Moonlight Glow

Chapter 7: Burnt Umber

Few days after the police's inspection,instead of hearing Rose's "good morning", Noah found Hans seated at the table of the sitting room drinking tea from a white porcelain tea cup.
"Good morning,how are you doing today?".The gentleman looked at him with a bright smile.
"I'm alright,thanks".
"Nice,because I was planning to bring you to have a tour of the agency. If you don't mind of course".
Noah thought back at his words,how even the agency was planning on using both his power and Rose's power if they got the chance. But if Hans was proposing to show him around there then maybe he had people he could trust.

"Sure".
"Very well then".
Hans stood up and took his top hat,once placed on the table. Noah went back to his room to change his white shirt with the upper part of his jester attire but Hans stopped him.
"I think it's better if I lend you something from my wardrobe".

Rain and thunderstorms had grieved the sky for many days. That kind of weather was well known during Winter in Lunatea,but that morning the noble street looked lively.Rays of sunshine made the flowerbeds twinkle at the sidways of the street. Carriages and people were passing the street,someone was enjoying their relaxing stroll while others looked in a hurry with their work suitcases.

It had been quite difficult choosing what Noah wanted to wear. Among yellow neckties, blue tailcoats and green suits ,he couldn't find that touch of colorless he deemed would suit him best.Hans did admit that his wardrobe was a bit bizarre, but somehow he managed to find some monochrome stuffs once he dug into it better. A light gray shirt was covered by a black tail coat, trousers and boots were black as well, while the gloves were white. Noah felt a bit squashed in that garment. It was difficult to move sometimes, especially because the tailcoat was a bit tight-fitting. Probably it was something Hans wore when he was younger.

Hans was leading the way,while Noah followed him absent-mindedly,his attention had been caught by all the people around him. Even though he was dressed just like them he still felt a bit out of place.A voice woke him up from his thoughts
"Is everything ok,Noah?". Hans was now walking at his same pace close to him.
"Oh yes,of course".

The gentleman smiled. Noah found his smile really unique. It was pure and cheerful like the one children usually wear when they see something wonderful and unexpected. Actually, Hans did have some naive manners sometimes. Rosemary too,but Hans was really something.
Rosemary.

That thought stroke his mood like a fragment of glass from a shattered window. After what happened with the police she started acting different with Noah. She wasn't cold but she didn't look very relaxed around him either. Whenever he started thanking her for saving him,she always changed subject or she just looked away from him with a sad expression. He had wondered many times if maybe he had hurt her in any way,or perhaps she understood his plan back during the inspection and she got scared of him.

Those thoughs gave a gloomy vibe to Noah's eyes. Hans saw the change.
"I'm sure she is alright. You know,she struggles on her own like you too".
"Really? She looks so strong though". The image of her crimson eyes was still very clear in Noah's memory.
"She is strong,and the same for you too. You'll both find what you are looking for".
What am I looking for indeed?
That was also one of the thoughts that was bugging him the most. After being repeated for all his life that he was only good at taking away human lives he started believing it. But what could he do instead of that?
"Although,Noah?"
Hans stopped,Noah's eyes were fixed on him.
"You can't escape prison while still wearing handcuffs".
He looked relaxed,as if he had just explained the easiest thing in the world.     "Plus, there's no need for you to wear your jester mask when you are with us. We both think that you are impressive anyway".

The jester couldn't clearly tell what his first statement was about but somehow his words soothed him and he felt like something had been taken off his shoulders.