The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 305

Seeing the twinkle in Palmer's eyes, Noella felt her own heart skip a beat in response. She averted her gaze, awkwardly touched her face, and then turned on her heel and strode away.

"Let's head back," she suggested.

Palmer followed closely behind Noella, his eyes never straying from her form.

In the car, Horatio and Alkaid were having a stare-off.

"It's been years, and I can't just take your word for it that you're Alkaid. You'll have to prove it," Horatio declared.

Alkaid raised an eyebrow. "Go on, then."

Horatio cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Medusa turned a general's wife to stone, and the general exclaimed, 'How dare you petrify my dear wife!'"

Alkaid kept a straight face. "A bird of sorrow for lost love."

Horatio pressed on, "What did the gentleman say when Lady Medusa passed gas unexpectedly?"

Alkaid shrugged, "Didn't see that coming, you're a rattlesnake."

Increasing the difficulty, Horatio continued, "You're cursed out by Noella, but you still say, 'I'd face a thousand deaths before I'd resign!'"

With a confident smile, Alkaid responded, "Cursed a thousand times, I'd never quit."

High-fiving each other, Horatio confirmed, "That's you, alright. Let's roll."

Annie, who was driving, looked bewildered. "What kind of inside jokes are these? Have I been out of the loop for so long that the world's turned upside down?"

Noella explained, "Horatio's got a taste for this stuff. He's a monk; let him have his fun."

Despite his monk status, Horatio had a youthful spirit, enjoying a good corny joke now and then, a habit Noella had grown accustomed to.

Alkaid was one of the few who could keep up with Horatio's unique sense of humor.

Palmer chuckled. "Horatio's interests are certainly unique, quite fascinating. Was that Bowie trying to stop him earlier?"

Outside the VIP room, Palmer had bumped into some business partners and couldn't follow Noella inside. When Noella emerged, Palmer also noticed Bowie, who had been lingering behind Horatio.

Bowie had been called back to deal with some Richardson family affairs and naturally, didn't want to miss out on encountering Horatio.

Noella raised an eyebrow. "I guess he wanted the monk to solve his puzzles. Seems like he's been quite troubled lately."

Horatio waved dismissively. "I'm no detective; if you've got problems, go to the police, not me."

"What brings you down from the monastery this time?"

Horatio, satisfied with the sugar-free cola Alkaid had brought him, took a big gulp and let out a contented belch.

"Burp…I'm here to perform a ritual for my senior; she asked me to help her daughter-in-law find peace. That, I can do."

Annie looked surprised. "A monk with a senior who has a daughter-in-law?"

"Oh, my senior didn't take the vows. She just learned the craft from our master. Marriage and children were all part of her path."

The master who trained Horatio, a truly remarkable monk, was no ordinary person.

Noella nodded. "So, are you staying with the Schnabels, or would you prefer a hotel?"

After a moment of silence and some contemplation, Horatio's face brightened with a smile.

"I'll stay with you. Just find me a room with some sunshine. My senior lives nearby."

Noella knew Horatio preferred not to be a bother. Staying with the Schnabels would at least keep the unwanted visitors at bay.

Palmer's gaze sharpened a bit.

It wasn't that he disrespected Horatio, but Horatio didn't exactly fit the monk image, with his charming red-tinted eyes and a clean, handsome face. Considering Horatio and Noella's long acquaintance, Palmer couldn't help but feel wary.

"The Schnabel Manor is quite bustling. Why don't you stay at my place? It's more serene."