It was after Kyle had patiently waited for a few seconds that Noah spoke again. Her confident and domineering attitude suddenly vanished into thin air. Noah glanced at him briefly and vaguely mumbled, âYou think Iâm always thinking about nothing, but Iâm not. My mind is occupied with relevant thoughts, too.â
âRelevant thoughts? Such as? I know you get easily scared more than I thought, but I donât know if youâre just sensitive orâ¦â
âIf you keep talking nonsense, I will pinch your sides. Oh, no. Iâm going to hit your stomach with my elbow.â Noah frowned, averting her gaze from Kyle, and turned around. In the end, she couldnât utter a word of explanation for the days she had been avoiding him. Still, she cared about him in her own way.
Noah went to Muell, who was watching them from the bed, and turned the topic around, feigning nonchalance. âSo when are you going to Noviscosha?â
ââ¦Maybe Iâll be leaving tomorrow afternoon or the day after tomorrow morning.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âGoodbye. Donât get hurt.â
Perhaps what would follow was a wave of her hand or a friendly salute, but Kyleâs prediction was wrong. Noah, who was stretching Muellâs cheek, glanced up at him. ââ¦Are you going with her?â
âWhat?â Kyle asked, furrowing his brows.
âNoviscosha. Youâre not going alone. Are you⦠going with Lady Romil?â
âYou mean Penelope? When did you know her last name?â
âDonât change the subject. Are you coming with her or not?â
âWellâ¦â Penelope Romil was one of his most trusted investigators, so he always retained his subordinates from the Tezeba branch when he went on business trips.
âMaybe this time⦠Miss Noah. Why, again?â Kyle answered thoughtlessly. At Noahâs glare, a sigh escaped from his lips. âI told you to tell me if you have any complaints.â
âI have no complaints,â Noah quickly interjected.
âThen, you can glare at me to your heartâs content. I wonât deal with silent demonstrations.â
Noah, furious at Kyleâs words, gave more intensity to her gaze and pursed her lips into a thin line. She pretended as if she gave no ounce of care and said, âIâm not really interested, but since I thought of it, Iâll ask.â
âIs your ideal type a woman like Lord Romil?â she repeated.
âI donât know why youâre curious about thatâ¦â
âCanât I be curious?â Noah retorted sullenly. Not long after, she realized that her âindifferenceâ had collapsed and she composed herself. âIâm not really curious about that. Itâs just that I suddenly remembered that you two looked pretty close, so I asked.â
âWeâre not close, but weâre almost always together because weâre one of the best investigators at the headquarters. She hadnât been my subordinate for long, but sheâs a trustworthy person. Sheâs quick-witted and has a good sense.â
âIs she pretty?â
ââ¦Why in the world would you wonder?â Kyleâs eyes narrowed. Noah was strangely avoiding his gaze, though she still wore a brazen expression.
âI was just wondering what could sway a cold-blooded investigator when Eleonora, who is right in front of him, couldnât even make him bat an eye.â
âSo, why are you curious about that?â Kyle straightened his posture against the window and walked off to the bed she sat on. As soon as he saw Noah stealthily hiding herself under the covers, he pulled the sheets down.
âWhy, why? Why not?â Noah managed to put on an unconcerned look although she was nearly stuttering. Meanwhile, Kyle suppressed a chuckle as he looked at the woman across him, who seemed so adorable in her clumsiness.
âMy taste⦠I donât know. Iâve never really thought about it. Someone who is diligent and clean, so to speak?â
âNo, not like that.â
âThen, someone who gets up well in the morning and can eat three meals a day on her own.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âSomeone who wonât catch a cold or have aches often. I also hope that she wonât talk back to me.â
âYouâre not talking about what you want from me, are you?â Noahâs eyes narrowed at him again. This time, her nonchalant facade had disappeared and a glum expression took over. Kyle shrugged his shoulders. âI just said it because you asked for my taste.â
âIt seems like youâre implying.â
âI never said that. Do you want to suit my taste?â
âI never said that either.â
âI think Iâm doing pretty well. Itâs a life-long contract, so whoâs to be next to you for the rest of your life?â Noah asked daringly and bit her bottom lip.