You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 98

"...?"

’Haaa... Sorry Anne, but I’m in a little of a panic here. It will go away in a minute, just... Fuuuuhhh..... Alright. Let’s focus on deciphering today’s date for now.’

"..."

’..... You know today’s date don’t you?’

The way how her soul’s presence began to willingly fade to uselessly hide... felt too familiar to let it go unnoticed. It was even leaving a bit of nervousness behind as she went to who knows which corner of our body to play an unintended hide and seek with me.

If not for the extreme focus mode I forced upon myself, I might have let it go since I’m usually carefree about what she does when her presence diminishes.

But now, I’m way too sensitive to not pay any mind to it. She was certainly suspicious and, feeling how our breathing halted for a millisecond once I called her out with my question... I must be right.

"..."

’... Foolish girl...’

"!!"

’I don’t even have to think much over the reason you didn’t say anything. You most likely forgot overall what happened yesterday and, now that I just freaked out about this, you felt nervous to come out with the truth, taking advantage — very badly, I must say — of your soul’s condition too. Ain’t I, right? Hm?’

"~" — A kind of regretful whine travelled through our tum, meaning I had hit the nail on my deductions and that, little Marianne, was ashamed of being easily discovered again.

’Tsk. I’ve spoiled you too much..... Sigh... Well, it’s fine... This spares me a waste of time...’

"..."

’You need to work on your "acting skills" though...’

"!~"

Sending a comic tight-lipped expression that warned a teasing: "this won’t do~", kind of vibe as I told her the last sentence, my roomie responded whining again, but this time, with a bit of an upset feeling instead of an embarrassed sorry one. Which, for me, felt totally adorable with how harmless it seemed, triggering more of my subtle teasings.

’Alright then, ple~a~se~ sweetheart~~ do tell me today’s date~~ hmmmm~?’

"..."

If I were able to see the inner expression she must be doing now, it would probably be a pouting annoyed one. The one I call "You mere peasant..." face.

Regardless of the resentment implied by such expression, she still answered my teasing request moving our hand slowly over the blank paper that I had prepared to take notes of my learnings.

How lovely~ what a good gurl~

[ 5th of Zate 278 ]

’Hmm... So The 5th... Woah 278?...’

So a lot of years have passed since she started writing that journal... Uh... From 272... Six years?...

Well, she did rip a lot of pages out of it so... That might be why it’s not as thick as seven years of daily outputs should amount to...

’Alright, then I will have to memorise your Father’s birthday as the 4th of Zate... By the way, when is your birthday, Anne?’

I really should ask about this, if her birthday comes and I go all like "whose birthday?", that would be really embarrassing. I’m part of her fandom so, how can I not know this information?

Moving once again our hand, after a short hesitation mixed with that odd shyness anyone feels when asked about their birthday, she wrote the asked date.

[ 3rd of Ovh ]

Hmm... That’s on... The fourth month then..... Oh~ she was born in Autumn~ how befitting for my girl~

’Alright~ I’ll leave a mental memo...’

... One highlighted with fluorescent colours so I won’t forget, hehehe.

Well, now that this issue has been clarified... Let’s see how many days are left until the Summer and Autumn Royal Ball.

If today is the 5th..... That would be two weeks and five days... Almost three weeks away from the Summer Ball...

’... It’s really close... The Duke was right that it was just around the corner... Hmm, Then...’

The critical one is...

’... Eleven weeks, five days... Almost three months of my world’s calendar’s worth...’

Alright... Well, there’s not much of a difference from how much I had initially estimated... But still, this new information was quite shocking.

Now that I calculated the exact remaining time until the original story begins, I feel calmer... But before doing that, the impact almost caused me to faint.

’Sighhhh... That scare drained my little energy... But... We actually found what I needed to know faster than I thought...’

To think what I wanted to know was just a few tens of pages ahead of where I revised at the Library...

’I would say... About three hours?... It didn’t take that long righ– UcK?!’

As I stood up from my seat, my hips ached as I felt a very familiar sensation, like something from my lower stomach was abruptly dropped. That uncomfortable sensation that... lasted a variable amount of days... every month...

’Haaa... no way.....’

Our period arrived.

’D*mn it! The dress is white too!! For f***s sake!! BLOODY hell!! It arrived early!!!’

Quickly rolling up my skirt to not let it get stained the most I could, I grabbed the thick children’s book and slammed it against the floor.

Bam!

"My Lady?!"

The loud sound served its purpose, summoning the guarding Paige to my room after the crashing noise.

Now... After a few chaotic minutes... I’m literally... "on the rag".

"..."

