Chapter 208: Chapter 208
The escorted woman halted her steps.
Impulsed by the restless void the owner of the body suffered from watching her younger sister’s harsh expression, the woman extended her limb to gesture an invitation to the girl currently feeling misplaced.
’Wake up, dwarf. Join us. Aren’t you here to take advantage?’ — Tilting her head, the woman inwardly reproached the doubtful girl. — ’Siiiigh... This is why you didn’t make a good villainess, Theressa. You cannot show insecurity. You’re shameless when yelling at me but when it truly matters you aren’t.’
"... Lady, are you not joining us?" — Then the Prince inquired, slightly upset that their walk halted shortly after commencing and that his Lady’s gesture was not being answered.
’Another star, kinky. This saves me the trouble.’
"!! Yes. I apologise, my mind wandered for a moment."
’..... Anne... you do know we could regret this later, right?’
"....."
’... Yeah... Let’s hope not.’
Watching the girl follow behind, Marianne was warned in a short exchange by the foreigner as her doubt was made apparent in their chest.
The Prince commenced their walk once again, followed this time by the Lady’s Little sister in the tail.
Their way to the Terrace Lounges started with our cared child slightly unsettled by what could happen between her and the villainous child. The danger of a sudden death was still hunting her for the tale she had read was yet to arrive at its beginning season.
Although she did not remind the natural soul of this realm about that information... Her warning was told not only with the pain Theressa could find by seeking a fruitless love, but because it could also lead to harvest more of the hatred that could have been the culprit of dismissing the owner’s existence from the scripts she read.
*******
During their meal, The Prince behaved elegantly. Giving short answers to the eager Theressa, he would also talk to the Lady, inquiring about the days he did not visit her.
Harmonious as it could be with the pair of reserved people and the complacent sibling, Marianne forgot the uneasy sensation from her foresight and, although still slightly uncomfortable by the reunion of the three, she felt less tense at the cooperative man not dismissing her Sister with gruesome silence like the days before.
’Even though he’s not really being nice at all... A response is better than nothing.’ — The foreigner thought relieved. Only to concentrate on a new hazard.
"..."
"Is my Guest not pleased with today’s meal?" — The Crown Prince ultimately inquired, noticing she had yet to serve herself any of the plates at her table.
’Heh... Don’t be stupid. I’m not crazy enough.’ — The Lady promptly answered glaring in disbelief at his supposition, only to fix her eyes on the dishes, concentrated. — ’I just don’t know where to begin... Should it be a salty one first and then a sweet one so it tastes sweeter... Or just go for the desserts..... I smell one with pineapple, which one is the one?? Ouf! but those scrambled egg muffins are just saying "eat me" like a gospel chorus! Ah~ I might not even need tea from the drooling... holy chicken that laid those yellow yolks!!’
"..." — Her conflict was silently concealed, but conveyed by the pained shut of her lids.
"Sister, are you perhaps not feeling well again?"
’Oh~ No no no no~ I won’t let you ruin my meal, Theressa. I can’t discern if you actually have good intentions by saying that. BUT. Not with my food, kid. I won’t be as tolerant. I’ll hunt you down and kick your a** if you mess with my food.’ — Shaking her head graciously, she sent a warning with her gaze, severe since she feared what could happen tomorrow. — ’... Now give me some of that cherry chau... Clafo..(?)..foot..... Clafoutis!! I know you want to hog it all to yourself, dwarf wig.’
Her straightened posture trying to find the sweet dish made Theressa follow her gaze.
"This? Sister, I have noticed you eat too many sweets..." — In her short pause, a remark came up and reminded again by her Mother’s letters, she decided to outwardly say it, feigning delicacy by covering her mouth yet still saying it loudly. — "Won’t you gain weight? You are already more... Built."
"..." — Listening to her, the Lady blinked aloof, inwardly answering after tilting her head. — ’... That’s what I want, though (?) This nice bum is not only good genes, dwarf. Also... Look who’s talking. You were stuffing yourself like a pig with the lemon pie the other day. Mind your own business.’
Stretching her hand to reach it, Theressa sighed without the intention to help her.
The Prince who listened stayed silent only to glance at the indifferent Lady trying to get her hands on the sweets she craved.
’... She’s very thin already..... More weight...’
Picturing her gaining slightly more volume, his eyes vibrated with the sunlight.
’My Lady would remain as beautiful as ever... Maybe her health also would gain strength...’
"Does my Lady enjoy desserts?"
