You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 534

"Alright." — He said, placing no mind in my request and asking nothing about it as if ending that matter to start another. — "Then, I take it, it is now that we are on our own that you find it an opportune time to let myself know about it."

"Yes, you are correct."

"We do have little opportunities to meet. It was now or too ahead in the future that we would be able to converse about this."

"Haha..." — ’He’s sharp...’

"There is still some time to arrive where your father asked me to escort you. Perhaps we could talk a little more?"

"But of course. That would be perfect."

"Then, could you tell me how you came up with the idea of carrying a stack? I heard it was yourself who designed it, as well as the flower accessories. Mother is hoping for your business to settle so she can buy a piece."

"Oh, yet Madame Fannie Moody is helping myself with that..."

"Mother is a tad fixated on the idea of visiting you so a special piece can be crafted."

"I see... I wonder if I will eventually settle with a shop... yet if it is like that I could go to your manor so we can discuss it."

"That would be the best. Then about the stack..."

"Oh, the stack itself is not what I designed but an adaptation of it."

This time as if natural and common, we conversed about what he was curious about. I explained what it was truly for, using the post-it notes everyone called a stack of sheets to show what Pockachin was.

"Therefore, the lady wanted a tool to practice her drawings..."

"Yes, it is as simple as that."

"I did not know the lady was well-versed in artistry."

"It is a good afficion I have. Music is also something I enjoy as well as reading."

"Hm... it is not common for a lady to practice the arts."

"That I have been told. Nonetheless, I enjoy it and have been told I am good at it, so good father framed one, haha~"

"I would like to see it someday... I also have a practice that is not well seen between nobles." — Suddenly he said, after taking a look at the little draft I made on my post-it notes, believing the little joke I made about being good at drawing without sparing me a laugh. — "If you get to visit our manor I may show you."

"A practice that is not well seen? Then why would you share it with myself, your Grace?"

"The lady told me about her drawings, and also... You are to remain mute for some time more, is it not?"

"... haha, indeed... Hahaha~! I guess I cannot say anything even if I learn about it because of that, haha~!"

"... I believe it is a fair exchange. Father would also approve."

"Ahh... haha? Um, if so, I am glad. Ah... haha... that was a good fact you used there your Grace."

"A fact?"

"Yes, that I am to remain mute. I was not expecting that reply, haha~ I should have seen it coming or maybe even used it~"

"Well, I was not... The lady has an easy laugh apparently. Who would have thought."

"Well! I could bet no one would as I was stiff and expressionless before~ If we think about it, this is what a good plot twist is in itself, your Grace, fufu~"

"... A plot twist? As in literature, my lady?" — Invested he asked, wishing to understand what I meant the more I got into the conversation, forgetting to keep some restrain in my enthusiasm so as to not look weird in his eyes.

"Yes!" — I said, a bit too loud even to my own taste. Delighted to be able to talk about something I used to enjoy so much in a world different to this one. — "I would also say that your good disposition to what is not common also is a plot twist in a sense, Duke Clemente."

"... Is it? We are not characters in a book, however."

"Uh... c-certainly we are not, haha... Yet what if we were? I-imagine the possibility, haha." — A little shaken by the fact he was certain was the truth and I could partially debate given my knowledge I stuttered a little after getting a tad too comfortable with Noverrne’s duke. Realising I should tone it down slightly so my mouth would not get ahead of itself and talk a little too much for his sanity to take.

’If I am strict while I think about it, I am not truly a character of a book since I was only mentioned and had no real role in the story... unlike him... He is indeed a character in a book... yet of course, there is no safe way I can tell him that without looking crazy...’ — I thought for a moment while he pondered on the question I made out of hast at the trouble.

"If we were characters of a book you say..."

"Y-yes. His grace would probably be depicted as you have told me, detached in behaviour. However, the fact that you have a unique kind of thoughtfulness towards others has an element of surprise in it... l-like a plot twist in a story would."

"... Is it? Was I to read it, it might come as unexpected now that you mention it..."

"Yes! Therefore, it is like a funny comparison. It does not get to be an analogy but it is nice to use it sometimes"

"I see. I do not use those very often. I am not very familiar with the term."

"Well, it is something that is not used often in the circles we engage. Yet people certainly use it in daily conversations."

"... Interesting." — He said after taking a moment to consider the odd subject we ended up talking about, looking me in the eye while I also thought about how I avoided self-destruction while mixing things up. Otherwise, as I do not know my current self barely enough as I would like, for a moment I feared my excitement that could tell a good man how he is a daydream for many women in another world.