Chapter 6
“Did you just say there was a sweet smell coming from me?”
“Huh? You smell sweet, brother? I can’t tell. Did you bring back some dessert?”
Noah maintained a faint smile, but the atmosphere around him suddenly shifted.
While Margaret seemed oblivious, Regina, who had been acutely aware of Noah from the start, noticed the change immediately.
As his gaze locked onto her, her mind buzzed with instinctual warnings. Regina licked her dry lips and barely managed to speak.
“No, I mean, there’s a sweet smell coming from me. I brought candy as a gift, and the scent must have clung to my clothes. It’s been bothering me.”
Sweat trickled down her back. Even to her, the excuse sounded ridiculous. Regina smiled awkwardly as Noah scrutinized her with a curious expression.
His cold eyes resembled those of a snake eyeing its prey, causing Regina to clamp her trembling lips shut. She felt as though she were facing a predator deciding whether to attack.
“Really? You brought candy? You didn’t have to, but thanks, Regina.”
Margaret linked arms with Regina, breaking Noah’s gaze and easing the suffocating tension. Regina managed to escape her paralyzing fear.
“Then, you two have a good time.”
“Yes! Brother, see you at dinner later.”
As Noah excused himself and left, Margaret smiled brightly. Regina forced her shaky legs to hold steady, waiting for him to leave.
Her eyes twitched, but she didn’t dare look away in case he turned back.
As Noah walked toward the mansion, the setting sun cast a blueish twilight, making everything indistinct. Regina blinked, and in that moment, she saw Noah’s eyes glowing a blue hue like a moon haloed in clouds.
“…!”
Regina gasped, her body covered in goosebumps. She had seen it clearly, if only for a moment—Noah was the Black Fairy. He wasn’t human.
Her mind screamed at her to run.
“Regina?”
Margaret, noticing Regina’s trembling, grabbed her arm in concern. Regina shook her off and urgently called for Emma.
“E-Emma, Emma!”
“Yes? What’s wrong, my lady?”
Emma, seeing Regina’s pale and panicked face, rushed to support her.
“Emma, the glass bottle! Quickly, give me the glass bottle. The Black Fairy…”
“The glass bottle? Oh, just a moment!”
As Regina spoke almost in tears, Emma hurriedly searched her bag, only to realize it was with a maid. She turned, startled to find the maid standing right beside her.
“…!”
Emma, not expecting anyone so close, jumped back.
“Emma, hurry!”
Emma snapped out of her shock at Regina’s urgent tone and reached out to the maid.
“Could you give me the bag, please? Thank you.”
“…Certainly.”
The maid, her face obscured by her bonnet’s shadow, handed over the bag and stepped back.
“Here it is. Quickly, give it to me!”
Emma hastily retrieved the glass bottle and handed it to Regina, who opened it with shaking hands, spilling some water onto Emma’s palm as she whispered.
“Emma, apply this to your hands and eyes. And never go near Noah.”
“My lady? Mr. Noah?”
“Yes, remember what I said! Never, ever go near him.”
Emma, confused by Regina’s strange warning, nodded reluctantly. Relieved, Regina clutched the glass bottle and returned to Margaret.
“Regina, are you okay? What’s going on?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Maggie, can you apply this to your hands and eyes for me?”
Margaret looked puzzled but didn’t resist as Regina took her hand and applied the water.
“What is this, Regina?”
“It’s water. I prayed over it for your safety. Please, just use it.”
“Prayed? Oh, thank you, Regina.”
Regina couldn’t bring herself to explain the fairy’s involvement and made up an excuse. She calmed her pounding heart and thought, ‘I saw his eyes shine. That means the fairy’s water works!’
“Regina?”
Margaret, sensing Regina’s urgency, looked up at her. Regina forced herself to stay calm despite wanting to run away.
‘…I must protect Maggie no matter what.’
Unsure of what to do, Regina only knew she wouldn’t abandon her friend. She gripped Margaret’s hand firmly.
* * *
Baron Jenkins was away, so his wife hosted Regina warmly. A grand table was set under a glittering chandelier, filled with luxurious dishes.
From seafood chowder to spiced roast duck and sausages with grilled vegetables, everything was perfect, but Regina couldn’t taste any of it.
Noah sat across from her, eating elegantly.
“Is the food to your liking?”
Noah noticed her watching him and smiled, making her heart pound with anxiety.
“…Yes, it’s wonderful.”
“Oh, thank you, Regina. I’m glad you like it,” said Mrs. Jenkins.
“I’m so happy to hear that, Regina,” Margaret added.
As they smiled, Regina relaxed slightly and returned their smiles.
“Thank you so much. Thank you, Maggie.”
“It’s nothing.”
Margaret, pleased, turned to Noah with a sudden thought.
“Brother, what did you buy in town today? I saw you with a box. Is it a gift for me?”
Noah, looking apologetic, replied, “No, I bought a pistol. I found the model I’ve been looking for. I’ll get you something next time.”
“A pistol? The kind that’s popular in the capital? I thought they were only sold there.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Margaret leaned in with interest, but Mrs. Jenkins frowned slightly, reminding her of table manners. Margaret quickly straightened up and continued eating.
“Could you show it to us later? I’ve never seen a pistol before. Regina, aren’t you curious?”
“Huh? Yes, I am.”
Encouraged by Margaret, Regina nodded hesitantly, prompting Margaret to eagerly press Noah.
“See, Regina wants to see it too. Show us, brother!”
“Alright, after dinner.”
“Yes, great!”
While they talked, Regina glanced at Emma, who nodded in understanding.
‘Emma must have put the fairy’s water in there.’
Regina looked at the finger bowl, then at Noah.
‘What will happen if he touches the fairy’s water? What if he reveals himself and attacks us? But there are many people here, so it should be okay, right?’
She glanced around the dining hall, seeing several servants ready to assist. This reassured her a bit.
“But brother, how did you know there was jewelry buried in the garden?”
Margaret’s question about the garden discovery caught the servants’ attention. Noah, smiling, answered.
“I noticed the soil was looser in that spot, and the flower petals were discolored. It suggested the roots weren’t absorbing water properly. Since the gardener wouldn’t neglect such a cherished plant, I guessed something was buried there.”
“Everyone knows how much mother loves that plant!”
Though it seemed a simple deduction, Margaret clapped her hands in excitement before realizing something.
“Wait, then why bury the jewelry in such an obvious place? I’d have hidden it somewhere more obscure.”
“Perhaps the thief didn’t know. I heard from the butler that a coachman recently took a leave due to health issues, and they temporarily hired someone new. That new coachman hasn’t shown up since last week.”
“Then he must be the thief! Mother, did you hear that?!”
“Margaret, please mind your manners.”
Margaret’s excitement was met with a stern look from Mrs. Jenkins, making Regina sit up straighter as well.
The new coachman who stole Margaret’s jewels made Regina think of Hans, who had stolen her jewelry. She wondered if they could be connected.
-Click.
Lost in thought about Hans and Lily, Regina snapped back when a servant placed a dessert dish before her.
“For dessert, we have apple pie and grapes soaked in honey.”
Startled, Regina looked up as the servant explained the dish and stepped back. She instinctively dipped her fingers in the finger bowl to rinse them and felt the cold water, bringing her back to reality.
‘Ah, the finger bowl!’
Distracted, Regina quickly looked at Noah, just as he dipped his fingers into the bowl.
Finally, Noah touched the fairy’s water.
