You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 673

I turned to meet his eyes. Shining bright while paying attention to my hums as if our practices had come back... so I stopped humming the melody... and sang inside. Done and overwhelmed to have him appear like that. — ’I have fallen so badly..... The letters you wrote me cast a spell and bewitched my heart, Zeleskiaz...’

This time the concert was requested by the man who had once intruded on a foolish lonely one. And unlike at that time in spring, I would not avert my gaze from his attentive stare tonight.

"Was that alright?"

"..."

"Well, now... has his highness lost his voice?"

"... I was just thinking that your sound and smile are as mystic as ever..." — His hand that had lost the gloves held my chin up as I wanted to look more into his eyes, calling me again as I shied away and took off the mask so I could see the same blush I wanted to hide in him. — "My Lady... I once hid behind a mask to force some closeness to you. I stole your lips... after hearing you hum an unknown piece."

"Haha... right... It happened like that..."

"I later grew attached and concerned... I grew anxious to steal you again. I lost my mind thinking about you who were mute and yet said so much with a mere glance... just as you do now..." — Leaving me breathless he stared into my eyes, honest while a hint of nervousness could be found in his caress. And then, his cloak was dismissed, taking from within what it was meant to hide.

One flower, a rose... and a delicate handkerchief to hold its stem. The accessory I have given as a gift was decorating the left side of his chest and given the look in his eye, I knew I should not talk to properly hear him out.

"... I have requested permission over and over, your dances I demanded and I have promised to always hold your hand... I have been told that roses... are to be given to the sole one..."

"..."

"For they symbolise... love..." — Caressing the petals with his hand, the eyes that were looking at the flower met mine, intense and determined even as breath was lost in his last word.

"..."

"Also mysticism they own... You are what this rose symbolises to me, my lady..... A mystic being... The love my soul and heart is now devoted to for eternity." — The step closer he gave and the hand taking mine while such a flower was kept to his chest made me shiver in thrill at what was happening. Yet I could only listen... as if mute again. Delightfully so, for this confession needed nothing but his voice. — "Even as this rose withers, pay no mind to it for this love I talk about does not reside in it but in my core. Once its petals fall and it loses’s peak of beauty, think of it as them returning to where this love resides. For it will not wither. For it will only grow as it marks the present and the beginning of the future I want to always love you in, my lady..."

"..."

"Allow this delicate hand to take this rose... please... my love..."

The wait you made me have today... I forgive it, love...

*******

Taking the rose preciously, she took it to her chest, overwhelmed by the emotions the man had provoked. Stiffened and confused at what to do even though their bodies knew the grazes they desired... no word was able to come out from the woman’s mouth.

What he had thought all day today did not come out as neatly as planned. Nervous he became at the beauty he was against and fear was now invading him as no reply came from the lady and even his sound seemed to fail when conveying it

’Please... let me hear it too, my love...’ — He thought, impatient to hear her dulcet mouthpiece bless his devotion.

"... Love..."

"?!"

"This rose, you cannot retrieve it... I will witness how it withers for it is now a promise between us..." — She answered him, on the verge of moved tears with lovely seduction.

"Yes... It could not be in any other way, my love..." — He smiled, joining her bashful stance.

The lips were impatient to seal this pact, yet the couple fretted ignorant of the appropriate time to do so... the crown prince however was ready to make the gamble, inadvertently being stopped when he was about to step up by the bewildered woman.

"Y-your highness— I mean... Zeleskiaz..."

"Yes... Marianne...?" — Wanting to reciprocate the closeness she wanted to set with their names, he answered timidly but excitedly. Being glimpsed by the woman so bashfully innocent that his heart struggled.

"... I also... love you... deeply so... that I do not know what to do with these feelings filling my being..."

"..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"What you said, left me delightfully helpless... the joy is paralysing me..... So..." — Ashamed, her hand, which was holding his, managed to squeeze it desperately in plea. Closing her eyes impatient to end the misery her joy unexpectedly put her through. — "Please... please, my love..."

His fingers tangled with hers. His body moved as the woman implored... and sharing a trembling breath, her tear fell once a passionate seal that did not know when nor how it should end.

"My love... *smooch* oh love..." — As overwhelmed, Zeleskiaz kissed her releasing these gasps in the end. Overjoyed as their love was officially professed.

The time was the indicated. Finally, the lovers could indulge in the love they held for each other openly... only one proposal would suffice for their bond to be celebrated in a royal wedding... yet the days remaining would not suffice for them to achieve it.

The eye above the palace, with its owner in its sight had strengthened its view. And although the witch could not clearly hear or see what the chambers of the ninth concealed with the protection of Fenrir and Calla... she still understood staying low could not continue.

"... a shame... she refused to step aside." — She mumbled. — "Be prepared, the sick will grow, tell your men to move and hold their place."

"... Does that mean, the peaceful way failed?" — Niccolò, entertained, asked while the accomplices remained stoic.

"It was never peaceful in the first place."

"Hrm... indeed... I still hope to get the Ninth for myself to enjoy, however. Do not kill her, yes? Won’t you consider it, witch?"

"There is nothing to consider. Her death is a must... from the 29th on... she shall learn there was never true hope for her existence."

"Oh... What a pity... truly evil you are, witch. A little distasteful it is when I think of how beautiful she is."

"Your kingdom wanted strength and I have given it to them... Also, call me a witch again... and I will feed off your bones to end your people with your blood."

"Ouf~ I understand. I understand~ You are scary when angered... Lady Karina."