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Chapter 12
Slap!
“How dare you.”
Solia sneered and swatted the commander’s hand away. Her eyes were cold.
“Lord Monstera, I never gave you permission to touch my body.”
Solia had always been sensitive to others’ feelings and gazes. She had no adults to protect her as a child, and negative emotions always caught her attention.
Even if someone tried to comfort her with a touch, she never allowed it.
‘I don’t need your faint, pitying sympathy.’
She approached Noah, who had been standing like a wall, and pretended to drop the handkerchief he gave her.
“…!”
Noah knelt on one knee to pick it up. Without hesitation, he came to her, gently holding her hand.
“Don’t get hurt, Solia.”
He kissed the back of her hand and slowly pulled away. It was an uncharacteristic impulse. Even with so many watching, he did it.
Solia widened her eyes, then closed her mouth. Noah’s lips parted slowly.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt in front of me.”
Noah’s hands wrapped around her swollen hand, the warmth lingering like summer sunlight.
A few days later, a canopy and new curtains were installed in Noah’s room.
A servant in socks climbed down from the bed, sweating.
“The canopy’s done, so you can open the window. You won’t be bothered by bugs, ha-ha.”
“Good work, Lem.”
I gave him two gold coins. He smiled, thanked me, and left.
There were no screens in this world. In hot summers, bugs came easily, and mosquitoes were the worst.
‘Nobles used magic lights to keep bugs away, but Noah’s room didn’t have that.’
I ordered new curtains along with the canopy. The room felt clean and refreshing.
“Come, sit here.”
I sat on the bed first, patting the mattress. Noah stayed farther back, looking at the window.
I followed his gaze. Summer sunlight touched the white curtains, casting shadows. The wind moved the curtains like in a resort hotel.
Noah’s blue eyes held a deep color. What was he thinking, staring at the curtains?
“I liked the summer breeze.”
Noah spoke, turning around. When our eyes met, he gave a faint smile.
“I used to sit on a big tree trunk and eat sandwiches.”
He didn’t say with whom, but I knew.
‘Probably the late Countess Lenister.’
Noah grabbed the curtain gently, as if holding onto something he had never had. Happy memories had slipped through his fingers like sand.
The next day at noon, Noah hurried after me, looking flustered.
“Wait, Solia!”
I grabbed his hand and led him to the garden.
“Where are you taking me without saying a word?”
He stopped suddenly. The lush trees, colorful flowers, and summer clouds filled his view. He seemed captivated.
“You said you liked the summer breeze yesterday.”
“I wanted you to see it with me. Was coming a good idea?”
Noah didn’t answer. His eyes stayed on the sky. After a few minutes, he murmured,
“It’s nice.”
The blue sky reflected in his empty eyes. Sunlight made them shine like sapphires.
“It’s been a long time since I looked at the sky.”
He calmly watched the clouds, as if this were his last chance.
I laid out a picnic blanket and simple lunch.
“Time to eat.”
Kneeling in my dress, I called him over. He came quickly.
“I should have prepared this…”
“It’s fine. Do you know how to cook, Noah?”
“No.”
“Me neither.” I laughed.
I didn’t cook much myself but loved tasting food. I learned recipes and instructed the head chef to make special meals, like today’s basil pesto sandwich.
I handed him half of a sandwich with fresh romaine, cilantro, tomato, avocado, and cucumber. He took it politely.
“How is it?”
His eyes widened after one bite, and his brow creased slightly.
‘He likes it. Another success.’
Good food made the day even better.
“Eat a lot. I brought enough for four.”
“That much?”
Noah finished half and glanced at the basket, surprised.
“You’re at a growing age. Boys that age can chew stone, they say. You should eat this much.”
“I thought you were two years older than me, Miss Rotten.”
Noah smiled, and I did too. He finished two more sandwiches.
“Did you know? Some children grow up emotionally faster than physically.”
“I’ve seen that. Already grown like a giant at my age…”
“Not the body. The heart.”
I finished my half sandwich and smoothed my hands. Noah’s gaze followed.
“Children whose hearts grow quickly think they are already adults.”
Noah nodded, and I continued.
“But when they truly become adults, their hearts stop growing. Then…”
Sadness they should have felt, tears they should have cried, growing pains they should have faced.
Children who missed this suffered as adults. The weight of life pressed down like a rock.
“They don’t know what to do, so they just look forward.”
I had grown, found a clean apartment, and learned to live alone. But when I died in the carriage accident, I felt relief before fear.
‘Noah was the only color in this world.’
I realized instinctively that our fates were connected. I couldn’t call it love yet.
‘Even if Noah didn’t exist… I couldn’t survive in this strange world.’
I realized I didn’t love Noah. Yet, if he were in danger, I would rush to protect him without thinking.
Even if it killed me, I wouldn’t regret saving him. My only regret would be that I hadn’t done more for him.
‘So… I will do better. I will give you what I didn’t have. I will give you what I couldn’t receive.’
Swallowing the words that rose to my throat, I smiled. Seven lifetimes made me care for Noah.
‘As long as I live as Solia, Noah is my family. And only I can protect him.’
It was my turn, as a strong adult, to protect him.
