Somethings never change. The way Noel twirled her hair to emphasize her features or leaned in mischievously to gauge your reaction and a reaction you will have. Everything she does is extreme, sometimes in the most elegant way possible. Other times, it is a reminder to Sarah of failures. "Now then, I'm a little surprised you actually found me after so long." Noel says, while pouring Sarah tea, "Not that I hate company; father makes sure those are an infinite scarcity." She nudges the tea to Sarah, who cradles it gracingly. "Oh, I thought you were kinda the boss here." Sarah speculated.
"Oh, I am. Just when Daddy is not here, which he never is. He, however, gives her workers orders to shelter me."
Somethings really don't change. "Okay then," Sarah clasps her hands, "On to business. I have bee--"
"Wait, my dear. Florida, appear!" Noel chants and summons an old lady who masked down-turned eyes with gardening attire.
She kneeled beside Noel. Noel took her leftovers and handed them to her. "These are for you. Enjoy~" Noel chants.
Florida accepts the food and disappears. Sarah was perplexed. Noel knew this and liked that face. "Don't mind them, Sarah. Hit them, humiliate them, and force them. They will come back to work."
"I never asked why you thought that way."
"Like I mentioned before, they are the father's tiny hands, paid to do his bidding. As we speak, Grodin is contacting father now, spilling how 'lady Noel has allowed a ruffian in the palace, and bah, bah, bah'. So let's expedite our interaction, shall we?"
She takes a final sip of her tea and places the cup on the table. Sarah winced.
"I have been chatting with someone. They call themselves Stephan."
"What a peculiar name."
"Literally my first reaction. I don't know whats the deal with that name unless it's his birth name."
"Nonsense; no mother would call their child Stephan. The names overused. You might as well call them Tom or Sam. If you really want to get more pedestrian."
"Very funny. Stephan had helped me through a lot."
"Roli hadn't been in use."
Sarah paused. "H-He... stop interrupting me!" Noel grinned at that. "I just want to know if Stephan is you." Sarah finally says.
Noel isn't smiling any more. She starts taking slow sips at the now empty cup. She looks at Sarah from the rim. "Now how do I go about answering that?" she started. "Well--" Before she could continue, Grodin snatched Sarah with satisfaction in his eyes. "Sorry, Lady Noel, but Papa would love to hear from you." He dumbs a phone towards her. "And I have been told to toss this little critter away." Noel winced and tried to respond, but his father's voice erupted from the phone. She knows she can't ignore it. As Sarah was dragged away she looked at Noel's face, saw regret. But also... relief.
...
"You know why you can't see people, Noel. You might kill them!" his father emphasized through the phone. "You think I'm unaware of that! But for how long? Each day is another day where I'm stuck in this cage. If I too am to die, then let it be with her--"
"Don't say such rubbish!"
Noel shock. "You won't die. I will find the cure. Believe me. But for the time being, please don't spread this to anyone. I know it's hard, and it's only getting harder by the day, but please just stay put." Noel can hear tears in his father's voice. "Remember what your mother said to you at the hospital about dreams?"
"They are a promise to oneself to keep going?"
"Yes, do you know what my dream is?"
"For me to get better?"
"To see you smile again, and not just force it like you do."
Noel's eyes grew moist. "Father, when will you come back?"
"You know the answer to that."
"Then please, if there is ever a favor I shall ask, let it be this: I want to see Sarah Hive."
"Her? ...We'll talk about that later. Love you."
Noel didn't reply. After a few seconds, the phone beeped.
Noel covered her face with her arms. Florida appeared again, without being summoned. She started rubbing Noels back. Noel took note, thrashed her arms around Florida, and squeezed. Hard. "Why me?" Noel asked in a distant voice, almost to no one. Florida simply had no answer. She spots Grodin, who loomed from his guarding place. They mirror their expressions. A poor yet sour soul, Noel was. Made to wonder about a world she may never use.