You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 45 — Tiny Bliss.

For a reason I did not know, the Duke was in a very good mood.

I felt a bit nervous seeing how he assumed I knew what was going on... when I actually didn’t.

Still, thanks to our body’s limitations, he wouldn’t know that was the case.

’Heh... How convenient...’ — On the inside, I smirked at the irony.

"Let’s take a seat first."

Inviting me with his hand, the Duke said as he pointed to the couch in front of him.

Following his offer, I walked over to take a seat, wondering what was it that had arrived that made him so excited.

"Thomas, bring it here."

As soon as I sat down, the Duke ordered without losing a moment to bring in whatever he wanted me to see. The Butler was the only servant in our presence so, obviously, he was the one to receive the order.

’Oh~ So the Butler’s name is Thomas...’

Thanks to this short interaction, I acquired useful information. I had been wondering what the Butler’s name was for a while now.

Surprisingly, the name suited his appearance.

’He indeed has a Thomas kind of face...’

"..." — I took a second to reflect on what I just thought, incredulous at how nonsensical it was.

’Uh... What even...?... Sigh, never mind that. The name just doesn’t feel awkward for him.’

Mister Thomas left immediately after bowing his head to the Duke’s order, smoothly disappearing behind the office’s door, seemingly aware that his Lord had asked for it to be brought in hast.

Without taking a seat, the Duke kept standing the whole time in front of his desk.

I felt a bit odd being the only one seating while his figure peeked out from the side of my sight.

For some reason, our positions made me recall my younger days when I received sermons from my mother who would seat me down, and, as I got the reprimand, I would avoid to look her way, trying to show repentance about whatever I had done wrong.

’Hmm... I wasn’t that bad as a child though... she just liked lecturing me... that mother of mine, so strict... haaa...’

I got tired just by remembering those times.

But... I’ve done nothing wrong here. So, I’m getting curious to know what...

"Here is the item, Your Grace."

’Oh!’

Thomas came back very quickly.

With the help of another servant who opened the door for him, the Butler entered the office, and as soon as I saw the lengthy box he brought with him, I knew exactly what it was that had arrived.

"It arrived this morning." — Moving to the Butler’s side, the Duke said with a pleased smile.

Then, removing the box’s cover, the Duke showed me the insides of the box.

What I had asked for when I first visited him was inside it, laying on a silky cream coloured cloth, beautifully arranged.

"It took longer to make since the scale of the paper you asked for is not common. They had to make it from scratch to match the size you had requested."

Without taking my eyes off of the box, I felt ecstatic to see my request materialized in front of me that I almost ignored what he was telling me.

"... Go on sweetie, take a look at it."

As the Duke suggested, I lifted my hands, reaching for the item.

It was a kind of a mix between a portable canvas and a sketchbook.

The portable canvas had met my specifications perfectly. The size was forty inches long by sixteen inches wide. The same measures were applied to the paper’s size.

A thin rectangular wooden plaque had the mountain of papers attached to it by leather threads at the larger upper edge. Through six perforated tiny holes, separated by an equal distance, three leather strings tied the papers to the plaque, each assigned to a pair of holes. On the right upper corner, a little box was attached to the plaque at a 45° angle. The box contained an ink bottle and at the corner of the box, a little space was left to place the quill there.

This kind of item did not exist here. And neither in my past life if we take into account the design, the size and some other details.

It isn’t something that one would be able to buy as a mass-produced item back there, but it isn’t something difficult to conceive or create either.

Basically, I took the idea from those clipboards they would sell in the office supplies section.

However, I personalized it so it could be more functional and fit my purpose of use, given that in a medieval era we don’t have pens like the ones in modern times, and a notebook is too small for what I wanted to do with it, this design was thought to ve more practical.

When the Duke said it was something we could use for business, he must have thought of making it smaller, just like a normal clipboard. Writing like this is easier for people who usually work as secretaries or merchants since they don’t need to take a seat to take notes if they have one of these.

"..."

Bringing my attention back to the canvas, I smiled on the inside as I placed it on my lap, observing it with delight.

’This is the equipment I asked for to practice my old hobby.’

Touching the unsophisticated terminations, the texture of the paper and seeing its colour, made me feel calm.

Imagining the drawings I would get to draw on these pages made me feel elated.

’... I love sketching sceneries...’

Thankfully, this world had sceneries that I would never get to see in my old world. So, just thinking about portraying their beauty with my own hands, made me feel extremely blessed.

