Bettor Mr. Nobles
Chapter 22

Naeva leads Anne to the castle gate feeling sad and reluctant to let go. His association with Adam's family since childhood made it not easy to live apart like this.

Thankfully, Marc is here. His eyes turned to Marc. The man was embracing Anne warmly before parting ways. The warmth that was always present in Adam's family.

But somehow, Marc never touched it. They have lived so well since childhood. While Anne never hesitated to hug or kiss her cheeks when sad or happy.

Naeva approached Anne. Then spread out his arms after the girl let go of Marc's embrace.

No need to wait, Anne immediately threw herself into Naeva's arms and sobbed.

"But Adam and Emma. God willing, me and Marc will be back before winter comes."

Anne nodded and approached their carriage.

The chariot had been serviced by the castle's private chariot expert, on Abellard's orders. The train also fitted a strong cover, as well as food supplies for their trip.

They were all very grateful to the Count. But somehow this morning the man did not have his nose.

"Please express our gratitude to Monsieur Richard .. I mean Monsieur Comte" Edward's message before they leave.

The young man slowly stomped on the black horse's bridle, one of the two horses they had in Wisteria Castle. The horse moved lazily, as if reluctant to leave the two human children who had been taking care of him.

Naeva and Marc are silent in the loneliness of the sound of waves crashing under the castle. They remained standing in front of the gate until Anne and Edward's carriage was nowhere to be seen.

"Did you see Abellard, Marc?" naeva asked as she turned to enter the spacious castle courtyard with a stone floor arranged to form a symbol, perhaps the coat of arms of the Castle's owner. Without flowers and without color. Only arid grasses forced to grow between the curves of the emblem.

"No M'mselle. Since this morning, Monsieur Comte was nowhere to be seen" Marc said as he followed Naeva's steps.

"He didn't have breakfast with his mother?"

"No, I don't see the countess at the dinner table either."

Naeva frowned, thinking Abellard was having breakfast with her mother while she was eating in the room with Anne.

The girl sighed. Then inhale back into the air Marseille mixed with salt.

"Where did you and Edward sleep last night?"

Marc smiles.

"I slept in the guard barracks, M'mselle. Not far from your room last night."

Naeva turned to Marc who was walking to her right with a concerned look.

"They're good to you?"

Marc smiled back.

"good. I think only women like to be cynical and competitive" he replied.

Naeva smiled amusedly hearing that.

"I'm also a woman, do you think I like being cynical and competing like that too?"

Naeva saw Marc turning the other way, at a glance the man's face looked flushed. The girl grew concerned, thinking Marc couldn't stand the hot weather in Marseille.

"You're different. And it'll never be the same as any woman."

"Oh yeah?" Naeva raised her eyebrows while smiling, then sighed. "I rarely get along, maybe that's why I don't know who to compete with."

"But you're not that kind of person, M'mselle!" hatch Marc. "If you were to hang out with people like them."

"Ah but not really, I used to compete!" Naeva suddenly remembered something.

"really?"

"Yes, with Anne!"

Marc looked at the lady curious. It never seemed that she had seen her lady compete with Anne.

Naeva smiled with flushed cheeks while recalling the childhood memories that remained in her memory.

"At that time, I was just able to ride a horse and wanted to show it to you. But all of a sudden Anne yells at you to show that she's good at archery. I dropped down to keep you caring about me. That ... is very sneaky in my opinion. After that, I never took your attention from Anne again. Because I know, you'll never consider me more than Miss Naeva" she said.

Honestly from her heart, Naeva hopes Marc treats her like Anne, like her own sister.

But without realizing it, Marc's steps stopped.

The man froze. Didn't expect the lady to expect more from him. Is it possible that the lady also harbored the same feelings as him? Marc's feelings are really unsettled. Awe, disbelief and fear of mishearing.

But for sure, Marc misunderstood.

"Mlle Gaulle, you are called by Mme Countess!" A waiter came to tell.

Naeva was glued for a moment.

"In the sitting room."

"Okay" replied the girl. Then took a deep breath and turned to Marc behind him. "Marc, I'm in first."

