Chapter 53 — The Duke’s Two Days... And a Displeasing Letter.
What she did after drawing his attention, took him by surprise.
Marianne did something that the Duke did not expect to see at this point in life.
The girl, who seemed so mature and passive, made a blunt request for a compliment on her appearance.
Graceful and elegant as always, she took her skirt into her fingers, always so delicate, and made a smooth turn in the spot she stood. Showing off her beautiful dress, her loose hair seemed to have a little crown on top thanks to the waterfall braids, meticulously shaped, decorating her head.
As she moved, a weird thought crossed his mind.
’...It’s as if the world was made to enhance my child’s beauty...’
The sounds and the season, the light and the scents, everything was making her beam strongly. The dull expression almost did not matter. Her lovely soul was emanating her true beauty through her actions.
Entranced by the happy emotions the view of her gave him, time continued to pass while he stared at her.
Only when the girl tilted her head almost unnoticeably, did he come back to his senses.
Feeling silly about how skillfully his daughter made him lose focus with her mesmerising existence, Orland could only laugh at how pleasing it felt to see his child glow with life. The extent of how a fool of a father he became every time he sees Marianne, made him incredulous.
A shy but playful attitude, just like the one she had more than ten years ago, had finally come back, and, just like back then... he would respond with utmost seriousness to the request she made, giving her a smile he had not used since then.
"You look extremely beautiful Dear... my daughter is prettier than the ancient crystal flowers and their guardian fairies... It is a delight to witness your beauty, my child."