You Think I Won't Talk? Chapter 188

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’Oho~ is this a challenge, rough paprika?’

Entertained by his tough act I stared at his finger pointing the... Surprisingly high pile of papers, and felt the rush of finding a worthy opponent for so reason.

"Gustav, could you tone it down? I remind you she’s my child."

"And? She seems to like it. Don’t you, flashy youngling?"

’Pff... D*mn~ you got there, old man. Sorry, Mister. He’s right.’ — I thought as I nodded to the Duke, sorry that I wasn’t minding it as I was supposed to.

"Sigh... I guess she does."

"You’re just too uptight of an ar**hole, ashy youngster. The kiddo knows her stuff, get out if you’re gonna be annoying.

Now co here, flashy kid. Show that thing you’re using the... What’s its na again? You have to na things kid. If not this sh*t happens."

The old man went to sit back at the seat where we found him, inviting to seat with him as he whined.

I went imdiately and sat on one of the trunks.

"Hey, if you’re gonna stay bring the ink and the quill over there, ashy. Be useful since you gave so much work."

"... If not because my child is present..."

"You sayin’ what? Talk louder, d*mn ashy. Hurry the f*** up."

"Alright! Just tone it down! You’ll corrupt my child’s ears!!"

"Yeah, yeah, hurry up pipsqueak. I don’t have all day."

’Pffhah! Mister, what the hell~? This man doesn’t even care about your title, does he? This is so fun~!’

Seeing he fits the bad-mouthed type, I feel more entertained watching him.

The duke did as he was told, obviously pissed since the man was indeed a bit much for the reserved Mister to handle, and in the anti, the old man turned to look at and said in an intended whisper that was too loud to pass unheard.

"He’s always been a boring a**... Don’t be like him kiddo, ya gotta make a ss of things to enjoy life. Have you ever burned so things down? It’s great. If you’re interested we can visit the blacksmith, he always lts things. His oven is the best I’ve seen."

’Hwaha! That’s what I’m saying, old man! I’ve recently wanted to cut soone’s hair but I could go for fire if they tick off enough, HAHA!’

"Hey! Don’t tell my child stupid ideas!" — The Duke said as he ca back placing the ink and quill on the "table". — " If you’re gonna whisper don’t just make your voice rusty. Lower the volu too..... Hahh... Why did I think introducing you to my daughter was a good idea?"

’It was though.’

"Mind your own business... You only have good ears. And it was a good idea, d*mn brat. She should know n like exist besides the delicate noblen she’s condemned to et. Ain’t I more fun kiddo?"

Giving a nice smile — which I think was supposed to be a flirtatious one — with so lost teeth and a wink of the eye, I followed his lead without a problem.

’Sure, old man. If we mix the pretty faces of nobles with your personality, then you got ~’

"Hwahwahwa! The kid is clever! Learn so, ashy!"

Giving up, Marianne’s Father sat down next to the crafter in silence, and then, we went right into business.

Drawing the quill and ink closer to , Gustav told .

"A’ight, show sothing interesting kid. A small sheet should do."

’Sure~ Since you asked so nicely I’ll give you the honour~’

I went right for it, knowing what it was that I should quickly draw.

It took about five minutes since I wanted it to look nice for him to keep. And once I finished, I wrote a ssage at the back to finally say sothing to the old man.

[ It’s a quick one, but here you go, old man. Thanks for the object, I call it a portable canvas. You did a great job. ]

’If he’s that rude, I can do so too right?... I already wrote it so, no going back now, heh.’

Bringing the sheet to him, sliding it on the straight-cut wood, I watched the two n leaning to read it.

"HwaHWAH! Old man! Oi, your kid has the guts you lost Orland, HwaHwAaaha!"

"... When I called you that, I got one of your tools stuck on my crane... Old man."

Whack!

"And you’ll get another one if you call that again, ashy f**ker. The kid is not as annoying as you were."

’Dude! Anne! Your Father got whacked just now! HahaAHAhaA!’

The both of us were aghast yet amused. A sight like this... I would have never imagined it. And much less, lovely and naive Marianne.

