You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 61

At his office, the Duke slept on one of the couches. He was reluctant to go back to his bedroom since the mother of his children would be there to receive him.

Orland did not want his mood to be ruined so fast, so, to maintain the peace, he settled for the soft couch at his office.

Even though there were plenty of rooms in his castle, he did not want to sleep in a bed.

Afraid to wake up and find all that happened to be a dream... was not something he would allow.

Although he went through great turmoil, Orland did not want to forget anything of what transpired from the moment he met Marianne at the Guests Palace’s entrance. Through all the agony, there were moments that outweighed the grief with great delight.

How could he forget her beaming humanity in a dress that questioned her mortal existence? How could he forget the first hug he gave and received from his sun in more than a decade?... How could he let himself forget her childlike and playful attitude?

’Even if I forget... Even if it’s a dream... I will make it a reality.... My child lives and her existence is the most precious this world could have.....’

Falling into a deep sleep, Orland regained the energy used in nursing his daughter. With only a few hours of sleep, he managed to recover his vitality and, when morning came, he was already on his feet, walking to his bedroom to wash up and change the clothes he didn’t get to change for two long days.

When he was about to finish the last details of his outfit to go see his daughter as promised, Thomas came to him, with an unexpected letter.

*******

My sleep felt as if, one moment, I had only closed my eyes to blink, and then, it was plain morning on the other.

Thankfully, my body didn’t feel as heavy and numb after regaining consciousness a few hours ago.

I can’t say I was on top form. I’ve yet to feel that way in this life since our body has, like, an annoying kind of restriction.

But, I’ve got to say...

’Ain’t our body lighter? Like... oh d*mn... Anne did we lose weight?! I feel like our uh... mass(?) Has decreased.....! Our butt!... I hope it didn’t get affected... Heheh... ’cause, girl~ We got a nice one~~ It makes me think of how mine was when I was sixteen fufu~’

For some reason, I’m in a great mood. I wanna mess around with my naive girl a little since we got kinda separated during my... what should I call that? It was like that thing when you get out of the body...... Ah... Yeah, well, that’s the name: out-of-body experience, Heh.

’My genius is working as good as always I see~ heh heh.’

There was another way it was called... was it... astral travel?... I’m not sure but... considering the kind of travel I had... it wasn’t as pretty as the word "astral" sounds.

’How the hell could that be astral? Give me back the month I spent there with that lunatic, d*mn it...’

"..."

As I rolled my eyes, annoyed by my last thought, my gaze met the view of the bit of sunlight that infiltrated the room through the tiny gap between the curtains. I could tell the sun was shining brightly today.

Usually, I wouldn’t care about the weather. If I had to choose, I like cloudy days more, for the typical reasons.

Cold = bed = hot chocolate = laziness.

The last one being the primary reason.

’It gives you the excuse to feel lazy. Though I’m lazy all year, those days no one can criticise me. I mean... Who would dare? Hah! The gall!’

Showing a sarcastic expression on my inner self, my head slowly trundle in the pillow, turning to the opposite side where the door was. Looking at the stillness of the wall framing the entrance to my room, I pouted inside as I told my thought to Anne.

’... When is the Duke coming?’

Wondering if I had missed his visit, my question made Marianne’s body react. A fidgety sensation came from my stomach and spread to my extremities.

’Oh, girl~ ya wanna see daddy~? Hohoh~? Is our Marianne a daddy’s girl~~?’

A little tension covered slightly the fidgety feeling. Anne was feeling shy about how I was teasing her, which I found adorable. My naive girl was communicating with me so easily I felt ecstatic to start the day this way.

’Your father is quite nice Anne. I think he’s able to build you your own empire if you ask him to.....! Hey! I’m not gonna do it! It’s a manner of speech!’

Her body didn’t even take a second to freeze to my comment. If it were a face to face kind of conversation I would compare the reaction, to her showing me a cutting glare. So serious...

’Anyways sweetheart, he’s nice. He loves you a lot. We gotta get better for him to be happy, alright? We should be good to your Father since he treats us nicely.’

"..."

That feeling I got when I was little once I finally got to an agreement with my mother, who had tried to reason with my stubborn self for hours, was transmitted to me through her body. I translated it as the burn-out "... yes..." type of response one would give then. It was kinda funny how she was answering our conversation, but, nevertheless, I couldn’t have enjoyed more our exchange. It felt fulfilling to have such a smooth and light interaction with my girl, without having those unpredictable outbursts of whatever those were. But, even though it was going nicely, I had something to tell her about those memories I heard during the crisis we had. It is my duty to guide Anne in such things now.

’Also... Anne. Those memories I got to... hear then... I can’t say I’m sure about what they were about but... Don’t let those words affect you... You know, one tends to believe such things when they hear them so often. Do you know what being brainwashed is? It’s the same as that. You believe what they tell you and reject the truth. Like... oh! For example, if you tell a child "Don’t do that. That’s bad." The child will grow up thinking such things are bad because that’s how they were taught. But, my naive girl... sometimes people will tell you something is bad when it actually isn’t. And... from all those words I heard then... those are ones that are mistaken. Those words are not true...’

"..."

No reaction.

’I mean... d*mn~ Let me tell you something. I’m someone who doesn’t get attached to people easily. Before I got here I could count my friends in one hand and still have free fingers. But, you, my cutie? If I had met you just as you are in my previous life... d*rn... I would honestly make an effort for us to get close. You are so sweet Anne, who could ever hate you? That sentence that said "He doesn’t love you"... of course no one loves you!’

"...!"

’Everyone adores you!... You just gotta look at that prwetty faish u got there~ Heheh..... Silly girl, don’t believe everything people tell you. I’m sure if you lived in my word you would be scammed on a daily basis, I’m not even joking.’

"..."

’Oh but you can trust me. Even if you don’t have faith in me I can’t even try to harm you if I wanted, since, if you suffer I suffer. We DO share the same body...’

"..."

’...It’s a fact to reassure you. I wouldn’t harm you even if I could. You know my goal: live happily as one with you, you dummy.’

"..."

From no reaction to shock, from shock to suspicion and from suspicion to a shy delight. Anne expressed herself to everything I said, as I inwardly explained to her with passionate movements and honest words, that what she showed me then was pure bull***t.

’Ouf... such a cutie you are.’

I felt warm and tickly. If I get a chance later I will grab these cheeks we have and squeeze them. Our Anne is such a pure girl...... this d*mn dysfunctional family. I swear I will rip Paul’s golden balls one day.

And that Theressa..... maybe I should leave that one alone? It’s funny how any pathetic excuse of a villain like herself always digs their own grave... She did humiliate herself a lot throughout the whole novel since... when she was literally offering herself to one of the Male Leads she would be rejected with a "who are you again?", type of answer.

’Pffft! Now that I know her in person, it’s way more funny than when I read it!’

Imagining how she looked like in those scenes, I guffawed inside.

Marianne didn’t seem to understand what I was talking about, but I guess she knows me well enough to not pay much attention to my aleatory thoughts.

Now that all the issue about the crisis was solved, I decided it was time to do something.

Slowly we moved our body to finally be seated in bed. I wasn’t well enough to risk falling down as soon as I stood up. So, leaning on the headboard of my bed, I reached for the bell laying on top of my night table.

Since I was in a cheerful mood, I was planning on doing some artistic sounds to call for Paige.

But, unfortunately... I didn’t get to do it.