You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 401

I was able to catch a glimpse of the surprise in his eye before his fond smile invaded the Duke’s expression. And thereafter... His nice voice conveyed sweetness as he replied to my gesture.

"Oh dear... yes, you did so very well... the very first one I heard it so clearly my motion halted... And I rushed to you... the fact you continued doing it led me more easily to your side... did you know that?"

’hehe... yes... I figured... It’s good I was so desperate... right?’

"... Thank you, Marianne... for calling me at the time and being as gentle a child... No... A grown marvellous woman... yet still my dearest child I wish to pamper." — Taking the hand I had used to gesture the snap of our nails in both of his hands, Marianne’s father fondly said to us with deep sentiments I could even feel in the air around us. — "... Nonetheless, this will be the end of our conversation for today."

"??" — ’Huh? But we just started~’

"After such a day you are to sleep and gain the needed rest, take your medicine when told and nothing more... Close those eyes you have, my feathered child."

’But... mister...’ — In my face that was more expressive now, I know I showed my dejection... slumber had been molesting me for a while... one that was simply out of tiredness unlike it was from faint before while at the forest... and yet, I was uselessly fighting it. Marianne and I together... since we wanted to be with her father after not seeing him for so long and as much as we wanted to. — ’You’ll leave later won’t you...? I-... We don’t want that.’

"... Hm... what kind of expression is that? You wish to fight sleep, my dear?" — Tapping playful our nose he said, bringing our pouty eyes to meet his that lovingly looked at us as always. — "That cannot be."

’..... Why not... I don’t want to sleep.’

"... Sigh... is it not amazing?" — Suddenly he said. — "You are acting just as you did when you were small... I can even hear you in your silence, sweetie... you don’t want to sleep... why can’t you stay awake... will dad go to work again tomorrow..."

"..."

"Haha... maybe not to such an extent."

’... Well... not the same words...’

"Yet you ought to sleep... tonight there will be no story, sweetie... for your eyes only wake up more with those."

It felt nice to be denied for once. Oddly nice...

The warmth of him knowing us this well made us stop resisting and hold his hand as we fell asleep... To then wake to a day of rest, giving testimony and learning what else happened.

The duke was thankfully the first one I saw, he stayed right by our side and our hand was still in his once morning arrived... nonetheless, the whole d*mn family later came to ruin the peace he gave us...

And it was terrible for many reasons.

First, everything was hitting me as it should have the day before... I could do with solely that bit of pain in our body but then if we add the long face of a gorilla mother... I only felt more pain because of the distaste.

’She stared at us as if we were the diarrhoea a monkey throws... even though she’s the gorilla.’ — Remembering only made me feel aggravated now.

Marianne’s mother didn’t say anything much though, which I probably should thank the duke since there was a clear threat in his eyes when the Duchess greeted us so coldly that day.

Then, there was Theressa, who acted up all concerned doing her usual dramatism and, running to hug me while I was siting on the edge of my bed, was really a bad idea because I still had in my head the clear image of her head turning into that monster... and my body was to react to it.

"Marianne! Sister, it is a relief you are alright-?!"

"!?..."

"... uh... Marianne?" — The Duke asked surprised since I literally just... covered myself and avoided her with a speed deserving of praise. — "... Theressa, do not be so eager, your Sister is not that well."

"Uh... ah y-yes... I understand..."

’Uff... That was so... I wasn’t smooth at all.’

After that little interaction, I saw shock stay in her whole being.

I’m not really sure as to why, but if we are realists, a hug was too much even for her fake a**.

She practically stayed silent after that, and then... the worst one stepped up.

"... Marianne... My sister, how worried you had me..."

He hadn’t even spoken yet and I was already feeling shivers at how he looked at us. It was at that moment that I thanked Theressa’s overboard acting because I’m sure he would have also tried to hug me if not for the warning the mister gave of not being too enthusiastic.

And so, he only took my hand, sitting next to me... igniting immediately in me the wish to burn my sheets as soon as his a** stood up to leave.

"Marianne, how come you got involved in this... ever since you started coming to the palace, misfortunes keep coming your way... Father, don’t you think it is enough? Marianne should come back home."

’Objection.’

"... Not until she recovers from this. She needs stability and his majesty also wishes to oversee her recovery. After a few days, I am to reconsider."

’Your Honor, if you want my opinion... I won’t recover, so let me stay here. Away from this guy that won’t release my hand.’ — Giving an opinion no one really asked as I joked to feel less sh*ty, my hand now started its work to escape his hold... somehow. Yet it only made him hold it tighter.

"Should it not be enough with what has happened to her on this occasion? Has she told you anything about what happened? What if it is someone in the palace that wishes to harm her?"

"We cannot be sure. This could have occurred in our household too. She is the Ninth now, remember." — Stating facts... A tense round was to commence.