You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 33

*******

The Crown Prince had left the Royal Ball earlier that night. In his bedroom, he drank wine while watching the birds in the cage.

The number had been restored, even increased, which made him bitter on the inside.

Staring at the wine residing in the cup... dark, like coagulated blood...

’... but tastier.’

... Zeleskiaz was waiting.

The Emperor would soon leave the Royal Ball too, and, shortly after, he would call for his successor to come.

It happened every time an event was held in the Palace. Therefore he waited patiently, expectant that, this time, there wouldn’t be as much nagging as usual.

However, the Emperor did not call for him until it got unexpectedly late. The Prince was vexed at how long he stayed put for the obnoxious Emperor.

Although he felt that way, the Prince abided by his call and headed to the Emperor’s lounge room, holding onto the ounce of patience he had left.

Seated on a comfy chair, Francois watched his son come into the room with a pleased expression.

"... You’re here, hm?"

The condescending attitude that his Father adopted, became more hateful by the day and, now, it was washing away the patience he had managed to keep. Hence, a deadly glare was sent to the Emperor, alongside his sharp reply.

".......Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor flinched at the sight and became aware that the madman was already on edge.

Even though the Crown Prince tolerated his never-ending nagging and rambling, it wasn’t for any reason that had to do with the respect an Empire’s ruler or even a Father deserved.

Zeleskiaz did not respect him.

Honestly, he considered his Father to be a nuisance. If not for the position he would transfer to him later, the Prince wouldn’t even meet the Emperor.

He only treated him politely for manner’s sake.

This was well known by Francois. The way his son belittled him from a young age, made him aware of various things. However, he never saw the ones that were truly important.

Consequently, Zeleskiaz stopped and erased any value this Emperor could have meant in his life as a person.

’His only merit... is his position.’

After meeting the Crown Prince’s glare, the Emperor turned mindful of his words. However, he still tried to nag at him. This was the only parent like right he was permitted to do at this point in the Prince’s life, so he was set on not losing this unique privilege.

"Ahem... You behaved well today. But why are you so cold to the subjects? You ought to know they will serve you at some point?... You are this handsome thanks to this father of yours and you can’t even give a little smile as service? Haaaa... the noble ladies just keep staring at you and not even a glance you give them! You don’t even have friends! How is it that....."

Once the Emperor cleared his voice, he began to lecture his son on the recurrent motifs he found fault. As Zeleskiaz’s patience reached its limit, his eyes started to pierce into his father.

Again, clearing his throat, conscious of his scrutinising eyes, Francois took a sip of wine to help his dry mouth and promptly changed the subject.

"Right. I was informed that... you danced for the first time today and with none other than... Lady Marianne?"

Pleased by the news, the Emperor wanted to take advantage and tease his son, who was — for obvious reasons — difficult to poke fun at.

’...Marianne. So that’s her name...’

However, he did not fall into the childish provocation of the Emperor who was raising the end of one eyebrow in expectation.

For once, the Emperor was useful and let him know the woman’s name, which he was wondering about ever since their encounter at the Ball.

"All I know is that she is one of Sylfinnier’s daughters. I ought to thank you for enlightening me with her name, Your Majesty."

A challenging gaze was cast on the Emperor, inciting him to do a better job if he honestly thought he could joke around with someone like him.

Gulping down a bit of the remaining wine, Francois decided to dismiss him, ashamed at how he was the one who was made fun of in the end, pouting bitterly for not being able to accomplish the developments he had previously imagined.

"... Well, you did great. It’s a relief that you managed to have a dance with such a befitting Lady..." Feeling how Zeleskiaz’s gaze burned a hole in him, he finally said what his son wanted to hear.

"Alright! Just go! Godda*n it! You’re not cute at all! Such a boring child I have for f**** sake!!!"

While the Emperor kept grunting, the Prince turned his back on him and shrugged at the raining complaints, pitying how easy to manage the old man has become.

Walking with relaxed steps, He returned to his bedroom, pondering about the dancing Lady’s name.

"Marianne" is a name that has different meanings, depending on the culture and times.

Rebellious, bitter grace... star of the sea... and so on, were some of the meanings the Crown Prince could recall from half of the name composition.

There was a time, his sister had a variety of pets. He was still able to remember the last one. It was a lilac-breasted roller bird, however, it had a tail and eye contour of vivid red colour. One of the legends he had learned when he was still a child said that a red-tailed lilac-breasted roller was the incarnation of a newborn God that failed to grow stronger. Given this background, the bird’s existence was extraordinarily unique.

Jasmine searched for a befitting name for every pet she had in a book that contained names with their meanings. Having the experience of looking for names several times, she knew how to name the pet as soon as she saw it.

"Maria... its name is Maria. The colour of the wings’ feathers is like a sea surrounding a star........ The mix of colours and its history are rebellious and full of bitter grace........ Just like I read..... Fits perfect..."

His sister said something like that when she named it.

Thanks to that bird, the suggestion of having a cage full of birds in his room came to light. The easily crushed head of the bird gave him the idea.

Although, the source from where he recalled the meaning was... unusual. Zeleskiaz thought that those descriptions were true in the Lady he danced with tonight.

"...Marianne." He mumbled, slightly tilting his head at how odd it felt to say the name.

Arriving at his bedroom, he took off most of the clothes covering his upper body and stopped when only the shirt was left. The face of the smiling woman kept repeating itself, ever since the name rolled out of his lips a moment ago. The image bothered him in a weird way.

It was already past midnight, but now, incited by the echoes of shining eyes, Zeleskiaz had a strong urge... to go see the Lady.

He declared this rare impulse as a manifestation of curiosity. After all, the expressionless mute Lady... did not seem to be completely unable to demonstrate emotions.

Zeleskiaz did not duel on the reason why such desire emerged and promptly wore a cloak to cover himself, taking action immediately.

His bedroom was located on a high up floor. However, to a man who was levelled as a war hero, this was as easy as it could get. Jumping out from the window he made his way down swiftly and effortlessly.

He walked toward the West Wing.

As a Prince, knowing the whereabouts of every guest was a must, and more so if it was a Ducal family.

The distance was large, it would take him around fifty minutes to get there from the Main Palace, but even in the dark, the moon was like an ally that led him to his destination.

As if it was showing him the road to take... the path he already knew became easier to follow, letting him arrive sooner than presumed.

He arrived at the building. Darkness was painted over every window. The Prince did not know in which exact room the Lady was staying. Yet, being a daughter to a Duke... the alternatives were quickly diminished.

Zeleskiaz was roaming around the building, glancing at the windows. At some point, he realised the foolish act he was perpetrating.

"Haaa... what am I doing...?"

He sighed, incredulous at his impulsive actions that did not fit his character.

Ready to go back, grasping the edge of his sight, a dim light was slipping out of a... balcony window...

Intrigued by it, Zeleskiaz got closer to the balcony. As he came closer, he could see that the glass door connecting to the balcony had the curtains half-open, as well as the adjacent windows. The light was overly faint.

Menacing to vanish at any moment, it made him more eager to see... if that was the room he had been searching for.

The Prince skilfully climbed up, taking only two steps to land on the balcony. The silence was everything he could hear from inside.

Smoothly moving to the side of the glass door, he took a glimpse inside the room.

As his eyes slowly scanned the room, looking for its guest, they eventually met the scene of a woman in a nightgown.

’... found you...’

The one Lady he had come to see... was finally found.