You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 96

Looking up at him, her big eyes had a beautiful glint.

That shine was now one he could recognise easily.

It was that one representing her amusement over his wordplay.

She would show such adorable brightness every time elaborated greetings or praises alluded to the girl’s beauty or referred to her as her father’s lovely bird.

It was pleasant to see and, every time it happened, a dim shade of blush would accompany like the mist of night, those starry brilliant eyes.

The possibility of Orland not smiling at such a lovely gaze was non-existent. Those playful exchanges, not only lits her joy but also, her mischievous responses that never failed to amaze him with their creativity, filled with humourous truthful remarks about her beauty, were truly a marvellous thing to behold.

Seeming humble with innocent concern... while stating facts under a jest, She expressed herself, clever and prudent, cute and honest. A truly wonderful and interesting child.

However, today, her prompt response did not arrive as fast as it usually would.

Instead, after fluttering the bushy eyelashes, her eyes looked downwards and her silence inundated the Main Hall, making Paige and the Duke hold their breath to her stillness.

Marianne’s delay was unexpected. And so, tilting his head to take a better look at her downcast visage, Orland hesitated before deciding to ask about it.

Nonetheless, he did not get to do so.

The one who spoke first was the young maid who seemed restless witnessing the scene.

"Um... Good day, My Lord..."

Turning his eyes to look at the maid, he alternated his gaze to his child, silently asking with it what had happened to her.

"Uh... I believe... Well..... The Young Lady was very excited to be the one to find His Grace first today..... My Lady rushed to prepare this morning to greet My Lord..."

Orland’s eyes widened further as more was said. The actions that brought his daughter there were all done with the intention to surprise him, and that simple fact was enough to send a tight squeeze to his heart.

The motive was lovely as her existence and the scheme to achieve it was childishly innocent like her adorable personality.

"... I see..."

Returning his gaze to only stare at the child in front of him, the way she appeared so little to his eyes made his expression a tight-lipped one.

’Goodness..... She’s too adorable... I want to pinch my baby bird’s cheeks.....’

A wave of ticklish warmth flowed quickly through his body, mixed with frustration over his awareness that the situation wasn’t the appropriate one to indulge in his impulses to show his utmost affection to his child.

"... You wanted to greet me first, sweetie?"

Glancing upwards, Marianne observed her Father.

Both souls inside her felt dejected to fail their goal the moment they heard their body’s progenitor voice resound from the top of the staircase. However, it was the new resident on that body who felt more saddened after receiving his romantic greeting. She did not seem to understand her own emotions, the only thing she knew was that it was them who should have said those poetic words to the Duke today.

The soul of Elizabeth did not know that such emotions pertained to her former life’s longings for a father. She had never experienced a relationship as complicated and as blissful as the one she had witnessed between Marianne and her Father. Therefore, the unknown attracted her enormously and was directing her heart... towards paths she would never have found in her former world.

The reason being... That the hints she needed and always searched for, resided only here, next to the true Marianne and her new father.

Unable to interpret the foreign emotions trying to invade her, Elizabeth overlooked what she couldn’t understand and, although still confused by what had menaced her clarity, she responded with a forceless nod to his cautious question.

"..."

"Then... Won’t you greet me? I am still waiting for my sweet child’s good morning."

Finding the teary eyes as she raised their head, Orland felt conflicted.

It was certainly his daughter’s eyes he was meeting... yet... that flicker on the humid lower eyelids... seemed lonely and somehow... amiss.

*******

’That was weird...’

Why did I act like that? How childish... Pouting like that at my age... Shame on me.

It’s truly comforting that the Duke is a thoughtful and comprehensive Father. If not for his nice words I might have continued to act like a kid.

Still, although it was weird, everything worked out.

We ate at a lounge I had never seen before on the mysterious third floor. It was so big and elegant, that I felt like I wasn’t at the same Castle we’ve been living in until now.

And now that I’ve grown somehow accustomed to it, the sensation of awe Marianne sent when we entered the room didn’t even surprise me.

Heh. It was probably also her first time there.

All in all, we had a great time, the Duke didn’t forget to praise our dress and his words might stay echoing from time to time in my head for how cool and smoothly they were said.

"Has my bird flown above the clouds? How come my child looks so heavenly beautiful? The Gods messengers, Angelos, have dressed you in their robes heightening your gorgeous appearance..... Might they be mischievous ones... If so... I can see through their scheme to steal my daughter, only to selfishly make her new residence the Unattainable Realm where only the mighty Gods reside."

’Huck~~~~! He’s so....!!! We’re staying single!! I’m telling you! How can we find someone as good as him??!!’

He’s the last one... After him, men like him will go extinct...

’This will be tough... Having met an eloquent man has set the bar too high up.....’

As I meshed with the couch in our bedroom, pondering about these useless random thoughts, trying to rest a bit after a busy morning and breakfast, my inner self protruded its lips, bored, looking far in the distance, lost to how doomed we were going to be if the time to choose a partner comes... and drained of energy after how we started the day.

It’s not odd at all... We did have a tiny crisis right after waking up.

What is off is that the repercussion took longer to manifest this time.

’... I’ll be d*mned..... I feel so numb...’

This only makes me want to be true to myself and be lazy to my heart’s content. However, I have a thick book I need to study–... Take a glance at.

I won’t read it all, I’m not really interested in all it says. I’m just taking a good look at it. If I find anything interesting besides what I want to know, then I’ll read a bit more, nothing more, nothing less.

I get the feeling that... If I start wanting to know more about this place... I might grow too conscious of it being another world.

Truthfully, it’s not a bad thing, but... Seems troublesome for some reason. Knowing me, I will start acting up according to the culture and all that because, I mean... It’s another world...

I suffered from eighth-grade syndrome AGAIN at twenty-four... Learning more cool stuff about this place might make me have another relapse at twenty-eight...

’..... I promise, Anne... I promise I’ll be careful... I won’t let us act disgracefully... Well, at least not to THAT level. I do have my charming moments. But I think those are still on the edge of being "fine"...’

"...."

’Mhmm~... I know I’m rambling again, but, really, trust me on this one. You want me to keep this promise, sweetheart.’

Her doubting stillness was understandable. She has yet to see what that syndrome can do. More so in someone like me.

This cool sister has her faults too~

She abided by my warning and stopped her suspicion from growing. I believe she’s learning that there are things I think of, that she truly doesn’t need or wants to know. Her instincts are improving when it comes to differentiating the value of what goes through my thought process. I think she knows it’s either useful or interesting in a nice way... or just plain nonsense.

It’s good she knows what she wants to know... But still.....

’... Tsk... Don’t just give up so easily..... Show a bit more interest in my craziness, girl... You might laugh a bit while you’re at it~’

Wanting to joke around, I singsonged my last sentence. My drowsiness made me feel a bit silly, so I’m in a bit of a mood to sing.

"..."

’... Should we try our hums?’

Even the tiniest practice does some progress. Now that I actually feel like singing something, there might be a difference to the lately plugged throat that doesn’t let any sound come out successfully.

’Which one should we sing?..... Hmm, I want one to pump... Me... Up...’

"...?"

’Well... That was easy. Let’s go with that one, hehehe~’

This one made me dance whenever I heard it. Even now I feel energized just thinking of the lyrics, although it became annoying after endless repetition when it came out.

’... Anne, you know what, let’s vibe to it~! Even this stiff body should feel the flow~’

Struggling to stand up from the absorbing couch, I got eager to do some dancing to this nice song, and as I started to summon the unwilling hums, my mind sang to Anne the lyrics of a song that couldn’t be more right for us.