Chapter 146: Chapter 146
The anxiety made the Lady start cursing relentlessly from the bottom of her person. It was only fortunate for the expressive soul to still be under the body’s condition that hid the frantic self guarded inside in a calm facade.
Apparently aloof to the circumstances, her leisurely pace could never indicate the true chaos she had set free on the inside of her carcass, making the one beside her; wonder about her seemingly unbothered attitude as she was now being escorted by the man who had acted thoughtlessly towards her dignity.
’... I cannot read her... The emotionless visage my Lady portrays..... What am I to think now?..... Might the Lady... already hate my presence...?’
The possibility made him shudder as he admired the beauty of her delicate features. Bothered that his actions could surely lead to that feared outcome and concerned if his goals had prematurely escalated in difficulty with exponential mass, Zeleskiaz’s countenance became rigid trying to suppress the angst a new conversation with the unpredictable lady yields.
Never in his life had he been invaded with such restless emotions, much less dealt with them... Yet...
’I’ve learned what true grief is thanks to this woman..... And I cannot believe how... Even with this frustration, her proximity is a chanting infatuation to my being...’
His heartbeat had been under an accelerated rate, causing his breath to ask for more oxygen that came to him blessed with whiffs of her sweet essence. And once these thoughts took shape in his soul... He inhaled greedily, making his tough chest puff up as the door to his bureau became visible.
’Lady Marianne... Let my chant also fall onto you..... So I can leisurely bath in the incomprehensible desires you invoke within me.....’ — His heartfelt wishes roamed like intricate glint on his ultramarine gems once they were secretly told to the yearned Lady.
However, there was more he needed to declare within his soul’s bottom.
’... Fenrir. Help your holder this once. So my sincerity can be conveyed... Disappear for a while, bloody beast... The last thing I need is for your ornery existence to turn the Lady away from me.’
Warning the deity of his bloodline, Zeleskiaz’s gaze turned red, demonstrating how devoted to winning the Lady’s fondness the Crown Prince was.
Finally at the doors, ignoring the presence of the Guards placed to the sides, he opened one without letting go of the Lady.
"Take a seat, My Lady." — Silently guiding her into the room, he unfolded his hand to offer a seat at the lounge. Without taking a seat, he went to his desk to retrieve something of the Lady’s propriety, which waited on its surface.
"Lady Marianne... I believe this fell here yesterday... I now return it to you. Though I realize there is a new one in your power."
’Ah! My notes! I knew they would be here~... Give me that...’
Without much hesitation, Marianne retrieved it from his palm after nodding to his comment, elated to have it again in her possession whilst still inwardly glaring for he was the culprit for their loss.
"..."
Silence befell them again once he took a seat on a neighbouring armchair, maintaining an awkward hush as both were ignorant of how to proceed with the conversation.
’Ugh... This is too much... He’s the one who can talk, so why does he stay silent?? Where did yesterday’s confidence go, Male Lead?!’
The energetic child was uncomfortable, and so, her adaptable personality took the reins of the predicament, desperate to break the dull stillness.
[ Thank you for keeping it safe and returning it, Your Highness. It is a useful gift the Duke gave to me, thus its significance is great. ]
"... It is fortunate that it was found in that case."
Agreeing with a dim nod, she answered, preparing to write once more.
[ There is a matter I need to ascertain with Your Highness. May I... Convey it to you without restraint? ]
The foreign one had decided to end the torturous suspense, going straightforwardly into the matter to commence the needed discussion.
As to the one she would communicate with... he read the letter with apparent composure.
Although, truthfully, Zeleskiaz’s mind went blank at her upfront request, he did not pause for long to approve of it.
What he had to do now... It all depended on the subject she wanted to engage in.
"... Do not hesitate to do so, My Lady. Convey your thoughts comfortably."
Staring into each other’s eyes for a moment, she began to write hurriedly the issue she needed to approach.
[ It is about us, Your Highness. And the events that took place Yesterday between us. ]
His throat grew dry in a second to the words written... Yet his nonchalant expression did not change for he did not want his distress to be found by the elegant Lady, and so, he answered with an arrogant tone.
