A man who only knows how to go straight smiles elegantly at me.
If this continues, I'll be tying a hundred-year-old vow, filled with lies, in a sacred place as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. I quickly waved my hand to resolve this situation. It might be a joke, but that man's words were indistinguishable from a joke.
“No, I will do it someday, but not tomorrow.”
Noah narrowed his eyes at my firm tone. Watching his expression gradually become more impassive sent a chill down my spine.
“If you marry me, I’ll give you meat every day and let you wear different clothes and shoes every day. I’m a capable man.”
“It’s still early.”
It's a tempting suggestion, but it's too early. The only thing that could be done to accommodate this ridiculous situation was romance.
Besides, you never know when this guy might turn around and point a gun at you, saying, "You're lying when you say you love me, right?"
After seeing the mercenary captain, who thought he would be spared and was running away with peace of mind, die from a headshot, it is not easy to make a decision about human relations.
A brief episode from the latter half of the original novel, where he pretends to fall for Celine's seduction tactics, before mercilessly driving her to despair, comes to mind. This episode, despite being a classic novel, was a shock to both the diehard readers who expected Noah to become the male protagonist and Celine, who had always been told she was beautiful.
I, too, invested in Noah, who exuded subtle plot and charm in the latter half of the original, as the male lead. But in reality, his stock plummeted to the level of Black Monday, and he was delisted.
"You're the ugliest woman I've ever seen. My secretary, Vincent, is prettier."
This part alone is a bit funny, but Celine becomes extremely devastated after this. He destroys Celine's narcissistic confidence and tramples on her self-esteem.
Celine, having only met Noah a few times, develops feelings for him and abandons her plans to run away. However, upon learning she's been deceived, she realizes through Noah the value and true love of Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, and yearns for him again. The original Celine is a bit of a strange woman, and she still is. In short, she's a sight to behold.
Anyway, the conclusion is that Noah is a bad guy who's worth his face, and a legendary nine-tailed fox who's built up his inner strength. I feel like I've bet my liver on this man's prank, and it's giving me a headache.
I'm afraid of the harsh words he'll spew if I keep blindly trying to please him and drag him along, only to be caught lying or lose interest. There's no concrete reason for him to bring me here, no reason for him to care for me and treat me so well. He's always been ambiguous. He doesn't overtly threaten me, but I can't seem to grasp his sincerity, so it's just confusing. So, I'm stuck in a situation where I can't do anything.
I was watching the daffodils floating down the river, my heart heavy with sorrow. While I was lost in thought, Noah, who seemed to have been somewhere, tapped me on the shoulder and offered me something.
There were yellow daffodils in his hands.
“It’s my heart."
As I looked up, bewildered, Noah took my hand, spread my palm, and held out each daffodil flower. He smiled like an innocent boy giving flowers to a girl.
“I was supposed to pick it up on the road, but I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked, so I stole this.”
It seems like he had some ambitious plan of his own, but he kept talking in his own words, so I couldn't understand what he meant.
“Did you know that the flower language of yellow daffodils is ‘in response to love’?”
“I know differently...”
I stopped talking, closed my mouth, and made an embarrassed face.
Noah gently tucked my hair behind my ear. The warmth against my ear made me shrug my shoulders. He smiled faintly and placed a flower in my ear.
Contrary to my expectations, he later offered me flowers instead of a gun when I suggested marriage. The part of my brain that handles common sense began to suggest that I should just give up on understanding.
The Duke's mad actions, in stark contrast to the original and the beginning, increasingly clouded my sense of reality and judgment. My thoughts drifted wildly.
If this continues, I'll be tying a hundred-year-old vow, filled with lies, in a sacred place as soon as the sun rises tomorrow. I quickly waved my hand to resolve this situation. It might be a joke, but that man's words were indistinguishable from a joke.
“No, I will do it someday, but not tomorrow.”
Noah narrowed his eyes at my firm tone. Watching his expression gradually become more impassive sent a chill down my spine.
