You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 88

"Miss Marianne??... Is there... a....Gasp! I apologise! Please let me guide you. This way, Young Lady."

Mister Thomas guided me into the hallway that led to the Duke’s office.

However, when he walked further into the hall, bypassing the office’s door... I knew there was some kind of failure in our communication.

I halted in front of Marianne’s Father’s office, confused by the elder’s error.

’Where is he going??’

Right after a few steps, he noticed I wasn’t following behind him and, looking back at me, he asked from the other end.

"Miss? The restroom is further inside..."

"...!!" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’Restroom?!!! You mean the toilet?? Oh my God! Why did he think I wanted to use the bathroom?!?!?!’

I was horrified by the big misunderstanding. From asking to be taken to the Duke, I went to be taken to do my necessities... Which is truly ridiculous... and embarrassing.

Just as I did at the entrance, I pointed at the door in front of me. However, this time, I stabbed the air repeatedly to indicate the place I was referring to from the very beginning.

"Oh My! I apologise Little Miss! I misinterpreted your gestures greatly... Given how the Little Miss was running with the tip of her toes in the same spot... Hohoh. Excuse me, Miss."

His embarrassment as he apologised and the cute laugh he showed at the end... Were extremely adorable.

’Ugh! Mister Thomas!! No! Grampa Thomas!! I want you to be my grampa~~ he’s just like Grampa Marlo~... but skinnier~’

The little squeeze caused by his cuteness made me almost fangirl on the inside about it. The way he spoke so politely but at the same time with a silly tone caused by his embarrassment, was just like one of the geezers in my past life used to talk all the time! And with just that little action... He took all of my love in a second, throwing away from my memory what had made me upset in the first place.

’Anne~ He’s so nice and cute~~ We can call him Grampa, right??? Right??? He won’t know anyway so it will be fine~ hmm?? Hmm???’

As I closed my eyes tightly to tell this to Anne, I heard the steps of the elder closing up towards me.

"I truly apologise, My lady. This elder must work on his interpretation skills. I beg the Little Miss to not be upset at my mistake."

’No! It’s fine Grampa! I don’t even mind!! I’m not upset at all!!’

Seeing how he bowed so deeply to apologise to me, I felt flustered by how serious he had become. And so, mortified by having to receive an unnecessary apology from an elder, I quickly dropped off the things in my hands on the floor and came back up to take the hand of the Butler placed in his chest showing his heartfelt apology.

"..! My Lady?!"

I shook my head denying what he had said about me being upset, and then, taking the post-it notes out of my hidden pocket, I began writing as fast as I could to stop him from more misunderstandings.

[Mister Thomas! Please do not apologise! It is bound to be misunderstandings by only interpreting my gestures. Therefore, I would never get mad at not conveying my intentions well. I feel bad seeing Mister Thomas apologise when there is no need.]

Displaying the message with both of our hands, I showed it to him as I sent him a sorry glance.

"Hmm? Oh... Excuse me then, I will proceed to read now..."

I suppose he was surprised to see a note meant for him; because his thin white eyebrows lifted in strangeness. Yet, seeing how he partially closed his eyes to read the contents better... Sent a throb once again to my heart, along with a tiny concern.

’Uuuhuhung... He’s such a cute grampa~ look at him lifting his chin a bit to find the good angle to see better~..... Gasp! Does he not wear glasses?! It’s bad for him to force his eyesight!’

"... Oh... I understand. Then I will be mindful of the Lady’s statements... Hohoh. It is gratifying to see the Little Miss’ beautiful handwriting again. It is as pretty as always. Yet, I can notice how it has matured along with the kind Little Miss. Ohoho~... How wonderful memories..."

’Waah~! He’s so cute~ I love him~~’

Am I being too much?? Is this because I miss the geezers??? Either way, I don’t care! I’m loving this!! Will he speak of how Marianne was when younger???

"Ahem... I would not want to take more of the Little Miss’ time talking about this elder’s past memories... It is His Grace who My Lady is asking to meet. Let me announce the Lady’s presence immediately."

