[TKOSINM] 264 – You Are Not Alone

♔ Vol.4 Part 13. A Love Affair ♔ 

“Yes...?”

“Sorry if it was sudden. I think you must be feeling lonely for some reason.”

“…”

“You are not alone. Louiselle follows you more than I do, and Duchess Jasmine is also close to Irene. Ram mercenaries, Tom, and Grandfather also like you. Most of all, I love you, Irene.”

She didn’t know what to say. She only saw Noel. The background of her room grew farther and farther away, and her world narrowed to him only.

“I love you more than anyone in the world. Irene. I will be your family and your lover. I will give you the affection you deserve. So don’t be lonely.”

His confession soaked in calmly like the lullaby he sang a while ago. It was a strange thing. His words filled her empty heart in an instant. Irene’s heart was so complete that even an inkling of a negative thought could not penetrate. A smile unconsciously graced her lips.

“Thank you, Noel. I want to be that kind of person to you too.”

“You already are.”

She didn’t have to think about contracts or limited-term relationships anymore. For now, all she had to do was focus on the present.

“Now, what do you want to do?”

 ”Right now… I want to know about my real parents. Who were the two of them? What was their story, and about the spirits?”

“Can’t we ask the spirit of the wind?”

At Noel’s question, Irene shook her head.

“I’ve already asked, but the Spirit of Wind was the first to be sealed, so I don’t know. It’s a situation where I can’t communicate with Snow Tree, but...”

 ”...?”

As Irene muffled her words meaningfully, Noel gave her a puzzled expression. 

“According to On’s words, the former empress dowager had another spirit. Her name is Cry, a water spirit. But she said it was sealed in the necklace she loved. But I think that necklace….” Irene said hesitantly.

“Are you talking about Ascardo?”

When Noel, who understood Irene’s words at once, asked, Irene, nodded.

“Yes. Of course, I am likely mistaken, but….”

“No. It certainly makes sense. It was then that Irene, you first heard the spirit’s voice.”

“If we can get the necklace, we might know what happened. However....”

Irene bit her lips tightly. She soon opened her lips as she looked at his face.

“I will take care of the necklace. You don’t have to worry about Noel.”

“What do you mean?”

As Irene spoke firmly, Noel frowned slightly and asked. But she didn’t waver.

“You have to approach Ascardo to get the necklace. It must be awkward and dangerous for Noel. So I will do it.”

“What are you going to do, Irene?”

 ”I can use On’s power. I can use the power of the ring too. No damage will ever happen to Noel....”

“Unacceptable.”

“Noel.”

Irene called him with a worried face, but Noel was immovable.

“Pardon me, Irene. Do you really think I can leave you alone?”

“.... However....”

“As you said, I feel uncomfortable with Ascardo. I don’t even want to see his face. But that doesn’t mean he’s pathetic enough to make me leave you alone. Embarrassment can be tolerated, but anxiety is unbearable. The thought of Irene going through dangerous things makes her go crazy even now.”

//omg. I love how he doesn’t say it in a cliche way of ‘it’s because I care for you’—embarrassment is tolerable, but anxiety unbearable’ such life advice. Don’t ever be held back by fear of embarrassment or asking a wrong question.

“...Sorry. Noel.”

After Noel confessed the thoughts on his heart, Irene realised that she had made a mistake and quickly apologised.

“Please never use the word ‘alone’ again. Even if you don’t like it, I’ll never leave you alone.”

“Okay. So, Noel, can you help me?”

“Of course. There is a good place to approach Ascardo.”

“A good place?”

Noel, who nodded and embraced her, gave a letter to Irene. As she received it with a puzzled face, Irene’s eyes widened.

“Is this... a letter from Count Rixis?”

“It’s an invitation, to be exact.”

On the dark blue letterhead was the seal of the Count Rixis. Irene pulled out the letter inside and read it, and parted her lips slightly.

“Masked ball... Is this a Masquerade at Count Rixis?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mean we should attend? It’s next week.”

“Yes. If you attend, it won’t be difficult to approach Ascardo.”

As Noel smiled softly, Irene seemed to be relieved. She was at a loss as she thought she had to do it on her own. But if she was with him, she believed she could do it. 

Irene smiled and reread the letter.

The invitation had been delivered to Noel, not Grand Duke Kristen. At that moment, a question suddenly popped into Irene’s mind. What was the reason for sending the invitation personally?

♔♔♔