Chapter 219 - Get A Room

Nathalie stood by the personal balcony that the room accommodated for her. 

A breeze of the night went on and brushed past her face and to her silhouette, fluttering her skirt and the shawl she wore. 

She was still in her dress and hugged herself as she overlooked the bustling place beneath the palace she was in: from along the cliffs and down to the layers of ravines beamed with lights and small pillars of smoke. 

The constellation of lights found within the dunes and canyons offered no difference from the serene starry sky. She embraced every second of it; for the first time she visited such a place, she never thought that it would blow her away this much.

Her ears met the chorale yet muffled sounds of clanks, hearty roars, and chatter even from afar, but was never a problem to her as she enjoyed the beauty of the scenery she was in.

Thuds resounded across the sheen flooring, and she didn't' feel the need to turn around when she knew who it was then as she kept her face glued onto the city lights.

"My Lady, would you like to wear this robe for this cold night?"

[I think that the north is so much colder than we're here, isn't it?] Nathalie peered sideways and found Keith, who now stood beside her with folded cloth on his palms.

Nathalie had such great resistance with regards to temperature, throughout day and night back at her homeland it was not a problem to her, let alone the frigid nights of the desert.

"That's true," he chuckled, and then glanced at her with a smile. "Though, there might've been pests in here. Please do take care of yourself."

With a pout and a hum, she ought not to refuse him any further as he made valid points as well; she had already kept the shabby, rancid cloak for laundry through Keith's suggestion as soon as their private meeting was over.

Nathalie showed her skin for a while now, and ever since she got out of that luxurious suite they were in; all their eyes were on her— even Clarice and Jackal. 

Things weren't far from over when servants from the porch and hallway grabbed her attention. For she was like a breath of fresh air in the place they were in.

Beneath their tacky robes found high-quality fabric sewn to a degree of perfection, nice and tight.

Soon as she gave him a curt nod, he started to unfurl the folded cloth. Although to her shock, her dainty shoulders donned a cream, oversized silk robe that hung and cascaded with a little train on the floor.

Her hands tugged the lapels of the robe and tucked it into a tight hug before it got blown over by the breeze. 

[This— is too big for me…]

"I do beg your pardon for that, My Lady. I've tried my utmost abilities but there were no other appropriate sizes and variations that were deemed to your liking and comfort."

Her lips pressed to a thin line when she thought that there was none left for her to use. 

[It's too bad that they have yet to return our personal belongings.]

"I'd thought you'd ask for that, though."

[Oh, should I? Weren't they making some inspections?]

"It doesn't take too long."

[Maybe it's His Grace that's taking the time, I suppose.]

It has been for a while now, Nathalie has been silent about Jonathan's case. 

For she knew the feeling and while she volunteered to do so, Keith disagreed and ended up with Jonathan taking up the obligation. No one denied and moved right along.

Now, she needed to lighten up the situation for it wasn't much of a big deal. Taking a good look at the robe she had, a little shift from side to side, she then doodled back in midair.

[That's fine. I somehow think that I look like a toddler in this, don't you think?]

"No, not at all." Keith shook his head right away, earning her a fit of a giggle, which then made him smile and even brought him to another round of a chuckle.

Their peals of laughter shrouded around them with warmth, and seemingly enjoyed every second of it as they got close while they were in front of the beautiful scenery of the night.

"Get a room."

Like a huge block of ice came and cracked between them, the tension went too stifling and jarring when Ashtra muttered from the sidelines. 

Both of them snapped their heads in the direction of the man, who was still in his feathered and flared dragon robe—both to wrists and ankle length—with titanium armor plates and linings encrusted along his chest, shoulders, and by the hem. 

Looking at his nails, he let out a frosty breath, giving a polish on his sharp and long fingernails. He couldn't be bothered as he sat legs crossed and went to tap on the spare table beside him. 

'.... This stupid ass divo…'

This time, she wanted to smack his head and make sense of his bold statement as it suddenly made the place harder to breathe. Out of all things he'd say, it was one of the things she didn't want to venture for a while, not when Clarice probed such a question that she didn't want to answer with all of her heart on the line.

She needed to unwind and put herself to a retrospection, and when the two of them hadn't even talked about it, he dropped the bomb instead.

From her side, Keith put up a stifling smile as he gazed at the flush of crimson red across her cheeks with staring daggers at Ashtra.

"I'd be best if you let go of his comments, My Lady. If you went on with that, then you'd get wrinkles on your face in no time."

Nathalie breathed out in disbelief as she looked at him in his eyes which screamed with utmost patience.

This wasn't the first time Ashtra gave snarky comments from time to time, and he wasn't helping her at all, yet this knight of hers was always there to support him and was beyond compassionate.

"I'd like to have another round of tea for the night, please."

"Right away."

When he walked away, her eyes glinted at Ashtra. She needed a moment to talk to him about something important.