"NNNNOOOOAAAAHHHH!" I whined dramatically, throwing my arms in the air like I was a damsel falling off a cliff. "Don't leave me hanging on the side of a mountain! Give me your hand and pull me up!"
Noah didn't respond right away because once again he was bursting into laughter.
"Your imagination is truly out of this world." He said, shaking his head, clearly amused.
I nodded proudly. "Yes, it is… I've seen too much, lived too long, and read more fantasy novels than I can even count. My brain's a dangerous place."
I watched as he leaned back slightly while still smiling. Then he looked at me, and the air shifted.
"To be honest, living as someone in a high position is frustrating, exhausting really." His tone wasn't bitter, but it held weight.
"So many people want something from me. Every interaction is layered with intent. Dozens of women have tried their hardest to gain my attention. Whether it's with charm, flattery, or calculated tears."
He looked past me, somewhere out into the distance. "But they all wear those disgusting masks, and the truth is I find them all tiresome. They're either in it for themselves, family name, or political standing."
Then he smirked. "Like you've said before, Sera, nobles are bullshit."
I couldn't help but grin. "Damn right!"
His expression softened quite a bit after getting that off his chest.
"When I saw you falling from that balcony and the despair on your face when you were looking for help so dearly, I don't know. You looked so different, more real than any of the other women who I've interacted with, no performance."
He met my eyes. "I just felt this powerful desire to protect you."
My heart skipped so hard that I felt like I was about to faint; I knew his words right now were being sincere. He wasn't even trying to sound romantic; it was just his raw emotions about the situation. I knew he was telling the truth as well because he doesn't seem like the type to lie.
I felt his aura start to rise as he spoke again. "Then, when your parents showed up, the way they looked at you… talked about you. I've seen cruelty before, but that? I wanted to kill them on the spot."
I couldn't help but snort. "You probably should have."
Noah then pointed at me.
"That." He smiled. "That's exactly why you're far more appealing than any of those fake girls. Would any of them even have the guts to say what you just did?"
Of course we both knew the answer to that question.
"You wear your emotions like armor. You're not even afraid to hide the fact you refuse to learn etiquette, laugh at one of the King's ridiculous jokes, and never use carefully worded nonsense just to impress me. You're just… you."
He leaned back again, eyes thoughtful. "Honestly, I appreciate that more than anything."
A strong tightness more powerful than ever before started forming in my chest, warm and terrifying; no one had ever been so direct with their feelings towards me before.
Then he started chuckling again. "I didn't even scold you for pretty much running my name through the mud with the King."
I covered my face with both hands and groaned, "Ugh… I know I messed up; don't remind me."
He just kept that knowing smile, and it was starting to annoy me. That same soft smile that made it really hard to remind myself I was technically a man but also a woman.
My whole body felt warm all over, and the heart kept whispering sweet nothings to my soul, completely twisting my original dislike of this union.
Noah just laid out his feelings like it was nothing, and I had no idea how to even process it all. So I did the only thing I knew how to do, and that was to look away, embarrassed. "Why do you have to say stuff like that?"
"Like what?"
"Words that make me feel weird."
"Like what?"
He just couldn't stop irritating me with the same question asked twice!
"Shut up!" I yelled, my voice cracking as I shrunk further into my seat. His attempt to stop his quiet laughter was only making it worse.
Because I couldn't help but be more and more attracted to him as we spent time together, I didn't know what to do with that.
Noah leaned back slightly in his chair, gazing at me with that calm expression of his.
"You know what I find weird, Sera?"
I tilted my head. "What?"
He tapped the side of his teacup absentmindedly, as if he was still thinking it through.
"How can a girl who looked so fearful when I first met her, afraid to interact with maids, be so open and honest with me? You speak your mind constantly. Poke at me like I'm your equal, even though I'm an archduke. It's like you don't even see status when you're talking to me."
I just shrugged at his words. "Because… you saved me." My voice came out low, almost sheepish. "When you caught me, it felt like the burden of the world that was always coming down on me fell away in an instant. It felt safe. Comfortable, I guess. It's like… I don't need to hide my insecurities with you."
It was strange admitting that out loud. But it was the honest truth. He made me feel like I didn't have to wear a mask and become some fake noble lady just because it was expected of me. I'm just me—honest, messy, and sarcastic.
He didn't flinch at any of it.
Inwardly, though, I hated to admit that I actually enjoyed interacting with him.
But it didn't feel romantic just yet. It was teetering on the edge, sure; no need to go any faster when it looks like I'm going to be stuck with him for a while.
It was like spending time with a best friend, someone who let me exist without trying to shape me into something else.
