You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 50

The Duke had a pleased smile as he finished telling the story behind the Sylfinnier’s Household.

It was truly a wonderful story. The knight did not desire more than the well being of his loved ones and acted in accordance with his wishes, with honour and allegiance. Somehow, I felt like the story was so noble, it actually was like a fairy tale.

He was certainly what a real knight must be. For me who has read so many things in my past life... Hearing someone tell the story made it more enjoyable. Even though it was cliched on the teachings of what a real knight should be... It wasn’t at all boring. If I’m honest, it was actually exciting. When the Duke recited the words the knight told the First Emperor... It was mindblowing. Just like a child admires superheroes, I think I admire that knight too.

"What do you think of our ancestor? Isn’t he impressive?"

’Yeah~! He’s cool!!’

Nodding with newly gained energy, I tried to show my excitement to the inspiring spirit the knight had. However, Marianne’s father paid more attention to something else in my reaction.

"...Your tears finally stopped... thank God..."

Bringing his hand to my cheek, he brushed it and pinched it slightly with a pair of his fingers knuckles, displaying a playful expression.

’... I didn’t even notice I wasn’t crying anymore...’

Straightening up again in his seat he continued.

"...Although that is the story behind our household existence... most people have forgotten about it. Only royalty, who have the duty of knowing their Empire’s history, know such details aside from the family in question... When I learned how we got our name and the man who inspired it... I felt elated to know such a great man was who started our bloodline.

He had great morals and unyielding will, his actions helped not only his family, but the whole nation, attain the desired peace the continent deserved."

"..."

’... that’s so true...’

"... Did you know?..."

Leaning towards me, he whispered, as if now a secret was going to be revealed.

I found it so exciting that, unknowingly, I moved my head closer, blinking my eyes in expectation.

’W-What?’

"... Our grey eyes... are said to be a trait of the wandering knight." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’... No way... Really!?’

I opened my eyes as widely as I could in amusement. How cool is it to have a trait that came from such a wonderful man!

’Anne! Did you hear that!?’

"Also..."

’There’s more!?’

"In the last generations, this trait is only passed to one of the household children, making it even more unique."

Arching his eyebrow, he proudly announced, how our eye colour, was such a special occurrence.

’Woooah... Anne! Have you heard that?! We are awesome! We won the genetic lottery ticket!’

I squeezed his hand to show my excitement.

"Hahaha... I know... ahem... between you and me... our eye colour wouldn’t suit your siblings... so, isn’t it a relief we got them?"

’I know! Those two not only are ugly outside but also on the inside! They don’t deserve such privilege, Sir! Our Sir Knight would twist in his grave if they had it, I tell ya!!!’

I nodded profusely to his statement. I couldn’t be more in agreement with his words.

Marianne’s father stared at me with a kind gaze for a few seconds. His hands holding mine, with no intention of letting go.

’Hmm... what is he thinking now?’

"... Marianne... are you not hungry?"

’Ah... now that he mentions it... I’m starving.’

"... You’ve been... sleeping, for a while now."

’Yeah... I guess I missed dinner, seeing how it’s late night right now...’

"You must be hungry after sleeping for over a day..."

"..."

’...A day?’

’So, you are telling me I missed one, two, four... five whole meals?!... I didn’t even try the other pastry we were eating at your office!.... Sir!’

"I will ask for something to be brought, alright? You need to eat something."

"..."

’Yeah... okay...’

I looked him in the eye for a moment before agreeing.

Somehow... I got the feeling he was begging me to accept the food. His eyes seemed to be wavering as he waited for my characteristic nod.

’...This man must be a worrywart.’

"... Alright..."

Lifting his hand to reach for the bell on my night table, he rang it thrice, gracefully swaying his wrist.

My personal maid came into the room immediately after. She gave two steps inside after closing the door carefully behind her, in complete silence.

"... How may I serve you, Your Grace."

From where I was, I could see the maid lowering her head as she spoke. However, I wasn’t able to see the expression on her face. The light of the candle didn’t reach her spot, so... she actually looked kind of scary in the dark...

’... girl... you look spooky~’

The Duke placed back the bell on the table and calmly said with an authoritative tone, worthy of his Title.

"Bring some light food, one that is easy to digest. Also, prepare the herbal tea I told you to prepare before."

"..."

"Paige."

"...! M-My apologies, my Lord. I..."

