CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 277: GENTLE REST

The room was quiet, only the faint sound of Noir shifting as she hopped onto the chair by the desk, curling up there to give them space.

Noel lay on his side, facing the wall. His body was heavy, his mind even heavier. Maybe this hadn’t been as brutal as the Holy Capital... but the weight of it all still dragged him down. ’Exhausting... always exhausting.’

The bed moved slightly as Elena lay down behind him. A warmth pressed against his back, followed by slender arms wrapping around his chest.

Her voice was soft, close to his ear. "Do you feel better like this?"

Noel let the silence stretch for a moment. He didn’t lie. "...Yes. I feel much better now. Thanks."

It was true — being cared for, even briefly, by someone you wanted close... it was comforting.

He turned slowly, rolling onto his back so he could face her. Elena’s golden eyes met his, calm and steady in the dim light. For a while, neither spoke, but the quiet between them felt safe.

Elena was the first to break the silence. "What happens now?"

Noel exhaled slowly, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. "Well... for now, the academy event is on hold until the coronation. They already announced to the public that the former king wasn’t truly a king, and that something... happened. Rumors are spreading fast."

Elena’s brows knit slightly. "And what about King Alveron’s army?"

Noel shifted on the bed, resting an arm beneath his head. "From what I know, Nicolas convinced him to step back. His private army won’t be coming to Tharvaldur. Tomorrow will be Balthor’s coronation, so we’ll need to attend."

"Tomorrow..." Elena murmured, almost to herself. Her lips curved faintly, a rare little smile softening her face. "And to think — that drunk dwarf who used to run the Drunker Hammer... becoming king." A soft laugh escaped her. "I still remember that day. You were a real gentleman."

Noel blinked, turning his head toward her. "Hm? Why do you say that?"

"I remember you pulled me close so no one would try anything while you played poker." She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "I still wonder how you even knew how to play. Balthor said you tricked him."

"Oh, that." Noel smirked faintly. "Yeah... well, I could teach you sometime. It’s pretty simple, though it gets complicated if you play like I do. You need good memory and quick calculations."

"I see..." Elena nodded, her hair falling over her shoulder. "We could do that sometime. Invite the others, maybe? It might be fun."

"Sure," Noel said softly.

Elena’s eyes lingered on him, steady. "By the way, you’re still in the tournament. You, Selene, and Dior."

Noel gave a short nod. "Yeah. Seraphina withdrew after her father’s mission, though she ended up abandoning it since we had to act quickly. She retired for nothing. As for me... I hope to win. There’s supposed to be a prize for the champion."

Elena tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her golden eyes. "A prize, hm? What would you like to receive?"

Noel let out a quiet breath, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Good question... I honestly have no idea. Why are you asking?"

Elena leaned closer, a playful spark in her voice. "Taking notes. Isn’t that what your girlfriend should do?"

Noel turned his head to look at her properly, the smirk deepening. "I see. Then... a kiss would be enough."

For a heartbeat, Elena froze, her expression caught between surprise and embarrassment. Then, without a word, she closed her eyes and leaned in. Their lips met softly, the warmth of it lingering far longer than either expected.

When they finally pulled back, Noel’s eyes softened. He let his body sink into the mattress, exhaustion finally dragging at him. Closing his eyes, he let his head rest against hers, his golden hair brushing her cheek.

Elena shifted closer, her fingers finding his hair and brushing through it gently. She smiled faintly, watching him drift off. ’I’ll have to cut it again soon... it’s already growing back. Still, he looks more handsome this way.’

She lowered her head, pressing a light kiss against his forehead. Then she settled beside him, closing her own eyes.

The room fell into silence, only the soft rhythm of their breathing filling the space. Outside, the night moved on, but within the quiet of that small room, the two of them finally found rest.

The night passed peacefully, their bodies close, warmth shared between them. For once, Noel slept without interruption, wrapped in the comfort of someone who cared.

Morning light crept through the curtains, brushing against Noel’s face and pulling him from sleep. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the dim glow. The first thing he noticed was warmth — Elena’s arms wrapped around him, her breathing steady against his chest.

’Today’s going to be important,’ Noel thought, staring at the ceiling. ’But first... I need to check on Charlotte. She must be exhausted after blessing all those dwarves. I screwed up... I should have gone yesterday. That’ll cost me points as her boyfriend. Won’t happen again.’

He sighed quietly, then lifted a hand, brushing it gently across Elena’s face. She stirred but didn’t wake, her platinum hair slipping through his fingers. His gaze lowered to her ears — sharp, elegant, the mark of her heritage. He had never touched them properly before.

Curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, carefully, he traced his fingers along the edge of one ear. It twitched instantly, and Elena let out a soft, unguarded sound — a small, involuntary moan.

"Mm~"

Her body shifted slightly, as though savoring the touch.

Noel’s brows rose. ’... guess she likes that.’

But before he could pull away, her eyes snapped open, her cheeks flaring red. "W-what are you doing this early in the morning?!"

Noel froze, then offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry... I was curious. You looked adorable while you slept, so I couldn’t help it."

Elena puffed her cheeks, looking away. "You know I’m not good when someone teases me like that..."

"My bad." Noel sat up slightly. "Anyway, I want to go check on Charlotte. Will you come with me?"

Elena blinked, still flustered, then nodded. "Alright... let me head back to my room to get ready first. I hope she’s recovering."

Noel gave a faint nod, relief in his eyes. "Yeah. Me too."