Bettor Mr. Nobles
Chapter 9

Abellard looked at him deeply. It was as if there was a magnet on the girl's face that made her unable to turn away.

Realizing that gaze, Naeva's eyes spontaneously returned Abellard's dark blue eyes.

There was a shiver that Naeva did not understand, as her hand touched the skin on the top of Abellard's lips. A sense that demands more touch. Which makes Naeva feel sick in the hot coals.

Moreover, Abellard's gaze was so deep as to enter her, fishing for the sparkle that made Naeva feel embarrassed.

The girl immediately turned her face away, and quickly pulled her hand from the man's face.

**

Of Marseille.

"Is there not any news of the Count of Abellard you can get?" A middle-aged woman wearing resplendent jewelry with high-value precious stones, said gracefully but with great emphasis on the fat man who had just bowed respectfully before her.

"No, Ma'am, (Mrs)" replied the man with a tense face. "The news about Monsieur Comte is really like disappearing. No one answered ever to see her anywhere."

The woman who was still emanating her beauty at such a young age raised her chin and pressed her interlocutor with a domineering gaze.

"That means, it's time for your position to be replaced, Monsieur. Your final salary will be from my assistant, "he said incontrovertibly.

The man looked up in fear. His prestige as a detective will inevitably degenerate, and it will threaten his work.

"I beg you, Ma'am! Give me one more chance, I will bring you news about Monsieur Comte immediately!"

The woman, Mme Aamber, smiled cynically with a slight snort.

"That's three days my son disappeared. I can't wait any longer. And there's no tolerance for failure!" emphatically.

With a haggard face, the man bowed respectfully before then stepping back from before the most distinguished woman in Marseille.

"Mary! Give him a fair wage!" mme Aamber commands the faithful woman standing beside him.

"Well, Ma'am," replied Maria, a Russian woman who has served Mme Aamber since she was young. The clever but gentle character of Maria is able to cover the hard and haughty character of Mme Aamber. So that he remains trusted by the Madam until now.

"Please follow me, Monsieur Dupon," asked Maria concerned.

"Can't you persuade the Countess (the title name for the wife/mother of a Count) to give me a chance? I've been working here for a long time" asked the man called Dupon after they got a little away.

"I'm sorry, Monsieur. But you also know, the Countess will not change her decision." - Maria.

But the woman then turned around, looking at Dupon expectantly, "unless you can actually bring Count Abellard home, I guarantee the Countess will give you a chance."

**

That day, no soldiers were wandering around looking for Abellard. Maybe they moved to another area. But Naeva remains wary if until someone recognizes Abellard's face.

At the booth, Naeva sat alone. The two men who went with him suddenly both had interests. Marc has even disappeared in one of the stalls.

Abellard was washing her eyes at a clothing and hat. Why did Naeva say it was just eye washing? Because Abellard has no money at all.

Naeva sighed while leaning her back on the back of the chair. Until then his eyes caught the figure of the responsibility boy who yesterday helped.

The boy was quoting the trash, then threw it very accurately into the trash can that was quite a distance away from him.

Suddenly a thin man came and shook the boy's head with a look of annoyance.

"Do you think this is a joke?! You're just a bully who took my job and reduced my pay! But it's not helping at all!"

Naeva noticed that heartily asking, is the boy no longer working in the bakery?

"Do you suspect that boy?" The sound of the owner of the booth shocked Naeva. The tall woman put a snack on Naeva's table."He's no longer stealing, that poor kid works as a garbage cider."

"Did he no longer work in a bakery?"

"Where are there people who easily trust ex-maling?" The woman sighed heavily, "the boy was actually forced to steal, he lived with his stepfather who kept forcing him to get money" she said.

Naeva's heart was filled to hear the woman's story. It is unfortunate the fate of the boy.

Naeva got up from her chair and approached the responsible boy who continued his work after receiving scorn from the skinny man.

"Am I gonna interrupt your work if we talk to you for a second?"

