"What?!"
Ciara was fuming with surprise and anger as she stared blankly at the young woman in front of her.
"H-he couldn't even bother to come?"
She was burning with mixed emotions. Both the feeling of being neglected and that of fury.
Lorna had just broken the rather distasteful news to Ciara, and now it seemed like all hell would break loose.
It turned out her father could not make it due to certain 'unforeseen circumstances'. Instead, he sent a messenger to Ciara—who brought with him, a Magic Recording of her father, as well as Noir's reward.
"Young Lady, please calm yourself. The messenger is downstairs. He might hear you." Lorna cautioned nervously.
"I don't care!"
Everyone shrank back upon hearing the young girl bellow.
"I was almost killed, you know? My life was in danger! Didn't you tell him all that?!"
"Sir Galand and I explained everything to your Father's Adviser. He should have delivered our message to him." Sweat was all over the young maid's face as she stared at Ciara nervously.
"Yet he sends a servant? He can't even see his own daughter after such an incident?" Ciara's rhetorical question echoed as her face displayed even more of her anger.
"W-Well…"
Lorna didn't know what to say. She knew Ciara had every right to be angry, but it hurt her to see the young lady revert to such a state.
Especially since she had been making such progress lately.
"I'm done with this. Leave my room, and don't disturb me!" Ciara ordered, her forlorn eyes showing just how devastated she really was.
"But Milady…" Lorna tried to convince her.
"I said LEAVE!"
Lorna hurriedly left the room, scared and sad for her Young Lady.
*
*
*
"Let me guess… she won't come down." Galand said to Lorna as she descended down the stairs.
Lorna nodded in confirmation, sighing with a sad and tired expression.
'This isn't good. But, there's really nothing we can do…' Galand returned the young maid's gesture while shaking his head slightly.
He looked at the messenger, who was also eager to deliver his message and depart on another assignment.
"You may drop your message and leave."
The Messenger nodded with an awkward smile, happy to be released despite the Young Lady's refusal to meet with him. Before Galand would decide to change his mind, he scurried off.
'I'm so happy I don't have to deal with his one…' Were his final thoughts as he left the building in bliss.
*
*
*
"Why don't you try talking to her, Sir Noir" Galand turned to face the Dark Knight who stood at the corner of the living room.
His calm presence could hardly have been noticed by anyone, and his silent gaze had been unfettered by the constant discussion between Galand and Lorna on what to do about Ciara.
"How would that be of any help?" Noir asked.
"Well, it seems the Young miss has grown a bit fond of you these past few days. She also respects you a great deal."
It was no secret that Ciara had gone through some sort of personality change ever since Noir came into the picture. Galand and Lorna noticed this best since they knew the old Ciara.
Unfortunately, the man of the hour did not seem to have a clue.
"I'm not too sure about that. She seems uncomfortable around me."
"That's proof that she's grown fond of you!" Galand tried to make sense of everything, only attracting more confusion from the Dark Knight.
"A-ah, well…" The old Mage instantly regretted putting his words that way.
"Sir Noir, please. I know you're under no obligation to even remain here. You've fulfilled your end of the agreement, and you've even helped the Young miss in her Magic training and examination.
You've finally gotten your reward, so there's no need for you to indulge our request, but please…" Lorna pleaded, hand clasped and a desperate expression shown.
Noir looked at the two faces who stared at him expectantly. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Fine…"
"Thank you, Sir Noir!" Galand exclaimed in gratitude…
"Thank you so much." Lorna gave her thanks as well.
"Then… I'll be back soon." The awkward young man said as he left his position.
He donned a determined expression as he finally climbed the stairs leading to Ciara's room.
*
*
*
"Young Lady, It's Noir. May I come in?" Noir knocked.
"Go away!" A hissing sound came from beyond the door
"It's rather urgent."
"I said GO AWAY! I don't want to see anyone." Ciara's response this time was weak.
Unlike with Lorna, she found it very difficult to be rude to Noir. For some reason… her heart just wouldn't allow it.
For a moment, there was silence.
"Then, I'll be coming in." Noir finally broke the uncomfortable quiet as he opened the door and let himself into the maiden's sanctuary.
