“Let’s go out. Let’s eat and see the sights.”
Noah made a suggestion while checking the money in the bag with his eyes.
Sitting on the hotel sofa, I nodded with a sense of secret anticipation. My financial worries seemed to have vanished. It was the moment when backpacking travel was upgraded to a luxurious getaway.
I'm a homebody by nature, but I do enjoy traveling. When I do go out, I tend to have a lot of fun, even if it's not for long. Once I'm out, I have to finish everything before I'm back.
While I was rummaging through my suitcase and trying my best to stay warm, Noah was wearing a classic Chesterfield coat in a color that matched his suit.
As befitting his upper-class aristocracy, he always maintained a neat and tidy appearance. Except for his military uniform, all of his clothing was top-quality, made from expensive fabrics.
Even if he says he's poor, it's understandable since he carries hundreds of millions in cash. How rich was he before? It's a well-established academic principle that even when the rich fall, they remain rich.
Noah stuffed a hefty stack of bills into his wallet and emptied them into the safe inside his hotel room, saying, "This place is not very safe."
I wrapped my wool scarf tightly around my neck, held Noah's hand, and left the hotel. I was led along the streets, looking around as if I were sightseeing.
He stopped in front of a medieval building not far away, with a colonnade supporting the ceiling. It looked like a courthouse.
“I have someone to meet briefly at the Royal Exchange.”
Noah explained kindly, his eyes narrowing.
Inside the Royal Exchange, stockbrokers, auctioneers, financiers, and businessmen in suits were chatting, smoking cigars, and drinking brandy.
As we approached the center, a black-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a monocle approached us. Tall and sharply dressed in a suit, he held a cigar and smiled amiably as he glanced between Noah and me.
"Long time no see, Duke. No, what should I call you now? Noah?"
"Jace Groenendaal. Long time no see."
My eyes widened at Noah's words, "Jace Groenendaal." He was Prime Minister Belford's eldest son and heir to the Duke's family. He was the Lieutenant Colonel's older brother.
What on earth is this combination of the two? Noah is the man who tried to kill his brother. I pretended not to notice and furtively glanced at him.
“Are you going to keep smoking that?”
Noah stared blankly at the cigar in Jace's hand. Jace smiled faintly at me, his face a mix of tension and bewilderment. He then looked back at Noah and stubbed out his cigar.
“Let’s go in and talk.”
We headed to a private room set aside inside the exchange. Entering the room, Noah sat me down on the sofa and then sat down next to me.
“This is Jace, a diligent banker.”
Jace frowned as he heard Noah briefly introduce himself.
"Why are you being so concise? My name is Jace Groenendaal. I'm a financier and the president of Kelheit Bank."
"Yes. You don't need to know the details. What about my money?"
"Don't be upset. Your money's safely stored in my bank vault. Federal law prevents me from divulging any customer information, even if that nasty brainwashing agent comes in person."
Is this like a bank that accepts dirty money without asking questions and charges exorbitant storage fees? Jace grinned, leaning back on the sofa and lifting his chin.
“Do you know why I helped you so much, Noah?”
“I know it’s not just because of the Duchess’s will.”
"That's included. A businessman doesn't do anything that's not profitable. It also aligns with my mother's will, so there's no reason not to help. Anyway, how's the situation now?"
"Yes. The factory has begun operation in the Medea Territory, Cynthia Empire, Mertania, and Hittar lands."
"It seems the actual performance test is already over. It looks like you made it this far without dying."
I had no idea what the two businessmen were talking about. I listened in silence, then cautiously spoke up.
“Are you talking about a car?”
Jace looked at me for a moment, his mouth closed, then he chuckled.
"Yes. I own some shares in a car company. If it weren't for that car, you wouldn't have been able to get out."
I found myself lost in thought, recalling the technologies I witnessed that were ahead of their time. Perhaps due to the author's influence, this world's culture and ideology resemble those of the late 19th century, while its technology and military weapons resemble those of the early 20th century, late modern era.
