The Extra is a Genius!?-Chapter 139: Trust and Scisoors

Noel sat stiffly on the cushioned chair placed in the middle of Elena’s room, unsure whether to be nervous about the haircut or the fact that someone was holding a pair of scissors dangerously close to his head.

"You’re sure you’ve done this before?" he asked, eyeing the small silver scissors in Elena’s hand with suspicion.

"Yes, one time, to be honest," she said brightly, brushing a lock of his blond hair between her fingers. "But how hard can it be?"

"Comforting," he muttered, casting a brief glance toward the door as if planning an escape.

Elena giggled softly behind him, already parting sections of his hair. "Just don’t move too much. I don’t want to slice your ear off by accident."

"Great. I look like a wolf and now I might end up deaf too."

"Stop being dramatic. You’re not that hairy. Yet."

He rolled his eyes but obeyed, letting her fingers guide his head gently into place. The first snip echoed lightly in the quiet room.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Elena moved with surprising delicacy—each movement practiced, even if she denied experience. Noel closed his eyes briefly, letting the tension in his shoulders ease.

At least it was peaceful. For now.

The room was quiet, save for the soft snipping of scissors and the gentle rustle of hair falling to the floor. Noel sat still on the cushioned stool, draped in a light green cloth Elena had wrapped around him. She moved with care, combing sections of his hair with her fingers before cutting, her expression focused.

"You’ve gotten better at this," Noel muttered, eyes fixed on the window in front of him.

Elena smiled faintly, brushing aside a golden strand. "I’m a fast learner."

"Hmph. I see."

She nudged him lightly on the side of the head. "Don’t move."

Another pause. Then, in a softer tone, she asked, "Do you remember what I told you... back then? When Lereus was still around."

Noel’s eyes narrowed slightly. "That I shouldn’t put myself in danger?"

"That... and," she stepped closer behind him, her fingers pausing against his temple, "that you can trust me."

Noel turned his head slightly, enough to try and catch her gaze.

But Elena’s hand gently pressed against his cheek, steadying him. "No turning," she whispered.

His eyes caught the tip of her pointed ears—flush with pink.

’She’s blushing.’

Noel said nothing else, allowing her to keep cutting, the silence stretching between them like something delicate.

The snipping resumed, softer now, as if the tension between them had dulled the sound itself. Elena worked in quiet concentration, her hands moving more slowly than before. Noel didn’t speak either—not because he lacked something to say, but because he wasn’t sure how to say it.

Eventually, it was Elena who broke the silence.

"You know... we’re almost at the start of second year." Her voice was gentle.

"Yeah," Noel replied, resting his hands on his knees. "Hard to believe."

Elena trimmed a few stray locks at the back of his neck, her hands moving with practiced care. The silence between them lingered, not uncomfortable—just quietly intimate.

"I still remember how we met," she said softly.

Noel blinked. "That’s right... it was when we went to ask Gareth Wren something, wasn’t it? The guide for our dorm."

Elena nodded. "Yeah... You behaved like a gentleman that day, remember? You let me go first, even though you got there before me."

"Was that so unusual?"

She hesitated. "Maybe. There were some bad rumors about you at the beginning. I guess they faded with time."

"I’m glad they did," Noel said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

She didn’t answer, just kept trimming, eyes focused. A small silence stretched between them again—quiet, thoughtful.

"Second year will be different," she said at last. "Harder. More responsibilities. Council work... and new students."

Noel let out a sigh. "Seraphina’s going to work me to death. She already promised as much."

"She trusts you."

"That’s the problem."

Elena smiled again and gently combed through the final strands. "Done."

Noel stood, brushing off the cloth as strands of hair fell away. He turned to face her fully.

"Well?" he asked.

Elena tilted her head, studying him. "You look... sharper."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

She folded the cloth and gave him a small, content nod.

"Thank you," he said, sincerely.

"You’re welcome," she replied, eyes lingering on him just a moment longer.

Noel looked at his reflection in the small wall mirror. The cut was cleaner, more practical—it made him look a little older. Less like a student... more like someone who had already been through too much.

"Looks good," he murmured to himself.

Elena watched him in silence from behind, arms crossed, a faint smile on her lips.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" she asked suddenly.

"The wedding?" Noel turned his neck slightly, testing the new weight of his hair. "Not really. I’m not the one getting married."

"Still... It’s your sister. And Veyron is too nice."

"He is," Noel admitted. "Too nice for her, maybe."

Elena let out a small laugh. "You said it, not me."

There was a short pause. Noel looked at her again.

"Thanks for doing this."

"Noel," Elena said, walking slowly toward the door as she spoke, "you can ask me for help anytime. Not just when you need a haircut."

Noel stayed quiet for a moment, watching her open the door to her room with that calm grace of hers.

"I’ll keep that in mind," he finally replied.

"Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Matriarch Ilvanna von Lestaria—your grandmother."

"Well, there’s been a shift in roles within my family. My father is the Patriarch now. Honestly, I’m glad about the change. My grandmother was... a bit old-fashioned."

"I see. So that’s a good thing for you, right?"

"Yes."

"Then it’s for the best. Will she be at the wedding?"

"No."

"Wait, I didn’t bring up something too sensitive, did I? She’s not dead, right?"

"No, don’t worry." She let out a soft laugh. "There were just... some disagreements. My family thought it was time for a change of pace."

"I see... also, how is your mother after this change?"

"She’s fine. She’s changed since my grandmother stepped down as matriarch, so she’s not as strict."

’Good to know she doesn’t have to push herself like that anymore.’

And with that, the two of them left the room together, their footsteps echoing softly across the pale marble hallway.

Elena walked beside Noel down the curved stone path leading from her family’s estate, the tips of her fingers brushing against the long sleeves of her dress. The evening air was cool, scented with flowers and distant pine. For a few steps, neither of them spoke.

When they reached the ornate silver gate, Noel turned to her.

"Thanks again," he said simply.

She nodded. "You’re welcome."

For a heartbeat, Elena debated whether to say more—whether to ask him to stay just a little longer, to say something else before he returned to the Thorne household.

But instead, she smiled softly. "Get some rest. Tomorrow’s a big day."

"I’ll try," Noel said, with a faint smirk.

She opened the gate for him, stepping aside. He passed through, then gave her one last glance over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Elena."

"Mm." Her voice caught slightly. "See you."

Once he disappeared into the street, Elena stayed there for a moment, staring into the quiet night. She pressed a hand against her chest, trying to calm the warmth rising in her cheeks.

Footsteps approached behind her.

"Elenaaaaa~" came a teasing voice—her youngest sister.

"Elena, who was that?" added her older brother, lifting a brow.

A chorus of siblings followed, surrounding her like wolves who smelled something sweet.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"Is that the guy Mother was talking about?"

"You were red as a tomato!"

Elena froze, her face burning. "I-It’s nothing," she muttered quickly, brushing past them and hurrying back inside.

But her ears—long and pointed—remained flushed bright pink.

And her heart... refused to calm down.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