"What may be bothering you?"
Inwardly, the girl was speechless at the Prince’s nerve to ask such a thing, igniting her fury and reassuring her of the conviction that she did not need to be kind when telling the oblivious Crown Prince her thoughts.
[ I wish for us to not tangle in further touch. His Highness is a man I know nothing about besides the frightening rumours roaming about you.
Truthfully, I despise the idea of judging your true character on hearsay... However, His Highness’s attitude towards me and the lack of consideration I have felt in every encounter we had, does happen to make me inclined to believe those stories.
I believe the fault also falls on me for I have difficulties communicating normally. Yet, I ought to say... I truly wish to think that such a disability is not being taken as advantageous by His Highness to behave as he has done.
For then... Hearsays are far better than the truth. ]
The foreign soul felt empty as she quickly traced the freshly written letters, saddened by having to be this cold to transmit her opinion after hearing him talk with feigned indifference in his voice.
Regardless, she still drew the stack through the table to deliver it, convinced that if she didn’t make it this clear to him... The two residing in that frail body would be ruthlessly stepped on their dignity.
Zeleskiaz took the stack after observing it from afar for a second on the lonesome table, and as he read it he felt faint to confirm his concerns were true.
’... Advantageous... I’ve never..... Her stillness is what attracts me..... But I never thought of it that way... Hearing her voice is what I most desire whenever I took the Lady in my arms...!.. What.....!..’
"What can I do so you forgive my misdeeds towards you?..." — Zeleskiaz’s honesty came out softly enough so Marianne could hear it, lifting his gaze from the paper to look at the charcoal pupils staring at him intently. — "Your hush... was never intended to be taken as a benefit, My Lady..."
"..."
"All I can say is..... That I crave your presence and proximity to the extent I cannot control my actions when I have you within my reach."
"... .. .. ..."
The painful look in his eyes as he frowned in shame to be telling such words to the Lady, sent a throb to Marianne’s shaken heart, which kept speeding up its heartbeat as every word was blurted with a sonorous yet rough and manly voice that conveyed how deeply those thoughts were rooted to the Prince’s soul... Which at this moment could only seem desperate to show its care over the matter.
’What in the world... How come this... How come this idiot is so different to what I knew of him?!??!! Ack! This is just insane! He’s so awkward that I..... D*mn it! F*cking Karina!! Misleading b*tch!!!!...’
Troubled by his attitude, the woman felt conflicted again after seeing the sincerity in his confused expression.
Nonetheless, Elizabeth would not yield easily because of how pitiful a misunderstanding had happened.
How he had overlooked her wishes when satisfying his thirst, was not something that should be forgiven because of pity. Only after redeeming his actions, she would truly believe that the regret contained in his violet eyes is veracious.
’I said I would rip your lips off, you oddball of a Male Lead... But I’ll give you the offer I had in mind... only because I’m that nice.’
[ A woman wishes to be cherished, Your Highness... And although your approach has been quite lacking... From what I have heard from you, I can slightly understand what made you behave impulsively.
That is why, now that I am to stay here for a few days, you may act accordingly.
Earlier, I told the Third Prince the belief I came to fulfil my visit here with.
The belief of the Crown Prince wanting to befriend my unique self for the shared silence both of us portray at times.
I have noticed you are a man of limited words... While I have none.
So, befriend me, Prince Zeleskiaz.
Whatever that shall come next... I only desire for it to be born from what we have seen and learned from each other... Not a one-sided and apparently unfounded craving on your part. ]
After taking carefully from his hand the stack of papers, she wrote a large message that had been thoroughly thought.
She did not need to revise its contents as she was certain of her judgments. Therefore, placing it directly into his hand, Elizabeth observed him and encouraged him to read it with graceful gestures.
The light changes in his expression, how his brows flinched to frown further or softened their tension as his eyes rolled to read every word with eager scrutiny, made her grin inwardly.
For she was pleased to see that maybe... This man wasn’t the one she had read about in those fake scripts...