I gasped and couldn't easily exhale. The fireplace had only just been lit, so the air was clearly cold, but I could feel a heat welling up in my stomach.
Wash first. This is a signal that feels so obvious to me, having lived my life for a second life and having had many relationships.
Noah leisurely loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt collar, one by one. But that was it. He unbuttoned just enough to reveal his neckline and collarbone, then lifted his chin and gazed at me with his characteristically sly expression.
I have never seen or heard of such a contradictory atmosphere of asceticism and sensuality in anyone but that man.
“Aren’t you going to wash?”
“Oh, I’m going to wash.”
I was a puppet tied to that man's strings. I literally moved awkwardly, grabbed the pajamas I'd pulled out of my suitcase, and hurried to the bathroom.
After taking a bath and changing into my pajamas, Noah looked back at me as I stood up, neatly putting down the newspaper.
“I’ll go wash up too.”
I nodded with a very nervous face and lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket over me.
“You shouldn’t sleep first.”
At Noah's added words, I sighed softly. My heart felt faster than usual, perhaps due to an arrhythmia. Why did he tell me not to sleep first?
I didn't do anything, and it's already a lethal dose. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack just from saying a few words.
And he seems to take a shower for a long time, which makes me feel embarrassed. What would I be if I came out after showering for only 20 minutes? It's not because he told me not to fall asleep, but my mind is clearer and sharper than ever.
The bathroom door clicked open, and I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut. The heat and scent of freshly washed skin hit me in the face.
“Princess, are you sleeping?”
I tried to pretend to be asleep, but he seemed to already know everything, so I slowly raised my eyelids.
I was afraid that it would be a primitive look, like the ones often seen in dramas and novels, with muscular bodies exposed without any filter and only a towel wrapped around the lower body (it may be a matter of taste, but I tend to dislike it).
But, as he was a cultured nobleman, he was neatly dressed in a shirt made of a flexible material that did not wrinkle easily and plain cotton pants.
He leaned toward me and smelled like soap, just like me, and his clean shirt smelled freshly laundered.
The buttons on his shirt were loosely undone. The more subtly something is hidden, the more insanely sexy it feels. It's a strange charm that feels hypocritical the more it's hidden.
“I’m going to sleep now.”
"Already?"
Noah pulled up the blanket he was already covering himself with and patted it. I peeked up at him and spoke to him in a reassuring tone.
“You should go to sleep too.”
“I’ll sleep after watching you sleep.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at me with a kind face. Contrary to expectations, it was a wholesome night, no different from any other night.
I don't quite understand the thoughts of this man, who has the look of a ferocious beast before a coveted prey, yet acts like a docile herbivore.
Was it because he was cautious, or because he was so skilled? Why was it that I was the only one who felt strange thoughts, like a perverted demon? I brought up a different topic to lighten the delicate atmosphere.
“Noah, when will we arrive in Medea?”
"It'll probably take two or three days, since we have to go through a neutral country. I think we'll spend the time sightseeing. There are lots of scenic spots along the way."
Noah trailed off, his face a moment of thought. He paused, then asked again.
“Will you continue to be with me in the future?”
“Yes. I don’t really have anywhere to go. I don’t know anyone.”
“If there is, will you go?”
"No."
“Yes, the King of Medea must marry only someone of Medea’s bloodline. So he usually marries nobles from prestigious families in his constituent countries.”
"I heard it before. It's so boring. It's perfect for passing down genetic diseases, like the Roman Empire."
“Where is the Roman Empire?”
I closed my mouth for a moment, thinking, "Oh no," and then laughed bashfully.
“It’s a country that appears in novels.”
"I see. Medea has a strong sense of pride and self-esteem for their people. That's why no country treats Medeas with contempt."
I frowned slightly.
“Why did you treat me like that? I look like Medea.”
“So I kidnapped you.”
“Yes? I...”
I was talking about the time I almost died in prison. I never told him that the admiral treated me like a kitchen maid, treated me with contempt, and treated me badly. Of course, after my kidnapping, he told me he had no intention of negotiating and sent mercenaries to kill me, but Noah speaks as if he knows the whole story.
“Noah.”
I raised my upper body and grabbed Noah's sleeve, and he obediently led me toward him. I always found it odd, but I never asked him before, and he finally spoke.
“Since when have you had a spy in the Admiral’s mansion? And why did you kidnap me?”
Despite my serious expression, Noah only had a leisurely smile on his face.
