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Soon after Noelle left, everything that the crowd had been bottling in from either fear or embarrassment immediately burst out without reservation.
"So they not only move fast while fighting, but even in a relationship!" Someone sighed in admiration.
While most people around him rolled their eyes, some couldn't help but chuckle. "Right? It only took a few minutes for them to go from strangers to a couple. Guess how long it would be before they're already divorced and fighting over custody of their children?"
"Non-existing children, you mean?"
"Ahaha!"
Of course, many others didn't find the situation quite as funny.
"So what the hell is going on now? Are those two really going to get married?"
"The crazy masked girl is one thing, given that was obviously dropped on her head as a child, but how could someone like Noelle also play around like that?"
It was like cold water had been poured on their heads, and many couldn't help but sneak glances at the elders nearby. Unfortunately, however, they seemed to be busy in their own discussion, and didn't pay attention to the crowd's feelings at all.
Left on their own, they could only speculate.
"If the two of them get married, won't it mean that Noelle's talent would go to waste?"
Although most of them hadn't known the girl for long, since she defended the honor of their clan and was someone personally brought up by the elders, her identity was already firmly embedded in everyone's hearts.
In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that her performance had made such an impact that even the likes of Gildroy Nightingale — who had built his reputation for years as a clan head — were of no match to the young girl.
But of course, the more they recognized her, the higher the expectations. And along with expectations… came scrutiny.
"They must be just joking around, right?"
"Anyway, I don't think the elders will allow this kind of thing."
Their discussions were interrupted by a loud clap from one of the elders, and when everyone finally fell silent, the grand elder cleared his throat, a composed smile on his face.
"Everyone, I know you're all excited and in a good mood now, but there is a grave matter concerning the clan that we need to discuss."
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Although the two of them had already left the crowd and the elders behind, with all the spy equipment and Emilia's senses, few major things could escape Noelle within the Nightingale clan, and the discussion at the training ground was not one of them.
To be honest, despite all the planning and scheming done by her little boss, the gray-haired girl's expectations of the Nightingale clan were quite low.
She didn't think they would ever really consider a 'stray' as one of their own in their hearts, even if they pretended otherwise under external pressure. And even if they did… would she feel touched when recognized by people she didn't even care about? Noelle really didn't think so.
Naturally, when Emilia asked her about what the elders were most likely to do in her opinion, the gray-haired girl's thoughts were quite pessimistic. "They will likely first pretend to unite everyone under my name, and use it to resolve the issue with the rebellion of my 'parents', but that is only because they have no other choice. As soon as I lose your support… it won't take them long to turn their backs on me."
Her voice was uncaring and maybe even a little derisive, but Emilia only smiled in response. "You know, Crystal once told me about an interesting state that someone people have that she found most intriguing."
"…?"
Giggling at her older girlfriend's adorably confused expression, the crimson-haired girl booped her nose playfully. "She told me that it's most often found in parents who tried to raise their child a certain way, but only managed to cause them rebel. But… the child did well on their own, and they couldn't help but be proud anyway."
Noelle pondered over her gorgeous girlfriend's words for a while, but she still couldn't help but think that the feeling Emilia was describing had nothing to do with her.
The crimson-haired girl grinned. "Of course, the very basis for the seeds of such an ambivalent, love-hate feeling to germinate… is for some kind of love to exist in their hearts first. There is no redeeming those who already hate you, but Noelle… in that open field where everyone was cheering for you wholeheartedly, you don't honestly believe that I was the only one who found you incredibly charming, right?"
Usually, the gray-haired girl would have just rolled her eyes at what she now considered Emilia's usual behavior of teasing her every chance she got, but this time… she couldn't help but hesitate.
She might have long since have written off the Nightingale clan as something not related to her at all, but Noelle couldn't deny that deep down inside she wanted them to do well.
This wasn't because she thought well of them, though. She just didn't want them to bring her shame in front of Emilia and Sam.
She may not want to admit it, but unless they all vanished into thin air, it was impossible to deny the fact that these people were 'related' to herself. And every time they embarrassed themselves in front of Emilia, Noelle inevitably felt some shame as well, despite knowing how unreasonable that was.
Of course, Noelle knew better than to let her embarrassment cloud her judgment. No matter whether it was the White Deer, someone she cared about, or even herself, she would never let these ungrateful 'relatives' take advantage of them.
Emilia seemed to have roughly guessed her girlfriend's thoughts as she hummed. "Don't write these idiots off so quickly. So long as they like you and are ready to follow your word, there's no harm in letting them have the chance to redeem themselves, right?" She grinned. "Anyway, if you're not happy at the end of it, you can just choose not to forgive them."
Noelle didn't know how her little boss could so naturally compliment someone while calling them an idiot at the same time, but absurd as it was, she couldn't help but find her usually playful girlfriend's words quite logical. 'Compared to simply forcing the enemy to surrender and doling out punishment… isn't it more fun to watch the enemy army break apart and start fighting among themselves?'
Needless to say, constantly staying by Emilia's side wasn't very good for Noelle's mental health.
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