You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 90

We stayed in silence for a while as I stared at the Duke the whole time.

He wouldn’t lift his eyes from the drawing, not even for a second, as if the paper had rapted his attention.

I was still stunned at his reaction, and looking at his never-fading smile... His happiness became infectious.

’Seeing him so happy also makes me happy... Maybe my drawing skills are really good here?..... Heh. I knew it, I’m awesome~’

"..."

’Anne~ do you see that?~ We succeeded~~ Your dad is happy~!’

Marianne had kept still for a while, but I could feel her react to my self-praise as my body tingled. When I mentioned what our eyes were seeing while those thoughts took form, she became shy, and then, a similar feeling to the one I had when the Sir thanked me flowed from my stomach.

’... I know right? That smile is foul play. Your Father is too nice and handsome... You totally got your hotness from him~... Will our smile look like that??... We’re in trouble if we do, you know...’

We will definitely get a few stalkers if our smile is so cute. If the Duke has a limited cuteness because of his manliness... Then...

’Just imagine... Our Anne smiling like that... D*mn~... It will appear like hell has come to the earth because we will invoke all its flames here~~ I shall call it... burning cuteness~’

I’m sure someone could get a heart attack. My baby red panda is already breathtakingly beautiful with a dull face, once we get to make expressions, she will stop everyone’s hearts only by giving her a glance.

’... Anne. We... Should we actually be careful?? We might kill someo–...! Ack?! What the? Am I really being too much??! I think it’s possible... Sigh... Girl, I think I became a fool for you too.....’

I was making a serious face on the inside while I blurted that nonsense. I truly believed for a second that it was a legitimate concern to think about, but when I felt a strong prick on my feet... I knew I was going overboard.

Even if I’m acting stupid, I can notice that Anne sent that attack as if she was shutting me down with a stomp on my foot. I’m not sure if it’s because I became too annoying or she just... Felt shy?...

...Shy enough to hit me... I don’t think so.

Still, now I’m joining the club of fools for Marianne.

’Sir, I know you’ve been lonely. Let’s get along and make this fandom a great one. Since you’re a veteran member, I accept you as the president. But it won’t be for long... I have confidence on how foolish I can get.’

Turning my gaze to look at the distracted eyes of Marianne’s Father, I threw the sarcastic joke with all my seriousness. He was the one I was referring to when I said I was a fool for her "too", and I kind of felt that I was already a lost cause if I was already acting this way without noticing.

I guess that’s just how things are. I don’t regret it, though. Marianne is totally worth it.

"..."

Giving up on the topic because of the intense sensation of reproach coming from my idol, I finally stopped staring at the Duke. My eyes began to wander off through his office and, recalling the first time I came here, I tried to find if there were any changes in the room.

’Everything looks the same...’

It was a scanning born all out of boredom. I had nothing to do and I wanted to leave the Duke to do his thing with the gift in peace. Therefore, I observed the place thoroughly to see if I was able to find something interesting.

’... He spends a lot of time here... Maybe he doesn’t like to change things up...’

No changes were noticeable. From the walls framing the door to the shelves, the couches position and carpet, all looked the same. It was only when my eyes drifted far enough to reach the Duke’s desk that I thought I had found a difference.

’... Have... Have there always been so many... Picture frames on his desk?’

I recall him having a few... But they seem to have increased...

’I wonder... Who’s..... Hmm? Wait. Actually... Isn’t it obvious?’

Back then, I didn’t know anything about the Duke so the idea never crossed my mind, but... Those are most likely portraits of his children and wife.

’In my past life, people also displayed their family photos in their office... I guess the Duke also does that...’

"..."

’...I want to see them.’

We were curious now to see the portraits. Since my thoughts were clear for Anne to hear, she joined my curiosity instantly. However, we couldn’t do much about it besides stare at them, wishing for our nonexistent telekinetic power to wake up and bring them to us in a miraculous way.

’Ugh! We just... We just can’t go and register his desk as if it’s ours! Think! How can I go closer without coming off as odd??’

