Chapter 509: Noah’s Tears of Joy
Noah didn’t waste a second. He strode briskly down the path that Ayden and Clara had taken earlier.
As he followed it, his eyes landed on the couple in a nearby garden. They were seated beneath a tree, hands intertwined, laughing and smiling—clearly enjoying each other’s company.
"Mr Norman! Come here, quick!" Noah called out urgently.
Ayden’s head snapped toward the voice. The moment he saw Emily in the knight’s arms, his expression darkened with concern. He rose to his feet and rushed over, while Clara watched in startled confusion.
"What happened? Did she faint?" the assistant healer asked, his tone sharp with worry as he examined the curled-up figure of Emily in Noah’s arms.
"No, but she’s weak and pale. I don’t know what’s wrong," Noah replied, his voice tight.
Ayden stepped closer. "Lady Brooks, can you hear me? Are you all right? What happened?"
"I... I just feel so tired, Mr Norman," Emily murmured, her eyes fluttering shut.
Her pallor confirmed Ayden’s fears. Clara, now limping toward them, finally caught up.
"What’s wrong with her?" she asked breathlessly, confused and alarmed. She hadn’t seen Emily all day, as the woman had been with Athillia since morning.
"I’m not sure yet," Ayden said grimly, his expression troubled. "I need to examine her properly to find out. Bring her to the treatment room, Sir Brooks!"
Without hesitation, Noah nodded and carried his wife swiftly while Ayden followed closely behind.
"Don’t wait for me, go ahead!" Clara urged, waving them on. Though slowed by her limp, she didn’t want to delay Emily’s care.
By the time the knightess reached the treatment room, the door was tightly shut. Not wanting to interrupt, she sat quietly on a nearby bench, waiting with a tense heart.
Suddenly, the door flew open.
Noah was shoved backwards into the hallway. He stumbled and turned, startled, only to face Ayden’s furious glare.
"Stay out! And don’t even think about coming back in!" the assistant healer roared, jabbing a finger toward the knight’s face. "That was your final warning!"
Noah opened his mouth, ready to argue, but stopped himself. His fists clenched at his sides. The door slammed shut in his face with a loud thud.
Clara shot to her feet, stunned.
"What just happened?" she asked, bewildered by the outburst.
Noah let out a heavy sigh.
"Mr Norman wanted to run some additional tests using kits he got from the royal laboratory," he explained. "He said while waiting for Lady Raychard’s results, he brought back a few of the newly developed test kits.... ones designed to detect various diseases and common illnesses."
"So?" Clara looked puzzled.
What Ayden proposed was standard practice for a medical professional during an investigation. Clara couldn’t understand what had gone so wrong that the assistant healer lost his temper enough to throw Noah out.
After all, Noah was Emily’s husband—her next of kin—so it would’ve been normal for him to be present, unless he’d done something to provoke the situation.
"I got agitated when your betrothed tried to prick her finger to draw blood," Noah admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a guilty look. "I pushed him away. He told me to calm down and let him try again, but I kept interfering. The third time... he lost his patience and threw me out."
Clara burst out laughing and plopped back down onto the bench.
"I couldn’t help it! That needle was huge!" the knight said defensively, holding out his hands to illustrate the size, though his gesture clearly exaggerated the truth.
"Calm down, will you?" Clara chuckled. "Come and sit with me. Trust me, you’re not getting back in there anytime soon after causing such a scene."
The knightess seemed perfectly calm, unaffected by Ayden’s decision. By now, she understood well how seriously he took his duties. Those in the medical field generally disliked being interrupted while treating a patient.
Noah grumbled under his breath, arms folded across his chest—but he sat beside her anyway.
"That’s more like it," Clara said with a small smile. "Now, was Emily afraid of the needle?"
"No, not at all. She looked fine. Actually, when she saw how uneasy I was, she told me to wait outside."
The knightess nodded knowingly, still smiling.
"That’s just like her. She’s used to sewing, so pricking her fingers is second nature. You should trust her courage a little more."
"She’s my wife! Of course, I’m worried. I just got back and found her sick," Noah said, his voice tense. "Even Sir Jarr is panicked because his wife isn’t well."
"Don’t worry," Clara reassured him gently. "Ayden will examine her thoroughly. He won’t take this lightly. Look at me, for example. He took such good care of me, and now I can walk on my own again. Just wait until I’m fully recovered and back to serving Lady Raychard as her escort. Then you and I can work together!"
She spoke with a hopeful smile in a light tone. But Noah’s expression shifted abruptly.
"Didn’t Mr Amares tell you anything?" he asked.
"About what?" Clara blinked, clearly confused.
