[TKOSINM] 108 - One Bed

“Perhaps Ascardo was trying to do something, Though I am unsure as to why only you saw it, and why his plan went up in smoke, or what the voice was.”

“Do you believe me?”

“Of course.”

“But it’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t think it’s ridiculous. Because you said it, Irene.”

She did not think he would turn a deaf ear to what she said, but the extent of his trust in her words…

Irene once again asked in bewilderment. “What if I’m lying to you Noel?”

“It’s okay. If it’s you, I’m willing to be fooled.”

*Found a picture of Noel.

*And cloned.

         “...you could get into trouble.”

         “Because the hope you give me is second to none. Even if you deceived me, it would be fine. It’s you.”

         “That’s too much.”

         “Is it burdensome?”

Noel asked, and Irene took a quick glance at him. His face was blunt, but there was a faint smile on his lips.

“...No. Rather than being burdensome, I think it’s too much for me to handle.”

“It’s not too much. At least for me. But if it is too much, just tell me. I’ll believe you.”

At Noel’s absurd remark, Irene burst into laughter.

“What is it?”

Staring at Irene in confusion, his posture stiffened. He had uttered those words with sincerity. Slowly his lips spread into a broad smile.

“There’s no need for you to come to the office to meet me tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“From tomorrow onwards, I will be by your side, always.”

“...Äh.” His sudden confession caught her off guard and Irene touched her cheeks feeling them heat up. 

 To say that he would be by her side all the time. What was he thinking...? It was difficult for her to process and accept it.

A little embarrassed, Irene licked her lips. 

“Well… we aren’t married… yet.”

His face flushed. He had said those words unintentionally, yet the more he thought about it, wasn’t it more like a confession?

He avoided her gaze and continued red faced, “from tomorrow onwards, I will do everything in my room.”

“Your...room?”

“Yes. Now our marriage has officially been announced, there will certainly be many people who will approach you, with mal intentions. You will be in danger. Even though Louiselle is by your side, for me, it isn’t reassuring enough.”

“Oh, that’s what you mean.”

Irene lowered her head, chastising herself at the other meaning she thought he was implying. What on earth was I thinking? 

She couldn’t lift her head up in shame. 

Noel silently observed her small figure, and the edge of his mouth curved up in a smile.

“Although, there is a better way,” he lowered his voice.

Hearing his voice soften and drop down a tone, Irene raised her head.

“A way to ensure you are protected.”

“...?”

“Let’s share a room. If there’s one bed, no one can easily enter.”

“...!”

Irene’s eyes widened.

“Tha-...that. What is that…” she stuttered in embarrassment. Her eyes trembled.

It was just a joke, but Noel didn’t know whether to laugh at her honest response.

I didn’t expect her to be so embarrassed. He felt rather shameless. However, he also wondered how Irene would respond to his proposal.

She struggled to make a response and ended up babbling. “T-there’s others...in other people’s eyes, they’re watching. So until we get married, Noel, it’s better to use separate rooms... isn’t that better Noel?”

It was quite logical.

“Is that so? I don’t care. If we get married regardless, we’ll use one room.”

“Ha, but.”

When she heard his indifferent response, Irene felt her temperature rise a notch. She trembled thinking about how to reply.

Seeing her so helpless, Noel inwardly chuckled. He couldn’t help teasing her; she was too cute. Although, he knew not to play too much, and was about to speak when Irene beat him to it.

“If Noel is okay with it, then I…”

His lips twitched. Any comments about it being a joke were bit down again. His brows drew together seriously.

Irene was certain her heart would explode, and she would spontaneously combust as the words left her mouth; but she had no intention of withdrawing them. Because she sincerely meant them.

Even though she knew it was easy to deceive herself by validating that a husband and wife shared a room before marriage, she was okay with it, because it was Noel. She was more comfortable by his side and felt safe from potential dangers. And as he said, they would be married soon anyway.

But why am I so nervous?

In the public eye, her reasons could be argued obviously and logically, but her heart fluttered.

Noel stared at Irene, witnessing her tinged pink cheeks and shallow breathing. He swallowed his sigh.

I wanted to see Irene panic, but she’s panicking all by herself. She exposed her desire to be with him. Noel sprang to his feet, surprising Irene.

“Let’s just head back. You might catch a cold late at night.”

Autumn was dawning upon them, and the air changed from the humid sticky summer air to a chilly dry breeze. To Irene’s confusion, Noel seemed rather impatient, so she only nodded in puzzled consent.

As they left the greenhouse and towards her room, none of them initiated a conversation.

What is this?

As she walked beside him, Irene snuck a glance. His expression, as before, had hardened.

I don’t think he’s angry.

Rather, he seemed bewildered. Was it because of the same feeling that had made her turn red? For some reason, he looked a little flushed. 

Is the temperature rising because the greenhouse is warm?

Besides this, what other reason could there be? Irene took her gaze away from Noel and looked ahead. There was a lot on her mind.

After all, he must have been joking…?

She felt ashamed of herself for answering so seriously when he asked to share a room with her. Albeit she was slightly relieved on one hand. In all honesty, if she went to bed with Noel, she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Still…

She felt a little sad. Immersed in her thoughts, the two soon arrived in front of the room.

“Thank you for the tea.”

“I’ll treat you again next time.”

“Yes, I will be waiting.”

“Yea…”

Even after bidding farewell, Noel did not return. As he stood still, Irene curiously looked up at him. Does he have anything left to say? Noel silently stood in front of her for a moment, then finally shook his head.

“Then, go to sleep. If anything happens, you can come to the room next door.”

“Okay…”

“Please, enter first. I will only leave when I see you enter.”

“Sleep well Noel.”

“I will.”

Irene gave him a final glance before turning away and shutting the door, leaving Noel alone in the hallway. He took a deep breath and returned to his room. Closing the door, he placed his head in his hands and sighed exasperatedly. 

I almost asked if I could join you.

He just wanted to spend a little more time with her -- for no particular reason or purpose. But he couldn’t, because there was no justification for that. 

“Why am I doing this?”

Like a reed in the wind, in front of Irene, he swayed uncontrollably. Worse still, he did not know which direction he was going to sway.

Just unreliable.

Inwardly, Noel vowed he would stay as calm as possible in front of her. But what Noel was unaware of -- Irene had the exact same thoughts as he.

//Noel really changed from a soft sugar bear to a cheeky cheeky one. On a side note, I love the next volume.

---