Chapter 63
2112 Words
CHAPTER 63
“I see,” Noah replied. He reached for his cup of tea and took a sip while looking at Tatiana with an unreadable expression.
Tatiana also looked at him as she tried to read his mind. She was expecting he’ll insist on it more, but he ended the conversation about that without any more fuss. He didn’t ask about it further, so Tatiana felt like he was planning something else. However, Noah’s face became emotionless that she wasn’t able to get anything.
I wonder what he was thinking. She thought to herself.
After a while of silence, Tatiana spoke again.
“Is that all you wanted to ask, your highness?” she asked, sounding a bit dismissive than she intended to.
Tatiana was hoping Noah would leave right away after he gets what he wanted. It’s not because she felt intimidated, but because, for some reason, she felt awkward around him.
In the novel, Noah was portrayed as a cold-hearted man who eventually became affectionate when he met his leading lady, Lady Beatrice.
At first, Tatiana thought she already knows Noah like the back of her hand. She thought she can easily see through him since she knows his personality from the novel.
However, from when they first met after her reincarnation, Noah acted nothing like how he was supposed to be in the novel. Maybe it was just towards Tatiana, but Noah became arrogant, stubborn, and sometimes, immature that it drives her crazy.
His way of words, challenging tone, and smug smiles—it was obvious that Noah was doing it on purpose. Though she doesn’t know why he keeps doing those, one thing is for sure: it ticks her off and she hated it.
She never thought she would feel such a way towards the main lead.
It was supposed to be Noah who loathes her, but somehow, it was Tatiana who was starting to loathe him.
Am I weird for feeling this way? He just really gets on my nerves. I wonder if he’s doing such acts because he’s annoyed that I proposed to annul our engagement. But…why would he be annoyed by it in the first place?
Tatiana sighed inwardly and decided to put it aside.
I will soon cut off my ties with His Highness soon anyways. So let’s just put up with it for a while more.
On the other hand, Noah frowned after hearing Tatiana’s tone.
She’s being dismissive again. He thought to himself.
He knows Tatiana wanted him to leave right away, but he doesn’t like that idea.
Their titles aside, Noah felt it was unfair. Tatiana doesn’t act like this with Kael Arder, but when it comes to him, she wouldn’t even hesitate to push him away.
Why? Do you like Kael Arder, Tatiana? Is he the reason why you wanted to annul our engagement in the first place? I don’t understand. You used to like me so much before. Why did you change?
Before he went to war, Tatiana used to cling to him so much so that he found it bothersome. She would use whatever means and excuses just to keep him from leaving and Noah could remember how much he had to suffer whenever he meets her.
However, now it was completely different. Tatiana is the one pushing him away, and he was the one using all sorts of excuses just so he could stay even for a bit longer.
Even Noah found it unbelievable, but he also couldn’t blame himself. For some reason, he just keeps finding himself curious about Tatiana that he wanted to always have her by his sight.
When did it begin? Right, it was when we first met after I came back from war.
At first, Noah was just confused when Tatiana suddenly proposed to annul their engagement. He thought it was just her being impulsive that’s why he said all those excuses just to stop her. But then, Tatiana became even more determined that she even went to see His Majesty herself.
Then, Noah found out Tatiana was the mysterious silver-haired and purple-eyed man who fought against three bulky men to save a poor boy. Every time he remembers the fighting scene that had transpired that night, Noah could still feel the chills sent up to his spine. Even more so when he remembers the night Tatiana fought against ten professional assassins all by herself.
Noah was undoubtedly amazed by Tatiana’s incredible fighting skills. At the same time, he became even more curious about how a lady like Tatiana became an excellent fighter.
His curiosity only grew when he saw how she gave advice to Kael Arder during that time when he had to fight against a royal knight. It even grew further when he found out that Tatiana was the one who trained Kael Arder.
Since then, Noah wanted to know more about her and see more of her. He wanted to see how she would react when being opposed to, hence why he would challenge her and play with his words when talking to her. He wanted to see her different expressions, so he would tease and annoy her to make her angry.
He wanted to know what else changed about her, why she changed, and how she changed. He doesn’t know exactly why, but it was to the point that he was becoming unlike himself.
For Noah, Tatiana was like a puzzle he wants to desperately solve. However, no matter what he does, it always seems like she was an endless puzzle he will never completely figure out.
He wasn’t sure whether his feelings were simply curiosity about Tatiana or it was something else. Whatever it may be, it’s already affecting him more than he thought, and he wanted to figure it out sooner or later.
Noah sighed before he answered,
“There’s something else.” He said. “I want to meet with Investor J, is it possible?”
Tatiana was stunned at first, but later on, nodded.
I guess he still wanted some more information after all.
It would have been better if he doesn’t have to meet Investor J, but it was understandable since His Highness might want to hear more from the person who discovered about Baron Miller in the first place.
Fortunately, Tatiana already expected this, so she prepared something beforehand.