I heard that Noah inherited the steel business and focused on railroads and military projects. As the list of reasons swirled around in my head, a conclusion suddenly emerged, and I asked, slightly nervous.
"...Are you developing any military weapons? Armored vehicles, fighter jets, or new guns, for example.”
Noah and Jace were looking at me at the same time. I smiled awkwardly, wondering if I'd said something wrong due to the unexpected attention. Jace looked at Noah with a puzzled expression and asked.
“Did you say?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“How do you know? Are you smart?”
“Yeah. I read a lot of books.”
Oh my goodness, that reaction is practically a given.
Noah clearly intends to go to Medea and provide military weapons technology to later counter Frogen and Belford. Whether this is revenge against Frogen or a quest for wealth remains unclear.
I don't know how far development has progressed, but no matter what world it is, human nature is the same, so history will flow similarly.
This world will continue to be at war until I die of old age!
If I make a mistake, the place I settled in might be branded a war criminal, or I might face the karma of turning the world against me, and be hit with a nuclear bomb in my final days. Jace, seeing my face filled with agony, stroked his chin.
"I've invested a lot in your lover. If everything goes well, you'll be able to live comfortably for generations to come."
“Yes... I don’t know much about this field, so please feel free to talk.”
For the time being, I pretended not to know and fiddled with the wide-mouthed teacup.
"I'm going to go now because the Princess will be bored if I tell you a boring story. You can talk about the rest with my secretary."
"Is that secretary still working? I'm told that high-ranking aristocrats' secretaries are the most pitiful. Most of them are slaves working on business."
Noah stood up, seemingly listening, straightening his clothes, and took my hand to help me up. Jace continued his advice, raising his wine glass.
"It would be better to go to the Cynthia Empire. There are Esatians there, the ones your father saved."
"We must go to Medea. As you can see, the Princess is of Medea blood, so even if she's mixed-blood, she'll be protected at the national level."
“Well, it’s a bit awkward, but I wish you good luck.”
Jace stood up, handed me a suitcase with one hand, and smiled. I don't know what's inside, but I'm afraid I've been involved in some mastermind's scheme.
“May God bless the Princess.”
Jace raised his wine glass high in my direction, as if blessing me. Even that man called me Princess. Embarrassed, I bowed my head in greeting and followed Noah out.
I looked at his older brother, Jace, and his jet-black hair, remembering Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, whose mother was a Medea. Noah seems to know me better than I do, but he refuses to elaborate. Even if I ask him directly, he just deflects the question.
We left the exchange building and had a late lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Tables were placed in separate spaces, perhaps reserved exclusively for couples or married couples.
Outside the window, distant snow-capped mountains shrouded in clouds were reflected like a mirror in the blue lake.
The restaurant's waitresses took orders and served customers in dirndls, wearing white blouses, skirts, and aprons, reminiscent of Alpine girls. The waitress, with her red hair in braids, stared blankly at Noah's face, then clattered a plate down.
Noah cut a crispy-looking cutlet and handed it to me on a plate with a bird on it, and smiled at me.
“Now we can get there by ferry. Are you seasick?”
“I don’t think so. But it looks really pretty here. The scenery is nice, too.”
It's like a free trip to Europe under the guise of running away. It's fun.
I rested my chin on my hand and looked out the window at the cute houses and small alleyways just below.
Children played happily on the street, paved with regular stones of a certain size. The warm winter sunlight, blended with the children's joyful cries, felt paradoxically peaceful.
The thought of this warm color being tinged with the gray of war sent shivers down my spine. Noah was looking at my face, which was filled with peace.
"Then let's rest here today and leave tomorrow. If you like it here, should we live here next time?"
“Yes. It doesn’t really matter where you live.”
“I don’t mind either.”
