In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 102

EPISODE 102

Cordelia quickly covered her mouth with the back of her hand, preventing herself from drooling as she answered Linda, who had asked curiously.

“It’s nothing. Are your classes fun?”

“They’re fun, but I’m still not sure about my career path.”

“You don’t need to work, though.”

“But instead, I have to get married. Father has already started showing me portraits… Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about it.”

What was Frederick thinking, pushing this on her when she hadn’t even debuted in society yet?

Seeing her niece looking sullen, Cordelia gave her a reassuring smile.

“Marriage already? It’s too early for that. I haven’t even gotten married yet.”

“Well, it’ll happen someday! I’ll just meet someone with a nice personality, and that’ll be fine, right?”

“Maybe, but this is the person you’ll live with for the rest of your life. There’s nothing wrong with being careful and taking your time. By the way, aren’t there any decent guys at the academy? I heard it’s a place where everyone mingles regardless of gender.”

Linda burst into laughter and waved her hand.

“Oh, come on! How could I even think about that? I’m not that popular anyway.”

“What? No way. Are people blind or something?”

“I’m serious! I don’t know about anyone I like, but there is someone who, really, really annoys me.”

“Oh, really?”

Linda’s eyes glinted ominously as she let out a sinister laugh. Cordelia, sensing where this was headed, tried to change the topic, but Linda had already begun.

“Ugh, I know he’s got a terrible temper, but why is he only so rude to me? He’s polite to everyone else, but with me, it’s always just short answers like ‘Yeah,’ ‘Sure,’ or ‘Whatever.’ Can’t he say anything else?”

It was rare to see Linda, usually so laid-back and easygoing, get this worked up. Cordelia stared at her, surprised.

“Is he just a stoic type?”

“He’s quiet, yeah, but he’s also really grumpy. If he’s not in the mood to hang out with people, he just ignores them. Not that he’s completely awful, though…”

Whatever she was thinking of, Linda suddenly grew quiet. Then, covering her face, she let out a frustrated scream.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Linda’s face was flushed with what seemed like uncontrollable anger, so Cordelia gently opened her fan and fanned her.

“So, Cordy, do you have someone special? What happened to the guy you were seeing last time?”

Cordelia thought for a moment. It had been about a year since she’d mentioned a boyfriend to Linda.

“If you’re talking about Paris, we broke up a while ago. But yes, there is someone.”

“Really?”

Linda’s eyes sparkled, and Cordelia nodded shyly.

“Maybe someone I’d like to marry, if possible? But that’s just me thinking out loud for now.”

“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about marriage before.”

Well, that made sense, since the only relationship that had lasted even six months had been with Edward. Cordelia was the type who believed marriage shouldn’t be discussed unless the relationship had lasted at least a year.

Liam would have clicked his tongue and called her picky if he’d heard that, but Cordelia didn’t care about his opinion.

“Keep this a secret from Rick for now, okay? It’s a bit complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“He might oppose it, so I’m still figuring things out.”

Even though she and Noah had finally gotten on the same page, the real challenge started now. Frederick wouldn’t just sit idly by if he found out she was involved with an exiled prince. It was only natural he would oppose it, so she wasn’t planning to tell him just yet.

First, Cordelia needed to find a way to restore Noah’s status. Or at the very least, secure a noble title for him. Some maneuvering within the royal court would be necessary… Though she had kept her distance from politics, Cordelia had at least one card she could play with the king.

Linda, tilting her head in thought, suddenly seemed to realize something, covering her mouth and looking at Cordelia with a dreamy gaze.

What is this?

“Stay strong, Cordy! I’ll always be cheering for you!”

What exactly is she supposed to stay strong for?

That look, that expression—it was strangely familiar. It reminded Cordelia of the faces young women made outside bookstores, and she responded with an incredulous tone.

“Linda, what kind of book have you been reading? It’s not some grand, dramatic story like you’re thinking.”

Unbelievable!

Sure, Noah’s situation was a bit complicated, but was it that serious? It wasn’t as though they were lovers from feuding families or anything.

There was talk that he could become a spark of rebellion, but it wasn’t as if he had any intention of committing treason. Cordelia had a feeling that if they handled this right, they could find a way to navigate the situation.

She hadn’t quite figured out the exact method yet, but if it came to it, writing a formal pledge and taking action might be the way forward…

“I wasn’t thinking anything like that! What were you thinking to make such a comment?”

“There’s something suspicious about this. What kind of novel have you been reading that’s popular in the capital? Hmm?”

“I haven’t been reading anything!”

Linda tried to act innocent but soon gave in and confessed her thoughts.

“Isn’t it because he’s a commoner or something? Like, you’re worried about the difference in status? What other reason would Father have to oppose it?”

“If that were the case, I would’ve bought him a title ages ago!”

Why is everyone’s imagination so limited?

“Then who are you involved with that’s causing all this concern?”

“Well, that’s—”

“We’ve arrived, ladies.”

Just in time, the carriage reached the city. Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief at the coachman’s cheerful announcement.

“Alright, let’s get out. We can talk about it later.”

Though Linda still looked slightly pouty, she obediently gathered her belongings and pulled up her hood. A few disguised knights followed behind them, maintaining a safe distance, as the two women chatted amicably while strolling through the city.

“So, where are we going?”

“There’s going to be a play in the square over there!”

“A play?”