I kept on staring at the canvas, and once I felt it was already enough, my gaze fell on the expecting Duke.

Taking the canvas’s quill in my hand I dipped it in the ink and wrote in the right lower corner of the first page.

[Thank you, Father.

Once I have used it, I will make sure to show it to you first.]

Guessing that the Duke had not figured out the purpose for this canvas yet, I thought that showing him would be more appropriate.

Also...

’As a token of gratitude, he should be the one to own the very first one I make.’

Sliding the canvas in my lap a bit in his direction, I showed the message to the Duke. He came closer and once he read it, a smile in approval arose as he nodded satisfied, and then, expressed his anticipation to see it.

"It is my pleasure, dear. I will be waiting to see what you use this for."

His eyes were shining brighter. I didn’t know why, but he seemed delighted by my promise. Maybe that is just how fathers are.

Still standing a few steps away from me, the Duke was looking at the canvas intently.

’... Did he not take a good look before handing it to me?’

With this thought in mind, I waved my hand at him and patted the empty space next to me, giving a sign for him to take a seat and examine it as much as he wanted.

The Duke hesitated for a moment, but seeing my persistent eyes, he sat down shortly after.

I handed the canvas to him.

"Ah... Then... excuse me..."

Placing it on his lap he began to inspect it, taking a good look at the materials it was made of.

Moments later he added.

"This design... you have good ideas, Marianne... I hope you enjoy using this."

He gave it back to me, carefully, and watched how I placed it back into the box.

"... Thomas... Bring it to her room."

Instructing the Butler, the Duke lifted his hand gracefully.

Abiding by his Master’s orders, the Butler organized the box and took it in his hand, opening the door with the other. However, he did not leave and waited there. Moments later I understood why he did it as he called for me.

"...M-My lady..?"

’Ah... is he waiting for me to leave too?’

Since I haven’t told the Duke that I wanted to have tea with him, he must have assumed that I would leave right after getting the canvas...

’Naive!’

Without moving an inch from my spot, I turned my head to the Duke.

"... Marianne? Is there something wrong?...... Could it be... are you not feeling well?"

’...Haa... why would he jump to that conclusion? Can’t I just stay here because I freaking want to eat that d*mn pastry???! Am I ill just ’cause I’m not leaving??... For god’s sake...’

Sighing heavily, my inner self was frustrated by how he interpreted my behaviour. The fact that the possibility of me wanting to stay there for longer didn’t even cross his mind, made me quite upset.

’I’m not someone who would just interact with him only to get what I want and leave right after. I hope he really is just dense because if he’s not... I’ll seriously get mad at this old man...’

Asking my patience to hang in there, with my hands, I mimicked the act of lifting a cup of tea.

’... This should be good enough for him to notice...’

Watching the movements of my hands he seemed lost for a moment. Nonetheless, the Duke did not fail to understand their meaning.

"...! Oh Dear... Yes, let’s have some tea together."

I nodded to his reply, pleased that he was quick on the uptake. He is a Duke, for crying out loud, how could he not get such an obvious clue?

"Thomas." — Sending a glance at the Butler, the Duke gave the order with a slight movement of his head, and after a short silence, he added as he turn to me. — "... I am sorry, Marianne. I thought you must be exhausted after coming back from the Royal Palace, so I did not want you to overexert yourself by keeping me company..."

"..."

I stared at his sorry expression for a bit. Knowing that he did not have the wrong idea about me and that all of this was because of his thoughtful nature, was enough to make me forget my upset mood.

’... You narrowly escaped my rage, Sir.’

Right after I told him this, with a pouting face, in my head, he continued to say something else with a hushed tone.

"... I’m happy... you want to stay longer..."

I kept staring at him in silence. I can’t understand why he acts this way occasionally, but somehow... I get the feeling that even if I could ask about it... I shouldn’t actually do it.

Though, I also don’t want to do it.

’... Ugh... it just seems so troublesome...’

While I felt a little bad about my lack of concern for the neighbour, I averted my eyes from him in remorse.

Thankfully, I’m not rotten enough for my conscience to be unable to feel shame for such egoistic thoughts.

Remembering how well the Duke has treated me and the way Marianne’s body emitted her displeasure to the comment I said, only enhanced my awareness about it. Making me feel even worse towards him.

’... Sigh... alright... I’ll make sure to pay more attention to the Duke... He’s a good man after all...’

Even if it appears to sound unwilling... Deep inside I want to do so.

Although I don’t know if I’ll do it well... I want to care for the Duke just as the real Marianne would.