"... It’s alright. Look over here."

"...Y-Yes...?...Gasp...! My! My Lady!!"

The maid lifted her head slowly and with hesitation, and once she looked our way, she brought her hands to her face in surprise. She exclaimed in a broken voice as she caught my gaze, with pure joy.

She gave a few steps more, closing the distance between us, but still in a range that showed respect to us, her masters.

Her eyes had a dark shadow underneath, and a light red remained in her eye corners and nose.

’... This girl cried.’

Staring at me for a moment, she hid her face and said, struggling to contain her voice.

"M-Miss... thank God... my Lady has woken up...sob..."

"..."

The girl was clearly crying now. Even though I felt bad seeing her shoulders tremble as she held back her hiccups... I felt strangely moved by her tears.

I watched her from my bed and realised that the Duke, said a name I have been wanting to know from the very first day I got here.

’Her name is Paige...’

I sincerely smiled inside. The young maid’s name was truly adorable, it fitted her whole being, like a piece of a puzzle. And, more importantly, seeing how my body was reacting to her crying... made me realise that there was one more person in this Castle that Marianne held dear in her heart.

Distress and an apologising feeling were invading my chest. I could tell that these emotions were Marianne’s, not mine.

I don’t know how their relationship was before I came here, but I get the feeling that, even though my girl can not display any emotion on the outside... she accumulated the good ones in her heart.

This maid... Paige... held possession of a big amount of those.

More than happy, I felt grateful.

Knowing that Anne wasn’t surrounded by bad people all the time, gave me a big relief. And, now that I confirmed this one person was still loved by her... I have more reasons to like her too.

After a few seconds, Paige calmed herself down forcefully. The words that followed her long breath, were quavering and hiccups interrupted her every word. Just like a child who tried to hold their crying inside them.

"Hip... Th-then! I! Hic... will bri- hic! Bring... hup! Hic! My Lady a..! Like... my Lord instructed... Hiccup!"

’Oh my...’

Now the tears she was holding back... were also out of shame.

’I would cry too... it’s funny to see, but not to experience..... She IS quite old to be acting like this...’

I sympathise with her embarrassment, but...

’Pffft!! Paige! I’m sorry but! ....!! Pff...!’

I am not serious enough to not laugh at such a scene. It also didn’t help, recalling how she cried the other day.

’OH MY GOD!!! The snot!!! Pffff!! AAAH!! AHAHAHAAAHAH!’

To avoid a dangerous fluke, I decided to look the other way. The possibility of showing the first real expression on the outside, as insane laughter, was not an option. Marianne has her image to keep and... I also have some dignity I want to protect.

’Fuuuu... I have to calm down...My laugh was really something in my past life... in a crazy way...’

Since I don’t know if my way of laughing or facial expressions will replicate the ones I’ve always made...

’... Let’s not risk our reputation like this... I want to live longer this time...and hopefully not in shame.’

Averting my eyes, I turned to the Duke. He had such a calm expression that I almost felt admiration for his great resistance. But, then... I saw it.

The corner of his mouth was twitching in a thin line, trying to hold his laugh inside.

’Sir! Pfffffft!!! You can’t!!!!’

Thankfully, my expressionless face was as dull as ever, and, after closing my eyes to not see the hilarious scene for longer, I heard the rushed steps Paige gave while running away from the awkward silence we purposely made.

"Ahem! Cough... Mhmm... Uhm. Paige did not rest ever since you fell asleep....... She was very concerned about your health....."

The Duke began to speak with a little difficulty and in the few last seconds he took before continuing, his expression turned soft again and his tone was unwavering as he told his thoughts to me.

"Seeing how relieved she is of your awakening... I became aware that she is very fond of you. I am very glad to know you have someone like her serving you... I am glad I assigned her as your personal maid back then. "

This last sentence was said as he looked at the closed door with a satisfied gaze.

I watched his profile in awe of his words. Even though I knew the Duke was a good person, his high position was one where you would assume that, after seeing a maid act that way, he would talk badly about it and reproach her lack of manners or awareness.

Yet, on the contrary, he indirectly excused her actions and, not minding her lack of composure, he even said how happy he is about her being the one in my care.

’... I don’t know when "back then" was, but, you made a good decision, Sir.’

With a grateful expression on the inside, I told this to the Duke, transmitting not only my opinion but Marianne’s too.