"A children's storyteller? I didn't put it there. It's been around for a very long time."
"Very long time?"
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Tell me, why did you take me and not Celine?”
Noah slowly tilted his head at my sharp question. One hand cupped my cheek.
“I want to date and get married.”
Noah smiled like a playful fox. It seemed he had no intention of giving a serious answer.
Since he came to rescue me, bleeding profusely, alone, I knew he had no ill intentions, so I decided not to ask any more questions. Everything happens for a reason, and there are reasons why it's unspoken.
“Princess. I mean, the day I went to rescue you again.”
"Yes."
Noah's fingers slowly moved toward my neck. I flinched slightly at the sensation of his fingertips brushing against mine, but I forced myself to keep my expression in check. He held the rose diamond necklace hanging around my neck and examined it.
“I was glad to see you still wearing the necklace.”
I thought back to the day we broke up. It was a snowy Christmas day, and a song about separation was playing. I even thought that perhaps that song had led us to our breakup.
If I had just waited for Noah at the fountain, I wouldn't have run into the lieutenant colonel.
“Is that the song the band played on your engagement day? Was it ‘No More Love’? Do you know that song?”
"It's a song I used to listen to when I was little. The Princess, who stayed at our house for a while, often listened to it on the gramophone and even played it for me on the piano."
"Princess?"
"Yes, the current Queen Medea. The three of us listened together."
He said he'd been indebted to her for a few months. Noah didn't say who the other one was. Being a man who only talks about himself, he didn't try to understand and only asked about the song.
I don't intend to question him about using the engagement ceremony to kill the lieutenant colonel. I already know why. It's just that he's that kind of person. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But I can't figure out what those goals are.
“Even in Frogen, the title interpretation is different.”
"The meaning of the title in Frogen is 'There's no love greater than that.' But the interpretation of the title varies from country to country."
“Yes. I asked because it was a familiar song.”
“You’ve probably heard of it often. It’s famous, too.”
Growing tired, I covered my mouth and yawned. Noah, seeing me, let out a low chuckle and pulled back from where he'd been leaning.
“Go to sleep. We have a long car ride tomorrow, too.”
"Yes."
He sat up straight, a reasonable distance away, and said something like, "Good night, Princess." Under his gaze, I felt a strange sense of resentment and regret. For nothing could have been said about being conservative or anything like that.
Eventually, I just blinked my eyes and fell asleep.
I woke up to a slight tickling sensation on the tip of my nose.
It still felt like early dawn. I rubbed my dry nose and opened my eyes slightly, then jumped at something.
A man with harmonious features and jet-black hair is sleeping gracefully, facing me. I still can't get used to that black hair. It's Noah's hair that tickles my nose.
Just in case, I lifted the covers to check I was properly dressed, and then I felt relieved. Had he slept next to me because I'd invited him to sleep with me? I cautiously kept my distance and secretly observed him.
He's slightly frowning, but even sleeping looks pretty. His bandaged face is a bit pitiful. My fingers were carelessly poking his round cheeks. It felt smoother and firmer than I'd expected.
Noah furrowed his brow slightly and let out a strange sigh. "This is crazy. I want to hear it again." My hand, reaching for his cheek again, was stopped, and his grasp tightened.
Dark blue eyes, visible through a narrow slit, stared at me with a sharp gaze. I smiled awkwardly, embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. You need to sleep more.”
“...Are you awake already?”
Noah, his voice hoarse as if he'd just woken up, cupped my cheek with one hand and asked. I swallowed hard and answered.
“I woke up for a moment.”
“Yeah. Did you have a bad dream?”
"No."
He stretched leisurely, like a feline beast, and exhaled deeply from his throat. His hands dug into the blankets, which were pulled up so tightly that it was almost suffocating.
The hand that had slipped in smoothly grabbed my remaining hand, which was slightly damp with tension and hidden tightly under the blanket, and intertwined them.
“It’s nice to sleep together.”
Noah, who was mumbling while holding and releasing my hand, smiled with a sleepy, sleepy face.
“Let’s stay together like this.”
"Yes."
I almost said, "Huh?" but managed to get a proper answer. I couldn't understand why even his waking state was so sensual. I took a deep breath, calmed my racing heart, and closed my eyes.
The moment I drifted off to sleep again, I felt something soft and warm touch the corner of my eye. While I was off guard, Noah gently kissed me on the corner of my eye.
My face flushed brightly from the heat that spread from the area where the warm lips had touched.