’... Yep..... That explains a lot.....’

Laying flat on our comfy bed, spacing out while looking at the high ceiling, the comment emerged spontaneously, just like the realisation behind it did later.

’It may not be the case... But this will make me feel better. So... Whatever.’

"...?"

’Oh my! So this is why I’ve been behaving more strangely than usual~ I see, I see~ HAHAaHahahahh...ha... F***ing life.’

"...."

’... You don’t even say anything but I know what you’re thinking. Nothing to be done. Let’s sleep it off after lunch.’ — I told Marianne, knowing that I was being seen as dramatic.

Staring blankly at the friendly ceiling... We passed time doing absolutely NOTHING.

*******

The day continued its natural course. Everyone in the Sylfinnier’s Dukedom did as they normally would.

The current heir to the household followed his tight schedule with apparent grace. Enduring hard training sessions of sportsmanship since dawn, to then take care of his gradual increase of duties related to the attainment of a Duke’s Title, Paul executed his tasks meticulously as he usually did.

Nonetheless, his thoughts were not truly focused on those responsibilities.

An upsetting anxiety to see his sister kept roaming his carcass, pestering him with a growing desire to escape from everything keeping him away from his goddess.

The only thing that maintained those intentions far from crossing the line and being executed, was the remembrance of yesterday’s dinner.

Eating with her after a long time, infused his chest with wistful bliss. Her sweet scent effortlessly reaching him and the closeness of their seats was what made those bothersome family dinners enjoyable for the Young Master.

It was all thanks to what his father had said last night as he gave the opening words to their banquet that he felt impatient delight this morning.

"... It makes me happy to be able to enjoy our dinners together again..."

Therefore like a chanting spell, his mind repeated an encouraging echo to continue his day as best as he could manage, knowing what awaits him at dinner.

’Just until dinner, just until dinner... until dinner... until dinner... until...’

Meanwhile, the Duchess was also spaced out, yet with another subject in thought.

Her husband’s words from this morning had her confused, and so, her elusive attitude lacked the playful archness Elenaide usually portrayed as her dear daughter energetically babbled, delighted by the fabric samples sent to her, that were destined to compose her recently petitioned gowns.

"Would this colour... Oh! This one seems seductive yet, elegant... The dress would enhance..... Oh my! Gorgeous!..... How about..."

Although her Mother was not like herself, Theressa did not bother to point it out. The selfish girl continued to search for satisfactory material leaving her mother to drown in her inner conflicts.

Now, the remaining member of Marianne’s Family, her Father, continues to work on the pending documents hogging all of his freedom.

It was now late afternoon and Orland had enclosed himself in his office after enjoying a... quiet lunch along with his daughter Marianne.

Although it was a given their meetings would prevail with a certain quietness on her behalf, today it had been the first time since they began sharing their meals daily in each other’s company that her stillness was this sharply conveyed.

Recalling her low energy as he revised some accounts, Orland’s thoughts swirled, ultimately stating the mood his daughter was in at the time.

’... She was upset... Maybe even grumpy...’

If not for Paige’s warning before announcing his arrival, at this time, the Duke would be drowning in worry over what had happened for her to become so cold in the little time they were apart from each other.

"My Lord... I beg you to forgive this server’s impertinence... However... The Lady... Please excuse her current... temper... She is..... Indisposed at the moment, My Lord." — Paige had said.

The way the young maid signalled with her eyes as she told the word "indisposed" was her means to say her ladyship was going through every woman’s monthly struggle, yet, Orland took a few seconds to wonder what that gesture meant.

"Hm??... How is she indisposed?? She was fine this morning...?"

Seeing how she continued to gesture with her gazes hinting a bit of discomfort as she had to persist with the issue, growing worried to ultimately have to say the matter directly, the realisation finally fell on Orland.

"... Oh... Oh uh... I– I see... Sorry, I– I understand Paige. Ahem... I shall be careful..." — Flustered to get such information, the usual composure was broken by his embarrassed stutters.

Recalling his daughter’s moody vibes, he let out a short sorry breath... And said in a mumble...

"She must have been in pain... Being a woman... I cannot imagine..."

Trying to imagine the various obstacles the women in his family must surpass... Orland attempted to sympathize with their difficult fate, and, recalling the news that was to be told tonight at dinner... He pitied his own uncertain fate.

The affected person who would mainly receive this announcement... Had already shown unpredictable behaviour, although it was mostly in a lovely way. However, aware of the effects her current condition could provoke... His concerns grew.

Nonetheless... Aware that a truly uncommon reaction could emerge from her this time... In a corner of his mind... A bit of expectation was restraining itself.