Settling Down

Few days have passed since Noelle has arrived at her grandpa's manor yet she has not seen her father around. Kian has started his training as a bodyguard and Noelle is having a hard time to even take a glimpse of him.

It does not help as Noelle has been occupied with organizing her stuff that arrives from Malaysia. She has been trying to contact her mother however to no avail. This is uncanny because her mother is not the type that leaves calls unanswered. Grandpa has assured Noelle that he will look into it. Knowing how powerful her grandpa can be, so Noelle left the matter entirely to him.

Noelle ran with her might down the hall from her room which leads to the staircase. She wants to see Kian in action at the training ground not far from the stable. The servants looked down as she ran past them along the hall covered with royal blue in the middle and lined with butterscotch yellow.

Noelle panting as she stands behind the huge door that leads to the training ground. Manly groans can be heard and it is almost deafening to the ears. The smell of fresh dirt and sweats permeates around the area. Once she gains a steady breath, she climbs up the stairs leading to the audience seating area. The training ground is designed based on Roman amphitheater. Her ancestors may have used it to watch men battling each other to show who was the strongest. But mostly it is used as a training ground for the family's knights which has now been replaced with bodyguards.

Noelle was lucky that today they are dueling with swords. She silently takes a seat in the middle for a better view of Kian. Kian tied his hair in a ponytail and his uneven fringe accentuates the sharp bony structured jawline. He was wearing a loose white long sleeve tunic that was drenched with sweat revealing the lean and muscular body. Noelle gulped at the sight of the golden skin glistening under the sun. The exposure from the sun has made Kian appear sexier.

In just a few days, it seems like the aura surrounding him has changed. He appears more rugged. The training might have been rough on him.

Kian balanced his weight on his left foot as he took a step back. He is struggling to defend himself from the constant attack thrown by the trainer. Sensing there is a strong gaze towards his direction, Kian looked up to the audience area and he saw that Noelle was drilling her eyes on him. Kian smiled and thought to himself that this is the time to show off his strength.

Kian takes a step forward and strikes at the slight weakness point of the trainer. Realizing what Kian tried to attempt, the trainer backed off and swung his sword hard at Kian. This force has made Kian's sword flung to the other side of the field. Drops of blood fell onto the dirt as the swing left a small and deep cut on Kian's right arm.

"Kian!!" Noelle screamed and ran down to the training ground as fast as she could.

"My lady, what brings you to this dangerous area today?", the leader bows down and greets Noelle.

"I was here to have a look at how the training was done. May I know who I am speaking to?", she replied while holding Kian.

"My name is Conrad and I am the leader of the training academy. I apologize for the bloody scene.", Conrad bowed once again to Noelle.

"No worries. It is my fault to intrude your training session. May I bring Kian to the clinic facilities to treat his wound." Noelle asked humbly. Conrad nods his head for approval.

"Kian, are you ok?", a concerned look appeared on Noelle's face as she held the bleeding with a gauze provided by one of the other trainees.

"A little bit painful but it is ok now." Kian looked dejected as he failed to impress Noelle today.

They walk slowly towards the clinic facilities which are not far from the training ground. The doctor made a few stitches on the wound then wrapped it with bandages.

"Make sure to come here every two days for wound cleaning. Don't do vigorous activity that can tear up the wound because it will lead to infection.", the doctor advised while handling over pain medications to Noelle.

"Thank you for your help doctor." Noelle grabs the rest of the wound care items from the nurse while heading out from the consultation room. It is a good thing they have a small clinic in the vicinity.

"I have never seen you around the training ground before." Kian asked out of curiosity.

"I was just going to take a stroll around the garden then I heard loud noise from the training ground." Noelle tries to hide her initial intention.

Kian smiles because he knows that the training ground is far from the training ground thus it is impossible for her to hear any sound. "Since you wish to take a stroll around the garden then let me have the honor." Kian takes Noelle's hand and gives it a kiss at the back of the palm.

"My pleasure." Noelle giggles at Kian's chivalrous action.

They hold each other's hands and walk in silence along the garden which leads to the east building. Noelle brushes her hands with the flowers as she walks by. As much as she wants the flower to be cut and used to decorate her room but she rather having them blooming and untouched. "I might ask grandpa for a greenhouse just for flowers that can be used to decorate the house." Noelle thought to herself. It will help to brighten up the manor who does not have any feminine touch to it.

Kian enjoys watching Noelle silently as it reminds him of the memories that he used to have with his childhood friend. Noelle carries striking resembling his childhood friend. However, Kian knows that they are not the same person because his childhood has passed away a long time ago. His memories start to come back ever since he reached Switzerland. However, he couldn't remember what made him become the strange creature.

"Did you have your lunch yet?", Kian broke the silence as they were walking back to the east building. Noelle shakes her head as she remembers that she ran straight to the training ground just after shower since she did not want to miss seeing Kian in action.

"Lets go to the dining hall." Noelle suggested as she can hear her stomach grumble. They proceed to the main building instead. Upon reaching the dining hall, Noelle instructs the maid to bring the lunch and set it up. The chef prepares parmesan chicken with carbonara pasta which is Noelle's favorite.

"Yumm! This taste way better compared to it was before." Noelle exclaimed and continued to twirl her fork to grab more servings.

"You are always such a glutton, Noelle." Kian sighs as he wipes the sauce from the corner of Noelle's lips. He couldn't help but laugh at Noelle's innocent face and her lips started to pout from his teasing.

"Noelle, I am glad that you are here." Noelle turns her head towards the entrance of the dining hall where her grandpa stands.

"Hi grandpa!"Noelle smiles then invites him for lunch. Her grandpa then took a seat next across Noelle.

"Noelle, it is great that you have already settled down.", he coughed before he could continue his words further.

"I have found the related books on Krampus and soon the servants will send it to your library in the east wing.", he explained in a hoarse voice.

"Thank you grandpa.", Noelle replied excitedly while giving thumbs up to her grandpa. He shakes his head at the sight of his childish granddaughter.

"Kian, it seems that you have hurt yourself from the training. You can take this time off to heal and accompany Noelle in her library." Despite not being entirely fond of Kian due to his unknown background, he still prefers Noelle to have some company in case anything happens to her. He has been keeping an eye on Kian and he can sense that Kian does not harbor any ill intention towards his granddaughter.

He is just not ready to let go of his granddaughter to another man. He regretted those years being far from her. Now he is worried about his daughter in law which has been missing. He already deployed his son to lead the search and rescue team. He is glad that they managed to retrieve Noelle just in time before anything could happen.

"Those bastards are getting more impatient.", he thought to himself. Grandpa is racking his brain on how to get a step ahead on those oppositions. They have been under control for so long, he wonders what may have caused the uprising.

"Grandpa, what are you pondering on? Come let's eat. The carbonara is yummy.", Noelle helps his grandpa to pick some in his spoon before feeding it to him. "This is just like old times.", he mutters to himself. The house that has been quiet is now brightened up because of Noelle.