You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 64

"Marianne... don’t ever thank me for caring for you. Because it is my blessing to be able to do so."

’... Oh...’

"... If anything, I am who should thank you for letting me care for you, sweetie. You are my precious child and all I want is to pamper you. Do not burden yourself with things like gratitude for something that doesn’t deserve it... As your Father, this much is your right... Also... if I can’t have these lovely conversations with you, it all means nothing to me....."

’... I see... so this is a basic for a parent...’

"... You almost died, dear."

’..... I...What?!’

"... That’s why... Marianne, it is me who thanks you. I... I had faith that you wouldn’t... but... dear... don’t be sick anymore... let me care for you while you are healthy and lively.... your condition... your condition does not matter to me if I can have you with me... So... please be healthy and happy... because that is what I live for, my little bird..."

"..."

It pained me how much he struggled to maintain his composure as he said such heartbreaking things to us. His voice menaced to break and his expression could not hide his grief. The matter that I almost died went straight to the back of my mind and now I only wanted to tell him that I wanted the same as him.

I want Marianne to live a healthy and happy life. The part he said about not caring about our condition was reassuring. It was almost like he told me not to rush it, to take my time and go one step at a time, peacefully, so that I wouldn’t collapse.

’... The wisdom of a parent... is something else... to say it like that... only so Marianne could find peace of mind....’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Now, I didn’t want to express myself through paper, or with spoken words... Actions say more than words after all.

And both of us, Marianne and I... have no better way to do so.

I could feel Marianne itching to do what I had in mind. Even though I was laying low and giving her the freedom to do so on her own, that trickle in our body was also part of her hesitation.

Thankfully, I’m not someone who hesitates when I want to do something. So I took it upon myself to execute the deed, and give her the push she needs to overcome her lack of confidence.

As fast as I could, I freed my hands from his hold and gave him the hug he deserved. Resting my head on his shoulder, Marianne followed my lead and cuddled on it. As I breathed in, I could feel how her body remembered his scent with great melancholy. Our body felt so full that it was flying in bliss, and finally... a good memory flashed through our mind.

A younger duke, almost at the same distance we are now, was in front of me... a little hand rested on his chest...

He was carrying a very little Marianne, who began speaking in a drowsy voice.

"Hnng... Papa..."

"Hmm? What is it dear? Are you sleepy?" — Soft and pleasant, his voice resounded in her memory.

"Mmm.... How did miss bwatterfly know... that Papa’s shouhder ish... comfy?.... did Papa.. know miss bwatterfly.....?"

"Miss butterfly?... I usually let little birds rest on my shoulders..... Maybe Miss butterfly wanted to do as the little bird does..."

The sensation of how he pinched the tiny nose, and the familiar warm smile peeking from behind the hand could be barely seen as she closed her eyes...

"Mhmm... Miss bwatterfly... wants to be a birdie..."

"Yes..... my lovely bird..."

Now the memory ended as she closed her eyes, and as we were about to open ours, the palm of a hand caressed our head and returned our hug. With his low tone, the previous croaky voice vanished and was substituted by a gentle and mellow one.

"... My child... you must never doubt that I love you...

After all... I named you Marianne...because you are the beloved grace I received from the gods... and Elise... because I pledged to them... that my love for you would never bring them shame from making you my daughter."

’... how pretty..... Anne... to think your name has such a deep meaning...’

We hugged him tighter. As much as we could, we exerted our body strength to convey how Anne was feeling.

My girl’s soul felt insanely strong, almost to the point I could be expelled from her body. Her emotions were overwhelming our body and our heart was fluttering as if she had heard a truth she was desperate to hear.

Her control was so powerful, that it took me some time to notice that our bare feet were touching the cold floor.

She had moved our body, only to be able to hug her father with all her might and as well as she could manage to do so. The shawl was no longer covering us. Only the warmth of the duke was keeping us from the cold we supposedly felt.

"... Mmm... my daughter is regaining her strength... what a happy occasion indeed..."

Patting our back, he said softly, just like how he whispered when he felt playful. It’s impressive how every action or tone he adopts, always makes Marianne’s emotions explode.

Whether it calms or excites her, it is mostly in a good sense. He makes her eager to come out and it’s so lovely how the prime emotion she never ceases to emanate whenever she meets him is... a never-ending euphoria.

I can’t help but share such feelings.

They invade my soul possessing her body without consent and ever so suddenly that, most of the time, makes me feel disconcerted.

But I don’t care at all.

As long as Marianne can show herself, and materialize her soul filling our body with the emotions our outer appearance lacks... it does not matter to me. Not even a tiny bit.

It doesn’t matter what she feels. Even if it’s fear, I will share it too.

Because....

Heh. Oh, God... That song fits this situation so well... Should I ruin their moment?... it’s enough of a serious atmosphere already.... Right?....

Ugh! I need to do this! This is a classic!!!

’.... Ahem, Anne...... You are not alooone~’

"..."

’I am heeeere with youu~’

"....."

’Though you’re–.... not that faaar~’

"......"

’I am here to stay! Babe!...uHwAH!!??!!’

"...!?!"

... I shouldn’t have done that.

A jab of... what is this... it felt like a part of my soul was being suppressed for an instant... but not in a threatening way. It was like a smack in the back of my head that hurt like hell... It somehow woke me up from my impulse of idiocy.

Honestly, I’m shocked.

Is this how souls feel a hit from another?... It really strikes hard. I– I actually feel a bit lost.

Did she somehow hit me? Like... really?... the Marianne I know?... There’s no way...

No way...

’Anne. You just hit me right?’

"..."

Oh. My. F***ing. God..... You cannot!

’Hey! I messed up, I know. But. What in the bloody hell?! You hit ME but not that dip**it of a bug**r you have for a brother?!... Biatch(?)... tha fu**?!... did I miss something? Like.... Am I his boll**ks now???... If I am, go ahead ’cause then I get it... but girl~... heh.... Oh Gosh.....heheheh...’

I’m so stunned I ended up laughing inside.

I really never imagined this was possible. Not only that but, even though I felt how she was also quite startled by what happened, I still poured out quite strong cussings back there...

This wasn’t in the plan at all...

’Anyways... sorry, Anne... I was a bit taken aback... I couldn’t hold my tongue just now...... Sorry for ruining the mood... Heh. I didn’t expect that smack... But I guess I deserved it?’

Although I knew she could get angry... I wasn’t expecting to receive a whack to my soul...

Thinking about it, her anger didn’t even last a second! Even though she’s trying to restrain it, I can feel it clearly! This girl is laughing right now! And I know it’s at my expense!!

’... Alright already. Get a grip girl, we might end up having our body react and we don’t want that, right? Let’s compose ourselves, your Father is here too.... Wait, is that why you got confident...? Ha... Whatever. We will talk later.’

My buffoonery has come to an end and there are only two reasons for it.

One, I must maintain the dignity of the adult I barely am.

And two... a lot of time has gone by and there is something the Duke and us have been waiting for a while now. Breakfast.

I can feel it. The hunger that has started to awake as I lost a bit of serenity with my little mischievous deeds a moment ago, is telling me that Paige is on her way here.

The amount of time that has passed fits my calculations.

Still, the fact that it’s coming is not what is important, but, WHAT is coming. If there is something that’s been bothering me, it’s that simple detail. I clearly remember something that brought me a lot of excitement for my next breakfast the day we collapsed...

’... The pastries we bought... did they survive my coma...?’