Naturally, Noah pushed Adrian away and turned around to greet the little boy. Muell, who came running, staining the clean carpet with his muddy feet, gave her a big hug.
“Have you brought everything back?” Noah asked.
“Yes! It’s clean!”
“You said you were sorry, didn’t you?”
“Yes!”
Adrian, who was half a step from Noah and Muell, slowly opened his mouth. “Let’s end today’s class as you say. Mu has to be with us next week. We’re going to practice preventing mental unity.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
Adrian’s gaze fell on the young, enthusiastic dragon. With the collaboration of Muell and Noah, the Imperial Office was reduced into a wreck as explosions erupted within at least twice a week.
As soon as Noah steps into the office, it was no longer a surprise if pillars will collapse or walls will break. Then, the task of renovating will be handed to Muell, and while he is happily rebuilding here and there, Noah is to participate in a class with Adrian.
The reason why she had to endure such hassle was, of course, because the dashing blond man was suspicious. Noah had no idea what he was scheming to do with the dragon, so whenever she came to the magic department, she kept the child away from him.
Noah glanced at Adrian over her shoulders, reaching over the door of the Oval Office. He stood still in place, staring down at his hand that had touched Muell. As Noah was about to leave, feeling reluctant, Adrian’s voice pierced the back of her head.
“Next week, I won’t let it go, Eleonora. Keep the promise you made with me.”
He was referring to their appointed class scheduled the succeeding week, which will give him the opportune moment to observe the dragon up close. The man was still interested in the dragon’s power, and he wanted to experience it himself.
Noah closed the door shut without an answer.
*
“I’m afraid Adrian is suspicious.”
That evening, Noah spoke to Kyle, who visited the mansion of Eleonora. He sat on the opposite side of the long table, raising his eyebrows as if he was uncomfortable.
“I can’t hear you speaking from there.”
“…Adrian! The Prime Minister…!” Noah shouted as she gripped a fork and knife in both hands. When she saw Kyle rising from his seat, approaching her, she became startled and abruptly pulled her seat backwards. “Don’t come near!”
“……?” Kyle, who was halfway past the table, stopped in his tracks. Then, he peered at her with suspecting eyes, his arms folded. “What on earth is wrong with you these days?”
“What?” Noah dragged the chair back, glancing at him. She was so surprised that her heart was drumming loudly. She avoided Kyle’s gaze, feeling pathetic.
Kyle asked persistently, “You don’t seem to be getting close to me these days, is that my misunderstanding?”
“Yes… I suppose so…?”
“Yes, then can I sit next to you?”
“Uh, yes. Yes?”
Without hesitation, Kyle narrowed the distance between them while Noah was stuttering. Meanwhile, Noah was frozen like a rat in a jar and could only glare at the corn salad on her plate.
Wake up, Park Noah. It’s only the butler who’s sitting next to you now. The tough butler with the terror of scolding…
But as soon as Kyle took a seat next to her, all her efforts vanished like a smoke. Without the restraint, the table might have been broken in two.
“I can’t believe that Minister Rossinell is suspicious. I think you’re thinking the same thing as me, but first of all, where are we going tonight? Miss Noah. When a person talks, they look into the eyes of the person they’re talking with.”
As Noah stubbornly dodged his gaze, Kyle put his arms on the table and leaned over to her side. Even if she averted her eyes, Kyle was persistent. In the end, Noah blurted out. “I didn’t wash up.”
“I don’t care.”
“The house is also very messy.”
“You talk as if that’s a new thing.”
Kyle seemed to have long been accustomed to her uncleanness. Well, this man was the one who cleaned up the mess in her house even when he mistook Noah for Eleonora.
“If you haven’t washed yet, you can bathe, and it was originally my job to clean up the house, so it’s not a good reason.”
Noah was rendered silent. Unfortunately, she was terrible at giving excuses.
“Why on earth are you avoiding me?”
Noah poked the steak with a fork, still not answering.