Chapter 20
Lucian's POV
I watched silently as Noelle stood in front of the kidnappers.
The man who had kicked her stared at her with confusion.
Instead of fear, there was anger burning in her eyes.
"You really thought a few pills would make me helpless?" Noelle asked, cracking her knuckles.
The man frowned.
"She should have collapsed by now."
Noelle tilted her head.
"Collapsed? From that?"
A small laugh escaped her lips.
"I've eaten worse things for breakfast."
Julian looked at me in disbelief.
"Sire... is she always like this?"
I didn't answer.
My eyes remained on Noelle.
There was something strange about her.
A normal human would have been affected by whatever they gave her, but Noelle was different.
The same mysterious power I sensed before was awakening again.
The air around her shifted.
The kidnappers slowly stepped back.
"Who exactly are you?" one of them asked.
Noelle smiled.
"Someone who is really annoyed right now."
Before they could react, she moved.
Fast.
Too fast for ordinary eyes to follow.
Within seconds, the weapons they carried fell to the ground.
The men looked terrified.
I narrowed my eyes.
So this was her true ability.
She wasn't just a kind girl who loved helping people.
There was a beast hidden inside her.
A dangerous one.
The children tied behind them started crying when they saw Noelle.
"It's okay," she said softly, walking towards them.
Her expression completely changed.
The coldness disappeared.
She looked gentle again.
I watched quietly.
A strange feeling formed inside me.
She could be ruthless when needed, yet she still cared about others.
"Interesting..." I whispered.
Julian looked at me.
"Did you say something, Sire?"
"No."
I walked out from the shadows.
Noelle immediately turned.
Her eyes widened.
"Lucian?"
I looked at the defeated men on the ground.
"You went out alone and caused trouble."
She frowned.
"I was saving those children."
"I know."
"Then why are you complaining?"
I stared at her.
For some reason, seeing her standing there safely made me feel relieved.
But I refused to show it.
"You should have informed me."
Noelle crossed her arms.
"And why would I do that?"
The question caught me off guard.
Why?
I had protected kingdoms.
I had fought countless battles.
I was feared by everyone.
Yet this simple girl could question me without hesitation.
I looked away.
"Because..."
I stopped.
The words refused to come out.
Julian looked between us and smiled slightly.
"Master, are you finally—"
"Be quiet, Julian."
He immediately closed his mouth.
Noelle looked confused.
I turned my attention back to the kidnappers.
"There are still questions."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The playful expression disappeared from my face.
The demon king returned.
"Who gave you those pills?"
The men trembled.
None of them answered.
I stepped closer.
"Answer me."
One of them swallowed nervously.
"We... we don't know."
A dark aura surrounded me.
"Wrong answer."
"Sire," Julian interrupted carefully, "maybe someone is controlling them."
I looked at the men again.
That was possible.
Someone powerful was behind this.
And if they were targeting innocent people...
They were also connected to Noelle.
The spirit's words returned to my mind.
"She has an important role in the world."
I looked at Noelle.
What exactly was she hiding?
And why did powerful beings keep appearing because of her?
Noelle suddenly looked at me.
"Lucian?"
I realized I had been staring.
I turned away.
"We're leaving."
She blinked.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"But what about them?"
I looked at the kidnappers.
"They will be dealt with."
Noelle sighed.
"You always sound so scary."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And yet you are still talking to me."
She smiled.
"Maybe I'm not scared of you."
Those words surprised me.
Not because they were impossible...
But because they were true.
For the first time in centuries, someone looked at me not as a demon king...
but simply as Lucian.
And that was something I didn't understand.