’I do, but food in itself is what I live for, hehe~’ — She answered satisfied in an enthusiastic nod as she served herself a piece of the retrieved dessert.
"... May I inquire what kind you like most?"
"..." — She halted to watch him. — ’Hmm... Am I hearing owls in the bog??... Okay, for instance, get a taste of this one, Male Lead who seems to have a "savoury tooth"... If you plan to use desserts to lure me, then..... You got it. You’re d*mm sharp.’
Serving him a piece of the dessert she wanted for herself, Marianne’s unique habit was shown to the Crown Prince for the first time. Pushing his plate closer with a gentle gesture, she offered it to him, inviting the curious and stunned man to taste it.
"Huhu, Marianne. Sister. His Highness does not like–"
Nom...
Theressa halted her mockery, noticing by the edge of her eye that the Prince had already taken a bite of the served dessert.
"..."
"..."
"... I see... the Taste of My Lady... It is quite delicious."
’Huh..uhm... Yeah...But, please don’t say it so weirdly...’ — Lightly accepting his comment with her head as his choice of words bothered her slightly, she went for her own bite to appease the awkward sensation.
Observant to her every movement, feigning intent to eat more of the warm dessert, Zeleskiaz watched the juicy sugar paint her hearty lips in the tasteful hue of the cherries in it.
Twinges crossed his shoulders and made his heart stop for a lascivious second, promptly resuming its dancing pace as his throat demanded moisture.
...Gulp...
"..." — Alternating his gaze between the silverware on his hands and the Lady’s charm... desireful, his tongue discretely traced the inner side of his fang, ultimately pinching the next bite to taste.
’Surely... Her taste is as sweet... warm, and... Exquisite.’
Zeleskiaz ate delighted with such salacious thoughts.
However, his pleasure was to be interrupted.
"I also want a piece. Sister." — Theressa, intervened. Aggravated by the unexpected turn of events.
"..." — ’Heh. "Won’t you gain weight", shorty?? The Royal Summer Ball is tomorrow~ do you think that starving all day will do~?’
Taking revenge the woman jested at the girl’s actions whose motives were obvious. A gesture of contemplation at her request was done with the tilt of her head as her index finger taped her cheek while eating another bite.
"... Oh~ Sister~... You do not plan on eating it all by yourself, am I correct?" — Irked by the provocation she asked with a sweet voice she did not mean.
’Hm~? But I do~. This thing is so good even someone like the Crown Prince is eating it this gladly. Surely this is good stuff between the good stuff....~Little Sister~’ — Tilting her head to the other side, she feigned ignorance with the innocent flutter of her lashes copying Theressa’s tone.
"... Sister." — The Youngest softly yet inwardly enraged said.
"My Lady."
"?"
"If fruits are to your liking... Maybe these could suit your taste."
’Hmm? Oh~ it looks like... Bread? What is this called, kinky? Seems tasty.’
Curious by the dish she did not know of, she stared at the man implying her inquiry.
"This is a kind of pudding made of Pineapple, I assume since its season is about to end, these were made with the last harvests of the year..."
"..." — ’... Pineapple... Good job, kinky. I was looking for that one. Two stars more for you... A good student we have, Marianne. Learn. You haven’t won any stars that I recall..... Heh. The madman is winning against the femme fatalle~’
"Sister?"
Halting her intent on serving herself a piece, Theressa called for her with a tone that implied she found something strange.
"Why does His Highness have to explain what that is? You have eaten this before..."
’?... I... We have???’
"Do you not recall? We once ate it–...!! Marianne, you cannot eat that!"
Thud!
"!?!!???" — ’W– Wha– Why!!?!!? Also, what is this!? Do you have a weird fetish for standing up suddenly and dramatically??? This is not good for my nerves!!’
Standing horrified from her seat, Theressa shouted at the perplexed Marianne.
It was known to the young girl that her Sister had eaten such dessert before since she also had at their Household. However... This was a long time ago. And because of it being so far in her memory, the reason for her terrified reaction came with a delay.
"Are you stupid?! Don’t you know you’re allergic!? Do you want to die?!"
"!??!" — ’I am?!..... Wait. WE ARE!! But... wasn’t it only to plu–m..sss.....AaAh D*mn it, Marianne!!! Do you want us to die?!?!’
In disbelief, the woman inwardly yelled at the true Marianne who, sneakily, tried to escape to her corner since she realised that what her little sister was yelling at her this time was correct.