You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 72

*******

"Sigh....Oh... Dear... My lovely little bird’s smile is so endearing..."

Orland was ecstatic by the unexpected developments that bright morning was showing him.

The sight he had been yearning to see for so long it was maddening, was unfolding in front of him beautifully like brilliant silk. Smoothly and delicately painted in his daughter’s visage, the innocent, pure, entrancing happy expression he used to see in his before young daughter... was now alive again in her grown-up figure. Her essence, untouched by the time, was as brilliant and marvellous, filling him in a fascinating bliss just like it did the first time he took her into his arms. Her mere existence was a treasure that no existence in this universe was worthy to possess.

The dreamlike glimpse of a doubtful smile he had months ago, was indeed a mere illusion compared to how precious the real one was. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

’I thought my heart would explode when I saw her expression change... Haaa... My bird is so full of surprises.... I must get ready for what might come next...hahah...’

Orland was so rejoiced, that no words could explain the heavenly warmth filling his heart. She was so unpredictable that the expectations for the following surprise, made him eager to improve his resistance to the lot of entrancing emotions she ought to provoke in his whole being next time.

’... I cannot cry every time she gives me such pleasant gifts... What a disgrace hahaha...’

In a playful way, he giggled at the reason behind his determination.

The Duke couldn’t care less about his dignity if it meant the well-being of his children. Yet, Orland wanted to give them a reliable figure to count on, by keeping his emotions in check and showing his self-control over any kind of situation that may come their way. Regardless... He felt as if... even if he put greater efforts to endure the flood of emotions Marianne never failed to summon in his heart... He would never be able to hold them back.

’She is so..... Sigh... I am weak to this child.’

As he watched her open her eyes slowly with her graceful eyelashes, the thought, accepting the cause of hardship to keep his reactions under control, was bluntly told.

His tears had ceased, and now, he could see her more clearly. His weakness was also conveyed by his body; because, by locking his gaze with hers again, immediately sent throbs of joy to his heart.

Nonetheless, his attention to detail was at its peak. Hence, his observant eyes did not fail to notice the slow fading her countenance was starting to exhibit.

’... I suppose... She’s bound to go back...’

Though it was regrettable, Orland understood that this much exposure of emotion from her was not something that came easily. In fact, needless to say, it was more like a miracle that she was able to pull off such a feat. Therefore, contrary to "easy", it might have been so difficult, that it could exhaust her to degrees he could never get to imagine.

"..."

Considering such points, Orland was certain that... Her smile was to disappear any minute now.

’... I don’t mind... Little bird must rest to fly further next time after all....’

Giving her a second kiss on her forehead, Orland spoke once more.

"... Thank you, sweetie... Seeing your smile for this long... It’s the best gift I could have gotten today..."

’Thank you, Gods of Unending Miracles residing on The Glorious Ethereal Planes of Izeneya... This birthday present.... Is more than I could ask for.....’

*******

The Duke caressed our cheeks with his thumbs. The lovely gaze he displayed as he thanked us was beaming with gratitude and delight.

Our face was exerting the limits of our energy as it maintained the unusually long scene of our true emotions.

We knew that the chances to manifest ourselves with more freedom were fickle and random. There was no way of knowing when they would come nor when they would end... We can’t even know if these manifestations would always be pleasant like this time or dangerous like last time.

The chances were so unstable in any way we saw it. However, even if they entailed a threat... we would still receive them gladly.

’The only way for us to grow is overcoming the obstacles of our situation.... Let’s keep it up, sweetheart. This expression will become a common one in the future... So... let’s rest for now.’

Her father seemed to know the hurdle we were taking as we displayed our true feelings. And how he had expressed his understanding, was greatly appreciated.

The Duke must have known... That our Anne would feel sad once our synchrony dissolved as the chance ended. His words before it happened, were sure to bring peace of mind to his daughter, and so, I couldn’t be more grateful to him.

Because, honestly, being the one who deals with her sadness as we share a body, it is tiresome and worrying.

I am not saying I hate it. If anything, Marianne is so precious to me that I don’t mind if I have to endure the flames of hell to help her. However... We’ve been fighting with her continuous fright for two months now...

Today she was feeling finally better... and I don’t want her to drown again in her fear and misery so soon.

I want her peace to last a bit longer...

’... She deserves a freaking time to rest for f**** sake...’

We closed our eyes right after I said that. Somehow, I felt like a bit of tension, just like the one we release when we sigh, flowed out of our body. It was clearly Marianne’s doing. Whether it was out of relief that it was already alright to relax or resignation to my way of expressing my opinion just now... Our body felt lighter as, with that little liberation of pressure, the emotions filling our body with life began to fade, and, along with their fading, the numbness slowly came back accompanied by the lethargic movements and sensations.

It was appalling to feel how the bliss and energy left, only to be replaced by the heavy shackles her accumulated exhaustion puts our body in an anaesthetized kind of state. The difference was so huge, that it made me realize how bad of a condition our usual one was.

Not even a second ago I was feeling so healthy that I thought this body had the age of an eight-year-old for how strong its vitality was in comparison to the one we are feeling now. This one was the kind of energy I had grown accustomed to after possessing her body. I did have a vague idea of how a body should not feel this sluggish since I’ve lived in an average healthy body before... Yet... I could never measure or imagine the size of the gap between its true energy and the one I knew. By this "true energy" I mean the energy she originally had within her that, right now, is obviously restricted by... Uhmm... I’m not sure of the actual cause for this state we are currently in, but, thinking of the information I’ve learned and deduced... Some of the causes might be her condition, other might be the burden of hosting two souls in one body, another... might be the repercussions of her failed suicide... and maybe... the last one I can think of... is that... all previous three together make it this way.

If I’m honest, it’s probably all of them. Unless there is another reason I am not aware of.

I don’t know how her body felt before coming here, so I can’t just assume she was already this weak before my arrival.

Still, our body began to fall further into our pre-established prison, thus, our expression went back to the dull and dreadful one we’ve always seen. Stiff, listless, dry and empty. The cage had closed its bars, and locked us inside, depriving us of everything, once again.

Although, since we had each other, we were not alone there. It was sad how the reality of our circumstances had hit me.

’D*rn.... We really have a long way to go...’

It’s good to know how far the goal is. That way we know how much effort we need to put and we can make the necessary preparations to get there.

’... Also... Although we are restricted of freedom and have a lot to do before we are set free... We always have this lovely visitor comfort us. Right, Anne?’

Concluding my insight of the path awaiting us, I opened our drowsy eyes to look at the Man I was referring to.

Even though our smile was gone, his expression did not change. The disappointment he must be feeling did not show in him. The same loving eyes were looking at us just like they did moments ago, and his smile did not fade away, not even by a millimetre did his expression change.

I bet that he does not imagine, how the permanency of his smile felt so reassuring to us at this moment.

The words he said when we woke up from the slumber that crisis sent us, came back to our mind as a reminder of his seriousness when he said them.

— Your condition does not matter to me if I can have you with me... —

’Heheh... The Duke is so cool~ He keeps proving how honest he was when he said that..... Sir... you’re awesome... seriously.... Anne... your father is so... so wonderful...’

For a moment... I couldn’t tell if the warmth filling our chest was Marianne’s... or mine.