"Wha—!!!"
Ciara was downright surprised that Noir would really defy her despite her clear instructions for him to leave.
He did some careless things in the past but never had Noir directly contradicted an instruction.
"What are you doing? I clearly told you to leave!" Ciara angrily yelled, quickly using her ultimate counter-move.
She covered herself with the bedsheet!
Noir, who had already taken a clean look at Ciara's negligee, coughed slightly. He quickly composed himself and acted like he saw nothing.
"A-are you disobeying my orders? I believe I clearly told you to go away!" Ciara barked authoritatively.
Noir gave no response. He remained frozen in his position within the room.
"D-didn't you hear me? I hope you're r-ready for the consequences of—"
"It seems you've forgotten that our agreement has been fulfilled." Ciara was cut short by Noir's smooth and calm voice.
'A-ah…?' She suddenly felt her heart jump.
"As things stand now… I am currently not in your employ."
Noir's words pierced Ciara unexpectedly. The young girl didn't know why, but she felt bad.
"T-then why are you still here? Take your reward and leave! Leave me alone!" Her voice hid an intense depth of emotion.
"I can't do that." Noir, once again, spoke calmly.
"Why not?"
"Because… doing so would go against my declaration to you."
"Eh?" Ciara was surprised at this point.
Her eyes widened underneath her bedsheet, and she slowly unwrapped her face to stare at Noir.
"I said it, didn't I? That I'll be here until your father arrives."
"O-oh…" Ciara's glimmering eyes bulged even more, her lips parting.
"I don't go back on my word."
"Y-you mean… you're…" She couldn't believe her ears.
"Yes, I am. That is If you want me to…" Noir replied soundly, still gazing at her.
"Yes! I mean… I guess there's no helping it." Ciara found herself stuttering, lost in a myriad of emotions.
"That's good to hear…" The young man responded with a cool, soft smile.
Ciara found herself blushing as tears streamed down her cheeks.
She was unsure about her emotions—how she felt about Noir. Then, there was her father's absence.
The girl felt so lost in a lot of contrasting and overlapping feelings that she could not control the fluids as they flowed from her widened, clear-colored eyes.
'H-he's staying…' Ciara realized that the negative aspects of her day were slowly vanishing from memory.
What she cared about… was how happy she was to hear the words Noir had just told her.
"Young Lady… a-are you okay?" The man in question asked, noticing her tears.
He looked so cute, donning a worried expression despite having such a cold face. Ciara couldn't get enough of it.
"I'm fine… I'm okay. Hehe" She laughed lightly, wiping away her tears.
Noir still appeared confused. How could someone be crying and then happy at the same time? He decided to be silent, lest he made a blunder.
"Also… call me Ciara from now on." The Noble Lady's smile widened as she ran her hand through her hair.
Her lovely blue eyes shone with hope, and she looked dazzling with the brightness her face displayed.
Noir was dumbstruck for a moment, taking everything in. Finally, he gave his response.
"Is that an order?"
"No, It's a request." Ciara chuckled as she replied.
A short silence ensued between the two—and, for a moment—they simply stared into each other's eyes.
"Fine… Ciara." Noir spoke with acknowledgment.
"And I have another request. May I call you Noir?"
The reoccurring silence between the both of them grew awkward and embarrassing.
"S-sure. If you want." Noir spoke quite flatly.
He didn't understand why she wanted to call him by his name, but it was pretty much inconsequential.
'Why does she have to make it weird, though?''
"Thank you, Noir." Ciara beamed.
"It's nothing… It's just a name."
"No, it's more than that. Thanks for everything." She gave a sincere bow of gratitude.
"A-ah…" Noir felt like he finally understood.
He now grasped Ciara's emotions and her intentions.
'This girl…' The man softly smiled.
Why had he not realized it sooner?
"You're welcome, Ciara."
'It seems Ciara must really be grateful for the Magic training I gave her. She did get a high score and good results, after all.' Noir thought to himself.
A feeling of pride coursed through his body and he nodded in acknowledgment.
The clueless young man could not take the hint that Ciara obviously meant something more.