You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 529

With anguish, she came towards me hoping to beg forgiveness, surprising me as it was extreme a reaction and even unnecessary.

"?? Goodness, Paige, that is not true! Think properly, please. I do not know what the surprise is yet. Therefore, it is still a surprise, it has not been spoiled in the least. I will not ask anything else and do as Father instructed so it remains as a surprise. Also, you may ignore this, yet I am sure Father knew I would figure the date out once you told me he made preparations so out of the blue."

"! Truly, my lady?"

"Yes, truly. He even hinted myself about it recently. Thus, please do not fret so suddenly."

"Ah... Hehe~ sniff. I see... My lady has always been clever, indeed. I apologise for my hast presumptions." — Following behind me as I moved now towards my wardrobe to take a look at the dresses I could wear with the jewellery she brought, Paige giggled and expressed delighted; wiping her nose and eyes that had jumped into grief too quickly and overly. Eventually asking why was I looking through my wardrobe with pure curiosity and wish to serve. — "... Is there something my lady is looking for? I would gladly look for it if you may tell me what it is..."

"Oh, thank you, yet I have not lost anything. I need to wear a dress that matches the jewels so..."

"Oh, I that is your purpose then I must say I have yet to bring the dress his grace ordered for you today. I fear you will not find it in there, my lady."

"... Father ordered a new dress?"

"! Of course. He said my lady should wear a new dress on this precious day. It recently arrived at the palace and was carefully kept so you could wear it today, Miss."

"... haha~ Father seems to have placed a lot of effort in this surprise given that he went through that trouble."

"Yes, certainly his grace has! It was months ago that he made the order for the dress to Madame Fannie Moody after all."

"..... months?"

"Yes. Many months ago. If I remember correctly it was even before your first visit to the Royal Palace, my lady. I was sent many times to the boutique so I could inform the Madame of your measures and oversee the progress."

"... Paige, if this is true then we better be careful... I truly need to be ignorant of what this surprise is if he has gone through so many troubles to prepare it..."

"Indeed, that is true. I will say no more on the matter."

"Yes... thank you, dear Paige." — A little concerned about the extent dad might have taken this surprise, I glanced at the expensive jewellery knowing he had been working on many details without my knowledge.

A bit of a nostalgic sensation came over me thinking that a few nights ago Dad might have feared not even being able to show this surprise to me... and I sighed... relieved I was here so I could see this surprise he so carefully planned for so many weeks. — ’I truly wonder what it is however... for him to do so much... usually at our birthdays he would make it so a wonderful dinner and a good gift could be given... yet that was because we had yet to debut...’

"..."

While lost in my thoughts, I felt the silent stare that was trying to follow my pensiveness. Noticing after a while how she kept peeking at me without hiding her curiosity as to why I was staring blankly at the jewellery.

"? What is it, Paige?" — I asked her once in one of her glances our gazes met.

"! N-nothing... Solely... It is so delightful to be able to have this exchange with the lady..."

"Ah... Although, it is still a tad odd isn’t it? I did get accustomed to keeping quiet, haha..." — As shy as she appeared, I was infected by it. Actually feeling relieved that I could at least share these thoughts with someone.

"Hm... It is odd because of how wonderful a notice it is, dear Miss... Haha~ I now understand why Vitor was so quiet when I asked him about you last night and this morning~"

"Well, he did ask myself if you knew about it... Sir Vitor must have been more quiet because of my request."

"Yes, he probably wanted to respect our master’s order." — Busy, fidgety, she moved to help me save the dresses so the wardrobe would close cleanly, smiling as we talked... which did feel peculiar as it was a first that not only we were conversing and doing some task together but also because of how naturally we seemed to adapt to the change so quickly.

"... Do you truly not think it is odd, Paige?" — Ultimately, I asked. Uncertain after it was being taken kind of casually or even mundane an occurrence. — "How I am able to speak now, I refer."

"Um... If I am allowed to say... I used to imagine the scene since his grace had told me the Miss was not mute from birth..." — Paige said, coming before me with a lowered head, seemingly shy yet serious. — "As I said, it is not odd but thrilling, my lady... for this must mean you are becoming healthier, and that truth... reassures my heart deeply for I fear the gloomy days you used to live in... slowly, I noticed how sunrise and winds started to carefully take the gloom away... and hearing your sound must be the radiantness of a thriving season that I hope will not end, dear Master..."

"... what beautiful praise you give, dear Paige... I cannot but agree... how thrilling it is to talk with you like this, my friend."

"Hehe... S-should I serve you anything, my Lady? There is still time so you may relax."

"Oh, please take a seat and let us talk a bit more. If there is time we may as well do that."