In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 124

EPISODE 124

“Uh, huh?”  

“The costs and effort involved in the event aren’t trivial, right? No matter how much Lady Cordelia is the queen’s sister, isn’t this a bit too excessive?”  

Well, it’s not just them digging the pit.  

Cordelia glanced at Noah, unable to add that. The details of the plan needed to be kept extremely secret, so she couldn’t say anything. Even if she did, she had specifically said it was just for Noah’s ears.  

Thinking about it, it was a little strange. She had vaguely suspected it since watching the play, but considering their last meeting, the royal family was certainly looking into the remnants of the late Marquis, who had died eight years ago.  

What did it mean that she could tell Noah that?  

Did she believe Noah wouldn’t betray her, or was she… testing him?  

She looked back at Tyrain, the only one in the room who knew the truth. When she met his gaze, he deliberately avoided her eyes, making her feel a strong urge to grab him by the collar.  

“I’ve provided some information to the royal family. In return, I managed to get approval by slightly accommodating one of their requests. As you said, it’s a joint effort.”  

Mixing truth and lies nonchalantly, Lyneth nodded as if she understood.  

“What if we can’t catch her this time?”  

Noah asked with a worried expression, to which Silkion quietly replied. Despite appearing as a boy, there was a seriousness about him that felt deeply rooted like an ancient tree.  

“I’m not considering the option of failure.”  

“This time, I agree with him. We must succeed without fail. Or will you accept what that old hag calls your ‘so-called’ fate, and pay the price that corresponds to the wish you supposedly asked for?”  

Noah paused for a moment and slowly shook his head.  

“I don’t want that.”  

“Oh.”  

“Strictly speaking, it’s more accurate to say Noah was coerced into making a wish.”  

Ignoring Cordelia’s protest lightly, Lyneth added quietly to Noah.  

“However, if it is true that the priest isn’t all-powerful… I hope there’s something I can do to help. After all, it’s related to me.”  

Lyneth seemed a bit surprised by Noah’s more proactive tone, then suddenly burst into laughter. Her curly red hair swayed in rhythm with her laughter.  

“That’s a good attitude. But don’t worry too much. I’ll set up a perfect trap that won’t be avoided by any variables.”  

Cordelia alternated looking at Silkion, who nodded along, and Lyneth, who stood confidently with her arms crossed, blurted out.

“By the way, you two seem to have gotten quite close?”  

“We’re not close!”  

“No, we aren’t.”  

The two answered simultaneously, glaring at each other again. That look is what makes them seem close, Cordelia thought. Watching the two of them with their pride on the line, Noah couldn’t help but swallow a mischievous thought about their knack for creating chaos.

* * *

“Tyrain, I have a question.”  

While Noah was briefly away to discuss matters with the wizards, Cordelia looked at the man sitting calmly in front of her. The reception room, now just the two of them, was oddly quiet.  

Though his current title was merely that of a viscount, his reputation, authority, and symbolism were anything but trivial.  

No matter how much she was from the direct line of Duke Weichen’s family, it would be hard not to feel discomforted by the way he called her so casually. Cordelia had never felt that way about a man before.

Was he simply too kind, or did he not feel the need to show his true nature to someone like her?  

But if she considered the former, he wouldn’t bear the title of traitor; and if it were the latter, he had never seemed like a villain to her. Though some level of pretension was unavoidable, she couldn’t accept that he thought so little of her. No, not that.  

“I wonder when I’ll hear you call me by a title.”  

“You call me ‘Lady’ as well.”  

“True.”  

Tyrain, scratching the back of his head, asked if she wanted tea as a courtesy. Cordelia shook her head and got straight to the point.  

“Why did you say it was okay to tell Noah?”  

She omitted the subject, but he would understand immediately just from the shift in his expression.  

“That’s not something I can answer.”  

With a still-smiling face, he dropped a heavy response. The oppressive atmosphere wasn’t pleasant, but Cordelia decided not to shy away from what she found annoying today.  

“Is the king still wary of Noah?”  

“I’m not sure about that.”  

Tyrain honestly replied, picking up the hat that rested slightly lower than his knees and fiddling with it.  

“But it’s true that ‘carelessness’ doesn’t suit him.”  

Despite the warning that felt like a warning, there was no sign of fear on Cordelia’s face. She furrowed her brow as if facing a tough problem and sighed.  

“It’s complicated. It doesn’t seem like they dislike each other.”  

“Born into the royal family, it’s an unavoidable fate. Is there a way to avoid being swept up in it just because one doesn’t want to? Not everyone is as lucky as you, Lady.”  

Someone who didn’t have family issues, didn’t need to marry off due to her background, and could explore her own life.  

If someone else had said that, it might have sounded sarcastic, but the humorless tone conveyed a calm truth.  

Since it wasn’t something she could particularly deny, Cordelia accepted it with indifference.  

“Were you like that too?”  

She asked as casually as possible, but Tyrain chuckled as if he understood everything.  

