You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 54

They peacefully continued their journey to the Sylfinnier’s Castle. From time to time the Duke would show interesting places to Marianne, things that would pick her interest and made her pay attention to what was outside.

Orland felt delighted to see how her eyes blinked as they took in the sights. Innocent and pure, the eyes would stare intently at every little thing.

The closer the got to the Duchy the less energetic she became. Seeing how It ended in her fighting against sleepiness, the way she began to doze off, invoked those memories from a far past. The clear image of her small body trying to stay awake, seated on the couch of his office, waiting for the time when he would ask Thomas for the vanilla cookies she liked was displayed in his head, causing loneliness to arise as the precious memory faded.

As a reflex action the words he would always say to her... came out.

"Sweet child, you may go to sleep...."

Surprised at how the sentence came out without warning, his voice started to fade even though the sentence was said softly... Just as he used to do before. Looking at the girl, whose eyelids refused to meet, he watched in nervousness how she slowly shook her head.

The same scene he used to see a long time ago... was replaying itself in front of him, with a grown-up child.

’... She... I thought she had forgotten... She was very young then... yet... She’s still the same...’

He felt melancholic at the little memories she had left in him. All lovely and happy, those memories were what kept him hopeful through the years.

’Even now... when she still hasn’t completely come back. She keeps giving me precious memories... my child... my baby... you are the greatest source of my happiness... my lovely aching bird....’

He kept his eyes on her, dearly watching her fight the persistent closing of her eyelids.

Marianne did not lose to the drowsiness, and once they arrived at the Duchy, they separated at the main Hall.

Orland watched her go up the long stairs, smiling at how carefully every step she took reached the next staircase. The times when he would hold her in his arms because, if not, she would trip on every step half asleep, were flashing in his head.

’... Hmm... she’s still sleepy... but thankfully, she’s careful not to fall.’

Once she disappeared into the corridor, he went to his office.

The accumulated work from the last few days must be quickly revised and so, he began going through a mountain of papers awaiting him at his desk.

The Duke, blinded by the duties he had to attend to, stopped the Butler from reporting "everything" before he could take a look at the ongoing affairs.

Orland liked to be updated about the "formal" information, before receiving the "backstage" information. This way he could develop a better approach to the matters that involved the other nobles under his management and political measures that pertained to the improvement of the Duchy’s territory.

Also, that "backstage" information, did not only entail matters of the Duchy.

’That bloody Francois... he even has me in charge of the Umbra Quadrigis. He avoids meeting me on his own, but trusts me enough to leave those trained brats in my care.......... I guess I didn’t hit him enough...’

Thinking about the information the Umbra Quadrigis had to report, sent a pang to his head. Thus, Orland began going through the "pacific" formal documents first, ever since the management of such issues was entrusted to him.

A few hours had passed and at some point, the Butler interrupted his concentration.

Thomas had been pondering with uneasiness if it was truly alright to report "everything" later. One thing he was sure about, was that one of the reports he had to make was of further importance than the others and all the awaiting documents.

"Ahem... My Lord, please excuse my defiance. However, I ought to inform you of a matter Your Grace founds of utmost primacy..."

His brows drew together. It was unprecedented for Thomas to judge over what he found of "utmost primacy", so he wondered about what kind of issue had occurred in his absence.

"... What is it."

"... Today the item Young Lady Marianne asked for arrived at the manor, Your Grace. I have inspected the item and it meets the specifications you had–"

Thud.

"Thomas... You should have told me as soon as I arrived."

Standing from his seat, the Duke sent a displeased glare at the humble Butler.

"... I apologise for my shortcomings, My Lord."

Even though Thomas said this with a calm expression...

’Master, I just followed your orders....... Although I understand, given that this involves the little Miss....’

Noticing that his long right hand surrendered after a short pause, Orland reflected on his attitude.

He was a good Master, patient and kind towards his servants, but also of admirable presence. The Duke would never be unfair or disrespect the ones who served him. He was very human and knew well that he did not have any right to treat others badly. Whenever Thomas made a short silence before replying with his usual composure... it always meant that he was being humble towards his Master.

