You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 53 — The Duke’s Two Days... And a Displeasing Letter.

What she did after drawing his attention, took him by surprise.

Marianne did something that the Duke did not expect to see at this point in life.

The girl, who seemed so mature and passive, made a blunt request for a compliment on her appearance.

Graceful and elegant as always, she took her skirt into her fingers, always so delicate, and made a smooth turn in the spot she stood. Showing off her beautiful dress, her loose hair seemed to have a little crown on top thanks to the waterfall braids, meticulously shaped, decorating her head.

As she moved, a weird thought crossed his mind.

’...It’s as if the world was made to enhance my child’s beauty...’

The sounds and the season, the light and the scents, everything was making her beam strongly. The dull expression almost did not matter. Her lovely soul was emanating her true beauty through her actions.

Entranced by the happy emotions the view of her gave him, time continued to pass while he stared at her.

Only when the girl tilted her head almost unnoticeably, did he come back to his senses.

Feeling silly about how skillfully his daughter made him lose focus with her mesmerising existence, Orland could only laugh at how pleasing it felt to see his child glow with life. The extent of how a fool of a father he became every time he sees Marianne, made him incredulous.

A shy but playful attitude, just like the one she had more than ten years ago, had finally come back, and, just like back then... he would respond with utmost seriousness to the request she made, giving her a smile he had not used since then.

"You look extremely beautiful Dear... my daughter is prettier than the ancient crystal flowers and their guardian fairies... It is a delight to witness your beauty, my child."

From the bottom of his heart, the praise he wanted to tell to his daughter for the longest time, was said.

Ancient crystal flowers were treasured by all gods and the world’s beings. Their beauty and pure composition were ones that could cure the aching soul of ailing gods and show a marvellous emotion in their spectators, wrapping them in a gorgeous and entrancing view.

Along with their guardians, their whereabouts became a legendary spot where the beauty of the universe would converse. The flowers would appear like stars under the protective glow the fairies wreathed them in, changing with the light of the sun or the moon, who would watch over the beautiful flowers bloom every Bloomcrown season.

Even to Orland, the compliment felt like it was not enough to convey his thoughts. The Pulchra Flore’s Lost Garden... just like its name told, was long lost. The sayings of its beauty had been handed down for thousands of years, the Duke could only imagine how marvellous such a place was from the tales and songs minstrels would sing. Therefore, the picture he painted on his head, was clearly surpassed by the beauty of his current sights.

’This is a problem... my child is too beautiful... how can I give a befitting appreciation to my lovely daughter...?’

While still doing a gracious reverence, a foolish thought crossed his mind once again. The troubles of a doting father were starting to increase as more time he spent with Marianne.

Noticing that now, his child was walking around him, Orland was perplexed at her continuous actions and how she was inspecting him with sharp eyes in the meantime. When she went back to place herself in front of him again, she clapped in a proud stance.

Unsure of the real meaning behind it, the Duke asked, not able to believe that she was now praising his outfit.

"Uh... I look... good?"

The energetic nod that followed his question, surprised him in a pleasant way. Feeling embarrassed by the overwhelming joy this gave him, an overly polite "thank you" was given to Marianne as he tried to conceal his smile behind his folded fist.

Glancing in shyness, he observed how the girl looked around them and, assuming it was time to inform her about the departure, he offered his arm to the young girl. Readily accepting his escorting, the girl made him truly happy.

Her lack of hesitation gave him some confidence, and then, Orland proceeded to tell the reason for the others’ absence.

"Dear, I sent your siblings and your mother ahead of us. Since you weren’t feeling well the second day... I thought it would be better for you to rest a bit more before leaving since last night must have tired you out once again... I didn’t want to send you alone... so I stayed behind to keep you company."

"..."

The subsequent silence made him feel diffident in an instant.

’’Does she... hate the idea?’

There was no reason to feel that way since his daughter has lost her voice. However, the firm eyes that were looking at him made him insecure, causing negative thoughts to hunt his mind.

"... Is that... alright with you...?"

He was holding his heart in one hand as he asked this. Even though their relationship had improved, he was unsure about how far he could go.