Realisation dawned on Noah. The knightess truly didn’t know. He couldn’t blame Rafe—there had been too many things happening at once, and not enough quiet moments to explain everything properly about her condition.
"Nothing. Forget it," Noah muttered, turning his head away.
A short silence followed, which Clara soon filled with chatter about Anna and Kiev’s previous accusation. She shared that she had heard bits and pieces of the story, up to the part when Ayden returned to the palace with the results of the lady’s medical examination report.
Their conversation had been interrupted earlier when Noah and Emily arrived seeking help, so Clara hadn’t heard the whole story. She was eager to know more but decided to wait patiently—either for Eric to speak about it as promised or for Ayden to reveal it, should he finish the treatment early.
Clara didn’t pressure Noah for answers. She could see he was preoccupied with concern for his wife, and instead steered the conversation to lighter topics, which seemed to ease his nerves.
As for the knight, he also chose to stay silent about Anna’s case. Since Eric had promised to disclose everything himself, and the second-in-command knight was his superior, it wasn’t his place to speak first.
On the other hand, Ayden wasn’t bound by any knightly code, so if he told Clara, it would be of his own accord.
Before long, the treatment room door opened, and Ayden called Noah back inside. Clara followed when the knight gestured for her to come along.
Inside, Emily lay down, resting on the patient’s bed. Noah rushed to her side, while the knightess took a seat in a nearby chair, giving the couple some space.
"How are you feeling? Are you all right now? What did Mr Norman say?" Noah asked anxiously.
"I feel much better lying down," Emily replied softly. "But Mr Norman hasn’t said anything yet."
Noah’s eyes shifted sharply to Ayden, his scowl making his thoughts perfectly clear—he didn’t need to say a word for the assistant healer to know he was demanding answers.
"Sit down," Ayden ordered.
Noah remained frozen in place.
"I won’t start unless you sit down," the assistant healer said firmly. "Trust me, you’ll want to be seated for this."
"What is it? What’s wrong with me?" Emily asked anxiously as Noah took a seat beside her.
Ayden inhaled slowly.
"You have a serious condition, Lady Brooks," he began.
Emily’s heart sank. Her gaze fell to her lap, her fingers trembling. Was she... dying?
But then came the words no one expected.
"...and it’s all because of him."
Emily’s head snapped up in confusion, only to see the assistant healer looking directly at Noah.
"What? What did I do? I’ve never hurt my wife!" the knight protested and stood up in alarm.
"I never said you did," Ayden replied calmly. "But what you’ve done is definitely going to change her life and yours."
"I... I don’t understand," Emily said, confused and nervous. "What do you mean, Mr Norman?"
Clara looked equally bewildered, trying to make sense of the cryptic build-up.
"I don’t know if you’re ready for this," Ayden said, a smile slowly spreading across his face, "but... congratulations. Lady Brooks is pregnant."
For a moment, time stood still.
Emily and Noah stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless. Clara gasped aloud, her jaw slightly open in disbelief.
"P-pregnant? Emily is... pregnant?" Noah stammered, as if saying it aloud might make it more real.
Ayden nodded in confirmation. "The test kit I used, from the Royal Laboratory, is brand new and highly accurate because it’s infused with a rare mana stone. This is the same kit used to determine Lady Raychard’s pregnancy, and according to the reading, Lady Brook is over a month along."
Noah sat in stunned silence. Slowly, his eyes drifted to Emily’s still-flat stomach.
A child.
The realisation hit him like a wave—deep, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. After everything they’d endured... his lonely past, their troubled beginning, and the trials they’d faced just to be together... now they were blessed with a new life.
His heart swelled with emotion, a storm of joy, disbelief, and quiet awe rising within him. They were going to have a baby.
"Noah!" Emily gasped as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her husband had always teased her during their intimate moments, whispering about having many children together. Now that it was actually happening... would he truly be happy?
"Oh, Emily!" Noah breathed.
He lunged to her and wrapped his arms around her instantly, holding her tightly as tears welled in his own eyes—tears of joy. What he had longed for most had finally come true. In that moment, nothing could bring him greater happiness.
Ayden watched them with a warm smile as Noah cried quietly in his wife’s arms. Seeing the two embraced, both emotionally overwhelmed, put his initial concern to rest.
He had feared the knight might not be ready for fatherhood, but Noah’s reaction left no doubt. Truly, Emily had changed him for the better.
"I’m going to be a father, Mr Norman!" Noah lifted his head and exclaimed.
Then, turning to Clara, who sat a little farther away, he called out again, "I’m going to be a father, Dame Verns!"
"Yes, you are," Ayden said with a chuckle. "And you look like you’re over the moon about it."
Clara nodded with a smile. "He definitely is."
