Ayla looked up in the direction of the voice.
A man stood there, possessing an aristocratic elegance and grace, his overall appearance radiating guilt. He stared intently at her with his mysterious blue eyes.
Despite his gentle words of concern, the smooth hand beneath the luxurious cuff-linked sleeve remained motionless. He seemed to have no intention of reaching out to help her up or supporting her.
Ayla groaned and pushed herself up, her body creaking. The Princess, who had mercilessly slapped the maid, assuming no one was around, was visibly flustered.
“No, Noah. What brings you here?”
“I didn’t come to see you.”
The man spoke informally to the fidgeting Princess Erita, but the Princess did not get angry or yell.
Ayla bowed to him, perhaps because she felt he was a high-ranking official from a neighboring country. He nodded briefly in greeting, smiled politely, and then passed her by.
The Princess watched his back, her face as red as Ayla's swollen cheek. Her once proud eyes were filled with a pitying longing.
He seemed to be the man the Princess liked, but he seemed completely uninterested in her. Princess Erita looked away from the man's back and asked.
“Ayla, isn’t that guy cool?”
“Yes? Yes. He is wonderful. Beautiful.”
Once again, her vision flashed before her eyes, and she felt dizzy. The Princess, who had slapped Ayla's other cheek, giggled.
"That pitiful look you gave me was truly revolting. Did you do the same to the marquis? You seem well aware that men can't turn away from a woman in distress. That's the spirit of chivalry for you."
A man stood there, possessing an aristocratic elegance and grace, his overall appearance radiating guilt. He stared intently at her with his mysterious blue eyes.
Despite his gentle words of concern, the smooth hand beneath the luxurious cuff-linked sleeve remained motionless. He seemed to have no intention of reaching out to help her up or supporting her.
Ayla groaned and pushed herself up, her body creaking. The Princess, who had mercilessly slapped the maid, assuming no one was around, was visibly flustered.
“No, Noah. What brings you here?”
“I didn’t come to see you.”
The man spoke informally to the fidgeting Princess Erita, but the Princess did not get angry or yell.
Ayla bowed to him, perhaps because she felt he was a high-ranking official from a neighboring country. He nodded briefly in greeting, smiled politely, and then passed her by.
The Princess watched his back, her face as red as Ayla's swollen cheek. Her once proud eyes were filled with a pitying longing.
He seemed to be the man the Princess liked, but he seemed completely uninterested in her. Princess Erita looked away from the man's back and asked.
“Ayla, isn’t that guy cool?”
“Yes? Yes. He is wonderful. Beautiful.”
Once again, her vision flashed before her eyes, and she felt dizzy. The Princess, who had slapped Ayla's other cheek, giggled.
"That pitiful look you gave me was truly revolting. Did you do the same to the marquis? You seem well aware that men can't turn away from a woman in distress. That's the spirit of chivalry for you."
“No, I’m sorry.”
"I hate people like you the most. The same goes for those bugs who don't even know their place and shout about freedom and rights. You should live content with the life you were born with."
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
"So, do as I say. Keep your mouth shut. If you want to live."
Was it my fault that I was born this way? Ayla wondered, feeling aggrieved.
Looking at the Princess who had a beautiful appearance but an ugly inside, she felt the absurdity of how someone like that could enjoy everything.
Princess Erita's orders involved delivering secret letters and money to places or retrieving unknown items. Ayla's anxiety and fear mounted as she feared the potential threat to her life.
“The person you’re meeting next week is quite famous.”
The Princess burst into laughter when Ayla, who was helping her with her bath, tilted her head.
“He's a horrific murderer, a bloodthirsty maniac. He takes pleasure in killing and torturing. Do whatever you do best to come back alive.”
Watching Ayla turn pale and drop the perfume, Princess Erita wore an expression of great delight.
Ayla had always been terrified, never knowing what would happen to her every time she visited. But this time, it was a horrific murderer.
After taking a bath and making the bed, Ayla sighed as she returned to her room, exhausted.
While the palace maids were assigned rooms inside the palace, sharing two or three rooms, she lived in a shabby, cramped warehouse in the garden outside.
The bed creaked and sank, leaving her with a sore back when she woke up, and the old wooden chair was so creaky that it would catch on her skirt and stockings, making them come undone.
Ayla's eyes had long since died as she bit into her first meal, hard black bread. More distressing than her poverty or hunger was the Princess's verbal abuse and violence, and the danger of being involved in a life-threatening situation.
She wanted to escape from the evil, devil-like Princess.
Ayla, who was sitting on a chair and applying ointment to the bruises all over her body, suddenly remembered the man called Noah.
With his dazzling silver-white hair, elegant voice, and appearance, he was so beautiful that he seemed like an angel sent to save her. If someone of such high status could speak informally to a Princess, wouldn't they be able to help her?
No, it doesn't have to be an angel. It can be anyone. She just wants someone to save her.
Even if it was a minor desire or a fleeting interest like the Marquis, it didn't matter. She had already become accustomed to living that way.
***
Rain fell all afternoon, finally stopping as the sun set in the west. Dark clouds parted, filling the window with a breathtaking view, blending with the crimson sunset.
A gentle breeze blew through the slightly open window, fluttering the spring silk curtains. I was lying in bed, reading a science book I'd borrowed from the library in front of the mansion.
On the surface, it was to match Dr. Rugen's level of conversation, but in reality, it was sheer stubbornness born from being so blatantly ignored, as if he wanted a granddaughter-in-law from the sciences.
Noah came back from his outing, took off his coat, hung it up neatly, loosened his tie, and sat down next to me.
