You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 633

Turning to the maid, Marianne bowed, signalling she was to go back as Zeleskiaz made his way up, ecstatic to finally see her, looking ever so beautiful while she hoped for distance.

"... My Lady..." — Breathless, he gazed at her, uselessly trying to find divine words to dedicate when his mind was utterly blank. Becoming shyer once her gaze looked at him so clearly and intensely. — "It is... How...Uhm... hah."

"?" — ’What is wrong with him?... is he... is he actually so done he cannot even meet my eye?’

She misjudged, saddened and convinced by the useless overthinking. Lowering her head as she also noticed his hand had yet to be offered when in a not so far past it would have been the first that would be offered for hers to take whenever they greeted.

Mistaken... so very mistaken...

"... My dear Lady Marianne."

’... dear... he says...’

"You were taking so long... I was about to go seek you..."

"..."

"And... hah... now that I met you... I wonder... Is this what shyness is?" — Ashamed, his hand lifted to cover his eyes. Trembling senseless as his mind grew drunk and fuzzy as her being graced his nose, sight, even his hearing with her soft, oh so soft breathing. — "I cannot meet your eye... when so gorgeous you are... dazzled I feel... Foolish as well for becoming like this when in your presence..."

’..... What?’

*******

My head could not make sense of every belief I had been holding after hearing his manly voice slightly tremble while saying such unexpected things. Words were simply robbed from my mind and just as he said he could not... I also could not meet his ultramarine now. His hand was making sure I couldn’t... nonetheless, a tad of his cheekbone could be seen... and his ear... both burning red just as myself became as I processed his lovely murmurs.

’?! W-what in heavens?! He is saying such things as if nothing?! Is he here to shake my resolve??? This is confusing!’ — I thought too delighted to even feel offended. Drowning in myself as the smile my heart danced with wanted to show itself bashfully in my whole being. Avoiding his sight to look somewhere else... which instead made myself conscious that his innocent compliment was not solely heard by my ears.

’?!?!?!?! T-the knights heard all of that?!!!’ — Embarrassed, I screamed within for I saw the shock in their faces. Quickly turning back to grab the frills from his sleeve in a thoughtless reflex. — ’You! We! T-this is not the right place to say that!’

"...? Um... W-was what I said inadequate?"

’Look below!!’

"?... !? Ah... that’s..." — I heard him mutter with a hint of trouble in his voice while I looked away petrified. But then I felt his hand... taking mine too sweetly and naturally... tenderly. Protecting me from the shame before ordering the men with coldness. — "Look away and forget anything you heard... yes?"

"?!?! N-nothing was seen nor heard your highness!!!"

’... T-that doesn’t solve the problem...’ — Although there was no true problem, I shrank. Ignorant of what to do with myself given the circumstances.

"... My Lady." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"...?"

"Welcome back... I missed your presence." — Handsome like only himself could manage, my sanity melted while his hand caressed my arm and fingers for a moment. Yet the memory came back. That one that reminded me I could not be so easily swept by his sweetness.

I gave a step back to gain some distance and it was probably too slow a motion I pulled, for as I intended to draw my hand away, his grasp tightened, stopping any intention to separate I may have.

"The Ball has started... yet there are matters I believe we must discuss, my lady." — He said, transmitting with his gaze a similar conflict to the one I felt inside. — "Can we... talk about it right now?"

... I was taken aback. Still refusing to do so even though it was obvious there was no need for me to feel so insecure when I knew what should be done. Nonetheless, I instinctively shook my head, averting my eyes from his sincere ones without giving it much thought. Without considering how his gentleness was a hint that my beliefs must have been incorrect.

"... no?" — He asked, making my ears tickle as his sound felt depressed in its softness and his fingers played cautiously with mine, sharing my anxiety at the inquiry. — "Then... when can we?"

We kept silent... for he wanted an answer I could not give as fast as I wished I could. I looked around, seeing the knights looking away yet probably aware of his every word, and I shut my eyes, regretful of denying the request but too late to go back on it.

Hence, I had to take my stack out. My post-it notes so he would not feel ignored... and so, I wrote.

[ I have arrived late, therefore, if we do not enter soon, worry will invade those with whom I came to the palace. ]

"Oh... so that is the reason..." — He accepted, still poor in energy. — "If so... let us go inside. Yet once there may we..."

"..."

"At our place..."

My nod was slow only because of the shiver his timid request ignited. I felt a foolish void disappear to think I was afraid of meeting him again... Like a puppy... like a child... so humble and respectful not to aggravate me, he was asking for a moment for us to talk. Probably about what I also needed to address and even if it wasn’t the same matter, there was a visible wish in his stare that wanted to solve an issue, not to forcefully end one.

I cannot really recall how our path down the stairs and through the doors was. I know we were quiet. The voice announcing us was prominent and yet fuzzy to my senses. All I managed to concentrate on, was the comfortable sensation my arm experienced while supporting itself in his... The touch and warmth, so different to Clemente’s, to Father’s, to any of my loyal knights... manly in a way that invited my soul to simply relish in its toughness, wishing to lean on him instead of having him lead the way.

’I... I think I missed him more than I thought...’ — As we made our way to the Emperors I acknowledged. Catching a glimpse of those I knew while feeling turmoil rise stronger in my heart.