Facade [1]

"That was somewhat expected!"

Eyolian turned toward Noah, who was looking around curiously. The door of the cell they had been brought to was shut by the guard, who didn't even spare them a second glance before leaving.

Noah ran his fingertips along the rough stone walls of the cell, feeling its texture. A contemplative expression crossed his face, but it quickly faded as he turned his head to look at Eyolian.

"What's unexpected, on the other hand, is that we're sharing the same cell."

Eyolian stared at Noah for a moment before sighing and sitting down on the bench inside the cell. She didn't even bother responding. She simply gazed through the small window, which provided only a limited view of the outside world, where the rain fell like threads from the sky.

"Do you like the rain?" Noah asked again, standing between her and the window.

"I used to," Eyolian replied with a distant look. But her eyes quickly refocused. "Lately, though, I get more of it than I'd like."

Noah nodded seriously as if her words carried some deep wisdom. "Personally, I never got enough of the things I loved. I would've loved your wealth, but it's too late for that."

Eyolian paid no mind to Noah's nonsense. All she wanted was for him to move out of the way of the little light the window provided.

He did, but instead of stepping away, he sat beside her on the poorly made iron bench—a cruel twist of fate. Worse still, he sat closer than she would have liked.

Even so, she said nothing. As annoying as he was, he was practically harmless.

"Please elaborate! I'm talking to you!"

Eyolian turned to find Noah looking at her blankly.

She processed his request in her mind and linked it to his nonsense from a moment ago.

"Well, I'd say you need more money."

That was all she said before returning to staring at the dark sky—or the clouds. It didn't really matter.

Noah laughed at her response, but he didn't seem inclined to leave her alone in the empty silence of their surroundings. "That's funny. And you… you're as gray as this cell."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Eyolian, slightly irritated, snapped out of her lethargy and glared at Noah.

Noah didn't back down. Instead, he stared right into her gray-green eyes. "Well, as you heard it. To others, you're as beautiful and elegant as the castle above. But now, you're as gray as the cell below."

Eyolian merely scoffed and leaned back against the bench. She couldn't refute his words because they were the truth, but she couldn't stay silent either. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You talk too much, and I don't like it."

Noah looked at her for a few moments, his expression unreadable. Then, he too leaned back against the bench, trying to find comfort in a place where none existed.

"This is going to be a long night."

Eyolian turned toward him as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. But she thought better of it and went back to watching the outside world.

---

A few hours passed, yet no one came to check the cells beneath the castle. Eyolian wasn't worried that anything would happen to her—her actions were justified, as were Noah's. Though, he would probably just seem like someone who had done little besides running his mouth.

She turned her head toward Noah, who had fallen into a deep sleep. Even in slumber, his facial expression remained unchanged, like a painted portrait.

Now, Eyolian had time to think about his offer.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" he had asked.

From the start, this was what Eyolian wanted—to divert the Bordroward household's attention away from her. If she were seen with Noah, as lovers, they would hesitate to approach her openly. After all, every noble house valued dignity over desire.

She had planned to propose the idea to Noah on the third day of the festival when everyone would see them together. She hadn't told him earlier because she feared rejection. He himself had declared that mingling with noble circles wasn't something that interested him.

But even before the third day of the festival arrived, Noah was the one who asked her first. As if her thoughts were laid bare for him to peer into.

Was she really that easy to read?

Eyolian didn't like the feeling. It wasn't helplessness—it was more like a teacher criticizing the work of a student who wasn't good enough.

And then there was the other thing. When she had tried to use him, to exploit his lack of knowledge for her own sole benefit, his lack of reaction had put her on edge.

Eyolian had always been cautious of those around her, but the long years she spent in a land not her own had dulled her edge. She had become more reliant on her tools and surroundings rather than herself and her intellect…

"I don't think I'm handsome enough for you to be staring at me like that."

Noah's quiet voice startled her from her thoughts, but she remained still.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

Eyolian gazed deeply into his cold blue eyes, as if extracting his thoughts from the delicate veins within them.

