Paul did not take his eyes off of Marianne. As if hypnotized, he watched her everything, not knowing where to start admiring her beauty. Infatuated by her divine presence, a penetrating gaze was cast on the young girl ensuing their eyes to et.
’Ah... Marianne, Marianne, Marianne, Marianne!!!’
Burning inside with an overwhelming desire of getting closer, Paul shouted her na repeatedly in his head. The impact of her appearance ssed with his breathing pace, becoming short of breath, to the point of almost gasping for air.
However, the ti her gaze t with his was too short. Marianne soon turned her gaze towards their mother, stopping his beating heart completely for a mont.
’Dam**t! F*ck! If we were alone she wouldn’t have to pay attention to others!!!’
His face hardened in fury. Nonetheless, he did not stop staring at her.
With his eyes fixed on her figure, he couldn’t help but curse at the rest of his family mbers.
On the other hand, the Duchess has now t Marianne’s gaze. This did not last even a second. Elenaide glared at her with discomfort and incredulity.
’...She dares to look in the eye!? That demonic girl!! Disgusting!’ — With such thoughts full of contempt, the Duchess turned again to Theressa and continued pampering her with exaggerated complints.
"Oh my~! Theressa, what will we do? You look this beautiful already... What if one of the Princes asks for your hand? Your beauty is that of an Empress!"
"Oh! Mom! Do you truly think so?!"
Pleased by the comnt, Theressa smiled widely. She had heard about the ethereal beauty the Royal family held on their blood, and like any sixteen-year-old girl, a handso man is always welco to be a marriage prospect. Even more, if it was a Prince. Because not only beauty but wealth and power would be gained if that was the case.
The Duke announced their departure as soon as he finished talking with the Butler, and all family mbers complied, boarding their respective carriages. The parents got on a separate one from the children, dividing the family into two groups.
Albeit being in different carriages, they all experienced the sa thing on the way to the Royal Palace: Complete Silence.
All of them were preoccupied with their own concerns, having different thoughts.
’Is she having difficulty with the ride...? I hope she won’t get sick...’ — These worries plagued the Duke’s head.
’I will go get ready together with Theressa, she must be nervous... She’s going to look so dazzling tonight..!’ — Elenaide planned.
’I’m going to make this ball all about ... certainly... I might beco the Crown Princess!’ — The original Villainess fantasized.
’...Her hand was so...... F***... if that useless excuse of a human weren’t here!..........’ — Paul whined, but also... — ’... Marianne sat next to .......ah... her scent... so sweet and tender...’
anwhile...
’Tch! These youngsters, making stupid expressions... The dwarf is totally having weird daydreams about tonight! Wake up! Reality is not a fantasy! You ******* stupid dog sh**! What cringe fantasies are you having, huh?!.... Aaaaaaaaaaaack! And this freak! Can you not look at ?! Gives goosebumps!!!!! Sick Perverted psycho! Obsessive bit**! I’ll kill you soday!!! really!!! Freakin stupid dysfunctional family!....this is just @(&#%@&%^****@&@!/&£%’
Were the thoughts of the one living as Marianne...
*******
"Your Highness. His Majesty has asked to deliver the following ssage to you: ’Be sure to attend and behave tonight.’ ... Are his Majesty’s words."
Zeleskiaz was standing next to the window, resting his body on the wall, watching the carriages entering the Palace’s grounds at a far distance. The words of his Father’s Secretary seed trivial at this point in his life. Seeing that no more words were to be delivered, the Prince waved his hand to dismiss the man disturbing his peace.
His cold eyes were beautiful under the sunlight. The violet colour was crystal clear, making the hint of red in his iris more vivid as it expanded over it, obeying the manifestation of a growing thirst.
Aware of the consequences this might cause on a day like today, the Crown Prince decided to grant his Majesty’s request.
Going towards the enormous cage placed centrally by the wall, the Prince took off the white fabric that covered it in a graceful move. Over twenty birds were found living inside the big cage, flapping their wings in surprise as the cloth was taken off without warning.
Zeleskiaz opened the cage and began taking out one bird after another.
Holding them by the neck for a mont, the birds never got to fly after being released from his hand. Their heads were crushed by the Prince’s grip before having the opportunity to do so.
More than half of the birds were now lying on the blood-soaked floor.