Maybe I was fooling myself and just saying that to avoid the very obvious chemistry building up every time we interacted with each other.
I was sure it didn't feel like love yet, just catching some feeling of affection for the man who saved my life. At least, that's what I was really trying hard to convince myself.
Noah and I just stayed there like that for a while, staring at each other in silence or off into the distance, both of us probably thinking similar thoughts.
Suddenly he spoke, "Then I guess I'll just keep doing what makes you feel comfortable." He said simply.
I looked at him and really digested his words. That stupid twisty feeling came back into my chest. It just wouldn't go away.
"Thanks." I said, with complete trust in this man and my safety in the future.
"Can I send you at least one maid?" He asked out of nowhere.
I squinted at him suspiciously over the rim of my cup. "Why do I feel like this is a trap?"
He smirked slightly. "It's not."
"Define maid."
He raised an eyebrow. "Someone to help you with getting ready for the day or formal events, cleaning your room, basic noble tasks…"
I quickly interrupted him. "I can clean my own room!" pointing at him like I'd just caught a snake sneaking into my garden. "I definitely don't need help putting on a dress unless it involves fifty strings and a pulley system."
Damn that Noah, always with that smile!
"She'd follow your rules. I'll make sure of it. No high-and-mighty attitude. No touching you without permission, and if she looks at you wrongly, she's gone."
I narrow my eyes and ask, "One maid?"
"One." He confirmed with putting up a single finger.
"With zero scolding privileges?"
"None."
"I don't want any of that Lady Seraphina fake sugar-dripping stuff! If she can't talk to me like a normal person, she's out!"
Noah just nodded once, "Done."
I couldn't help but sigh dramatically and sank into my chair.
"Fine, only one, but if she starts trying to bathe me or offer to help me pee, I'm jumping out the nearest window."
"I'll inform her."
"I'm serious." I couldn't help but keep pressing my luck with this man who keeps saying yes to all my demands.
"I know." He replied coolly.
That damn smile; it was more of a smirk, like he was enjoying every second of this. I hated how relaxed he always was when I lost control of a conversation.
There is also a chance I enjoyed our banter, but I won't admit that to him. I sat cross-legged on one of the ridiculously plush chairs in my room, twiddling my thumbs like I was waiting for judgment day.
Noah had said he'd send me over one maid. Just one!
I had many conditions, but especially this one.
"No old ladies," I'd told him. "The younger the better because it was much easier to mold them into someone that would always be on my side in the future and less likely to act with superiority just because she was older than me."
Also, old maids were extremely greedy. That was just a known fact. I've seen it time and again in enough novels to never trust them.
So here I am, waiting for the one who would probably be near me for quite some time, as long as she was bearable. I didn't have to wait long for her to show up.
I watched her come in after being given permission to proceed. She was much more beautiful than I thought a maid should be. Of course I'm happy about it because I enjoy looking at such things.
She had smooth, straight black hair that fell down her lower back, paired with eyes the color of violet. She didn't look like a servant at all, more like a fallen noble or maybe a background character from a high-society romance novel who was secretly royalty.
The fact she was so stunning raised my alert levels at least one more notch.
As I was thinking such thoughts, she came in front of me and bowed deeply with grace.
"I'm Livia," she said softly. "Lord Velmoure assigned me to assist you, Lady Seraphina."
She came off as a very reserved girl, none of those fake smiles that nobles gave to others laced with venom. Livia didn't look like the type who smiled too much or radiated any fake politeness, which was very refreshing.
If I didn't know any better, Livia seemed almost too perfect; this once again raised my suspicion level of this girl. It would take me some time to trust her, probably.
After the bow, she asked with practiced ease, "Can I inspect your wardrobe, my lady? I'd like to prepare accordingly for tomorrow's banquet."
"Uh, yeah, sure, go nuts!" I said while gesturing towards the closet like I was handing her the keys to a vault. Also, she just reminded me about what tomorrow will bring. Fuck! I will have to see that stupid family.
She walked over, opened the doors, and began checking through my entire collection of just purchased items. I don't even truly know what's all in there. A whole store is overkill, and I probably won't even wear half of what's in there.
Livia was so good at her job, though, completely organizing my whole closet in a few hours. All without saying much of anything to me as I sat on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, watching her with narrowed eyes.
Was this on purpose?
Did Noah assign me a quiet, gentle type just so I wouldn't get annoyed? It was genius, like he already knew everything about me. How was that even possible?
She was literally one of my favorite types of girls in stories. A literal Kuudere maid, I couldn't help but slightly like her already.