CHAPTER 604: CHAPTER 604

’It is as if spring came earlier, haha~’ — I giggled, secretly, as I saw a couple shyly take each other’s hand ignorant of the fairies I was now able to see fly curiously around them. Reminding myself, that there was a hand I could be holding as well. — ’... Where is he? Aren’t we supposed to meet and do like the others?? Where is my prince?’

A little search commenced while I looked around shy ladies and proud gentlemen... hoping to see him and receive a flower and a crafted adornment just like the others did. Feeling the anticipation erase the bad sensations someone tried to ruin my day with.

"My lady."

’! Oh... Duke Noverrne...’ — I reacted overly quickly at the realisation it was not my prince. Clemente’s eyes seemed to notice and yet he still dedicated me a smile.

"... I am aware it is not me whom you expected." — Kindly, he said, standing tall and clean. Lowering his head just as I did out of embarrassment. — "Nevertheless... would you still accept this from me?"

’... oh... oh no...’

The necklace, beautiful and accompanied by roses made my mind stop. The thought of it... of this being his attempt just like those other young men troubled me.

Friends we are... this cannot be...

"Do accept it without giving it a... weight that is not... there... lady Marianne."

*******

An unconfident crown prince nervously prepared his heart to go and court his beloved. Furthermore prepared than any other, wishing to make the occasion special as he had been told by an unbecoming father and a wise soft mother.

’... I am not good with crafts... yet it looks better than the others I failed to finish. Hopefully she will like the flowers I chose...’ — Thinking back on the night before when he was told an activity like this would be held, Zeleskiaz stared at the adornment in his hand regretting not being able to practice more so a better craft could be gifted to his beloved. — ’My love will not mind since delicately kind she is... yet I should make another one later so it is proper for her beauty to wear...’

"Are you not going to move? Shouldn’t you give that to the Ninth??"

"?! Where did you come from? Why are you here, Biel?"

"How is it going?? Have you finished?"

"Quit it. It’s none of your concern."

"But... You didn’t even notice my aura... Are you that lost in thought, mate? Nervous?" — Peeking at the craft in Zeleskiaz’s hand that was quickly hidden, a thought that was not told also surfaced. — ’... lost in thought or in disgrace? How can he make a simple thing look awful?’

"Say what you came for and get lost. I’m not in the mood to fight you now."

"I don’t want to fight you. I’m not suicidal... I came to tell you our men’s last report. Lady Karina approached the Duchess of Sylfinnier after the ninth left for a walk. It was less than a minute, however."

"... Where is that woman now?"

"Who? Lady Karina or the Duchess?"

"... Both."

"... I will make one of the men follow the Duchess. As Lady Karina, she seems to have joined the other young ladies and is strolling around having fun-"

"I don’t care even if she strolls into a pit. I asked: where. Is. She."

"..... oh... She’s far from where the Ninth is(?)"

"Good. Now leave and keep surveilling."

"Sure... but shouldn’t you get going? The other noblemen are already winning some of the ladies."

"Shut up and leave. I was focusing so I won’t mess up."

"Alright, alright... but if you don’t go any time soon the ninth will start feeling sad and lonely. I think I saw a couple get together right in front of her, she must be already wondering where the hell you are~"

"....."

"I think I also saw Noverrne looking for her... if I were you I would—"

"Biel."

"Alright! Yes, I’m going~"

Listening to how the steps of the man disappeared in soft sound and presence, Zeleskiaz’s frown strengthened annoyed at the remarks of his right hand. Staring again at the adornment in his hand to sigh as he pictured the image of a lonely Marianne.

"... fine. At least there is this little thing I prepared in advance... She should like it..."

Taking the fabric off the bulk resting at his feet, Zeleskiaz’s hand arranged the flowers in it, peeking inside before heading in the direction he could sense the beloved... near a man.

"Sigh... this better be liked... otherwise I will look like a fool..."

