The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

Chapter 856 856: Three Options

Noble walked into the house and shut the door behind her. She checked to make sure no one else was inside.

"It's all clear, but I'm guessing you already know that."

The floating Saint glanced down at her shadow. She had seen the almost imperceptible movement of her guest into it, and Noble wasn't about to let him hide there for long.

Unwilling to see if the lady of the house would expel him from the darkness forcibly, a shadow separated from the hostess's and took the form of a man. His handsome face showed little expression.

"Please have a seat. Tea?" Noble had begun the brew before heading outside. She poured a cup for herself and her guest.

"Thank you." The handsome man accepted both the chair and the refreshment. "Ah, I do think this is the first time I have entered your home," Sunny mused as he looked around. "It's just as cozy as it looks from the outside. Much better than being out there where the unpleasant sun is reflecting off the snow. How is a shadow supposed to survive in such overwhelming brightness?"

'He's talking too much again. ' Noble noted the other Saint's nervousness. While she wanted guests to be at ease in her home, Child of Promise wanted answers even more.

"You are welcome to come in any time. All you need to do is introduce yourself to the family. In fact, that sounds like a splendid idea. It would save me from having to keep you a secret from my husband." Noble glanced at the front door.

The shadows around her became restless.

"On second thought, my spot below the windowsill works just fine." Sunny coughed. "Uh, you said you wanted to speak to me?"

Noble floated into the chair across from him at the table. "Yes, about Godgrave…"

Sunny kept his expression neutral, looking up at her as he lowered his teacup. "The Death Zone? What about it?"

"I think you know." Noble raised an eyebrow at him.

He shook his head slowly. "Indeed, I do not know what you are going to say."

"Oh?" The woman narrowed her gaze.

"You doubt me?" Sunny placed his hand on his chest. "I am the most honest man in two worlds."

Noble paused. 'Could I have been wrong?'

No, he was playing games with his wording. He had said he didn't know what she was going to say. Who could know that for certain except a seer?

Noble smirked.

"Very well. Then tell me. Who is Saint Shadow, and why is he living in Godgrave?"

The Saint nearly spat the liquid back into his cup. His calm expression faltered.

"Saint Shadow?"

"Yes, you know him. Or rather, you are him, aren't you?" Noble pressed.

"Enough questions." Sunny gritted his teeth.

His internal battle lasted for a moment before he sighed.

"I prefer to think that he is me, not the other way around. As for why I am living in Godgrave, I want to. Didn't I say he enjoys the solitude?"

Noble clicked her tongue. "Then why was he hanging out with Lady Changing Star and her Firekeepers?"

"You are very well informed about something that happened only this morning…." Sunny shook his head.

"I was called when Ray was unceremoniously thrown through a gateway by a monster." The floating woman crossed her arms

Sunny laughed. "Ha! That troublemaker wishes she were a monster…" The shadowy Saint paused. "My other incarnation was conducting a business deal of sorts."

'Why is Sunny smiling like that?' Noble felt the man's emotions shift abruptly.

"Business deal?"

Sunny coughed. "Yes." He held up a finger. "If you are about to ask the question I think you are going to, I suggest you consider carefully if you want the answer."

Noble shut her mouth. Knowledge was power, but too much was dangerous. The amount the professor already possessed was enough to get her into all kinds of trouble, even as a Saint. Was she really willing to risk learning more?

Yes, she was.

"Does your meeting with Lady Nephis have something to do with the war?"

Sunny regarded her for a moment. "You asked even after my warning. Didn't you want to stay out of it?"

"Forewarned is forearmed. How can I protect my family if I don't know what is going on?" Noble tilted up her chin.

"Honest answer? Go into hiding until it's all over." The handsome Saint sighed. "But I can see you have no intention of doing that…Yes. Since you must know, it has to do with the war. The King of Swords sent Lady Nephis to recruit me to his cause."

"You can't!" Noble covered her mouth.

"Why can't I? Saint Shadow is a bit of a sellsword. He can do whatever he pleases." Sunny's casual tone caused Noble to clench her fists.

"You would so easily join the King who wants to destroy Ravenheart? How could you do that to your sister? To us? Don't you hate the war anymore?" The words spilled out like a waterfall. It wasn't until the shadow of her own hand came across her mouth that she finally paused.

Sunny frowned. "I did not join the King. I gave my allegiance to Lady Changing Star only. I think my presence will save more lives than it takes. That is my goal, at the very least. I am not doing it to Rain. I am doing it for her, for all of you. And yes. I hate the war more than ever. I cannot stop it, but I can do my best to limit the devastation."

Sunny's proclamation left Noble speechless for a moment. Did he truly believe that by joining the war that he would be saving lives?

While Noble hadn't seen his full power—or even a fraction of it— any Saint was capable of calamities beyond description.

No, he was serious. Sunny knew that the path he was taking was risky. If he joined Valor, he would be putting his life on the line for a King that Noble could feel he detested.

The shadowy Saint had made it clear that his allegiance wasn't to the king at all. So why go to all the trouble to ingratiate himself with Clan Valor?

There were only three reasons that someone would align themselves with someone they hated. The first was because they hated someone else more. The enemy of my enemy is my friend was not just a saying.

Yet, Noble did not think this was the case. If Sunny had truly hated Ki Song more than Anvil, then he surely could have found a way to prevent them from moving to Ravenheart.

'Unless something happened afterward.'

Discarding that option, Noble looked at her second choice. That would be that Sunny thought that Anvil was most likely to win. Aligning himself with the eventual winner would grant him many privileges, and many he believed by doing this that he could gain some safety for Rain and their family.

But Child of Promise couldn't accept this explanation either. In her experience, Sunny wasn't exactly the type to bow to authority even if there was money involved. He would rather hide in a Death Zone or in a girl's shadow than be beholden to someone he did not think was worthy.

That left only one option.

Noble's eyes opened wide.