Ayla stole the wedding ring from the Princess's room and returned it to Noah, who was visiting Tempshire Palace. Noah stared blankly at the ring, one corner of his mouth raised out of habit.
“I can’t say thank you.”
“Yes... I relayed the Princess's orders and the money to the maid. I also retrieved the ring myself.”
“I can’t say thank you.”
“Yes... I relayed the Princess's orders and the money to the maid. I also retrieved the ring myself.”
“Yes. I will at least acknowledge the spirit of self-dissolution.”
Ayla didn't know what it meant, but she was sure it was a compliment, so she smiled bashfully at him.
“It seems like you have an ulterior motive for continuing to work in the palace.”
At Noah's words, Ayla's face turned slightly red in embarrassment, and then she lowered her head.
“Please don’t bother me anymore. I have someone who protects me.”
“Oh my god, he said he would protect you?”
Even though she hadn't said who it was, Noah covered his mouth in surprise. It was the look on his face as he saw his dog finally succeed in saying the "sit" command.
“Do you know who it is...?”
"It's obvious. Someone the Princess can't mess with, someone you and the Princess can connect with. Easy, right?"
“It’s difficult for me.”
"Yeah. It was your stupid choice, so do it wisely. Even if you die, you'll have less resentment."
“He said he didn’t want me to die.”
"You're so naive. I don't know what's going on right now, but your true nature never changes. Don't bother, Diana."
Noah, with a smile bordering on mockery, put the ring in his pocket and turned around. He approached Diana, who was walking out of the portico with Baroness Mason, dressed in his knight's uniform, and bent down to meet her gaze affectionately.
It was a gaze filled with affection, completely different from the one he had when he looked at her. Even such a cold-hearted person was incredibly kind to his lover.
Ayla smiled bitterly, shook off her apron, and headed towards the maid-only passageway.
***
I was walking out toward the garden after perfectly teaching Baroness Mason the century-old technique of "bras with volume pads." Her eyes lit up, especially when she saw the hook-and-loop design that didn't require tying.
"Indeed, now that it's warmer, it's perfect for women who want to dress lighter. Dresses with revealing or slightly sheer fabrics could also become popular... Aah, how dazzling!"
The Baroness, who was somewhat excitedly discussing future strategies and business plans, spotted Noah, covered her eyes, and screamed. The midday sun reflected off Noah's silver hair, casting a dazzling, faint golden glow.
Noah, with a face that said, "No way," raised his nose proudly.
“I have a master's, so there’s no use in praising me.”
“I really can’t get used to your hair color.”
Since all the Medeas have black hair, Noah's hair color, which is the complete opposite color, stands out.
He came over to me, bent down, and met my gaze. He took my hand and put another ring on my ring finger, which already had an engagement ring on it.
I stared blankly at my ring finger, which now sported two rings, making it look a bit more stylish. It was my lost wedding ring. I hadn't told him about it, but had Noah taken it?
Baroness Mason, standing next to me with a confused expression, was clapping her hands soullessly with a blank expression.
“Congratulations. This is the most unexpected and worst proposal I’ve ever seen.”
“Haha, no. I accidentally lost it.”
"The worst mistake ever! I'm going now. See you later, Miss Diana."
Baroness Mason left, her neatly tied ponytail swaying. I glanced at Noah with a suspicious look and asked.
“Why did you take it?”
“Erita must have told her to do it.”
Aha. As expected, one of the mansion's maids was Princess Erita's subordinate. Apparently, Noah somehow found out and came looking for her.
I puffed out my chest and placed my hand on my side, trying not to let anyone know that I had even momentarily suspected him.
“This is it. They’re trying to separate us by making us fight somehow...”
“Even if you accidentally lose it, there’s no need to fight.”
Noah smiled like a wealthy third-generation chaebol.
“Just buy a new one.”
“Actually, I had just bought a new one and was going to kneel down and slip it onto your finger.”
"I should never have given it back."
“Let’s go quickly. I need to go see if the mansion is finished being repaired.”
I had previously seen the mansion on Hamilton Street with him, and we decided to make it our new home.
It is a large mansion with five floors, including the basement, and it is an excessive place that makes you fall into 108 worries about how you will fill your dowry.
But I liked it because it was a safe, quiet neighborhood. Arriving at the mansion by car and stepping into the garden, I was instantly captivated, my eyes widening in awe.
The classic, old-world mansion's exterior was painted a clean white, and an iron swing was placed in the courtyard. A small red brick annex with a triangular roof was attached to the garden, which had been naturally nurtured by the spring sun.
The interior retained the original Baroque style. It had been slightly renovated, and the wallpaper had been freshly replaced, giving off a smell of flour and starch.
“As expected, you have a discerning eye. You decorated your previous mansions well, too.”
“You have great taste. It’s tailored to your taste.”
The room was still empty and quiet because the furniture hadn't been brought in yet, but our voices and footsteps echoed loudly, giving the illusion that we were the only ones in the world.
“It feels strange to think about living here for the rest of my life.”
I was lost in a strange sense of sentimentality. We climbed the stairs to the second floor. He spoke as we ascended each flight of stairs.
“There are no guarantees for life. Things always change.”
When we reached the second floor, he took my hand and slowly walked ahead of me to the room at the end of the hallway.
"Even I, who had been living a predetermined life, changed after meeting you. Perhaps it was a deviation, a gamble."
He looked back at me with a pretty smile.
The door opened, and beyond the large windows, a vast reservoir unfolded before me. A flock of ducks fluttered across the water. Beyond, behind a birch forest, I could see a cluster of small, fairytale-like houses clustered together.
“Wow. The view is nice.”
"Can't you show me the room first? It's not the view I worked so hard to prepare; it's this room."