Before his mind began to infer Marianne’s thoughts wrongly. She squeezed his arm softly, lovingly, and closed her eyes, as if saying "I understand", "it is alright".

Breathing again, the duke accepted her gesture, clearing the doubts about to be born in him thanks to the fear of making a mistake. Relieved, they started to walk to the waiting carriage after announcing their return to their home.

Orland felt elated at how their meeting was going. His daughter was always kind but now she was also showing a hint of affection in her actions.

She appeased every type of concern with her lovely gestures and her attitude wasn’t cold towards him like before.

’My daughter is my bliss... She is the Princess reigning this father’s heart...’

He felt joyous seeing her change, and when the time to help his daughter board the carriage came, he said playfully in a fancy reverence.

"Please, let this humble server help the beautiful Princess."

Raising his head slightly, he watched how Marianne bowed to him in appreciation, catching an unbelievable sight.

Her always dull expression had softened and her lips which had never changed their form, were now slightly, faintly, drawing what appeared to be a smile.

Orland was not able to breathe for a moment. His heart had completely halted its beating, and, astonished by the scene, his eyes were the only ones to react, following his daughter’s figure getting inside the carriage, disappearing.

His eyes wandered baffled, only to fall on his still unfolded hand... the one he had just helped her with.

’...Did...... did I see that right...?’

His throat began to close as an overwhelming emotion came over him.

’... Please... please, God... let it be real........ Don’t let those sights..... be a cruel play of this tired man’s head... I beg you...’

Closing his eyes and holding his hand close to his chest, he begged whichever god willing to listen to his prayers.

Holding back the tears that quickly began to accumulate in his eyes, he bit the inside of his lower lip, containing his exploding emotion.

His breathing trembled as he composed himself.

’...Now...Now is not the time...... She is waiting.’

Determined, he boarded the carriage putting a stop to the lost time.

*******

During the ride, Orland could not take his eyes off of his daughter. Her emotionless visage was without change and it caused him to doubt the previous image he saw.

Different emotions were invading his heart, invoking a feeling of restlessness and pain. At some point, the fact that Marianne kept watching outside the window sank in and made him turn to see what she looked at so intently.

The boring sights of the capital were met, and, after a few meters of travel, his eyes found a familiar place.

"... that... There used to be a toy shop on that spot..."

Without much thought, he blurted out, pointing at the shop.

A pastry shop that once was a toy shop.

In that same toy shop, he would bring his children to choose their manufactured toys and, from time to time, he would choose one himself as a gift to his offspring.

The image of the beaming smile his children displayed when they visited the shop... sent a throb to his heart.

’My children are all grown up now........ I wish I had bought more toys for Marianne... though, the ones I bought her are still... in the keep.’

Glancing at her as he thought about the locked toys, he noticed the glint in Marianne’s eyes. Driven by his impulses, he suggested purchasing some pastries.

Her immediate and energetic approval avoided the regret he would feel if she took longer. Therefore her prompt response only mustered a placid smile on his countenance.

Deep down, the desire to go into a shop with his daughter and see her excited about the items, was what provoked the idea.

His hope would never fade now. Even if what he saw before was a trick of his ageing mind...

’... I won’t let that sight go...’

In an instant, while he closed his eyes to have these thoughts after telling the coachman to halt the moving carriage, the sound of the door opening got to his ears.

Opening them in surprise to the fast service the coachman was giving, his eyes saw the afterimage of Marianne’s dress getting out of the almost stopped carriage, making them go round in shock and amusement.

An incredulous sigh left him, leaving a grin on his expression.

The shopping was an unbelievable experience for the Duke.

From the moment Marianne left the carriage, she conveyed her excitement.

Her shining eyes as she looked through the pastries, and how her body emitted happy vibes, were adorable to witness.

How now, in place of her brother, she would go around the shop with him... and even ask for him to select a confectionery that he wanted... made him confused on how to react, sorry for not letting her buy the one with plums and too eager to keep pleasing her.

’... I should start searching for a good shop... Maybe for her next birthday...’

Therefore, the plan for a big gift... began to be crafted.