The curiosity was killing me. My hands were fidgeting to know if any of those pictures... Were of a tiny Marianne!

’Oh my God... Anne... I need to see... Something is telling me that there is a treasure there!!’

A tiny Marianne! Oh God, oh God! Why am I like this???... I’ve never acted like this before???

... Whatever, I don’t care. I’m excited.

"Sweetie?"

The voice of Marianne’s Father made us flinch in surprise as we turned to look at him. We weren’t doing anything wrong but somehow I felt like we were discovered on bad steps.

"What were you looking at?" — The Duke asked as he glanced in the direction we were staring at a second ago.

"..."

’I... I ain’t see nothing, Sir~’ — As if I were speaking with an officer, I answered the Duke, feeling like an actual criminal.

"Oh! Were you glancing at those portraits on my desk?... You have yet to see those..."

Slowly standing up from his seat, the Duke carefully left my drawing on the centre table and went to get the portraits.

’Yessss! I don’t know how, but it somehow worked!!’

"Hahaha... You seem eager to see these... May I seat by your side?"

’Of course!! Sit here, Sir!! See? I cleaned it for you!! Take a seat!’

Moving a bit to the side, I brushed the place right next to me and patted it as an incentive for him to take a seat as I energetically nodded to his question.

"How hospitable~ Then, if I may..."

Taking his seat, he organized the frames in his hands.

"Let’s see... Here. This one is of the three of you when you were younger... I remember this day... The three of you were playing outside and came back to get some juice... soaked in mud. I was appalled because all of you only came back for a sip of it and go back out immediately after, Hahahaha! Oh... my wonderful children... you were all so tiny and spirited..."

"..."

’He looks so happy... Bloody hell..... This is so cruel...’

To think he has so much love for his children... And ignores what they did to Anne...

’I feel nauseous...’

"Haha... Look at this one, sweetie. Isn’t this little girl pretty?"

"...?"

’Hmm?... Which one...?! Holy cow! Anne! This is us! I mean, it’s you!’

"This one is relatively new... I... I painted this the day you visited my office... I was very happy then... Therefore, I wanted to remember that day with this portrait..."

"...!"

’Anne! Your father also draws! Does that mean he painted this from memory??? He’s awesome!!’

The colours were bright and made the serious expression on our face, less cold... And our eyes... were slightly shining with a warm light...

’Ah...You look so pretty...’

"... Do you like it?"

’.... Yes... I do... We do...’

Softly nodding without taking my eyes off of it, I felt elated to see that he had a portrait only of us. And I say us... Because at the time, although he doesn’t know it... I was there too...

"Phew~... That’s a relief... But let me tell you that the real you is prettier, dear. I don’t have enough skill to show how gorgeous of a blooming flower my daughter has become~ It is quite frustrating, sweetie~..."

"...!"

’He’s such a tease! This father of yours is so smooth!!...’

We should answer accordingly~ Fufufu~ 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Taking out my notes I began my ingenious retort.

[Father...There is not much we can do... This is the burden I must carry as Father’s daughter... We shall do the best we can...]

’Heheh..... Hmph! Don’t send those dark vibes to me, Anne... I know you know that we all know how beautiful you are. That’s why you have a fandom after all.’

Ignoring how she reproached the narcissistic message, I showed it to him.

"..... I see... That makes sense... I am indeed at fault here... Sigh... How troublesome..... It just... Runs in our blood huh~?"

"...!!!"

’... Uh... Umh... S–See!!? He understands!... Though... Pfft! I really didn’t expect that response...’

This is fun on a whole other level... I really love how my sense of humour matches his.

’I like this, Anne... This is really fun...’

"Oh! Look at this, sweetie, I like this one the most... You were so tiny and curious... Asking if butterflies liked my shoulders... Hahaha... Ah..."

’Oh?! How cu–!’

"You know what truly fascinates me?...’

’... Uh? What is it? So suddenly?’

"It’s so surprising how... You haven’t changed at all... Your beautiful nature is still as captivating as how it was when you were born..... I knew from the second I saw you... That you had a lovely and kind soul inside that tiny body, Marianne..."