We had crossed most of the corridors letting Estelle check the places where the so-called stains were laid. There was more to check yet a sudden wish to et dad ca over . Hence, the next place and last to check that first day was Dad’s bureau.
"N-ninth..." — When we still had yet to arrive Estelle mumbled, blue and tremorous. — "Those doors... are we to cross them?"
"? Yes, those lead to father’s bureau."
"The ninth’s father’s... how long does he spend his days in there?"
"... mostly all day. What is it, do you see sothing? You are worrying , Estelle."
"That place is so rotten with the tainted curses that it oozes through the hall. If the ninth’s father spends most of his days there, the exposure to the curses has been stronger for a long ti too."
My blood turned cold doubting the truth for as far as I know Dad had been clean from the start. His warmth was all I knew as pure... and yet...
’Exposed for so long that it rotted...’ — Thinking that the warmth could be false... I felt grief at the sight of those doors. Dad... was my only real family now... the one I loved, trusted and respected the most... were he to be affected in a way different to the other mbers of my family... made nauseous from desperation.
"... let’s go inside. Check everything you must thoroughly... if dad has been infected, then..." — ’Who is it... that I am truly able to trust? Who is this... This... This f*ck*ng witch!! She dares to harm my poor dad!?’
*******
"My lord, the little Miss has co to see you." — The old butler said from the duke’s door, with an elated sound as he also rejoiced to see his master’s daughter pacing again in the mannor. Opening the door so Orland could see from his seat how the girl peeked from the other side, behind the butler.
"!! Dear, please co in! I have been so engulfed in work that I had no opportunity to visit you this morning... how good it is that you ca. Take a seat. Did you eat lunch already? Would you like us to have so snacks while you are here?"
The apple of his eye brightened the man as soon as she appeared. He was ignorant of her current fears and just as she did, Orland hid his own worries from her eyes. Father and daughter hoped not to concern the other... and while they exchanged words as if no troubles surrounded them a fairy would do its work unbothered.
"..."
"?? Sweetie, is there sothing wrong?" — The father asked, seeing no word of response from the child, who with a glimpse signalled as false motive that it was because of the butler’s presence. — "Oh... Thomas, bring us so of the biscuits Marianne likes."
"Imdiately. Little Miss, would you like to taste so of the fresh tea leaves? They were brought from Latrishk. It is said the smoothness of the tea will refresh you as it warms your core."
An enthusiastic nod was replied and the butler left their sight, allowing the Father to comfortably talk with his child.
"... I suppose we are not telling Thomas about your sound yet."
"It is best this way... it saddens myself yet the less people know the better I may hide it."
"Indeed... yet I wonder how long you are to hide it... yesterday he wasn’t there but a few servants did hear it. They won’t tell even Thomas but... your sound is a symbol of freedom. I find hiding it is a little unfair." — Moving with her to take a seat Orland conveyed. — "Yet I am aware you have reasons to do it."
"... I see you have been very busy. Grandpa Thomas had no rcy with yourself, haha~" — The girl said changing the subject.
"Sigh... he is able to manage most of the tasks yet those that need my seal are the ones that pile up most..."
"Haha~ you can do it, Dad."
"Hahaha, I can, yes, pretty bird."
"... I told Theressa she could go spend ti with the duchess. It may be good for her... for both of them."
"Ah... I see. That is why you are here on your own."
"... are you sad?" — Like that, even as the father tried to conceal it within, the child asked not forgetting the hurt in his eyes the day before. Surprising the grey they shared as she made clear her inquiry. — "I could tell yesterday... dad’s heart was aching after I encountered the duchess..."
"... It does not hurt because of you, my sweet child. If that is what you ask." — Troubled he replied, feeling as though his efforts were in vain. — "The fault falls in myself... your words were true. There is no point in discussing them. Your beliefs cannot be argued against for I know well you and your mother... You and Elenaide have not had a relationship that... lets you address her as your parent..."
"..."
"It is also not her ways that hurt myself..." — Orland, tired of even recalling the many discussions with his wife scoffed resigned to the truth. — "I have known for so long and tried to move against it... because there is always hope... I always... I always kept hope within myself. Be it with your condition. Be it with Elenaide’s hard-headed dislikes... with Theressa’s capricious misbehaviour and with Paul’s unreadable traits... I kept hoping for it to get better yet was hurt by how foolishly innocent I managed to be even though I have seen the worst of humanity on battlefields."
"..."
"It may be that because I have seen it that I kept on hoping for the better when it ca to all of you, haha... Our family... it has shrunk and dispersed... what is done is done... at least all of us are still alive."
The composed sound was still broken in his daughter’s ears, a knot had hindered the throat so no word could be told although her thoughts had no clue of what to say to comfort the parent... his tired smile and the seemingly carefree hand tucking the reddish brown strands with soft caresses only deepened the remorse over the events they had to deal with... managing to surround the father who hardened his deanour wanting to hide the weakness within his heart.
"... I love you, Dad... I am sorry that... things turned as they did."
"..... Everything heals, my dear..."
"..."
"It only takes ti... and it may leave a scar... yet it won’t hurt with enough ti. Do not worry, my fluffy bird. My love for you remains the sa."
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