[TKOSINM] 234 – Noel’s Lullaby

“I think I will fall asleep quickly if I listen to Noel’s lullaby.”

Why did that awful time come to her mind just now?

I said it because I wanted to see Noel flustered.

After talking to him and hearing his warm voice, she intuitively felt like she could sleep well, listening to his singing.

“...”

When Irene looked up at him with sparkling, earnest eyes, Noel was troubled.

“I have never sung before.”

“It’s okay.”

“Rather, you might stay wide awake because of it.”

“That will not happen.”

“...hah...”

Noel sighed heavily, feeling he had been tricked. But a promise was a promise...Noel took a deep breath and carefully placed his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s been a long time since I last heard a lullaby, so I may not remember the lyrics along the way.”

“It’s fine.”

Hearing Noel’s voice, Irene closed her eyes.

After clearing his throat, he began to sing softly and as tenderly as he could.

As he said, the lullaby he sang was quite awkward. Some of the notes were wrong, and the beat was out of sync. Even the lyrics had a strong sense of improvisation.

.... It’s heart-warming.

Yet, to Irene’s ears, it sounded more comfortable and heartfelt than any other song. Above all, his voice, which was sweet and mellow as if honey dripped on it, gently caressed her, and slowly put her into a deep slumber.

“Irene...?”

“...”

“Are you sleeping?”

“...”

Noel called out to her several times, but she did not answer. Only her even breathing came back in response. Fortunately, the lullaby seemed to work. Letting out a sigh of relief, Noel slowly rose from his seat but soon paused.

“...”

Taking a look at the sound asleep Irene, he quietly tucked her dishevelled milky hazel hair to the side.

Suddenly, her lips came into view. His touch was redirected to her lips, but he soon pulled away.

I can’t touch someone who is asleep.

He should not have sung her a lullaby. With a deep sigh, Noel finally got up. In the meantime, Irene unconsciously tossed and turned, perhaps because she couldn’t rest all night. But she soon fell asleep peacefully again.

“I’ll be right back. Sleep tight, my wife.”

Noel, who neatly straightened her crumpled clothes, whispered to Irene, and left. His destination was Viscountess Friedan’s room.

♔♔♔

Count Chase looked down at his sister, lying silently on the bed like a corpse.

“Can’t she…speak?”

Soon after he spoke up, the butler who was watching from behind replied.

“She can, but her voice is almost inaudible. And... It’s hard for her to say a long sentence.”

“So she can speak.”

“...”

“Go out and leave us alone for a while.”

The Count, who had stared at Viscountess Friedan for a while, commanded, forgetting his role as a guest. Bewildered, the butler quickly responded.

“Madame is in a critical state, without me….”

But his words were instantly interrupted.

“If anything happens, I will call you right away, so wait outside. I have something to tell my sister in private.”

“But…”

“Don’t forget your position as a butler.”

When the butler did not obey the order, the Count spat at him coldly. The butler bowed and reluctantly left the room at his words, which were close to a warning.

‘Click.’

At the sound of the door shutting behind him, Count Chase looked down at his sister and opened his mouth.

“I know you are not sleeping, sister.”

“...”

Viscountess Friedan, whose eyes were closed, slowly opened them at his words. When her pupils met with the Count’s, they shook relentlessly.

“Speak, you can do that, right?”

“…hah.”

“…Do you resent me?”

“...”

“Do you resent me for having cut off all support and for leaving you, my only sister, and her people starved to death?”

“…urgh.”

At the Count’s indifferent words, the Viscountess let out a moan. Tears filled her dry eyes.

As he watched her in silence, the Count’s forehead crumpled.

“I also resent you, sister.”

“...huh.”

“Why did you put a heavy burden on me?”

“...”

“Because of you, because of that child, my family is ruined!”

Unable to control his rising emotions, in the end, Count Chase shouted.