Decisive, his steps lead him through. Seeing what the right hand referred to and acknowledging how the scene could make the lady impatient.

’Everyone is courting those they fancy...’ — He thought, bothered to feel jealous as he had yet to find the lady owning his heart. Nonetheless, the eyes of many caught a glimpse of him, knowledgable that his presence was the one this event was held. And so, in playful murmurs, some started to follow him knowing that his destination would grant them the scene of the Crown Prince and the Ninth’s meeting.

’?? Why is everyone looking at me so suddenly?’ — She thought as she felt the stares of many holding nervously the gift Noverrne gave before sensing the approach of her formal suitor. Ignorant she remained that the eyes were because of the prince standing a few steps behind her, making the witnesses eager. Turning around as she could not understand... Marianne saw more eyes surrounding them while the prince she had been casually searching stood admirably before her. — ’Oh... this explains their stares...’

"... ahem... My lady." — He said closing in on the shy Marianne, whose eyes glanced at his hands only finding the bulk being carried by it, while he caught a glance of the gift another one must have given.

His displeasure was quickly discarded to preserve her soft innocence, knowing that the eyes of said man would also witness his promise.

’... am I not receiving an adornment nor the flowers...?’ — She thought, slightly concerned and curious of what he carried, ignorant of Zeleskiaz’s thoughts. Meeting his ultramarine that wavered nervously now at her shine yet excited in hopes she would like this present more than any other.

"Do excuse my delayed arrival..." — He said softly shy. — "Never before did I need to prepare something for any I hoped to impress nor please. Hence, I came to learn anxiety..."

’... hehe~... so this is what he prepared to say...’

"As delicate as you are, you came to allow myself to hold your hand... this courtship between us is official as of today yet these hands I own are not versed in anything other than the blade... My efforts were placed in what tradition told me to be done, thinking of you while crafting the adornment that would decorate your strands and picking the flowers that would symbolise what I hope for us. Nonetheless..."

"..."

"There is something else I prepared... something my hands did not make yet made sure not to ever destroy." — Lifting slightly the bulk, Zeleskiaz commenced to feel feverish as her anthracite attentively gazed into his soul, moved by his everything as she listened more to his sayings. — "May your hand pull aside the cloth... the lady shall learn what on this day I offer as our courtship promise."

Curious, she glanced at the bulk and the man for a moment. Moving consequently to his invitation to peek underneath the fabric.

As if silence had governed as soon as her hand pinched a piece of the cloth, Marianne’s eyes opened widely as the insides were slowly uncovered. Initially finding different flowers spreading as its bottom to finally find a pair of thin legs crowned by pompous feathers of a young and charming bird holding in its tiny beak the adornment that shone through its messy length.

"....."

*chirp, chirp*

"It is a small one... a red-tailed lilac-breasted roller..." — Recalling his doings when young he looked at the creature with sorry eyes, thinking how now as it was near his beloved its young and small beauty resembled the lovely lady. — "It is told by legends that a god that failed to grow strong becomes one like this... therefore, I hope for it to grow strong in your care and my protection... just as I do for our courting, my dear lady Marianne."

The emotions and her dazzled hues by the lovely creature looking at her made the heart of Marianne squeeze itself delightedly fluffy. Taking the marvellous cage from his hand to carefully leave it on the grass. Aware that no word could escape her lips even as she wanted to scream out of joy... yet still needy to respond to his endearing promise with the fullest of her soul.

Many eyes looked at her motion with wonder, just as the crown prince did. And a gasp followed by interested awe while the man saw her figure jump lightly to surround him. Hugging Zeleskiaz from the neck... so only his ear could hear her rejoiced whisper.

"I love it!"

"!?"

"Thank you, my prince..."

As if containing a shiver, her excited mumble was infected to his skin, deciding with the bliss her relish provoked to let the confused hands wrap around her waist... returning the embrace passionately; indifferent to the entertained witnesses... and gulping down with her delectable scent the confession he still felt too soon to fully let out.