Orland was desperate.
Trying to hide his trembling, he slowly moved his hands towards hers, wishing to hold them one more time. He feared with great anguish she would reject his attempts. The mere thought was enough for his heart to nearly explode from the pain her refusal could ignite. However, his hands kept moving... ultimately grasping hers. When he saw that her hands were still lying on top of his without the intent of leaving... his soul found a hint of peace.
'... She has let me do this much... Then...'
"I... I am very happy you came today." — Taking a moment to ensure his voice wouldn't break, Orland spoke.
"I would like it very much... if you visited again in the very near future... and often if possible..."
His heartfelt thoughts were told out loud, nonetheless, the Duke still couldn't look his daughter in the eye. The fear of finding a new rejection in her eyes was enough of a reason to keep him from doing so.
'...Oh...'
Yet... A squeeze to his hands was all it took...to blow his belief away.
Lifting his face reflexively in reaction, the nod that he saw once their eyes met, felt like a miracle. He hoped the fierce mass of emotions he was feeling inside wouldn't be shown fully on his face. Orland knew he would look like a real mess if it were to happen.
Regardless of his attempt to conceal them, it was not possible for him to hide it completely from his voice, letting it come out with a forcibly restrained tremor only himself felt evident.
"I will look forward to your visit, sweetie."
*******
Orland was once again alone in his office, standing next to his desk, with his fingertips laying on top of it.
Thomas was noticeably curious to know how everything had gone, fidgeting a few steps away from the door. The elderly Butler kept glancing towards the Duke, who was facing the slightly open window, wondering if he could ask what he wanted to know. However, his Master, cut him off before the words left his mouth.
"...–"
"Thomas... leave."
The Butler flinched, yet, knowing his master's character, Thomas obeyed in silence.
Soon after Duke Sylfinnier heard the door behind him closing, meaning he was finally all on his own.
Orland had been holding his breath while his other hand was clenching against his chest pressuring it. He didn't want the lingering sensations and feelings he just experienced to disappear as he releases the air held inside his chest.
Unfortunately, he had no choice but to do so.
As he released a strong breath, Orland directed his eyes to the portraits on his desk and picked one up.
It was one of the few he drew himself recalling the time Marianne saw how a butterfly flew inside the office and placed itself on his shoulder without him noticing. At the time, Her eyes were full of curiosity. She began to slowly approach Orland from the side, hiding her mouth behind both of her tiny hands, as if that would help her be invisible to the butterfly. He had watched her approach him, wondering what she was up to this time. However, Orland acted as if he did not see her. As a Father, he ought to help his children accomplish whatever their goals were.
Finally, she arrived next to him. Slowly...Marianne unfolded her index finger and began to draw it near his shoulder. Not being able to keep feigning ignorance, he turned his head to see what was going on.
Then, He found the white butterfly on his shoulder and, beside him, found Marianne widening her eyes in surprise.
Both froze in place.
Silence reigned.
And then... Suddenly, the butterfly flew off from his shoulder... to settle on the tip of the finger she still had unfolded. Watching this, they both were pleasantly startled, alternately looking at each other and the pure butterfly.
Both chuckled softly at the sight...
And the smile Marianne displayed while bringing the butterfly closer to her pink cheeks was one of the most beautiful in his memories.
Coming back from the remembrance the portrait induced, the lonely Duke could still feel the softness of the hands he had held recently in his fingertips.
Orland could not believe such unexpected happiness would come to him today. He sat on his chair returning the portrait to its previous rightful place.
The papers where she had written were in front of him. And once again, Orland locked his sight in the word he had tried to repeatedly read when she showed the paper to him.
[Father]
The Duke could not keep his emotions inside anymore. The emotions overflowed from his eyes in the form of tears. A trembling hand placed the fingers on the forehead in a vain attempt to regain some composure.
A hoarse voice could finally find the way out of his throat...
"..y.Es..mY..CH.i...Ld...."
Time passed... but the sobbing sounds did not seem to cease...
*********
Things went really well with the Duke.
I went back to my room feeling accomplished. I have the feeling things will work out one way or another.
Since I've taken care of that...
'What should I do now?...'
My eyes ran through our bedroom, where I still feel like an outsider. I noticed the room had been cleaned while speaking with the Duke.
All I did before coming here was read novels and manhwas to pass time, I would buy cakes or fast food too once in a while... Also... I was a millennial. I couldn't live without my smartphone or Wi-Fi...
'... now... I don't have to work either, so... I have a lot of time in my hands...'
Hmm... What did Marianne do all day? I doubt she ever left her room...
I don't see anything that looks like a hobby in our room...
Did she actually do NOTHING here?
I walked towards the bed and sat on it. Observing.
The silence is so strong it's deafening...
In my head, I frowned.
Originally, in my previous life, since I lived in a city my whole life, this silence would be heavenly.
But because of an incident, silence no longer could feel like that. Not for me. And I can sense that Anne does not like it either.
'But what can we do..? If I have to make noise I would prefer gentle noises, not ones of banging things against a table...'
... Oh! I got it!
'Let's develop our voice!'
The body flinched strongly to my idea. Apparently, this could be a difficult task. But I don't care. I don't have anything else to do... so this way we will kill two magpies with one stone. Yes. Magpies. I like being specific when it comes to bird species. However...Marianne seems reluctant, so I have no choice.
'... Just... Put up with it.' — I told her, coldly.
This body has to come out of her comfort zone, this is for our own good, silly girl.
I laid down on the bed and started thinking about which song should I choose to begin my practice.
'As I thought, there's no better than that one~'
I brought my right hand's fingers to my throat. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in... last time...
Almost unheard, a hum began to be born from within me. The piano song I liked the most, which always brought peace to me when I heard it in my past life, was the one being played by my stuck voice.
"Liebesleid / Love's Sorrow "
I can tell that if I do this in front of someone, they wouldn't be able to hear me. However... The noise, the sounds, this melody... is all coming from my body. Therefore, only I can hear it. That's all that matters.
I continued my hums for a long time... a long time for this body.
Not even five minutes had passed and I already couldn't make more sounds.
'... You have to be kidding...' — I sighed dejectedly.
That's right. Anne hasn't used her voice for more than ten years... So, obviously, if you don't use it for a long time... when you use it, it won't work how it should.
'God...you're really testing me, huh?'