Chapter 44: 43

***

Noah and I were together the whole time. Compared to the sweet atmosphere of the first kiss, we had a pretty healthy time. We had various conversations and played chess and poker.

Of course, I lost all the games, but I didn’t care about winning or losing. 

I’m not one to care about winning or losing. Noah mockingly looks like he was good at it. He didn’t seem to know the truth that losing is winning.

I’ll win one day. I bit my back teeth so as not to forget this humiliation. I was just a vengeful person.

As I spent time losing consecutive games, the night fell. The maid Lenny smiled and brought me champagne with strawberries, bowed down, and left the room.

“Strawberries and champagne go well together.”

Noah spoke in a gentle tone, picking up one of the strawberries on a silver tray and popping it into his mouth. Were they imported? They were fragrant and sweet. No, now you chew on a dry leaf and it’ll still taste sweet.

The crackling fireplace and the lamp faintly illuminated the dark room where no lights were on. A romantic atmosphere.

Noah lifted his champagne glass and drank, then looked at me and smiled. The light reflected off the glass and his face took on a radiant glow.

I was as intoxicated as if I had witnessed ecstasy. He was so beautiful, so sexy. How could he be so beautiful?

The black dye had worn off, and his ash gray hair looked great. We finished off a plate of strawberries and a bottle of champagne in an instant and got ready for bed.

I got out of the shower and sat in a chair in front of the fireplace drying my wet hair with a towel while Noah went to shower.

As I stared at the warm warm colors of the fireplace, I suddenly remembered the kiss we had shared under the sunset colored window.

I rubbed my cheeks, my face burning even though I was just thinking about it. It was only a few hours ago, but it was as clear as if it had just happened.

I lay down on my bed and pulled up the covers, trying to calm down my heart. My back went numb as I kept thinking about the earlier scene, but I tried to erase it.

I shouldn’t think about anything. Because Noah said he wasn’t going to do anything to me.

He said clearly.

“The princess is conservative, so I’m not going to touch her until we are married. So don’t worry.”

I was so frustrated. But I didn’t have the courage to say that I wasn’t, so I left it as it was.

The moon had been hidden by the clouds, and there was not even a trace of moonlight on the window. Just as I was getting used to the darkness, I heard the sound of the bath door opening and closing. The shadow seemed to cover the plain ivory walls, and the bed disappeared and shook shallowly.

Hot breath pooled on my cheek as I wondered if he was peeking at me with my eyes closed.

“You’re pretending to sleep again.”

I opened my eyes, feeling awkward with a voice mixed with low laughter.

Maybe it was because I was used to the darkness, or maybe it was because I was so close to him, but I could clearly see the tip of his red wet nose and eyes. The smell of fresh soap wafted pleasantly to my nose. Noah put his arm under my neck and said,

“Tomorrow I’m going to see the Queen. There is a royal ball and she wants you to come along.”

“You don’t want me to see the Queen? You don’t look happy.”

I asked softly, tilting my head. His hard arm-pillow was a little uncomfortable.

“I’m afraid the Queen will take you away from me.”

At first glance, it sounded like a joke, but Noah looked serious. I struggled to make sense of it, as he was one to draw conclusions without much explanation.

“Me? Hmmm …….”

Will he leave me there to be a maid or take me to the palace to get information about Belford? It was quite possible since he was a powerful man. I knew that the maid was his secretary, his playmate and his conversation partner. 

But there was no reason to make me a maidservant when my facial expressions rarely change and I have a chilly image.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen.” (Diana)

“What if you value the queen more than me? I think it’ll be so upsetting.” (Noah)

“What are you talking about….” (Diana)

Is he saying that the Queen would make me her lover? It wasn’t uncommon to like the same gender. But…I replied, touching my slightly swollen bottom lip.

“Um, I’m not prejudiced, but I prefer men.”

“Say ‘Noah’ instead of ‘men’.”

“I like Noah better.”

“Good job.”

Noah smiled, as if immediately pleased with my answer, and stroked my head. I felt strange as if I was being manipulated. He, who had been petting compliments one after another, continued.

“So I had an idea.” (Noah)

What idea? Everything he thought was strange. For now, I decided to listen to his thoughts.

Noah rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. The tip of his towering nose was bobbing up and down as if he was talking.

I don’t think he was thinking about it, I think he was already planning on it. His face looked languidly at me again, as if he had finished thinking.

Suddenly, his face turned expressionless, as if he thought of something else.

“I have to let the Queen know that you’re mine.” (Noah)

“Haven’t we already made an announcement of our marriage? There’s nothing that can be as certain as that.” (Diana)

“We have to get married, but I’m not rich yet.” (Noah)

How long is that going to be a concern? I can’t even drink cold water in front of this man who has some grudges. I turned on my side to listen, and awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck.

I heard the rustling and scraping of the covers, and then I saw Noah sit up and take the blanket off, looking down at me. I glanced sideways at him, wondering.

“I don’t like this kind of thing because it’s not very gentlemanly, but I can’t help it.” (Noah)

“Huh?”

I let out my characteristic snort that I make when I’m embarrassed. Noah’s broad shoulders covered my vision like a shroud over my eyes. The scent of soap blended in with the heat was dizzying.

His body, which felt strong and sturdy just from the touch, pressed heavily against my chest, and a sound of wind came from his mouth.

“Please understand. There’s a reason for everything, okay?” (Noah)

‘Can’t I know the reason?’ (Diana)

Completely occupying the top of me, Noah placed his cheek against mine and rubbed it softly like a cat. It was a loving action that seemed innocent enough, but my body shrank in what I couldn’t tell if it was anticipation or tension.

