You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 398

To her concerned hug, Orland slowly separated while holding onto her arms.

"... Ah... I apologise, dear... I... ahem... on the way here all I was able to think of was how you were doing... Excuse this old heart of mine..."

’N-no... It’s alright, mister... the fact I’m this fine is what’s actually weird...’ — Shaking her head as she watched her Father wipe away a tear that made it out of his lids, Marianne turned serious. Patting his shoulders in concern and sorry demeanour. — ’Don’t apologise, mister...’

"Sigh... Come here, dear. I will move you to bed so Deslys and Talmhach can take a better look at you."

Becoming as admirable as everyone was accustomed to witnessing in the Duke, Orland decided to not continue such a scene before those present. Therefore, lifting Marianne who readily extended her arms to be carried by her father received another kiss on the forehead for the loving parent needed to cuddle his daughter in the frailness of his heart... while she later peeked at the prince that also stepped forward to follow them.

’!... s-so... He’s staying...’ — Pleased, the child shrank with fluttery blush in the arms of her father. Feeling delight as he remained where she could see him.

*******

"Surprisingly... her health is better than last time I saw her."

"?! Truly, Deslys?? You cannot jest with me right now."

"Yes, my Lord... It almost has me speechless... last time, her coldness and pulsations were such that we..." — Recalling the dislike of Orland to the sentencing diagnosis they had previously given, Deslys halted his words, noticing the warning in the Duke’s tense expression and changing his words. — "Nevertheless, it appears as if the young lady has had an improvement we cannot ignore... Talmhach, you checked on her during her stay after that. Did you see any kind of hint of this improvement?"

"No... as I was telling you when we m, such state continued as it was until two days ago... which is when I last made a routine check-up to the Ninth..."

"No improvement?"

"Yes."

"None at all, my lord... I would even dare say... It was showing hints of worsening..."

"..."

"..."

At the oddity in the physician’s sayings, the four men who had walked away to discuss these matters far from the ears of the affected child were invaded by a concerning stillness that made them keep silent as none could tell what this could mean. However, the one with deep feelings for the woman was the one to come first with a comment, that would eventually lead to more discussions yet to no certain answers as well as to learn information he ignored occurred after he came back to the palace and was solely focused in his beloved.

"The place we found Lady Marianne at was practically destroyed once we arrived. Her survival itself is an oddity today if her condition did not change in this period as you two ascertain."

"..... For Marianne to have solely been wounded on her leg as the most severely... it is indeed odd having this in thought... My child is not of a fast movement as well we know." — Orland added to Zeleskiaz’s, turning to glance at the daughter who had decided to sit by her mattress, waiting for the tea Paige was preparing and care in her exhaustion for the tear responsible of the oddity they mentioned. — "... Brat. Besides that, after you left with Marianne another creature appeared in the forest."

"!? How come none of this got to my ear? Was it searching for the lady?"

"How come indeed... it was another roustabout, smaller. Yet it was searching for the rests of the one you destroyed... and also came to spit Marianne’s lost guards."

"... That explains why Sir Vitor wasn’t around..."

"Vitor is regaining consciousness as of now. He used most of his aura while inside the roundabout... Yet the thing still made an uproar at the tents of the hunt."

"... Any injured ones?"

"None. The Emperor, Empress and Princes are completely unharmed."

"Hah... Those most wanted as dead are unharmed... Sverre, where was he first seen after the incident?"

"!? H-His Highness? Why is the second prince being asked about-"

"You two know nothing. Better make deaf ears at these matters we are sharing." — Orland warned the simple physicians who at this stage had little need to get involved in dangerous suppositions. — "Marianne’s condition. I need you to keep a closer eye. Checkups should be twice daily as of now."

"?!? Your Grace, such is impossible. Deslys and I, we both made impossible arrangements to even be able to tend to the lady thrice a week-"

"Then make more arrangements, if it is money you need, know I have never and will ever be skimping on it if it’s for my child."

"... It is not a matter of money..."

"If so, I’ll make it so you have no choice." — At Talmhach’s persistence, Zeleskiaz came forward. — "You’ll have to do it. I order it, and do not think the emperor will aid you for I’m certain he will not even flinch if I am to punish your disobedience."

"... Y-your highness..."

Shivering coldness traversed the men present, excepting Orland’s for the behaviour was expected from a prince such as Zeleskiaz and at this rate, his wildness when before others on behalf of his daughter was ultimately turning as welcomed for it aided him to gain his wants more easily.

Nonetheless, more reason was in him and needed for the physicians to be willing to follow such orders.

"I am aware of the many patients you both may have. Yet Marianne is who I care for most... I am sure that as curious as you are, investigating this condition she is under will not be in vain."

"Even so..."

"... Your Grace. Truthfully... there is a petition I was to make already with this in mind." — Then Rémi Deslys stepped forward, who had maintained himself in silence during the exchange with his colleague.

Severe and proper, very solemn, lowering his head in wishes to show the respect he held for the Duke he has served for many years, the physician’s hand was placed in his heart, preparing to tell his ideas honestly.