You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 449

"You better not say another word to me in the following days... within what so concerns you... at the very least fake like you always do before others that you have three children that are in distress at this moment."

"You well know I-"

"Yes, I know it disgustingly well, woman!"

"..."

"You don’t and will never care for Marianne like you do for the other two children we have... Don’t say any bloody idiocy about this to me again. You better pray that the suspicions on those two you protect are false and that the daughter you so hate, Marianne is safe... For if I learn..." — Inhaling loudly at the wrath that wanted to be controlled, Orland’s mouth distorted with its threatening expression. — "If I learn that Paul or Theressa are involved in any sense in this matter... I’ll destroy any reputation you love about this sickening family to its roots."

"..."

"Nothing. Heed my words, Elenaide. Nothing will be left of it." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Giving his back to the woman who was too stunned to speak, Orland’s strides took him away from the displeasing company his wife had become. Nonetheless, his teeth gritted as strong as his heart clenched to the fear this situation could unfold in; ignoring how his pain had been noticed by the wife and been infected even if slightly, for a good relationship they had accomplished to recompose... although her reluctance for their oldest daughter remained.

The tears of the Duchess ultimately overflowed the reticent lids, making the eyes of some other noblewoman fall on her. Coming to her side intruding in the solitude she desired yet still acting fragile... Aware that something needed to be saved from this tragedy their family was into.

"Lady Elenaide..." — The women approached, wishing to comfort and learn with such act the Duchess would use for her own good.

*******

"The way you intruded and faced Orland wasn’t appropriate, Zeleskiaz. You better apologise. He’s not any other noble." — Grasping his displeasure as best he could, Francois reprimanded his son’s actions as soon as they entered the ceremony Hall, narrowing his eyes to the indifference he continued to showcase even after letting the whole Empire learn a gist of how weak the inner conflicts of the Sylfinnier household had become. — "Did you ever stop to think what others will murmur after this?"

"They will still do so even if we imprison them in secrecy."

"Even then, something we could have done to placate the hit!!... You must think you’re the only one concerned, huh?! Selfish brat. You imbecile!"

"..."

"To whom you spoke so despondent is the Father of the Ninth! Forget he’s even your Father and the Emperor’s close friend!... You have to learn you aren’t the only one who f*cking cares!!"

The rage Francois amassed aware that the news his son had tactlessly informed to Orland would hurt his strong in determination yet soft-of-heart old friend was yelled with exasperated incomprehension. For the son, although known as a madman by the Empire, at least used to know whom to devote some respect to no matter the circumstances... Yet Zeleskiaz’s actions appeared otherwise... causing Francois’ guts to tremble to the frustration this embarrassment meant for him who was his Father.

"I truly... I truly would have liked it if he had cut your head right there! If he had, then I wouldn’t feel as ashamed to even face him!"

"... I’ll cut his head if what I’ve been trying to save ends up a mess because of this, don’t worry Frois." — Orland said as he entered the room. Talking directly to the one he would cut the head off since no wish to hide the hostility was within the Duke. — "Given the situation, let’s not lose more time reprimanding an idiotic brat and let us hear every detail... And I mean every detail, both of yours and the Umbra Quadrigis’, Bashaa."

Facing both young men, Orland left no space for any of the present to speak for he called for the one that should be in the shadows and was the man that while every single one of them moved around causing turmoil, should have been investigating what had happened in his people’s guard that now the Ninth they were to protect had gone missing.

"Surely I’ll tell... but if I may, Your Grace, before I say what I quickly gathered, I want to hear what the Crown Prince and Noverrne’s Duke know. Something else I might understand, you see?"

"..."

"Are both of the two of you deaf? Or are you to shut up when you shouldn’t?" — Given the silence that fell upon them at Bashaa’s request, Orland looked at the Crown Prince and young Duke. Demanding for their senses to wake up if hoping to be of use. — "Start talking."

*******

— Elizabeth you don’t plan on sleeping all day are you, my love~? —

— !.?.. !.. h.. .n- no, Seth... I won’t... —

— Oh~ I thought you had stopped breathing that’s why you weren’t answering... You can’t forget I dislike it when you don’t answer me, alright? —

— Yes, alright... —

— ... talk sweeter, don’t you love me, Elizabeth? —

’No... I would never love someone like you...’

— D*mn it, Elizabeth... You make me do things I don’t like all ’cause you don’t learn. —

"..." — For once, although the nightmare usually unsettled me, I woke up calmly to the echos of that psycho’s voice.

I was resting on a bed and I could see clearly as it was already sunny outside. The place was totally unknown by both of us... but I could tell it was a small place... like a cabin... with little to nothing around besides the bed, water, a bucket...

’... and shackles...’ — As if I never left my original body, my feet felt something around it so familiar that as I moved I simply confirmed the truth. Quickly recalling in my kind of numbed state how Paul had tackled me to the ground and how I fought him... to now wake up in this place... as if misery wasn’t good enough to experience once in a life.