Noah’s hair tickled my face as he turned my neck. I felt his warm breath on my neck, his lips sucking my skin.

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‘Wait a minute…’

I couldn’t keep up with the sensations, my mind racing with what was going on. I covered my mouth, startled by the heat rising from the sensitive area.

I stopped breathing, as if I had forgotten how to breathe. My lungs ached. The unfamiliar and familiar feeling gave me pleasant goosebumps.

The tickling sensation that had been playing tricks on me turned into a faint pain that led to more and more pleasure. With his face buried in my neck, I covered my mouth with all my strength.

I bit down on the inside of my mouth, embarrassed that a moan would leak out. Noah buried his face on my neck, and I could hear the sound of him swallowing his breath and saliva deeply. It was too lewd.

Suddenly? I had no objection if we went further since we had such a strong kiss earlier and even drank some champagne to set the mood. (*lol, Diana wanted to go all the way but Noah was so good at holding in. It drives her crazy.)

However, Noah was an ascetic who had good self-control and knew the virtue of temperance.

I like to play with fire, but I don’t know how to put out the fire I’ve lit in my heart. No, I know how, but I don’t do it. Noah let go of my neck with a chuckle and smiled lazily as he wiped his mouth.

“Well, I think that’s enough.” (Noah)

He had the face of an artist who was satisfied with his finished work. I finally realized what he had done and put my hand on my neck where it felt stinging.

He had branded my neck bright red, like a stigma. 

“What did you just do to me?”

I knew, but I calmly demanded an explanation, but Noah laid down again as if he had done all he had to do, and tucked his arm under the hollow of my waist.

He pulled me gingerly and rolled me into his embrace. Holding me tightly in his arms, he whispered.

“If I do this, everyone will know you’re mine. I can’t lose.”

“Do you have to do this?”

“People will only look at the mark. Not your face. They won’t be able to think of anything else.”

His fingers pressed lightly on the red mark on my neck. Is he seriously worried about whether the Queen will take me as her lover? I don’t know how many marks I’ll have to get while the marriage announcement has already been made.

“Hm……”

I let out a sigh. How could he not know that he was the only man I looked at and felt like dying because of his appearance? Objectively speaking, I was the opposite of a lively, lovely woman. I guess he has a strange taste.

In modern times, this might be acceptable, but here we were in the 19th, 20th century.

He looked happy as he regained his mental and physical peace.

“I don’t really like this kind of thing. But it’s because it’s you. It’s nice to have a mark that says it’s mine.”

“Noah, your intentions are very cute, but …… why not just match the rings?”

I also didn’t care what others thought, but couldn’t he think of a normal alternative? At my heavy word, Noah covered his mouth with one hand and opened his eyes roundly.

He was surprisingly incapable of ordinary thinking. Just as I was about to argue about the problem, I heard a drowsy voice that quieted any other emotions in a flash.

“Diana, should we do that again?”

The question, “Do what again?” stayed only in my thoughts. My lips were swallowed by him with a breath that seemed to be on fire.

*

*

*

It was morning, but the cloudy gray clouds covered the sun and it was dark everywhere. It seemed to represent my disappointed heart. Perhaps it was raining, but the damp room smelled of a unique woody scent.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and grieved at the red mark on my neck that looked like I had pressed a red petal there.

I would be a little embarrassed if I went to a crowded place. I will take revenge. I’m really going to get revenge. I can’t be the only one who suffers. I’ll make him a male character with thorough regret and give him a legendary lesson that excessive greed causes anger.

I clenched my fists with a strong will. I headed toward him with the heavy steps of a triumphant general as I slammed open the bathroom door.

Noah was leaning back on the couch, reading the newspaper with his legs crossed. I put my hands on my hips and inhaled deeply, intending to get angry.

Noah’s eyes folded long and he smiled beautifully. His lips raised like a cat.

“Did you wash up? It’s toast for breakfast. I’ll put strawberry jam on it for you.”

“…… with peanut butter.”

I tried hard to get angry, but like a sandcastle being swept away helplessly by the waves, my vengeance and my vow disappeared. I promised myself that I’ll get him next time. If I got angry with that beautiful man, I would regret it.

Actually, I can’t get mad at that man.

***

I wore a neck-covered dress to go to the royal ball in the evening. Noah was a thorough man, so I guess he expected this as well, so there was still a little bit shown if looking at it closely.

There was no point in wearing a choker. Excellent position selection. Lenny tilted her head as she looked at my neck.

“How did you get this?”

“I was bitten by a mosquito.”

“This winter? I’ll catch it when I clean your room.”

Lenny clenched her fists and determined to catch the mosquito. Her innocence was so cute.

With a knock, Noah came in, dressed in a suit and a black Balmacaan coat, as if he knew I had finished my preparations.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, Mr. Mosquito.”

“Mr. Mosquito?”

Noah pretended not to know and fiddled with the cuff link on his sleeve. Lenny also looked at Noah with strange eyes.

Noah was right.

The people in the dance hall looked for a moment at the red mark on my neck then averted their gazes.

They don’t even remember my face. But Princess Erica, who had come to speak to Noah, stared at me with red-hot eyes, alternately glaring at my face and neck.

I wondered if one of the reasons Noah put a stamp on my neck was also for that woman. It’s a very big-picture.

I smiled leisurely and raised my chin. If that was his intention, I liked it. I also hated people who wanted mine.

Erica’s face turned white as she looked at Noah with her angry eyes. She seemed to discover that Noah had the exact same red mark on his neck.

In the car coming to the Tempshire Palace this morning, I had my revenge on him.

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