You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 27 — The Other’s Royal Ball.

As instructed by his Master, The Butler notified Paul to go see the Duke once he was finished with preparations.

The Young Master of the house had had a rough night after coming back from his travels. Arriving later than expected, he wasn’t able to be welcomed and pay his greeting to his sister the day before. Not being in a good condition, he restrained himself from going to see the girl in the middle of the night, even though he strongly desired to do so.

More than anything, he wanted to look good in front of her.

Paul had missed seeing Marianne so vastly that the impatience made him unable to rest well over his travels and more so the night before. However, this impatience wasn’t the only thing that kept him awake through the night.

In a corner of his mind, the anxiety and worry for what was to come tomorrow brought him great anguish and uneasiness.

Annoyed at his tired complexion, he bit his lips, frowning strongly at the sight the mirror portrayed.

’Tsk! I can’t look like this in front of Marianne!’

Consequently, he took more time than ordinary to get ready that morning. Paul paid attention to every little detail while dressing up. Nitpicking at the tiniest wrinkles of his entire outfit, he even used a little makeup to conceal the tiredness off his face in an attempt to lessen the dark circles’ existence.

Once he realized he couldn’t do much more, a rough sigh of irritation and dissatisfaction rolled out from him. Regardless of the outcome of his attempts, he knew his sister would find him handsome anyhow, which appeased his growing frustration.

Marianne was a kind goddess in his eyes, who would never mind such superficial matters.

Recalling her godlike existence, Paul became lively in an instant.

’... Soon I’ll finally be able to see her... She will smile at me, sweetly... like she always does...’

The mere thought, made him feel like a strike of electricity had gone through his whole body.

Letting out a heated breath, ecstatic at the thought of seeing Marianne again, made the reflection in the mirror display a wicked smirk.

Making up his mind, Paul headed to his Father’s office. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

When special events like this one occurred, both of them, as the only men in the family, would wait together for the Duchess to finish her preparations ever since Paul made his debut in high society.

Keeping each other company was their way of killing the long waiting time before the departure.

Usually, a light conversation would start while they drank a strong cup of tea. However, today was not one of those days. Both of them were in a mood that wouldn’t allow them to act like usual.

When Paul got to his Father’s office, he immediately noticed how restless the Duke was.

"Father."

"Ah... Paul. "

The same happened to the Duke. As soon as his son made his presence known, Orland noticed his son’s tired disposition and quickly assumed they had the same concerns.

Making a gesture with his hand, Orland signalled Paul to take a seat, welcoming him into the room.

Seating across each other, no words were exchanged between them.

Both men were deep in thought.

’... Is Marianne doing fine...?’ — Letting out a long sigh, the Duke showed a pained expression as the anxious thoughts took certain shapes. — ’...God... please let today pass without problems... help me protect my child... my children...’

While such thoughts unsettled his Father’s psyche, The Young Master glanced at him coldly and said inwardly.

’...You act worried when this is all your fault, Father.’ — Gritting his teeth in anger, he added to the vicious thought. — ’...I won’t forgive you...’

It was very unfortunate. Even though Paul’s expression did not hide his hostility... the Duke did not notice the strong hatred his son had amassed towards him as he stayed immersed in his own thoughts.

Time passed in silence and, eventually, the Butler knocked on the door and informed them that the Duke’s wife was ready. Thus, Father and Son, headed to the Main Hall to receive the Ladies who were soon to arrive, ready to head out.

The Duchess appeared a few minutes later. Wearing a simple but refined grass green dress, the Duke’s wife walked down the stairs and politely greeted her husband and son.

Unlike her husband, Elenaide was excited about today’s Ball.

Since it was the Royal Ball where Theressa would make her debut, she had asked for the best jewellery and dresses to be ordered for her daughter to wear. When it came to Theressa’s matters, she would do her best and go beyond to make her happy.

Elenaide considered Theressa her only daughter. For this reason, the one who took care of Marianne’s Ball preparations was Orland, The Duke himself.

The day the Duke announced Marianne’s participation in the Spring Royal Ball, Elenaide had to hold herself back until it was bedtime to snap at her husband.

