You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 387

It was in the meantime that the men alerted by the recognised Crown Prince’s bloodthirst arrived, gasping and gulping to themselves as they tried to avoid looking at the place where the prince satiated his rage.

"! Y-Your Grace! What has happened?!"

"... Where’s Vitor."

"..."

"Are all of you deaf? I asked you a question."

"... Y-your Grace, we have no clue... The Ninth disappeared along his guards, that is all we know thanks to His Grace’s youngest daughter..."

"... Send the royal knights to look for them and bring a physician. As you can see the prince isn’t the danger, go back for now."

"Uh, however, your Grace... The physicians are apprentices... the Ninth, what happened to her-"

"Then send word to Talmhach! It’s not time to be curious!"

"!? Yes, Your Grace!!"

Harsh in demeanour and sound, Orland gave orders to the few men. Bringing his attention back to the child in his arms, softening immediately as her frailness continued to turn dim. — "... Don’t fall asleep, Marianne... It might take some time, but we have to treat your wounds before you rest..."

’Haa... I.. c-can’t...’ — Troubled by the outcome the aid of Aenean and Calla’s treasure provided, Marianne’s efforts were now in keeping consciousness. Scared this time of the dangers a weak body carried. — ’Mister... help me I...! I don’t....... want to fain...’

Already falling victim to merciless slumber, Marianne commenced to bite her own lip in desperation to stay awake. Instilling pity in the Father that could tell the waver the situation made the light of his day feel.

Lowering her so she could rest on a softer ground, his hand couldn’t stroke the conflicted child’s visage as she held tightly to the sleeves of his clothes. Reluctant to let go while her eyes fought the closure of her lids.

"... You’re doing well. Breathe properly, dear." — Orland said. Patting the limbs of the girl as well as her hold permitted. Continuing to talk so his voice could keep her focused. — "Slowly and steady... I’ll be giving first aid... Don’t think of the pain and hazard, just listen and try looking at me."

"h...n.." — ’I’m.....trul... tryin’...’

"It’s alright... Marianne, why don’t you show me the trick? Hm? Sweetie?" — Noticing her focus was shattering with the audible hard breathing, Orland asked as he needed to be released to quickly clean and treat her leg’s wound. — "The one that called your father here, I heard it very clearly. Do it again, my lovely bird."

It was a way to have her focused on something else. The Duke watched how the child made her nails flick as taught, releasing his clothes, allowing brief treatment to then make her continue to show it, in order to wake her from the menace of fainting... Also as a way to learn her faint if unsuccessful.

Oblivious of the motive, the child obeyed... even smiling slightly... amazed for she learned her attempts were heard by her father as promised.

She had let her eyes close at the permission of her father, who allowed it solely if she was to continue flickering her nails.

Laying on the grass... Resting as the Duke cared for her well-being.

Nevertheless, her eyes at some point opened... curious as she made the nails resound.

’... Did kinky... also hear it?’ — Moving slightly her head, the place he was to be at was looked for.

Far, where the grass had turned gruesome black, only the traces of a demolished skull could be seen where the man stood.

Observing how the black of the creature evaporated, Zeleskiaz listened to the woman’s click of her fingers with echoing sounds in his ears... for the rage had trouble settling even after diminishing the ignorant monster to a pulp.

Turning nonetheless... Naturally, as the essence of the woman felt more peaceful, then her drowsy stare was met. Making him whisper, troubled after seeing her current demeanour, while a first step was taken to go to her side.

"M... my love..." — Dropping the cutlass his hand had yielded so ferociously, Zeleskiaz walked her way. Solely focused on the lady watching him thankful, while her father also stared with slight reticence.

The eyes of the duke peeked then at those of his daughter. That even if drowsy, looked brilliant at the man approaching, provoking a resigned inner sigh and smile.

’... How troubling...’ — He thought, going back to look at the crown prince, whose steps had slowed down as his chaotic insides decided if his current self was allowed to be near his frail beloved. — ’I refuse to admit it even as I see it... oh, my dear and innocent child...’

"Sweetie... keep doing what I told you."

’... ?... okay...’

Standing from the ground he had kneeled on to care for his daughter, Orland whistled to call back the horse the crown prince had stolen, coming to meet him as he could also see more people come to their aid.

"The horse, it has water in its mount, give it to her in the meantime." — Hardening the soft heart meant to attend his child, Orland became colder with that one aiming for her love... appropriately for her father he was, and would teach an honest yet impatient man. — "More men are coming."

"..." — Zeleskiaz listened, glancing at himself unsure to follow as his hands appeared dirty to his eye.

"Don’t just stand there. Stay with her while I take care of the rest."

"However... It is I who should do the rest... The lady must want you near, Sir."

"... Don’t make me repeat myself, Zeleskiaz. She was worried about you even while in that state." — Glaring at his hesitation, Orland harshly told the prince so his senses would wake up. Displeased at his unusual politeness towards him, yet announcing one last thing as he noticed the child could not be left on her own under no circumstances, for someone between the men was to be kept away from her figure. — "... Stay with her and compose yourself... I can’t let you take care of things if it’s my son that I see coming."

"... Right... you better not." — Zeleskiaz turned to see the frame of an unwanted Paul, feeling the anger emerge again, as he did not want any threat near his loved woman anymore.