Chapter 24
Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Why Are You Avoiding Me Like That?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Again. That man was trying to dig into her weakness once more. Esther's heart grew cold.
"Ah, if it made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. My mother had green eyes just like yours. She passed away early due to poor health, so I can't see them anymore..."
Noel seemed to sense the change in Esther and hurriedly continued.
"Seeing you feels like seeing my mother—it's an illusion, but your eyes that never give up and always look ahead no matter what... they're so similar."
Esther avoided Noel's gaze. She had already heard that he had lost his mother young and cherished her deeply.
It had been several months since she became friends with Noel. After attending the Crown Prince's birthday banquet, invitations poured in for Esther as well.
But the reactions were the same wherever she went. Dismissal, contempt, and mockery. Even after rising from commoner to noble, in their eyes, Esther was still just a commoner.
"Having someone so oblivious join us really rubs me the wrong way."
"Ah, but she has to fit in somehow. She'll have to sell something to make money, right?"
No one even glanced at Esther; she just stood awkwardly in the corner until it was time to leave.
That day too, she was dragging herself home from a tea party hosted by some countess whose name she didn't even know, completely drained. With the drizzle soaking in, her mood naturally plummeted.
So many of them.
As her skirt hem grew heavy with water, making her steps sluggish, Esther frowned, shook off her skirt, and turned her head.
Noel?
A pitiful man slumped on the alley floor, drenched head to toe in rain, kept catching her eye. The familiar silver hair unmistakably resembled Noel's.
Noel, is that you?
Esther soon confirmed she was right. Leaning against the wall, staring blankly into space—it really was Noel.
What are you doing here...? No, are you okay?
Esther asked Noel over and over, but he just gazed up at the endless rain without responding.
Your hand looks a bit swollen, and your cheek is red. Noel? Are you okay?
But now that she knew it was Noel, Esther had no intention of leaving him like this.
Without hesitation, she held her umbrella over his head.
"......"
He slowly turned to look at her, but the kindness she'd seen before and the smile that always lingered on his lips were gone.
Worried, Esther knelt beside him, squatting down.
"......"
Still, Noel just stared blankly at her, unresponsive.
The weather grew colder, and Esther shivered lightly.
Her skirt was already soaked through, but all she could see was her friend enduring the cold rain.
It's cold out here; you'll catch a cold like this.
She tried speaking to the unresponsive Noel again, but silence.
With a small sigh, Esther noticed his hand trembling faintly.
First, we need to get somewhere sheltered...!
Before she could finish, Noel yanked her hand, making her drop the umbrella. He pulled her into a desperate, somewhat rough embrace.
Noel?
As Esther awkwardly squirmed, trying to pull back from his arms,
"Just a moment."
Noel tightened his hold, drawing their bodies closer. Unlike the cold rain, his hot breath warmed her shoulder.
"Just a moment... stay like this."
Why... what's wrong, Noel.
His voice cracked as he pleaded, burying his face in her shoulder.
Esther struggled in confusion to escape his embrace when,
"......Please."
Seeing Noel's pitiful clinging, pulling at her arms and back, Esther stopped moving. At the same time, she spotted a wound on his long, straight neckline and cried out.
Noel, your neck...!
But even at her shout, Noel just held her tighter without a word.
Feeling his trembling through their clothes, Esther said nothing more and gently patted his back.
About thirty minutes passed, and only after the rain stopped did Noel speak.
"Sorry."
Esther knew his damp shoulders weren't just from the rain.
Watching Noel brush back her wet hair, Esther felt a kinship. That look in his eyes resembled her own when she'd lost her father.
What happened? Why were you here with injuries like this?
"......Will you keep this a secret? Me sitting here like this."
Hiding her hurt feelings at his words, Esther rummaged in her pocket for a handkerchief.
Fortunately, only the edges were wet.
"Esther?"
Unlike when she'd pulled away earlier, Esther boldly reached for his neck, pressing the bleeding spot, and spoke.
I have no intention of telling others you're struggling. Right now, the most important thing to me is...
Noel snapped his gaze to her at the firmer-than-usual tone.
Their eyes met precisely in the air.
Whether you're okay, Noel.
"......"
I won't ask why you're hurt or why you're crying. But just one thing. Noel, are you really okay?
That had been Esther's sole concern from the start.
Watching Noel shake unsteadily for thirty minutes, all she'd thought and worried about was whether her friend was truly alright.
Their relationship had changed so much from the past that Esther buried the memory deep in her heart. Looking at Noel across from her made the distance between them feel all too real.
Yes, this was the right distance for her and this man.
A relationship of calculated transactions—discussing official business, giving and taking what each wanted, without personal feelings or knowledge of the past.
"......Merchant Guild Master?"
Esther raised her head at Noel's call.
"Ah, yes."
"Thanks to you. I want to repay this favor. Ah, perfect... Your subordinate mentioned needing to go to Falcon quickly, right? I'd like to give you a pass for that route as thanks."
Esther silently observed Noel as he smiled, trying to buy her favor by handing over what she wanted.
To figure out why he'd come here and gone this far—what gain he stood to get immediately.
"Then, as soon as I return, that pass..."
Taking her silence as assent, Noel continued casually.
But Esther had no such intention.
"No. I've done nothing to warrant that. I've never done anything deserving of such a huge favor..."
"......"
"We haven't built that kind of relationship yet, have we? I can't just take something so valuable for free."
Noel just listened silently to Esther's unexpected words, perhaps taken aback.
But whatever he thought, Esther's mind was set.
"I'll pay a fair price to use that route a bit. If that's okay, I'll send a contract regarding the details within two days."
"You want to pay money to use our route?"
"Yes. It might feel like we're getting unknown information for free, but we'll pay the full amount."
Why.
That was the only thought in Noel's mind as he listened.
Why was she guarding against him so fiercely?
Why wouldn't she allow even the smallest opening, pushing him away?
Seeing her reject even the goodwill he was willing to offer without cost, something hot stirred in Noel's heart.
At the same time, his grip tightened on the handkerchief she'd given him.
Unconsciously, Noel crossed his legs into a somewhat arrogant posture—a habit when dissatisfaction arose.
And then, he threw out words that completely derailed his calculations.
"I have something to ask."
"What is it?"
"Why are you avoiding me like that?"
A chill devoid of humor sliced between them.
Esther sensed from his utterly serious face that these words came straight from his heart.
I won't ask why you're hurt or why you're crying. But just one thing. Noel, are you really okay?
Noel felt a familiar sensation in Esther's worried gaze.
It was absurd, but he had to admit it. Esther, whom he had to deceive and use, resembled his mother.
...No, perhaps beyond mere similarity—he felt it deeply.
And fortunately, Noel had no intention of letting go of this trace of his mother he'd found.
No.
Huh?
Noel revealed his true feelings from that moment on.
As if unable to hold back any longer, overwhelmed by the emotion, he grabbed Esther's hand as she wiped his wound and said again.
I'm not okay. I'm hurting.
This girl was different. So unlike those who approached with calculations.
Yes, you'll understand me too. Unlike others, you cared for my well-being—surely I can lean on you. Such thoughts swirled in Noel's mind.
Taking the handkerchief from Esther's hand, he pressed it to his wound.
I want you to know. That I'm not okay—I want only you to know.
Noel didn't know if this feeling was longing for his mother or affection for her as a woman, but one thing was certain.
He couldn't go on living if he lost this woman. He was sure of it.