You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 29

The Sylfinnier family arrived at the Royal Ball Room.

As members of high nobility, the Ducal couple and their heir had to greet many people from the moment they stepped into the Ball Room, leaving the two young daughters behind to fend for themselves in the unfamiliar place.

Aware that not long after their arrival, the Emperor was to make his entrance, Orland felt at ease. Under those circumstances, there wasn’t much time for someone to approach his daughters, particularly Marianne.

Since she looked so gorgeous, the men who noticed her were hesitant to launch a conversation — they would have to gather some courage first to be able to talk to her — making that short time before the Emperor’s appearance too brief to take any action.

Paul, on the other hand, was annoyed at his friends, who were asking enthusiastically about his sister. The elated sensation he felt earlier had completely disappeared now by their highly bothersome interest. For this reason, he drove them somewhere they wouldn’t be able to keep peeking glances at her undeniable beauty.

’These pigs... How dare they look at her like that!’

Struggling to disguise his outrage with a fake smile, Paul socialized with the other young men who, just like him, were the future of the Frotschter Empire, losing sight of Marianne in the process.

The time for the Royal Family to make their entrance arrived a few minutes later.

Each member exuded authority. The Emperors descended the wide stairs, making their way through the Ball Room as their magnificence was praised by the assisting nobles. Bowing their heads in awe, everybody expressed their respect for the rulers of the Empire, exhibiting their tribute.

The Crown Prince found these people pathetic. Their submissive attitude made them look pitiful in his cold eyes.

In amusement to witness such a scene, the view of the bowing heads provoked a scant smirk to take form on his lips.

In the future, that praise would solely be directed at him.

’Foolish people.’ — Zeleskiaz said inwardly as he walked down, heading to his designated place next to The Emperor.

He didn’t pay much attention to the initiation of the Ball. The only thing he wanted was for this boring event to end as soon as possible.

Every Royal Ball was exactly the same. From the very beginning, he was unwilling to assist these useless traditions full of hypocrisy, however, as the heir to the throne, he had to prove his position doing so.

Conscious that he had to behave properly, Zeleskiaz decided to do the bare minimum.

’My presence itself should be enough.’

As usual, He followed the Emperor and Empress to the room hidden behind the curtains.

Honouring his elusive and apathetic personality, the Prince lacked great interest in the debuting nobles.

Since the first time he had to assist the ceremonies, he never once looked in the direction of the young nobles as he welcomed the youth with the Emperor. Furthermore, the nonstop and shameless rain of compliments to his Father made him extremely nauseous, which came to be one of the reasons he loathes such events.

Normally, The Emperor never said anything before calling the debutant inside the audience lounge. He would always drink wine, loitering for his servant to inform him that the debutante was waiting for his call and take his leisure time, enough to summon anxiety in the invited ones.

However, this time, once he had taken his seat at his handcrafted golden marble throne covered by a red fabric, he broke from the monotonous tradition.

As soon as the cupbearer came to his side and served his wine, the Emperor inquired the young lad about an unexpected matter.

"Duke Sylfinnier... how many daughters did he bring?"

Asked the Emperor, while looking at his full chalice, slightly waving it in indifference, expecting a quick answer. His Secretary showed up in hast, saving the stuttering lad who was caught off guard by the Emperor from a task he wasn’t apt to do.

"Your Majesty, Duke Sylfinnier assisted with all of his family members. Today, His Grace came with his two daughters. Both will take part in the coming of age ceremony."

A wicked smile was displayed on his Majesty’s face after hearing the news.

"I see... Interesting."

Seeing his Father’s behaviour intrigued the Crown Prince. Nonetheless, he still didn’t pay much attention to it.

The Emperor had always acted mischievously towards the Duke. He did not know the real reason behind it... but also did not have an ounce of interest in learning the motive.

"Tell him not to make me wait."

Obeying his order, a servant was sent immediately to deliver the message.

In the meantime, the Duke had already approached his daughters, knowing they would be called shortly after to do what brought them here.

Orland firmly warned Theressa to be careful with her attitude. Not only was he nervous about her lack of self-control, but also, because she did not know the Emperor’s character.

To make things worse, he didn’t know how Marianne was feeling. Even looking into her eyes, he couldn’t see any hint of what was going on in her mind. Anxiety was eating him up at the thought of her having a hard time dealing with such circumstances. The fact that she wasn’t able to express herself by words or facial expressions, might bring stress to her poor soul... Giving it the last push... to leave.

