A black-haired man wearing a formal suit under a brown wool coat took my hand and tried to help me up. His blue eyes, beneath hair the exact opposite color of Noah's, looked down at me.
“Lieutenant Colonel?”
“Get up quickly. We must go back before the soldiers come this way.”
As soon as the lieutenant colonel finished speaking, the fingertips I held with his grew cold.
“Lieutenant Colonel?”
“Get up quickly. We must go back before the soldiers come this way.”
As soon as the lieutenant colonel finished speaking, the fingertips I held with his grew cold.
"Going back?"
Where? I have nowhere to go. I recalled the eyes of those who had looked at me with hatred and contempt in the admiral's mansion. This world was unfamiliar, yet familiar, and it vividly reminded me of the bitter disillusionment of my original life.
The thought of returning to a life of contempt seeped into me with loneliness, freezing my blood. The people I'd met in Frogen had been kind to me. I didn't want to leave this place, where I could warm myself like a refuge from a harsh blizzard. Back in the old world, I'd survived on my own resources, but here, I have nothing. I clutched Noah's coat around my shoulders and sighed deeply. I watched the haze of his breath fade away, finally succumbing to a sense of despair.
I just rolled my eyes and glanced ahead. There were clearly soldiers hiding in the garden, hiding under cover to protect the lieutenant colonel, watching this way. What if Noah spotted me and came this way? The thought made my head spin even colder.
A cold wind blew, rustling the withered leaves barely clinging to the branches. A cold gust of wind suddenly swept over my head. I made a decision. I barely managed to get up from the ground, holding on to his hand.
“I’ll follow you.”
Noah will still be safe. He's no ordinary man.
I must leave quickly. If my special relationship with him is discovered, I too might be branded a spy and killed. If I, the target, obediently follow, the mission is accomplished, and as an enemy, I don't want to engage in unnecessary combat. So, I...
'Stay here. You don't want to go back.'
A formless emotion caught me off guard, holding me back from following the persuasions of reason. The feeling of emptiness was akin to a longing for someone to come and grab me. I wanted to know. I wanted to understand why he had been so kind to me, what this feeling I hadn't yet grasped was.
Noah's incomprehensible words resonated, gradually revealing their true meaning. It seemed he knew everything: my situation, the mercenaries they'd send to kill me, and the lieutenant colonel's arrival to rescue me. Perhaps that's why he stationed guards at the mansion, held a grand coming-of-age ceremony and engagement party, and summoned the Frogen soldiers.
'I can't die.'
If I return to Belford, I'll die. Maybe not immediately, but someday. But in this situation, the closest thing to death is Noah. Whatever his kindness to me, even if he volunteers to lead me to the Abyss, I don't want to see him die. Even though it was my own feeling, it felt strange and unfamiliar. I turned to the lieutenant colonel, who was gently tugging at my hand as if urging me to leave.
“Colonel, do you know why my father didn’t come to me?”
“I heard that a previous rescue operation was attempted but failed.”
I thought I'd die here, Father. I survived too long, so he sent mercenaries. But if you're going to rescue me anyway... I silenced the words I held in my heart, catching a glimpse of the confusion and hesitation flashing through his blue eyes. He must have sensed a difference in my attire and appearance from when I lived there. I asked again.
“You said you would save me, right?”
“Yes. My purpose is to save you.”
It was a clichéd response, based on the beliefs and principles of the righteous protagonist in the novel. On the surface, I was kidnapped.
"Now that the operation is over, withdraw the soldiers first. Unless you want to die together."
The lieutenant colonel looked puzzled at my significantly lowered voice.
“What are you talking about?”
"I'm saying there's no need to make unnecessary sacrifices. There are over a hundred Frogen soldiers, officers, and military police here right now. The Duke knew you were coming."
Perhaps his ultimate goal was to use me to lure Noah into a trap and kill him. Seeing my indifferent expression, the lieutenant colonel nodded, raised his fist, and signaled somewhere.
