Chapter 35
The night was deepened at the North Caltz mansion where Noah and I were staying.
Even though the windows were blocked with thick, double-layered curtains, the coldness of the north wind permeated, and I just couldn’t bring myself to step out of the covers. Even though the stove was on, it was still too cold.
“But aren’t you going to sleep?” (Diana)
I tilted my head at Noah, who hadn’t returned to his room by midnight. Noah was sitting on the edge of the bed, slowly stirring a mug of hot cocoa with a teaspoon.
“I need to sleep.” (Diana)
When the cocoa had cooled sufficiently, he handed me the cold medicine along with it. I didn’t take the syrup cold medicine that the maid brought me after dinner because I was so surprised to see the ingredients written on the bottle. It contained morphine, opium, marijuana, and other amazing ingredients.
I didn’t want to look like a drug addict, so I demanded and got a new natural cold remedy made from herbs. It’d be better if I woke up sweating.
“I’m going to watch you sleep.” (Noah)
Noah put his hand on his forehead and put one hand on my forehead to compare and measure my fever.
“You still have a fever.” (Noah)
“You can take an antipyretic and I’ll be fine.” (Diana)
“You can’t be sick.” (Noah)
“I don’t want to.” (Diana)
I took the bitter cold medicine and sipped the warm cocoa to get the bitterness out of my mouth. I staggered to my feet, brushed my teeth and lay down on the bed again, where he pulled the covers up to just below my nose. I asked Noah about the owner of the house.
“Was your friend a soldier? The owner of this mansion.”
“Yes. He was a friend of my father’s. He’s the deputy commander of Northern Command.”
“Was your father also a soldier?”
“Yes, he belonged to the Supreme Command.”
I didn’t know much about things like military positions and affiliations, so I just pretended to understand.
“It seems he’s a good man, seeing as he’s helping you out like this.”
Noah stared blankly at the sky, something on his mind. The light from the gas lamps leaked through the curtains and shone thinly on his face. There were dark shadows all around, a kind of anguish.
“I don’t know the criteria for good and bad. If they were good people, they shouldn’t have died, but we are also bad people in the eyes of others.”
“Um····· You seem to be a good person in terms of your personality. You usually resemble your parents.”
Although he was a little strange, he had basic gentleman manners and noble manners, such as opening the door first and putting a handkerchief on the seat to sit on. Because it was directly related to education.
“Yes. He is a good man to me. My father was a good husband to my mother. When my mother was sick, he would sit like this and watch her until she fell asleep.”
Suddenly, Noah’s lips curved into a thin line and he added nonchalantly.
“On the outside, he made efficient plans and strategies to kill people, and gave orders. But he saved the lives of others and died in an accident along with my mother. Crazy, right? He was a bad person. He had killed a lot of people. And whether they were good people or bad people, he was the only one who saved someone’s life.”
A subtle discomfort crossed Noah’s eyes at the “He died saving people” part. Was it resentment towards his parents who died saving someone and left him behind?
“I guess it depends on the situation………….”
I was a selfish individualist, so I had no altruism towards strangers. Still, there was a certain line, so the morality or ethics of social standards were followed, but I did not bother to teach or enlighten yesterday’s murder by annotating it.
I have a tendency to be okay with causing harm to others as long as I don’t cause harm first. Besides…
The guards who tried to kill me, the mercenaries, how could I have pity on them for dying? They must be good people to someone, important family members. But that was none of my business. Otherwise, I’d be dead first.
In a time when millions were dying for a single frontline position, in a world where compassion meant the enemy would die first, it was impossible to think of others first when their lives were threatened.
Things like good deeds, virtue, and compassion are only possible when you can afford them yourself and peace is a prerequisite. War makes everything a monster with no regard for life. It’s awful.
I didn’t know when I fell asleep, and woke up when I felt the sunlight dazzling down my eyelids. Perhaps because I had a strong body, the cold went away vainly and quickly.
While I prepared to leave, the maid brought me a blouse, skirt and coat with ribbons and gave me a wig with long black hair.
“I think this is good. It is close to the appearance of the people of Medea, so you’ll be able to travel safely away from North Caltz.”
She filled a large, square suitcase with underwear, socks, and clothing, as well as a forged Medea identification card.
“It was prepared by my Master. May God bless you.”
“Thank you.”
I put on my wig, thanked the maid, and went down to the door. Noah, wearing a gray-green Northern officer’s coat with dark fur on the collar, held out his hand to me and smiled.
“Your long hair is beautiful, too.”
Noah and I walked out of the mansion and saw another car parked at the entrance, not the one from Belford.
“We thought about taking the train, but it didn’t work out. I’ll take you on a train trip next time.”
Noah sounded strangely amused, as if he was going to a travel destination. I even forgot my fugitive status for a while as I looked out the window at the white winter snow and the fairy tale houses passing by.
I once again felt horrible as we passed gray scenes of shelled ashes, crumbling buildings, and vicious steel frames.
We drove for a couple of hours, escaping Progen Empire territory of North Caltz and into neutral territory. Fortunately, we got there early, as the snow was plowed cleanly, probably because of the path of the armored vehicles.
