Chapter 143: Chapter 143
Aloof to everyone’s surprise, the Crown Prince continued to turn his gazes, eventually falling on the Lady he had avoided to look at until this moment.
It was thanks to her soon-to-meet eyes that his greetings were nearly perturbed from coming out smoothly thus how wonderful brightness they projected with their dark hue.
"... Greetings to the Lady... I hope for you to forgive my delay..."
Bowing in a respectful greeting, Zeleskiaz heartfully said, feeling dizzy by her essence gradually reaching his heightened nose.
Marianne gave a polite nod as she was accustomed, indicating that it was fine on her part.
"... Then, take a seat, Crown Prince. Fate must have saved luck for your days, that even though you are late, the seat next to Lady Marianne is the only available... How fascinating." — The Emperor said bitterly.
It was indeed the work of luck that had let this opportunity come to his heir.
If not for how it was the Lady who chose her seat after the Duke and Emperor had already taken theirs as she invited the little Prince to seat by her side... It would have been either of the two older men who would be seated next to the well-liked Lady.
"... Indeed... May I, My Lady?" — Zeleskiaz agreed as he confirmed the Lady’s permission and sat beside her.
Without a need to tell the servants, he was served a cup of tea to drink with the already served dishes at the table.
The lady had a few dishes served as well as the other three in his company. Yet, he did not miss the tiny details that pointed her plates were the same as his little brother’s, bringing back memories of how the Lady had served her neighbours during yesterday’s private Banquet.
Softly scoffing at the sight, the following thought emerged in his head.
’... He won’t ever starve in his life at the very least...’
How the little Prince’s plate was full as he enjoyed tasting the flavours alongside the Lady, made him feel optimistic about the child’s future. However, a hint of jealousy also sprouted, for the Lady had yet to offer him a dish to taste.
The silence was reigning the five as their attention was supposedly on their meal.
Nevertheless, unbeknownst to the Lady, all eyes were on her as she blissfully enjoyed her food, ignorant to the others’ tension about what course to establish a conversation should be brought.
’This is so tasty~... Though... it’s awkward that we have to seat right next to each other...’
The foreign one was conscious of the Crown Prince’s presence, yet she still did not dare to look his way. The events of the day before were still vivid in her mind and her body... Just as it was for Zeleskiaz.
Nonetheless, the two had arrived at distinct judgments that would now involve them in new developments for the days to come.
Trying to divert her thoughts from trailing into the passionate interactions they had, Lady Marianne took her stack of papers to commence a conversation with the youngest by her side.
[What are your thoughts on these dishes, Third Prince?]
"I’ve always liked these the most, my Lady! I believe we might have similar tastes!!"
The child said, in joy to be talked to by the Lady once more.
[Oh, my! If that is how it is... Then maybe His Highness could advise me on the next one I should give a try.]
At the end of her note, a simple drawing was placed, making the child wonder about its meaning as he also answered the Lady.
"I shall gladly do so... However, my Lady, what do these scrawls mean??"
’Scrawls?!’
Amazed at his choice of words, the girl proceeded to respond to his inquiry.
[This is a drawing of a happy face... The curve is the smile and the two dots are the eyes...]
"... Oh!... I can see it now, my Lady! Hihi... It is... a cute drawing..." — Elated to know the meaning he eagerly responded, slowly lowering his voice so as to not upset the others.
[Although, I want to clarify that I draw better than that, my Prince!]
"!!... I-I did not say it was bad..." — Bewildered at how she had addressed him in the notes he stuttered.
[Father, can testify on my behalf.
Your Grace, do tell his Highness about my skill with the quill. I do not wish for him to believe this is the extent of my skill.]
Extending her limb to gracefully show her message to the Duke of Sylfinnier, Marianne wanted to make sure her artistry was one that did not compare with the scrawl on those papers.
