You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 473 — Let us Talk… Love.

With little energy, the Crown Prince was allowed to vacate the Emperor’s stances, leaving his father with bothered sensation as he never shared any detail with others about the Lady and himself, going back to the Burgundy Calla’s Chambers to wait for an opportunity... that would not come as fast as he hoped for.

"Let the physicians do their job first... If she’s awake once they finish, then do visit her. But she’s weak right now... we should avoid anything that can force her energy unnecessarily..."

"Nonetheless... Was she alright? If you permit... May I ask what did my Lady say?"

"... Too many things, Zeleskiaz... but for now, she requested from me and you to keep her sound a secret..." — Feeling sorry for the down mood his request placed on the Prince, Orland’s hand fell on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him in the kindness that allowed it. — "Can you continue to help us with that?"

"I understand... it does seem appropriate..."

"I’ll go talk with your Father now... You should also rest a little, brat."

"I’ll wait-"

"It’s not a suggestion." — Strict, Orland said, honouring his word to the child. — "Go to your chambers, wash up and rest a little before you try seeing Marianne. The least she needs now is to feel concerned about us... I’ll do the same. Just go, Zeleskiaz... For your well-being and hers."

"...."

Without truly replying, both men went into separate ways, Zeleskiaz followed by his right hand who had come given the good news.

"... You should do as the Duke says... You’ve been by her side all this time..."

"..."

"... It will be better if you take a little break before going back to the Lady..."

"... Haaa...I know... I truly understand, Biel... It’s only that I feel it’s... useless..."

"? Why?? Do you still think she doesn’t want to see you? You need to stop going to conclusions, she cannot even talk. It’s all in your head, man."

"... No... it’s not that..." — Zeleskiaz said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts properly while being reminded of the secrecy he was To continue to honour. — "It’s only that... even if I take a break I’ll become a mess no matter the circumstances once I stand before her."

"..."

"Don’t mind me. Go back and guard her door alongside Vitor... tell me once the physicians are gone or if you learn any news."

"... Alright..."

With such an exchange with the concerned right hand, Zeleskiaz retired to his own chambers, soaking himself in the waters his chamber disposed of at a private restroom, washing himself over and over as his tired daze would not be dismissed as much as he tried... for every thought continued to stir around her existence...

’My love... Marianne...’ — He would think, warm inside to know her eyes had opened... weary of the concerns and yearning his heart amassed. — "... You cannot imagine the hell these days were..."

Recalling the desperation from the moment she disappeared to the grief of the threatening death of his beloved... Zeleskiaz’s heart throbbed terribly... with as excruciating pain as if it had never faded after holding her unconscious visage and experiencing her freezing cold skin.

"... Haaaaaah..... I was... so... so scared you could die, My love.... fuh... Thank to whatever god... that heeded my every plea..." — He sighed overwhelmed by the resurrection of his heartbeats as her consciousness came back. Feeling conflicted as the image of the woman, faintly looking at him had tears falling even before noticing.

’... was she in pain...?’ — Zeleskiaz wondered, washing his face one last time to try to get the frustration off his demeanour, although aware it would not be dismissed, for concern would not fade as long as no word was exchanged with the beloved. — ’I hope she’s not hurting..... everything that happened..... the bruises on her neck haven’t even faded yet... much less those on her body...’

"! Hf... F*cking bastard... I should have killed him when I had the opportunity." — Zeleskiaz said, reviving the rage at Paul’s being, recalling the scene where Marianne’s death was discussed.

— ... If you say she’s not breathing..... then... —

— ... then what... —

To Orland’s weak voice, Zeleskiaz had turned to look at his void stance that dragged the powerless duke to his daughter’s side.

— ... then... sniff..... my child’s... —

Letting the father take the beloved in his arms, the Prince stared unable to accept the implication coming from Orland’s heartbroken demeanour that caressed his child preciously yet fearful to cause pain wherever he could touch as her condition was one that ached his own skin with her bruises. And Zeleskiaz blankly stared... intently watching her beautiful visage and frail limb fall unmoving... searching for any reason he could grasp for his instinct would not accept such.

And unbeknownst himself, the tear on her wrist appeared to whisper a little thing solely to the one with Fenrir in his blood... and he listened to the unhearable... relying on the beastly divinity’s confidence.

— ... What if... she’s not responding because of her condition...? —

— ... You said she’s not breathing. And... It’s true... —

— Y-yet, we’ve seen how her body reacts differently! Talmhach and Deslys, once said that if not for her moving around, they would deem her as dead! What if I failed to notice other matters?? S-She could be alive... —

—...—

— I-It might be... t-that she still b-breathes... and we cannot discern it... kh...nh... it could be... —

— Heh... —

The laughter of the disturbed son of the Duke reached their ears while in a desperate search for hope... and Zeleskiaz turned to look at his sneer... invoking unbearable wrath with his next mumbling.

— ... pretty... my Marianne... —

The impulse his rage took fell upon everyone with the heaviness of his aura, making most faint from the struggle while only Orland and Biel who was also holding Paul remained almost unfazed... being stopped by the hand of the Duke himself.

— Don’t... —

— ... —

— It’s not worth it, son... Let’s not bother with him when Marianne’s like this... please... —

Unlike he once would, Zeleskiaz settled at the request from the aching father of a beloved... coming back to the woman’s side as the culprit of the tragedy was taken away along with every participant.