You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 518

"Vitor, Theodore, both have a claw in hand, right?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Then come in." — Letting the two walk into the burgundy Calla’s chambers, the Duke peeked at a surprised and curious Marianne who within felt a hint of happiness wondering of the sudden appearance of the scholar she had not seen for many weeks and months. A grin was restrained in the duke as he found her essence cute compared to the maturity at times she carried, and walking back to stand before her, his hand extended to introduce those she already knew. — "Marianne, I take it that you already know their names yet let me say them again. Here is Theodore who you have met at our household guarding the many books in our vast library and Vitor, the loyal guard and knight I have placed by your side to protect you."

"..." — In the silence she was to continue to fake, Marianne nodded. Looking at the father with further intrigue.

"There is something I have not told you, however. Theodore here is not only a scholar in our household’s library. You may not have seen him outside the walls filled with books yet Theodore here is actually the hidden guard I placed on you for protection. That one I told you about yet did not introduce."

’Huh?!’ — With wide eyes, Marianne looked at her father baffled, going back to look at the one she once called purple worm out of childish mischief, seeing how in the seriousness the young man wanted to maintain, embarrassment coloured his cheeks while a pair of thick glasses were placed properly over his nose bridge. — ’HUH???! HE was my guard in the shadows???! The purple- I mean, mister Theodore?!’

"It does sound surprising, doesn’t it? Haha. Yet that is not all... before telling you the true reason behind my calling these two, they have something they wish to tell you themselves."

"???"

"... Go ahead." — The Duke said, inviting those who with severity lowered their heads in respect. Stepping forward now that the permission was given.

"Lady Marianne" — The scholar began. — "In the few opportunities we had to meet, the task of guarding you from the shadows was given to myself... the honour was taken with appreciation and my wishes to protect you were as strong as the respect I hold for your name and person."

’Ah... that is very sweet of him to say...’ — Marianne thought, moved and happy to learn it was him who from a distance had been working to protect her.

"Before his Grace announces what we are here for, I wish to apologise for my lacking strength... for all I could ever do was watch and fail to protect you as I hoped for... only being able to report when harm had already reached you."

’?! What?’

"I..."

’!?? Sir Vitor!?’

"I also... apologise... My master and my master’s daughter you are... yet a shield I never got to even become for you lady Marianne..."

"..."

Sadness filled the heart of the Lady the men came to apologise to. Marianne’s thoughts had already crafted suppositions that Vitor’s guilt could be eating up his spirit after many incidents occurred without him being by her side to protect her as usually he would. Yet Marianne was aware that it had not been his decision for the events to unfold as they did... and she had made sure to tell the duke that no wish for a change of guards was desired.

’Sir Vitor... for you to come forward and say it...’ — She mourned the pain the quiet guard was holding while she also considered him a friend.

"We want to express how regretful we are of failing to protect you as our spirits once wished."

"..." — At the deep reverence both offered with great respect, Marianne frowned concerned about the state the men portrayed. Meeting the eye of her father, who kindly smiled, shrugging his shoulders as it was the petition both guards had requested beforehand.

A moment of ponder was taken by Marianne as they continued to bow... and once she grew anxious waiting for their heads to raise...

"You two..." — She decided to let her sound reach the men.

"?!"

"Your apologies are appreciated... However... Both of you... are not here to say you will resign after this apology, are you...?" — Worried, her hands held each other while meeting the eyes of stunned men who had not heard her sound before. — "I knew... both did as best you could... therefore... the thought saddens myself if true..."

"..."

The silence of the men was such the air froze before them, and the father who was as surprised by the decision his child made to let her sound be learned felt heartache at the expression she carried while conveying her worries to the guards. Hence, his head turned immediately to also seek the answer he knew and yet they should give, ultimately using the weight of his aura to wake those frozen from surprise. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Vitor. Theodore... Are you two not going to answer my child?" — Orland asked, annoyed that astonishment was causing them to make his child wait for their answer.

"!? U-uh... A-after we failed to protect you s-so miserably we once thought to resign, h-however..."

"..."

"So...You did want to resign..." — At the depressed lower of her head, a shiver travelled through every of those present. Much more as in her voice... a little quiver was heard as it lost strength.

’Both of you do something!!’ — Orland’s aura yelled pressing the men to properly talk.

"!!? M-My Lady Marianne, that was before!"

"I never wished for it." — Stoic, Vitor said confidently, contrary to the once scholar. Surprising him as he knew such was not the truth and solely his pride speaking.

"?! I-I also never truly thought so!"

"... Truly?" — Marianne said, peeking at them with hopeful eyes.

"Lady Marianne, my master. I wished to apologise for my weakness and assure you that stronger I will become. Such was my purpose."

"I as well!" — Theodore said, adding himself to the knight’s confident stance.

Both remained straight and firm, waiting for another word from the lady... who looked a them briefly and cautiously... drifting to meet the eye of the father whose frown softened once meeting her glimmer...