“I parked my car at the back door. Let’s go quickly.”
The cold winter wind caressed my cheek as it blew past. I could hear the distant sound of gunfire. Only the pristine white garden, receding behind me, remained silent.
“Yes, I understand.”
I followed the lieutenant colonel and climbed into the military vehicle parked near the back door. As I started the engine and turned the car onto a side road, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal pulled out his pistol and gently placed his other hand on my back.
"Miss Diana, bow your head. The Grogen Army is following you."
I didn't lower my head. Oddly, the feeling I felt was relief. I turned my head, and a figure flickered through the car window. Suddenly, I saw Noah standing outside the back iron door, facing me. My vision was blurred, as if I were in a thick fog. Yet, the snowflakes falling on his silver hair were clear enough to make out. The rifle was strapped to Noah's shoulder, the sharp tip of the barrel pointed towards me, close to his face. Beneath the muzzle, his mouth was shut. Behind him, a dozen Frogen soldiers stood in a row, their guns aimed in my direction. Yet, I wasn't afraid at all. Rather, I felt like a savior, holding me back from hell. I sat up straight and quietly watched him.
I met his narrowed, cloudy blue eyes, aiming in my direction. Noah's eyes widened as he spotted me in the car. A myriad of emotions raced through me. Would he consider me a betrayal, or a capture? If he decided the former, what would he do? I held Noah's coat draped over my shoulder with one hand and smiled bitterly at him. The moment we stared at each other was fleeting, but it felt like everything had stopped.
Maybe it was a gamble. He might think I'm running away and shoot me. No, that's just a worry. He doesn't want me dead or hurt. I've always known that about him, but I've denied it. I was afraid I'd get hurt if I trusted him.
I saw Noah slowly lower his gun, his expressionless face blank. His blank, unblinking eyes were fixed on me. The corners of his eyes were tinted red, giving him a sorrowful look. His lips moved slowly, as if trying to convey something beyond the transparent window that separated us.
'Diana...'
For a split second, I heard the sound of wheels spinning, then the car sped away, moving further and further away. I couldn't fully grasp the words he was trying to convey. He didn't aim his gun again or order the soldiers to fire. He didn't grab me, nor did he follow me. I barely managed to turn my head, caught in the grip of foolishness.
The feelings I felt for Noah were always complex and nuanced. What he showed me was very much akin to possessiveness, but also a surprising sense of responsibility. Thinking back now, I realized he wanted to give me what Celine had, what she enjoyed. It was as if he was trying to compensate for my life, which had been unloved and discriminated against, unlike my sister, who was called a Princess. Was the conclusion that he would save me, become my lover, and marry me? Why me, of all people?
Instead of doubting him because I didn't know why he was being so kind to me, I should have subtly asked him if he really meant it when he said he liked me. Just as he kept trying to confirm this with me, I wanted to know too.
No, I'll just tell you the truth. I like it here, and I don't want to go back.
This was the source of foolishness.
The remaining Belford and Frogen forces began engaging, and distant, eerie screams and ear-splitting gunfire echoed across the mountainside. It was so clear and poignant, it felt like it was coming from right next to me.
I sat in the passenger seat, covered my ears, crouched down, and buried my head in my knees.
I let out a silent scream, feeling like I was drowning. I've never really experienced war. War is so horrible. I hate it.
I'll never see that pretty boy again. Will I ever see him again after the war?
I didn't cry. I should have looked back at least once, but I didn't. It was a calm farewell, like the introduction to a farewell song played by an orchestra.
The car sped on, clearing the darkness of the snowy road. The warmth of my first contact with him, and the last sight of him, were vividly etched into my memory, before dissipating into the quiet winter night. The only people who had ever been kind to me, and the most comfortable routine since I came to this world, gradually drifted away.
