Chapter 36
After leaving the storeroom with her, Nox pointed in a direction that wasn’t back toward the mansion.
“Did you know that if you go a bit farther up from here, there’s a valley?”
“So you didn’t know the way to the storeroom, but you remember that?”
At Sia’s casual question, Nox started sweating nervously. In truth, he’d never forgotten the way in the first place.
“…Yes. Strangely, I do remember that.”
“It happens.”
“Do you want to go see the valley?”
“But isn’t it a bit much to go near the water while we’re carrying paper?”
“Should we put the supplies back in the storeroom and come back?”
“I don’t want to make a second trip…”
Sia looked up at him as if wondering what was with this man. Nox was delighted to have those dark eyes looking his way. Afraid she might decide to just head back, he jumped in first.
“Then I’ll carry them.”
Nox swiftly took the supplies Sia was holding from her hands.
“Huh?”
He was so quick that Sia didn’t even have time to react. He always looked almost statuesque, barely moving, but now he was surprisingly fast. Once again, Sia was impressed by the agility of feline werebeasts.
“Wow, you’re even faster than Karin.”
“Karin? You mean that woman from before?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Nox took the first step forward. Sia quickly followed after him. Once again, Nox matched his pace to hers.
He found the breeze blowing between the trees to be extremely refreshing. Not only that, but the scent of the trees, the smell of the earth. Every fragrance that came from the mountain felt pleasant to him.
As a child, this was the place he’d come to whenever he couldn’t bear other people’s stares. But today, it all felt so different. As he walked slowly, Nox kept glancing at Sia, who was keeping very close to his side.
Her glossy black hair swayed every time she moved. The parts touched by sunlight looked especially red, and he could hardly stop himself from wanting to reach out and touch them.
But he couldn’t just lay a hand on her as he pleased. A gentleman must always ask a lady’s permission before making contact.
“Wow, the valley’s deeper than I thought. The water’s so blue.”
The babbling and rushing sound of water flowing down from the mountain was lively. Wanting to dip her hands in the refreshing valley water, Sia hurried ahead of Nox. As she gained speed going down to the valley, she was met with a scene she hadn’t noticed before, hidden behind a rock.
“Huh?”
A kitten was floundering in the valley, struggling for its life. Without even having time to call out to Nox, Sia, shocked by the sight of the kitten being swept away by the strong current, jumped in without thinking.
Splash!
“Ah, cold!”
The water was deeper than she expected. Worse, she was wearing a skirt, which made it hard to move her legs freely. Luckily, she could touch the bottom, so she bounced both legs together in the water, making her way to the kitten.
“Sia!”
Nox, who realized what was happening a moment too late, threw aside what he was holding and rushed over. He, too, dove in toward Sia without hesitation.
Splash!
A big spray of water rose up and poured down over both of their heads. Even as she was hit by the water, Sia stretched her arm out toward the kitten.
“Ah, gotcha!”
Sia caught the kitten as it was about to be swept away. Hugging the trembling, shivering kitten to her chest, she gently stroked its sodden fur and spoke softly.
“It’s okay now, little one. You were so scared, weren’t you?”
The way the kitten clung to her with its claws out was pitiful. Seeing how cold it looked, she hurried to get out of the water—but suddenly, her body was lifted up.
“Lord Nox?”
Sia, who’d been focused on the kitten and hadn’t noticed Nox jumping in after her, was startled and raised her voice. With a firm grip on her waist, Nox leaped onto a nearby rock, then hopped to another, and finally reached solid ground before setting Sia down.
“Th-thank you…”
Sia hadn’t expected Nox to jump in after her as well. She had thought that, as a noble, he would naturally stay out of this sort of thing, so she couldn’t take her eyes off him, surprised by this unexpected side of him.
Water dripped from his black hair. Streams of water ran down his skin, pale as porcelain.
As Sia gazed blankly at the sight, her face suddenly burned red.
‘Ah… This isn’t the time…’
Realizing she’d been staring at Nox as if entranced, Sia hurriedly used her skirt to wipe the water from the kitten. She comforted the little one, who whimpered as if in pain.
At that moment, someone came running and shouting from across the valley.
“Anna!”
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