NOVPUB
Chapter 82: Noble Escort (II)
Zayn had dealt with monsters, bandits, dungeons, and even death itself, but nothing — absolutely nothing — could have prepared him for this.
The noblewoman waved at him, her blue eyes shimmering with excitement.
She had flowing blue hair, a delicate smile, and a graceful demeanor that exuded nobility. But then... he noticed it.
His eyes widened.
His breath hitched.
His very soul trembled.
Her chest was flatter than the plains of the Eastern Expanse.
Not completely flat — there were two bumps there, subtle and barely noticeable beneath the elegant noble fabric — but dear gods, it was so flat that if the wind blew too hard, he was convinced it would create a shockwave.
Zayn’s enthusiastic wave slowed into a mechanical, lifeless gesture, his face darkening as though he had just uncovered forbidden knowledge that no mortal should ever bear witness to.
As he stood there, processing this earth-shattering revelation, the noblewoman practically skipped over to him, her energy unchecked and boundless.
Before he could react, she wrapped her arm around his own.
"I was very interested in you," she said sweetly, pressing herself against him.
Zayn’s soul left his body.
’No. No, no, no, no.’
Before he could escape, she dragged him toward the carriage with the strength of a seasoned warrior — terrifying, considering she looked like she weighed about as much as a stack of enchanted parchment.
"Come on! Enter the carriage!" she chirped.
Zayn dug his heels into the ground, resisting. "Wait, hold on a second — I’m supposed to be escorting you! Shouldn’t I be outside with the driver?"
She pouted. "Nooo, the driver is an A-rank. I needed someone to talk to."
"Talk to the A-rank then!" Zayn blurted. "I’m just here to make sure you don’t get kidnapped or assassinated or — "
She ignored him completely and, with inhuman speed, yanked him inside the carriage.
Zayn’s hand shot out dramatically, fingers reaching toward the heavens as he let out a silent scream.
’Being in a carriage alone with a flat girl?! NOOOOO — !!’
The carriage door slammed shut.
Zayn sat stiffly, arms crossed, staring at the opposite wall as if he could will himself out of existence.
The noblewoman — who, until now, he still didn’t know the name of — was humming to herself, her fingers tapping on her lap excitedly.
She was far too comfortable. Zayn was not.
His brain raced through every possible escape route — breaking the window? Too dramatic.
Feigning death? Unlikely to work.
Summoning soul energy to phase through the seat? Probably possible, but he didn’t want to waste energy on this nonsense.
So, instead, he sighed heavily and decided to talk.
"Okay," he said, glancing at her. "What do you want?"
She tilted her head, smiling. "I told you. I was interested in you."
Zayn narrowed his eyes. "What kind of interested?"
She blinked innocently. "The kind where I hear about a strong adventurer and think, ’Hmmm, I wonder if he’s strong enough to do this for me?’"
Zayn rubbed his temples. "Oh gods, The GUILD master said it would be an Escort mission."
"An escort mission for only one gold? I’m sure you aren’t that dumb."
Zayn sighed, he only hoped the GUILD master would inform his party he was going to be gone.
’Well gold is gold.’
"Alright, you have a job for me?"
She clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yes, I have a job for you!"
Zayn exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, what is it?"
Her smile widened. "It’s top secret! I can only tell you once we reach my estate."
Zayn stared at her deadpan. "I swear, if this is something stupid, I’m going to walk out of that carriage— "
"While we’re moving?" she asked, feigning shock. "How dangerous~!"
Zayn stared harder.
The urge to jump out of this moving death-trap on wheels was growing stronger by the second.
The carriage rumbled along the road, the sound of wooden wheels against dirt filling the air.
Zayn rested his forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching Timberstead slowly fade into the distance.
The noblewoman, meanwhile, was humming cheerfully, swaying slightly in her seat. She was having fun. Zayn was having an existential crisis.
At one point, he decided to at least gather some information.
"So," he muttered, not looking at her. "You have a name?"
She grinned. "Of course! But I like it when you guess."
Zayn closed his eyes and counted to ten.
He reopened them and muttered, "Your name is Flat-chest McNoTitties."
She gasped dramatically, clutching her heart. "How did you know?!"
Zayn groaned.
She giggled. "Relax~ My name is Celestia Von Reinford."
He blinked. "Huh. Sounds important."
She leaned closer, her blue eyes gleaming. "I am important."
Zayn leaned back as far as the seat would allow, keeping at least a foot of distance between them. "Yeah, I got that."
Celestia smirked. "You know, you’re kind of fun. I was expecting you to be... dull."
"Thanks?" Zayn said dryly.
She tapped her chin, tilting her head. "Do you flirt with every girl you meet?"
Zayn stared at her blankly. "...Did I flirt with you?"
Celestia pouted. "No."
"Then why are you asking?!"
She giggled. "I wanted to see if you would."
Zayn sighed and rubbed his face.
This was going to be a long ride.
...
Zayn had spent most of the ride trying to ignore Celestia’s endless chatter, occasionally grunting in response whenever she expected a reply.
It wasn’t that she was annoying — okay, maybe she was a little annoying — but after hours of being stuck in a moving box with her, he was starting to lose his mind.
So, naturally, when the carriage finally slowed down, he was relieved.
That was until she started shaking him.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" Celestia chirped, shaking him with the excitement of a child on their birthday.
Zayn groaned, half-awake. "What...?"
"We’re here! Look outside!"
He grumbled, rubbing his eyes before lazily turning his head toward the window.
His sleepiness instantly vanished.
Outside, towering above everything, were the walls of Havenworth City.
Zayn blinked.
Then he tilted his head back. Then he tilted it back more.
The walls were absurdly high, stretching so far into the sky that he swore they could scrape the clouds.
Thick and fortified, they looked impenetrable, their dark stone structure radiating an air of majesty and intimidation all at once.
"Welcome to Havenworth City," Celestia announced with a smug smile.
Zayn exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. "It’s... big."
"Of course! It’s the capital, after all," she said, leaning closer to him. "Are you impressed?"
Zayn shrugged. "I’ve seen bigger."