“If you marry me, I’ll give you meat every day and let you wear different clothes and shoes every day. I’m a capable man.”
“It’s still early.”
It's a tempting suggestion, but it's too early. The only thing that could be done to accommodate this ridiculous situation was romance.
Besides, you never know when this guy might turn around and point a gun at you, saying, "You're lying when you say you love me, right?"
After seeing the mercenary captain, who thought he would be spared and was running away with peace of mind, die from a headshot, it is not easy to make a decision about human relations.
A brief episode from the latter half of the original novel, where he pretends to fall for Celine's seduction tactics, before mercilessly driving her to despair, comes to mind. This episode, despite being a classic novel, was a shock to both the diehard readers who expected Noah to become the male protagonist and Celine, who had always been told she was beautiful.
I, too, invested in Noah, who exuded subtle plot and charm in the latter half of the original, as the male lead. But in reality, his stock plummeted to the level of Black Monday, and he was delisted.
"You're the ugliest woman I've ever seen. My secretary, Vincent, is prettier."
This part alone is a bit funny, but Celine becomes extremely devastated after this. He destroys Celine's narcissistic confidence and tramples on her self-esteem.
Celine, having only met Noah a few times, develops feelings for him and abandons her plans to run away. However, upon learning she's been deceived, she realizes through Noah the value and true love of Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, and yearns for him again. The original Celine is a bit of a strange woman, and she still is. In short, she's a sight to behold.
Anyway, the conclusion is that Noah is a bad guy who's worth his face, and a legendary nine-tailed fox who's built up his inner strength. I feel like I've bet my liver on this man's prank, and it's giving me a headache.
I'm afraid of the harsh words he'll spew if I keep blindly trying to please him and drag him along, only to be caught lying or lose interest. There's no concrete reason for him to bring me here, no reason for him to care for me and treat me so well. He's always been ambiguous. He doesn't overtly threaten me, but I can't seem to grasp his sincerity, so it's just confusing. So, I'm stuck in a situation where I can't do anything.
I was watching the daffodils floating down the river, my heart heavy with sorrow. While I was lost in thought, Noah, who seemed to have been somewhere, tapped me on the shoulder and offered me something.
There were yellow daffodils in his hands.
“It’s my heart."
As I looked up, bewildered, Noah took my hand, spread my palm, and held out each daffodil flower. He smiled like an innocent boy giving flowers to a girl.
“I was supposed to pick it up on the road, but I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked, so I stole this.”
It seems like he had some ambitious plan of his own, but he kept talking in his own words, so I couldn't understand what he meant.
“Did you know that the flower language of yellow daffodils is ‘in response to love’?”
“I know differently...”
I stopped talking, closed my mouth, and made an embarrassed face.
Noah gently tucked my hair behind my ear. The warmth against my ear made me shrug my shoulders. He smiled faintly and placed a flower in my ear.
Contrary to my expectations, he later offered me flowers instead of a gun when I suggested marriage. The part of my brain that handles common sense began to suggest that I should just give up on understanding.
The Duke's mad actions, in stark contrast to the original and the beginning, increasingly clouded my sense of reality and judgment. My thoughts drifted wildly.
"So there's that side to it, you know, you know the meaning of flowers while stealing them."
Cute.
I flinched, doubting the thoughts that had just popped into my head. I'd repeated countless times the resolve not to let it pass. My heart felt strangely clouded, yet a little sad. If these actions were all tests or fakes, it would be a bit sad.
"Thank you."
I stroked the soft petals of the daffodil resting on my hand. Noah, who had been quietly observing my expression, began pulling flowers from his coat pocket, one after another, and piling them like a mountain on my palm.
How many had they taken! I was holding so many daffodils that it was almost too much for both hands.
“Why aren’t you smiling, Princess?”
“Me? I was laughing earlier.”
"Don't laugh like that. I've seen you cry. I'm curious about what it's like to laugh for real."
