You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 500

With a tender smile, Francois observed the scene with delighted fondness shadowing the concern over his son’s impatience... and releasing a sigh as he found the same peace Zeleskiaz did in each other’s company from the previous tension, his head turned to continue looking ahead, keeping to himself the nice sensation of these seemingly insignificant moments.

"If Orland gives his approval, at least a tad more than a month... I suggest you do it for two as a minimum. You should take that much at least to get to know the one you want as a wife better... Less than that will be seen as outrageous by the customs and people’s eyes... that without mentioning Orland’s opinions."

"..."

"Of course, you also cannot touch her as I know you want to during that time." — At the silence held by the crown prince to his words, the Emperor continued, this time wishing for a more comprehensive sound, hoping to talk his son back to patience as his words could not be wholesomely welcomed given his lack of reaction. — "... You know well of the customs of a Royal wedding... everyone will know if you have done more than proper before marriage once the wedding occurs, and you have to be aware that it will not be good for either of your images in the eyes of the people if you do not respect a safe distance."

"... I am conscious of that." — Zeleskiaz said, experiencing some pain as he thought of a month to be already too long, although days were not as lengthy as his heart now believed. — "... I was not planning on touching her incorrectly until we could marry... yet I... at times I believe I cannot restrain myself..."

"Hmm... even though you’ve done so until now? It is only a matter of time."

"This belief has always been there." — Zeleskiaz honestly told his father, ashamed of himself to confess it. — "It’s myself when too immersed in this wish to hold her that I cannot trust... and it is always there... resting within me as if hunting the moment her eyes can tell that my graze is desired as well..."

Immersed in the sentiments being conveyed to the father, Zeleskiaz exhaled forgetting the usual reluctance to converse with him; doing as Francois had been prodding him to do. Letting out words a father had never thought of listening to from an aloof and merciless man like his son was known.

"I... love her... and even if this I say makes it appear as if it is solely physical, I... I become odd when around her because of these feelings that cannot cease to bloom further... at times I wonder what to do with the overwhelming affection my soul wishes to caress her with... and I end up resorting to instincts that are dangerous for this very matter... I was able to control it to some degree... However, this time, I am lost at how to act now that I know my Lady is accepting these intentions of mine."

The attentive eye of his father that widened as surprise at Zeleskiaz’s honesty settled in him turned composed in hopes of helping the crown prince’s mind to rest from the intensity told, sighing after a pause while looking ahead at the closed door that had guided Orland out of their presence.

"Son... You talk as if you have been courting her for months and yet you only started today."

"..... when it comes to my intentions, I have known them for long enough to feel as I do... That could be a reason for your appreciation."

"That is also something that can happen I suppose..." — Accepting the reasons the son gave, ignorant of the nervousness that it instilled within him as there were things he had done that should not to be told so judgements would not come, Francois nodded, granting reason to Zeleskiaz’s words. Believing that at the circumstances and his knowledge, the days before this one, Zeleskiaz had only attempted to give good impressions so today’s compromise could arrive. — "... Zeleskiaz, you may think you cannot wait for what is physical yet you certainly can."

"..."

"Although it is more like, you must."

"... I am aware."

"Hahaha~ Come on~ You’ve done well today in front of Orland, the biggest wall you could encounter, I don’t think he’ll say no. He said he would talk to his daughter first and you said she is agreeing to you being her suitor. Have faith for once in the hands of others. If she agrees as you said, she will also do her best once her father asks about this."

"She will... There is no choice but to do so, after all."

"That’s right." — Francois smiled, glad that a sense of the initial severity he had expressed had been dismissed. And the more he looked at the youth of his son... the more soft the Emperor’s heart felt for his offspring, recalling the hazards he also faced when marrying his mother. Closing his eyes to the memories while still sitting far from the son. — "You know... I am truly knowledgeable about this difficulty you are facing, Zeleskiaz. I understand it completely."

"..."

"I also had to wait long to have your mother. That is why I understand it." — To the dubious glint in his son’s unfazed eyes, Francois added.

"... However, you did go to courtesans because of the impatience." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Sigh... this brat cannot listen without stabbing my side." — Francois sighed frustrated, not relinquishing the wish to tell more; for even if seemingly hostile, he could tell his son was paying attention to his talk. — "Yes. I did go to them. I didn’t have your mother near and had not even met her more than twice at the time. The circumstances were different. All men are different while fighting their urges as well."

"That I cannot deny."

"Hah." — Francois scoffed as if taking away the distaste so the nostalgic feelings about the past could allow a tad of his life to be told. — "Yes... Things were different for us... your mother was also not easy to earn, Zeleskiaz..."