You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 575

"Hey! Step back. Don’t make us push you back into the fang’s pit!"

"Marianne~... she has arrived~..."

"!?!? H-how does he- bwh-... cough! Uh..." — Sickened by this first impression, Marianne stammered as she heard the brief commotion far inside. Having the aid of the enraged Zeleskiaz to help her endure the dismay in the obscurity of the place. — "g-... fuhh...gosh..."

"My lady... He’s still able to use his aura. That must be why he can tolerate the place’s dread and recognise your presence... Are you alright to stand? That must have startled you..."

"Huff... uh, yes... The impression was... I did not expect to hear him this soon..." — Leaning on the arms he held her in, Marianne struggled to breathe properly again as the shock made her turn pale, feeling the fear again yet fighting it with the support this man provided. — "I-it took me off guard but... huff... I am alright now. Thank you, your highness."

Meeting his eyes in the dark, she tried to smile... solely to be watched and caressed on her temple as the prince decided to comply with her attempt.

"... There are no guards here, yet there will be once at his jail. They use only those who can tolerate Fenrir’s hunger well but... Once we get there you will need for them to retire before saying anything again..."

"I understand... I will be careful."

"... alright... yet do recall... my presence will not abandon your side."

"..."

"If support is needed... trust these limbs once more, my lady Marianne."

Reassured by the tender care Zeleskiaz took while holding her, Marianne breathed in once replying with a moved nod of her crown, confident again as his lips kissed her forehead naturally sweet and preciously... thankful that his hand took hers to lead the way while no one to see them was around.

Yet once close enough, after a tender squeeze was given by their hands aware of who waited ahead, their touch drifted apart. Coming before the knights that guarded Paul’s jail. Solemn and tall in stance... as if no closeness was ever shared by the prince and chosen Ninth.

"Haa... haha, see? I said she was here... my beloved Sister..." — Paul said before anyone could speak, meeting the grey of his Sister’s eye that looked at him coldly while his gold shined delighted and soon after... infuriated. — "What a coarse follower you have brought along, Marianne... why would you bring this man with you?"

"..."

"You both, take a break. I will summon you with the bell once we’re done." — Filling the silence Marianne needed to showcase, with such Zeleskiaz dismissed the men. Allowing the privacy needed yet also provoking further abhorrence from the sibling.

"The prince should leave too. It’s no place for you. My sister and I have not met in a while so... Can’t you tell we want to be alone?"

"..." — Watching the distorted Paul, Zeleskiaz remained tall. Letting more to be spouted so the one who truly was to respond could halt the courage.

"Your presence is a bother Zeleskiaz. My Marianne doesn’t need you when I’m here. Get lost!"

"I am not yours, Paul."

"..."

"And the crown prince will not retreat. He will remain here during my visit. Therefore, I advise you to let that matter go."

"... Haha... Are you still mad because of our little fight? I’m not mad anymore, my love-"

"Being mad and calling it a fight is too kind even for myself, Paul. Coming here was not a pleasant decision at all. Or do you still believe, even after what happened, that I was at that dirty place because I wanted to?"

"... You are mad because I failed us... you are right to be mad... we should have escaped earlier but... sigh, I am sorry my Marianne. I won’t fail the next time. I promise. Just tell him to leave, we cannot talk comfortably with him here."

"... I am more than comfortable."

"Marianne."

"Paul." — To the growl he uttered with her name, the lady retorted as coldly and unbothered. Going against Paul’s wishes to turn this conversation into one of the many he crafted from illusions. — "Why are you denying what I am telling you, Paul...? There was never an "us"... What you believed was me agreeing to you was your head filling up my silence as you liked it, Paul... ever since we were little... you’ve been answering yourself while in truth I begged you to stop from my very depths, brother."

"... They have hurt you, haven’t they? It’s alright my sister. Once I get out of here, I’ll free you from their hands."

’... He’s not even listening to me...’ — Frustrated by his madness, Marianne’s disheartened gaze tried to search for some kind of hope in his golden hues... Solely meeting the darkness of his soul, overtaken by the misconceptions of his psyche. Pushing her impulses to say what she considered from the past. — "You once truly cared for me..."

"... I always-"

"When young..." — She interrupted, indifferent to his smiling hope. — "I would follow you everywhere, even in our house’s forest knowing you would protect me and Theressa from any evil... I believed you when you said I was hated... when you said that... becoming used to hunger and darkness would be good once I dealt with those that despised my being..... that if I kept silent while everything hurt... it would eventually make everything be alright..."

"And you have done so well, my love!! We’ll be together, you’ll see Marianne-"

"?! It’s enough! My lady, this is useless."

"Don’t touch her!"

Once the raise of Paul’s voice resonated gruesomely through the corridor, the auras of both men collided in an invisible tremor. And she, who was now gaining forces from the deities sensed how the weight trespassed the thick bars. Noticing more of the poor state her brother was in as light burned stronger to the crush.

"... You weren’t always like this, Paul."

"..."

"I am sure... I... I refuse to believe the brother I admired when little became like this out of nowhere."