What's a real smile? I rubbed the back of my head, embarrassed. Noah habitually observed my reactions and facial expressions. I think he wanted to see different expressions, but I don't really know what kind of face I'm making.
“I’m really happy... because I don’t have many different expressions.”
"I'm glad you're happy. Should we go back now? We have to exchange our wedding vows tomorrow, so we should go to bed early."
This guy doesn't take rejection.
It was too much to confirm whether his words of love were a lie or to trying to fool me. I desperately came up with a quick solution.
"We need time to get to know each other. There might be some things that don't fit, right?"
“There was enough time to be bored.”
“I am lacking.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me. Do you not like me, Princess?”
"No... It's too much for me, a hostage. How well did you know me? I could have a fatal flaw."
Realistically, there was no reason to turn him down, as he provided excellent food, clothing, shelter, personal safety, and a feast for the eyes. However, the fact that he was a man of unsound mind and difficult to control was a significant landmine.
Noah, seeing my worried and gloomy face, gently touched my cheek with his fingertips.
“I will give you citizenship.”
He seemed to think he was depressed because he was a hostage in an enemy country. Does this mean I'm completely surrendering to the enemy? I have no patriotism, so it doesn't matter. Even if I escape, I'd rather be mercilessly chased away by Noah than here in Froggen, where the admiral is trying to kill me.
If you have citizenship, it might help you later.
I nodded readily.
“Yes, thank you, but we’ll get married later.”
Noah didn't even pay attention to my stubbornness. He straightened his clothes and extended his elbow toward me. I stared blankly, and he shook his arm slightly.
“I think my legs are going to hurt from standing for so long. Let’s cross our arms.”
I put the daffodils in my pockets, both hands full, and linked arms with him for the first time.
He's meticulous. Even though my legs are long and my stride is long, he was considerate of my slow, often trotted pace.
“Where is the mansion?”
“It’s about a 5-minute drive away.”
Noah, who answered my question, opened the passenger door, sat in the driver's seat, and started the car. Perhaps because it was such a rare and expensive car, people stood at a distance, looking at me with curious eyes.
They were whispering among themselves and staring intently at me. I figured they'd just think of him as a casual new lover, so I didn't pay much attention.
The mansion, located just outside the city center, was also quite large. The butlers and maids who managed the mansion stood in a line, paying their respects. The soldiers who followed also got out of their vehicles, searched the area, and reported back that all was well.
“He is the one who will marry me.”
The butler, startled by Noah's words, adjusted his glasses and looked at me. He was a man in his sixties with graying hair, with an upright posture and a refined manner.
“Then I will prepare the same room for you.”
“We’re not sleeping together!”
My face flushed red, and I shouted urgently. Noah looked down at me, his eyes half-closed. His dimples were faintly dented, and the corners of his mouth were curved in amusement.
“Don’t be shy. Let’s go to bed quickly, princess.”
The butler, perhaps ashamed of my infidelity, ordered the maid to prepare a room for two people to stay in.
I gave Noah a questioning look. I felt firmly trapped in his trap. It was a despicable trap, and the more I struggled, the more entangled I became.
“We’re not that close.”
“You kissed me, told me you loved me, and even proposed to me. At first, you even pounced on me...”
Without realizing it, I lifted my toe and covered Noah's mouth. The maids' mouths were slightly open, glancing back and forth between me and Noah.
He's not the kind of naive guy who'd fall for something like that. He's deliberately feigning innocence, flustering me, and enjoying the reaction. No matter how easy I am, he'd still be like that.
“...Do you enjoy teasing me?”
“Because it’s pretty when your cheeks turn red.”
When Noah smiled, the bags under his eyes grew thicker. I couldn't tell who was calling whom pretty.
I figured it was a profitable business, since she provided me with food, clothing, and shelter, and I could tease her freely and enjoy her reactions. Just as I was contemplating whether I should study her reactions more closely to entertain her, Noah cautiously took my hand and intertwined them.
His hand, which had been intertwined between my small fingers, completely enveloped mine, and his long fingers lightly stroked the back of my hand.