He spoke affectionately as we drank warm bangsho. "Actually, if you have money, anywhere is a good place to live. But with this person, I thought, no matter where you go, it'll be like a pleasant trip, regardless of the money."
“It’s so pretty when we look at it together...”
An awkward remark escaped me without me realizing it, and I quickly shut my mouth. I tried to change the subject, curling my toes, but Noah seemed to have heard everything, his expression beaming with delight.
“Really? Do you like being with me?”
"... Yes."
“I’m glad when you say that sometimes.”
I felt a little embarrassed because he seemed to know that I have a blunt personality.
“Am I being a bit insensitive?”
"It doesn't matter. Just be with me. When we eat, when we walk, when we sleep, when we shower..."
“When you wash?!”
My voice rose without me realizing it, so I quickly shut my mouth and looked around. Fortunately, we were alone together, so no one could hear. After a moment of silence, I whispered softly to him.
“We’re not that close yet.”
“We even slept together.”
“That’s true, but...”
“What kind of relationship do you think the Princess has?”
A low chuckle rose from deep within Noah's throat. He asked, knowing better than anyone else. I can't handle it; always caught up in this man's pace. Those deep, melodramatic eyes put tension in my slack heart.
And today, I only have one room to rent. I don't know if he's trying to lure me in, torturing me, or testing me. It's even more painful because I'm already a worn-out adult.
I ended up avoiding answering by dipping my mouth into the chocolate cake that was served for dessert.
“Wow. It’s really sweet.”
At my artificial admiration, Noah leaned over and licked the chocolate off the corner of my mouth with his hand.
He put his chocolate-covered finger in his mouth, tasted it, and nodded.
“That’s right.”
The outbursts of this insane man are so disconcerting. I'm going crazy.
"Uh..."
“Why do you always eat buried? Is it because your mouth is small?”
My gaze was lost. Noah's eyes furrowed delicately at the sight of me, flustered. With a hardened expression, I picked up a napkin and rubbed it vigorously around my mouth, eventually covering my face with both hands.
I really wanted to cry. I could feel my face turning bright red, and I couldn't even look him in the eye. In a somber voice, I asked him how much fun it was that he was teasing me.
“Do you enjoy tormenting me?”
“Did I bully you?”
"You're not harassing me, but you're embarrassing me! And you'll never do anything more!" Noah's face turned worried as he pondered how to concisely and clearly state his point.
“You don’t like it.”
His voice softened slightly, and his eyes drooped sadly. He leaned in again, bringing his face closer, and looked me over with an apologetic expression.
“That’s not it...”
Unable to bear his hazy gaze, I closed my eyes for a moment. Why does he always act so urgent yet so relaxed, making me anxious?
...Why don’t you have skinship with me? Why are you drawing a line?
Deep down in my heart, the grievances that had been raised but ignored by those in control of my desires finally exploded.
Finally, resigned, I opened my eyes again to try to say something else. The moment I did, I realized Noah's face was much closer than I'd expected. Beneath his languidly lowered eyelashes, their pupils seemed close together. Our noses were just barely brushing.
His straight chin tilted elegantly.
Before I could grasp the situation, a low sigh came, and something warm and smooth boldly touched my lips. My lips, slightly parched from the heat, began to moisten.
The sensation of his tongue smoothly rolling over my lower lip, as if tasting it, sent a shiver down my spine. I squirmed visibly. Unable to exhale the breath I'd inhaled, I remained still.
Noah slowly pulled his lips apart, licked the corner of his mouth, and smiled with his characteristic eye smile.
“You don’t like this either?”
He asked in a languid voice, giving me an ambiguous kiss that was somewhere between a light and a deep one.
Of course, I couldn't answer with a blank expression. I just stared at the sunlight that was gently dipping into the dimples on his cheek.
Even though it happened in a matter of seconds, I felt dizzy and lightheaded. The restrained sensuality was so intense that I felt like I was going to be reduced to ashes.
