Chapter 398
To her concerned hug, Orland slowly separated while holding onto her arms.
"... Ah... I apologise, dear... I... ahem... on the way here all I was able to think of was how you were doing... Excuse this old heart of mine..."
’N-no... It’s alright, mister... the fact I’m this fine is what’s actually weird...’ — Shaking her head as she watched her Father wipe away a tear that made it out of his lids, Marianne turned serious. Patting his shoulders in concern and sorry demeanour. — ’Don’t apologise, mister...’
"Sigh... Come here, dear. I will move you to bed so Deslys and Talmhach can take a better look at you."
Becoming as admirable as everyone was accustomed to witnessing in the Duke, Orland decided to not continue such a scene before those present. Therefore, lifting Marianne who readily extended her arms to be carried by her father received another kiss on the forehead for the loving parent needed to cuddle his daughter in the frailness of his heart... while she later peeked at the prince that also stepped forward to follow them.
’!... s-so... He’s staying...’ — Pleased, the child shrank with fluttery blush in the arms of her father. Feeling delight as he remained where she could see him.
*******
"Surprisingly... her health is better than last time I saw her."
"?! Truly, Deslys?? You cannot jest with me right now."
"Yes, my Lord... It almost has me speechless... last time, her coldness and pulsations were such that we..." — Recalling the dislike of Orland to the sentencing diagnosis they had previously given, Deslys halted his words, noticing the warning in the Duke’s tense expression and changing his words. — "Nevertheless, it appears as if the young lady has had an improvement we cannot ignore... Talmhach, you checked on her during her stay after that. Did you see any kind of hint of this improvement?"