I Raised A Black Dragon

"Oh… no. Not really." Noah muttered.

"Are you sure? You’re not sick?"

"I'm good."

“Then, why are you acting strange these days?”

She was in need of a valid excuse. You've been so brazen with Adrian a while ago. Where did that boldness go? To make matters worse, Kyle seemed to have decided that Noah was hurt when she couldn't look at him directly and averted her gaze.

Suddenly, a big hand softly pressed on Noah’s forehead, surprising her. "…I don't have a fever," she mumbled. "I’m not hurt… You don't have to worry too much.”

Kyle ignored her words and slipped his hand over her cheek, but Noah hastily leaned backwards, avoiding his touch, and took a deep breath. His method of measuring her temperature, which was never a problem before, felt very dangerous today.

Noah’s actions were easy to misunderstand. Sure enough, Kyle's eyes narrowed instantly. She then opened her mouth carefully to make excuses. “So, sir, this is… It's not that I don't like you, it's uh..”

“…It doesn't matter.” Worry had completely disappeared from Kyle's face, and the distant expression he usually put on when he worked returned. “I'm here to talk about something quite important today, but you don't want to listen to me."

"Ah."

"Now, I know you're not particularly curious about the outcome of the review of the train to Central Edman and the terrorist attack on the Angelic, so I'll go back." Kyle, who spoke coldly, rose from his seat.

Embarrassed, Noah jumped after him without realizing it. “Have you ever played all the recordings? What did you find?”

"A big chunk."

"Well, let me know, let me know…”

"You are not interested." Kyle grabbed the uniform jacket he had left on the chair and shook his head at Noah. "It's up to you whether you wash and sleep or not, so take care of yourself, and don't mess up the house. And if you catch a cold, or if you turn this house into a goblin den, you won't even step into this house again."

"What?"

His threats weren’t even heard in Noah’s ears, let alone understood. As Kyle turned around, heading for the door, Noah trailed behind him. "Where are you going, sir?"

"It's none of your business."

"It's my fault! I'm coming with you." She pulled the sleeves of Kyle’s shirt, but it didn’t make him stop. Left with no choice, Noah held onto his sleeve, walking beside him. "Are you offended by what I said? It's not like that. I don't hate you. Don't get me wrong. Don't get upset."

"There is no misunderstanding and I'm not upset. Let me go. Penelope is waiting."

"Who's waiting for you?” Isn't Penelope that pretty investigator? Kyle's immediate subordinate.

This time, Noah’s reasoning functioned properly. Kyle had more than one or two jobs, and she was not the only one who needed protection. It is impossible for him to handle all the tasks at once, without aid, so it was only natural to receive help from his subordinates.

That was what he would have said… But why is my grip so strong?

"At this time? Two of you?" Noah tightened her grip, glaring at him. Kyle raised his eyebrows as if he thought it wasn’t odd. "Is there a problem?"

"…No, there’s no problem." Yeah, what's it got to do with me? Let's become a true master who respects the butler's privacy, Noah.

But she couldn't let Kyle go. If the whole story of what she had been through on the way to Tezeba came to light, of course she had to know!

Not knowing the slightest bit about her internal conflict, Kyle still tossed his words in a cold voice. “You look for me only in this situation. You're so transparent that I should say it's good."

"It's… it's not exactly like that."

"I have a report I've arranged for you to report to the superiors, so I'll send it to Penelope. It'll be enough to solve Miss Noah's curiosity."

There was nothing Noah could say.

Are you really offended? When Noah lowered her head, Kyle glanced down at her and took a step back. Noah looked at his back, feeling glum. It’s my fault for avoiding you for days…

In another perspective, her actions would seem offensive. But didn’t it also say ‘because you are harming my mind and body these days, it’s difficult if you come close’? Throughout the entire dinner, Noah was too nervous that she only breathed deeply now.

“Noah?" Muell, who was sitting at the end of the table, waving his short legs, tilted his head. Noah beckoned the child weakly. “Mu, let's go up."

"Yes." The child stretched his legs and soon stopped, staring at Noah, then tilted his head again as he saw Kyle's back as he was about to leave the door.

"What are you doing? Let's go."

"Uh…. But Noah." Instead of jumping off the table and following her, Muell shouted, "I have a scar on my neck!"

“Huh?"

The door, which was about to snap shut, stopped abruptly. Noah touched her neck in panic. She had forgotten that Adrian had removed the bandages, and bruises were already returning.