The weight of Noah's indifference pressed down on Luna like a heavy cloak. She had poured her heart out, shared her vulnerability, and all she received was a cold shoulder and a dismissal of her pain. It was a slap in the face, a betrayal of the trust she had placed in him.The next time they met, Luna decided to confront him directly. She found him in the castle library, his face buried in a book of poetry. He looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face."Luna," he said, his voice lacking its usual warmth. "What are you doing here?""I'm here to remind you of something," Luna said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her heart. "I helped you escape a forced marriage. I put myself in danger, I risked my reputation, all for you. And this is how you treat me?"Noah's brow furrowed. "I don't understand what you're trying to say," he said, his voice defensive. "I'm grateful for what you did, but this whole charade is over. I'm no longer in danger of being forced to marry Eleanor.""It's not just about the marriage," Luna said, her voice rising in frustration. "It's about respect. It's about acknowledging that I'm not just a pawn in your game, that I have feelings too.""I never said you were a pawn," Noah retorted, his voice laced with impatience. "You're a good girl, Luna, but you're overreacting. This whole situation has been stressful, and I need some time to myself."Luna felt a surge of anger. She had been patient, understanding, but Noah was being deliberately obtuse. He was refusing to acknowledge her feelings, her pain, her sacrifice."You're right," Luna said, her voice cold. "This whole situation has been stressful. But it's not just about you, Noah. It's about me too."She took a step closer, her eyes blazing with anger. "You think you can just use me, manipulate me, and then discard me like a used napkin?"Noah's eyes widened in surprise. He had never seen Luna so angry, so fierce."I never intended to use you," he said, his voice softening. "I was just trying to escape a difficult situation.""And you thought you could do that by using me?" Luna asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "By pretending to be in love with me? By making me believe that you cared?"Noah opened his mouth to respond, but Luna didn't give him a chance. She raised her hand, her palm connecting with his cheek with a sharp crack. The sound echoed through the library, silencing the room.Noah stared at her, his face a mask of shock and anger. He had never been struck by a woman before, especially not one he considered to be beneath him."You're a coward," Luna said, her voice trembling with anger. "You're a liar. And you're a user."With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Noah standing alone in the library, his face burning with shame, his heart filled with a strange mix of anger and confusion.He had never expected Luna to react this way. He had underestimated her strength, her intelligence, her capacity for anger. He had treated her like a pawn, a tool, and she had finally shown him that she was not.He had been blinded by his own needs, his own desires, and he had failed to see the woman beneath the facade of the simple village girl. He had played a dangerous game, and he had lost.As Luna walked away, leaving him in the silence of the library.