This belief made his chest throb in distress. Her soul was what he wanted to protect the most in the world.

Suddenly, Theressa retorted to his warning with a vicious remark, offended by his warnings. Stopping his growing apprehensions for a moment.

"Father! How could I embarrass myself like that?! You should not even mention it!... You should worry about Marianne."

Orland became extremely angry at her words.

’Does this child think lightly of me? She dares speak like that to her father and warn me instead?’

Incredulous at his youngest daughter’s stupidity, the Duke did not conceal his fury.

His hardened face muscles made his displeasure evident. Showing her that she had crossed the line.

Theressa was dense, she didn’t really understand the change of mood on her father. Nevertheless, she had a basic trait, that even animals possessed. Intuition.

Sensing something had gone wrong, she hurriedly added. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Father, please do not worry. Let me present myself first. That way Marianne won’t feel pressured to go first."

The Duke just looked at her coldly, not buying her precarious solace.

That was when the servant, sent by His Majesty, came and delivered his words.

Now, Orland was more troubled than angry. He bit the inside of his mouth in frustration to the dry message and reluctantly nodded his head to the servant, to the point of almost forcing himself to do so.

"Very well... Let’s go, the Emperor has called for us."

Orland agreed to Theressa’s suggestion since there was no more time left.

Then, he looked at Marianne.

How could he not worry for his precious sun? Looking into her always dull eyes, the tiny light he had seen appear before was still there, unchanged.

’I will make them brighter no matter what... This Father will never let your soul die, my child.’

Determined to protect his daughter from the mischievous Emperor, Orland said to Marianne in a decisive tone.

"Let’s go, Marianne."

*******

"Duke Sylf–........daughters, Lady......and La–......... Have come...... presence."

The aloof Prince ignored the people who had just entered the Room, not even paying attention to who they were announced as.

The Duke, on the other hand, was nervous, because he knew well that Francois was a sarcastic and unpredictable fellow. However, the Emperor was being very courteous, creeping him out with his odd behaviour...

Words like "Such a happy occasion", "as a Father I understand the sadness", and "I congratulate you on raising such beautiful flowers"; were easily said and seemed somehow sincere... which made him more restless.

’Just what is this madman planning?!’

Orland was confused but still could act naturally. He was used to keeping his composure to such misleading actions from the Emperor, this stockpiled experience through the years made him capable to thank his Majesty’s embellished words without trouble.

Seeing no reaction to his sly words, the Emperor continued with the ceremony inwardly pouting at the Duke’s dullness.

"... Then, let us proceed."

The time for the girls to introduce themselves had come.

Theressa was excited. Since earlier, she wasn’t able to shake off the heat from her cheeks as she caught sight of the Crown Prince. The man was all she ever wanted.

The Villainess had fallen in love with the Male Lead at first sight as cliche as it is for these characters.

That is why she tried to appeal to him with good manners and a sweet voice so that he would look at her, now that it was her turn to speak and introduce herself.

"It is an honour to be in your presence, your Majesty. I am Theressa Sylfinnier, the youngest from house Sylfinnier. Let Fenrir walk beside you."

For some reason, she was confident that she would win everyone’s interest. She was convinced of her beauty and thought she knew how to manipulate the atmosphere in her favour. However, the silence before His Majesty’s answer was already a bad omen.

"... I see... you may raise your head. You say you are the youngest...?"

The cold voice of the Emperor made her aware of his indifference. However, She persevered showing off her baseless confidence looking right into the eyes of the Emperor.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"...You have grown well. From now on, you are officially an adult. As a subject, live honouring the greatness of the Empire and your house."

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Her recognition as an adult ended just like that. The Emperor just basically told her to serve him well from now on.

It was so fast that she wasn’t able to show any kind of reaction.

Theressa only managed to take a peek at Zeleskiaz, who was standing next to the Emperor, whilst her confusion.

The Crown Prince wasn’t even looking to the front. His face was slightly turned to the side, with no intention to look her way.

’No. Is he even aware of our presence?’

Her intuition was right. Zeleskiaz didn’t even register their presence. The man was merely standing there, waiting patiently for the wearisome procedure to end.

Theressa felt humiliated for the first time in her life at all that had happened in that short amount of time.

The fact that nothing had gone as she imagined was a great shock. Something like this had never happened before.

Shaking while clenching the skirt of her dress in shame, she stepped back to her previous spot.

’...Why...?’ — She asked herself, ignorant that from the very beginning, her attitude had been too cocky to please the Emperor’s taste.