The boy raised his face that I had gotten more and more from yesterday and looked at Naeva. Actually the body of the teenager the responsibility was quite high, even his shoulders with Naeva might be equivalent. It's just too thin because of malnutrition.

"If you want to help me get another job, I will refuse and thank you for your good intentions" he said wisely.

Naeva rounded her eyes, feeling funny at the teenager's reply. Then his lips smiled widely.

"I didn't offer you a job, but a family."

"You mean?"

"Did you feel like I really had good intentions yesterday?"

The boy looked confused, but then nodded slowly.

"Aren't you going to pay him back?"

"You can reply to him easily."

"With what?"

"Your faith certainly. I need a man's manpower in my house, because I don't have a brother. You'll stay at my house and get whatever food you want. How's it?"

"Are you going to raise me as a waiter?"

"No, but I will make you my sister" answered Naeva passionately.

The boy's eyes seemed to sparkle at the sound of it.

"But what about your parents? Will they agree?"

"I'm an orphan, just like you. We can be brothers who help each other."

The boy was glued. The plastic in his hand almost fell on the ground. Slowly his eyes looked teary. But he quickly rubbed his gray eyes, removing the tears.

"Well, I'll try to be a good sister!" yells.

Naeva smiled again. His eyes sparkled at the little boy's reply. There was a sense of relief in his heart that had saved a child from his dark life.

"My name is Naeva, you can call me, Smeur (sister). I don't know your name yet" Naeva extended her hand.

The boy smiled, a smile that was very wide and full of joy. His heart is full of hope, may he really be separated from the whip and wood of his stepfather who always whack the body when he does not get money. And may he really be carried away by the beautiful angel before him into the light.

"Edward" he answered, welcoming Naeva's hand.

"You're English?" ask Naeva surprise.

"Yes, exactly my English father."

"Well, does that mean you speak fluent English?"

"Sure," replied Edward proudly.

"Well, come with me to the booth! We'll talk there before we go home" Naeva asked.

Shortly thereafter, Abellard and Marc returned together. The two looked astonished to see a young boy sitting with Naeva.

"Isn't he the kid from yesterday?" ask Marc.

"Yes, and from now on she will be a member of our family" Naeva replied.

"family members? You're quoting a wild boy to take home?" ask Abellard unwillingly.

Naeva immediately looked at the man sharply.

"He's not a wild boy, he's a good kid and has been a member of our family."

Abellard breathed a long breath with a resigned face.

"Yes okay, all right. After all, even the waiter you consider family," he replied, glancing at Marc cynically.

"You have two grown men in your family. You don't really need my help" Edward said, realizing Naeva didn't really need her help.

But before Naeva responded to the boy's remarks, Abellard interrupted first.

"Oh yes, I forgot. I have something for you" exclaimed the man as he glanced at Naeva shyly.

Naeva looked at the handsome man in confusion.

"M'mselle, I want to give something to you" Marc quickly cut. Making Naeva's gaze turn to her.

"I spoke first, why are you not at all polite to cut it?!" abellard. His heart riled to hear Marc who was also about to give something.

The two stared at each other sharply. Fight with the gaze.

Naeva could only sigh at him.

"Naeva, I brought you a pretty straw hat that will protect your face from the sun." Abellard went ahead and held out a straw hat with a white ribbon.

"M'mselle, I bought you a hat for the winter. I hope you like it" sidelined Marc. His gaze was so earnest, hoping that the Miss would receive her reward first.

"Winter hat? Don't you know it's already in spring?" cynical Abellard.

"M'mselle can wear it now, the weather's still cold. You buy him a straw hat, while Mademoiselle has a lot of straw hats in his closet" Marc replied.

Naeva looks sighed.

"Did you see that Edward? In my house there is no man who has truly grown up."

Edward smiled at her.

"I'll be the grown man for you, Ma Coeur" replied Edward, puffing his chest.

"Can't!" sergeant Abellard and Marc together.