After a full day of fun wandering around, laughing, and an almost kiss. Our final stop before heading back home was a luxurious restaurant nestled on the edge of a small lake within the capital.
It looked like it was carved straight out of a fantasy novel. Elegant balconies overlooking the water, soft glowing lanterns hanging from ornate arches, and staff dressed better than most nobles.
Then there's Noah, who doesn't know the meaning of going over the top.
The server handed him a menu and politely asked what we'd like. Noah just gave a calm smile and waved his hand along the length of the item list.
"I'll take everything from here." He slightly looked up at me while doing this. "To here."
I couldn't help but burst out in laughter; the server, on the other hand, just looked at me strangely, not understanding the hidden joke.
Noah just smirked at me, seeing I was having a good time. He definitely did that just to amuse me, and I love it.
"I will never be one of those female leads who refuse her man the right to buy her things." I declared proudly, watching the server nearly faint.
Then I caught what I said… Her man… My face flushed instantly.
But I mean… It was true.
Noah just looked at me, fully amused by my actions.
We ate like royalty, course after course. Exotic dishes, spicy skewers, and a mountain full of desserts. I was full by the time the third course hit the table, but I kept going. It wasn't about the food anymore.
It was being here with him and enjoying the atmosphere together. I felt like this body absorbed food very well because I never seemed to completely fill myself up no matter how much I ate, weird. I saw it as a blessing, not a curse, because I didn't even seem to get bloated.
We finally made it back to the estate under the beautiful night sky. The stars glimmering above like scattered gemstones. It was something that was not easily seen in my past life because of all the electricity in that world.
Noah walked me to my door, and we both stopped. Neither of us said anything, just stood there for a while, looking at each other.
The tension between us wasn't uncomfortable, more expectant. It was warm, quiet, and buzzing with everything we didn't say aloud today.
I felt it building up in my chest, that unmistakable feeling. I needed to do something I really wanted to know for sure how I felt.
"Can I… um…" I began, suddenly shy. "Can I kiss you? Like… on the um… lips?"
I then waved my hands nervously. "I just… I want to see how it feels. How I feel."
Noah's face showed a stunned expression. Then he gave me the most attractive smile I've ever seen on his face.
"Sure," he said simply.
I hesitated again. My heart might as well have been a drum because it was literally performing a roll.
"Close your eyes." I said in a low voice.
He gave a slight smile and then obeyed.
I stepped closer, my hands shook, and then I leaned in, still with slight hesitation. But I refused to back down and just did it.
My lips met his, and the soft, warm rush of it sent a jolt through me. His breath caught, and in that instant, it felt like a current had shot through my entire body.
We stayed like that for what felt like forever; neither of us was willing to break the kiss.
Suddenly, he moved. I wasn't in control anymore as his arms wrapped around me tightly. His hips claimed mine, pressing harder as his body leaned into me.
His tongue slid across my lips as if asking permission to enter; I gasped. My mouth opened for him as if I had no control over the situation at all, and then his tongue was inside, exploring, tasting, and taking whatever it wished.
I made a small, surprised noise as my legs went weak and my whole body felt like it had been set on fire.
What the hell is this powerful feeling?
I melted completely into his embrace as if saying, Claim me as yours.
After we stayed like that for a minute or two, possibly even ten? I pushed against his chest.
"T-That's enough!" I stammered, pulling back, my face blazing with heat.
He looked at me with a huge smile on his face. That same knowing, smug smile he usually had when he was enjoying my rambling. An I-could-do-worse kind of smile that made my stomach flutter.
"Goodnight!" I squeaked, turned around quickly, and bolted into my room, slamming the door behind me.
Inside Livia stood near the changing screen with my nightgown in her hands. She raised a brow as I leaned against the door, panting.
"Embarrassing moment again?" She asked with a tiny, knowing smirk.
I just nodded hard, several times.
She laughed lightly, "Understood."
That kiss was absolutely mortifying and amazing at the same time.
Breakfast the next morning was… awkward.
We sat across from each other at the same table where we'd shared so many conversations before. But this damn current silence wasn't exactly uncomfortable but also was annoying.
Every time I glanced up, he was already looking at me, which is something he always does. This man has obviously fallen so hard for me. Yes, I might be super conceited, but it's also obvious. I will never be a female lead who can't understand what the other person is trying to say to me.
The memory of last night's kiss refused to stop replaying in my mind on a humiliating loop—so much tongue and saliva. To think that was my first kiss and such a powerful one!
If he had tried to take me right there last night, I might have just given in with what I was feeling. That's probably why I got the hell out of there before it was too late.
I was trying so hard to act normal, very hard!
Then a sudden knock on the door disrupted our silence. The butler entered with perfect posture and a stern face, placing a dark red envelope on the table.
Right in front of me, I stared at it with annoyance because something that looked like this could only come from one place.
I couldn't help myself but yell. "What the hell!"
"A sealed message," the butler replied with the obvious. "It bears the royal emblem from the Crown Prince."
Every muscle in my body tensed up after the butler confirmed my suspicion.
My arms wrapped around myself. I shrank inwardly, instinctively hugging my shoulders as if the paper itself might lunge at me.
Noah saw it.
He didn't hesitate reaching over and picking up the envelope, and then it suddenly burst into flames.