"... Ah..." — Holding his laughter at how adorable she was to excuse herself, Orland happily replied with honest praise of her skill. — "Indeed, Your Highness, Prince Dioclecià. I have the honour to have received one of my Daughter’s artworks recently, and the marvellous strokes of her hand are certainly not in the slightest close to this playful sketch."
"Hmm?... Does the cute child draw?? That is in itself a unique trait to find in a Lady..." — Entertained by the new information Francois joined the conversation, pointing out how extraordinary it was for a woman in this old age to enrol in such hobbies.
"Yes. I was elated once I received her piece. What I found most impressive is the tool she handled to portray such beauty."
"Tool?"
"One would expect for an artwork to show its brilliance with colourful paint as we commonly see in great masterpieces... However, Your Majesty, Marianne only draws with a single colour which is placed on the paper only with a simple quill."
"... A quill?... Duke... You don’t mean she only uses dark ink to draw her pieces, do you?"
"... That is indeed correct, Your Majesty." — Ultimately, filled with pride the Duke said, aware of how uncommon and difficult a technique it was.
"... Is this true, My Lady?"
Marianne answered, also with satisfying achievement to be recognised for her ability, giving the already impressed Emperor more reasons to believe the young Lady was special as he had thought when they met at the debutante ceremony.
"My... Oh my~... Then now, I will be expectant to someday witness one of your pieces, Lady Marianne. I believe that with such delicate hands only delicate artworks can see the light into this world. Hohoho~"
’Ohoho~ You have great beliefs then, Emperor~ ’cause my works are certainly gorgeous as these hands of Marianne~ Fufufu...’
Entertained at the way a joyful interaction was starting, the foreign one thought to herself, delighted at how the ambience had left behind the silence she has been trying to surpass from the time her soul was brought to share the disappearing child’s body.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince stayed in a hush, fixating his gaze on the tea that sooner or later would disappear from his cup, attentively listening to the comments of the men, satisfied by the topic.
Reminiscing of that last escape he made to secretly visit the Lady... His eyes closed to the vivid sight of her relaxed figure on the grass that had by her side a beautiful drawing that... if not for her presence, his eyes would have only dedicated their attention to appreciating its uniqueness.
For once... He agreed with the visions of his Father, the Emperor. Conceding in his thoughts his unequivocal conceptions.
’... Indeed... No other hands could portray such delicacy...’
A soft grin menaced to invade his expression. Nevertheless, The Crown Prince restrained its showcase with ease.
There was surely more she would do... And surely... More joy would be brought along.
Yet... There were still a pair of curious eyes staring at the composed Crown Prince.
Today was the first time in years that the little Dioclecià was sharing breakfast with his older Brother and Father. Hence, the child was exhilarated at the great company and more so knowing that the kind lovely Lady was after all his Older Brother’s official Guest.
Leaning slightly onto the Lady, he shyly whispered to her after glancing at the respectable Crown Prince gentlemanly drink a sip of his tea.
"... My Lady... May I ask you something?"
The Lady gently nodded, inwardly giggling thinking how the Third Prince was already asking something with his previous sentence.
Swallowing his nervousness, Dioclecià continued, letting out a question no one could truly ascertain.
"... Is my Lady... Good friends with the Crown Prince??"
His innocent question caused the Lady to slightly flinch in bewilderment.
It was a complicated question for the girl to answer after all that had traversed between the two.
On the inside, her mind went blank for a short moment. However, her honest impressions were told on the inside as she tilted her head.
’... Uhmm... We’ve... Not done things friends normally do..... But..... You’re too young to actually tell you this much...’
In her clever head, the possible reasons behind why the child was asking her this flashed easily, letting her regain some of the carefree spirits the foreigner distinguished herself with.
Preparing to write down a simple answer, the young prince who was attentive to what she would say in her notes along with the pure Lady did not notice how the apparently indifferent subject of their discussion felt immensely entertained... For his sharp ears had listened clearly to the inquiry of his youngest Brother.
’... Very well done... Dioclecià...’