In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 104

EPISODE 104

Noah tilted his head slightly, and Linda gave him a bright smile.

“Because you look like something Cordy would really like?”

“Pardon?”

“No, what on earth are you talking about?”

Feeling embarrassed, Linda winced as Cordelia slapped her back.

“Ouch! I was just speaking the truth. Wow, but you’re really handsome. I feel like I haven’t seen anyone this good-looking since His Majesty the King!”

Noah was caught off guard by her bluntness and hesitated, feeling a bit flustered by her sincere praise, especially given that Cordelia’s niece was likely a noble lady.

In the midst of this, Noah couldn’t help but think that her strangely sharp demeanor must have come from her father.

“Uh, um. Thank you. By the way, we should be moving to a different place soon…”

“Oh.”

“Yes, yes. Let’s move to a different place for now.”

Cordelia reached out and pressed Noah’s hood down more firmly. While it was nice to have cut his bangs, she felt it was a shame to show them to others.

Love is terrifying. Noah, perhaps knowing what Cordelia was thinking as she laughed inwardly, grabbed her hand as she tried to let go of his hood. Noah responded awkwardly as she looked at him with wide eyes.

“W-Well, we both can’t see each other’s faces.”

It was odd how something as simple as holding hands could make him blush.

Of course, Cordelia didn’t hesitate to hold his hand. The anxiety she felt due to the play had long since faded away.

The three of them in the carriage set off toward the castle. As they left the city, the vast grain fields boasted by Devron spread out before them. Had they arrived in autumn, they would have seen golden waves swaying with the wind as the harvest approached, but in winter, it was difficult to expect such a scene.

The carriage sped along the path that cut through the fields. Cordelia, who had been gazing out the window, let out a sigh.

“The timing isn’t great…”

Cordelia loved the time when autumn was in full swing, and the wheat bowed its head. Of course, she knew that it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable time for those working, but the scenery was undeniably beautiful.

“If only we had come three months earlier, it would have been so much prettier. Noah?”

“Oh, yes.”

Cordelia tilted her head, noticing that Noah seemed absent-minded.

“You seem a bit out of it. Is something wrong?”

“It’s just… I’m a bit tired since we left in a hurry.”

This wasn’t a lie either. Despite his growing sense of secrecy, Noah gave a wry smile.

‘Ah, did you come to find this?’

Upon arriving in Devron and following the rough map given by Jerania, Noah ventured deep into the city, reaching a gloomy alley.

Normally, this would be a place to avoid, but Noah stepped in without hesitation. He didn’t think the Queen would put him in danger.

Finding the intended shop wasn’t difficult. Upon entering, a neatly dressed man greeted him. After handing over the gem that was in the pouch, the man went inside and returned with a wrapped object. As soon as Noah saw it, his expression slightly hardened.

‘This is.’

‘How do you like it? I wonder why you need something like this… Is it an heirloom or something?’

‘Where did you get it?’

‘Where it came from, I don’t know. It’s an item that came into my possession a few years ago. I don’t know the details.’

“Noah!”

At the sound of his name, Noah flinched. He snapped back to reality when he saw the pouting Cordelia. His hood was slightly lifted, and he could vividly feel her soft hand on his forehead.

“Your temperature seems normal, but… are you not sick?”

“I’m fine!”

Noah swallowed hard, thinking about the object in his pocket.

A golden hair ornament with a blue agate attached. It wasn’t extremely valuable but for the family crest engraved on the inside.

And Noah also knew about that hair ornament.

Dolores Hardford. She was married to Viscount Hardford and was a close friend and maid of her mother before marriage, and also Noah’s nurse. It was a cherished ornament of hers, whose fate had been unknown for the past eight years.

During the rebellion, many people were reported dead. After being captured by soldiers and imprisoned, he could only fully understand the situation after he managed to get out. Some rebels met their end, while others fell off cliffs or went missing after being chased by soldiers. It was said that some of his grandfather’s retainers had died, but others’ bodies were never found.

It had been eight years since there had been no news. He had thought them dead, but perhaps they might still be alive. Yet, there was something within him that couldn’t be completely happy about their possible survival.

When did he become such a bitter person?

It was like a splash of cold water jolting him awake. Indeed, one cannot have everything. No matter how simply one tries to resolve things, some matters are not easily untangled.

Was the Queen trying to warn him of this?

“If it’s just fatigue, how about trying some Helo tea? It’s made by steeping Hesserona leaves in warm water, and everyone here drinks it when they’re tired!”

Linda, who was sitting across, chimed in with a suggestion. Noah forcibly pushed aside his thoughts and gave a gentle smile.

“Is that so? I’ve never had it before.”

