CHAPTER 70……………..
“Thank you, Captain.”
“…Think nothing of it.”
Noella, conscious of Killian standing beside me, pulled out her handkerchief.
Even among the bustling crowd he had stood out like a lone crane among chickens, but when seen like this, apart from everyone else, it was hard to even think of him as human.
You really managed to find him…
She should have been more cautious from the moment she heard he was going to the dedication ceremony of all places.
Her sister, of all people, would never return empty-handed.
And since the man in question was who he was, Noella was all the more careful than usual. She herself had already experienced firsthand how formidable he could be.
But the fact that he granted my request means…
She let hope rise in her heart and covered the corners of her lips—curving up against her will—with the handkerchief.
With her pale face and white cloth, she looked just the right amount of shy and fragile.
“Since Brother Jerox hasn’t been seen… I was worried, you know, with so many beasts lurking nearby.”
“…”
“Of course, if I told Father he’d send soldiers, but I thought it best to keep the search quiet.”
“I don’t mind.”
Killian cast his gaze toward the forest path, leaving the noisy banquet hall behind.
His purely businesslike demeanor made Noella bite her lip.
“And please, speak comfortably. How could someone as noble as you… Well, we’re family now, no matter what anyone says.”
“…In due time.”
“I never expected my sister would marry so quickly, either.”
Still, she had already figured out early on whose name this man was sensitive to.
The moment she mentioned Adel, Killian’s shoulders stiffened. It stung her pride, but she had never actually expected to win him over herself.
If Adel had a sharp sense for what could turn into money, Noella had an unfailing sense for whether a man would fall for her or not.
But misunderstandings—that much is possible.
Her hot-blooded sister would hardly be pleased to see him in her company, even if that was all.
Out of so many guests, someone was bound to witness Adel losing her temper at Killian. Rumors would spread that, as expected from a couple married for money, their bond was shaky from day one. That was Noella’s first goal.
The thought cheered her, and she hunched her shoulders as if from the cold.
“Everyone always said my sister had no interest in marriage, and I suppose I just believed it, too.”
“…Why would Adel…”
“She never kept anyone around for long. Lord Lihen was like that, and so was Marquis Belida.”
“…”
“Oh, forgive me. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Noella shook her head as though flustered.
Calculated or not, she could feel his displeasure in every fiber of her being.
“My sister wasn’t serious with any of them!”
“…Is that so.”
“Of course. She may have met them occasionally, but my sister isn’t that kind of person.”
She deliberately drew out her words at the points she wanted him to focus on.
How far he let his imagination carry him—that was for this gentleman to decide.
“Please don’t misunderstand. My sister only knows work. There’s no way she could have met anyone with real intent.”
She had to prepare for backlash, of course.
But people hear only what they want to hear. Whether her words stuck in Killian’s mind or not was beyond her knowing—and beyond her caring.
“Even if she did meet them separately, she’d never allow so much as a hand on her. I can vouch for that as her sister. She calculates every move she makes…”
“Sister-in-law.”
“…Yes?”
“Adel has spoken of you a few times.”
Killian’s heavy voice made Noella falter.
When had that been?
She could easily guess what her sister might have said.
“Wh-what did she say? I doubt it was anything good. Not because she dislikes me, but simply because she’s so busy—my existence must have been a bother, so surely she said…”
“I don’t remember.”
“…What?”
“She certainly spoke at length about you, but not a single thing has stayed in my memory.”
His indifferent gaze swept over her.
At least with Caden—who had glared at her with open hostility—there had been those blood-red eyes that mirrored Adel’s. Noella had nothing.
In other words, there was nowhere on her that invited a second glance.
“Whether it’s because I had no interest, or because when she speaks, nothing else exists for me… I couldn’t say.”
“C-Captain! How could you…”
“And yet you seem to know a great deal about Adel. I never realized how much interest you had in your sister. If you could direct even a fraction of that attention to your fiancé’s whereabouts, I daresay incidents like today wouldn’t occur, sister-in-law.”
The handkerchief fluttered away on the wind.
Killian, as if to catch it, drew his sword from its scabbard. With a single stroke, the cloth split neatly in two.
Ah.
Noella swallowed a shrill gasp, while Killian slid the blade back with a note of regret.
“I—I…”
“If one truly cares, there’s no need to search. The person will be in plain sight.”
Turning from her, Killian pricked up his ears at the sound of hurried footsteps rustling through the forest path.
His mask of indifference slipped just then.
“Killian!”
“…Just like that.”
He muttered to himself as he watched Adel rushing toward him.
For all his composure in front of Noella, the sight of Adel running to him was still unfamiliar. His face even looked a little tense.
Noella clenched her lips tight.
“So, here you both are. What on earth is going on?”
“Ah… Sister.”
She mustn’t forget that her sister still held this household firmly in her grasp.
Expression control was essential. It didn’t take long to conjure a smile warm enough to melt ice.
“I was only asking Brother-in-law for help. Since Brother Jerox hasn’t been seen…”
“…This wasn’t something you caused?”
“Sister!”
At Adel’s cold eyes, Noella’s shoulders shook. Never before had her sister been so direct.
“I’m joking. Why so startled?”
“…Y-you always tease me so. I thought you were angry.”
“With you?”
When it came to pretending, neither of them would lose to anyone. Adel, pointing at Noella and then herself in turn, burst into a bright laugh.
“If I’d wanted to be angry, I’d have done it long ago. Why would I start now?”
“…Ha ha. Yes, that’s just like you.”
Noella curved her eyes to mirror the laugh. In truth, she never felt more alive than when standing before her sister.
“You’ve never really cared much for me anyway…”
“…Shall I start?”
“…”
Just a joke.
Leaning close, Adel whispered it softly before resting her hand on Killian’s arm.
“Shall we go?”
At her urging, Killian’s blue eyes darkened. It might well have been him, more than anyone, who wished to return quickly.
“Let’s go back. The night path is dark.”
“Damn…”
Left behind, Noella ground the torn pieces of her handkerchief underfoot, unable to suppress her frustration.
She longed to shred it to threads, but when Adel glanced back, she swiftly rearranged her face into a painted smile.
“Sister? What’s the matter?”
“I forgot you were looking for Jerox. I should be helping you.”
“…N-no, it’s fine.”
Trying to play the good one now?
Noella forced her annoyance down and replied with a gentle smile.
Her sister was probably just managing her image in front of her husband, but Noella could hardly stand to watch it.
“You’re busy enough. You don’t need to trouble yourself with me…”
“True. I did just get married today, after all. But I can’t very well leave you alone in this forest path…”
What to do…
Pretending to ponder, Adel released Killian’s arm. He immediately frowned.
Yet she ignored her new husband and stepped closer to Noella. Forced to maintain her composure, Noella stiffened her expression.
Click, click.
When her sister finally raised her hand before her, Noella squeezed her eyes shut.
Fine. If she wanted to slap her, that wouldn’t be so bad…
“Sister!”
“Help Noella out for me, will you?”
A falcon swooped down from the sky and perched neatly on Adel’s hand.
“Th-that’s…”
“My falcon, of course. You know it.”
Her gentle voice didn’t match the sharp gaze she leveled at Noella.
Then, stilling Noella’s heaving shoulders, Adel laid the bird on them with her own hands.
“Take good care of it this time. Opportunities like this don’t come every day.”