It felt like a secret signal, a tingling sensation in my stomach rather than my hand. Just holding hands felt like my whole body was being embraced and caressed, so my lips twitched.
“Let’s go, pretty girl.”
"...Yes."
I followed him to his room, as if possessed. No, I was truly captivated by this vixen man.
Noah opened the door and looked at me with a kind look.
"See you tomorrow."
He let me into the room, gave me a quick wave, closed the door, and left. I stared blankly at the now-firmly shut door, then suddenly came to my senses and shook my head violently.
“It was dangerous, it was dangerous. That guy is really dangerous.”
If I let my guard down even for a moment, he'd walk right into bed. I declined the maid's service and sat down in the wooden rocking chair, leaning back leisurely. It was a little worn, and it creaked loudly with every rocking motion.
I covered my lap with a blanket and warmed myself by the coal-fired fireplace. Brass ornaments and bottles of liquor were placed on the hearth. Unlike the mansions on the outskirts, the ivory-colored wallpaper and furniture, white curtains, and fluffy white rugs on the marble floor gave the room an overall warm feel.
After I had warmed myself up enough, I got up, filled a glass bowl with water, and floated the yellow daffodils I had taken out of my pocket in it.
“It’s my heart.”
Noah's languid voice is vivid. My heart floats and tickles like daffodils in a glass bowl. I can't tell what form the heart he's talking about takes.
“Ah. I should wash up and go to sleep.”
Fortunately, this world has developed water and sewage systems, so there are drainage facilities, and water comes out when you turn on the tap.
Thanks to water purification technology, the tap water smelled like modern disinfectants. According to the books I read during my imprisonment, this world, and especially Frogen, had made remarkable advances in science and technology.
If we had gone back to an earlier era, we would have been horrified by the stench and unsanitary conditions and would have suffered from cholera and typhoid. Nothing could be more desolate than being possessed by a world filled with filthy streets strewn with corpses and unwashed people.
Knock knock.
After finishing my bath, I was drying my hair in front of the fireplace, wearing a thick robe, when there was a knock on the door. I approached and opened it, and there was Noah, his face soft and fluffy, as if he'd just washed up.
His silver hair was slightly damp. His handsome nose was red. His eyes, always rimmed with red, were now even redder, as if he'd been crying.
I realized where the strange eroticism and sensuality I felt from him came from. It was the sultry quality of some attractive men. A paradoxical allure that seems dangerous yet evokes a protective instinct.
Although it's been described as "pretty" and "cute," it doesn't feel like a pretty girl, but rather like a beautiful male. It's also a carnivore with a gorgeous appearance that doesn't need protective coloration.
The broad shoulders and solid body outline hidden beneath a neat shirt buttoned up to the neck are as tempting as a forbidden secret.
“You said you’d see me tomorrow...”
I swallowed with difficulty and moved my stiff tongue to ask. My body was so stiff that even blinking felt unnatural.
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s 12 o’clock.”
You said you'd see me tomorrow, but you came right at midnight? Noah gently touched my wet, jet-black hair.
A finger brushed past my earlobe, causing me to flinch involuntarily and arch my back. A chill ran down my spine, making my hair stand on end.
“I think you're going to catch a cold.”
He lowered his eyes, looked down at me, and spoke with concern. The bags under his eyes were folded, and the shadows on his eyelashes were long.
“Didn’t you see that in the morning?”
“Yeah. I’ll have to see you in the morning, too.”
Noah, who had been rubbing my wet hair with a towel, came closer to face me.
The flames of the fireplace danced and flickered in his mysterious blue eyes.
“Here.”
Cute.
I flinched, doubting the thoughts that had just popped into my head. I'd repeated countless times the resolve not to let it pass. My heart felt strangely clouded, yet a little sad. If these actions were all tests or fakes, it would be a bit sad.
"Thank you."
I stroked the soft petals of the daffodil resting on my hand. Noah, who had been quietly observing my expression, began pulling flowers from his coat pocket, one after another, and piling them like a mountain on my palm.
