Noelle's New Home

Once the jet touches down in the private airport, cars lining up on the runway. Noelle's dad led her to one of the cars.

"Wait. Papa, I want to ride in the same car as Kian.", she told her dad.

Thinking that he had something to do before going back to the manor thus he reluctantly agreed to Noelle's request.

Noelle waits for Kian to get down from the plane and wave towards him to get in the car with her. The moment Kian enters the car, Noelle hugs him tightly. " I am sorry for dragging with me and let you ride the plane with strangers." Noelle said softly.

"It was alright although I was left alone for 16 hours without you." Kian pouted his lips.

"I was lonely too." Noelle pinched Kian's nose.

"Are you doing alright?" Kian asks as he was concerned that this might affect Noelle mentally since she cries too much before they leave her friends.

Noelle proceeded to cry her heart out in Kian's arms. Noelle explains the situation to Kian while sobbing. Patiently, Kian pats her back while wiping her tears. His heart breaks seeing Noelle in this condition.

After hours of journey in the car, the big golden gate to grandpa's manor opens before their eyes. There is greenery greets them as they drive closer to the main mansion. The well maintained garden looks like it comes out from a fairy tale. The mansion has been serving the family for centuries. It has a towering roof, vines creeps and covers the wall however the sight is still magnificent as the mansion is well maintained.

Noelle remembers that she loves to run around the big and winding hallway. Despite the old mansion known for its haunted stories, it doesn't stop Noelle exploring the secret passage within it. Every year she always looks forward to Christmas because grandpa's house is like her own playground.

An old man with blonde hair in his sixties stands at the porte cochère or commonly known as driveway. He was wearing a white suit while holding a cane. His composure is almost like he was a king.

"Noelle. I am glad that you are here safely. I miss you so much." He greets her excitedly as he opens the car door and hugs Noelle.

"I am sorry for not visiting you all these years." Noelle hugged her grandpa tightly.

"It is alright. Even though you never get in touch with me but I have always tried to keep you safe from afar.", he replied. Grandpa leads Noelle and Kian to his study. Grandpa's study looks more like an ancient personal office. He loves to collect random historical items and he keeps it well organized in his study. Books and paperwork fills the shelves from the floor to the ceiling. It is almost like a personal library but filled with important documents. "I bet if the shelves fall, then I will be dead buried underneath." Noelle thought to herself.

"I apologize for the sudden interruption in your life. I wish I can leave you alone as you always wished. However, due to the recent attack and unknown man by your side. I couldn't help but bring you back so that your safety will be taken care of." he says with a deep sigh almost as if a burden has been taken off his shoulder.

Turns out it was not due to Noelle's lavish spending but because her grandpa wished for her to stay by his side. Noelle's grandpa mentioned that there is a force that wants to wipe their family and it is no longer safe for the future heir to the business empire.

"Wait. What? Are you saying that I will be your heir?" Noelle's eyes widened and she couldn't believe every word that came out from her grandpa's mouth.

"What about Papa?" Noelle could stop herself from questioning further. Noelle knows that her ancestor was a runway noble from German Empire during the Middle Ages. They kept their title and established a mining business in Switzerland. During that time, it was still part of German State under the Holy Roman Empire. Few centuries later and now their family is one of the most successful mining companies in the country as they no longer only supply copper but are not limited to gold, oil and gas.

"Unfortunately, your dad is no longer capable of running the business as he betrayed my trust when he eloped with his secretary." he explains.

"But why did you keep him around then?", Noelle asked further. She loathes her father deep to her core.

"Well, he has learned his lesson since the girl attempted to assassinate him when he brought her here for approval from me." Grandpa looked down to the floor and sigh. He couldn't believe the son that he raised to be the heir couldn't use his brain properly and fall for temptation.

"I hope that you can take care of our family business as I am no longer as healthy and strong as I used to be.", grandpa holds Noelle's hand and begged.

"I will think about it. Give me some time to let all this sink in.", Noelle replied with heavy heart because she knows that her grandpa has no one else to rely on since her dad was the only child and she is also the only child in her family.

"I am glad to hear that. Before that, can you introduce this fine young man by your side.", grandpa's voice lightened up because Noelle was not rejecting him.

"To be honest, I just met him a few days ago. He suddenly appeared in my room without any sign of intrusion." Noelle realized that she shouldn't lie to her grandpa because he will dig deeper and remove Kian if he thinks that Kian could be a threat to his family.

"Grandpa, I will need your help to find out more on the legend of Krampus because Kian might be related to that." Noelle genuinely thinks that her dream that night has a connection with Kian materialization.

"Sure. I will ask the butler to find books on the legend and send it to your room. You must be tired from the journey. I have made sure that your room is ready. I am sure that you remember where your room is.". Grandpa couldn't help but worry about Kian's suspicious background.

"Can Kian have the room next to mine?", Noelle makes her eyes rounder and blink a few times because she knows that her grandpa wouldn't reject her request.

"He can but promise me no night visits.", he reluctantly.

"Thank you grandpa." Noelle kisses her grandpa's cheeks and grabs Kian's hand while hopping out merrily.

Noelle ran across the hall to the east wing like a child and headed to the second floor. Kian willingly being dragged by her.

"Kian, you should see my room. It has the best view in the house. My grandpa renovated the garden and filled it with Edelweiss flowers. So you can see it from my balcony." Noelle exclaimed excitedly while she barely can breath from the running.

"Anything is beautiful when you are around." Kian holds Noelle's shoulder so that she can stop running. Kian is worried in case Noelle exhaust herself too much since she was out of breath.

"Lets walk slowly there." Kian says softly while hugging Noelle's waist. Noelle blushed because it feels like they were a newlyweds walking to their room. Noelle shakes her head. "Why am I thinking of marriage right now." she thought to herself.

When she opens the door, there is an enormous bed in the middle of the room with poles on every corner all the way up to the ceiling. It is still the same as the way she left it a few years ago. She used to hate pinks so it is decorated in baby blue. Noelle led Kian to the balcony and the view was picturesque. The garden is decorated with Edelweiss in the middle and surrounded by tulips.

The flowers surround a huge fountain that is shaped like a man riding a horse with his swords held high up. "Kian, later we should check out the gazebos later on." Noelle pulls Kian's sleeves like a child since she really wants to explore the garden.

"Lets go check your room. I know a secret way leads to your room." Noelle runs towards the wall next to the fireplace.

"Clack!"

A small door opens and it leads to Kian's room. Mansions used to have the door for the servants to carry their tasks around the house. Plus it helps for the owner to escape in case of attack back in old times. The room where Kian is staying used to be empty because Noelle stays in the east wing all by herself. The whole building was made for Noelle by her grandpa because he loves to pamper her so much. Matter of fact, Noelle has her own servants that maintain the building even when she is not there. She can't wait for Yuki and Mai to arrive because she already planned a huge garden space for them to roam around.