5 A Nobleman's Secret

Cushy, soft felt fabric dyed an azurite hue surrounded the enclosed space. Exquisite patterns decorated the ceiling, accompanied by cursive writings of ancient language. The whole place shimmered with glory as faint lights stretched out the silky fabric of lamps, and a charming man kept his hand on a girl's shoulder to prevent her from falling off.

The girl on the blue sofa beside him was still sleeping. From her neck down to her legs, she was covered in fresh wounds of various cuts.

"Ugh…" The girl groaned.

Mira was staring at the ceiling when she awoke. Seeing the extravagant blue and alabaster decor, Mira instantly knew where she was. She was safe, for now.

"Are you fine, young lady?" The nobleman asked. He withdrew his hand at the sight of her wake.

Mira turned her view upwards at the nobleman, then gave him a polite smile.

"What do you think?" She said.

The nobleman grinned back at her, "Alive. We got a priest to save you, which was going to cost a fair amount, until they saw the Invitation in your pocket. I didn't expect you to be a participant."

"So they searched through my pockets?" Mira said, getting up and feeling the letter in her pocket. "How holy of them."

He gave a wry smile, "Not actually. It dropped when a guard picked you up, and it's still in there."

Mira cocked an eyebrow. That wasn't a good lie.

"I see," Mira said.

"How about we talk about ourselves?" He gestured a hand towards himself, placing his hand where his heart should be. "My name is Louis Darthorne, heir to the Darthorne Dukedom of Wenland Kingdom, and what is yours, m'lady?"

She blinked at how lavish and excessive that title was. He looked like it too: his clothes screamed cashmere and silk, and being well-built didn't hurt.

"Mira," she spat out, continuing to survey him. Glossy, sea-green eyes and a cheeky smile that would throw girls in a rat race for his love, he was used to getting his way with people.

Louis scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, "Mira...?"

"As for my last name, I do not have one."

"A mysterious young lady like yourself should surely have a last name."

Chapar, past Mira would say. Now, she wasn't so naive.

"Some commoners don't have last names, Sir Darthorne," Mira said, her eyes blanking at the thought of Miss Smith and the orphanage. "I hope I didn't deceive you with my current appearance, albeit I do feel it's quite self-explanatory, but I am one of those commoners that you generously feed stale bread to from time to time."

"And so, how did a commoner such as yourself get in trouble with the 2nd Prince?" Louis asked. "Perhaps it deals with your status as a participant?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the game has never invited a commoner before, so you are quite the special case."

Her unfocused eyes caught with Louis', and she suddenly noticed his face was only a few inches away. He was too close. Louis noticed this too, and he smiled at her with sweet eyes that crinkled into half-moons.

"I don't believe I am a special case," she said, whisking her eyes away.

"Maybe you aren't," he said. "Instead, you may have some noble blood in you, which we could figure out if you tell me your last name."

"My parents were carpenters."

Laughter escaped his honey lips, and his eyes flickered an odd blue for a moment. But Mira wasn't looking at him when it happened.

"You find this funny?"

"Yes, I find you hilarious."

His lips curled with a tinge of curiosity. "Do you have a relationship with the 2nd Prince?"

"I'm not in relations with the 2nd Prince," she said, "Plus, a young man shouldn't be asking women questions about their relationship history."

"I saved you."

Mira laughed. "And that gives you the right to command me to answer your questions?"

"No, but it does give me some leeway," Louis grinned. "Come on, tell me, mysterious lady."

Mira suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Conversing with Louis reminded her of how Leo would joke around like this. But Leo no longer existed in her world.

"Tell me about you, first." Mira switched topics. "Are you also a participant?"

"Yes, and in fact, we should be arriving at the game's location in half an hour," Louis tilted his head at the window behind her. "Check it out, we're in its capital."

A small gust of wind flew past her hair, and Mira twisted her neck to face the alabaster curtains.

She gulped, almost afraid, and she pulled the curtains to the side. The yellow sun blasted into her face, its delightful warmth tickling her skin.

Her mouth opened into an inaudible gasp.

Multistory buildings of vibrant colors dotted the city's skylines, dazzled with fluorescent windows of ocean hues. Pink carnations and white lilies were scattered across the greens as the city folk laughed and walked along the streets.

But what struck Mira most was the small, beautiful river that was running beside the carriage. According to the village merchant, it connected the whole capital as a blessing from the Syren God. Little boats swam along its deep blue waters, and red fishes flew in and out as if to show off their gorgeous scales.

"It's not as good as Wenland's Capital," Louis said, looking through the window with her. "Our historic sculptures blow this capital's river away."

"I see," Mira said, her eyes glued to the heavenly scenery. The past life Young-hee might have glanced at it and merely thought it was pretty, but the current life Mira appreciated the once unknown beauty of Kimora's Capital too much to do that.

"Is this your first time?" Louis poked her shoulder, which made Mira turn back at him. She peered at his handsome face, wondering why he looked so familiar the first time she saw him. Perhaps it was a mistaken hunch.

"I merely enjoy good scenery."

Louis laughed at her vague answer, "So that's a yes?"

Mira crossed her legs, relaxing now that she didn't feel as tense. "You don't seem like a noble," she commented. "You talk with me like an equal."

"Of course, you are a young lady, and I've been taught to respect them as equals by my father," Louis said. "I've also conversed with commoners in the past where I—," he paused for a slight second, before his eyes met hers again. "I helped them with stale bread, like you said, being a generous nobleman."

He smiled with that toothy grin of his with half-moon eyes that seemed to close. It seemed to be his favorite way to make people quiet.

"I figured," Mira said, and she partook in the scenery again.

There was more to his story, but she knew when not to pry.