[TKOSINM] 198 - Different From Louiselle’s Massage

“Ah…”

“...! Are you alright just now?”

Startled, Noel retracted his hands. For a moment, the press on her head felt a bit too hard. Noel, who was well aware that his hand’s grip was strong enough to handle a sword, wondered whether Irene was injured. At that, Irene smiled awkwardly and spoke.

“It’s okay. It didn’t hurt.”

“... I’m so sorry. For a moment, my hands were tense.”

“It’s really fine. But was there a problem? Why are your hands suddenly….”

“....”

Irene asked anxiously, but Noel could not answer. How could he possibly say that her hair kept...?

Even if I die, I could never speak of it.

Noel was not the type to care much for his image, but at least he did not want to appear indecent to her.

I cannot say that.

//Cackling. Oh Noel, what cannot thou say? Hm? HM?

“Noel? What’s wrong? Is everything alright?”

However, contrary to his wish, Irene did not back down easily.

His complexion is not good. Maybe something I’m not aware of happened. 

It was extremely rare for Noel to make such an expression, so Irene had no choice but to be concerned.

“Noel, is it something difficult to say?”

“...”

The more Noel saved his words, the more concerned Irene got. Had she known Noel’s circumstances, she would have never pried into it. Unfortunately, Irene had zero awareness of Noel’s situation.

Since this was a critical period ahead of the announcement of the succession to the Grand Duchy, it would be a big deal if something were to happen to him.

“Noel? What…”

“No-, nothing. There is something I forgot for a while...Irene, I’m sorry, but could you go to sleep first? Sorry.”

As soon as Irene grabbed his arm, Noel felt electricity run through his entire body. As Noel hurriedly backed away, Irene’s hand, which was holding Noel’s arm, naturally fell.

Noel made up a random excuse, which sounded unconvincing even to himself, and left the room as if he was running away from her.

Noel slammed his door shut behind his back. Breathing heavily, he soon buried his face in his hands. A hot breath escaped from his lips.

“…Ha, you are crazy.”

He would have to apologise to Irene later formally. She must have been startled...

Noel swore at himself, feeling a wash of shame. He recalled Irene’s face, her eyes wide in surprise, resembling a bunny. Noel wanted to go back in right away and tell her he was sorry. He had no choice but to do so.

His attitude was too much. Noel left the hallway. He was planning to sweat it out by training outside. 

Meanwhile, Irene left alone in the room without knowing Noel’s circumstances, just stared blankly at the closed door. The slam of the door closing felt like her heart was falling.

Did I do something wrong?

Irene looked back at the time she shared with Noel after entering the room. However, she could not find anything special there.

Was something wrong with her head...

Worried, she touched her scalp and even smelled her hair, but it was impossible to find the cause. Eventually, Irene gave up looking for the reason and collapsed on the bed. Lying down, Irene turned her head and looked at the door. There was no sign of the door opening. Irene’s expression darkened as she looked at the door.

I’m scared...

Truthfully, when he removed his hand earlier, Irene was quite shocked. He had never pulled away like that before. Even when we first met her, he did not drop his hand that way.

She did not think he purposefully did that, but Irene was scared, nonetheless. What if he kept avoiding her in the future?

 Then what should I do…?

The unfamiliar situation made her assume even the worst case. If Noel could listen to Irene’s thoughts, he would have reassured her that was not the case. But, unfortunately, she could not afford to now.

So Irene fell asleep, staring at the unopened door all night long.

♔♔♔

Today’s lecture was held outdoors.

“What determines a tea party is harmony. It can be said that the success or failure of a tea party depends on how harmonious the table and decorations, tea and dessert are. Especially for an outdoor tea party, you have to check the weather on that day, so even hosting a tea party requires much attention. Today, let us make a flower arrangement with flowers to decorate the table. I prepared the flowers.”

When Lady Jasmine clapped twice, the maids rushed over, laid down the flower arrangement materials and flowers on the table, then retreated. There were many kinds of flowers including lilies, roses, begonias, amaryllis, hyacinths, and lilies of the valley.

//I LOVE THIS CHAPTER KEKEKEKE. The tension you can feeeeellll it huehe.