Whatever the Crown Prince's message was will forever be unknown to me, and that was something I could live with. At the same time, my eyes widened at what Noah just did.
"Wait… You can use magic?" I practically shouted, shooting to my feet.
Noah shrugged casually, like it was no big deal.
"Of course, I studied under a Royal Court Magus for a few years. I'm also a swordsman, one of the best in the capital."
I couldn't help but smile at his obvious bragging, but that only made me feel safer knowing that.
"So I really did capture an overpowered male lead for myself." The grin on my face was unstoppable. This was just too good.
He chuckled, the corner of his mouth curling into that unfairly attractive smile. "There you go again… talking about this world like its some story written in a book."
I blinked at him.
"But isn't it?" I said, quickly refuting him. "Aren't you my male lead and I'm obviously the female lead with a bad background? This is our story!
He stared at me for a moment, expression unreadable.
Even though I felt like melting into my chair from embarrassment, he didn't deny it.
"And I mean…" I continued steamrolling through my own anxiety. "You've got the dangerous backstory with the overwhelming power. I've got the tragic evil family. Now there's a crown prince already scheming in the background to probably try and break us apart. If this isn't a novel synopsis, what is?
Noah just smiled, but his eyes lingered on me.
I kept going… Because of course, I did. That's just who I am when I get excited about something.
"Also, do you know tracking magic?" I asked seriously. "If not, do you have something you can give me?"
He gave me a look, "What for?"
"Because," I said with urgency. "I'm going to be kidnapped at some point."
He just kept staring at me as if astonished by my assumptions.
I raised a hand, listing off possibilities. "Either by my evil family, the Crown Prince, or some threat we haven't even met yet, it's how these types of stories go. I'll be alone, vulnerable; someone will toss a magic rag over my face, and boom, I'm gone."
I couldn't help but curse because Noah was just staring at me without responding.
"I'm serious," I insisted. "Better yet, just never leave my side. Problem solved. I don't want to suffer! You don't understand, Noah. I'm genre-aware, and I have no plot armor!"
The butler, who was still here for some reason, coughed awkwardly from the corner of the room.
I collapsed back into my chair, half-panicking, half-sincere.
Noah finally spoke, his voice warm and amused.
"Alright," he said. "Then I won't leave your side."
"Are you telling me the truth?"
He nodded. "If it'll ease your mind, I'll stay close, and I do have a way to track you magically. But I'd prefer to just protect you personally.
His words were something I desperately wanted to hear. I don't want to be kidnapped and thrown who knows where into a hell I don't want to experience again.
I glanced at the charred remains of the Crown Prince's letter. Right before it burned, I was able to see one word.
"Meeting…" The fact it was put in front of me, anyone could connect the dots.
Since the letter was destroyed and I won't go even if told, he will one hundred percent come here; I know it. I reached across the table, touching Noah's hand.
"Please… Don't let him take me."
His fingers curled around mine, "Never!"
Later that day, Noah led me out to the estate's private training grounds, a vast open space surrounded by stone walls and ivy-covered towers, where his knights were still busy sparring and running drills.
The moment I arrived beside him, every single man in armor looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
Then Noah looked at them coldly. Just like that, every single pair of eyes snapped away.
I couldn't help but laugh at the scene. He was a human version of a guard dog. Deadly, protective, and beautiful all at the same time, let's not forget completely mine.
He handed me a dagger. It was sleek with a black handle and a silver inlay.
"For emergencies," he said, strapping it gently to the leather belt around my upper thigh. "You'll wear it at all times from now on."
"Sexy," I couldn't help but exclaim under my breath.
He ignored it, but I'm sure he heard, probably.
But then he added, low and steady, "If anything does happen to you, Seraphina."
I looked into his eyes in anticipation of his answer. His gaze was locked on me.
"I will tear this world apart to find you."
That was… a bit intense. At the same time, I loved it.
It gave me confidence that if anything ever did happen, I could just find a way to stay safe, and he would be there in no time.
The next week was exhausting. We trained every day, and at the same time I worked on my obvious lack of cardio.
He taught me where to stab, when to run, how to fall without cracking my skull open, and where to hit to disable someone twice my size.
Every session ended with me bruised, sweating, laughing, and occasionally flopping dramatically onto the grass after training was over.
I lay there for a while to catch my breath; Noah was always there to help me up when I was ready.
Our bond was cementing into something so strong that it would be hard to ever go back on it.
We hadn't kissed again since that night. Not on the lips anyway. Okay, maybe I'm a little disappointed by that. But I started giving him small kisses on the cheek whenever I felt like it.
He never stopped me, of course, and I could tell he appreciated it. The smile I would get every time kept me coming back for more.
Then, like on cue, after being trained how to better protect myself, the world comes a-knocking with an issue. That bastard actually showed up at the Archduke's estate, Crown Prince Sevric Duskmoor.
At our gate he was currently standing and waiting to enter. Not a letter saying he was coming or a warning. He just shows up without saying anything to the people who live here.
Royal guards were flanking him on both sides while in full ceremonial dress.
"He wished to have an audience with Lord Noah Velmoure and his fiancée, Lady Seraphina Durel."
My stomach sank. What does he want?
Something inside, probably the thousands of novels in my past life I've read, was screaming at me.
This wasn't going to be just a polite visit.