You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 491

"Ah! The other day she did cause harm since she was around..."

"Ah! Yes, she did... scary..."

"Yes, so scary..." — The small fairies said, becoming momentarily severe as they recalled the night Marianne was taken from the Palace.

"... Y-your Highness..." — Not taking away her gaze from the eye above, Marianne’s hand searched the prince’s, being taken immediately as in his ignorance of what was being conversed, Zeleskiaz remained alert as he saw the Lady steadily grow pale in demeanour. — "P-please... take me back to my chambers..."

"Huh?! What?! So soon, dear Ninth?!"

"... Yes, my lady..." — To the strength of her hand’s grasp Zeleskiaz agreed without questioning the decision even if interested to learn what had caused it. Holding her hand dearly while intertwining their fingers, solely requesting for her eyes to meet his, ignorant of the sayings the fairies continued to tell. — "Yet... do look at me..."

"... Yes..."

"I will take you to your chambers, yet do look at myself... for whatever it is that turned yourself blue I am by your side to repel it."

"..."

Her nod came along the lean of her head against his chest while the spirits wondered quietly what could have happened for her to request her leave so fast. And the Crown Prince caressed the hair of the shaken Lady who had finally learned her enemy had its eye on herself without her knowledge for a long time.

"Yes... please... take me back, Zeleskiaz... I do not feel well..."

*******

Holding onto my hand, the Crown Prince took me to my chambers without asking anything more, yet aware that there was something that had made my demeanour turn sour.

— Ninth get better! We may go to you if you wish it! —The pair of fairies had said as he took me away, instilling conflict within me even though no ill intention could be felt in their beings.

He gently walked alongside me, while I quietly questioned myself that felt troubled reacting like this to something that could have been expected although not in this shape... knowing that my behaviour was amiss, probably as I had somehow become a new self after having my two souls become one of its own... Although even before that it had already started to change even if slightly.

’I could not feign indifference as I would have done once... I suppose I am also to discover some things about this new self I have become as days pass... as well as things I need to change of this new self I am...’ — I contemplated as I entered my chambers, knowing now that things had changed in myself after the agreement with the gods came to be. And feeling more at ease after I learned this room was safe from the eye the spirits allowed me to see, I was able to exhale the suffocating air I had been keeping inside.

"Fuuuh... I need some water..." — I mumbled while going to get it without much care.

"My Lady... may I ask what happened that made you unwell?" — Then I heard him say after respecting the silence I needed on the way back. Causing my feet to turn on themselves so I could meet his serene stance that conveyed true concern and wish to help. — "You mentioned spirits and then... you became pale in no time."

"Ah..."

"Is it alright for me to ask? We can talk about it solely if the lady is comfortable."

"!... yes... it is alright..." — I sighed, sorry to have him worry when a pleasant moment was being shared in the garden. Moving back to him as he also closed the distance I had unknowingly made as I entered the room. — "I apologise for that... I at times feel like I do not act like myself anymore..."

"... Is the lady alright? You said you were unwell and I could see that was the case... if it is something that bothers you, do share it with me." — Stroking my cheek his finger moved a strand away from my visage, tender while talking softly. Lulling my unsettled emotions into more comfort with his lovely support. — "I will do what is even out of my hand so ease may come back to you, my Lady."

"Haha... I know... I know you would, my prince..." — I told him, caressed by his warmth as I cuddled to his touch, opening my eyes so I could tell what I had learned to his attentive violet. — "As you said, I saw spirits in the garden... fairies..."

"Yes... It is a given that they would be around yet, no one can see them usually."

"I suppose that is the common occurrence, haha..." — I chuckled, aware that he was trying to aid me to tell more. — "Nonetheless, I had seen one before... it did surprise myself to see them so suddenly and this easily... yet it was what they said in that short conversation that unsettled myself."

"I see..."

"..."

Taking his hands to hold them in mine, I lowered my head annoyed at how I had acted now that my souls had meshed, knowing as well, that this was not the first time my behaviour was amiss to the nature I once owned.

"They showed me that an eye is on the Palace."

"An eye?"

"Yes... Apparently, it has been there ever since the Empire came to be."

"..."

"Your Highness, the one that has attacked me previously may be the one owning that eye... The fairies said it is of the Broken Bones Witch." — Without wishing to keep it from him, I told what I had learned, meeting his frown that was already disliking the idea of its presence. — "It shocked me to see it... the witch must have been watching us all this time and we did not know about it."

"... Broken Bones Witch... that’s a legend of the Empire."

"... that’s... true..." — Stunned as he mentioned it, I could recall how once as a child I read the legend.

A greedy witch... lonely for greediness drove her to it. She would want what was not for hers to be and would break her own bones for her witchcraft to succeed. Losing forces and her sanity with every attempt to get unruly wishes until her death arrived.