I pretended to be asleep, my eyes closed, lost in a thousand thoughts. Naively, I'd lost sleep over a mere kiss.
Actually, it would be more correct to say that I am not naive.
It was morning, and the winter sunlight was shining warmly into the room.
Noah, a former soldier and a diligent man, had already woken up early, washed, changed clothes, and prepared himself. Lifting my heavy eyelids, I saw Noah's broad back, standing upright, drinking water.
He turned around, drinking water, and smiled with a soft, curved smile. Dressed neatly in a shirt, tie, dark blue vest, and suit slacks, he looked as captivating as a movie star.
“Are you awake? You need to eat.”
“Yes. You woke up early.”
I roughly straightened my messy hair with my hands, got up, washed, and changed into comfortable clothes. I ate breakfast, which was delivered like room service, packed my bags, and headed outside to get into his car.
On the way, I stopped by a currency exchange in the city center to exchange my winnings and stopped by a store to buy a ham sandwich to eat along the way. The weather was bitterly cold, but perhaps because it was a neutral country, the devastation of war was barely noticeable. It felt peaceful and relaxed.
Outside the car window, the white, snow-covered ridges of the mountains flashed by in a flash. Next to them, a crimson lake met the sky, and vast hills of winter grass, grazing sheep gathered. It was a wondrous natural landscape, incomparable to anything modern.
We arrived at the next city and entered a crowded, bustling square.
Noah parked in front of the hotel, opened the trunk, and took out two fairly large suitcases. He carried them so lightly.
“What is it?”
Noah simply smiled at my question without answering. He entered the overly luxurious hotel again. I followed him obediently and stared silently as he checked in.
As I entered the room with Noah, my mouth dropped open in shock as I saw the contents of the mysterious bag.
Because those two large bags are filled with wads of bills. It's a scene you only see in dramas or movies, with hundreds of millions of Korean won.
I asked in a very calm voice.
“...You pretended to be poor and rented just one room, right?”
Noah's eyes flickered slightly as if he had read my gaze, which said, "You said you were going out to sleep, you pretended to be sad, that was all a ruse?"
He rubbed his mouth with one hand and smiled a shamelessly beautiful smile.
“It’s true that I’ve become poor. I told you there were circumstances.”
“What is that?”
“I want to stay with you forever.”
This man... can I trust him?
Wash first. This is a signal that feels so obvious to me, having lived my life for a second life and having had many relationships.
Noah leisurely loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt collar, one by one. But that was it. He unbuttoned just enough to reveal his neckline and collarbone, then lifted his chin and gazed at me with his characteristically sly expression.
I have never seen or heard of such a contradictory atmosphere of asceticism and sensuality in anyone but that man.
“Aren’t you going to wash?”
“Oh, I’m going to wash.”
I was a puppet tied to that man's strings. I literally moved awkwardly, grabbed the pajamas I'd pulled out of my suitcase, and hurried to the bathroom.
After taking a bath and changing into my pajamas, Noah looked back at me as I stood up, neatly putting down the newspaper.
“I’ll go wash up too.”
I nodded with a very nervous face and lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket over me.
“You shouldn’t sleep first.”
At Noah's added words, I sighed softly. My heart felt faster than usual, perhaps due to an arrhythmia. Why did he tell me not to sleep first?
I didn't do anything, and it's already a lethal dose. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack just from saying a few words.
And he seems to take a shower for a long time, which makes me feel embarrassed. What would I be if I came out after showering for only 20 minutes? It's not because he told me not to fall asleep, but my mind is clearer and sharper than ever.
The bathroom door clicked open, and I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut. The heat and scent of freshly washed skin hit me in the face.
“Princess, are you sleeping?”
I tried to pretend to be asleep, but he seemed to already know everything, so I slowly raised my eyelids.
I was afraid that it would be a primitive look, like the ones often seen in dramas and novels, with muscular bodies exposed without any filter and only a towel wrapped around the lower body (it may be a matter of taste, but I tend to dislike it).
But, as he was a cultured nobleman, he was neatly dressed in a shirt made of a flexible material that did not wrinkle easily and plain cotton pants.
He leaned toward me and smelled like soap, just like me, and his clean shirt smelled freshly laundered.
The buttons on his shirt were loosely undone. The more subtly something is hidden, the more insanely sexy it feels. It's a strange charm that feels hypocritical the more it's hidden.
“I’m going to sleep now.”
"Already?"