Gazing at the scene under his feet, unfazed by the corpses of the weak creatures, The Prince inhaled the blood scent emanating from them, filling up his lungs with it repeatedly, until his thirst was appeased.
Zeleskiaz calmly observed his hand, dirtied by the bird’s blood and feathers, motionless.
’...F****** Fenrir...’
The Crown Prince cursed inwardly as he brought down his hand with a frigid expression.
Now, no incident should happen tonight. Wiping the blood off with an already bloodstained towel, the Prince went back to stand by the window and watched outside once again. As the number of passing carriages began to decrease, he closed the curtain but kept on holding on to it for a few seconds without apparent reason.
When he finally let go, it was ti for him to prepare for the awaited Spring Royal Ball.
*******
The Sylfinnier family mbers went their own ways once they got to their lodgings at the Royal Palace. The Duchess went with Theressa to prepare for the Ball together at her daughter’s room; Paul slept before getting ready, feeling much better since he watched Marianne to his heart content on the way there; anwhile, the Duke waited in his room asking often for reports on how his daughter was doing.
The afternoon went by and the ti for The Event ca. At the door of the Guests Palace, four mbers of the Duke’s Family were waiting for the last mber to co.
Orland praised Theressa and his wife, who were dressed up for the occasion. Paul too, praised their appearance, feigning sincerity.
Quickly growing more impatient by listening to his younger sister’s babbling, The Heir to the Duchy waited for the one he desired to praise and look at in a mood worse than usual.
It was when he wasn’t paying attention, that Marianne made her presence discovered.
The elder daughter had to co closer to the gathered family so they could notice her arrival. To think such a thing happened, was utter nonsense for all who were present witnessing their eting.
The Young Lady was with no doubt breathtakingly beautiful. Not only did her entire outfit make it that way, the elegance of her posture, the well-shaped body, and her delicate and fair skin... made her existence seem like an illusion.
Bewitched by the sight Paul couldn’t co back to his senses for a while, he had thought of complinting his sister even before seeing her. But now, he wasn’t able to co up with a fitting complint. A mix of emotions ca over him, emotions he couldn’t comprehend nor identify.
On the other hand, the Duke was shocked for a whole different reason. Orland saw now that his daughter had grown more than he had already realized. She looked extrely beautiful, and her graceful attitude was sothing he never expected to be so delightful to the eye. Although he couldn’t break out of his daze, he managed to say a few words of praise to his daughter.
"Marianne... you look too beautiful, Dear. "
’...Oh goodness... Sweetie... What should I do?... With such beauty, you can’t go unnoticed anymore... What will I do if soone wants to take you away...?’
Orland added another reason to worry about. Marriage proposals were definitely going to be sent to him, asking for her hand. He felt unwilling as a Father, his daughter was now of marriageable age, but, how could he bring himself to choose a husband for his beloved sun?
The re thought pained him, Marianne was no longer a child and her ti to leave his side was soon to co. Not long ago they had started to spend more ti together for the first ti in a decade.
’...What will I do... if I can’t see her smile again while she is still by my side...’
Knowing that she must leave sooner or later made him feel lonely and dejected to the complex thoughts that were now roaming his head. So, as a ans to run away from them, Duke Sylfinnier declared to board the carriages, seeing it was the appropriate ti.
The frowning Duchess, the envious Theressa and the fuddled Young Master followed the Family Head’s order.
The siblings got to their arranged carriage. Once the youngest was inside and released Paul’s hand... he ca closer to Marianne. Almost unable to hide his haste, he grabbed her hand tightly enough so that she wouldn’t be able to shake him off.
His face moved on its own towards the delicate hand he was holding and stopped himself only a few centitres away from touching it. Inhaling deeply in her scent and holding the air inside with a gulp, raising his gaze, he was now looking into her eyes.
Trying to express his inner feelings with his gaze, even though he did not know precisely what those were, the Young Master attempted to convey thoughts that weren’t there since his mind was completely blank, not able to choose between the thousands of ssages he wanted to communicate.
These intentions behind his actions weren’t understood by Marianne. However, her response to Paul’s behaviour... was the correct one. Had she avoided his eyes... things wouldn’t have ended as easily as they did.
Not being this the case, Paul mistakingly thought...
’...ah...She understands...’
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