Noah pretended to be upset and gently squeezed my cheek, turning my head away.
Only then did I open my eyes wide and look around the white room. It was decorated like an art studio, filled with a wooden easel, a plywood canvas, and art supplies.
“This is the Princess’s room.”
“Do I have to sleep here? At least give me a bed.”
"No."
Noah covered his mouth and smiled cutely.
“Because you’re good at drawing.”
“Ah, the picture...”
A small wave of emotion surged through me, then receded like the tide, as he remembered and cared about the little things. I wondered why I'd stopped drawing in the past.
Everyone had some strange circumstance that forced them to abandon something they were passionate about, but not me. I just didn't want to do anything, and everything was a bother.
“Thank you. I like it.”
“If it weren’t for the picture you submitted to the newspaper back then, I wouldn’t have understood what you meant.”
“What does it mean?”
“Yeah. As I said last time, we met a long time ago.”
A cool spring breeze blew in through the open window. The light chiffon curtains swayed gently. Noah, dressed in a warm beige shirt, stood with his back to the window, facing me.
Of course, I don't know about his past.
“Actually... I really don’t remember.”
“I know. I know I’m the only one who remembers.”
His tone was as if he were reminiscing about the good old days. I could gradually recognize his identical smile, but I couldn't quite make out his current expression.
“Because it was before the Princess was even born.”
“Do you know my mother?”
"I know."
"I see."
Without asking any particular question, I tapped the canvases stacked against the wall. My indifferent response prompted him to ask again.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Yes. It’s not like anything will change if I know it now.”
At my indifferent reaction, he put his hand around my waist and spoke softly.
“It will change. A lot.”
"Things are different, not me. Who my mother was is irrelevant to me. A lowly slave or a noblewoman. If she had left me some hidden wealth, I would appreciate it."
“Even if she tells you to be King?”
"I won't. Just thinking about it is annoying. I'll just live an ordinary life, without standing out."
As soon as I gave a firm answer, Noah lowered his face and buried it in my shoulder.
His silent back rose and fell rhythmically, then suddenly heaved loudly. It seemed as if he was catching his breath, or perhaps sighing deeply.
"That's why I like you. You don't want to do anything, so I can do everything for you. You need me."
He spoke with his face buried in it. It was quite ticklish to have him rubbing my neck. "Oh, you'll take care of all the bothersome things for me?" We were destined. We should never part ways.
“Hey, I’m making money. I’m not that shameless and unscrupulous.”
Noah raised his head, and a feeling of unease flashed through his strange blue eyes.
"Why?"
"Because I have to give a dowry and a gift. You're the first person who's ever made me act."
“You don’t have to. It’s okay if you’re shameless.”
“I just wanted to do it.”
“You’re doing it for me? It’s an honor.”
"I'll make sure I make a lot of money later. Let's go check out the bedroom. It's something I'm really looking forward to."
I took Noah's hand and eagerly left the room. But there were so many rooms I didn't know where to go, so I naturally retreated behind him. He chuckled and guided me.
The room intended for the couple's bedroom was quite spacious, and the bed and furniture had already been brought in. Noah, seeing me habitually flop down on the bed, stretching out my arms and legs, seemed to sense my intentions and rubbed the corners of his mouth.
“Is this why you came to see me?”
"No. A bed is something you've always wanted to lie in. It's really nice. It's soft, big, and sturdy. I'm sure it'll give you a good night's sleep."
His lips curved loosely as he sat on the edge of the bed, lowering and straightening the hem of my skirt that had risen slightly.
“Well, it’s nice that the bed is sturdy. I see.”
He spoke with his lips, with his voice, but it sounded strangely sensual, and I was a little taken aback. His voice was also quite pitiful.
“No, I listed other good points too, so why do you only remember that?”
I argued with a voice that sounded unfair, but Noah pretended not to hear and lay down next to me. He put his hand under the back of my neck and used it as a pillow.
“From now on, I’ll sleep like this every day.”
“That’s still the case...”
"As a married couple. We've already registered our marriage."
“Huh? When? That thing the Queen recognized as a performer?”
"No. I paid the bridal fee to the bishop today and received our marriage certificate. Otherwise, we'd have to go to church and announce our wedding. It's nice that I'm taking care of all the hassle, right?"
Ah. This man was the type who pushed straight ahead with everything from romantic relationships to engagements. I'll probably be drawn to him for the rest of my life.
But I found myself questioning whether this was really the right life, the complacent thought that it wouldn't be so bad. No, this guy never even asked me out. When I came to, I found myself lying on the bed in our new home, having just registered our marriage.
“But Noah. I don’t know when we started dating, but do you remember?”
He looked up at the ceiling as if thinking for a moment, then turned his head to look at me.
"Let's pretend we've been together since before you were born. I'll throw you a 24th anniversary party. Based on my age."
What the hell is that! What kind of love is this on the level of a founding anniversary? Noah, who was crouching over me with a pouty face, looked down at me with a face that seemed like something sinister and dark.
"There's no use regretting it. It's too late. You're mine for life, and you can't run away."
“Let’s do that.”
It feels like my life has been completely hijacked. Well, I guess I'm a benefactor, since I was supposed to die anyway, but I was able to continue living.
“So, I’ll tell you now, my Princess.”
He held my wrist with one hand, pressing down on it. His tone was polite and gentle, but our current appearance was quite peculiar.
What on earth are you trying to say? Why do you have to say it in such a lewd manner?
He looked down at me and smiled with eyes that were strangely devoid of flavor. It was overwhelming, too overwhelming to be considered ordinary romantic feelings, but it felt like an insatiable need and thirst.
The man was smiling strangely, which I found rather attractive.
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