The only survivors of the Christmas Day rescue operation were Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal and I. The car we were in was untouched by even a single bullet.
We safely crossed the border and arrived in Belford. The sun was beginning to rise, dispelling the cold, heavy light of dawn. A faint scent of the sea wafted in the air, as if we were approaching the city where the naval headquarters was located.
“Thank you for saving me.”
I sat in the car and bowed to the lieutenant colonel. I had to pretend I was fine, as I could be imprisoned or executed as a spy for the enemy.
“Miss Claire. The treatment there was...”
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes scanned the expensive dress, jewelry, and shoes draped over my body, then paused at the sight of the man's coat draped over my shoulders. He must have thought I was eating well, now that I was a shabby, shabby woman, now wearing expensive clothes and looking well-fed.
“Let’s go to my mansion first.”
He, who usually has a sharp expression, tried to look kind, as if reassuring a child.
"I understand what you did there. You had to survive first and foremost. Be careful, it'll be embarrassing if it becomes known."
I couldn't even muster the strength to make excuses, so I just sighed deeply. Just like before, everything felt tiresome and listless.
“That outfit might be misleading, so I’ll prepare some more modest clothes for you tomorrow.”
"All right."
The lieutenant colonel didn't ask any questions. He probably knew from my appearance and reaction that Noah, who was aiming his gun, had spotted me and didn't give the order to fire.
I didn't hate him. He was a man who risked his life to infiltrate enemy territory and come to my rescue.
Saving myself was the inevitable choice and the only correct answer, befitting the righteous male protagonist of the original novel. Of course, from my personal perspective, it was the wrong answer.
“I’ll go to sleep now.”
I lay down on the bed, exhausted, and covered myself with the blanket. I heard the Colonel quietly leave the room and close the door.
“I like being alone.”
I muttered something I'd forgotten for a moment. I've always been alone, and I've always wanted to be alone.
The word "alone," my refuge and sanctuary, seemed to sink me into deep, dark waters. I rationalized it away, thinking, "It's fortunate it ends here before my heart sinks any deeper."
“Good night, see you tomorrow.”
I heard a familiar voice from somewhere, but the unfamiliar room was so quiet that it felt like another world.
The only sound was the winter breeze knocking against the window, brushing past. A faint scent lingered somewhere on my body.
Nostalgia.
I received another coming-of-age gift. I'll probably miss the time I spent with that man someday. My heart prickled, as if pricked by a needle. I pulled the blanket up and closed my eyes calmly.
Go to sleep, because tomorrow I have to go back to hell.
I just rolled my eyes and glanced ahead. There were clearly soldiers hiding in the garden, hiding under cover to protect the lieutenant colonel, watching this way. What if Noah spotted me and came this way? The thought made my head spin even colder.
A cold wind blew, rustling the withered leaves barely clinging to the branches. A cold gust of wind suddenly swept over my head. I made a decision. I barely managed to get up from the ground, holding on to his hand.
“I’ll follow you.”
Noah will still be safe. He's no ordinary man.
I must leave quickly. If my special relationship with him is discovered, I too might be branded a spy and killed. If I, the target, obediently follow, the mission is accomplished, and as an enemy, I don't want to engage in unnecessary combat. So, I...
'Stay here. You don't want to go back.'
A formless emotion caught me off guard, holding me back from following the persuasions of reason. The feeling of emptiness was akin to a longing for someone to come and grab me. I wanted to know. I wanted to understand why he had been so kind to me, what this feeling I hadn't yet grasped was.
Noah's incomprehensible words resonated, gradually revealing their true meaning. It seemed he knew everything: my situation, the mercenaries they'd send to kill me, and the lieutenant colonel's arrival to rescue me. Perhaps that's why he stationed guards at the mansion, held a grand coming-of-age ceremony and engagement party, and summoned the Frogen soldiers.
'I can't die.'
