Chapter 382
"She cannot talk? She has no voice? Nonsense... when she was younger I could listen to her repulsive sound every day as she bothered Orland in his bureau. Do you truly believe she cannot utter a word? Please don’t make me laugh, child."
Looking back at the girl whose hand had only lowered now from her irritated cheek, Elenaide condescendingly demanded an answer from the reluctant girl.
Theressa’s back had straightened while her frown came to exist and taking a moment to ponder, silence was heard in the tent only the two women... supposedly were at.
"... I can remember Ma–... Her, talking to me when we were children... however, ever since I–..." — The voice of the young Sylfinnier had started to gain force as she wanted to contradict her mother. Yet... a memory of a scene that had not happened long ago was recalled.
The cold hands and the warmth of her sister’s embrace were still vividly engraved in her memory... just as clearly as the whisper of a protective sister going against an evil older brother.
"..."
"What is it? Have you realised what your mother says is true?" — Noticing the confusion in Theressa’s expression Elenaide said with coldness to her child. — "I am sure not only she can hiss with that innocent face she portrays but is even sweetening the ears of the people around her with that witchcraft she possesses... Even yourself Theressa."
"... I... Mother I do not think she is doing such-"
"What do you know? Theressa, do you believe such strong allegiance to a woman like her is common?? A seemingly mute and sick woman being liked by a man such as the Crown Prince and his majesty... it is difficult to believe. As she implied we did in the tea session, they would truly have treated her like a pest and even sacrificed her out of fear of her mysterious illness."
"Yet... Marianne-"