49 — It’s Over Now
“…Please step aside.” Irene stated coldly.
“Wha–, what are you talking about! How dare you talk like that!” Irene’s father raised his voice.
When Irene’s cold words angered her father, and made her father raise his hand to hit her, her mother quickly stopped him.
“Don’t do that. It’s because of you that Irene has changed!”
“That’s enough! I’ve been putting up with this unpleasantness and disrespect at my best because you asked me to wait a little longer!”
“There must be some misunderstanding! I don’t believe that Irene, who is such a good child, would take Riel’s man! This is all because of that strange man, the Duke Noel Kristen!”
The couple’s voice ripped Irene apart.
“Daddy…”
“Stop it please.”
The moment Riel was about to come down the stairs to stop their parents, Irene painfully said with a quiet voice. It was only a quiet voice, but the aftermath spread throughout the room. The couple looked at Irene stiffly.
I’m sick of it. I’m really fed up with all of this.
“I don’t know what you mean by Riel’s man, however Noel didn’t do anything to me. Rather, he was the one who helped me.”
“Irene, it’s a misunderstanding. It’s alright If you’re doing this to connect us with the Kristen family. Noel can’t be the Grand Duke anyway. Perhaps you were not aware, but the Young Count of Rixis is the real heir apparent…”
Irene’s mother tried to persuade and approach her, but Irene shook her head and took a step back. Her mother’s hand stopped mid-air.
“I don’t know what misunderstanding you’re talking about, but I’m going to marry Noel.”
“What are you talking about!”
When the Count swung his hand at Irene, Irene avoided his hand. She no longer wanted to be the victim. The Count’s hand trembled as it swiped thin air. Then she felt her back was blocked by something hard. It was the door.
“I’m not going to marry him because of the Grand Duke position, nor am I going to marry him to connect you to the Kristen family. It’s for me and Noel. So…”
Irene blurred her words at the end when she saw Riel. Riel looked surprised as if she had never expected such a situation. Irene smiled at that and said her last words.
“So, it’s really over now.”
When Irene stepped backward one more time, and pushed the door open, Irene looked back in surprise when she felt someone supporting her from behind.
“I was worried about you.”
It was Noel. Noel saw Irene staring at him with her eyes wide open. He did not know what had happened behind the door but seeing Irene’s red face gave him a vague idea.
I’m here because I saw the lights in her house were on.
After dropping her off, Noel had always checked on Irene until she had safely entered the main building. It was because he was concerned that Irene might get into trouble along the way. Even though his worries are unfounded, because the house where Irene entered was always so dark that he could not feel the warmth of a person’s presence there. The sight of the mansion without light felt as if darkness was devouring Irene. Perhaps that was why it had bothered Noel more than usual because he felt that Irene was the only one left in that house.
Earlier, Noel was to depart after he had assured himself and checked that Irene had entered the Chase house. However, unlike the usual situation, the main building was lit, and the light did not go out even after Irene entered. He had witnessed Irene hurt several times before, so it was hard to just go back.
He did not have to think for a long time before decisively venturing into the main building just to make sure Irene was safe. Then he heard raised voices as he came closer to the door.
“I don’t know what misunderstanding you’re talking about, but I’m going to marry Noel.”
Irene’s voice was heard faintly near the door. It was a quiet voice. Normally, amidst the other loud sounds, it would be hard to determine the owner of the muffled gentle voice, but Noel could clearly tell it was Irene. Immediately, he knew that Irene was in a difficult situation.
Noel contemplated whether he should go in or not, he was afraid that his brash behaviour would embarrass her. When he was worried about that, the door suddenly opened, and Irene came to him. Irene and Noel were taken aback by the sudden incident.
“No… Noel?”
Irene, who was surprised, called his name. Noel grabbed her shoulder in case she fell over. Irene, who was initially shocked, felt her face burning.
How can Noel be here?