Everyone: 😱
"NOEL!!"
The three of them rushed into Ashley's room after hearing Noel's bloodcurdling scream.
And there she stood.
Soaking wet.
Hair dripping.
Clothes drenched.
Eyes burning with pure murderous rage.
Staring directly at Aaron. 😤
Meanwhile, Aaron stood there with the calm expression of someone who had absolutely nothing to do with the situation.
Aaron: 😑
"…"
He didn't even look at her.
Elda: 🧐
"What's going on here?"
Noel: 😤
"ASK YOUR KING!"
Aaron: 😑
"Get ready and come outside. Training starts now."
Noel: 😶
"…"
She stared at him in disbelief.
Noel: 😤
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SO CASUALLY?!"
She pointed at her soaked clothes.
Noel:
"YOU POURED AN ENTIRE BUCKET OF WATER ON ME!"
Aaron: 😑
"You weren't waking up anyway, so I had no choice."
Noel: 😶
Noel: 😤
"OIII!"
She marched toward him.
Noel:
"WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOMEONE WOKE YOU UP BY POURING WATER ON YOU?!"
Aaron remained expressionless.
Noel:
"WHY DID YOU—"
Aaron simply turned around and walked out.
Ignoring her.
COMPLETELY.
Noel: 😶
"…"
Noel: 😤
"WHAT THE—YOU!!"
She pointed furiously at the door through which he had disappeared.
Noel's Thoughts:
(WHY IS HE ACTING SO WEIRD TODAY?!)
(DID HE WAKE UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED?)
(OR DID THE KINGDOM RUN OUT OF COMMON SENSE?!) 😭
Behind her, Ashley, Elda, and Adam exchanged glances.
None of them said a word.
But all three were thinking the exact same thing.
Ashley, Elda & Adam's Thoughts: 😶
(Why does this feel like a married couple's morning fight…?)
Ashley:
(The way he ignores her…)
Elda:
(The way she keeps shouting at him…)
Adam:
(And the way he came all the way here just to wake her up…)
All Three: 😶
(…Are we interrupting something?)
Suddenly, Noel turned around.
The moment she noticed Adam, her entire expression changed.
Her furious glare disappeared.
Her eyebrows relaxed.
And a bright smile spread across her face. 😊
Noel: 😁
"Oh! You're awake! How are you feeling?"
Ashley and Elda stared at her.
Ashley & Elda's Thoughts: 😶
(WHAT AN ACTRESS.)
Adam: 😐
"I'm fine…"
He paused and glanced at the two women standing beside him.
Then he looked back at Noel.
Adam:
"…And who are they?"
Noel's eyes lit up.
Noel: 😁✨
"Oh! Let me introduce them!"
She proudly pointed toward Elda.
Noel:
"This is Queen Elda, your brother's wife!"
Elda gave Adam a polite nod.
Elda: 😊
"Nice to meet you, Adam."
Noel then pointed toward Ashley.
Noel:
"And this is Ashley… your brother's mate!"
Ashley: 😶
"…Hello."
Adam blinked.
Once.
Twice.
His smile slowly disappeared.
Adam: 😶
"Wait…"
He looked at Noel.
Then at Elda.
Then at Ashley.
Finally, he looked back at Noel.
Adam:
"…Who is my brother?"
Noel answered without a moment's hesitation.
Noel: 😁
"Of course, Mr. King!"
Adam: 😶
"Huh…?"
THUD! 💥
Adam fainted.
Ashley: 😱
"WHOA!"
She immediately caught him before he could hit the floor.
Ashley:
"ADAM?!"
Noel stared at him, her smile slowly fading.
Noel: 😥
"…Was it really THAT shocking?"
Elda slowly turned her head toward Noel.
Her expression was terrifyingly calm.
Elda: 😤
"Shut up and go."
Noel: 😶
"…"
Elda:
"HE'S WAITING FOR YOU!"
Noel: 😥
"O-Okay…"
She immediately took a step backward.
Noel's Thoughts:
(SERIOUSLY… THIS GIRL HAS ZERO COMMON SENSE.)
Elda pinched the bridge of her nose.
(How does someone survive thirty-two years with this little survival instinct?) 😑
Noel: 😭
"I WAS JUST INTRODUCING EVERYONE!"
Elda: 😤
"GO!"
Noel: 😱
"OKAY! I'M GOING!"
She hurried toward the door.
Then she stopped and peeked back inside.
Noel: 😊
"Take care of him, okay?"
Ashley: 😑
"JUST GO!"
Noel:
"Okay, okay!"
She finally disappeared into the corridor.
Elda turned toward Ashley, who was still holding the unconscious Adam.
Elda: 😤
"Ashley, take him to your bed."
Ashley: 😅
"H-Huh? Okay…"
She carefully adjusted her grip on Adam.
Ashley's Thoughts: 😶
(She's really scary when she's angry…)
Elda gave her a sharp look.
Ashley: 😨
"I'm moving! I'm moving!"
She hurried toward the bed and gently laid Adam down.
Then she stepped back and stared at him.
Ashley: 😐
"…So, he's Aaron's younger brother."
She paused.
Ashley:
"And Aaron doesn't even know whether he's really his brother yet."
Elda folded her arms.
Elda: 😑
"Which is why we need answers."
Ashley glanced toward the door.
From somewhere down the corridor came Noel's distant voice.
Noel: 😭
"YOUR MAJESTY! I'M COMING! STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!"
A second later—
Noel:
"WAIT! WHY ARE WE TRAINING OUTSIDE?!"
Elda closed her eyes.
Ashley stared at the ceiling.
Adam remained unconscious.
Ashley: 😶
"…This is going to be a very long day, isn't it?"
Elda: 😑
"Unfortunately."
To be continued…