continued to ignore him because it was my time to do as I wanted with him... Just as he did after seducing me and leading me into that secret passage.
’It’s a different medicine, but you should also have your share of it~ I’m not going to make it easy for you anymore.’
"... Lady... your chamber is to the left."
"..."
’I know~ I was testing if you were paying attention~’
Eff*** smart a**.
After turning at a few corners, my bedroom’s doors came into sight along with its two assigned guards.
We walked towards it, and as I am the owner I gestured to open them myself in anticipation of the short welcoming melody I began to hear after the tear was brought to be kept inside; guarded by the strong Fenrir who certainly had a bit of its spirit residing there.
... Click...
The soft and short melody did not wait to welcome me.
Instantly, the graze of the lovely breeze only meant for my ears came.
As if giggles in the shape of the sounds of wind bells, moved by the calm rain falling in a puddle, the tiny piece greeted me, lifting my spirits in a mere second.
’Yeah~ I am here pretty tears~ You may now shed them from happiness as my greatness is here to join the party~’
Hehe. I’m not sure if they actually get these things I say but I like to think they do.
"Shoo! Shoo!.... Ah! No. No. Bad bird! This way! Do not wander around my Lady’s quarters!"
It was then that Paige’s voice also reached me. And her figure going around the place hurriedly behind a bird I had no recollection of adopting
"What is the matter?" — The Crown Prince asked instead of me.
"!!!... A– Uh. G–Greetings! Your Highness! My Lady!! Uh... This– I apologize! This bird suddenly landed on my Lady’s balcony and as I tried to get it away from here... It... As you may see, it does not obey my attempts..."
"..." — ’Well... I can’t say I expected this when I was invited to the Royal Palace... But I like how odd of an occurrence this is.’
"Take it away." — The Crown Prince told one of the guards at the doors.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The man went and easily caught the feathered.
Once in his hands, he searched the bird and told us as he noticed something.
"It appears to be one of the hunted birds to refill the cages, Your Highness. It must have escaped as it was transported."
"... Take it with you."
"As you order, Your Highness."
’Aw... So it’s going to be caged?.... It’s not for the kitchen right? I haven’t heard anything about a dish with an exotic bird’s meat.’ — I thought as I heard them. And watching the knight pass by my side with it, I inwardly told the pretty bird as I waved my hand. — ’Bye-bye ~ be good, pretty bird... As one of you, I shall pray so you are not meant for the Kitchen’s cages...’
It was sad, but I still couldn’t do anything about it. The times might require these measures... And it’s a shame but I don’t think I can become a vegetarian at this point with my gluttony.
"... Does the Lady like it?"
’Mhmm...’ — I nodded.
"... You seem... Saddened to see it leave."
"..."
His paused way of speaking makes me wonder.
Is it that he’s curious? Or has he decided to ask away anything he finds odd in our actions?
Whatever the case, his speech only incites me to provide an answer to his doubts.
Unfolding my hand, I requested the post-it notes he still had in his power and after a pause to realise I was asking for them, I wrote some of the last words meant for the Crown Prince today.
[ It is only that, seeing its feathers and delicate smallness, the words Father often dedicates to me are recalled.
That lovely one is to be caged... And as I am called "his precious bird" every day, his words when telling me to fly freely are reminded. ]
I smiled at the words I had written because of how felt they are for Anne and I.
Her small spirit felt warm in longing to see her Father who always told us how he wishes the opposite of that bird’s future for us.
"... A bird... The Duke... Compares you to one?"
"..."
Compare...
[ No. ]— I wrote quickly as I retrieved the stack from his hand. — [ I am one. At the veryleast, I aim to be. ]
Impulsively, I told him.
There wasn’t much thought placed into those words. But, I believe that Marianne’s Father truly sees us as one.
Which I find lovely... Because if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be nice to think that whenever he calls Marianne "little bird" and tells us to fly into the sky... Wouldn’t that make me the one who is — instead of helping her leave the cage she let herself be closed in — helping her broom the growing feathers that will let her fly as the Duke desires?
It might seem selfish since it makes me feel better. But I want to think, I’m guarding the pointy nest she’s living in, so one day the two of us can go into the blue sky.
[ I like it when he calls me a bird. ]
Lastly, I wrote.
If my face is not expressing the satisfaction I feel about it, then I hope my bad luck only becomes worse as a punishment.
Because honestly... Never in my past life would I have thought that being called this way, every day, by a man intending to show affection as a Father, would become a source to reach calmness even when I feel like cr*p.
I like it.
And it doesn’t matter that it wasn’t originally meant for me...
I like it because it’s pretty. And I like it because it has slowly been taking my presence into mind whenever he says it.
He might not know... But Marianne’s father also dedicated some words to me in his poems...
’... "your great soul hides in it and makes its way to reach us"... He said it... I remember he said it...’
I can reach people even when concealed within Marianne... That makes me enormously happy.
So, here, Male Lead. Learn something I like and treasure... Try to understand what it is that matters to us with these clues I’m giving you... And keep acting differently from what I knew about you.
Before, I had no choice but to give you the chance to prove my memory wrong... But now I want you to prove it.
Because now I want to prevent the feeling of loss I might get if your true self is not what you have shown me until now... And I don’t want to regret having some expectations after sharing so many secrets with you.