Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: If I Can Linger Longer in Your Eyes
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"Damn it!"
Noel asked the butler about the noise coming from the room across the hall.
"How long has he been like that?"
"Ah, well..."
Noel sighed as he watched the butler stammer and fidget in embarrassment.
"Forget it. Go take care of your duties. I'll handle things here."
"B-but..."
"You've got plenty to do. Go on."
The butler's shoulders slumped at Noel's firm tone, and he finally left. Whenever this happened, cleaning up the mess always fell to Noel, the marquis's son.
"...At least when the madam was alive, he had someone to lean on."
The butler felt a pang of sorrow thinking of the beautiful lady who had been all but abandoned due to Marquis Micarus's womanizing ways.
But that was all in the past now. Shoving aside the unwelcome thoughts, the butler walked down the corridor.
"Father, please stop."
"What?!"
A glass bottle whizzed past Noel's cheek as he entered the room, shattering against the wall with a sharp crack.
He winced at the stinging pain and wiped the blood trickling down his cheek.
"What the hell are you doing, you useless brat!"
The rage that couldn't touch the emperor was redirected entirely at Noel. But Noel was used to it by now.
"You'll hurt yourself like this. Please stop. The servants are terrified."
"Are you keeping tabs on that merchant guild master properly? I allowed the deal based on your word, so why hasn't anything changed?!"
"..."
"No child of mine could be this stupid. It must be that whore of yours from outside..."
"Enough."
Noel cut off Marquis Micarus coldly. This was the man who had seduced his mother from the start, kept her locked away, and then secretly taken lovers, tormenting her heart.
If the marquis brought home a bastard from another woman, that was one thing—but his mother would never.
One look at these beggar eyes of his was proof enough. Noel was undoubtedly his real son.
"I never should have had a worthless kid like you!"
"..."
The words caught in his throat, and Noel covered his eyes with his hand instead.
Those seething golden eyes fueled a rage so intense that Noel felt the urge to gouge out his own.
"I can't stand the sight of you—get out!"
After dodging more flying objects and taking a few hits, Noel had no choice but to leave the marquis's room.
"Ha."
A man who doubted his wife over absurd reasons. And his poor mother, who had accepted it all.
Nothing had changed. Except for his mother's death.
Noel walked as if entranced toward his mother's room.
"..."
The bedroom, filled only with darkness and cold, no longer held the warm gaze that had welcomed him.
My son, my proud treasure.
He missed his mother's eyes, deep green like lush evergreens. The eyes that embraced him without calculation or condition.
But moments later, another voice echoed in his ears.
You killed me, Noel.
A pair of green eyes filled with malice approached him, and he jolted awake with a gasp.
He must have dozed off. His hands trembled violently, mirroring his unsettled heart.
You needn't hold me in such high regard.
At the same time, that woman's voice and her hostile green eyes flashed through his mind.
The woman with eyes the same color as his mother's. The difference was that this one, he could actually meet.
"...I need you."
Noel rose from his seat and acted on his impulse.
Esther Elpis. Right now, he needed that woman.
"How did you get in here..."
Noel heard Esther's quiet mutter at his sudden appearance and replied casually.
"I wanted to discuss the contract quickly. Even when your guild member told me to wait, I said I'd come find you myself. Sorry about that."
"We're sorry we didn't notice our guest had arrived."
"It's fine. I came uninvited—no need to apologize."
Esther knew the contract was just an excuse. There couldn't be any real issue with something so straightforward.
But the man showed no sign of leaving, so she asked politely out of courtesy.
"Would you like to head to the reception room?"
"Thank you. And about that earlier topic, I think I can help. We have trading partners in Falcon too. I often have their potatoes there—quite fresh in soups."
"I never imagined someone familiar with Falcon's specialties would be here!"
Oilie, his wariness melting away at the mention of his hometown, spoke excitedly. Noel replied with feigned kindness.
"To speed up trades, my family and the imperial palace opened a special route only we use. You could make a round trip in two weeks that way. The other paths wind around the mountains and take months..."
"..."
