“……Lady Ariella?”
In such moments, the best course of action was to take a deep breath and wait for her heart to calm down.
“You should rest. Immediately-.”
Otherwise, she would become unnecessarily sensitive.
“……Why? Are you going to take me to my hotel room?”
Exactly like this.
Ariella gasped, her whole body trembling.
Her eyes were unfocused, and her captured arms were stiff as ice. Anyone could see that she found the hand holding her arm extremely frightening and repulsive.
Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to properly push him away, only her lips trembling.
It was a very familiar sight to Nobert. Those who had their arms severed or their bodies pierced by the monsters would react similarly at the mere mention of them.
Like that, a reaction of sheer terror.
Nobert stiffened his whole body, just as he had when their skin touched in the storage room a moment ago, clenching his teeth.
However, while the emotion he had desperately suppressed earlier was intense desire, what flickered in his eyes now was an uncontrollable rage. That was the significant difference.
“……Ha.”
Nobert exhaled hotly, his brow furrowed in a harsh frown. His usually gentle gaze was clouded with undisguised anger.
Only then did Ariella regain her senses.
‘I’m crazy.’
What on earth had she said? She couldn’t believe the words that had come out of her mouth, covering her face with her hand.
What she had just said was a reckless suspicion. It would be nice if she could frame it as a simple question, but the suspicion within was too clear.
She had just accused Nobert of using this situation to take advantage of her. She had just insulted the man who had caught her as she was about to fall.
She was unbearably ashamed. Of herself, for suspecting all kindness. Of herself, for sharpening her claws, recalling the past over nothing. This time, even if he abandoned her, she wouldn’t have any grounds to complain.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I meant-.”
Ariella stopped mid-sentence, biting her lip. Because if she said it wasn’t what she meant, it would be a lie. She was used to lying, but she couldn’t do it to him.
What should she apologize for? As she pondered, Nobert, to her further embarrassment, spoke first.
“……Don’t apologize. I’m not angry at you.”
If he wasn’t angry at her, then who was he angry at?
Ariella blinked blankly, unable to understand. With each blink, her blurry vision gradually cleared.
“It’s true that I’m incredibly drawn to you right now, and even if we weren’t just lovers for a single day, but true lovers…”
He slowly released her, having confirmed that she had regained her composure. As always, his manner was extremely polite and courteous.
“It’s only natural that I can’t force feelings and actions you don’t want. It’s not a matter of shame or propriety, but a matter of human decency.”
He’s different.
Watching him speak of propriety and decency, Ariella felt certain.
‘He’s completely different from Aaron.’
A wave of relief washed over her.
She had known for a while that he wasn’t trash like Aaron. She didn’t know why she felt so relieved.
“In a world where even beasts are better than some men, it’s only natural that you don’t fully trust someone you’ve only recently interacted with. No one can blame you for that… So don’t make such a pained expression.”
Nobert’s face, however, looked even more pained than Ariella’s. The anger in his fierce eyes remained, but as he said, it wasn’t directed at her.
“However, the reason I’m so angry is…”
“…….”
“Who scared you? What damned bastard threatened you…?”
His lilac eyes flickered violently.
She didn’t want to be discovered. She wished Nobert, above all, wouldn’t know what she had been through, why she had decided on revenge.
She didn’t want her pride to be hurt by his unwitting sympathy.
No, more than that… she was afraid he would know her most desperate side.
That was what she feared.
“I’m presumptuous to be curious, but I can’t help it.”
Nobert didn’t ask what she had been through. But he seemed to have a vague idea from Ariella’s behavior just now.
His low voice and the way he seemed to be suppressing his anger were terrifying.
Once, Ariella had found that face frightening. Because she had believed his hostility was directed at her.
“I dare to ask.”
But now, knowing that his feelings for her weren’t hostility but affection, a pure and noble affection she had never experienced before… his sharp gaze felt like comfort.
Like Sir Amira and Adam, this man seemed truly on her side. So much so that she feared the day he might truly turn away.
“Who is it.”
Who dared to lay a hand on you? He uttered coldly.
