The Kind Older Sister Is No More

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It was a low and deep voice. But each word was enunciated clearly. The coldness of his tone washed over her like ice. 

To Irene, what he had said had not in the slightest matched with what she had expected. Upon hearing the only words, his grandfather uttered, Noel, clenched his fist tightly. He felt humiliated and hurt. To him, his grandfather’s blatant and clear rejection of Irene was a refusal to acknowledge his existence at all. Noel breathed deeply, calming himself, and looked at Irene apologetically. He was about to raise his voice, to make clear his objection, when he felt a small hand on his arm.

Noel turned to see Irene look up at him pleadingly. Then she slightly shook her head and bowed. Tugging him lightly then letting go of his sleeve, Irene calmly left the mansion. She had faced worse her entire life. What was this small rejection? If not once, she would come again. If he still refused to face her. She would come the next day. And the day after that. If the circumstances gave, Irene would not give up.

“Why are you not angry at being ignored like that?”

Clenching his fists, Noel asked with an exasperated tone in the carriage. He was so angry and frustrated just by watching them from the sidelines. However, conversely, Irene seemed to be quite indifferent. 

Noel looked at the girl across from him. Soft milky wheat hair, a small nose, but olive eyes filled with determination. If he could see her heart, it must be made of steel. He wanted to tell her to stop if she was doing it for his sake.

“I’m used to being ignored.” She said lightly.

What Irene said appeased Noel, who was boiling with rage before. Then, she continued to talk with a smile on her face.

“I’m used to looking from behind, so it was not hard, and this is for you and me. So, this was not in vain. Please trust me a little more, Noel.”

Her words, while they held truth, made his heart tremble. It pained him to be subject to this, but it was even more painful knowing he had brought someone to experience it with him. Years of dealing with his grandfather’s rejection had hardened how he dealt with the world and the subsequent gossip that arose. But he knew Irene was a sheltered lady. The Great Kristen was not her match, as much as he was not his.

Noel motionlessly looked at Irene. Her initial desperate and timid appearance that she had had when he first met her was nowhere to be seen. Now he only saw a young lady who was full of conviction and confidence.

“Irene…”

When Noel said her name in a hesitant tone, Irene calmly answered. “Just a little bit more. I think I just need to do it a little more.” She looked up at the handsome man beside her and smiled. It was a request to trust in her and also to reassure him.

          Noel sighed at Irene’s words and relented. “You know, you’re quite stubborn.”

          Irene smiled at his humorous reply. 

“Thank you.”