Marc's face turned red, then replied nervously, "Ba-good M'mselle, sa-me."

Naeva noticed Marc's nervousness for a moment, then nodded and turned in.

Mme Aamber had been waiting in the sitting room with a position that made Naeva tense. Upright, his lips looked like a straight line, and his eyes stared intently.

"You call me, Ma'am?" Naeva bowed respectfully.

"Sit down!" word's cold.

Naeva approached the sofa opposite Mme Aamber and sat there.

"I'd like to invite you to dinner tonight" Mme Aamber said in a snide and haughty tone.

Naeva's bright brown eyes instantly sparkled to hear her. Is this a sign that the Countess has accepted it?

"You should get out on time. But before that time comes, you can't get out of your room! Do you understand?"

Naeva was silent for a moment, her mind filled with conjecture as to what purpose the Countess had invited to dinner.

Mme Aamber raised her eyebrows with a look of annoyance at not getting an answer.

Seeing that, Naeva immediately nodded deeply, "well, Ma'am. I'll come on time and stay in the room before my time" the girl replied as she ordered.

It doesn't matter to him if he has to stay in the room until tonight. Importantly now, the path of his mother Abellard's blessing began to open.

"Other than you wait?! Quickly get into your room!" ketus Mme Aamber's.

"Well, ma'am."

Naeva immediately rose up nervously under the blasphemous gaze of the Countess.

**

The night after Maghrib, Naeva prepares for a dinner invitation. She chose the evening dress in Dongker blue, so contrasted with her pure white skin color. Also a daisy flower-shaped hair curler with silver color.

Naeva rolled her hair up, until her neck was clearly visible and made her more alluring.

But Naeva never wears a low dress and shows the chest like a French woman's dress in general. Her dress was always covered with long sleeves, so she only needed to wear wrist-length short gloves.

Naeva looks so graceful and dignified. The beauty of his body is closed from the eyes of men who are not entitled to him.

After feeling that her appearance was neat enough, the girl moved out of the room.

Tok Tok Tok

The door was knocked from the outside just as Naeva was about to open it. The girl immediately pulled the doorknob, and saw Marc standing in front of her.

For a moment, Marc was glued. His eyes stared fixedly at the beautiful figure before him. Slowly, the handsome face turned red.

"Marc, thank goodness you came. I don't think I can walk into this banquet alone. Please accompany me to the dinner table," pinta Naeva with an anxious look.

"Sa-I will accompany you everywhere" replied Marc unfocused. "But where are you going to dress up ... beautiful ... This, M'mselle?"

Naeva returned to tidying up her skirt anxiously. "I was invited to dinner by the Countess. Do I look weird, Marc? My clothes are tangled, because they've just been stuck in a suitcase."

"No, M'mselle. You ... very pretty," praise Marc with bated breath. His firm-shaped forehead suddenly broke into a sweat.

"Oh, thank goodness. Come on, I can't be late." Naeva held Marc's left hand while closing the door. "Have you eaten yourself?"

"Be-yet M'mselle ...."

Marc was really nervous, his arm that Naeva was holding turned stiff by itself. The tough guy couldn't calm his heart. Since this morning heard the confession of Naeva who expected more assumptions from him.

The dining room they were heading to was built with great grandeur. The roof is made in the form of a giant dome. Under the dome hang decorative lights that illuminate the room.

In the middle of the room there is a very long dining table and has been filled with delicious and special foods.

At the end of the table on the right has sat Mme Aamber in her haughty style. Naeva saw an unhappy glint from the woman's gaze.

But Naeva's heart suddenly stopped beating. No, not because of that woman's gaze. But seeing the figure of a handsome man sitting to the left of Mme Aamber.

Abellard is like a prince of darkness. The man looked so domineering, with his noble clothes and thick hair neatly combed back, clarifying the curve of his eyebrows that were in the shape of eagle wings.

Abellard looks different. Moreover, his dark blue netra stared intently, and without a smile.

Naeva felt anger there, in the ocean-colored netra.

Unknowingly, he tightened his grip on Marc's arm.