[TKOSINM] 214 - Safe, Marked As His

“Young Madame is safe.”

Noel was greatly relieved by Louiselle’s words.

He then went straight up to Irene and checked her for any injuries. Fortunately, Irene was clean without a single wound on her.

Confirming that she was unharmed, Noel approached the assassin who had been subdued by Louiselle and bent forward.

“Ugh!”

As Noel drew closer, Louiselle pressed the assassin’s body even more strongly. Feeling the pressure, the assassin stared at Noel with red bloodshot eyes.

“I gave you a chance to run away, so why did you crawl in again?”

The assassin’s eyes fluttered relentlessly at Noel’s cold voice. Because what he hoped not to be the case turned out to be true.

Indeed, he had deliberately released him to warn his master.

“...I don’t think that’s what he ordered. So, is it something you did arbitrarily?”

Noel looked into the eyes of the assassin.

“You fool.” He spoke in a cold voice. 

The assassin was frozen, unable even to blink his eyes. He failed even to commit suicide, so he was keenly aware of how long and painful his future would be.

Noel quietly stared into the assassin’s eyes and stood up from his seat. He then spoke to Louiselle.

“You’ve worked hard, Louiselle. Now I’m going to protect my wife, so you put the assassin in the dungeon and let Tom know the truth.”

“All right.”

At Noel’s command, Louiselle stood up. Her ankle, which had been severely injured in Kreisen, was almost completely healed. Not only did she use magic tools to aid in healing, but she recovered quickly even though she was injured, thanks to her unique constitution.

With the handle of the dagger the assassin was wielding, Louiselle slammed the assassin’s neck hard. When the assassin, unable to withstand the shock, lost consciousness, Louiselle tied his arms and left the room.

Ravaged by a storm, Irene took a deep breath. She really didn’t know that the assassin was aiming for her life.

I did a good job abiding by Louiselle’s instructions.

Louiselle, who first noticed a hint of an assassin, immediately informed Irene. Irene tried to block the intrusion of the assassin by spreading a barrier with her ring. But Louiselle came up with a plan for her.

She was going to pretend to be Irene, and as soon as he approached, she would subdue him. If not for her advice, and she had ignored her, surely Irene’s life would be taken.

It was difficult for Irene to accept the plan readily. She was afraid that Louiselle might get hurt instead of herself if she did. However, if she were injured, it would be damaging to Louiselle, so Irene accepted her will.

The plan was successful. Apart from her injury, the tension was relieved, and Irene slumped down on her bed. Noel approached Irene.

“Have you ever been hurt anywhere?”

As Noel looked around her body, Irene shook her head, her face blushing.

“Thanks to Louiselle, I didn’t get hurt. But it’s just that all my strength is gone... Well, it’s fine.”

Even though he had already seen all of her naked body, her face couldn’t help but heat up at the touch of his hand and his gaze examining herself. Without knowing it, Noel sighed deeply and raised her.

 “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt,” he breathed. “I shouldn’t have left your side... I’m sorry.”

His face was full of regret, and he looked at her sincerely. Seeing his forlorn appearance, Irene reached out and stroked his silver-grey hair, causing his eyes to widen at her sudden action.

Smiling at Noel, Irene raised her upper body, and she kissed his lips lightly. Noel’s eyes widened so much that they could not get bigger in surprise.

“Noel, you are more than enough for me right now. So, ah.”

‘Whoosh.’

Irene couldn’t keep up with him anymore because he grabbed her shoulder and kissed her more intensely than when she had initiated. Irene’s body slid and fell onto her bed. As he climbed on top, onto the bed, he left trails down her neck -marking her as his. 

Her first reaction was shock, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck. After a moment’s hesitation, Noel shook his head and buried his face deeper.

“...ha.”

He opened his mouth and let out a hot sigh. Irene felt as if the touch of his breath had heated her skin.

“Sorry. You must have been surprised...”

“...no.”

Noel didn’t go any further. Instead, he dragged her quilt over to cover her. Her gaze fluttered.

“Didn’t you wake up after sleeping? I’ll be by your side, so please sleep more.”

“Ah ...”

At Noel’s friendly voice, Irene blurred the end of her words. Truthfully, she never slept. It was because the assassin’s attack was so disturbing, and the presence of Noel sitting next to her caused her to become too conscious.

But Noel wanted her to get a good night’s sleep, so he gently stroked her hair and patted her stomach.

She felt as if she was a child, and the area where he was patting, felt ticklish. But she closed her eyes and steadied her breath to fall asleep.