"You bet I am!" Noah beamed proudly. "Oh, I can’t wait to meet my baby!"
"Easy now, Sir Brooks," Ayden said, holding back a laugh. "Based on my examination, your wife likely conceived shortly after your wedding. That means you still have about seven to eight months to go... plenty of time to prepare. But the most important thing right now is to ensure she is well-nourished and cared for. Given the nature of your duties, I highly recommend assigning her a female attendant."
"You’re absolutely right! We’ll hire some maids at once!" Noah declared enthusiastically.
"I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I can manage on my own," Emily gently interjected. "Besides, His Highness the Grand Duke doesn’t permit maids in the mansion. Mrs Foster is the only exception."
Noah’s face fell slightly, his excitement dimming as he paused to consider the restrictions. The mansion rules hadn’t changed, and now, with a child on the way, that reality weighed on him more than ever.
"I’ll speak to His Highness about this," Noah said with determination. "I believe some leniency is needed. Besides, Lady Raychard is pregnant too. Surely, she’ll require assistance now that my wife can’t attend to her. Even Lady Jarr isn’t well."
"Agreed," Ayden said with a nod. "The situation in this mansion has changed. It’s only right that the rules adapt with it."
"Then I’ll go now," the knight declared, rising to his feet.
"Wait," the assistant healer held up a hand. "Now might not be the best time. Lady Raychard and His Highness are still in the middle of an altercation. He may not be in the mood to entertain any new requests. I think it would be wiser to speak with Sir Navin first."
"He’s right, Sir Brooks," Clara added. "Sir Navin will support you. Emily is his sister, after all. Didn’t he promise to help look after her?"
Relief spread over Noah’s face. The knightess was right. Eric had always kept his word. Knowing this, he felt a renewed sense of hope.
"Then I’ll go to him right away!" he said.
"But Noah—" Emily called gently.
"No buts," he said. His voice softened, though his resolve stayed firm. "This is your first pregnancy, and I won’t risk anything happening to you. Please, just follow the advice. I don’t know if I’ll be with you all the way until the baby is born. My duty could call me away anytime, and I can’t leave you alone without ensuring you’re safe and well cared for. Let me do this so that I can worry less."
Emily gave a slight, reluctant nod. She didn’t like the idea of causing trouble or making demands, but if it eased the burden on Noah’s heart, then she would accept it.
Placing both hands gently over her stomach, she smiled, comforted by how much her unborn child already meant to its father.
"Before you go..." Ayden interjected.
Noah, still brimming with excitement, halted and turned. "Yes?"
The assistant healer cleared his throat, his expression shifting to something more solemn.
"I understand you’re beginning a new Chapter with your wife now, and I believe it’s time for me to close the old one. I’ve heard from the knights the truth about the accusation against you and that you achieved your retributions with help from His Highness Prince Kiev and others. So..."
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
"I want to apologise for how I looked down on you all those years and for the disdain I held. Whatever discord between us, I hope you’ll forgive me and let it go. I truly am sorry."
Ayden extended his hand sincerely.
Noah froze for a moment. The sudden silence tightened the air around them. Ayden, Clara, and Emily watched him anxiously. Was there no room left in his heart for forgiveness?
But then, without a word, the knight reached out and clasped Ayden’s hand in a firm handshake. The gesture cut through the tension like sunlight through storm clouds.
"I forgive you," Noah said at last. "I know it was hard for you, too. And truthfully, I never blamed you. I know this is late, but I want to say it anyway. My condolences for your loss. And please forgive me too, for all the trouble I caused, and for how I used to annoy you and everyone else."
Ayden’s eyes softened.
"I’ve already come to terms with what happened, Sir Brooks," he said quietly. "Even if that incident of yours hadn’t happened, my mother’s health was already failing. I knew she wouldn’t live long. But maybe... maybe I shifted the pain and guilt onto you, just to avoid blaming myself for not being able to help her. Still, God knows best. He always does."
"You’re right," Noah said with a nod. "And honestly, because of what happened back then... I became a better man. A man respected by others."
He turned toward Emily, his expression warming with love.
"And I was even blessed with the love of my life and a small family I cherish more than anything. What more could I ask for?"
Ayden blinked rapidly, his throat tightening. Tears threatened to fall, but he quickly composed himself, masking the emotion behind a faint smile.
"Then go," he said, voice thick with feeling. "Sir Navin’s probably still in the parlour with the dukes and lords. Let them know the good news!"
Noah gave a grateful nod and strode off with excitement, leaving Emily to rest peacefully in the treatment room.
His departure was followed by the warm smiles of those around him—smiles that reflected a future finally free of guilt, and brighter than ever before.