You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 573

"Um, my lady. Truthfully, I was wondering if you would open the noble’s gifts since the time will come soon for the visit you have arranged this afternoon." — Paige said timidly. Glancing again at where said gifts lay.

"?? I will open them but... what does that have to do with the gifts? I can continue once I return... it is not that big of a matter, Paige."

"Certainly you can continue once you return as you say, my lady." — Nervous she replied. Persisting without saying it clearly for her master to understand. — "Yet that is not the reason why I mentioned it... um..."

"?? I do not understand... why do you mention it then?"

"... well..."

"... A gift from the crown prince." — Given the shyness Paige showcased while trying to state the motives, Vitor ultimately answered for the first time after no word was let out for a while. Stopping time for those present as their lady realised roughly the maid’s imply that wanted to be considerate yet failed at their master’s slow realisation. — "It arrived while we were gone. It is the one on top."

"!? O-oh! Haha... s-so that is why... haha..."

It was once informed directly that the chosen decided to pay attention to that one gift... feeling embarrassed of her dense attitude yet even so, walking towards it to finally open it. Putting aside the bashfulness to rejoice in delight by the mere existence of such a gift between the many and developing further joy once its content was exposed.

"... goodness..." — Taking it in her hands she softly sighed. Watching the pieces amazed by their quality. — "I... I never expected him to give me this..."

"... His Highness has paid attention to our lady. The gift demonstrates it... It is reassuring to see, hehe~" — Paige, thrilled by the good choice said to Vitor, who solemnly nodded as the closeness and smile of the maid made him shy and quieter.

"..."

The awe continued to reign over Marianne as she inspected the other pieces until the silence was broken by the other guard watching.

"Reassuring? His Highness should at least be able to do this. Otherwise, it would not be reasonable to allow courting our lady."

"... Goodness, Sir Theodore, you truly dislike his highness."

"Lady Marianne is my master. There is no need for myself to like any other."

While a little discussion commenced. Marianne simply admired the gift, opening a piece of it to admire the texture... while also recalling the one time she wrote a note for the man as a reply with a playful unthoughtful wish...

’He paid attention to that... there was so little to talk about that I wrote that in a whim and yet he... Gosh... how I love this gift...’ — She smiled, enamoured of the detail he did not forget.

"... Should I move it somewhere else, my lady? It will be soon time for you to leave." — Paige said after noticing how long her master was taking to admire the gift from her suitor. Receiving her nod, so some little touch-ups could be done before Zeleskiaz’s arrival; was now much more anticipated by the moved lady.

*******

He had only just arrived at her doors... and yet not a moment was granted for his heart to settle down before the doors opened on their own. By the hands of an enthusiast lady... who unbeknownst to all those who accompanied her in her chambers was informed by the small creatures accompanying her that the one protected by Fenrir had arrived.

"... !? My lady-?!"

"?! Lady Marianne!" — One of the guards, Theodore exclaimed from inside. Stunned by the embrace his master had planned to grant the prince once at her doors. Aware that the chaperons would quickly interfere... yet going against it all for the sake of conveying her appreciation. — "P-please, respect the distance. This is inappropriate, my lady!"

"Um, my Lady Marianne... er... What is this welcome due to...?"

"..." — Taking the step back as the chaperons required, she still smiled after seeing the prince’s trouble. Looking at the flustered Zeleskiaz try to reign his confusion and delight as his hands lovingly touched her shoulders, not pushing her away but requesting her step to separate them as his wishes contradicted it.

She kept silent solely because of the knights outside who feigned ignorance at the scene. Remaining solemn as their job required, and so, Marianne took her stack to let the prince understand the meaning behind her hug.

[ My prince, I received and love your gift. I shall use the colours carefully.

I thank you deeply. My heart rejoices. ]

"... It... It is wonderful that it met your tastes..." — He said, slightly overwhelmed by her enthusiasm and attentive hues. Conceiving immediate ideas of what to say next. — "I did not expect for you to like it this much... nevertheless, it pleases me since it is fresh in my memories that you mentioned how at times a wish for giving colour to your sketches came to your mind..."

[ The fact that the prince remembered that warms my heart. All of what this gift is brings myself delight, Your Highness. ]

"... *gulp*... I am glad..." — Almost as if a whisper, Zeleskiaz replied, too breathless by her pure sightliness.

"..."

"... Mesmerized the man is."

"Mesmerized with the Ninth, he is~!"

"Will he kiss her?"

"He wants to kiss her~~" — The fairies playfully said, causing the chosen to shrink from shy joy. Only to be interrupted by those who watched troubled the meeting.

"Is His Highness here to escort our master to her siblings?"

"... Yes." — Zeleskiaz answered Vitor who had asked in the name of everyone there.

And so, with such intervention, their journey for a visit commenced.

A carriage waited at the entrance and was boarded for the jail was far from the Main Palace. The well-known dungeons near the Palace were mostly for beasts and selected criminals. Therefore, those Marianne was to visit were taken far to the edges as their crime, unbeknownst to herself, was considered the greatest as it was committed against the Empire’s promised child. Sending them where a deity used to be allowed cruelty in the past.