In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 112

EPISODE 112

The people next to Noah also stopped in their tracks. Noah looked around with a puzzled expression and asked.

“Why is everyone laughing like that?”

“Well, it’s just funny hearing you call someone eccentric!”

“Exactly. Like master, like disciple.”

“Thinking back about my first impression of you, this feels like such a contrast. I never expected we’d get this close.”

“Was I really that weird?”

Noah asked again with a slightly uncomfortable look, and his friends nodded without hesitation. Laura shook her head dramatically.

“You don’t know your master well at all. He’s famous for being skilled but never taking on disciples, and suddenly he brought someone along as an apprentice. Isn’t it odd that you’re not curious?”

“And that person doesn’t interact with anyone, and even if someone talks to him, he just gives short answers. No matter how much you bother him, his reactions are as bland as watered-down soup. He has connections that even the guild leader can’t approach easily, so he could be quite arrogant.”

“From that perspective, he seems dull, but his work is incredibly delicate. The contrast was astonishing.”

“Well, you’ve always been unique, both then and now…”

The three of them, who had been speaking so openly, suddenly stopped when they remembered the person next to Noah. They were a bit afraid to check their expressions.

Did they say too much? It’s still a close person, so maybe they were too harsh? The three turned to look at Cordelia with anxious hearts.

Cordelia looked at them with a mysterious gaze. She didn’t seem particularly upset, but they couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking.

“Oh, sorry. Are we being too informal?”

“Huh? Why are you apologizing? It doesn’t matter.”

“Well, that’s…”

“I know you’re concerned about my status, but I’m here just as Noah’s acquaintance. It doesn’t bother me. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

They had already worried about this when discussing it with Noah. They knew well that they wouldn’t be able to act just like they did with Noah.

“I came here partly to see this side of you.”

Cordelia revealed a bit of her true feelings in front of the four pairs of curious eyes.

“I don’t have many close people around me. When Noah spoke about you, his expressions were very bright, and I was curious. I thought you must be good people.”

“Why is that?”

“Wouldn’t it be surprising if someone so shy became close to people like you otherwise?”

Not knowing how to respond, the three of them just fidgeted with their lips, and Cordelia gave them a playful smile.

“You don’t know how much I begged Noah to meet you today. He usually listens to everything I say, but he was hesitant about introducing you.”

Cordelia shrugged lightly.

“I understand. Even if I don’t, it’s obvious you’d be uncomfortable with me.”

Cordelia, who stopped Noah from saying something with a gentle hand, added in a soft voice.

“But I still wanted to meet you. It’s normal to be curious about what someone you love likes and how they see the world, right?”

Avery grabbed Tropa’s nape, who was about to nod without noticing.

“Thank you for joining us on this precious holiday. It was a lot of fun today!”

With a lively tone that suggested it was natural to talk down to others, a somewhat capricious personality, and an overwhelming beauty that felt inherently aristocratic, it was clear that being uncomfortable would be expected.

Among the three who had been exchanging glances silently, Avery took a step forward.

“We also enjoyed it.”

Yet, it was oddly affectionate. They found themselves gradually relaxing. The three each said what they wanted to Cordelia, who was looking at them blankly.

“Please come again next time.”

“We also saw Noah smiling like that for the first time. Thanks to you, we had an enjoyable time.”

“Wow, I thought there might be someone else who looked just like him. Was he really that gloomy? I still can’t believe it.”

Tropa, scratching his arm lightly, was patted on the shoulder by Laura and Avery.

“Well, if I’m being shameless… I’m curious about the inside of the building too. Can we take a look?”

Cordelia didn’t hesitate to take advantage of their offer. The group looked at the confident Cordelia pointing to the <Hollemia> Guild headquarters and couldn’t hold back their laughter this time.

“Glad to hear it. I’m glad it seems like I wasn’t too bad after all?”

As they wandered around and the sunset began to set, Cordelia and Noah walked towards where the carriage was. Amid the hurried crowd trying to get home before dark, the two of them moved leisurely, as if time was flowing differently for them.

The two shadows danced across the ground.

“It seemed like everyone liked it.”