"I beg the difference," Eyolian said after a moment of silence. The decision had already been made in her mind.

She had made up her mind faster than she had planned. Noah was a better choice for her than the Bordroward household for many reasons. The simplest among them was this: she could always part ways with Noah in the future, unlike a noble house that would cling to her forever.

"I've never been complimented by a girl before," Noah said with a smile. "And in a prison cell, no less."

Eyolian chuckled lightly and smirked in return. "You'd better get used to it."

Noah raised an eyebrow, a question floating above his head. "You made your decision faster than I expected."

"Your expectations were wrong this time." Eyolian continued to tease, but Noah didn't seem the least bit annoyed.

"So you can be flexible too… That's a good trait to have." Noah praised, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"Do you want to hear my answer?" Eyolian asked, looking straight through Noah's curiosity.

He nodded in confirmation.

"Then ask again."

Noah leaned back slightly, confused. "Why? Did you not like how I asked the first time? Or do you want the memory of this moment to be in a dark cell instead of a tower near the clouds?"

Eyolian rolled her eyes, annoyed at the reminder. No choice was ideal, and she didn't particularly care. But if she had to choose, she certainly wouldn't pick a prison cell.

"It's more about tradition than location," Eyolian explained. "I was taught that a man must ask a woman twice, and I expect the same from you. I never gave an answer the first time, which means you are free to ask me now."

Noah nodded in understanding. Though he had read a lot about the Empire's traditions, the opposite was true for the Kingdom of Astrolise. Besides, he certainly didn't want to disrespect Eyolian and what she valued as culture.

So, Noah stood up from the rusty bench and faced Eyolian, who stood up as well. Their eyes met, their words unspoken as they weighed the moment.

Only after more than a few long seconds did Noah finally open his mouth.

"Eyolian, will you be my partner and grace me with your kind company?"

Eyolian was holding back laughter from bursting out. Noah was taking this far more seriously than she had expected, but she didn't want to ruin the moment for reasons even she didn't know.

She stared for a few moments at his outstretched hand before finally lifting her own and placing it in his.

"I accept," Eyolian gave her answer, her voice softer than she had ever heard herself before.

Noah smiled before her and took her hand between his own. She didn't know what he was going to do at first, but she relaxed when he lowered his head.

He kissed the back of her hand and then rose again to meet her wary gaze. A genuine smile adorned his face.

"Thank you," Noah said, his smile unwavering. "I will treat you as best as I can. And I hope you do the same."

"You're taking this way too seriously." Eyolian laughed, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.

But Noah held no such worries. "Of course I am. You're my first lover, after all."

He released Eyolian's hand, and she simply watched him for a few moments before silently sitting back down. She didn't seem like she was going to add anything else.

But Noah still had some requests—one in particular that mattered to him the most.

"I have a request to make before we go public."

Eyolian turned to him, curious. Her previous tension was gone, replaced by intrigue. "You can ask, though going public isn't exactly an option while we're in here."

Noah chuckled at the irony. "We won't be here for long."

He moved to sit beside Eyolian again. Only then did he voice his request.

"I want Mr. Eldric to know about this before we go public."

Eyolian tilted her head slightly. "Why?" She already knew the answer, but she asked anyway.

After all, the next part would be the most fun.

"Because I have great respect for Mr. Eldric. And I don't want him to hear the news like everyone else," Noah answered sincerely.

"Don't worry. We'll have time to do that," Eyolian said, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

Noah hesitated slightly under her unsettling smile, but he still asked, "Meaning?"

Eyolian's grin faded into a serious expression, but Noah could still feel the amusement radiating from her.

"Since you're so eager to know, I'll only tell you this: there's still a third step for me to be your girlfriend or lover, whatever you call it."

Noah watched her as she tried her hardest to maintain a serious face, but cracks occasionally showed through. He wanted to ask more, but she didn't seem like she was going to say anything else.

At this point, all Noah could do was brace himself for the unknown.

Though he didn't sense any danger lurking in the shadows, the look of pity Eyolian gave him was enough to make him uneasy.