chapter 31

As the faces of the two men went weird, Irene looked puzzled. She was worried that she had done something wrong. Noel said, as if he saw through her.

“I’m sorry if Irene’s expression was so hideous…..maybe she had a hard time sleeping.”

“Oh, no.”

Irene shook her head, noticing why Noel had said it. At first glance, seeing her reflection in the window, it was very malicing as if she was really going out on a battlefield.

But she couldn’t help it, she wanted to be recognized by the great Kristen, who would not be nervous? Still, Noel continued when she was about to get embarrassed since she was overburdened too much.

“Do not worry. No matter what you do, my grandfather won’t eat you.”

Irene blinked at Noel’s unexpected words. She tried for a moment to interpret his words. And soon, she noticed that he’d joked to relieve her tension. It took her quite a long time before she realized the intention.

Somehow the joke didn’t seem to go down well with her, and Irene looked at him blankly for a moment before laughing. Noel’s face had a slightly dark shade. Tom took turns looking at those two.

‘What was that?!’

According to his master, he said they had formed an alliance for a while to achieve what they were seeking.

‘That’s an alliance to seek mutual benefit from wherever you look.’

It seemed that it would be more appropriate to say that it was a relationship at the previous stage of lovers, to get to know each other with good feelings. What’s more, in the more than 10 years he has been with Noel, he has never seen him joke or mess around to relieve tension in the other partner. He was stiff when he met Kristen for the first time, he kicked him with his feet, saying not to bother him.

The moment Tom was about to rub his arm, as it seemed to be getting goosebumps, Noel looked back at him. Startled, Tom quickly lowered his arm.

“Keep a good watch so no one can approach this vicinity. It’d be troublesome if someone gets in the way .”

Noel’s voice grew cold, as if it’d always been like that. He couldn’t even believe that this was the same person who had just been joking a moment ago. There was no direct mention, but Tom could see who ‘someone’ meant. Indeed, when they appear, it is clear that this place will become a mess in an instance.

Tom bowed his head.

Noel took Irene and stood at the door.

Knock knock. He knocked, but no answer. Maybe he’s not inside. When Irene looked up at Noel with a troubled expression, he spoke, as if he was used to it.

“Grandfather, I’ll go in.”

With that said, Noel opened the door without hesitation. Irene, startled, she tried to call him, but the door was already opened and the interior of the room slowly began to reveal. Without being able to do so, Irene turned her head upright and turned inward.

The room was very spacious to meet the reputation of being the Grand Duke of Kristen, but it created a calm atmosphere rather than splendor.

The fireplace was full of firewood, the walls filled with books, and the wallpaper was warm green, and the furniture was all a brown colour of wood.

The smell of paper and wood stained the tip of her nose. She felt like she was in a mountain hut. It naturally made people feel at ease.

A rocking chair was placed in the middle, and an old man with a large figure sat with his back turned. Irene could intuitively recognize that the man was Noel’s grandfather, the Master of Kristen, the Great Kristen, who led the supreme heyday of the Dukedom.

“ Grandfather, this is her ladyship Irene, of Countess Chase, who I mentioned.”

When Noel spoke to the great Kristen’s back, Irene, who had no idea what to do, bowed her head towards him.

“Nice to meet you. I, I- am Irene Chase.”

She was so nervous that she stuttered.

“….”

But no response came back to her. Irene’s eyes, looking through underneath her, saw Noel clenching his fists as if nails were digging into the flesh. Irene slowly looked up at him.

At first glance, his face looked calm, but his expression was sinking coldly. Perhaps he is feeling angry, humiliated, and miserable at the great Kristen who ignores him even on the day he brought his bride.

Irene looked at Noel and poked him on the side. Surprised, Noel looked down at her.

Leave this to me and go out first.

Only her lips moved so that there was no sound. Noel made an expression of ‘what does that mean?’ But Irene was serious.

Come on.

When Irene reiterated, as if there was no help, Noel glanced at the great Kristen for a while and then left the room. Bang. Even though the door was closed, the great Christian remained still.