CHAPTER 52: MYSTERIOUS MAN

"Are you really a village boy?"

Noctis was a bit surprised at the sudden change in attitude, precisely her bluntness, one of his eyebrow going up as he replied,

"If that does not bother you?"

"But why would it? So to say you don’t have anything to do with the old farts at the golden marshlands or the aristocrats surrounding the valley?"

Noctis’ expression intrigued once again at the mysterious names, but he replied negatively,

"I do not even understand what you’re referring to, in fact it’s my first time hearing about any of that."

The noble girl nodded her head seriously as she came closer towards him, until she was standing almost shoulder to shoulder.

Noctis was a bit surprised, but the most perplexed person there was actually the knight.

She observed the behaviour of Cora with interest.

Perhaps he really wasn’t connected to them, but there was a major chance he was, and was just being cautious; albeit as to why he would be flaunting his hair like that was another mystery entirely, if that was indeed the case.

But did it inquire with such bluntness? It seemed a bit careless, even for her.

She could only patiently watch her actions, unable to understand her motive.

"Tell me, village boy, how long have you had these beautiful white hair? How did you get these in such great health? I’m very curious indeed for this secret."

Noctis eyed the eager girl, who didn’t even reach his shoulders properly, eyeing him with an almost gloating expression.

"I’ve had these since I was born. I was just blessed with good hair... I suppose? Your hair looks just as excellent."

"Fufufu~ No doubt about it. None at all."

She muttered to herself with a rather proud expression.

She continued,

"Say dear knock, why don’t we get to know each other. There’s a lot of things I want to talk to you about."

Her eyes narrowed playfully as she bumped her shoulders into his arms.

"I don’t get what you mean by that, I’m afraid? Haven’t we gotten to know each other already?"

Noctis replied with genuine confusion now. She seemed weirdly fixated on his hair for some reason.

Sure they were a unique colour from his standards, but in a world such as this, he had long dismissed it as just another whims of this world.

"Oh don’t be so cold now. I can help you with a lot of things, you must know. It’s because you aren’t a ’noble’... Haha... but had you been you one, would’ve understood house Bourdain is still something of a big deal around these parts."

’Is she trying to intimidate me?’

Her expression and gleeful expression didn’t indicate that. It was more that she was excited, like a kid that had just set her eyes on some new plaything.

’So is it that? Is she trying to lure me?’

But he didn’t notice any lust or other negative emotions on her that craved anything that extended towards his dignity.

Or she was just too good at pretending that even he couldn’t see through her.

As far as he could tell, she was still fixed on his supposed noble identity.

’Maybe she thinks I’m a covert spy or some runaway scion.’

Looking as the conversation had stopped, and Noctis had again started staring intently at her young lady, albeit with a little different expression this time around, she stepped in, forcing herself to invade without her young lady’s permission.

She couldn’t bear the look of this weird almost distasteful countenance that flashed Noctis’ eyes once. Whatever her young lady had in mind, she couldn’t let anyone tarnish her image.

She cleared her throat loudly to have their attention, as she said towards Cora,

"Your highness, we have to return quickly. By now the viscount must’ve found out about you missing, not to mention we have lost all ways to contact for reinforcements, if needed. We should be leaving this place as soon as possible."

Noctis thanked the mature woman in his mind as he bowed discreetly towards her.

’Maybe she doubles as her chaperone too.’

"Oh come on. I really really need to talk to him. Can’t we just take a couple more days off. Pretty please..."

Regina was conflicted again with her pleading expression, god knows who gave her such great persuasive abilities, she couldn’t even look at her as her eyes moistened.

Seeing the crocodile tears harming the retainer just like that, Noctis threw her thought as the chaperone out of his head.

With no other way left to him, Noctis voiced it himself,

"I’m sorry miss Cora, but I also need to move. There’s somewhere that I need to reach as soon as possible."

"Oh? Well... where are you going?"

"I fail to see how that concerns your noble retinue."

"See you’re being cold again! People state the purpose and their location of their visit to their acquaintances. It’s customary, village boy. You can’t do this to us."

The crocodile tears went back as soon as they had come as her pinky pointed towards him, jibing at him.

He wondered if that fit her etiquette.

Also, Noctis could tell bs coming from a mile away, but decided to humour her once last time,

"I need to go home too, miss Cora. My mother would be worried. It’s been a while since I’ve been out."

"Oh... is that so... well then... maybe I could, hmm.. come with you?"

Her expression finally turned a bit sad as she muttered slowly.

But Noctis wasn’t one to fall for it.

"I’m afraid it would only delay you."

He said simply while simultaneously eyeing the knight.

"Y-yes that is correct good sir. Young miss, we can’t go like this."

Cora looked at Regina and Noctis pitifully, but was ignored by both.

Regina averted her eyes, while Noctis stared dead into her eyes, coldly, without an expression, scaring her instead.

"You guys are mean."

She gritted her teeth and vexed her brows but ultimately stopped talking.

Noctis took the lead as he bowed towards both the ladies, saying his good byes before making his way towards the direction the ladies had earlier been coming from.

"Wait a minute!"