"As a small apology, how about some help?"
Esther knew she had no choice, pressed for time as she was. This was unavoidable.
"...Why don't we discuss the details in the reception room?"
"I'd be honored."
Everyone unconsciously swallowed at the sight of Noel's shimmering silver hair creating a mystical aura, harmonizing with his smile.
"May I escort you to the reception room?"
Noel's slender hand reached toward Esther, waiting only for hers.
"How could we ask a guest to escort us?"
The guild members inwardly sighed at Esther's ironclad refusal, unmoved by his charm. Without even glancing at his hand, she brushed past him.
"This way, please."
"...Understood."
Noel clenched and unclenched his ignored hand as he followed her. The guild members only gave voice to their sighs after the two had disappeared.
Noel took a seat across from Esther in the reception room.
"Was there a problem with the contract?"
"Ah."
Noel faltered unusually, trailing off.
In truth, there was no issue with the contract. He'd rushed here on the single thought of seeing her.
"I had a proposal for an addendum... but on second thought, it's not finalized yet. I'll bring it up next time."
"Very well."
Noel knew how ridiculous he sounded but couldn't show it, so he flashed a bright smile.
He expected Esther to avoid his gaze again, but for some reason, she kept her eyes fixed on him.
Caught off guard, Noel glanced at her cautiously before speaking.
"...Is something wrong?"
"The problem seems to be with you, young master, not me."
"Pardon?"
At that moment, something warm trickled down Noel's cheek again. The wound he'd thought had stopped bleeding had torn open from smiling.
"Ah."
He instinctively raised a hand, wiping the blood with his fingers.
Even then, Esther simply watched him without asking what happened or if he was okay.
"Oh, this is..."
Esther knew what that wavering gaze meant. The day this perfectly fine man showed up injured to see her was already set in stone.
"...A shard from a falling glass must have flown up and cut me."
She'd seen that sheepish hand wiping blood before, that smile too.
Marquis Micarus, with his foul temper, often took out his frustrations on Noel when he couldn't control his anger.
And on those exact days, Noel would appear before her in a precarious state. Once, it had even tugged at her heart, seeing him pretend to be unfazed.
But those days were over. Comforting him or offering a kind touch was no longer her role.
"I'll call someone to help treat it."
"No need. I can't bother anyone else."
Remembering his pathological aversion to exposing his vulnerabilities to others, Esther fetched the first-aid kit from the room and set it before him.
"The bleeding seems to be getting worse. It'd be better to treat it. Leaving like this might cause misunderstandings."
"Thank you."
Noel stared blankly for a moment before clumsily opening the kit and smearing ointment on his cheek.
Watching him apply it thickly to the unwiped wound, Esther rummaged in her pocket and placed her ever-present handkerchief in front of him.
This was the limit of what she could offer Noel.
"There's blood pooling on your face. You should disinfect it first with the solution."
"Right."
Noel soaked the handkerchief in disinfectant and winced with a low groan as he touched the wound. His knee knocked the table, sending the medicines tumbling.
As Esther silently gathered the fallen items, Noel picked them up beside her and spoke casually.
"I always seem to be causing trouble."
"Not at all. It's fine."
Once he'd gathered everything and finished treating himself, Noel held out the kit. As she put it away, silence settled again.
But Esther had no intention of wasting time with someone who had nothing to say—especially not Noel.
"You don't look well. Why not head back and rest? I'll send someone over next time."
"No."
Unlike her urging tone, Esther's words were firm. Noel clutched the handkerchief she'd given him like a plea, his voice pitiful.
"I want to talk more."
Noel liked how Esther looked at him. Those unwavering eyes staring straight ahead soothed his heart.
He needed her somehow. Or perhaps what he needed was...
"Are you alright?"
Esther asked the man who was staring piercingly into her eyes.
Was there worry among the emotions in those eyes? Do you feel pity when you look at me? Then, would you never turn your blade on me? Then, could we...
"I think your eyes are beautiful."
"Pardon?"
"I wish I could reflect in them a little longer."
Could we grow closer? Would you stay by my side without dying?