“It mainly grows in the southern regions. It’s so abundant here that we can’t even sell it. That’s why people from other regions don’t know about it. Even my father drinks it sometimes!”

“That’s right, I used to drink it a lot when I was young. It’s nice and sweet if you add a bit of honey.”

Following Linda’s cheerful chatter, Cordelia added her agreement. Perhaps swept up by the momentum, Noah’s expression had relaxed considerably by the time the carriage was entering the castle.

Of course, the ordeal was far from over.

“Hah.”

Linda, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped near the entrance. Before Cordelia could even ask what was wrong, her face was filled with horror as she followed Linda’s gaze.

Before they could turn back, the person they were looking at turned his head toward them. A man who had been talking to the butler squinted his eyes as he noticed the three of them.

“Where have you been?”

“……Rick.”

Cordelia’s finger pointing at Frederick Weichen trembled.

“What are you doing here?!”

Her sister had said she would hold him back for half a month!

“Are you asking why you see me in my own castle now? And Linda, I’m sure I told you not to run around in the castle.”

“Oh, I wasn’t running!”

“Your footsteps were rather unseemly.”

Frederick’s scolding gaze slowly shifted from his daughter to Cordelia, and then to Noah, who was lowering his eyes behind them. Cordelia felt cold sweat trickling down her back.

She had removed Noah’s hood in the carriage, but had he put it back on when entering?

There was a fair distance between them. Just as she thought he wouldn’t recognize him, Frederick began to move.

Frederick took one step, then another, slowly approaching them. His neither fast nor slow steps seemed to pound her heart. Cordelia’s arms bristled with tension as she looked at the approaching face of her relative.

Should they run?

Once decided, it was time to act. Cordelia tried to grab Noah’s arm and move.

Huh, why isn’t he moving?

While Cordelia anxiously fidgeted inwardly, Frederick had already closed the distance between them. As soon as he saw Noah’s face up close, his gaze became sharp.

“Cordelia.”

His voice was as if it dripped with frost, calling her name.

“Why is he here, now?”

This is serious.

“He obtained proper authorization. There should be no political issues.”

Cordelia quickly added this, but the chill surrounding Frederick showed no sign of dissipating. Instead of shouting or making a scene, Frederick held his chin and muttered quietly to himself.

“Indeed.”

With his astute mind and quick perception, Frederick quickly grasped the situation. Without saying much, he gave a nod.

“Come with me.”

“But…”

“This isn’t something to be discussed here.”

He didn’t even spare a glance at Noah. Even though he had anticipated this, Noah bitterly smiled and followed them.

Frederick led them into the empty reception room, drew the curtains, and sent everyone out. Even Linda was dismissed with a few words. Frederick then focused his attention on his troublesome younger sister and the unexpected disaster that had arrived.

“Isn’t it strange?”

Frederick’s voice, starting lightly, was smooth as if coaxing someone.

“A person who should be confined in a location unknown to anyone by now has not only come to the south but also seems to be next to my sister.”

Under Frederick’s icy gaze, Noah kept his mouth tightly shut, and Cordelia answered in his place.

“If you’ve figured that much out, then stop the pointless probing. Didn’t I say there would be no problem?”

“From what you’re saying, it seems that Jerania and Calia were already aware.”

Frederick, having quickly gotten close to the answer from just a few words, eyed Noah sharply. After carefully scanning Noah’s face, he let out a low sigh.

“There is someone else to be close to.  Are you infatuated with him again?”

His eyes were unyielding as if any attempt to fumble would be futile. It was indeed strange to think there would be no connection with someone who had come to the castle as a guest.

“There are various reasons for liking someone.”

Frederick, openly admitting his irritation, furrowed his brows and voiced his growing frustration in a low tone.

“I knew you weren’t entirely sane, but I didn’t realize you would be so reckless. He’s involved with the rebellion. Not only are you unable to avoid entanglement, but you’re even bringing him into your personal affairs! There’s a limit to how thoughtless one can be!”

In response to Frederick’s scolding, Cordelia also became heated.

“It’s not like he committed a crime! I’m sure I said it was fine! Even His Majesty the King authorized it. If it hadn’t been approved, I wouldn’t have brought him here!”

“Are you saying that now? Treason is never to be taken lightly. How can you be sure the King isn’t using this as an excuse to exploit our family’s weaknesses?”

“That’s impossible! If that were the case…”

He wouldn’t have come to visit Noah when he was injured.

But if she said that, she would have to admit that Noah was involved in the incident. Frederick seemed to interpret Cordelia’s silence as insolence and was about to say more with a discontented expression.

“Everyone, what are you doing gathered here?”