123 – Ram Mercenary Guild
“This is it.”
“This is…”
Unexpectedly, he’d stopped in front of a building standing tall in the middle of a busy street. Irene was a little perplexed because it was so conspicuous in comparison to how they had been circling around the various alleys. The most surprising of all, was the name on the plaque in front of the building. [The Ram Mercenary Guild]. Suddenly, the place they’d arrived at became a mercenary guild. It was a completely unexpected place.
Is there something you would like to request?
Whether or not he knew Irene’s question, Noel turned to her. “Shall we go up?” he suggested.
“Oh, yes.”
She didn’t know why, but Irene went up the steps, thinking Noel would not have brought her here for no reason. When they went up to the second floor and opened the door, the chirp of a bell rang.
“Come in…uh, Ram?”
“What, Ram is here?”
“Ram?!”
“Louiselle is here, too.”
“Louiselle!”
Noel entered, and the figure who greeted him’s eyes widened. It was not long before he addressed ‘Ram’, and the people who were in hiding jumped out. Under these circumstances, it appeared that ‘Ram’ was referring to Noel.
Irene, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of people, stiffened. Noel took a step forward, holding her hand in reassurance.
“Ram, what’s up?” A man representing the crowd approached Noel. His hair was in a teal ponytail, and his gaze fell briefly on Irene.
“There’s something I’d like to ask for, and someone I want to introduce.”
“The woman behind Ram?” This time the man openly acknowledged Irene.
Irene hesitated and nodded. “Hello.”
“Oh, yea…”
“Tag, that’s rude. Be polite to Lady Irene.”
A man by the name of Tag who’d received Irene’s greeting, was berated by a stiff Louiselle watching from behind. Tag’s expression changed to puzzlement. ‘Who the hell was that woman?’ was what his face seemed to be asking.
“My future wife.”
“What?” At Noel’s abrupt interjection, Tag drew his eyebrows together.
“What?!”
“Wai-, what?”
He’d spoken with a calm demeanour, but the waves after his words were contrary to that. The echoes of astonishment from the group of mercenaries resounded loudly. However, the focus of that surprise was not that Noel had brought a woman to marry, rather it was that there was a woman willing to marry him.
“Is there a woman who wants to marry someone like Ram?!”
“I’d rather sell my soul to the devil!”
“Run whilst you can! Don’t be fooled by his face!”
“If you’re threatened, tell us! We’ll risk our lives to stop Ram…!”
All of them were incessant in refuting the marriage claims, and attempted to sway Irene. But of course, Irene did not understand them.
It’s true that his face is handsome.
Irene tilted her head slightly and spoke. “I’m marrying Noel, because I like him.”
She felt a little strange after saying that, but it wasn’t a lie. Because she had asked him to marry her first, as she did want to. But the mercenaries of the guild seemed to have different thoughts to Irene. It was natural of course. If she did not know what he was like, it was easy to fall in love.
“No way…a woman who likes Ram even though she knows his personality. If it wasn’t for that then…”
“Maybe Ram cast a spell on her?”
The mercenaries muttered amongst themselves, reeling in shock. The swarm of men seemed to take on the belief that Noel had used some sort of trick. Why were they reacting like that? Noel was a sweet and kind person. But the Guild was not the only one surprised at Irene’s words. Irene raised her head to look at Noel; he was gazing down at her.
“What you just said…”
“What?”
“…No, nothing.”
When Irene questioned nonchalantly, Noel turned his head again. Irene tilted her neck, at his curious appearance. Was it just her imagination, that the tips of his ears seemed tinged in red?