"... No. It is fine. You only did as you were told... From now on, even if I don’t request it, inform any report you deem as important immediately...... I believe you comprehend that this only applies to matters that concern my children."

"Yes, My Lord. I will act accordingly to your new instructions." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"..."

"Then, the item..."

"... Go get my daughter... She should be the one to see if it’s to her liking."

With a warm smile as he thought of how happy she would be, he asked the Butler to summon Marianne to his office.

"Understood. Should I prepare some refreshments for her visit?"

"...No... She was tired... I should let her go after handing it to her... Ah... That’s right. The small one I asked for, tell someone else to bring it to me on the way out... You can go now, Thomas."

Resigned to not spending much time with his daughter as he wished, Orland said to himself.

’I shouldn’t ask for more today... I shouldn’t be greedy. My child is slowly opening up to me. This much is enough for now.’

Not many minutes passed by before the knock announcing Marianne’s arrival was heard.

Expectant to give the item his daughter had asked for the first time, Orland stood up as he told the butler to come in.

Telling his daughter to come inside and take a seat, the Duke went straight to the point, quickly asking Thomas to bring the item so that Marianne could take a look at it.

He was anxious to see, not only her reaction but also, what the item looked like in reality. The specifications were all written, and no object design in a drawing was given. So merely leaning on his lacking imagination, a vague idea of how it looked like was hardly made in his head.

Fidgeting around in anticipation, he forgot to take a seat and nervously glanced at Marianne from time to time. As soon as Thomas came back he showed the object to his daughter.

Her expression was dead, but the eyes that looked at the strange object, touching it preciously with delicate hands, were the most brilliant he has seen in a long time. Just as brilliant as the ones she made when the butterfly took a rest on his shoulder... the eyes were shining with joy.

’Ah... Is she... Is she really happy?... Did... Will... will her eyes keep getting brighter like this?...... Some day... will that happiness take form in a real smile...?’

The prospect of seeing her express happiness in other ways began to build inside him. For some reason, he lited in a corner of his mind the belief that such hopes, might now become true in a near future.

After a while of staring at the item, Marianne glanced at the Duke to quickly turn back to the object. Taking into her hand the beautiful quill, she leaned over to write a note on a corner of the page at the top.

[Thank you, Father.

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

Orland was very relieved that she seemed satisfied with the item, but what caught more of his attention was the promise to show what she would do with it to him first.

Such a thing made him feel special. The Duke could not visualize what she would do with those big pages.

The paper was of a common material, nothing special could be made with them. The only thing he knew she could do was to take it around with her.

But whatever it was she planned to do... he felt privileged to be the first one to see it.

He answered delightedly, even triumphant to get a promise from his lovely daughter.

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

Saying those words, Orland sealed the promise.

Now, as he observed from his spot the intriguing object laying on her lap, he wondered if now it was time to let his daughter go back to her quarters.

However, the thought quickly was left behind after seeing her make signals for him to take a seat beside her.

Thanks to her tenacious gaze, Orland overcame his hesitation. Although he still felt confused, when she handed the item she had designed to him, he understood what she wanted to do when she called him closer.

Mesmerised with how odd but harmonious the design was, the Duke was amused by his child. It wasn’t like the object was one that had much science behind its design. It was merely a very simple union of things that already existed, arranged in a shape yet to be seen, which made it innovative.

He praised her promising idea and gave it back to her after finishing his thorough examination. Seeing how she put it back into the box it came in, he instructed Thomas to bring it to her bedroom, assuming that, with this, her visit was over.

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

Nonetheless, after Thomas asked in confusion for her stillness, the unmoving girl turned her head to look at the Duke.

Somehow, the vibe she gave, told him she wouldn’t leave.

His foolish mind did not let him follow the idea his heart told him, and, eventually, he got to learn that... sometimes the beliefs of his heart were the right ones.

After blurting the idea his head gave, asking about her well-being, the lesson was learned with her response. And so, crossing out the idea of her discomfort, he declared inwardly.

’.... My baby.... wants to stay longer.’

The struggle to conceal his joy couldn’t be more pleasing to Orland. Now he could trust the hunches of his heart. Hunches he was scared of after many failures... were now probing his overthinking wrong.