You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 99

The time for dinner did not take long to arrive for the Duke. His busy schedule would make it so time flew without him noticing, and now, the time to deliver the request from the Royal Family and announce it to the rest of his family members had come.

As he was accustomed to, Orland arrived before everyone else in the Dining Hall. It was one of his pleasures to welcome each of his family members to their table. He preferred to wait for them than make them wait, making this custom one of the reasons he struggled a lot at the beginning of his daily meals with Marianne.

The Duke would always rush to her chambers, anxious about the thought of making her wait unnecessarily.

Now, he felt a certain peace for being the one waiting on her and his other children.

Soon, his wife and younger daughter arrived in the Dining Room.

In a joyous mood, Theressa entered the room along with her mother, who was still in a bit of a dazed state.

"Father! I hope you have had a wonderful day. I am so happy! You cannot imagine how I’ve missed our dinners together."

"Oh, dear... I’ve missed them too. Come quickly and take a seat with your Father. I want to see my little daughter up close. Elenaide... You too, come and take a seat, my wife."

Their meeting began with a nice ambience, thanks to the cheerful attitude Theressa was portraying after enjoying her dress’ fabrics selection. Although the Duchess was reticent to act as usual in front of her husband who had shaken her composure that morning, his thoughtful tone as he invited her to take her designated seat beside him, made her slightly relax and feel less conflicted under a confused mood.

Theressa began telling her father about the various materials she had been offered to make her dress with as he attentively listened to her energetic rambling, pleased to see that this time she wasn’t making trouble because of how unsatisfactory the products were.

Last time, she had huffed in dissatisfaction with the ones brought, and her capricious facet was put on complete exhibition during one of their dinners. Remembering how hard it was for his wife to placate her anger, made the relief to hear her current joy loosen his shoulders.

His youngest daughter was difficult to manage at times, but seeing how elated she became whenever she felt pleased was something that Orland would never get tired to witness.

’She looks so happy... She will certainly look beautiful with anything she wears... Yet, if this makes her happy... I cannot do more than help her keep that adorable smile... Sigh, My little goose haha...’

It was then that Paul arrived.

"Greetings, Father, Mother... Theressa."

Politely entering the room with a straightened stance appropriate to his position, he greeted his present family, disappointed to only meet his parents and Theressa, when the one he’s been impatiently waiting for was yet to appear.

"Greetings, Paul. You arrived just in time as always son." — Said the proud Duke, observing pleased at how mature his son stood with exemplary and graceful behaviour.

"Indeed... I have learned from His Grace that punctuality is a virtue I ought to always conserve intact after all..."

’Sigh... He’s a man now and I still want him to stay a child... Paulos has always been serious, but now... I miss seeing his innocent attempts of solemnity from when he was younger.’

"That is right. Come, son, take your seat and join us. Marianne must be on her way now."

Bowing in agreement to his offer, the Young Master walked to his seat seemingly unaffected by the mention of his other younger sister. However, his thoughts over her were the ones helping his steady composure seem as serene.

’Haah..... Marianne... My Marianne..... Sister...’

The mere repetition of her name brought him the bliss necessary to calm his true character and the annoyance over sharing his meal with the three other members of the Duchy.

Joining the conversation, no more than a minute passed before the last awaited member arrived.

Marianne, who concealed another assistant inside her, entered the room.

With the traditional stoic kind of expression she usually portrayed, the young girl bowed to greet her family and froze in place to receive her father’s invitation that was to permit her to take her place at the long table.

Watching from the distance, Orland knew with the first glance.

’Ah... My bird is having difficulties...’

"Dear, quickly take a seat. The way here must still be tiresome for you..."

Accepting his thoughtful invitation, Marianne made her way to her seat, flinching slightly to the motion of her Brother standing up to help her with the heavy chair she was to seat in.

No one noticed her reaction in repulse to Paul’s approach. The girl, who was under the effects that her body’s essence summoned, was more stiff than usual by how the uncomfortable state of her womb was acting.

She steadily took a seat. The owner of that body had thoroughly made it so it could behave unfazed by its surroundings in such circumstances, concealing its real fear, discomfort and its true weakness. These last ones were not the ones implied in its delicate features and movements, but the weaknesses she had stockpiled over the years as a means to protect herself to a tiny but some extent.

The family had assembled once again, and the time to eat had come. However, Orland had decided on his way to the Dining Hall:

’It’s better to say it now... Otherwise... If Marianne gets upset and there is nothing left to make her feel better, she might stay in a bad mood for longer...’

His reasoning was all founded on what he witnessed during their lunch. The young girl who was clearly upset by her current state, throwing daggers with tired vibes, cheered up instantly once the food was served. The Duke had noticed that his daughter found great joy in every meal before, but in this situation, her infatuation with food would help him appease the child if things turned sour.

Certain that things had to be done either way, Orland opted for this alternative, to find a better result at the very end. And so, instead of ordering for the meal to be served, the following words rolled from his mouth.

"Now that we are all together... I want to announce something before we start to dine. It is a matter that has been delayed by the circumstances and... At this time... There are no more reasons to continue to postpone our summon..."

With a serious tone, conveying that it was not a trivial issue, Orland spoke with eloquent authority so that the news could be received with a better disposition by the members of his family. Lifting his gaze, he peeked at the currently elusive eyes of Marianne and braved himself to the responses of the other attentive assistants.

"An invitation has been sent from the Royal Palace."

".....!"

"Marianne is to stay at the Royal Palace from the 15th of Zate, in accordance with the invitation sent by the Crown Prince himself."

Thud! Clank!!

"What??!! The Crown Prince invited Marianne to stay at the Palace?! Ho–!"

"Theressa! What are you doing?! Do not speak like that to your Father!"

"..." — Concealing with his well-trained composure the strangeness his daughter Theressa’s reaction provoked, Orland, stayed silent.

Letting his wife deal with the bad manners their daughter was displaying, the Duke sent a cold glare at his youngest child, one entirely different to the fond one he gave her earlier. Her behaviour and disrespect, although he adored the child, were not something a parent should withstand.

No matter how high their love for the child could fly... If no respect is shared... then, things were not as the Gods had stipulated.

Theressa’s sight met her Father’s and flinched in surprise. She knew well that acting recklessly in front of a man who had clear morals and principles on how relationships should be handled was not a wise thing to do, more so, if said man was her Father, who had raised them with those principles for them to guide their steps in an honest and proud path.

Orland was slightly disappointed, yet, in his kind nature, he tried to understand his youngest by considering her young age and the reasons behind her attitude he might be ignorant of. Disregarding her shameful previous acts as she forcibly stopped her outburst with great effort, trembling in frustration and restraining the distortion of her youthful visage to one filled with rage, The Duke continued his announcement.

"... I have been declining His Highness’s request for weeks now. I assume you are all aware that the reason for that, is Marianne’s delicate condition after the Spring Ball... Right?"

"..." — The two women, his wife and Theressa nodded, meanwhile Paul stayed silent, as well as the mute Marianne.

"It is now unavoidable to fulfil His Highness request... which sadl–... which has also been supported by His Majesty..." — Orland corrected his honest words with the appropriate ones and let those true thoughts take form in a new scheme.

’Right... That Francois... Maurice... I’ll have to pay my "friend" a visit too...’

"... Husband..." — After letting the silence seal a thick stillness after the Duke’s words, Elenaide intervened with caution, yet with a clever plan in mind.