If I return to Belford, I'll die. Maybe not immediately, but someday. But in this situation, the closest thing to death is Noah. Whatever his kindness to me, even if he volunteers to lead me to the Abyss, I don't want to see him die. Even though it was my own feeling, it felt strange and unfamiliar. I turned to the lieutenant colonel, who was gently tugging at my hand as if urging me to leave.
“Colonel, do you know why my father didn’t come to me?”
“I heard that a previous rescue operation was attempted but failed.”
I thought I'd die here, Father. I survived too long, so he sent mercenaries. But if you're going to rescue me anyway... I silenced the words I held in my heart, catching a glimpse of the confusion and hesitation flashing through his blue eyes. He must have sensed a difference in my attire and appearance from when I lived there. I asked again.
“You said you would save me, right?”
“Yes. My purpose is to save you.”
It was a clichéd response, based on the beliefs and principles of the righteous protagonist in the novel. On the surface, I was kidnapped.
"Now that the operation is over, withdraw the soldiers first. Unless you want to die together."
The lieutenant colonel looked puzzled at my significantly lowered voice.
“What are you talking about?”
"I'm saying there's no need to make unnecessary sacrifices. There are over a hundred Frogen soldiers, officers, and military police here right now. The Duke knew you were coming."
Perhaps his ultimate goal was to use me to lure Noah into a trap and kill him. Seeing my indifferent expression, the lieutenant colonel nodded, raised his fist, and signaled somewhere.
“I parked my car at the back door. Let’s go quickly.”
The cold winter wind caressed my cheek as it blew past. I could hear the distant sound of gunfire. Only the pristine white garden, receding behind me, remained silent.
“Yes, I understand.”
I followed the lieutenant colonel and climbed into the military vehicle parked near the back door. As I started the engine and turned the car onto a side road, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal pulled out his pistol and gently placed his other hand on my back.
"Miss Diana, bow your head. The Grogen Army is following you."
I didn't lower my head. Oddly, the feeling I felt was relief. I turned my head, and a figure flickered through the car window. Suddenly, I saw Noah standing outside the back iron door, facing me. My vision was blurred, as if I were in a thick fog. Yet, the snowflakes falling on his silver hair were clear enough to make out. The rifle was strapped to Noah's shoulder, the sharp tip of the barrel pointed towards me, close to his face. Beneath the muzzle, his mouth was shut. Behind him, a dozen Frogen soldiers stood in a row, their guns aimed in my direction. Yet, I wasn't afraid at all. Rather, I felt like a savior, holding me back from hell. I sat up straight and quietly watched him.
I met his narrowed, cloudy blue eyes, aiming in my direction. Noah's eyes widened as he spotted me in the car. A myriad of emotions raced through me. Would he consider me a betrayal, or a capture? If he decided the former, what would he do? I held Noah's coat draped over my shoulder with one hand and smiled bitterly at him. The moment we stared at each other was fleeting, but it felt like everything had stopped.
Maybe it was a gamble. He might think I'm running away and shoot me. No, that's just a worry. He doesn't want me dead or hurt. I've always known that about him, but I've denied it. I was afraid I'd get hurt if I trusted him.
I saw Noah slowly lower his gun, his expressionless face blank. His blank, unblinking eyes were fixed on me. The corners of his eyes were tinted red, giving him a sorrowful look. His lips moved slowly, as if trying to convey something beyond the transparent window that separated us.
'Diana...'
For a split second, I heard the sound of wheels spinning, then the car sped away, moving further and further away. I couldn't fully grasp the words he was trying to convey. He didn't aim his gun again or order the soldiers to fire. He didn't grab me, nor did he follow me. I barely managed to turn my head, caught in the grip of foolishness.
The feelings I felt for Noah were always complex and nuanced. What he showed me was very much akin to possessiveness, but also a surprising sense of responsibility. Thinking back now, I realized he wanted to give me what Celine had, what she enjoyed. It was as if he was trying to compensate for my life, which had been unloved and discriminated against, unlike my sister, who was called a Princess. Was the conclusion that he would save me, become my lover, and marry me? Why me, of all people?
