You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 515

"...!"

I managed to graze my nose against his and lightly land a kiss on his thin lips... smiling at him, shy to know how much I loved this sight and feeling. Hopping to tell that truth I held inside even though this escape was brief...

"This place... charmed my spirit fully, my prince..."

"That... pleases myself... at another time, we may come back my lady."

"Yes... We can go back for now as you said... but once back at the dining hall we should leave for my chambers, yes?" — Swallowing any speck of shyness I believed I once owned, I told his dazzling eyes without a care for the world. — "I wish to be with you longer... at ease where we usually can converse without concerns..."

The gaze I met was as usual a tender and deep one.... a gaze that only could see myself reflected in them... which as I held onto him commenced to waver, holding myself this time in a struggle to separate.

"My Lady... although my wish is the same and perhaps even stronger... I... I believe that as it has been agreed upon and approved... my visits to your chambers may need to cease or at least decrease..."

"? Why? How come after all this time?"

"... Courtship is different from a simple noble’s visits or friendships... once announced to every soul within the grounds we rule... the eyes of the Empire will be on us... mostly on you, my Lady, whose dignity needs to be guarded thoroughly not only as the Ninth and a Duke’s daughter but now as well as... my hand’s chosen."

"... My dignity... if so does that mean that we will be watched over strictfully from now on?"

"It is tradition... more so when it comes to the royal family... It becomes more strict given the nature of our status."

"Is it solely my dignity that matters, however?" — I asked a tad in a pout, not truly knowledgable on what this all was all of a sudden.

"... It is also for mine and my reputation... yet truthfully, it is you who matters in my eye, my Lady... Therefore, it is a must for myself to respect these traditions."

"..... I understand..." — I replied, moved yet conflicted, quickly realising what else this could mean. — "Uh? Wait, my prince... Given these reasons... are you perhaps implying that we are going to be assigned a chaperon?!"

"... It is very possible."

"..."

At the response, my body felt void of energy knowing that even as we both had started a relationship so everyone would know of our attraction... so we could be together, meeting with a purpose to date and have the sweetness we once justified as impulsive desires... what we once could do in a secret and maybe unruly manner would be now watched with cautious eyes. Aware that as young and in courting, privacy could be dangerous when we are not simple acquaintances in the eyes of others anymore.

"Haa... I suppose... neither of our chambers or your bureau are places we cannot go on our own now... although I had never gone to your chambers..."

"..."

"My prince... how come that the delight of this approval can be clouded with restrictions we once did not have as strongly? Although I am not to retract my wish to be with you... it is grieving to know our moves are to be watched almost harshly... that the freedom we as friends had will no longer allow what we once relished in..."

"..... I will... not vanquish that relish, Lady Marianne."

"..."

"This palace and Empire, I know it like the palm of my hand... tell me... that the restrictions of this courtship will also suffocate you... and... and surely my... my dear Lady..."

"...!"

"Surely... I will make it so even if watched by the very gods... moments like these where solely ourselves are present will be crafted by these hands... hopefully making them large enough... so these sensations feel as fresh for longer..."

*******

— Please, your Highness... do not let myself suffocate... —

*..... BANG!*

"WHAT THE HELL’S WRONG WITH YOU TODAY?! I ALMOST SH*T MYSELF HERE!!" — After closing the door too softly in his daydream, the hit his hand gave to it because of the flutters the recall of her sound provoked startled the right hand that had failed to notice such tame and pure aura the dangerous crown prince now carried after his love had softened it until harmless essence.

"... I’ll go crazy... she’ll drive me crazy..." — Zeleskiaz mumbled.

"??? Hey, what’s wrong??? Are you sick or something weird like that??" — As he saw the man fall without much strength, Biel became nervous, approaching him carefully, aware that precaution was a must while learning an unknown side of a dangerous beast. — "Did you embarrass yourself and fall down the stairs??"

"Biel... I’m not up for your foolishness." — Zeleskiaz, sighing to himself said, reincorporating to walk beside the confused right hand, who followed with his stare the troubled back of his master as his turmoil solely continued to deepen in quiet ponder... walking a track he once crossed following the dress his beloved wore... wounding before the weapon she became curious about and instantly feeling overwhelmed as he now recalled the many sweet times and those fresher ones he shared with the woman today, with stronger conflict again.

"Haaaa... curse it..." — He mumbled at the outside he was able to see from his bureau’s windows as it appeared painfully dazzling; and the conflict made him bite the lip that was craving her terribly... right after being himself who used an opportunity to slip away from the temptation she is.

"... Biel, won’t you be our chaperon?" — Suddenly he let out in a helpless whiff.

"?? What? No. That’s impossible to begin with. The parents are to choose a chaperone, not those involved in courtship. Why are you suddenly asking something you know that can’t be?"

"... sigh... alright, it doesn’t matter."

"... Zeleskiaz, are you sure you’re alright? You appear to look helpless now compared to how you looked earlier this morning."

"..."

"Oi... Zeleskiaz? Are you listening?"

Deep in his thoughts, the prince was severe while thinking of the thrill of happiness being clouded with the troubles of confidence against a woman he continuously failed to resist.