In a word, it drives me crazy.
Noah made a suggestion while checking the money in the bag with his eyes.
Sitting on the hotel sofa, I nodded with a sense of secret anticipation. My financial worries seemed to have vanished. It was the moment when backpacking travel was upgraded to a luxurious getaway.
I'm a homebody by nature, but I do enjoy traveling. When I do go out, I tend to have a lot of fun, even if it's not for long. Once I'm out, I have to finish everything before I'm back.
While I was rummaging through my suitcase and trying my best to stay warm, Noah was wearing a classic Chesterfield coat in a color that matched his suit.
As befitting his upper-class aristocracy, he always maintained a neat and tidy appearance. Except for his military uniform, all of his clothing was top-quality, made from expensive fabrics.
Even if he says he's poor, it's understandable since he carries hundreds of millions in cash. How rich was he before? It's a well-established academic principle that even when the rich fall, they remain rich.
Noah stuffed a hefty stack of bills into his wallet and emptied them into the safe inside his hotel room, saying, "This place is not very safe."
I wrapped my wool scarf tightly around my neck, held Noah's hand, and left the hotel. I was led along the streets, looking around as if I were sightseeing.
He stopped in front of a medieval building not far away, with a colonnade supporting the ceiling. It looked like a courthouse.
“I have someone to meet briefly at the Royal Exchange.”
Noah explained kindly, his eyes narrowing.
Inside the Royal Exchange, stockbrokers, auctioneers, financiers, and businessmen in suits were chatting, smoking cigars, and drinking brandy.
As we approached the center, a black-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a monocle approached us. Tall and sharply dressed in a suit, he held a cigar and smiled amiably as he glanced between Noah and me.
"Long time no see, Duke. No, what should I call you now? Noah?"
"Jace Groenendaal. Long time no see."
My eyes widened at Noah's words, "Jace Groenendaal." He was Prime Minister Belford's eldest son and heir to the Duke's family. He was the Lieutenant Colonel's older brother.
What on earth is this combination of the two? Noah is the man who tried to kill his brother. I pretended not to notice and furtively glanced at him.
“Are you going to keep smoking that?”
Noah stared blankly at the cigar in Jace's hand. Jace smiled faintly at me, his face a mix of tension and bewilderment. He then looked back at Noah and stubbed out his cigar.
“Let’s go in and talk.”
We headed to a private room set aside inside the exchange. Entering the room, Noah sat me down on the sofa and then sat down next to me.
“This is Jace, a diligent banker.”
Jace frowned as he heard Noah briefly introduce himself.
"Why are you being so concise? My name is Jace Groenendaal. I'm a financier and the president of Kelheit Bank."
"Yes. You don't need to know the details. What about my money?"
"Don't be upset. Your money's safely stored in my bank vault. Federal law prevents me from divulging any customer information, even if that nasty brainwashing agent comes in person."
Is this like a bank that accepts dirty money without asking questions and charges exorbitant storage fees? Jace grinned, leaning back on the sofa and lifting his chin.
“Do you know why I helped you so much, Noah?”
“I know it’s not just because of the Duchess’s will.”
"That's included. A businessman doesn't do anything that's not profitable. It also aligns with my mother's will, so there's no reason not to help. Anyway, how's the situation now?"
"Yes. The factory has begun operation in the Medea Territory, Cynthia Empire, Mertania, and Hittar lands."
"It seems the actual performance test is already over. It looks like you made it this far without dying."
I had no idea what the two businessmen were talking about. I listened in silence, then cautiously spoke up.
“Are you talking about a car?”
Jace looked at me for a moment, his mouth closed, then he chuckled.
"Yes. I own some shares in a car company. If it weren't for that car, you wouldn't have been able to get out."
I found myself lost in thought, recalling the technologies I witnessed that were ahead of their time. Perhaps due to the author's influence, this world's culture and ideology resemble those of the late 19th century, while its technology and military weapons resemble those of the early 20th century, late modern era.
