The Kind Older Sister Is No More

Irene carefully stepped back. If she moved any closer, then their already narrow distance would be breached. If she shifted herself a little forward, she would end up touching him. She looked up at the handsome face, slightly breathless, and a light flush crossed her cheeks. Irene could not help but feel a bit embarrassed at her forward interaction. Noel looked amusingly at the small figure in front of him.

    “I have heard about your story.” She started.

    “Of course, who has not? I’m aware it is the most frequently touched topic these days.” Noel casually answered Irene’s words. 

    From his answer, Irene wondered how much he had heard. What would pass through to him when people talked about him?

    “...I also heard that you would not be able to inherit the Kristen dukedom.”

    Noel lifted his eyebrows at her blunt remark. The story that had just come out yesterday had already spread throughout the empire. Someone must have started the rumour on purpose. For Noel, who had been subject to extreme bias his entire life, he knew the culprit without having to look for them.

    You really don’t want me to inherit the dukedom, do you?

      Noel knew not to feel discouraged. This disappointment was something he was already used to - since young. He had been conditioned not to have any expectations. He had been made aware of the hostility his family held towards him. Still, knowing that his own grandfather would purposefully damage his reputation like this, it was quite unpleasant to hear. 

    When the air around Irene suddenly changed, Irene turned her head. The cool air dropped a few degrees. In the garden, it felt comparatively colder than in the hall, despite the time now being early Summer, when the humidity would begin to set in. 

A breeze brushed past them, rustling the roses and lilies. Irene shivered; it was cold enough to make her feel goosebumps.

Then, the wind settled. Irene was curious about the unexpected change in the weather, but she knew she did not have time to think about it. Irene glanced at Noel and nervously opened her lips. She had to convey her purpose.

    “To tell the truth, I’m looking for someone who can help me leave my house.”

    “...leave your house?”

    Noel asked, clearly puzzled by Irene’s choice of words. Irene nodded assertively at his question. A complicated expression appeared on her face.

    “Yes, because alone, it is not something I am capable of doing, without consequences. I was entangled with an engagement….” She mumbled.

“So, what do you want to say to me?” Noel directly asked her as Irene fumbled around with her words.

    “I know that you were looking for a partner to marry.” She raised her clear olive eyes to meet his dark brown ones.

    “...”

    When Irene looked up at him, Noel was also staring intently at Irene. His eyes did leave her for one second to avoid her gaze.

    “You mean, you want to be my partner and marry me?” He carefully reiterated her statement.

    Irene nodded in affirmation. “Yes. I cannot leave without a marriage. I want you to be my partner.”

    Noel leant back. Then after a moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth. “What a shame. You had better give up if you are doing this to gain the position of Duchess.”

    Irene was momentarily startled; however, she quickly shook her head profusely. “A position such as that of the lady of the house, I do not need.”

    “You cannot hope for a loving marriage. Is that also fine?”

    “I do not need something like love.”

    Noel sparked with interest at Irene’s unexpected answer. At the same time, he was also curious as to what Irene’s true intentions were. Surely, it was not so simple as merely leaving her familial home. 

“I won’t hope for love from you, Duke. I also did not intend to become the lady of the house. I just need a mere formal marriage; it is enough to have that.”

    Irene had already fallen in love once and, as a result, experienced a horrible betrayal. She was tired and too fed up to hope for love again—no matter whether it was love between partners or between family.

    Noel looked at her without saying anything. Irene’s olive eyes looked defeated. It was as if he rejected her. She would lose all hope to live. The clouds occluded the moon as the surroundings around them darkened.

In her presence, he felt strange. Noel observed the girl before him. He took note of her small face, pretty nose, milky brown hair, and slim figure adorned with a luxurious midnight dress.

    Feeling his gaze upon her, Irene clenched her fist. She had already come this far, trying to convey her intention. She did not want to back down nor run away from this.

    I have promised myself never to feel regret again.

    The clouds cleared, and Irene’s eyes gleamed with a sense of determination. Then, Irene straightforwardly spoke to him.

    “We may be able to save each other.”

♔♔♔