You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 424

’.....’

"... I see greetings are not part of the Crown Prince’s remote manners anymore."

"They are. Depending on the occasion that is."

"Hah. A greeting is the least given you interrupt a piece being enjoyed. What is the matter that made you act this unpolitely, your highness?"

"... It is none of your incumbency..." — The Crown Prince said after briefly meeting my eyes that... somehow... only by crossing sights with him... felt teary... Going immediately back to face Paul, losing the kindness (if there was any) in his voice to growl in whispers I still was able to listen. — "Now... let go of Lady Marianne’s hand peacefully... very quietly..... for I am not having a good day dealing with my patience... Little... Duke."

"... You think you can do whatever you like with my sister?"

"Ask yourself that f*cking question disturbed goof."

"! Kh?!!"

’I... certainly heard a crack just now.’

"Know your place... stay quiet and don’t make a scene..." — Pushing the arm he gripped as if feeling the same disgust I did when Paul touched me, Zeleskiaz made it so finally... I was free of Paul’s touch. Continuing while placing himself between us and assuring Paul’s unknown intentions would stay put. — "Look over there, little Paul."

"?"

"Your Father’s watching. Behave. Understood?"

"... kh... what did you do."

"Admirable of you to date ask, brainless weight."

’... Mister...?’ — To his warning... I couldn’t help but also look that way. And everything... my mind nor body... I couldn’t get them to understand what all of this meant either. — ’Why...’

"Lady Marianne."

"..."

"Marianne, you don’t have to go with him."

"..." — ’Why is... why is the mister involved this time...’

In my bewilderment, I was only able to look at Marianne’s Father. Who with menacing prominence watched Paul... without the love he usually looked at his children with.

"... Lady Marianne... my lady... please follow me."

’... but... but Zeleskiaz... the mister...’ — Worried, I gestured with my eyes the source of my concern to the Prince while he gently tried to take me away from that place.

His soft smile, mixed with a hint of conflict came immediately to calm my distress, and guiding us... with the kindness of his hand, he told us not to fret any longer.

"It is alright... I... played a little scheme."

’?? Uh... a scheme??’ — Not much convinced, I still felt an impulse to laugh since I didn’t expect such an answer. My eyes drifted once more to catch a glimpse of the mister while at it... and seeing the glare wasn’t leaving Marianne’s father’s demeanour... I allowed myself to be taken away, as I wondered about what kind of scheme did he pull that such a death glare was placed on Paul. — ’... must be a hell of a scheme...’

I couldn’t help but also glimpse at Paul as I went with the crown prince. The displeasure and even some hurt were drawn in his expression... but I’m not kind enough to care about what hurts him specifically...

It wasn’t possible for me to easily release the unsettling sensation Paul’s sayings and the duke’s glare could mean... however, the close and respectful arm leading us somewhere else was helping us get distracted, at least for a little.

But then, it became impossible to not get distracted wholly from the concerns since he started to guide us somewhere apart from the main hall, away from people.

’??... where is he taking me?’ — I thought as I saw how the places we walked weren’t probably places we should roam around since the party was somewhere else. — ’Can we even be here??’

Even so, even as I wondered if it was okay, I still followed him, who walked beside me calmly and quietly... until I think he saw proper to say where he was taking us.

"... I took the liberty to look around the Noverrne’s residence earlier for a quiet place... there is a courtyard this way... I believe we could go there for the lady to rest calmly."

’... oh... I see... maybe... that’s why I didn’t see him for a while back there...’ — I thought, glad of my suppositions and his good intentions when taking me there.

The place was as he said, a small courtyard where also a small fountain, that any other would call kind of humble for its simple art, was surrounded by a few stone benches.

His hand came up to us to offer a seat, and in the silence of us, we accepted it. Taking a seat to then stare at him who stayed standing so he would also sit beside us.

"May I?" — The prince said to it, sitting next to us right after receiving our certain nod.

"....."

... And silence lasted for a while, only placated by the soft sound of the water flowing down the small fountain.

’... sigh... what to say...’ — I deeply sighed in the meantime, noticing the shivers Paul had provoked in us were still ongoing in my hands.

"About the scheme myself played... I told a small lie to your father to get your brother in trouble. Do not feel concerned... as I previously promised... I am to aid you... even in ignorance, my lady."

"..."

"I could tell by your essence, that you were further uncomfortable than usual tonight around your sibling... hopefully I was not mistaken. Or I have probably done something unnecessary..."

"!!" — ’No! You... you did well... you helped me a lot by doing so...’

Turning slightly to face him better, I shook my head to convey my thoughts. Taking my hidden post-it notes to say the corresponding appreciation. — [ Your aid was timely... thank you, Your Highness. ]

******

The elegant writing of the woman was stared at blankly by the crown prince.

’... of course it was... the moment I saw him with you, I knew I had to take you away...’ — Zeleskiaz contemplated as the events quickly replayed in his head.

After seeing the beloved dance the first piece with that one he had already warned, rage had invited his whole being. Within his impulses, the wish to come to them and disrupt Clemente’s unnecessary closeness was already guiding his steps towards the pair at such time... and yet.

"Wait!"

"Move aside Jasmine."

"Don’t act like a madman at this time and place, Zeleskiaz! Did I not just tell you?! Your jealousy! You need to control it!"