Chapter 153: Chapter 153
He could not restrain the blooming smirk from appearing on his sharp countenance.
Smoothly, with silent steps, Zeleskiaz came forward. Sliding through the furniture to stand before her who was waiting with attractive authority at his desk.
"This way, my Lady. You may use my chair."
Guiding with a gracious unfold of his limb, the Crown Prince invited Marianne to take a seat at the only available place by his desk, summoning in the Lady great enthusiasm that was intentionally hidden by the woman.
’Fufu~ So you now recognise I am the boss here... Well done kinky.’
Before his hand reached her waist in a greedy act, the clever woman walked around the piece of elegant furniture and stood by the chair in wait.
"..."
Scrape...
"Please take a seat, my Lady."
’... Yeah... I guess being my servant could make people this happy. Do a good job though. I’m still irked even if this is entertaining. Paige would have poured the tea already, you need some training, kinky.’
Haughty in her ideas, the foreigner bowed in appreciation to his gentleman’s act, inwardly protruding her lips in entertainment too for the unusual scene the two were displaying.
Leaning over from behind after adjusting her seat, Zeleskiaz draw out sheets of paper along with the required ink and quill.
"You may write down your routine here... May there be anything else I can offer the Lady?"
’You’re late on the tea... But I guess I can let you off since it’s your first day and we recently had breakfast.’
Indifferently glancing at the flirtatious Prince, the woman did not give a response besides extending her hand to hold the quill and begin her writings.
"..."
The silence pierced the ambience and watching her ponder on how to start to inform on her practices, Zeleskiaz straightened his stance, knowing that she would not follow his games.
Nonetheless...
’... She is certainly upset with me... Marvellous lady, you are quite intriguing.... Even though you seem displeased, I find your every action delightful... How interesting...’
He thought, gradually letting his focus of attention drift to her still lips being softly grazed by his quill’s feather’s end as she organised the information to lay in the paper.
It did not take long for her to write down her procedures.
Opting for a detailed yet concise report, she listed her steps planning to elaborate as the two conversed if he had any queries on the simple exercises she came up with.
[ 1. I drink warm tea sweetened with honey, so my throat feels smoother.
2. Warm up by trying to clear my throat.
This helps my hums come up easier, yet not always work.
I must also add, that no clear sound comes up from this action. It is mostly an act that is similar to a strangulated attempt for speaking.
3. I hum the piece that comes to mind.
That is all I have come to do since, after a few minutes of executing the last one, my throat hurts greatly from the strain. Sometimes I believe no real sound is made during these activities.
As I can hear myself with so little volume, I have presumed that no sound has been truly made for people to hear... Yet there are times pieces of words have been said... As you probably already are aware, Crown Prince. ]
He had been following attentively the words as she wrote them, hence...
"... Yes... I have certainly heard your sound, Lady Marianne... Yet..."
Leaning over to take and read once again the extract she had printed, holding onto the back of the chair she was seated, Zeleskiaz’s brows frowned slightly in concern.
"Does this truly cause you pain, my Lady?"
"..."
The two souls contained inside her stayed silent at his question. Aware that it was a natural thing to ask, she did not give much importance to it. Regardless, her gaze dropped in sadness for she knew it was a fact that indicated how complicated a condition she was under.
’... It does hurt... It might seem weird to you, though. But that’s how things are for us...’
"... Did it hurt yesterday...?"
"..."
She lifted her gaze, surprised by this new question. However, Marianne froze by meeting his eye... For growing distress was all she could see in his expression.
"... Is it very painful?... Lady... Does the pain last for a long time...?"
...crumple–...
The sound of his hand clenching, crumbling the paper in it, made her eyes widen and reflexively tried to reach the sheet so it wouldn’t be ruined further.
Nevertheless, Marianne did not reach it.
"Answer me, Lady Marianne..."
"..."
"Is it... Is it hurtful?"
’... What’s wrong with you??? It hurts but it’s bearable! It’s none of your business if it hurts or not anyway!! There are things that must hurt a bit for them to get better!!... Why do you act this way?!..... Ahhh... Really... It’s confusing...’
Upset at how the Crown Prince had impeded her reach, she inwardly reproached the concerned man.
Looking at him with conflict in her eyes, she lastly closed her lids... Knowing that it wasn’t a matter that should ignite anger in her.
And so, frustration invaded her soul again for her situation was that deserving of worry.
"..." — Zeleskiaz stayed silent at her gestures, and, convinced that they meant an affirmation to his inquiry... A strong stab was felt in his heart, overwhelmingly painful that his face menaced to distort in grief because no wound could compare to this churning pain that struck him by learning of this.
"Lady..." — After a moment, he spoke, leaving the sheet of paper on the near desk as his hand swiftly took her visage with uncommon care making her fluttery eyes open, conveying her sadness to hear his following words. — "... Lady Marianne... It may be wise... If it indeed hurts..."
"...?"
".... Lady... Might it not be better... If you desist from–"
Slap...
Her hand shoved his away with a weak slap right after becoming aware that what the Prince meant to say was not a thing she would accept.
’Don’t finish that sentence, dumb Prince. Don’t dare imply it. Because it only means you want me to stay shackled just as the psycho that shoved Marianne into this sh*tty condition we are in.’
"..... Pardon me... It seems I spoke out of place..."
"..."
Realising his mistake, Zeleskiaz withdrew his hand awkwardly.
Saddened that her eyes had flashed with strong anger and hurt at his utterances by the blunt dismissal of his hand with outright rejection on her part... he averted his eyes just as she did after giving his apology.
’... Why continue if it harms her... Why... Does her pain hurt me too...’
The Crown Prince breathed deeply restraining the urge to grind his teeth from the turmoil his emotions were in so his following words could be said more calmly.
"Please know... That I did not want to disparage your efforts..."
"..."
Feeling ashamed, he did not look her way when saying this. Missing the teary eyes she turned to look at his back as she told him in her thoughts...
’You idiot... And I was feeling already bad for overreacting to something that is not worth it... This must mean you understand a bit why I did that... But... Thank you. This makes it easier for me to apologise too.’
Drawing the paper back to her, she began to write with honesty. And tapping his arm from the side, she asked his attention to hand the message in the wrinkled corner of the sheet.
[ It makes me happy you recognise my efforts, Your Highness.
I apologise.
My reaction was not reasonable since I assume... Your suggestion was only born from the concern the condition I am in represents.
I sincerely thank you for you have no obligation to help me and yet you have agreed...
Your Highness, the reason I reacted so intensely is not only because I have placed great effort in this, but because of why I placed all that effort in it. ]
"..."
[ I wish to speak. ]
He froze for a second at the sentence, and then continued to read, learning a fact he ignored.
[ I wish to speak once again... for I was not born with this condition, Your Highness. ]
’It’s not... From birth?’
New doubts emerged in his head.
The fact that she was telling him this, what it meant, what her motivation was, the symptoms of her condition and, what ultimately had most of his interest... The cause of it...
The question was begging to be asked. However, as his intrigue impulsed him to look at her to utter his doubt...
’... She doesn’t want me to ask.’ — He discerned.
Her eyes were firm and conveyed the request of her soul for him to not dig into the issue any further.
Glancing back at the sheet, he then decided on another question that was also causing him to be curious.
"... Lady Marianne, although I understand that speaking is important... Your communication skills are not lacking. Therefore..." — Turning to look her in the gorgeous gems she had, he asked. — "Why does it seem that you are in hast to speak again?"
"..."
The Young Lady stared at him blankly gradually changing her expression to a soft smile.
’You asked the right question, Crown Prince.’