The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic Chapter 395: Be More Careful

'?' Noble managed to keep the thought to herself.

The voice had been Jet's, but Noble was fairly certain the comnt hadn't been ant for her.

When the battle concluded, Noble had spoken to Jet through [The Other's Voice], but they both had remained silent since then.

Noble had forgotten she was wearing the mory at all. She had had it on constantly during the second Nightmare, and so it felt as natural as her skin tucked behind her ear.

Jet had sounded extrely frustrated, livid even, which is why the words had leaked through to Noble.

'What could make Jet so angry?'

The gateway shone with its usual brilliance, but sohow the somber mood of the day made it look extra bright.

"Safe journey," Noble told the two n as they parted ways.

After wishing her the sa, she watched Coy and Chip go. Their bodies dissipated like the morning dew, leaving Noble alone in the large hall.

Her hand reached forward to touch the gateway, but she stopped short. A frown ford on her delicate mouth.

Noble had planned to head ho at the sa ti as the n. She was supposed to go to her family soon anyway, and she would be able to help with the clean-up better after visiting her loved ones and having a hot al.

But Jet's sudden exclamation piqued her interest. Nosey as it was, Noble needed to know more.

Her hand dropped to her side, and she turned down a side hall. With Noble's extra sense, it was easy for her to locate Soul Reaper. The ghostly Saint was in what used to be the Queen's private office.

And Jet wasn't alone.

The door was cracked open, and Noble could hear the heated conversation long before she reached the room.

"I think it was intentional. Look at the part of the wall she built. It was made to break! The white stone is still standing, yet her work is now dust." Jet's voice was exasperated.

This was obviously not the first ti she had made the claim during the conversation.

"My part of the wall is where the Titan hit. Do you really expect that the white stone would have done any better under the sa circumstances?" Harlow answered full of indignation.

"This is a serious accusation," Saint Cor's gravelly voice interrupted. "Harlow has a long history as an envoy between the governnt and Clan Valor."

Noble felt a profound sense of anger in her heart. Part of that long history involved the death of her father.

She should have walked away from the eting. It was obviously private and not ant for her ears. Yet, she refused to leave.

"Still," Cor's asured cadence continued, "I cannot discount what Saint Jet has said. You have tried to explain why the wall crumbled, but can you account for the other claim?"

"You an it being shiny? I like shiny things! I didn't think about it affecting visibility." Harlow was silent for a mont before sighing. When she spoke, her voice was filled with sadness. "Fine. It is the shiny quality that gives it the strength. When Jet asked forcefully to make it less reflective, I didn't want to tell her that it would make it weaker. I thought I could make it still be strong and less bright. If Jet had not been so angry, maybe we could have discussed it but..."

Noble balled her fists. 'She's lying.'

"What?" Jet's surprised voice cut off Harlow.

The stoneshaper frowned. "I said..."

Jet held up her hand. "Noble?"

Realizing what had happened, Noble froze. Just like Jet's anger had allowed her words to seep through the mory, so had Noble's in return.

The easiest thing would have been to leave quickly, dismiss [The Other's Voice], and never ntion overhearing the conversation. If she went back to the Waking World now, it was unlikely that anyone in the room would track her down or bring up this private issue.

But Noble didn't want to run. She didn't even like that she had been hiding up until now.

So instead the Master pushed on the door and stepped into the room.

"Awakened Harlow is lying."

"Child of Promise?" Cor seed only mildly surprised by her appearance.

Harlow, on the other hand, was shocked. Regaining her composure quickly, she placed her hands on her hips. "What do you an, I am lying? And what are you even doing in the hall? Were you eavesdropping like so spoiled busybody?"

"I am allowed to walk the halls of the palace." Noble defended herself. "I heard Jet speak through the mory behind her ear, so I ca to investigate. I stayed outside longer than I should have, but that is less of a sin than the lie you just told two Saints."

"How dare you..." Harlow was cut off as Cor's aura pressured her into silence.

"Noble is one of the founders of this citadel. If anyone has a right to speak on the construction of the wall, it is her."

All three sets of eyes turned to the Master to hear her assessnt. Noble could feel their emotions. Jet was relieved to have so backup, Cor was strangely calm as he weighed the situation, and Harlow? If her emotions could kill...

But Noble did not back down.

"What Awakened Harlow said about the luster of the wall and its strength being interconnected was a lie. She also knew that the wall wasn't strong but decided to let the defenders remain on it anyway. It is possible she weakened it on purpose out of spite because Jet called her out publicly."

Noble had much more she wanted to add, but even the last sentence was conjecture and not fact.

Cor rubbed his weathered chin with his thumb. "I see."

"You are just going to believe her like that?" Harlow guffawed.

"He's going to believe the truth, if that's what you an," Jet rolled her eyes.

Harlow clenched her jaw, "Saint Cor, I have never done anything against the governnt..."

"Another lie," Noble muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?!" The stoneshaper challenged.

"Enough." Wake of Ruin's eyes narrowed. "By your own admission, Awakened Harlow, the wall was weakened. For the sake of the relationship between Clan Valor and the governnt, I will assu it was all a large mistake and not hold you accountable for all the lives lost today. You may return to your family's citadel. The governnt is no longer in need of your services."

Harlow folded her hands. "Now...or ever?"

"That remains to be decided." Wake of Ruin shook his head.

"My brother will be hearing about this," Harlow straightened her back. "We can discuss this further when I get back from my second nightmare. I needed to leave for it next week anyway."

"Give your brother our regards," Cor said evenly. "May your Trial go smoothly. Humanity needs more strong Awakened who are willing to battle to save it."

The woman relaxed slightly. "I look forward to battling alongside you again soon. Goodbye, Saint Cor, Saint Jet."

Harlow smiled at Noble, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"And good day to you, Master Noble. May I give you so friendly advice? That need to investigate can get you into a lot of trouble. Your father found that out the hard way."

"You an the father that you claid to only barely know?" Noble shot back quickly.

"It's easier to rember soone when you have their copy standing in front of you." Harlow's smile faded. "Be more careful than he was."