CHAPTER 639: CHAPTER 639

"Your Grace, I have returned~" — Karina, as she closed in said. — "It appears like the ceremonies are over so his highness told me to come back to you-... oh, Lady Marianne is there something bothering you? You appear displeased."

’... I was not truly that displeased... yet that has changed thanks to you now.’ — Deciding to keep her eyes in the purplish red within her glass, she remained in silence, having no intention to reply through her stack just as she had done throughout her stay at the Noverrne’s lands. — ’You gave Clemente so little time of freedom... and what is more, you come at such a time... calling it displeasure is too nice.’

Given what she had said about the ceremonies, her focus shifted to the fact. Her eyes traced the Hall to find the place where the debutantes would appear; finding her suitor walking beside his parents as they moved to their designated areas in the Ball Room, meeting his hues from the distance, summoning a whirpool in her stomach as the man immediately separated from the Emperors... naturally decicive... having a sense of deja vu because of his unwavering prominence.

"... It is the lady’s imagination. We were conversing peacefully with Lady Marianne about tonight."

"I see... I am not as versed when reading the ninth’s emotions yet, I apologise." — Not as bothered as an apology should require, Karina did not lengthen the matter, continuing to tell an unexpected idea. — "Nonetheless, I see that His Highness the Crown Prince is coming this way already. Your reunion must have been delightful, Lady Marianne. The dances will surely be announced by the Emperors now~ They have finished the ceremonies after all."

’Does she mean that??’

"Your Grace, Lady Theressa. Perhaps it would be best for us to leave the ninth and his highness alone?" — With a timid but brazen incinuation, she murmured although it reached Marianne’s ears. — "The ninth will surely appreciate it. They as a couple should be the ones to begin the dances, right?"

’...What is this girl thinking...? Something does not smell right...’ — Raising her glass for a thin sip, distracting herself from the man her feelings were devoted to and from the one who had been supposedly insinuating herself to him, she smelled the wine. Rescuing some laughter from the suspicions as she could tell the numbing juices were not the foul she discerned in her surroundings. Drinking it all as her mind became chaotic knowing that said dance would truly arrive, recalling what a few times the taste of wine had been addressed as her passionate taste...

— Can we... talk about it right now? —

’!!!? No!’ — Gulping it all, she had to support herself on the near table, surprising Theressa who was still locking her arm with hers, taking another full glass she managed to find near to gulp it down as the instinct to escape hit her along with the alcohol... summoning as well some of the chaos her other self before a mesh owned so strongly. — ’I cannot! We cannot twalk about it!!!!’

"?! Sister, what are you doing?!"

"L-Lady Marianne, you should not drink so fast!"

’Clemente, you don’t get it! I need this!!’

"W-wh-?? D-did I say something wrong?? What is happening to the ninth??"

’You being here is wrong! Ugh! God... He’s almost here... I need another one... should I make a run for it?? Nnngh...’ — Marianne thought while giving glares and looking for more wine after Karina’s surprise annoyed her. Becoming troubled... and initiating crazy ideas while desperate to avoid the unavoidable.

"?! Lady Marianne. That is enough. It is not healthy to drink so much-"

*Smack*

"Don’t touch her." — Pushing away the hand of the Noverrne’s duke that stopped her hand from grasping another glass of wine, Zeleskiaz made it next to Marianne. Glaring at the man but also at the lady who invoked quick nausea and bloodthirst while the sister of his loved one held onto her concerned by the sudden actions she took. — "What is the meaning of this? Why is my woman wearing such demeanour? Did you do something to her?"

’H-his woman...’ — Feverish, ignorant if it was because of the wine, his words or his protective closeness, Marianne tried to straighten her posture, being decorated by senseless blush and dizziness. — ’~!! I am crazy to feel delight over such a sentence! Goodness...!’

"... Your Highness, do not misunderstand." — Clemente replied calmly, peeking at the women behind the crown prince.

"Sister Marianne, are you alright? Please, hold on to me... You could have fallen."

’Ah, yeah... I-I am fine. I had a lapse just now... sorry, Theressa...’

"You’d better explain yourself properly then. Why is Lady Marianne having trouble on her feet? You should know one must be careful of her everything, Noverrne. You, especially, should know this."

"... I was trying to stop her from drinking more wine. That is all. His highness does not need to threaten myself again."

’? Threaten?... again??’

"... it doesn’t look like that to me."

"Er... your Highness, what his Grace says is true- AH!"

"Don’t touch me." — Scowling visibly enraged, Zeleskiaz did not hold back the annoyance even in public. Not keeping to himself the words as a show of mercy; one he was willing to grant as the beloved was close and could not dare to stain her memories with the scene his hands could create. — "Sick I am of how hardheaded you are. Who I demanded answers from is Noverrne not your loathsome self. Stay far. Become dust if you must. Get out of my bloody sight girl."

"Crown Prince. What I say is the truth." — Stepping in front of Karina, Clemente dived in to end the unnecessary trouble. Receiving his cold threatening glare that was ready to erase the nuisances Clemente and Karina are for his being. — "... There is no need for this to become a scene. I suggest you properly consider what you saw and what we are telling you to see some reason."

’Urgh... This is no good.’ — More conscious of the situation unfolding before her, Marianne sensed no fortune in letting the exchange continue after Clemente’s demeanour also changed into one more menacing. Knowing that soon, the usual speech of the Emperor should begin and the tension should be dispersed before it began. Understanding with such that the attention was already moving towards them.