Page 17 of Noble Charms

Noble hoped to cross paths with Rebel when he took off that morning, to debrief about the success of his and Aria’s coupling, but he had no such luck. Noble instead departed the inn with the dawning sun and decided to proactively procure fresh bread and bring around the carriage, both ready for Aria’s arrival. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t sleep. Sometimes he caught himself straining to hear…something. What was he listening for?

Nothing. No one. He busied himself by repacking his clothes for the rest of the trip and by having another cup of tea in the dining chamber.

You’re welcome, Noble planned to say, holding the door open, grinning charmingly and with all his might. He’d try not to spend the whole day gloating about his success in winning Aria over. But a little bit of preening had been earned. It was probably the best gift Noble had ever given someone. A lover.

As Noble got a third mug of tea, he heard footsteps on the stairs, and he looked over to see Aria with suitcase in hand. His hair was damp and pulled back tightly against his head. His face was smooth, expressionless, blue eyes gray-looking in the dim morning light. He passed through the central chamber and out to the carriage in the front. Noble finished his tea in one gulp and sprinted out the doors. He had to make sure to open the coach door. That was the most important part of his Aria-specific plans.

Noble darted by Aria and stopped at the carriage door. Now, just like he planned: he grinned. “You’re⁠—"

Aria snapped, “I do not need you to open my door.”

Noble’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “Huh?”

“I do not mean to speak with you. I do not mean to be friendly with you. I mean to survive the next two days of our trip, and then I would like to part ways. Amicably.” He said, icily, “If possible.”

“What the devil are you talking about?” Noble squinted at Aria, taking him in, the mid-morning light shining upon him like a spotlight above. Aria’s face was entirely closed off. Colder than all the times before, like he wore a porcelain mask. “Are you embarrassed?” He needed details. How was it? Had Aria relaxed beneath Rebel’s hands like⁠—

Aria interrupted his thoughts with a snap. “We are not going to talk about this.”

Noble sucked air through his teeth. Shit. “Rebel was no good.” A barely perceptible knot loosened beneath his ribs. It was replaced, almost immediately, by a new one. Caused by the glare Aria flashed his way.

Aria dropped his suitcase with a thump. “Rebel is a good person, and more importantly, not your old friend. You lied to me. And you lied to him. And you told him I was desperate.”

Noble cringed. “It’s not like I meant it badly, Aria. Truly, I meant only to sing your praises, so that he would want to… You know.”

“Suck me and fuck me,” Aria said, and his voice was toneless, flat. Noble could have laughed. Could have, if he wasn’t confused. “As he kindly offered.”

“You didn’t have sex, then.” Aria wouldn’t be spitting mad if he’d gotten off in the night.

“No.”

Good. No, wait—damn. “Why not?”

“I don’t want to have sex with strangers on the road. I care about my reputation.”

That sounded dangerously close to an insult. Noble furrowed his brow and took a step forward. “Did you not find him favorable?”

“You aren’t listening,” Aria said. “It matters not if I find Rebel favorable. I would not have sex with him either way.”

Noble threw his hands up. “Gods. I don’t know what else I could possibly do. I was trying to be kind!"

“You insulted me.” Aria’s fists trembled near his pale, unmarked thighs visible beneath the silky pinkish-brown tunic he wore loose around his frame.

“I did no such thing,” Noble said, forcing himself to focus on Aria’s doll-like face. Confusion and anger warred within his chest. “I wanted to help. I was trying to be a friend to you.”

“How would this help me?”

“You’ve been pensive—wound tightly—for days. I thought Rebel would relieve some of this tension. You said it yourself! You seek love.” His logic was undeniable. He spread his hands and said, “You could have tried it, at least. Why wouldn’t you?”

Aria said, behind gritted teeth, “I am not wound tightly. You think there’s something wrong with me, but this is who I am. And I don’t need fixing. Not by you, of all people. I’ve tolerated your lack of manners with as much patience as I possibly could.” He exhaled a trembling breath.

Noble blurted, “You’ve been an obnoxious lout this whole damned trip.” The confusion lost the war within. Noble saw it clearly now: Aria was an incorrigible snob.

“Forgive me for not falling to your feet like you’re used to.” Aria was an entire head shorter than Noble, but he managed to stare Noble down. The cool mask he wore slipped enough for him to look truly disgusted. “I am not like you or your friends. You have made that clear.”

Noble had not been talked to like this by anyone other than the higher-ranking titles in his family. He crossed his arms, his mounting fury making him run hot, and said, “Right. You’re not. You think you’re better than me.”

“No,” said Aria, stepping forward. “I know that I am.”