You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 454

"... You plan to defend them even as you know they have wronged Marianne and your trust?" — Zeleskiaz growled in disbelief, accepting the threat by conveying his aura’s menace.

"Don’t mention my daughter’s name so casually." — Orland replied without losing a speck of confidence before the Crown Prince. — "Be confident... I’m surely not going to defend them... Therefore, do as I say while I still maintain my sword sheathed. Stay away from them, Crown Prince." — Holding each other’s threat for a while, it was Orland’s gaze that decided to end the encounter. Sighing as he placed the weight of his hand on the Prince’s shoulder to, in a seemingly amiable way, invite him to start the search again. — "Now it’s enough of this. Come. The sooner we resume the search the better. We have to decrease the possible places they might have taken Marianne. Along with the other search groups that move through the Empire it will be difficult for them to keep hiding... and Marianne’s surely waiting... she’s clever... I am sure shE wiLl-... ahem....."

"..."

"She will not let herself be lowered by this."

"..."

"Come now. Before it starts getting dark." — Acting indifferent to the stare the man gave him after his voice broke thinking about not solely the dear daughter but also the circumstances his family fell on, Orland, stepped ahead, listening to how Zeleskiaz instructed his right hand.

"Alright... Biel, we are heading out. Prepare."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will inform the others."

That afternoon would not be the last they would spend searching for the chosen child. Thankfully getting closer as the Crown Prince’s blood was cursed by Fenrir, the instincts of the deity linked to that around her wrist would dimly show a track to follow for those of the Empire looking for her.

Yet it would be days of search they would spend... the Crown Prince and the Father, as well as the remorseful Duke of Noverrne and the Empire’s people, would not cease their search... certain for as the child’s Father had told... our Ninth was clever...

*******

It was once it became dark that Paul finally appeared.

I somehow managed to stay awake although we felt weak and dizzy because we lacked water and were too concerned about whenever someone would come.

A stomach ache had been ongoing for a while, but even so, we tried to breathe in and out trying to appease the ill feeling. Aware that it was fearful anxiety acting up at the limbo we were in not knowing anything but that servant’s existence.

*Knock Knock* — "Marianne. It’s me. May I come in?"

I heard him say from behind the door.

’... He even-... he’s insane. Asking for permission? Really??’ — At the way he announced himself, I narrowed our eyes pained to recognise his voice, disturbed by the nonsensical action while it was obvious I had no real say on it... And consequently, I wouldn’t answer. Since, given how perturbed his mind is, even if he heard us speak he already believed we’ve been talking to him in his crazyness.

*Crea~ak*

It only was a second he waited. Slowly opening the door, which I had decided not to look away from, only wishing to see how delusional he was once seeing our glare and give it another meaning like he was used to.

"... Marianne, I’m sorry I made you wait. There were a few things I needed to take care of so we could be together with ease... Are you mad I left you alone?"

’Psychopath. I want to kill you because I have to be here with you instead.’ — Nauseous at how fast he changed the meaning of our glare, I had to turn away as he came closer, sitting next to us, trying to get us to face him while we moved away until the chains didn’t permit it anymore.

"Don’t be mad... My Marianne... We can be at ease now. I’ve prepared everything so nothing will disturb our peace from now on." — Forcing us to look at him, his hand took our chin, squeezing it hurtfully to then stroke it with his shameless hand going down my neck... too calmly and intently staring the path it was taking. — "..... Why are you still dressed in this? Was the dress I asked to be brought not to your liking?"

’... As if you don’t know.’

"... Do you want me... to help you change?"

"..." — A shiver froze me instantly at how quickly he suggested that while fiddling with my hair as if waiting for a yes. And I stared at him too baffled for a moment... until he laughed out of nowhere.

"Hahaha! I am jesting, my sweet Marianne~... We can’t do that." — Taking the strand of our hair, he inhaled its scent too openly, glancing at us as if implying... that it wasn’t that he couldn’t but that it was too soon for that. — "Were the chains keeping you from reaching things? You should have called for me."

"...."

"But I guess it would have been useless... I supposedly was in prison until a while ago, you see... this puppetry tool needs me to act as if I am there or it won’t fool anyone. So I had to leave you here alone so I could concentrate and make them think it was truly me that was in front of them."

’... Prison?... Why though? Could it be that they learnt about my disappearance and immediately suspected him???’

"That crown prince was too f*cking fast realising it, Marianne. As the madman he is, he went to the Ball and confronted father disgracefully. I knew he was a bad man. You should have obeyed me and stayed away from him... But I suppose you couldn’t... he’s dangerous. He could have harmed you if you didn’t go with his pestering presence... Right?"

Smiling at me it seemed as if he had already crafted a reply that satisfied him from me. And yet, I only lowered our eyes to ponder about what he had told us while he stood to get the things the maid had left out of my reach.

’... Zeleskiaz did that...?’ — Conflicted while moved to know it had been him who realised it first I tried not to mind it as much since the Duke was also mentioned. Thinking that maybe like in the book, he had behaved violently...

"However, My Marianne, I didn’t think father would allow him to imprison us. I suppose he has been acting odd... Father appears to dislike my every move since he suddenly placed eyes that serve him on me... It was bothersome at the beginning, yet worry not, I managed to take care of it in time."