"How can you make Theressa have her debut together with her?! Theressa should be the only star that day! Are you stupid?! That girl will only disgrace our House’s honour with her incompetence!!!"

The Duke gritted his teeth and tried to stay calm to such an outburst. Orland knew very well of his wife’s dislike for Marianne.

Even though she was their first daughter, Elenaide could never truly show affection towards Marianne. Since birth, she only would do the basics to care for her, always keeping a safe distance.

This apprehension became worse when Marianne changed. Elenaide would look at Marianne with discomfort and started to refuse to even pronounce her name.

Orland could never understand such behaviour, even more, when he saw how differently Elenaide treated Theressa.

’She is her daughter too... so why...?’

"... It is a Royal order, you know I can’t go against his Majesty’s wishes..."

The Duke pressed the bridge of his nose, clearly suppressing his annoyance and exhaustion to his wife’s loud tantrum.

"That man! What does he...!! Just because he’s the Emperor–...!!!" — Elenaide trembled in rage and frustration. If she kept talking, her sayings could be considered treason.

Biting her lower lip, she came up with a childish way of rebellion.

"...Then, you take care of it."

"... What?"

"I won’t move a finger for that girl’s preparations! YOU do it! She doesn’t deserve to even be part of this family!!"

These words were too much for his ears to hear. The Duke couldn’t contain his anger, raising his voice to his wife for the first time in years.

"How can you declare such things?! Marianne is our daughter too! How can you simply–...???!!!"

Orland became heated with anger, however, he stopped himself from continuing the sentence.

Tensing his whole body, clenching both of his hands forcefully, Orland suppressed his rage with great effort. The words that his wife would answer with, were obvious to him. Such words were said too many times before, and Orland did not want to hear them ever again if possible.

"Haa... Let’s stop now. You don’t need to concern yourself with Marianne, I will do everything personally. Don’t bring up this issue again." — With a dry cutting voice, the Duke glared with cold eyes at his wife. Letting her know his displeasure.

That is how things "settled" between the married couple.

So now, the Duchess was only concerned about Theressa’s matters, just as her husband had told her.

’Theressa will be the most beautiful debutante flower in this Ball!’

Elenaide had a happy expression, which in contrast to the other two men, looked like the smile of a fool who lived in her own world.

While exchanging a few words, the two daughters arrived. The three of them turned their heads to look in the direction of Theressa’s excited voice as she made her entrance.

"Father!"

Their gazes fell on the two little Ladies who were descending the stairs.

The Duke first saw Theressa, who was running down the remaining stairs, but soon noticed Marianne, who followed behind. Both of his daughters looked beautiful. He was accustomed to seeing Theressa showing off her beauty, that is why Marianne’s appearance made more of an impact on him. He made his way to receive them as they arrived, and greeted them affectionately.

The Duke smiled at Theressa’s excitement. She was asking for compliments using her cute behaviour, so he said a few to calm her down a little.

Then, Orland’s eyes rolled in the direction of the one-child he wanted to compliment the most.

’Oh... my sun...how come you’ve grown to be so beautiful...’

He thought as he smiled at Marianne, who had met his eyes. Although he reckoned she looked lovely, her expression, still without any emotion, pierced his heart with its coldness.

After meeting his eyes, She closed her eyelids softly, looking slightly downwards. This was Marianne’s way of greeting... after her change got to its worst.

Anguish painted his heart in a dark shade as she turned her aloof gaze.

Distressed at her little action, his eyes widened in fright. A wave of concern drowned his head, recalling the past.

’... My baby....... p–please... I will do anything...so please stay...don’t leave...’

From the bottom of his heart, the Duke begged strongly in prayer, asking her soul not to vanish, unaware that his hand was almost driven by the emotions to reach out for her. Orland had to break out of his desperate requests quickly, as Thomas approached him for further instructions, stopping his hand from doing as it wanted.

On the other hand, Paul, from the moment he heard Theressa’s irritating voice, his eyes went straight to Marianne’s location without letting them get tainted by Theressa’s sights.

’Ah... Marianne...’

As he gazed at her, his heart began to accelerate in rejoice.

’Finally... I can see you...’