How many had they taken! I was holding so many daffodils that it was almost too much for both hands.
“Why aren’t you smiling, Princess?”
“Me? I was laughing earlier.”
"Don't laugh like that. I've seen you cry. I'm curious about what it's like to laugh for real."
What's a real smile? I rubbed the back of my head, embarrassed. Noah habitually observed my reactions and facial expressions. I think he wanted to see different expressions, but I don't really know what kind of face I'm making.
“I’m really happy... because I don’t have many different expressions.”
"I'm glad you're happy. Should we go back now? We have to exchange our wedding vows tomorrow, so we should go to bed early."
This guy doesn't take rejection.
It was too much to confirm whether his words of love were a lie or to trying to fool me. I desperately came up with a quick solution.
"We need time to get to know each other. There might be some things that don't fit, right?"
“There was enough time to be bored.”
“I am lacking.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me. Do you not like me, Princess?”
"No... It's too much for me, a hostage. How well did you know me? I could have a fatal flaw."
Realistically, there was no reason to turn him down, as he provided excellent food, clothing, shelter, personal safety, and a feast for the eyes. However, the fact that he was a man of unsound mind and difficult to control was a significant landmine.
Noah, seeing my worried and gloomy face, gently touched my cheek with his fingertips.
“I will give you citizenship.”
He seemed to think he was depressed because he was a hostage in an enemy country. Does this mean I'm completely surrendering to the enemy? I have no patriotism, so it doesn't matter. Even if I escape, I'd rather be mercilessly chased away by Noah than here in Froggen, where the admiral is trying to kill me.
If you have citizenship, it might help you later.
I nodded readily.
“Yes, thank you, but we’ll get married later.”
Noah didn't even pay attention to my stubbornness. He straightened his clothes and extended his elbow toward me. I stared blankly, and he shook his arm slightly.
“I think my legs are going to hurt from standing for so long. Let’s cross our arms.”
I put the daffodils in my pockets, both hands full, and linked arms with him for the first time.
He's meticulous. Even though my legs are long and my stride is long, he was considerate of my slow, often trotted pace.
“Where is the mansion?”
“It’s about a 5-minute drive away.”
Noah, who answered my question, opened the passenger door, sat in the driver's seat, and started the car. Perhaps because it was such a rare and expensive car, people stood at a distance, looking at me with curious eyes.
They were whispering among themselves and staring intently at me. I figured they'd just think of him as a casual new lover, so I didn't pay much attention.
The mansion, located just outside the city center, was also quite large. The butlers and maids who managed the mansion stood in a line, paying their respects. The soldiers who followed also got out of their vehicles, searched the area, and reported back that all was well.
“He is the one who will marry me.”
The butler, startled by Noah's words, adjusted his glasses and looked at me. He was a man in his sixties with graying hair, with an upright posture and a refined manner.
“Then I will prepare the same room for you.”
“We’re not sleeping together!”
My face flushed red, and I shouted urgently. Noah looked down at me, his eyes half-closed. His dimples were faintly dented, and the corners of his mouth were curved in amusement.
“Don’t be shy. Let’s go to bed quickly, princess.”
The butler, perhaps ashamed of my infidelity, ordered the maid to prepare a room for two people to stay in.
I gave Noah a questioning look. I felt firmly trapped in his trap. It was a despicable trap, and the more I struggled, the more entangled I became.
“We’re not that close.”
“You kissed me, told me you loved me, and even proposed to me. At first, you even pounced on me...”
Without realizing it, I lifted my toe and covered Noah's mouth. The maids' mouths were slightly open, glancing back and forth between me and Noah.
He's not the kind of naive guy who'd fall for something like that. He's deliberately feigning innocence, flustering me, and enjoying the reaction. No matter how easy I am, he'd still be like that.
“...Do you enjoy teasing me?”
“Because it’s pretty when your cheeks turn red.”
When Noah smiled, the bags under his eyes grew thicker. I couldn't tell who was calling whom pretty.