“Right?! I was a bit nervous today, but I’m glad it turned out well.”

Noah, feeling a strong urge to hug the adorable face looking back at him with hands on its head, clenched his fists to hold back.

“You had a reason for suggesting we visit the workshop, didn’t you?”

Noah knew that Cordelia was much more intelligent and calculating than people generally thought.

“It seemed like you were talking a lot more than usual today.”

“You noticed that too?”

Cordelia, who gave a nonchalant compliment, said casually.

“Well, people generally relax more in familiar surroundings. Since I insisted on meeting them, I had to make an effort from my side.”

“Usually, people expect the other side to make an effort.”

Especially if someone has been loved all their life.

“Not at all. The secret to popularity lies in such attentive details. Just being pretty only increases the number of enemies.”

Remembering various incidents from her debut in high society, Cordelia shivered slightly. Turning her back on Noah, she took a few steps backward with a grin.

“And, I want to be someone you can be proud of.”

Noah immediately responded.

“You’re already more than enough of that.”

“You’re too generous with me to believe it. But I’ll take it as a compliment since I did well today.”

It was quite self-indulgent, but it wasn’t annoying at all. As the sunset spread around Cordelia, Noah mumbled as he gazed at the dazzling scene.

“That’s why I like you, Cordelia.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Cordelia, tilting her head, accidentally tripped over a small depression in the ground.

“Ah!”

In the split second, she was about to stumble, a large hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. The entire process replayed slowly in his vision. After bumping her head against his broad chest, she blinked her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

A worried voice came from above her head. Cordelia hugged him tightly and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.

“I’m not okay.”

“What? Are you hurt?”

“My heart hurts at the thought of having to part soon. It feels like an incurable disease. What should I do?”

“Don’t tease me.”

Despite her exasperated words, she enjoyed the comforting hand on her shoulder. Cordelia looked up at him, cherishing the blooming feelings inside her.

The two overlapping shadows touched a bit closer.

* * *

[Sel finally succeeded in pulling the legendary sword from the rock. Jay, who had been watching beside, helped Sel, who collapsed on the ground.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Thanks, but look at this! I finally pulled out the legendary sword. Let’s return to the kingdom quickly.’]

The quill, which had been scratching words, paused for a moment. With a small sigh, Cordelia put down the quill and stretched.

“Ah, I’m so sleepy.”

It had been dark for a long time. Although she relied on the lantern to fill the paper, it seemed best to stop for today as her eyes were closing.

She was surprised at how late it had become. The city outside the frosted window appeared eerily quiet as if submerged in a dark swamp.

Even though Cordelia had been out all day and should have been tired, it seemed her working hours had increased significantly. It appeared that meeting people was what truly recharged her. Holding the quill and spinning it between her fingers, she looked at the page she had yet to finish and murmured.

“Maybe next time I’ll write a story about an ordinary girl saving the world?”

She wasn’t sure how well it would sell, but there must be girls who dream of embarking on adventures as heroes from their childhood, just like she did. Falling in love would be a bonus, but it wasn’t necessary.

No matter how much the reason might be transactional, it was only natural to feel attached to the story she meticulously crafted. The story, with half of it remaining, seemed to beckon her gently.

“I’ll write just a little more before going to bed.”

The quill tip once again scratched across the paper.

* * *

In the pitch-dark night, soft footsteps echoed.

A figure approached the door of the workshop, which was visible through the darkness. Without even carrying a lantern, the outline of the figure was barely discernible.

“Let’s see…”

A gravelly voice murmured as the figure fidgeted with the wall near the door. Pressing somewhere, a part of the wall opened, revealing a bundle of keys stored inside. After closing the wall and unlocking the door with the keys, the interior remained completely unseen. The familiar movements of the figure led him to the hearth where he searched for flint. With a few strikes, sparks flew, and he placed the flint in the hearth. Soon, the fire blazed warmly, dispelling some of the darkness.

Satisfied after seeing the neatly organized workshop and the two chunks of plaster in the corner, the figure rubbed his chin in contentment.

“Now, let’s see if my dear apprentice is doing well.”