Instead of doubting him because I didn't know why he was being so kind to me, I should have subtly asked him if he really meant it when he said he liked me. Just as he kept trying to confirm this with me, I wanted to know too.
No, I'll just tell you the truth. I like it here, and I don't want to go back.
This was the source of foolishness.
The remaining Belford and Frogen forces began engaging, and distant, eerie screams and ear-splitting gunfire echoed across the mountainside. It was so clear and poignant, it felt like it was coming from right next to me.
I sat in the passenger seat, covered my ears, crouched down, and buried my head in my knees.
I let out a silent scream, feeling like I was drowning. I've never really experienced war. War is so horrible. I hate it.
I'll never see that pretty boy again. Will I ever see him again after the war?
I didn't cry. I should have looked back at least once, but I didn't. It was a calm farewell, like the introduction to a farewell song played by an orchestra.
The car sped on, clearing the darkness of the snowy road. The warmth of my first contact with him, and the last sight of him, were vividly etched into my memory, before dissipating into the quiet winter night. The only people who had ever been kind to me, and the most comfortable routine since I came to this world, gradually drifted away.
***
The only survivors of the Christmas Day rescue operation were Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal and I. The car we were in was untouched by even a single bullet.
We safely crossed the border and arrived in Belford. The sun was beginning to rise, dispelling the cold, heavy light of dawn. A faint scent of the sea wafted in the air, as if we were approaching the city where the naval headquarters was located.
“Thank you for saving me.”
I sat in the car and bowed to the lieutenant colonel. I had to pretend I was fine, as I could be imprisoned or executed as a spy for the enemy.
“Miss Claire. The treatment there was...”
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes scanned the expensive dress, jewelry, and shoes draped over my body, then paused at the sight of the man's coat draped over my shoulders. He must have thought I was eating well, now that I was a shabby, shabby woman, now wearing expensive clothes and looking well-fed.
“Let’s go to my mansion first.”
The lieutenant colonel turned his car around and headed for his mansion. After arriving at his mansion, changing clothes, and sitting motionless in his room, the lieutenant colonel entered with a knock.
"I understand what you did there. You had to survive first and foremost. Be careful, it'll be embarrassing if it becomes known."
I couldn't even muster the strength to make excuses, so I just sighed deeply. Just like before, everything felt tiresome and listless.
“That outfit might be misleading, so I’ll prepare some more modest clothes for you tomorrow.”
"All right."
The lieutenant colonel didn't ask any questions. He probably knew from my appearance and reaction that Noah, who was aiming his gun, had spotted me and didn't give the order to fire.
I didn't hate him. He was a man who risked his life to infiltrate enemy territory and come to my rescue.
Saving myself was the inevitable choice and the only correct answer, befitting the righteous male protagonist of the original novel. Of course, from my personal perspective, it was the wrong answer.
“I’ll go to sleep now.”
I lay down on the bed, exhausted, and covered myself with the blanket. I heard the Colonel quietly leave the room and close the door.
“I like being alone.”
I muttered something I'd forgotten for a moment. I've always been alone, and I've always wanted to be alone.
The word "alone," my refuge and sanctuary, seemed to sink me into deep, dark waters. I rationalized it away, thinking, "It's fortunate it ends here before my heart sinks any deeper."
“Good night, see you tomorrow.”
I heard a familiar voice from somewhere, but the unfamiliar room was so quiet that it felt like another world.
The only sound was the winter breeze knocking against the window, brushing past. A faint scent lingered somewhere on my body.
Nostalgia.
I received another coming-of-age gift. I'll probably miss the time I spent with that man someday. My heart prickled, as if pricked by a needle. I pulled the blanket up and closed my eyes calmly.
Go to sleep, because tomorrow I have to go back to hell.
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