You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 548

"Your aura looks controlled yet unsettled, prince. What happened?" — Orland, who had decided not to leave it all to a young Clemente said as he approached Zeleskiaz. Wanting to be cold although he knew wiser not to, given the knowledge a friend had announced about a son’s temperament.

"... Nothing." — He said, distracted as he looked where the only able to lull the disgust away sat. Lowering his gaze as her figure cleaned slightly the sourness of the encounter... while the action instead impulsed the coldness of the duke to come back bluntly after noticing how the waver of his eyes came along with a tamer aura.

"It does not look and did not feel like nothing. For a moment I thought a fight would break, brat."

"... It did not."

"You are known for these sudden fits. What else would you believe would happen if you were me?... Tsk! And look at me when I’m talking to you. Have some shame when looking at my daughter in my presence!"

"Your grace, my sole cure for those "fits" you mention is the pureness of your daughter. I have not experienced many as before after meeting her, did you know this?"

"Shameless brat... Don’t say anymore. All that matters is you did not ruin my child’s celebration with your savagery."

"... Yes... That is all that matters..." — Still paying no interest to Orland’s warning Zeleskiaz kept looking where his love breathed feeling nicely how the mere sight made his soul return from the hells. Finally finding each other’s gaze so again, some of the entrancement of her message could be revived in the lift of his corners. — ’You are... who matters, my beloved Marianne...’

An attentive man Orland was, and no detail between the young ones courting each other was missed by his eye. Producing frustration to hit a limit, forgetting the ignorance behind a madman’s bloodlust and deciding to pull the prince away as he could not take his awestruck essence being openly demonstrated.

"AGH, alright already. Stop looking at my child like a fool! Come here! You’ll start drooling, bloody hell! Have some dignity!"

"Your grace, you are exaggerating. I was not looking that much. Besides, what is dignity for when in the presence of my lady?"

"Eff*ng brat, what do you know?!? If you had seen your face you wouldn’t say such! Can’t you be considerate? I’m her father, for the love of Izeneya! Why do I have to witness your idiocy?! Huh? Explain it to me!"

"..."

"That’s what I thought. Now come and join some of us in conversation. You cannot always stand at the side being an oddball. Aren’t you supposed to be the heir of the Empire? What is Frois even teaching you?? You only excel at being shameless like him!"

"I have conversed plenty enough and his grace knows well that his majesty does not have much to teach anyways."

"... D*mn it... You are correct." — Amounting more animosity against a close friend, Orland grumbled. Growing more grudge against his best friend who could only be used against him at this point. — ’Maurice, you t*at... can’t even be useful once...’

"... Regardless, I would not mind continuing to converse with you, Sir."

"Oh, do you?" — With doubt, Orland scoffed entertained by the rareness of his comment and readiness. For both knew no delight would be held in any of their hearts while doing so. Wishing to tease him who had made him paranoid when it came to his daughter. — "Was it a hit on the head that made you release a tremor? You are now spouting nonsense like your father would, kid."

"I do not believe it is nonsense. I made it clear before did I not? I hope to become your son-in-law, therefore-"

"SHUSH! What are you doing!? We haven’t- You are only courting and have not even made it public! Have some discretion, bloody brat!"

"... Everyone is busy sharing useless compliments with each other, Sir. Nobody cares what we could be discussing." — Sighing at Orland’s behaviour, Zeleskiaz assured. Continuing to be polite while also hoping to tease the duke. — "As I was saying... my intentions are not vague. I am determined. Therefore, I believe we should be more friendly with each other."

"... Friendly?"

"Yes."

"You and I?"

"Yes. We will become family-"

"Shut up." — Composed, Orland’s hand raised stopping more words from coming out of the prince’s mouth. Tickled by the annoyance and the slight victory the Crown Prince was earning while pushing his patience... Also looking where his child was. Shining quietly with an essence much more sweeter than he ever saw, Marianne ignored every one of the troubles her father endured. And, although the vision only invoked peace for his heart, a deep twist was felt in his stomach because of the anxiety losing such sight continued to inhabit the father’s being... Anxiety that was placed aside as soon as he noticed how Zeleskiaz had taken advantage of his pause to also admire the view. — ’... I hate to admit... how pure his being becomes while looking at her... It’s difficult to think he has killed as many as I have... I hate these guts he has...!’

"Siiiigh... Let us drop this childish discussion for now. Just come here and listen to what the men say. You still need to grow connections so your ruling is proper."

"I appreciate his grace’s concern."

"Tsk... I’m not concerned."

Doing as the duke said, Zeleskiaz followed next to him, revitalized as the interaction felt less grave than most they had entailed.

Meanwhile, however... a very disturbing one took place where he had left an insolent guest.

"... Miss Karina. What happened for you to be resting on the floor?" — As unattached as known, Clemente had gone to Karina’s side offering a hand covered again by a glove, as no desire of direct touch was there for him to desire when his spirit had doubts of most. Furthermore of the guest of his household for whom threats had been gained a moment ago. — "... What happened to your dress?"