I heard that Noah inherited the steel business and focused on railroads and military projects. As the list of reasons swirled around in my head, a conclusion suddenly emerged, and I asked, slightly nervous.
"...Are you developing any military weapons? Armored vehicles, fighter jets, or new guns, for example.”
Noah and Jace were looking at me at the same time. I smiled awkwardly, wondering if I'd said something wrong due to the unexpected attention. Jace looked at Noah with a puzzled expression and asked.
“Did you say?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“How do you know? Are you smart?”
“Yeah. I read a lot of books.”
Oh my goodness, that reaction is practically a given.
Noah clearly intends to go to Medea and provide military weapons technology to later counter Frogen and Belford. Whether this is revenge against Frogen or a quest for wealth remains unclear.
I don't know how far development has progressed, but no matter what world it is, human nature is the same, so history will flow similarly.
This world will continue to be at war until I die of old age!
If I make a mistake, the place I settled in might be branded a war criminal, or I might face the karma of turning the world against me, and be hit with a nuclear bomb in my final days. Jace, seeing my face filled with agony, stroked his chin.
"I've invested a lot in your lover. If everything goes well, you'll be able to live comfortably for generations to come."
“Yes... I don’t know much about this field, so please feel free to talk.”
For the time being, I pretended not to know and fiddled with the wide-mouthed teacup.
"I'm going to go now because the Princess will be bored if I tell you a boring story. You can talk about the rest with my secretary."
"Is that secretary still working? I'm told that high-ranking aristocrats' secretaries are the most pitiful. Most of them are slaves working on business."
Noah stood up, seemingly listening, straightening his clothes, and took my hand to help me up. Jace continued his advice, raising his wine glass.
"It would be better to go to the Cynthia Empire. There are Esatians there, the ones your father saved."
"We must go to Medea. As you can see, the Princess is of Medea blood, so even if she's mixed-blood, she'll be protected at the national level."
“Well, it’s a bit awkward, but I wish you good luck.”
Jace stood up, handed me a suitcase with one hand, and smiled. I don't know what's inside, but I'm afraid I've been involved in some mastermind's scheme.
“May God bless the Princess.”
Jace raised his wine glass high in my direction, as if blessing me. Even that man called me Princess. Embarrassed, I bowed my head in greeting and followed Noah out.
I looked at his older brother, Jace, and his jet-black hair, remembering Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, whose mother was a Medea. Noah seems to know me better than I do, but he refuses to elaborate. Even if I ask him directly, he just deflects the question.
We left the exchange building and had a late lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Tables were placed in separate spaces, perhaps reserved exclusively for couples or married couples.
Outside the window, distant snow-capped mountains shrouded in clouds were reflected like a mirror in the blue lake.
The restaurant's waitresses took orders and served customers in dirndls, wearing white blouses, skirts, and aprons, reminiscent of Alpine girls. The waitress, with her red hair in braids, stared blankly at Noah's face, then clattered a plate down.
Noah cut a crispy-looking cutlet and handed it to me on a plate with a bird on it, and smiled at me.
“Now we can get there by ferry. Are you seasick?”
“I don’t think so. But it looks really pretty here. The scenery is nice, too.”
It's like a free trip to Europe under the guise of running away. It's fun.
I rested my chin on my hand and looked out the window at the cute houses and small alleyways just below.
Children played happily on the street, paved with regular stones of a certain size. The warm winter sunlight, blended with the children's joyful cries, felt paradoxically peaceful.
The thought of this warm color being tinged with the gray of war sent shivers down my spine. Noah was looking at my face, which was filled with peace.
"Then let's rest here today and leave tomorrow. If you like it here, should we live here next time?"
“Yes. It doesn’t really matter where you live.”
“I don’t mind either.”
