[TKOSINM] 12 - First Meeting (2)

“Huh, it was not interesting.” Irene, who was watching the situation in a daze, turned her head away towards the source of the voice behind her.

“It was so bland.” A pompous aristocrat mused.

“Why did an illegitimate child like him make such a fuss?” A lady in a flamboyant dress criticised.

“I was expecting a fierce fight, to be honest.” The aristocrat chuckled.

Although the situation had concluded, the crowd was regretful that it had ended peacefully.

What is this?

Looking at their act, Irene backed away from the crowd. Those who enjoyed seeing other people experiencing difficulties and embarrassments made her shocked with horror. The situation before that could have turned violent was merely passing gossip for them. Seeing others’ vulnerable, weak points was more of an incentive to step on them than help them. Irene felt a stench of selfishness from them; the atmosphere of the arrogant aristocrats made her nauseous. This world was really full of people who only liked to focus on the negative and thrived on others’ misfortunes. 

Irene sighed disappointedly. Staying here any longer would affect her attitude. She turned her banquet and made to leave the banquet hall. Not for even a second longer did she want to mix with them, lest she is influenced. In a hurry to escape, Irene recklessly walked forward. She had never thought about how disgusting the noble society was. Aristocratic society did not treat people like humans if they were not of legal lineage. Irene was too naive before. She wondered if, outside of the nobility, people would be like this.

Somehow, I feel that his situation is similar to mine.

Irene, who was always overshadowed by Riel’s existence, felt her situation was similar to Noel’s. Seeing Noel standing alone without anyone helping him made her feel a wash of familiarity. It was a situation she had experienced far too many times.

But the difference is, he managed to get through the situation by himself.

Despite how infuriating being insulted was, Noel managed to keep his composure and resolved it with a cool head. If Irene was in his position, she doubted that she could have done the same.

He might be able to help me, and I might be able to help that person.

With that thought in her mind, Irene walked towards the direction Noel had left. 

It had not been long since he had left, so she thought finding him was not too difficult a task.

Irene paused and closed her eyes. She tried to gather the courage she had felt a while ago, the same determination to achieve her goal when she had left the Chase mansion. The cool scent of Noel tingled in her nose as she retraced her steps from the entrance to talking with Duchess Jasmine to witnessing the unpleasant ordeal. It was a refreshing cool mint smell that purified the awful mood she felt in an instant.

Irene opened her eyes and quickly followed his traces. Irene moved from the increasingly noisy ballroom and entered a deserted garden. But no matter how hard she searched, Irene could not find Noel Kristen. The deserted garden was where couples would hide away, immersing themselves in their secret love affairs, away from the public eye.

Where on earth is he?

Irene felt impatient when she still could not find him. There was a strange hunch she felt: that if she did not meet him here now, she would never be able to meet him again. Although Irene was tired from wandering around, she continued to stride brusquely through Duchess Jasmine’s Garden at a faster pace until she reached the end of the garden.

I found him.

Noel stood in the place where the moonlight shone the brightest in the garden. It was ethereal. The light cascaded down his tall figure, illuminating his frame against a backdrop of lilies and roses. Noel, surrounded by flowers and basking in the soft cool light, was beautiful. 

Irene slowly approached him. Noel turned his head when he felt an indication of another person being around. Irene’s olive eyes met Noel’s deep hazel eyes.

“Ah…”

Irene could not find the proper words to say. She was busy searching for him before and had not yet had the time to think about what to say when she met him. That just went to show how desperate Irene was to find Noel.

“Ah, I’ll step away from this place if you want to stay here.”

Noel, who misunderstood the circumstances, tried to leave, but Irene quickly approached him and grabbed his sleeve.

“No!” She shouted.

“....?”

Noel seemed surprised by Irene’s sudden actions and looked at the slender hand that tightly grabbed his sleeve.

“Is there something I can help you with?” He asked.

“Oh, that…”

It was difficult for Irene to form the words she wanted to say. In front of him, her tongue suddenly became a dead weight, and she could not express what her mind was telling her to do. Especially since she rarely had any friends she could talk to all her life, meeting a stranger for the first time and initiating a conversation made her thoroughly anxious. Moreover, this was the person who possibly could save her life. Irene was afraid that he would leave and disappear if she behaved so carelessly. 

“...perhaps, I can help you.”

Noel’s eyes grew bigger at the unexpected words that Irene said. 

Irene could feel her face flush. She could not believe that she had so abruptly said that. It was obvious how embarrassed Irene must have been in the moment.

“Miss, I believe you aren’t drunk, are you?”

When Irene, who could not raise her head in shame, paused, Noel’s troubled voice could be heard in the cool air. Irene held more tightly onto his sleeve, not willing to let go until the words she wanted to say fumbled out of her. No, even if he rejected her, she would not let go. His mistaking her for a drunkard made her feel even more embarrassed than she initially anticipated.

“I-I’m sorry for my sudden rudeness. But I-I’m serious when I say that I can help you.” She stuttered out.

Noel looked at her in surprise. Then a charming smile grew on his lips as he nodded, letting her continue. He looked down at his sleeve, then glanced back up at Irene.

“First of all, I won’t run away, so you can let go of my sleeve.” 

With Noel’s words, Irene became aware of the sleeve she was holding. Her hand was trembling, and she realised that she was pulling so hard that the button was about to fall off. Irene became surprised and hurriedly let go of his sleeve. The crumpled sleeve of his suit loosened as she released her grasp.

Irene came back to her senses. She had never met him before but all of sudden she was saying such weird things. How queer he must think she was. Not only that but rudely grabbing him also showed how desperate Irene was, which might have already made his first impression of her deteriorate. The fact that she needed him made Irene even more nervous.

“I think it might be better to hear more details about how you can help me.”

With a small nod at Noel’s calm words, Irene raised her head, and then she inhaled. Without realising, Irene, who had been focused on the ground before, had brought their distance closer. Noel’s tall frame towered over her, and their proximity made her breathless once again.

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