’Aww~... I want to hear those memories though....’

Just as he had told, he promptly knocked on the office’s door and right after a short silent pause, Mister Thomas spoke.

"Your Grace, Miss Marianne has come to visit you."

Thud.

’Hmm?... What was that?’

"Come in."

"... Then, My Lady, I will open the door... Your items... Do you wish for me to take care of them?"

’Oh! That’s right... I need those.’

Shaking my head in denial to his offer, I bent over to take them in my hands again, making sure the drawing was facing my clothes to guarantee the surprise effect when the time to show it off came.

’Alright!’

Giving a light nod to Grampa Thomas, signalling me being ready, he proceeded to open the doors in a smooth movement.

*******

Orland was trembling with rage in the solitude of his office. The Royal Letter in his hand this time wasn’t one written by his old friend but by his friend’s problematic son.

"This man... How dare he–!"

Knock knock.

Just as he was mumbling in rage to himself, the unexpected knock on the door echoed in his office. Fighting to gulp down the fury that letter’s content had invoked in him, he closed his eyes and breathed in slowly to calm his erratic respiration.

The voice of his loyal servant began to sound through the door.

At first, he wasn’t willing to pay much attention to whatever his right hand had come to inform. He had grown so used to receiving him every day only to get more work, the Duke honestly could not care less about anything that had happened now.

However, this time was different.

"Miss Marianne has come to visit you."

Right after hearing this, the hand holding his head, as to contain his increasing headache dropped dry on top of his desk, making a loud sound.

Although not many hours had passed since their separation, it had been a long time since he had received the last visit from his dear daughter in that office, he got a bit flustered even knowing that things had changed enormously from that visit she had done back then.

Only two times had she been to his office. The first, when she asked for that intriguing object, and the second, to receive it.

Today would be the third time... and it was shocking for him, only because today, Marianne had been doing so many things he never expected to see... that he had assumed it wasn’t possible to see any more in one measly day. He had assumed that the next time he would meet her would be at dinner. Yet...

’She’s here?!’

Pleasantly confused by how things had turned out until now, Orland gave his immediate permission to her entrance, standing from his seat, and completely forgetting about the matter about the Crown Prince as he left the open letter lying abandoned on his desk.

Arranging his outfit to look presentable in front of his little sun, the Duke smiled happily to be able to see her so soon and was incredibly curious about what it was that had brought her there this time.

The doors opened shortly after, and behind his trusted right hand stood his daughter, looking as pretty as she did that morning.

"Dear! Come in. What a surprise... I did not expect to see you so soon..."

Walking towards her, forgetting that it was his daughter who was supposed to come his way, Orland noticed the objects in her hands and took a short pause before continuing to speak.

"Have you just returned from your walk? You are still carrying those with you..."

The energetic nod she gave as a reply, drew a delighted smile on his expression and making a wide gesture with his hand he reiterated the invitation for her to enter his office.

"Come in, sweetie. Take a seat, you ought to be tired after your outing."

Following his suggestion, his daughter took a seat. However, her actions had him extremely interested.

The way she was clearly reluctant to leave the large object away from her, to the point of putting it on her lap horizontally covering her front torso as the wooden plaque faced him, was truly curious and funny to see.

’Heh. What is this child planning this time?’

Orland was conscious of the promise she had made when she obtained that item. Nevertheless, the thought of it being fulfilled today never crossed his mind by how she was acting right now.

Hence, chuckling at her cute behaviour, the Duke tried to act ignorant of her desire to conceal what she had in those large pages.

"Thomas. Could you bring us some tea?... Also..."

Giving her a rapid glance, he contained a laugh from seeing her peek at the hidden side of the object as if making sure everything was alright.

’Hahaha! How lovely is my sunshine...’

Turning back to meet Thomas’ gaze, aware of her distracted mind, Orland covered his mouth from the side and whispered to the perceptive Butler.

"... Also... Remember to bring the biscuits and pastries she likes..."