“Yes, have you heard of the Eureka Theatre Company? They recently came to Devron. Molly said she watched one of their performances and was enthralled!”

“Ah, so that’s why you wanted to come out today.”

Linda, realizing she’d been caught, shyly averted her gaze. Cordelia playfully patted her niece’s shoulder.

“Alright, let’s go watch it!”

Together, Cordelia and Linda began walking through the familiar city. This was the place where Cordelia had been born and raised. The city still held the same charm it had before she moved to the capital at sixteen.

As one of the wealthiest cities in the kingdom, the heart of the town had a well-maintained tile-paved road. After a while, they arrived at a square with a fountain adorned with a statue of a goddess, where a crowd had gathered.

“It looks like it’s already started!”

Linda and Cordelia squeezed through the crowd, watching the actors move in front of the fountain.

“Brother, how could you do this to me?”

“Perhaps it was your destiny all along.”

“The gods will never forgive you!”

The play turned out to be as entertaining as Linda had promised. The actors were excellent, delivering their lines with great timing, and the humorous moments were spot on. Laughter echoed throughout the crowd at the exaggerated actions of the performers.

However, as Cordelia watched, a strange sense of familiarity began to gnaw at her. It was subtle, but there was something about the story that left her with an odd feeling of unease. By the time the play ended, that feeling had only grown stronger.

“Cordy, what are you doing?”

Linda tugged on Cordelia’s arm, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Huh?”

Cordelia smiled at Linda, who looked up at her with a curious expression.

“Oh, nothing. I just had something on my mind. Are we done?”

“I still want to check out the market.”

“Alright, let’s head over there.”

They walked a little further to the bustling market. It was packed with people, and Linda’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly approached the stalls. Cordelia, on the other hand, kept her distance, content to observe from afar. As she took a step back to avoid the crowd, her heel bumped into something.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

She said quickly, realizing she had likely stepped on someone.

But instead of a simple acknowledgment, a loud, arrogant voice responded.

“Hey! Do you know who you just offended with your clumsy behavior?”

Cordelia slowly turned around, finding herself facing a well-dressed man flanked by several attendants who appeared to be his servants.

She apologized, didn’t she? Shouldn’t that be the end of it?

She stared at the group silently, and the man’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s. Suddenly, his grip tightened on her arm.

“You’re quite pretty up close.”

He remarked, his tone sleazy.

“How about letting go?”

Cordelia’s voice remained calm, though her irritation was beginning to surface.

“Got time? I know a fun place we could go.”

The man’s suggestive tone was all it took to send Cordelia’s patience spiraling downward. Why does trouble seem to follow her every time she goes out lately?

Without hesitation, Cordelia signaled the knights tailing her to stay put with a subtle hand gesture, even as she folded her arms behind her back.

This is amusing, isn’t it? It’s not every day you get harassed in Devron of all places.

“I’m not interested. Now let go.”

“How dare you speak to me like that! Do you even know who I am?”

The man’s voice dripped with arrogance.

And do you know who I am? Cordelia thought.

“And just who might you be?”

She asked the question in a deliberately polite tone, curious to see how this boor would further inflate his own ego. He puffed out his chest and boasted.

“I am the heir to the noble Baron Pronen estate. You’re not even worthy of speaking to someone of my status!”

Baron Pronen? Never heard of it. Cordelia quickly guessed that his family must have been lower in rank, possibly even under her family’s vassals.

Maybe she dressed too plainly today. She didn’t want to attract attention, after all.

“Oh? Perhaps you have connections with a more prestigious family?”

She prodded, pretending to be interested.

“Of course! Count Mentos is a close family friend.”

Now that was a name she recognized. Cordelia stored that piece of information away and smirked.

“Well, good for you. However, power isn’t meant to be used so carelessly, is it?”

“What was that?”

Cordelia roughly pulled her arm free, wiping off her sleeve as if dusting away dirt. The man’s face flushed with anger as she made a show of it.

“You insolent—”

“And you, sir, are the one being rude.”

Cordelia had heard enough. It was time to put an end to this nonsense by revealing her identity and settling the situation.

“Enough of this. Don’t you think it’s time to stop?”

A cold voice cut through the tension as someone appeared behind the arrogant man, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

“What the—who do you think you are—ahh!” 

The man’s sentence turned into a scream of pain as his shoulder was twisted sharply.

A hooded figure stepped forward, ignoring the man’s cries of agony as he approached Cordelia, positioning himself protectively in front of her. The group of soldiers accompanying the baron’s heir quickly shifted into a defensive stance, unsure of how to react. Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed heir was left sputtering in anger.

“Who is this fool?”

“I just called the city guards. If you don’t want to make a scene, it’s best if you leave.”

The newcomer was imposing, his large frame and all-black attire adding to his intimidating presence.

“Duke Weichen dislikes unnecessary disturbances, doesn’t he?”

The man flinched slightly at the calm voice. After a brief moment of hesitation, he made a show of bravado and shouted.

“I’ll let you off this time. You’d better not cross my path again!”

With that, he and his entourage pushed through the crowd and disappeared. The figure who had intervened turned back to Cordelia.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Cordelia’s heart was racing, her pulse thumping rapidly. She cleared her throat and looked up at him.

“Um…”

Shhh.

The stranger placed a finger over his lips and smiled reassuringly. Recognizing the familiar face and feeling a surge of relief, Cordelia hugged him tightly.

“When did you get here?”

Noah.