Ocean Blue Eyes!

Ocean Blue Eyes!

"Should we just storm in like this?" Noah asked Lady Elara as they stood before a closed double door. "It's obvious the old knight closed it deliberately to speak privately with the other knightess."

When the imperial knight entered, he dismissed all the healers whose job was to care for the knightess. He even dismissed the Bordroward family knights who were there for security. Such an act was considered disrespectful, especially since it happened within the castle walls, and from knights who were supposed to be guests.

If Lady Elara felt anything about this, she didn't show it. She just took a calm breath and said coldly, "This is still my home, and I will go wherever I want." With that, she opened the door and entered nonchalantly.

Noah took a deep breath himself and followed her inside. Fortunately for him, she left the door open behind her.

The room they entered was different from the one he had woken up in, but similar in design. The candles cast their dim light throughout the room, creating an atmosphere of strangeness and calm.

In this calm, there were three people. Lady Elara, who had entered before him, stood in front of the bed, talking to the knight who had removed his helmet.

Almost as Noah had imagined, the knight in view was old, around 60 just by appearance. Short white hair, faint green eyes, and pale, healthy white skin for someone his age.

He sent Noah a look of annoyance and returned his attention to Lady Elara. "Lady of the castle, I understand why you want to be here, but I would appreciate it if you gave me some time to speak with my apprentice."

Noah didn't hear Lady Elara's response, which was likely a refusal, because his focus was on the so-called apprentice. She was looking at him in turn, her expression washed with shame.

She looked like a corpse, every inch of her body covered in large bruises and bloody bandages. Noah wondered if healing magic had any effect on the pitiful-looking girl. To her credit, she hadn't lost her attractive features. Light blue hair, ocean blue eyes, and fair white skin suited her slender form.

Noah approached her silently, but was interrupted by the old knight who shouted at him. "Don't come near her, haven't you done enough?"

Noah looked at the knight with a serious expression and said coldly, "No," and continued to approach.

Ignoring the old man's shouts, he looked again at the girl's frightened expression—was she afraid of him?

Again, he was interrupted, but this time by Lady Elara. "Noah, stop."

Noah did as she said and raised his head to look at her. He found the old knight moving towards him, with the red-haired woman following behind. "Don't make this worse than it is," she said as she stood between him and the old knight.

"Why is this... he... here?" the old knight asked Lady Elara, searching for words to describe Noah. "Please, make me understand..."

Before the knight could finish his words, Noah interrupted, addressing Lady Elara who had her back to him. "Lady Elara, may I speak with the girl privately?"

"Noo.., Can you ask him to wait outside?" the old knight said, his expression filled with anger, even hatred. Even Lady Elara didn't respond to his request, just trying to control the situation to a calmer one.

Noah didn't feel defeated by the refusal, he turned his gaze to the girl on the bed. She was shifting her gaze from him to the knight back and forth, her eyes barely focused.

When she noticed his gaze, she focused entirely on him with a strange expression.

Noah took that as an opportunity and asked her, "Kind knightess, may I speak with you privately?"

Her eyes lost focus again, she seemed to be processing the question.

Noah ignored the old knight's shouts, focusing entirely on the girl who regained her focus again, her gaze towards him changing to one of confusion.

After what seemed like minutes, the knightess spoke in a barely audible voice. "Master..." Silence fell over the room, everyone looking at the girl struggling to speak. "It's okay, I want... to talk... with him and apologize for... my actions. It's not like... there's anything left... for me."

Noah looked at the old knight only to see a warm, sad expression on his face. He said nothing, just watched his student with sorrow. He turned his gaze back to Noah, saying nothing to him either, but his expression of hatred and even contempt was enough to convey his feelings. He seemed unable to find the right words, not wanting to refuse his student's request, nor wanting to leave her with Noah.

"Please..." the blue-haired girl said, pleading.

The old knight took a few steps towards his student, his expression one of pain and sorrow. "Why do you want to talk to this... this." Again, he couldn't find the words to describe Noah. "What good will the conversation bring?"

The girl said nothing, just looked at her master pleadingly.

At the same time, Lady Elara pulled Noah by the wrist and whispered, "What are you doing?"

Noah met Lady Elara's gaze and reassured her. "It will be better if we end this drama quietly. The girl seems reasonable enough to talk to."

"Drama?.." The woman looked at Noah strangely but quickly adjusted her expression. "And what do you hope to gain from this conversation? Reasonable enough is not a good excuse."

Noah smiled calmly and said, "Conversation is the first weapon used in conflicts, and it often facilitates peace. That's what I hope for, at least."

Lady Elara looked at him quietly but released his wrist, ending the conversation. This coincided with the end of the old knight and his apprentice's conversation.

He looked at Noah for a moment and headed towards the door, his head held high. Before leaving, he put his helmet back on and exited without closing the door. Lady Elara followed behind him, giving Noah a long look before closing the door behind her.