You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 503

"Zeleskiaz... We will need to talk about these thoughts you have too. Know that I made a mistake by asking you such a thing as if it was obvious. Therefore, let me make it clear that I don’t want to kill you with the same seriousness you do when saying that."

"Well... I would not kill anyone on the spot anymore. My Lady shouldn’t see such a thing, so I do understand what you say."

"No. No, you don’t! That’s another kind of problem, Zeleskiaz!"

"That is because I am joking."

"..."

"? What is it?"

"You should learn other ways to make a joke." — Francois said as if dead inside to learn of the humour his son lacked, disheartened by his future. — "Coming from you it doesn’t sound like one."

"... That might be true."

Granting reason to the Father, Zeleskiaz nodded aware of the truth. Finally standing before the doors they had decided to visit while both stared at each other blankly. Although a spontaneous thought would be brought up by the Emperor at the odd sensation the exchange provided.

"... You have changed quite a lot, Zeleskiaz." — Suddenly the Emperor let out as the face of his tall son was observed intently. — "I am sure that said joke wouldn’t have been one last year."

"I cannot deny that."

"You even talk this much to me... You actually reply now with some more attention to your words."

"... Are you pleased by that?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"...Yes... I am, truthfully."

"..."

"I am sure your mother will also be happy now that you came to see her for this as well. She likes it whenever one of you comes to her, no matter the issue."

A gesture to the guards was made so they would announce their presence to the Empress as if the truth of his appreciation was nothing to place thoughts on. Nonetheless, the peaceful expression of the father after conveying his beliefs to the son was this time observed briefly by his offspring’s hues, turning to face the doors straight and properly just as the father had done... pondering on the sensations he was now experiencing.

’As far as to be happy... what they see in me must be quite a change if it is source to this belief...’ — Zeleskiaz thought, feeling complex about it, for in his head, what had changed was only the feelings he was able to devote to a certain woman, however, the more he went to others to learn how to do well in sowing this devotion, the more he learned that such feeling was changing other parts of himself in the eyes of others... parts he had thought as already ones of himself all along, solely that others did not know of for he had not shown them before.

’Nonetheless... I feel as if... I have always been this way...’

*******

"I will have to ask the princes to give me a moment with my daughter before you depart to enjoy a meal together." — The Duke said right after entering my room while I had the little prince and princess over as visits. We were getting ready to leave when he arrived, all so we could enjoy lunch together for a longer time at the dining hall for they had invited me to join them to commemorate my awakening. — "There is an issue I would like to discuss, and sadly it cannot wait."

"I take it that important it is for his Grace to request it as soon as a greeting was given." — The Princess said, already standing from her place, turning to look at Dioclecià so he would follow her motion and walk outside as she understood the severity in my Father’s demeanour. — "Dioclecià, let us give the privacy the Lady and her Father need to converse. Lady Marianne, we will be going ahead and waiting for you at the royal Dining Hall. Do take your time, there is no rush within ourselves as we have cleared today’s schedule so we may spend it with you if permitted."

I nodded thankful for her quick comprehension, waving goodbye to the third prince while Dad also thanked their kindness. — "Thank you, your Highnesses. I will send Marianne as soon as we end this talk."

"Have no concern. Do talk with ease, as I said, we are not in a hurry."

Closing the doors behind them, the princes disappeared without questioning the request as they could have demanded, and Dad’s gaze remained on the doors for a quiet moment... making myself be the one to talk first, already guessing what it was that he wanted to discuss after the words of the crown prince had remained in my thoughts.

"What has brought you back here, father?... is it... that you have come to discuss matters about the Crown Prince...?"

"... that’s correct." — Turning to look at me, I saw how his frown came to settle in his expression, without a wish to soon be dismissed. — "I hear you have accepted him as your suitor. He came to me a little after I left him with you. Could you tell me what this is about, Marianne?"

"Um... Does Father dislike the idea?"

"I don’t dislike it. I hate it."

"... hate..."

"He’s a man whose limits we don’t know. He may be the Crown Prince yet being of a high status is not enough for me to let a man to court my daughter, you should know this. Also, what kind of time is this to tell such a thing? Matters with our family aren’t in a place where we can leisurely deal with this kind of proposal."

"When said like this... it makes myself believe that father is against it..." — With a stuffy feeling in my heart, I mumbled... concerned as what he was saying was something any other with common sense would wonder. And my head lowered... nervous of hearing the decision he had come to so fast as to come to me right after talking with the prince. — "Should... I take that as your decision...?"