“Yes. I’ll ask him.” Tatiana replied.
Noah leaned back against his chair and looked at Tatiana with questioning eyes.
“How will you do that?” he asked.
He had been curious how Tatiana contacts such a mysterious man like Investor J.
When Aaron and Noah did an investigation to look for Investor J, they found out nothing about him, not even the way to contact him. Considering all the resources they have, they should have found out something, yet they didn't get anything even the tiniest detail about him. It was as though he didn’t exist in this world.
But, of course, that only proves how capable Investor J was that he can hide his information even from the most resourceful man in the empire.
That said, it baffled Noah to think that a lady like Tatiana would have connections with a man like Investor J. Tatiana had never shown interest in the business industry before, so it was odd how she managed to meet the now most-sought-after businessman in the empire.
Noah couldn’t imagine how the two met. Hence why he couldn’t help but suspect that Tatiana was indeed Investor J.
“I believe Investor J didn’t tell you for a reason, your highness. So, I apologize but I don’t think I can tell you without his permission.” Tatiana answered.
Noah was speechless for a moment after she said that. But his stunned expression eventually turned to that being amused. He smirked.
Hearing her say that made Noah even more curious. Of course, what Tatiana had said made some sense. For whatever reason, Investor J didn’t tell Noah how to contact him aside from relaying through Tatiana because he didn’t want to have connections with him.
It was a pity, but Noah didn’t plan on giving up on Investor J anyways. He swore he’ll find more about that mysterious man. However, the most important thing, for now, was to meet him.
Noah nodded his head and said, “I understand. Then, please tell him I want to meet him tonight. I’m in a bit of a rush, you see.”
Considering that tomorrow was already Baron Miller’s court trial, Noah would, of course, want to meet Investor J as soon as tonight.
“Alright, your highness. I’ll see what I can do.” Tatiana replied.
Noah stared at her for a few moments as she reached for her tea and took another sip.
When he came here, Noah didn’t really think he would request for Investor J like this. He thought Tatiana would admit to him that she’s Investor J, but he should have known better and expected her to deny it.
Although he still didn’t have any solid proof, he was almost certain that Tatiana was indeed Investor J. But, he didn’t want to seem like he was forcing her to admit it, so he didn’t insist on it further.
I already know you’re Julio, but why do you still have to hide you’re Investor J? Do you really not trust me, Tatiana? I wonder if Kael Arder knows about it.
Noah felt disappointed thinking how Tatiana couldn’t trust him. He understood that he must have a reason, but considering how he already knows about her being the real Julio, he thought she would trust him even a little bit.
What should I do to make you admit it yourself, Tatiana?
Then, an idea came to Noah that made him grin widely.
“Tatiana…” Noah called.
“Yes, your highness?”
“You should go with me later.” He said and smirked.
Noah looked at Tatiana as he tried to read her mind.
What will you do, Tati?
Meanwhile, Tatiana was at loss for words for a moment.
She knows what Noah was trying to do. He was obviously testing her.
If she disagrees, it would only confirm his suspicions about her. But if she agrees, then she can’t meet him as Investor J.
But, unfortunately for Noah, Tatiana had already planned for this.
Of course, she didn’t really expect he would propose such a thing, but she did think of a possibility this would happen.
Nice try, your highness, but I’m still ahead of you. She can’t help but feel smug inside as she thought of her plans in her head.
“Why do you need me there, your highness?” Tatiana asked just in case.
“Well, as I’ve said earlier, I wanted you to become more involved with the empire’s affairs as my fiancé and the soon-to-be Crown Princess of the empire. I think having you join us later would give you a lot of insights, don’t you think so?” Noah explained.
Tatiana nodded as if saying she understood though she already knows that he wasn’t really doing this for that reason. He just simply wanted to know whether she’s Investor J or not.
“I see. If you think I should go, then I’ll do as you say, your highness.” Tatiana answered, calmly.
Noah was speechless after that. Later on, he smirked at Tatiana.
He was expecting she would say no, but he guessed Tatiana was already planning something.
How daring. I wonder what you’re planning, Tatiana. He thought to himself.
“That’s good. It’s settled, then. Tell Investor J we’ll meet him at the same place and time later.” He ordered. “As for you, I’ll pick you up later so we can go together.”
Tatiana nodded.
“Understood.”
“Ah, don’t forget to wear a black cloak with a hood. I don’t want people to recognize you.” Noah added.
Tatiana’s brows furrowed at his request, but she eventually nodded in agreement.
After that, Noah stood up and prepared himself to leave.
“I’ll go now. I’ll see you later, Anastasia.” He said in a teasing voice.
Tatiana frowned at the mention of that name again, but she didn’t say anything more.
She did a curtsy and walked him towards the door.
“Take care, your highness.” She said which made Noah smile.
He gave her a small nod before he walked away, leaving Tatiana frozen in her place.
It was the first time she saw him smile like that. And…
Why did he have to look so handsome?
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reyankleyr
- Writer
