Chapter 12: Jealous man
Noelle is outside, drawing water from the well to tend to his plants when he hears a cheerful, feminine voice call out his name.
"Noelle!" Mona's voice rings out, high and full of energy. He looks up to see Mona perched on Big Ben's shoulders. Ben carefully lowers her, but Mona jumps off with the enthusiasm of a child who has no concept of fear. Ben's face reflects a momentary panic, but Mona lands safely, her giggle punctuating the air. Noelle can't help but think that Mona must shave a few years off Big Ben's life with her daring antics.
Noelle waves at them, walking towards their direction. "Are you not a little too active this early?" he asks Mona with a gentle tap on her nose.
Mona looks up at him with wide, admiring eyes. "Whoa, you're so pretty!" she exclaims. Noelle realizes that, until now, he had been covered up, and his appearance had been concealed.
"Really? Thank you," Noelle replies with a smile.
"I thought you were scarred," Mona continues candidly, "that's why you were covered. I didn't know people could cover up to hide their beauty." Mona's lack of a filter earns a frustrated sigh from Big Ben.
Noelle chuckles and decides to spin a little lie. "My husband is a jealous man, you see. He's afraid I might be stolen away, which is why I needed Big Ben's help." With a quick glance at Ben, he accepts the meat, eggs, and milk Ben has brought.
Noelle places the meat, eggs, and milk in the kitchen, and notices Mona's eyes darting around, clearly intrigued by the unfamiliar surroundings. Her curiosity is impossible to miss.
"My husband is currently asleep because he's not in the best of health," Noelle informs the inquisitive little girl. Mona's face flushes slightly with embarrassment, and Noelle chuckles softly at her reaction.