Chapter 539
"... No, maybe you should not give me gifts for a while..."
"I refuse. Yet I am to try and not go overboard as you say next year."
"... Alright... Promise me." — Accepting his reluctance, Marianne sighed, casually catching a glimpse of a dubious smirk that made her request his compromise to keep his word. — "Dad, promise you will not give me gifts this big anymore-"
"Ouf! Goodness there is no need for that~ Now, come on sweetie, the guests are waiting. We should get going."
"Dad, promise me! I bet you are already crafting something!"
"Hahaha~ No~ No, I am not~ Why would my daughter believe that?? Nevertheless... Isn’t your voice too loud, Marianne? What if someone listens and finds out you recovered~" — Moving fast so her reproach would not succeed, Orland opened the door, offering his hand to the troubled daughter who was learning a side of her father that had been kept thoroughly hidden for some time.
The duke’s smile concealed mischief as he was sure not to keep that promise, for within Orland a strong desire to pamper his daughter solely amassed further the more closeness she showed in their conversations and confidence in her speech he had almost deemed for lost once.
"I-... I did not speak that loudly..."
"Haha~ Do you think so~?"
"... y-yes..."