As the Duke silently rubbed his nape in pain, the old man turned the sheet to look at the drawing.

"..." — He remained silent as he watched it and didn’t touch the yet-to-dry ink, although his big fingers wanted to. — "Kiddo... Not gonna lie. You couldn’t have chosen a better thing to draw for ."

"... Right... Your apprentice seat, huh? Marianne was watching it before we entered."

"Yeah... She has the eye a’ight... Wanna elope kiddo? Life as a noble can’t be that fun."

’PFF!!!’

"Gustav... PLEASE."

"Can’t ya take a joke? Tight a**. A’ight I’m taking this for myself kid. I’ll charge you half since this will gain value now that you are that d*mn wolf’s protegee."

The old man said as he stood, folding it to save it inside his leather apron.

"... So you heard."

"How can I not? It’s all over the Empire: ’Duke Sylfinnier’s daughter, the Ninth Calla’s confidant.’ I had a good laugh thinking about your face once you learned it. A pipsqueak as crazy for his children like you must have fainted, heh."

"I didn’t."

Clatter...

"Then you cried."

Rattle... Clatter.

"... I didn’t."

"That doesn’t an you didn’t want to... Aaaand here it is."

"What?"

"You asked for this to be made, didn’t you? I forgot to send word to old Thomas that I had finished it and the clueless maid kept bragging about the kiddo, so I forgot to tell her too."

’Uh? That’s... No way.’

"So she made a drawing for you, huh? A whole page of those... I should make one of these for mine too, hwah."

From the long fra Gustav was holding... I went to stare at the Duke who was holding his head in disbelief.

’... I understand, mister... I did joke about you framing it back then so I actually saw this coming...’

Although I had the hope he wouldn’t... The President of the fan club has to act like one.

Peeking at , maybe feeling my stare, he lifted one side of his lips as he still covered a part of his face, and dropping it to talk to , he smiled resigned to his fate, maybe knowing what I was thinking about this.

"... I couldn’t help myself, sweetie..... I wanted to hang it sowhere I could always see it. Does that make a fool?"

"It does, ashy." — The old man said, chewing on so jerky he took out of who knows where.

’Haha... Nah~ That just... Confirms how much you liked it, Mister. And how much you love this girl right here.’ — I answered as I shook my head, wanting Marianne to hear it too.

However...

"Kid, don’t be so nice. You shouldn’t lie to him. He’s gotta learn he’s too much of a fool, sohow. It will do him so good if you say it."

"..." — ’... Old man, don’t ruin the mont. We are bonding here.’

"Alright, that’s it. We are off." — The Duke suddenly stood, certainly annoyed at the old man’s intrusion for how strongly his hands were clenching.

"Sounds good. Kid, co back next ti without this one. He’s no fun."

"She won’t be doing that." — He said, taking the fra away from the old man’s hands.

’Aww... But I wanted to...’ — I inwardly whined.

Guess we are doing it in secret, hehe.

"... Thanks, Gustav." — The Duke suddenly said, once he appreciated the fra’s material.

"Heh... Sissy."

An outright glare sparked from the Duke and nonchalant to it, the old man protruded his lips, making fun of him as if sending a kiss.

Following the Duke, as he turned exasperated, the coachman entered as we left to get the pile of papers as I inwardly laughed at the interesting character I had just t.

’Sir~ don’t pout~ wait for ~ hahaha!’

Entertained, Marianne and I went as fast as we could behind him.

We weren’t running, but we weren’t walking at snail’s speed either.

He had handed the fra to Paige and was about to jump into the carriage on his own. But I guess he rembered us and halted at the first step to board it.

Jumping back, he turned to look at us, apparently flustered.

"I’m..... I am sorry. Please, go in first, dear."

’Hahaha!’

We took his hand to board, and once we were ready, he took to a pastry shop to eat a dessert there before returning to the Palace for lunch.

Although most of our outing was made of travelling from place to place, every ti we went out was more enjoyable than the other.

What’s more, now we can draw again.

And that is what makes the happiest right now.