I figured it was a profitable business, since she provided me with food, clothing, and shelter, and I could tease her freely and enjoy her reactions. Just as I was contemplating whether I should study her reactions more closely to entertain her, Noah cautiously took my hand and intertwined them.
His hand, which had been intertwined between my small fingers, completely enveloped mine, and his long fingers lightly stroked the back of my hand.
It felt like a secret signal, a tingling sensation in my stomach rather than my hand. Just holding hands felt like my whole body was being embraced and caressed, so my lips twitched.
“Let’s go, pretty girl.”
"...Yes."
I followed him to his room, as if possessed. No, I was truly captivated by this vixen man.
Noah opened the door and looked at me with a kind look.
"See you tomorrow."
He let me into the room, gave me a quick wave, closed the door, and left. I stared blankly at the now-firmly shut door, then suddenly came to my senses and shook my head violently.
“It was dangerous, it was dangerous. That guy is really dangerous.”
If I let my guard down even for a moment, he'd walk right into bed. I declined the maid's service and sat down in the wooden rocking chair, leaning back leisurely. It was a little worn, and it creaked loudly with every rocking motion.
I covered my lap with a blanket and warmed myself by the coal-fired fireplace. Brass ornaments and bottles of liquor were placed on the hearth. Unlike the mansions on the outskirts, the ivory-colored wallpaper and furniture, white curtains, and fluffy white rugs on the marble floor gave the room an overall warm feel.
After I had warmed myself up enough, I got up, filled a glass bowl with water, and floated the yellow daffodils I had taken out of my pocket in it.
“It’s my heart.”
Noah's languid voice is vivid. My heart floats and tickles like daffodils in a glass bowl. I can't tell what form the heart he's talking about takes.
“Ah. I should wash up and go to sleep.”
Fortunately, this world has developed water and sewage systems, so there are drainage facilities, and water comes out when you turn on the tap.
Thanks to water purification technology, the tap water smelled like modern disinfectants. According to the books I read during my imprisonment, this world, and especially Frogen, had made remarkable advances in science and technology.
If we had gone back to an earlier era, we would have been horrified by the stench and unsanitary conditions and would have suffered from cholera and typhoid. Nothing could be more desolate than being possessed by a world filled with filthy streets strewn with corpses and unwashed people.
Knock knock.
After finishing my bath, I was drying my hair in front of the fireplace, wearing a thick robe, when there was a knock on the door. I approached and opened it, and there was Noah, his face soft and fluffy, as if he'd just washed up.
His silver hair was slightly damp. His handsome nose was red. His eyes, always rimmed with red, were now even redder, as if he'd been crying.
I realized where the strange eroticism and sensuality I felt from him came from. It was the sultry quality of some attractive men. A paradoxical allure that seems dangerous yet evokes a protective instinct.
Although it's been described as "pretty" and "cute," it doesn't feel like a pretty girl, but rather like a beautiful male. It's also a carnivore with a gorgeous appearance that doesn't need protective coloration.
The broad shoulders and solid body outline hidden beneath a neat shirt buttoned up to the neck are as tempting as a forbidden secret.
“You said you’d see me tomorrow...”
I swallowed with difficulty and moved my stiff tongue to ask. My body was so stiff that even blinking felt unnatural.
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s 12 o’clock.”
You said you'd see me tomorrow, but you came right at midnight? Noah gently touched my wet, jet-black hair.
A finger brushed past my earlobe, causing me to flinch involuntarily and arch my back. A chill ran down my spine, making my hair stand on end.
“I think you're going to catch a cold.”
He lowered his eyes, looked down at me, and spoke with concern. The bags under his eyes were folded, and the shadows on his eyelashes were long.
“Didn’t you see that in the morning?”
“Yeah. I’ll have to see you in the morning, too.”
Noah, who had been rubbing my wet hair with a towel, came closer to face me.
The flames of the fireplace danced and flickered in his mysterious blue eyes.
“Here.”
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