Chapter 6
Karnen was busy showing her friend every corner of the mansion, while Noxia followed with wide, curious eyes.
Karnen’s parents and brothers weren’t home that day. Noxia secretly felt relieved. She got along well with Karnen, but she didn’t want to face awkward introductions with her intimidating noble family.
It seemed Karnen didn’t really want to introduce Noxia to them either. After all, if she had wanted to, she wouldn’t have invited her friend over when they were away.
For a moment, Noxia wondered if Karnen might be ashamed of her countryside orphan friend. But she quickly brushed off the thought.
‘Even if she is, that’s not for me to argue. As long as she doesn’t show it to my face, it’s fine. As long as she stays kind and warm toward me, I’ll go along with the lie. Even if she secretly finds me embarrassing, I don’t want to see it.’
“Anyway, this is my bedroom. And next door is my private sitting room.”
Karnen led Noxia upstairs. Noxia quietly looked around her friend’s personal space—clean cream-colored wallpaper and elegant furniture.
“Now, let’s go to the sitting room, Nox. I asked them to prepare tea and sweets for us.”
Sure enough, in the cozy room attached to the bedroom, a warm teapot and delicious-looking pastries were waiting.
The girls sat across from each other. Karnen poured tea for Noxia.
Noxia pretended not to stare nervously, but she noticed something—Karnen’s slender wrist no longer trembled like it used to.
‘She really is healthier now.’
Seeing her easily handle the heavy teapot made Noxia quietly sigh with relief. The fragile girl who once needed fresh air for recovery seemed much stronger now.
“Go on, Nox, try it. I chose tea leaves like the ones you used to drink back home. I’m not sure if it tastes exactly the same, though.”
“Thank you, Kali.”
Noxia slipped back into casual speech. She took the cup and sipped the dark-brewed tea. A bittersweet, fragrant flavor spread across her tongue.
“It’s delicious. Just like the tea from home.”
“I’m glad.”
Karnen smiled warmly and poured herself a cup.
“Shall we make a toast?”
“With tea? It’s not wine.”
“Why not? Just because other people don’t do it doesn’t mean we can’t.”
“…Fair enough. Alright.”
“And later, we’ll drink real wine together. There’s a restaurant in the city with excellent aged vintages. I’ll take you there.”
“That sounds exciting already.”
The conversation flowed easily. They sipped tea, nibbled pastries, and caught up on everything they hadn’t been able to share in letters.
Karnen asked if Noxia’s boarding house was comfortable. Noxia assured her it was, and expressed her gratitude again and again. Karnen told her about places to visit in the capital, suggesting they go together. Noxia agreed happily.
Naturally, the talk turned to condolences as well. Karnen offered sincere sympathy about the orphanage head’s death, and Noxia accepted her friend’s comfort with a sad face.
Then, to change the mood, Noxia suddenly asked:
“By the way, Kali… do you know someone named Jade Lannon?”
“…Jade Lannon?”
For a moment, something strange flashed across Karnen’s face. Her green eyes clouded with an emotion too deep to name—an unsettling intensity.
Noxia felt a chill, but it passed quickly. Karnen returned to her usual self and answered calmly:
“Of course I know. He’s famous. Well—his family is, more than him.”
“Really? What kind of family?”
“They’re one of the kingdom’s few ducal houses. Actually, only three dukedoms remain. The Lannon family is one of them, with lands in the north.”
“A duke’s house?”
Noxia’s heart skipped, then sank. Her emotions were a mess, and it made her feel worse than last night.
‘Why am I like this? Did I… expect something? Just because we met once by chance?’
A duke’s family was on another level. Even though the rigid barriers of blood and class had weakened in modern times, the title of “duke” still carried enormous weight. An orphan like Noxia Deccan couldn’t even dream of reaching that height.
But why did hearing his noble status make her chest ache, as if she had been disappointed?
‘What’s wrong with me? Am I going crazy?’
Disappointment only comes when there was expectation first. But wasn’t it absurd to have expectations in the first place? Noxia was lost in confusion.
Karnen quietly studied her friend, who was too wrapped up in her turmoil to notice the odd glimmer in Karnen’s eyes.
“Yes, the Lannon family is a ducal house. The duke and duchess live in the north, but their son, Jade Lannon, is staying in the capital. Supposedly for “market research.” They’re trying to expand their northern business into the city.”
Noxia nodded. These days, surviving noble houses didn’t rely only on land—they thrived by adapting to business and industry. Status alone wasn’t enough anymore. Power came from money and ability.
The Holby family, like the Lannons, was one of those rare families who managed to keep both wealth and influence.
Noxia understood that—but it only made her mood sink deeper.
‘Why… would I even hope he was a fallen noble? Did I want an excuse to approach him?’
She mocked herself bitterly. The Lannons were still powerful, and her feeling of disappointment over that was absurd.
“So why do you ask about him, Nox?”
“Oh? Ah, no reason. I think I saw his name in the newspaper. It just popped into my head.”
She lied quickly, embarrassed to admit she was obsessing over a man she had only met once.
“I see.”
Karnen smiled. A natural, easy smile.
“You’ll probably see him often. Didn’t I say I’d introduce you to society? If you come with me, you’re bound to run into him.”
At those words, Noxia’s stomach twisted strangely. The thought of meeting him again made her uneasy—but she couldn’t explain why.
“But be careful, Noxia. Don’t get too close to him.”
“…Why?”
“He’s handsome, he’s twenty years old, and he has no lover right now. A lot of young ladies are eyeing him. Some of them are very possessive.”
The more Karnen explained, the more Noxia’s chest tightened. The idea of other women wanting Jade Lannon made her unreasonably upset.
‘Why? Why am I feeling this?’
Was it really love at first sight? No… It felt deeper than that. Something instinctive, something she couldn’t explain or control.
“If you get too close, you’ll only get caught up in trouble. I just want your life in the capital to be peaceful, Noxia. You don’t need to fight over a man. Especially when there are plenty of others out there.”
Karnen’s tone was serious—so serious it bordered on desperate, almost like pleading.
Noxia was taken aback. Why was her friend so intent on warning her? It was as if Noxia had already declared she would chase after Jade Lannon, which she hadn’t.
Realistically, Noxia knew her place. No matter how strange she felt around him, she had no intention of doing anything about it.
‘Well… maybe it’s not entirely an exaggeration, though.’
She sighed inwardly. It was true she felt an inexplicable pull toward him—but it was nothing she planned to act on.
“Don’t worry. I know there are plenty of men besides him.”
She met Karnen’s eyes and answered lightly, almost joking. Karnen studied her face for a long moment, then finally smiled.
“See? Didn’t I tell you? The capital is full of handsome men. If you want, I’ll introduce you to as many as you like. Just don’t bother with one who’ll only cause trouble.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll look forward to meeting all those other men you keep talking about.”
“That’s better.”
They both laughed, and the tense mood melted away.
After that, the girls entertained themselves with playful talk about all the restaurants, cafés, and clubs where one could find handsome men in the capital.
And so, Jade Lannon’s name faded from their conversation. Noxia didn’t mention him again—not until the time came when she would have no choice.
