Ashley:
"By the way… what's your second gender?" 😐
Noel:
"Didn't I already tell you? We don't have second genders in our wor—"
Elda:
"BRING THE DOCTOR!"
Noel:
"HUH?!"
Elda stood up as though she'd just made the most important decision of the century.
Elda:
"We're finding out today itself! Whatever your second gender is, you should have a soul, right? That much is enough to determine your second gender." 😤
Noel:
"…And after that, then what?" 😶
Elda crossed her arms confidently.
Elda:
"If you're an Alpha: protect Aaron."
She raised another finger.
Elda:
"If you're a Beta: be his shield."
And finally, she raised a third.
Elda:
"If you're an Omega: guard him." 😎
Noel stared at her.
Once.
Twice.
Noel:
"…Isn't that basically the same thing?" 😅
Elda:
"Yep." 😎
Noel:
"THEN WHY DID YOU MAKE THREE DIFFERENT RULES?!"
Elda:
"Because it sounds more impressive that way."
Ashley:
"She's got a point." 😌
Noel:
"YOU TWO ARE IMPOSSIBLE!"
Elda completely ignored her complaints.
Elda:
"Anyway, you'll stay with Aaron."
Noel:
"HUH?! WHY ME?!" 😅
Ashley glanced toward the door through which Aaron had left earlier.
For a moment, her usual fiery expression softened.
Ashley:
"Because he trusts you."
She lowered her eyes.
The words hurt more than she expected.
Aaron had returned to them, yet he still kept his distance. He barely looked at her, barely spoke to Elda, and seemed determined to shut everyone out.
And Ashley couldn't even blame him.
If the future Noel described was true, then somewhere along the way, they'd done something terrible enough to destroy his trust.
My mate…
Why can't you look at me the way you looked at her?
She quickly hid her sadness behind a neutral expression.
Noel noticed.
For once, she decided not to make a joke.
Noel:
"Okay… but one condition!" 😁
Elda immediately recovered her usual confidence.
Elda:
"Whatever it is, say it. You know who you're talking to, right? I can do any—" 😎
Noel:
"I'm hungry." 😁
Elda:
"…"
Ashley:
"Girl… are you for real?" 😐
Noel:
"Food is life!" 😁
Ashley:
"We're discussing the fate of the kingdom!"
Noel:
"And I'm discussing the fate of my stomach!"
Ashley:
"YOU—!"
Elda raised one hand, stopping Ashley before she could start another argument.
Elda:
"Fine. Get ready and come out. The food will be prepared. After eating, we go."
Noel's smile froze.
Noel:
"Go… where?" 😶
Elda and Ashley exchanged a look.
Then—
Elda: 😏
Ashley: 😏
Noel slowly leaned backward.
Noel:
"…Why are you both smiling like that?"
Neither answered.
Noel:
"Is it somewhere nice?"
Elda:
"That depends on your definition of nice."
Noel:
"Will there be food?"
Ashley:
"Maybe."
Noel:
"Will there be danger?"
Elda:
"Possibly."
Noel:
"…"
She slowly stood up.
Noel:
"I suddenly feel unsafe." 😶
Ashley:
"Good. Your survival instincts are finally developing."
Noel:
"I WANT TO GO HOME!"
Unfortunately for Noel, nobody seemed interested in helping her do that.
---
In Aaron's Room
Aaron sat on his bed, leaning against the wall, a soft smile resting on his face. 🙂
For the first time since returning to the palace, his mind felt a little quieter.
He replayed every word Noel had said earlier.
Her ridiculous jokes.
Her fearless arguments.
Her complete lack of respect for royal authority.
And, strangely enough, the way she'd stayed beside him when he'd been too afraid to face his own future.
But one particular line kept returning to his mind.
Noel:
"Yeah, Mr. King. At least… not for yourself. Work for the people who suffer like me. You can do it." 😤
Aaron lowered his gaze.
Those words had struck something deep inside him.
He had spent so long thinking about betrayal, revenge, and the terrible future awaiting him that he'd almost forgotten what it meant to be a king.
A king wasn't supposed to live only for himself.
He was supposed to protect the people who couldn't protect themselves.
The people who suffered while the powerful looked away.
People like Noel.
His chest tightened with a warm, unfamiliar feeling.
Someone believed in him.
Someone who didn't fear his crown.
Someone who didn't demand anything from him.
Someone who had looked at a king who'd lost all hope and simply told him that he could do better.
Aaron closed his eyes briefly.
Aaron (thought):
You really are a strange woman, Noel.
A small smile returned to his lips.
He reached out and touched the wall lightly, his thoughts drifting back to her.
I wonder what you're doing right now.
Knowing Noel, she was probably arguing with Ashley about food.
Or complaining to Elda.
Or somehow getting herself into trouble.
His smile widened.
Honestly, how does one person cause so much chaos?
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Aaron's eyes widened.
His thoughts immediately scattered.
Noel?
He straightened on the bed.
Aaron:
"Come in!"
The door remained closed for a moment.
Then came another knock.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Aaron frowned.
Aaron:
"…Who is it?"
From the other side of the door, a familiar voice answered.
Noel:
"Mr. King? Are you busy?"
Aaron's expression softened instantly.
Aaron:
"No. Come in."
He sat up a little straighter, trying to look composed.
The door handle turned.
And just as Noel began to push the door open—
Ashley (from the hallway):
"NOEL! STOP TRYING TO ESCAPE! WE HAVEN'T EVEN EATEN YET!"
Noel:
"I'M NOT ESCAPING! I'M VISITING THE KING!"
Elda:
"THEN WHY ARE YOU WALKING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE DINING HALL?!"
Noel:
"BECAUSE THE KING'S ROOM IS IN THIS DIRECTION!"
Aaron stared at the door.
His smile slowly disappeared.
Aaron (thought):
…What have I brought into my kingdom? 😶
To be continued....