Although the past memory he has gone through make it seem like , quite a long time has passed but in fact it has only been few minutes since marie explanation.
Looking at Darian who look lost in trace with unfocused eyes—marie hesitate before she speaks"Your highness?"
"Yes?"
Marie voice brought him out of his engrossed thought, before glancing at her.
"What happened?"
"Huh?"
"N-No nothing"
Marie stumbled over her words at Darian sudden question.
"Marie,you know actually I don't mind having us talk informally."
Darian find it quite bothersome to treat other like servants, especially Marie who is taking care of him ever since he was unconscious,no matter what he couldn't be so ungrateful.
Looking at marie who is still so nervous despite trying to have casual conversation to acquire some useful information since he still can't recall all the past memories of his predecessor.
Darian let out a tired sigh before looking at marie who had her head hung low in nervousness ,with utmost seriousness.
"Marie, can't you say what you have on your mind–I assure, I wouldn't mind it.so just relax and convey your thoughts."
Even after hearing that marie couldn't help but stay nervous,after all she has to keep their status difference in check–athough she has been taking care of darian ever since he was brought here ,so she encounter him everyday under the context of overseeing his needs but facing him in person–fully awake was a different matter.
Under darian constant insistence,marie continuous refusal made her feel like going a bit overboard ,so at last she agreed to his order from her perspective.
Marie speak though a little hesitantly, constantly worried about offending darian.
"....Your highness you seem a little different from the rumours that are circulating inside the place–I mean like you are totally different person from those rumours."
"Oh"
" So,what are those rumours that you are judging me on?"
Darian was actually curious about his predecessor personality,his lifestyle,his nature— not to mention his hazy memories but even in novel his appearance was only for a fleeting moment which prompted him to ask such questions.
"Huh?"
Marie froze in place at Darian question since those are not actually good rumours and letting him know about it will probably enraged him.
"What happened,just tell me."
Stuck at the crossroads with nowhere to turn around and with darian continuous insistence,she could only curse herself for her loose mouth.
She opened her mouth though little hesitantly "Your highness,these are not my thoughts but something I stumbled upon–so please don't get angry over it on me."
"I know,I know"
"So just say it"
Hearing darian affirm her doubt could she muster her courage before opening her mouth.
"They say your highness has snobbish personality completely disregarding other–taking advantage of his status to stretch even the minor issue into a big problem just to satiate his ego."
Marie finished her words while scrutinizing darian expression which was getting darker as she continues with her thoughts making her wonder wheather she was doing the right thing.
"Ha..ha"
Darian let out a self depricative laugh in response to marie words,even now he could tell –marie was being actually modest in her words even though he predicted it to some extent but still hearing it was another thing,he didn't expect darian personality would turn out to be this trashy.
"Seem like I can't be like him."
Muttering to himself in low voice.
He was actually thinking about behaving the same way like darian in order to avoid any suspicions to not get into unnecessary trouble but now it seem he can now only live his way.
To transferred in this novel , leaving behind his loved ones ,the people he cherished and the responsibility he has towards them–it is not easy for him to overcome this sorrow of loosing something important to him ,despite not able to remember them but this feeling that is embedded deep within his soul can't be easily forgotten.
"I can't do this."
But now having this thought to act like someone else who is completely opposite to him in nature made him feel very repulsive,he can't forget his essence– that is the only thing that he could considered his own.
Marie looking at Darian who is going through the series of emotional changes couldn't help but get confused.
Marie muttered to herself while nodding her head
"It seem your highness is truly tired."
Having finished with his thoughts, darian turned his attention back to marie.
"Thanks for telling me."
Darian expressed his gratitude looking into marie eyes.
"N–No Your highness,it is this servant honour to be of help to you."
Marie jerkingly responded , feeling ashamed for darian expressing his gratitude.
Ignoring marie awkwardness ,darian responded"You can leave the bowl and towel on the table and you don't have to continue with this cleaning-i will take care of it on my own."
" Did I commit a mistake ,your highness?"
Marie was startled by darian words before coming to her senses.
"No ,it's nothing like that and if I ever need your assistance,I will call you."
"You can leave now."
Darian turned his head ,no longer paying attention to marie ,he still has lot to consider now.
Having received the order from darian and his firm tone of no longer needed any assistance,she could only silently bow her head before leaving the room.
In the corridor
Leaving darian room ,marie moved with slow but steady steps contradicting her previous behaviour in darian room with neutral expression which makes people question the credibility of those open book expression that she shows in darian room and her dark shadows stretching to its full length.
"it seem you enjoy your role."
"...."
A heavy and eerie voice responded through the quiet corridor with no one in sight, enough to send shivers down the spine of people but marie dauntlessly continue with her strides without bothering to answer.
"Not answering,but still I could feel it–what you have hidden deep in yourself is again resurfacing."
Even without receiving any answer,the voice sounded amuse because it could see the subtle change in her expression, which is hard to see if you didn't have better understanding of her and keenly perceptive.
"Well whatever but I enjoy this to the fullest.so, don't disappoint me moving forward."
"....."
"He..he ...he"
Eerie laughed echoes through out the corridor with marie continue on her path.