You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 619

The tremble he swallowed forcefully could not be concealed by the words. Marianne’s hues shone pained to keep the sadness to herself not to concern the duke’s attempts. And they separated slightly because of the hand that wanted to lift her downcast crown, letting her reminisce as she pondered on the comfort Orland tried to give Marianne.

"... we... even with scars... we still can achieve happiness by loving who we love." — Marianne, recalling a past in a different time and body gently lifted her corners as she said it... Recalling the laughter she enjoyed every day when surrounded by friends she would never see again. — "Leaving the past in the past, recalling the good times... crafting better ones..."

"How mature of my child to say that... Did Eli teach you that?"

"Hahaha~ yes, I taught myself and learned it from others as well~"

"Ahaha~ right~ that is wise to do~"

A knock on the door, coming from the butler made the daughter and father, open their eyes wide, agreeing on the silence she must keep once the butler came in. Orland’s voice allowed Thomas to step in... and as the privacy of the conversation saw itself intruded upon, the small creature that moved around the room came back to the ninth’s side, staring and analysing the duke by her side, sighing and coming to an understanding of the circumstances.

"Ninth, curses have been piled in this place with this mister as its target. So many that they rotted hoping to become worse for its goal." — Flying and taking in its tiny hands a speck of the stains she could grasp she flew back to stand on the father’s shoulder. — "It was all for nothing... this man... his spirit is pure... like the lovely Jørgen’s... piled up curses were a desperate yet useless attempt from the witch. His spirit is clear that no matter the curse, harm won’t be dealt from his hand to his loved ones."

’... I see...’ — Relieved and touched by the reasons, Marianne’s visage beamed delighted as the stains the fairy dropped slipped uselessly down her father’s arm, softly breathing out a whiff from a now weightless heart. — ’Dad’s strength is of a different kind... how conceited I was to think I could protect such a reliable man, haha~’

The afternoon was easy on their spirits. The fairy’s cleaning commenced without delay... yet another day would arrive, when the place she was to visit, was Paul’s chambers.

"... I am to go with Mother again today?"

"Didn’t you say she summoned you for breakfast? It is best you just stay with her."

"Yes, however... she only wants myself to harm and leave you, sister. She repeats what she always did... that you are evil and deserve to suffer..."

"She always did it so you should be used to it. It’s nothing new after all."

"Nonetheless, it is uncomfortable. She speaks so nonchalantly about it... I find it offensive."

"... you do?" — Surprised by the annoyance in Theressa’s countenance, a bit of the girl’s old self seemed to surface as she spoke about her mother. Shoving away the wonder as there was a reason for her to do as told. — "Even so, you should try to get more information. Ask her how it is that she learnt I am evil."

"? But sister is not evil."

"Are you sure?... I may be a bit evil. Although not how the duchess thinks I am. Do try it out, please."

"Alright..."

"... since she did not free you for dinner last night, once time for lunch arrives I will tell Dad to summon you. That way you may depart her side and join us... If you wish."

"!? Truly?!" — Excited the girl took her sister’s hands in hers with hopeful relief.

"?? Y-yes..."

"Thank you, sister! I shall do better today so we may meet sooner!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"?? Er, alright... go on now."

"Yes! See you later sister~!"

Feeling odd by the enthusiasm of the little sister, Marianne halted to watch her walk away, having a blank mind while she could not understand how there was so much enthusiasm when a few days ago she had behaved timidly and carefully... almost fearfully.

"... Hmph! It is thanks to Estelle, hehe~ the girl’s spirit will only heal more from now on!" — The fairy that had joined them and was enjoying the inside of a household its kind don’t usually visit, puffed proud of its achievement, peeking at the ninth who now was curious at what she meant. — "Intrigued you are dear ninth, hehe~ do let myself tell you. After cleansing some of the small girl’s chambers I found the greatest source for her stained soul!"

"Truly? What was it? Did you get rid of it?"

"I will need to see if it appears again! Yet for now, no more cursed gooseberries are lying around! Those under her pillow were the deadliest, they were threaded to affect her core even from afar, therefore this wise fairy got rid of them, ninth!"

A halt to her breathing occurred after listening to the fairy’s proud deeds, thinking back on the younger days she now easily could reach in this body she governed fully. Frozen by the viciousness hidden in the information given.

"... the goose hidden in the gooseberry..." — Marianne mumbled, feeling the cold of her blood as she became pale to the memories. — "Goodness... how sickening a mind the witch has..."

"Hm?? Ninth why would the goose hide? Estella doesn’t understand!"

"... it is nothing." — Trying to forget the disgust, Marianne shook her head, unable to dismiss the frown as she recalled a little Theressa recollecting gooseberries for fun. So happily that their father would come up with a sentence to tease his youngest child with tender playfulness. — ’She used to think gooseberries were pretty and would take them to dad as a gift... if the witch used such an innocent thing against her... Tsk! Bloody hell! This only makes my heart waver more! Does this mean she truly had no way to prevent her behaviour towards me??’

Conflicts rose within her as she decided to continue her path, walking down the halls until the room where her older sibling used to sleep and summon her whenever displeased... or missing her by his side.