“I’m studying. I thought it would be helpful to know this before talking to the doctor.”
“So you borrowed a children’s book from the Prince? It’s cute.”
Noah, who had been looking over the book in my hand, let out a faint snort and chuckled. I blinked and glanced at the hardcover again. While reading, I hadn't even dreamed it was a children's book.
“I guess I don’t have the talent for this. It’s for children, so it’s difficult.”
“It’s okay. We all have different strengths.”
You seem to be doing everything right. It's unfair, isn't it? I sighed, slowly rising from my lying position and asking.
“What did you do today?”
“I went to Tempshire Palace. I thought you didn’t care what I was doing.”
“Did I do that?”
"Yes."
Noah seemed indifferent, not asking what I was doing or where I was going outside. He seemed to be approaching me with a cat-like expression, wanting attention, so I started asking him questions about this and that.
“Have you eaten?”
"Yes."
“What did you eat?”
“Salmon dish.”
“Is it grilled or fried?”
“Roasted.”
Ugh, I think it's like a cat that loses its sincerity when you actually pay attention to it.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if he was asking for this kind of attention. Then, I grabbed his straight chin and kissed him on the cheek, as if by surprise. The scent of freshly laundered clothes and soap lingered in my throat, and I pulled away.
“I’ve never done something like this before.”
I tried to smile at Noah, but he stared at me with an expressionless face, almost embarrassingly. Embarrassed by the sudden awkwardness, I averted my gaze.
A crimson glow spread across his still side and neck.
The same light shone through the pure white bedding, even beyond the shoulders of his well-ironed shirt. Perhaps he doesn't particularly like assertive women? I don't quite understand this man's psychology.
“...You don’t like this kind of thing?”
At my question, his shoulders slumped, and with a sigh, he lifted the open book and covered his face. Overlapping with the crimson sunset, I hadn't noticed, but the corners of Noah's ears and the side of his face, glimpsed briefly, were flushed.
What's he embarrassed about now? That sly and skilled man? I can't believe it.
His breath leaked out thinly through the crack between the book and the book he was pressed against. Soon, perhaps deciding it was useless, he put the book down and, with a vulnerable expression, argued.
“You promised not to seduce me.”
“It was just a kiss, how is this seduction, ah.”
My upper body tilted backwards, and my back hit the soft seat.
“Everything you touch, see, or say is a temptation to me.”
How could you have held back so long when you were so passionate? I looked up at him, his eyes looming over me in bewilderment.
Noah, his back turned to the purple sunset, looked down at me with a smug air, as if telling me not to bother him. "I'll keep the temptation to myself," he said, something like that.
“Are you angry?”
“No. I’m not mad at you.”
Noah smiled leisurely as if it was all a joke, lightly kissed my lips, and then took my hand and interlocked it.
The consistent smile he gave me as he rubbed his cheek against mine was the same as always, but I could see subtle differences.
Sometimes, countless emotions, such as joy, surprise, and displeasure, were contained in that same smile, each with a subtle difference.
That smile right now was one of ecstasy. The soft voice that followed clung sweetly to my ear.
“I did it because I liked it.”
"Is it so?"
“I think it would be good to do it first sometimes.”
Really? Then that's what we should do, right?
As I wrapped my arms around Noah's neck and pulled him towards me, his regular breathing became out of sync.
“You know it’s not flirting, right? It’s just an occasional expression of affection.”
I whispered into his reddened ear.
“Just a moment, Princess.”
Noah, who had been avoiding my lips that were thrusting forward with great force, took out a small box from his pocket.
“I found the wedding ring I ordered.”
A dazzling diamond-encrusted wedding ring shone brilliantly inside the box, which I opened with a click. Now, reality dawned on me, sending a shiver down my spine.
I'm really getting married.
The engagement ring I gave him as a promise of marriage will soon become a wedding ring, a promise of a lifetime. I smiled happily as I looked at the ring that always adorned Noah's hand.
“I’m done speaking, please continue.”
Noah lowered his head and closed his eyes submissively. The reddened, vulnerable corners of his eyes were so captivating that I wanted to devour them.
It's even more so because it's a sight only I can see. A beast that's been tamed and shows its vulnerability only to me is irresistibly attractive. It's so cute, I could die.
***
The next afternoon, Noah, who had come to Tempshire Palace to pick up Diana from a tea party, saw a woman hesitantly following him into the garden.
She looked like a maid, with a white bonnet and apron, and bruises and scars could be seen beneath her collar.
Who was she? Where have I seen her? Just as he was about to ignore her and pass by with an indifferent expression, she grabbed Noah's sleeve with a desperate look on her face.
“Please help me.”
“Yeah, yeah. How can I help you?”
A look of relief crossed her pale face at the positive answer.
"My name is Isla Delson. Please help me escape being the Princess's maid."
“If you’re a palace maid, the pay is good and the treatment is good. If you don’t like it, you can just quit.”
Tears quickly welled up in Ayla's large eyes. She rubbed them with her sleeve and continued to speak, sobbing.
"I can't give up. I'll do anything, just let me get out of here."
“What are you going to do for me?”
Ayla, seeing Noah's eyes arch generously, sobbed and made a sorrowful face.
“I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. Even if it involves physical work...”
“What do you do with your body? Are you good at anything?”
Cold, blue eyes followed her gaze intently, demanding a clear answer. She recalled the only compliment she had ever received, something countless men had tried to receive from her.
Ayla met his eyes and hesitated, speaking with difficulty.
“That... I don’t mind sleeping either.”
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