43 — One Last Chance
“I do not believe that you really hate Noel. Because if you did, you would have stormed out from this room and left to the place where you could not see Noel. I do not know what you are thinking, or whatever it is for, but I just want you to know… that the rest of us are hurt and felt alone because of that.”
William had already approved of the child. The regret and disappointment that came to him when she had stopped coming just for a day proved it. He was repeating his past mistakes again. He was making himself blind to someone with his useless stubbornness. He was choosing to hurt them with his actions. Even though he knew that no one would be happy with his choice.
“Am I not your grandson?”
William remembered when little Noel had also stubbornly come to see him and asked that. He could still relive the young toddler’s hiccups and sadness. But the William of that time had refused to answer that question. Then, Noel had left his room with lonesome feelings. Exactly from that day onwards, the relationship between him and his grandson had been destroyed.
William could see that the girl whom Noel had brought was crying and closed his eyes. He was old enough and the grandson who he had made that promise to, had long gone. Now all he had left was Noel. He had regretted that day that he had inflicted those indelible wounds onto Noel. Every day he suffered in silence, knowing that he was making his beloved grandson suffer too. The Great Kristen was old in age, and no longer did he want to live on his regrets anymore. He did not want to bring them with him to his grave.
So, he slowly turned his chair. The armchair, which had only been still in one place for a long time, let out a sound when it was moved. Only then, could he see the face of Irene Chase. Even with the tears streaming down from her eyes, she was such a pretty and lovely child.
After years of fighting on the battlefield and dealing with other people, he could tell how much she was hurt and how much he had hurt her.
The Great Kristen did not know why but the image of Irene Chase crying overlapped with the image of little Noel. However, this time he said what he could not say all those years ago.
“Don’t cry, my dear.��
♔♔♔
Irene doubted her eyes and ears.
Am I dreaming now?
But if this was a dream, she could not have known the Great Kristen’s face whom she had never seen before. So, this was not a dream. Irene blinked at him blankly, and then she carefully took a step forward toward the Great Kristen.
Suddenly the door opened, and Noel came in. Irene looked at Noel in wonder because Noel’s expression seemed unusual.
Noel, who came into the room, hesitated as he was surprised to see his grandfather and Irene facing each other. Then, he grabbed Irene’s wrist and bowed to the Great Kristen.
“I apologise. Something came up and I have to take Irene back.”
Irene’s eyes widened at Noel’s sudden remark. Then, she slipped her hand away from him. She could not miss the moment when the Great Kristen had just opened his heart to her.
What is going on?
When Irene quietly mouthed that question to Noel, he hesitated and then quietly answered.
I’m sorry.
Noel then greeted the Great Kristen again and took the puzzled Irene out of the room.
Tom, who was waiting outside, quickly approached the pair.
“Where is the location?”
Noel walked quickly while holding Irene’s hand. Tom, who walked together with them, answered promptly.
“I checked, but afterwards he has been missing ever since.”
Irene just followed Noel. Saying that she felt confusion was an understatement. Between what Noel and Tom were conversing about, she understood none of it. She did not know anything about that either, but she was sure that there must have been a reason for their actions.
It was not until when they left the main building that Noel stopped.
Irene, who had only known Noel for a brief while, had never seen him like this before.
“Is there something wrong?”
Noel deeply sighed and then opened his mouth to answer Irene’s question.
“It is nothing but…”
“Long time no see brother.”
Noel’s answer was interrupted. Irene turned her head at the source of the voice that interrupted their conversation. There was a man with sky-blue hair walking towards them.
Who is that person?
When Irene looked at the man who suddenly appeared, the man smiled at Irene. The man had a completely different aura from Noel.
“What a coincidence to meet you here. I happened to be on my way to see my grandfather.”