EPISODE 29

The two people froze at the unexpected proposal. Why would someone make such a suggestion to an unmarried woman who is known to be extensively seeking a suitor? No matter how one interprets it, it seems to imply interest in Cordelia.

Moreover, even if that wasn’t the case, the proposal had to be declined without question. They needed to act together until the body-switching issue was resolved, and Noah, due to his position, could not leave the country. If they ended up too far apart and switched bodies, it would be even worse.

Cordelia smiled slightly pulling the corner of her mouth and reaching under the table to pat Noah’s thigh. Understanding the signal, Noah posed the most urgent question first.

“Forgive me, but I assume you are aware of my circumstances, Your Excellency.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then why make such a proposal knowing that?”

Raymond’s lips curled up slightly in an awkward smile. His voice followed with a soft and gentle tone as if luring a butterfly with a fragrance.

“It might be embarrassing to say directly, but I was struck by you at first sight during the banquet.”

A lie.

Cordelia was so astounded she nearly grabbed Raymond by the collar. What in the world was he seeing as love-struck? It was more like the gaze of a child discovering an interesting toy!

She wanted to tell him he must be insane, but this was the most distressing instance of being in someone else’s body.

Why hadn’t Lyneth arrived earlier to prevent this? Now, grumbling inwardly about Lyneth and biting her lip in frustration, Cordelia reached under the table to write something on Noah’s palm.

As soon as Noah got the note, he almost turned back towards Cordelia.

Was she serious?

There was sincerity in the hand gripping his own tightly. Despite the complex feelings, Noah replied with an unwavering voice.

“I appreciate Your Excellency’s feelings, but unfortunately, you are not my type.”

Good, well done. My dear!

Raymond, who had been looking at Noah with a nonchalant expression, withdrew his smile and responded with surprise.

“Is that so? I have never heard that my face is particularly unattractive.”

“Of course not.”

Cordelia, unable to hold back, replied immediately but then hesitated when she noticed Raymond’s gaze. His violet eyes, full of interest, curved elegantly like a crescent moon. Seeing that expression made the truth spill out.

“Who openly tells their superior they are unattractive? I’m not looking to shorten my lifespan!”

Certainly, the man was handsome, but that was beside the point. Who would say such a thing to someone ruling a nation?

The attitude of never having been rejected was quite irritating… huh?

Cordelia stopped her thoughts due to the strange discomfort as if her face was being spat on. The servants around seemed to be bowing their heads even more than before; it might be an illusion, right? It also seemed like there was a very faint sound of laughter.

It must be an auditory hallucination. Yes, it must be!

“Indeed, so you want to say my face is unattractive?”  

“No, not exactly…”  

“Then I’m curious to see how handsome you think your own face is.”  

“Excuse me?”  

“Even though I am generous, I am somewhat offended.”  

Facing Raymond, who looked like he was enjoying finding a flaw rather than feeling offended, Cordelia smiled sweetly. Feeling a strange sense of foreboding, Noah tried to dissuade Cordelia, but she had already spoken her piece.

“Unfortunately, it’s difficult to reveal my face without permission. Our lady cherishes me greatly, you see.”

Leaning toward Noah and casually linking her arm with his, Cordelia’s soft and supple body became stiff with tension. Even though there was no outright lie, Noah, feeling like he had no choice, nodded along, as if reluctantly agreeing.

Raymond’s lips curled up gently.  

“But isn’t the lady talking about a marriage proposal right now?”

Despite the question of whether it was time to stop this game, Cordelia remained resolute. She raised her eyes slightly and looked up at Noah.

“You’re only looking for a suitor, but nothing has been confirmed yet, correct?”  

“Well… that’s right.”

So close, so close, so close!  

Even though he screamed inwardly, Noah made a deliberate effort to stay calm and reached for a grape on the table. He placed it in Cordelia’s mouth, his fingertips trembling slightly with embarrassment, but he managed to endure.

Though it was momentarily annoying to see Cordelia happily eating the grape without a care, she also looked quite cute. Well, it was already this way.

“And even though there are many suitors, there’s still worry that none of them might suit your taste.”  

“Of course, one can’t just marry anyone.”

Cordelia clung to Noah with a bold and unabashed attitude, as if examining his status or value with persistent scrutiny. Noah blinked, unable to decide what to do next.

At this point, trying to detach Cordelia would make things even more suspicious. Denying the nature of their relationship in front of someone who already knew it wasn’t one of master and servant would only give rise to other issues.

Yet, Cordelia was so close. Even though it was due to the body-switching situation, it was still unsettling for his heart.

To wrap up this awkward situation, he spoke up.

“If that’s all you have to say, may we leave now?”