He spoke affectionately as we drank warm bangsho. "Actually, if you have money, anywhere is a good place to live. But with this person, I thought, no matter where you go, it'll be like a pleasant trip, regardless of the money."
“It’s so pretty when we look at it together...”
An awkward remark escaped me without me realizing it, and I quickly shut my mouth. I tried to change the subject, curling my toes, but Noah seemed to have heard everything, his expression beaming with delight.
“Really? Do you like being with me?”
"... Yes."
“I’m glad when you say that sometimes.”
I felt a little embarrassed because he seemed to know that I have a blunt personality.
“Am I being a bit insensitive?”
"It doesn't matter. Just be with me. When we eat, when we walk, when we sleep, when we shower..."
“When you wash?!”
My voice rose without me realizing it, so I quickly shut my mouth and looked around. Fortunately, we were alone together, so no one could hear. After a moment of silence, I whispered softly to him.
“We’re not that close yet.”
“We even slept together.”
“That’s true, but...”
“What kind of relationship do you think the Princess has?”
A low chuckle rose from deep within Noah's throat. He asked, knowing better than anyone else. I can't handle it; always caught up in this man's pace. Those deep, melodramatic eyes put tension in my slack heart.
And today, I only have one room to rent. I don't know if he's trying to lure me in, torturing me, or testing me. It's even more painful because I'm already a worn-out adult.
I ended up avoiding answering by dipping my mouth into the chocolate cake that was served for dessert.
“Wow. It’s really sweet.”
At my artificial admiration, Noah leaned over and licked the chocolate off the corner of my mouth with his hand.
He put his chocolate-covered finger in his mouth, tasted it, and nodded.
“That’s right.”
The outbursts of this insane man are so disconcerting. I'm going crazy.
"Uh..."
“Why do you always eat buried? Is it because your mouth is small?”
My gaze was lost. Noah's eyes furrowed delicately at the sight of me, flustered. With a hardened expression, I picked up a napkin and rubbed it vigorously around my mouth, eventually covering my face with both hands.
I really wanted to cry. I could feel my face turning bright red, and I couldn't even look him in the eye. In a somber voice, I asked him how much fun it was that he was teasing me.
“Do you enjoy tormenting me?”
“Did I bully you?”
"You're not harassing me, but you're embarrassing me! And you'll never do anything more!" Noah's face turned worried as he pondered how to concisely and clearly state his point.
“You don’t like it.”
His voice softened slightly, and his eyes drooped sadly. He leaned in again, bringing his face closer, and looked me over with an apologetic expression.
“That’s not it...”
Unable to bear his hazy gaze, I closed my eyes for a moment. Why does he always act so urgent yet so relaxed, making me anxious?
...Why don’t you have skinship with me? Why are you drawing a line?
Deep down in my heart, the grievances that had been raised but ignored by those in control of my desires finally exploded.
Finally, resigned, I opened my eyes again to try to say something else. The moment I did, I realized Noah's face was much closer than I'd expected. Beneath his languidly lowered eyelashes, their pupils seemed close together. Our noses were just barely brushing.
His straight chin tilted elegantly.
Before I could grasp the situation, a low sigh came, and something warm and smooth boldly touched my lips. My lips, slightly parched from the heat, began to moisten.
The sensation of his tongue smoothly rolling over my lower lip, as if tasting it, sent a shiver down my spine. I squirmed visibly. Unable to exhale the breath I'd inhaled, I remained still.
Noah slowly pulled his lips apart, licked the corner of his mouth, and smiled with his characteristic eye smile.
“You don’t like this either?”
He asked in a languid voice, giving me an ambiguous kiss that was somewhere between a light and a deep one.
Of course, I couldn't answer with a blank expression. I just stared at the sunlight that was gently dipping into the dimples on his cheek.
Even though it happened in a matter of seconds, I felt dizzy and lightheaded. The restrained sensuality was so intense that I felt like I was going to be reduced to ashes.
In a word, it drives me crazy.
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