You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 675

Cute he was while trying to appear polite and correct... but the tension of his body gave it away. It was best to answer the question before teasing my man. — "Hmm~... I was just thinking that I am supposed to fight a great battle but know so little about the powers to use in it... feels uncertain."

"I don’t trust the gods." — He said deeply and scary. Stopping the playfulness and holding my hand in his severely... lifting it to lay a kiss along with a thought. — "I believe you are strong, differently... but exceptional at it. If you are to fight... surely it will not be easy for your opponent, Marianne."

"I do not know how to fight, however... not like you do, Zeleskiaz."

"There is no need for you to fight brutally like that."

’... brutally, he says...’

"I will fight such battles for you... Whatever those gods say, placing you to fight for them, it must be in a fight they know you can win as well... Even so... Tsk! Curse them. Their putting you in danger makes me infuriated, they should be able to finish whatever matter they started."

"Uhm... well, yeah it is kind of unfair but... it is what it is. There must be a reason behind it... like laws, maybe."

"I suppose."

"I am sure we will know one day."

"Yes..... Marianne?"

"Yes?"

".... If..." — After a moment of silence, he commenced, still serious. Even more so than while hating on the gods’ decisions. Zeleskiaz’s pause made me curious, calling my attention more than usual with the kind of sensation his body transmitted while close enough to feel it. — "If anything they have demanded from you ends up harming you in any way... what would you do?"

"... harming me how?" — I asked, having an immediate thought that somehow replied to the inquiry. — ’They have already harmed me in a way... I am totally an outsider who was dragged into this.’

"... perhaps with something you wish but will not be granted because of fulfilling their—"

"I’ll make a mess at Izeneya."

"... pardon?" — Holding his breath for a second I saw him blink at my unwavering reply. His question had a perspective that differed from the one I had. And of course he would be surprised... after all, even against the many dangers I’ve faced I have placed myself already in that situation, enough to have a certain answer at hand.

"If that is the kind of harm you mean, it is an easy answer. If my wish will not come true after getting out of my way to help them out, they WILL have to pay for it. I might even use this power they gave me against them... I will destroy them and kill what they love..." — Full of hatred I mumbled, recalling that as gods they should be watching me. – "Yes! That’s right! Did you hear that, all of you above?! I am not doing this for free! I also want a happy ending, selfish gods! We’ve already talked about this!!" — Certain that even though they would say a thing about it, I yelled at the sky, ready to pick a fight with them at the mere thought.

Such treason... I would never forgive it. My life is precious, saving it from death so many times so I cannot enjoy it after fulfilling the purpose for summoning me would be simply unfair and unholy.

"..." — Zeleskias, who froze and quietly saw me lose it, looked at me stunned. Waiting for me to calm down before saying anything.

"Haaah... I am sorry, it is only that I have already thought about such a situation before and it makes me mad just thinking about it..."

"... Marianne, you truly are fierce." — Zeleskiaz then, with a seductive grin, said, looking at me too pleased... too proud to have seen me like this while in his reach. — "This aggressive side of you makes me recall how you even hit me once. When I first summoned you to the Palace."

"I hit you?" — I asked trying to recall. Recalling the moment quickly. — "Oh... that time... when you refused to let go and someone was knocking on your bureau’s door... I gave you a headbutt."

"Haha~ yes." — Entertained and relaxed he laughed, tilting his head curious while having his hands intertwined around my waist. — "Certainly you were enraged... I have always wondered what it is that you could have told at the time."

"What I could have told you?"

"Yes. Just now you yelled at the gods with great energy. I imagine that, whenever something upset you, you still expressed yourself somehow within. Your eyes could tell many stories, yet not the specific words in your mind. Do you recall what you thought of telling me back then?"

"..." — Blankly, I stared at him. Actually troubled that this curiosity existed in him... for I do remember it well. — ’hmm... "You d*mn f*ck!! Horny prince, punk"... and things along those lines were said... yes, I recall it very well. I was aghast as Marianne and flaring up as Eli at the time.’

"So? Does the lady recall?"

"..... Nope. I do not."

"... my love, you are lying. I can tell." — Becoming serious, he said. — "Why won’t you tell me?"

"Sigh... listen, my loved prince." — Taking the best route, I smiled, although I was not truly happy to explain this. Holding his jaw delicately so he would pay attention. — "As a woman and as a lady I believe telling you what I thought at the time is inappropriate."

"... Were you that upset?" — Taking my hand slightly troubled, he looked me in the eye, hoping to be wrong.

"Well... I was not pleased to be played with, my prince. Some words a lady should not say were told. That much I may tell."

"You cursed me, didn’t you?"

"Ugh... How could I not when you were so arrogant? I was... offended."

"Hah..." — More impressed than displeased he laughed at how proud I was acting while saying that, nodding as if such a response was a good thing. — "So I was ’arrogant’. So much you cursed me in secret... You have always been honest and direct indeed."

"... Zeleskiaz." — Staring at him looking so pleased, made me think back on it with a bit of trouble. The word "always"... was difficult to accept knowing that I have not been the same all the time.

He first met me with two separate souls. The me as Eli was who showed herself most at first. The me as Marianne was included at times. Shortly when my Eli side was pulled away, the past Marianne was able to be with him... and now I... the mesh of the two was here.

"Don’t you think I have changed from that time? When you see me now... don’t you see someone else given who I’ve become?" — Suddenly, I decided to ask. Worried but expectant of the answer he could give.

"... You have changed..." — He said after a moment to contemplate. Making me feel faint and pale immediately. Afraid of what more he could say. — "Yet your soul... I believe it is the same, my love."

"... m-my soul?"

"Yes." — Smiling mesmerised, he tucked my hair behind my ear, pulling us closer to say what I most... what I most wished for it to be true ever since becoming one soul. — "In the grey of your eyes and the essence that you are... I still see it clearly. A fierce and lively lady whose elegance and kindness distract me thinking that she’s weak when in truth is strong and clever... yet so sweet... that even the breeze flutters in warmth after grazing you lightly."

".... n..."

"?! M-my love?!"

Seeing the lovely expression with which he said all of that, tears suddenly came out. Such delight... he doesn’t know how happy it makes me to hear him say that... and yet here I am... worrying him till becoming pale with these tears.

"Sniff... Sorry... I am fine..." — I told him, cuddling to the hand he pulled away scared of what he could have done. — "It is only that what you just said, made me cry from delight..."

"Oh... so my love is frail of heart..."

"Hehe... yes, I am..."

"Do not feel sorry for that. If it is from delight, I shall admire the tears instead of fearing them, love." — At his tenderness, I giggled, moved by the little kisses he gave my cheeks to graze said tears.

There was a wish I had been dreaming of asking him. This idea has been within me for a while... and perhaps it is the right time to ask now that he’s welcomed my being like that. — "Zeleskiaz?" — I asked, intrigued.

"Yes, Love?"

"Would it be alright if I call you Zel?"

"... Is that short for my name?"

"Yes... I think it’s cute. I would like to call you like that as a nickname... o-of course besides my love and o-others like such."

"... I like it since my love made it. It is alright."

"Hehehe, alright~" — Feeling rejoiced to hear that, I chuckled a little shyly. Now saying the last bit that would make the difference in this seemingly simple wish. — "Then, as I will call you Zel... you shall call me Anne..."

"Anne?"

"Yes... It suits me well, I would love for you to call me in that way, Zel..."

For Anne is... the nickname I gave myself once I became two... being called like that... isn’t it like a way to acknowledge who I truly am now?

At least... I love to think of it like that... and if you were to call me that... it truly feels like it is the real me that you are calling.