Noah pulled up the blanket he was already covering himself with and patted it. I peeked up at him and spoke to him in a reassuring tone.
“You should go to sleep too.”
“I’ll sleep after watching you sleep.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at me with a kind face. Contrary to expectations, it was a wholesome night, no different from any other night.
I don't quite understand the thoughts of this man, who has the look of a ferocious beast before a coveted prey, yet acts like a docile herbivore.
Was it because he was cautious, or because he was so skilled? Why was it that I was the only one who felt strange thoughts, like a perverted demon? I brought up a different topic to lighten the delicate atmosphere.
“Noah, when will we arrive in Medea?”
"It'll probably take two or three days, since we have to go through a neutral country. I think we'll spend the time sightseeing. There are lots of scenic spots along the way."
Noah trailed off, his face a moment of thought. He paused, then asked again.
“Will you continue to be with me in the future?”
“Yes. I don’t really have anywhere to go. I don’t know anyone.”
“If there is, will you go?”
"No."
“Yes, the King of Medea must marry only someone of Medea’s bloodline. So he usually marries nobles from prestigious families in his constituent countries.”
"I heard it before. It's so boring. It's perfect for passing down genetic diseases, like the Roman Empire."
“Where is the Roman Empire?”
I closed my mouth for a moment, thinking, "Oh no," and then laughed bashfully.
“It’s a country that appears in novels.”
"I see. Medea has a strong sense of pride and self-esteem for their people. That's why no country treats Medeas with contempt."
I frowned slightly.
“Why did you treat me like that? I look like Medea.”
“So I kidnapped you.”
“Yes? I...”
I was talking about the time I almost died in prison. I never told him that the admiral treated me like a kitchen maid, treated me with contempt, and treated me badly. Of course, after my kidnapping, he told me he had no intention of negotiating and sent mercenaries to kill me, but Noah speaks as if he knows the whole story.
“Noah.”
I raised my upper body and grabbed Noah's sleeve, and he obediently led me toward him. I always found it odd, but I never asked him before, and he finally spoke.
“Since when have you had a spy in the Admiral’s mansion? And why did you kidnap me?”
Despite my serious expression, Noah only had a leisurely smile on his face.
"A children's storyteller? I didn't put it there. It's been around for a very long time."
"Very long time?"
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Tell me, why did you take me and not Celine?”
Noah slowly tilted his head at my sharp question. One hand cupped my cheek.
“I want to date and get married.”
Noah smiled like a playful fox. It seemed he had no intention of giving a serious answer.
Since he came to rescue me, bleeding profusely, alone, I knew he had no ill intentions, so I decided not to ask any more questions. Everything happens for a reason, and there are reasons why it's unspoken.
“Princess. I mean, the day I went to rescue you again.”
"Yes."
Noah's fingers slowly moved toward my neck. I flinched slightly at the sensation of his fingertips brushing against mine, but I forced myself to keep my expression in check. He held the rose diamond necklace hanging around my neck and examined it.
“I was glad to see you still wearing the necklace.”
I thought back to the day we broke up. It was a snowy Christmas day, and a song about separation was playing. I even thought that perhaps that song had led us to our breakup.
If I had just waited for Noah at the fountain, I wouldn't have run into the lieutenant colonel.
“Is that the song the band played on your engagement day? Was it ‘No More Love’? Do you know that song?”
"It's a song I used to listen to when I was little. The Princess, who stayed at our house for a while, often listened to it on the gramophone and even played it for me on the piano."
"Princess?"
"Yes, the current Queen Medea. The three of us listened together."
He said he'd been indebted to her for a few months. Noah didn't say who the other one was. Being a man who only talks about himself, he didn't try to understand and only asked about the song.
I don't intend to question him about using the engagement ceremony to kill the lieutenant colonel. I already know why. It's just that he's that kind of person. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But I can't figure out what those goals are.
“Even in Frogen, the title interpretation is different.”
"The meaning of the title in Frogen is 'There's no love greater than that.' But the interpretation of the title varies from country to country."
“Yes. I asked because it was a familiar song.”
“You’ve probably heard of it often. It’s famous, too.”
Growing tired, I covered my mouth and yawned. Noah, seeing me, let out a low chuckle and pulled back from where he'd been leaning.
“Go to sleep. We have a long car ride tomorrow, too.”
"Yes."
He sat up straight, a reasonable distance away, and said something like, "Good night, Princess." Under his gaze, I felt a strange sense of resentment and regret. For nothing could have been said about being conservative or anything like that.