“The princess slept really well, even though the soldiers were shooting madly when we passed through the Belford border. Mmm—you’re sleeping again.”
Noah, who was driving, looked at me and spoke in a strange tone. I dozed off again, still wrapped in my wool blanket, and suddenly I came to my senses. I realized that if I got in the car, I would feel sleepy, as if I were suffering from narcolepsy.
It seemed that I slept really well everywhere.
From the car window, I could see the darkened sky and distinctly different building styles. Then again, it seemed colder here than in North Caltz.
But the cozy atmosphere and the pretty houses with red triangle roofs reminded me of Eastern Europe, where I had been before. Baroque-style stone statues were erected on the river that crossed the bridge that connected the city center.
On the sidewalk, a man in suspenders and a hat was using a long stick to light street lamps along the street and turn on gas lamps.
“We’ll stay in Hagen City today and leave tomorrow.”
Noah stopped the car on the side and got out to escort me. I got out of the car and closed my cashmere coat tightly, startled by the terrible cold that hit my skin. I quickly forgot about the mood swings of traveling to a city with a romantic atmosphere and going on a date.
“Why is it so cold? Aren’t you cold?” (Diana)
“Soldiers don’t get cold easily.” (Noah)
“You’re not a soldier anymore.” (Diana)
“Yes. Then I’ll be the knight that will protect the Princess.” (Noah)
By the way, how long do I have to do the princess concept? I walked after him, suppressing the tickle of unfamiliar affection in my heart. We went into a nearby restaurant and had a meal accompanied by warm wine.
I was a little worried about his financial situation, ordering an expensive steak despite the need to save money.
“Do you know anyone who lives here as well?” (Diana)
“No, I don’t.” (Noah)
“Then where are we going to sleep?” (Diana)
Noah replied casually as he took my plate, cut the steak in pieces, and placed it in front of me.
“Hotel.” (Noah)
I was silent for a while and looked at his face. I’m sure he didn’t say that with the intention of going to a hotel as lovers. I tried to erase the dangerous red imagination that was emerging. I remembered the idea that I was the one who had gone rotten and smiled nonchalantly at him.
“All right. I’ll treat you tomorrow, since you’re always helping me.”
In the inside pocket of the coat my nanny had dressed me in before I was placed in solitary confinement, I found the prize money from the drawing contest. I don’t know how she found the prize money that I had hidden, but she must have put it there beforehand. I could exchange money here, which was a neutral country, and then go to Medea and use it again. It was about 3 million won, so we should be able to rent a house.
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
Noah chuckled, his pretty eyes bent.
We left the restaurant and he led me to a grand hotel that was at least in the five star class of glamour and luxury. I looked at Noah with an absurd expression.
“We need to save money now…… I can sleep well anywhere. I sleep well in the car, too.”
“I can’t let the Princess sleep anywhere.”
“I sleep a lot.”
“Great. I heard there’s a hot spring here. The bedding and furniture are all top quality.”
His peculiar temperament was showing. He didn’t hear what I was saying. I sighed and followed him. If we kept going like this, we’d be beggars soon. We were bankrupt, but he was living the same rich man style.
I walked into the luxurious hotel room, stood in the middle of the room and was silent for a while. Noah took off his coat and sat on the velvet sofa, unfolding the newspaper on the table.
“Have you rented just one room?” (Diana)
“Yes.” (Noah)
I repeatedly squeezed and stretched my hand, feeling so nervous. It was cold, but my palms were oozing sweat.
“Then we’ll sleep together…..”
“I can only rent one room due to circumstances. The princess must stay in a comfortable place. I’ll take care of myself.”
Noah smiled, lowering the newspaper he was reading a little, but there was a strong sense of pity, a kind of protective instinct.
It was filled with an air of devotion that said, “I’m fine, as long as you’re comfortable. I’ll take care of myself.” Does that mean I’ll be the only one in luxury and he’ll sleep outside? Even though I’m self-centered, I don’t like to cause trouble for others, and I feel ashamed and guilty all over.
If it hadn’t been for me, he would still be living in luxury and prosperity, but I felt my back stiffen with guilt, so I grabbed my skirt and said,
“Let’s sleep here together. Where are you going to sleep when it’s so cold………..”
Noah’s gaze sharpened for a moment, which may have been an illusion on my part. His lips lifted in satisfaction and his blue eyes narrowed like a crescent moon. It was as if he was a scheming man who had succeeded in a plan that he had been preparing for a long time.
“Are you asking me to sleep with you? The princess is as aggressive as ever, isn’t she?”
The newspaper in Noah’s hands had long since gone far away.
I’d forgotten for some time that he was a mischievous man. He was a fox-like man that took your words and made it into something he wanted.
Rising from his seat, Noah approached me and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. I flinched at the feeling of his fingers grazing my jaw. The neat collar of his shirt, closed ascetically, was instead immorally stimulating and unbearably sensual. Noah looked at me with languid eyes, then let out a low, seductive voice.
“Then let’s wash up first.”
Oh my God. How can this man be so racy when I didn’t do anything?