Chapter 500
With a tender smile, Francois observed the scene with delighted fondness shadowing the concern over his son’s impatience... and releasing a sigh as he found the same peace Zeleskiaz did in each other’s company from the previous tension, his head turned to continue looking ahead, keeping to himself the nice sensation of these seemingly insignificant moments.
"If Orland gives his approval, at least a tad more than a month... I suggest you do it for two as a minimum. You should take that much at least to get to know the one you want as a wife better... Less than that will be seen as outrageous by the customs and people’s eyes... that without mentioning Orland’s opinions."
"..."
"Of course, you also cannot touch her as I know you want to during that time." — At the silence held by the crown prince to his words, the Emperor continued, this time wishing for a more comprehensive sound, hoping to talk his son back to patience as his words could not be wholesomely welcomed given his lack of reaction. — "... You know well of the customs of a Royal wedding... everyone will know if you have done more than proper before marriage once the wedding occurs, and you have to be aware that it will not be good for either of your images in the eyes of the people if you do not respect a safe distance."
"... I am conscious of that." — Zeleskiaz said, experiencing some pain as he thought of a month to be already too long, although days were not as lengthy as his heart now believed. — "... I was not planning on touching her incorrectly until we could marry... yet I... at times I believe I cannot restrain myself..."
"Hmm... even though you’ve done so until now? It is only a matter of time."
"This belief has always been there." — Zeleskiaz honestly told his father, ashamed of himself to confess it. — "It’s myself when too immersed in this wish to hold her that I cannot trust... and it is always there... resting within me as if hunting the moment her eyes can tell that my graze is desired as well..."
Immersed in the sentiments being conveyed to the father, Zeleskiaz exhaled forgetting the usual reluctance to converse with him; doing as Francois had been prodding him to do. Letting out words a father had never thought of listening to from an aloof and merciless man like his son was known.
"I... love her... and even if this I say makes it appear as if it is solely physical, I... I become odd when around her because of these feelings that cannot cease to bloom further... at times I wonder what to do with the overwhelming affection my soul wishes to caress her with... and I end up resorting to instincts that are dangerous for this very matter... I was able to control it to some degree... However, this time, I am lost at how to act now that I know my Lady is accepting these intentions of mine."
The attentive eye of his father that widened as surprise at Zeleskiaz’s honesty settled in him turned composed in hopes of helping the crown prince’s mind to rest from the intensity told, sighing after a pause while looking ahead at the closed door that had guided Orland out of their presence.
"Son... You talk as if you have been courting her for months and yet you only started today."
"..... when it comes to my intentions, I have known them for long enough to feel as I do... That could be a reason for your appreciation."