Eventually, I just blinked my eyes and fell asleep.
***
I woke up to a slight tickling sensation on the tip of my nose.
It still felt like early dawn. I rubbed my dry nose and opened my eyes slightly, then jumped at something.
A man with harmonious features and jet-black hair is sleeping gracefully, facing me. I still can't get used to that black hair. It's Noah's hair that tickles my nose.
Just in case, I lifted the covers to check I was properly dressed, and then I felt relieved. Had he slept next to me because I'd invited him to sleep with me? I cautiously kept my distance and secretly observed him.
He's slightly frowning, but even sleeping looks pretty. His bandaged face is a bit pitiful. My fingers were carelessly poking his round cheeks. It felt smoother and firmer than I'd expected.
Noah furrowed his brow slightly and let out a strange sigh. "This is crazy. I want to hear it again." My hand, reaching for his cheek again, was stopped, and his grasp tightened.
Dark blue eyes, visible through a narrow slit, stared at me with a sharp gaze. I smiled awkwardly, embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. You need to sleep more.”
“...Are you awake already?”
Noah, his voice hoarse as if he'd just woken up, cupped my cheek with one hand and asked. I swallowed hard and answered.
“I woke up for a moment.”
“Yeah. Did you have a bad dream?”
"No."
He stretched leisurely, like a feline beast, and exhaled deeply from his throat. His hands dug into the blankets, which were pulled up so tightly that it was almost suffocating.
The hand that had slipped in smoothly grabbed my remaining hand, which was slightly damp with tension and hidden tightly under the blanket, and intertwined them.
“It’s nice to sleep together.”
Noah, who was mumbling while holding and releasing my hand, smiled with a sleepy, sleepy face.
“Let’s stay together like this.”
"Yes."
I almost said, "Huh?" but managed to get a proper answer. I couldn't understand why even his waking state was so sensual. I took a deep breath, calmed my racing heart, and closed my eyes.
The moment I drifted off to sleep again, I felt something soft and warm touch the corner of my eye. While I was off guard, Noah gently kissed me on the corner of my eye.
My face flushed brightly from the heat that spread from the area where the warm lips had touched.
I pretended to be asleep, my eyes closed, lost in a thousand thoughts. Naively, I'd lost sleep over a mere kiss.
Actually, it would be more correct to say that I am not naive.
***
It was morning, and the winter sunlight was shining warmly into the room.
Noah, a former soldier and a diligent man, had already woken up early, washed, changed clothes, and prepared himself. Lifting my heavy eyelids, I saw Noah's broad back, standing upright, drinking water.
He turned around, drinking water, and smiled with a soft, curved smile. Dressed neatly in a shirt, tie, dark blue vest, and suit slacks, he looked as captivating as a movie star.
“Are you awake? You need to eat.”
“Yes. You woke up early.”
I roughly straightened my messy hair with my hands, got up, washed, and changed into comfortable clothes. I ate breakfast, which was delivered like room service, packed my bags, and headed outside to get into his car.
On the way, I stopped by a currency exchange in the city center to exchange my winnings and stopped by a store to buy a ham sandwich to eat along the way. The weather was bitterly cold, but perhaps because it was a neutral country, the devastation of war was barely noticeable. It felt peaceful and relaxed.
Outside the car window, the white, snow-covered ridges of the mountains flashed by in a flash. Next to them, a crimson lake met the sky, and vast hills of winter grass, grazing sheep gathered. It was a wondrous natural landscape, incomparable to anything modern.
We arrived at the next city and entered a crowded, bustling square.
Noah parked in front of the hotel, opened the trunk, and took out two fairly large suitcases. He carried them so lightly.
“What is it?”
Noah simply smiled at my question without answering. He entered the overly luxurious hotel again. I followed him obediently and stared silently as he checked in.
As I entered the room with Noah, my mouth dropped open in shock as I saw the contents of the mysterious bag.
Because those two large bags are filled with wads of bills. It's a scene you only see in dramas or movies, with hundreds of millions of Korean won.
I asked in a very calm voice.
“...You pretended to be poor and rented just one room, right?”
Noah's eyes flickered slightly as if he had read my gaze, which said, "You said you were going out to sleep, you pretended to be sad, that was all a ruse?"
He rubbed his mouth with one hand and smiled a shamelessly beautiful smile.
“It’s true that I’ve become poor. I told you there were circumstances.”
“What is that?”
“I want to stay with you forever.”
This man... can I trust him?
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