You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 505

"..."

"I am not asking this to hurt you, dear. It is so I can avoid that." — He said right after I fell silent, surprised by the inquiry... to which I do have an answer. — "You are beautiful, no man with eyes can deny that truth. Coming from a good family as well... A prince he is and much of his time is filled with boredom. So much war is known to be a source of entertainment to him... This I say is not that absurd if you take a moment to think about it."

Somehow the fact he asked that made me happy since depending on the answer, I would also find a real answer to the first question. Therefore, all I could think of... was telling the truth...

"... I did believe it was an act, Dad... him acting so nicely towards myself who was mute and expressionless... showing himself different to everything the whole Empire knows about him... gentle and even innocent... it appeared like a lie... a much too cruel lie as I continued to grow attached..."

"..."

"I thought what you said and also may have yet do not tell... that he found me entertaining under the condition I was... that a game I was... and... I might still have a hint of such thoughts within me."

"!? If so why are you agreeing!? If he makes you think like this then-"

"Father... it is because these are insecurities I carry, not ones made by him. It truthfully has been himself who keeps proving them mistaken with behaviours I would never have expected from one called a bloodthirsty madman."

"..."

"I am not lying when I tell you he places myself before his own, Dad... and certainly, he is different to what I know is a madman..."

These last words were hard to tell, for in a glimpse I could tell he understood who it was that I knew as a madman.

I remained with a lowered head while I knew Dad was contemplating on everything I had said as well as what the prince must have said before coming to me. Angst was starting to unsettle my stomach, for I was nervous since I was aware his answer could be a simple denial of this courtship... and although I knew I would not settle with that and would do as my soul desired... my heart felt uneasy... for having his support is something I hope I will not have to fight my dad for... and truthfully I am not inclined on doing so if allowed to avoid it...

"What will you do if it turns out it was truly an act on his part?"

"Huh?"

"Answer me."

"... I will kill him." — I said, actually imagining the occurrence and blurting what I first thought I would do without much consideration to Dad’s reaction.

"H-huh??" — He stuttered slightly pale.

"Huh...? W-was that not the correct answer??" — Coming back to my senses I asked, feeling embarrassed to be stared at with wide eyes. — "I thought t-that’s what I should do... m-maybe not literally but..."

"No, uh... well... I was hoping for that answer yet in a more disguised manner..."

"Oh..."

"..."

"T-then, I will break relationships with him and not turn back on my feet(?)"

"Yes... ahem, yes, that is better, sweetie... the killing should be done by me not you... your hands don’t deserve such stain." — Dad said with a sorry smile, clearing his throat glad to clear up the surprise. Making me ponder about if it was alright to even mention the killing itself... but then again I considered it as obvious in the end.

’... so it’s a matter of who does it... I see...’ — I thought while I nodded, understanding what should be done and kind of confident in my depths that it wouldn’t come to that for some mysterious motive.

"... Marianne... truthfully, even though breaking up and not turning back is something you must do if that were to happen... there is something else I wanted you to say." — After a moment, Dad added, somehow going back to how he usually behaves in front of me, looking at me tenderly and kindly. Losing the strict demeanour he had posed throughout our conversation.

I tilted my head, wondering what it could be that he wanted to convey this time... and since we were sitting close, he drew closer, taking my hand in his to make his words gain more weight once told.

"If that ever happens, which I hope and pray never will... come back and take your father’s hand, sweetie..."

"..."

"Don’t ever forget that I will never leave your side completely... even if you make a new family or if you become an empress or a saint or whatever it is you become in this world you gracefully inhabit... you can always be assured that your Father will be there to support your flight, to tend these wings of delicate feathers, sweet little bird of mine."

Only a nod I could give to the fullness of a loving stare, because of the knot that took shape in my throat at the happiness it brought to be reminded of his love... feeling relieved because even if I knew well what my feelings were, many things may change in the brief blink of what life is.

I leaned over, resting my head on the shoulder of my dear father, hoping that my silence would as always be read as it should by his knowledgable heart... and his chuckle was infected to me, erasing any uncertainty I felt for a moment while talking to him.

"Hehe... Dad, will you truly kill him if he harms my heart?"

"Hmph. He knows well I will. One good thing about the things he said is that he ’hopes’ me to kill him even if he doesn’t ’let me’ were that to happen. That was well said by the brat, I must admit." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"He said that?"

"... Yes." — Going back to pout slightly we settled again in silence while I was pondering in the peace.