Having grown up in the chaotic royal palace of the previous king, Noah was not entirely unfamiliar with this kind of pressure. He was not so weak as to flinch under this level of stress.

Cordelia, who had been gazing at the wine with a lingering look, stood up and followed Noah. Raymond watched the two with apparent amusement.

“Are you going to refuse?”

“I will keep this matter confidential, so please let us out now.”

As Noah answered with the utmost courtesy, Raymond looked back at Cordelia and then fixed his gaze on their hands. The persistent scrutiny was interrupted by a refreshing voice that made them pause.

“Is there another issue?”

***

“Why do you always bring such troublesome requests?”  

Vende shook his head in frustration. The two robed figures standing behind him stared intently at Tyrain, who was seated opposite on the sofa.  

The large windows provided good natural light, but Tyrain knew well that those windows were sturdier than they appeared. Of course, they had to be, given that there was a barrier set up.  

Tyrain casually asked.

“Is that so?”  

Guild <Soleil>.  

Though it masqueraded as an information guild, it was a meeting place for wizards who were not found in the temple or had arrived from abroad. Despite wizards’ typically individualistic nature and dislike for group living, even the most solitary individuals would eventually unite in the face of a colossal threat.  

For them, that threat was the temple. They began with the belief that all magic should be under the temple’s control and, from the moment they were identified as wizards, sought to avoid the legal shackles that bound their every action.  

While there were many benefits to this, there were also those who simply wished to enjoy a peaceful and free daily life. Still, they required at least minimal contact, which is why they relied on the information guild. The guild’s emphasis on trust aligned well with the secretive nature of wizards. 

There were several guilds like this near the kingdom’s borders that secretly interacted with wizards. Tyrain had connections with many of them. Although it was necessary to reduce risks somewhat, it was an effective way to keep the temple in check.  

“I don’t know of any wizards who handle such matters, but I’ll send a letter anyway.”  

Vende, the head of <Soleil>, was known for his rationality and efficiency. His amicable demeanor and sociability meant that even if disputes arose among members, they were easily mediated by him.  

Given his pride in the guild, it was surprising to see him immediately shake his head.  

“Is it that difficult?”  

“Yes. Even if you go to <Aurote>, you won’t get a better answer than mine. It doesn’t seem like magic that just anyone can solve.”  

Judith, a highly skilled wizard reputed to be the most competent among those in <Soleil>, spoke up. She sat right next to Vende. Her young face bore a notable scar that stretched from her right forehead, past her left eye, and down her cheek.  

“If it’s magically entangled with rituals, it likely falls into the domain of sorcery. The fact that it involves a medium inscribed with a sigil, rather than a direct magical circle, suggests that high-level magic is in play.”

Given that Tyrain was well aware of the difficulty of creating magical tools due to the various magical objects he had to handle for work, he understood that crafting such items wasn’t easy. Observing his nodding response, Judith continued speaking.

“If you had found the magical circle, it might have been easier, but the fact that the medium inscribed with it is missing complicates things. Sorcery requires the magical circle to undo it.”

“What about this?”  

Tyrain pulled out a crumpled note from his pocket and handed it to them. It was a drawing of the magical circle that had been inscribed on Cordelia and Noah’s right hands.

Judith examined it closely and shook her head.  

“It only resembles a form that links souls. While it might be useful for reference, magic that swaps bodies and consciousness without side effects would require a more complex design.”

Tyrain pointed out the discomfort he had been feeling.  

“Still, you’re not saying it’s impossible to solve.”  

“It’s not something I would consider impossible. However, it seems it’s not within my area of expertise.”  

“Then I’m willing to pay any amount, so please find someone who can solve this.”  

“Secretly, of course?”  

“Yes.”

Judith, after some thought, spoke up.  

“I do have one person in mind, but it may take some time.”  

“That’s fine.”

Vende picked up the pouch of advance payment that Tyrain had left on the table and checked the gold coins inside. While she assured that she would do her best, Judith cautiously added.  

“Do you know if the sorcery involves curses?”  

“Yes, I know.”  

“You should hope that this magic is not in the realm of curses. If it is, the task will become significantly more complicated.”  

“What specifically do you mean?”  

“Unlike other types of sorcery, curses require you to locate the person who cast it.”  

Judith’s pink eyes glinted ominously as she added that magical circles and potions alone might not be enough to resolve the issue.  

“You mentioned there’s a limit to the number of attempts. How many do you estimate are left?”  

“I estimate there are about five attempts remaining.”  

“…Since we don’t know what will happen when all the attempts are used up, it would be best to proceed with caution.”  

Her voice carried a warning laced with foreboding.