“Lady, whatever you ask, I can’t answer anything. Just think of my relationship with Ian as it appears. Don’t bother getting involved in this complicated relationship. It’s probably not for no reason that he doesn’t talk to you about me.”

Cordelia was dissatisfied with Tyrain’s response, which seemed to pierce right through Noah’s reluctance to talk about him.  

“Are you treating me like a child?”  

“If you were a child, why would you be worried about this? Ian would never have accepted you.”  

“That just means I’m special, right?”  

“I want to learn from that positive attitude of yours.”  

The smile faded from Tyrain’s face, and a deep seriousness filled his gaze. After hesitating for a moment, he added quietly.

“Not all relationships are straightforward. In the end, I made the choice, so I should bear the consequences. I’m just sorry for dragging you into this.”  

Seeing him soften his expression while offering an apology made him look more vulnerable than usual, and Cordelia, shaking off the odd feeling, responded cheerfully.  

“What’s with that? Aren’t you going to interfere anymore?”  

“It’s the path Ian has chosen. What more can I say? As you said, I’m not in a position to. I can only prepare to the best of my ability. But why the long face?”  

Looking at the man who asked so jovially, Cordelia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and replied.  

“Well, I’ve been thinking every time you call him that. Should I call him Ian too?”  

After all, Noah didn’t use his real name. Maybe he’d prefer to hear his true name rather than a made-up one.  

Even though she had pondered it seriously, Tyrain started chuckling as if he’d heard a funny joke. Cordelia snapped.

“Why are you laughing?”  

“I can’t tell if you’re deep in thought or not.”  

“Stop joking around. What do you think?”  

“Well, I guess you can call him whatever you want. A made-up name doesn’t necessarily mean anything, and he doesn’t dislike the name Ian; it just seems burdensome to him. Oh, and don’t mention that I said this. He doesn’t seem keen on showing that side of himself.”  

Tyrain paused for a moment, his lips pressed together in a line of perplexity.  

“However, I don’t think it’s a side he’d want to show you. Hearing the name Ian might evoke a version of him that is quite different from what you’ve seen.”  

What kind of version could that be?  

Just as Cordelia was about to ask, she heard the sound of the doorknob turning. As Noah, Lyneth, and Silkion entered together, she immediately sealed her lips.  

“Uh, why is it so quiet? I thought it would be noisy.”  

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Lyneth stared at the two of them with surprise.  

“What were you two talking about with this uncle? Usually, you’re so chatty and friendly, but now you’re all serious. It’s completely suspicious.”  

Tyrain shot her a disgruntled glance at her casual remarks.  

“Well, putting everything aside, I’m not old enough to be called an ‘uncle’ by you.”  

“Noah is your nephew. So, what does that make you?”

Tyrain let out a defeated sigh at the perfect retort. Cordelia smiled calmly, admiring how effortlessly they understood each other without words. Thanks to the thick walls, the room was well soundproofed. Looking at the three who seemed oblivious, she recalled the draft she had finished last night and quickly tucked it away.  

It seemed better to show it to Noah after he met with those people. Bringing up such matters before choosing a path felt somewhat cowardly. The royal family wouldn’t likely fall for anything without defenses, and even if Noah decided to confront them, it wasn’t something she could interfere with. After talking with Tyrain, she realized that fact more clearly.  

‘Why? Even if you’re royalty, you can still paint.’  

‘How can you say that? Everyone bets their loyalty, and expectations, and even lives on me because of this noble bloodline. How can I turn a blind eye to that desperation? What about my mother’s lifelong devotion, hoping I would wear the crown?  Lady Cordelia, you might think it’s foolish, but I couldn’t ignore those expectations. If I hadn’t clung to Ian Linaen, I wouldn’t be living as I am now.’

She still couldn’t forget the expression on his face as he cried out in anguish. It was the first time she had seen so starkly the contradiction between his pain and altruism, his willingness to embrace his current life while still feeling the weight of guilt connected to it.  

On one hand, that was why she liked him. He was a kind man who couldn’t completely let go of Ian, drawing a line yet still showing warmth, which endeared him to her.  

There were still ten days until she had to send the manuscript to Luther. Delaying it by another few days wouldn’t be a problem.  

Cordelia decided to set those thoughts aside for now, hiding the faint unease deep in her heart.  

* * *

“Today, I’ll be at my master’s workshop and will return before dinner. Please prepare the evening meal.”  

“Yes, understood, young master.”  

As always, Noah greeted the butler and stepped out of the main gate alone. Unless he was going far, he wouldn’t be reprimanded for wandering without guards.

Not everything is as it appears. Noah was certain that Tyrain had placed watchful eyes wherever he usually went. Tyrain cared for him but didn’t fully trust him, which is why Noah liked his uncle. He was someone who would willingly shoulder the contradictions Noah carried for a lifetime.  

That was both comforting and frustrating. It was nice that Tyrain hadn’t changed, but Noah disliked that he couldn’t completely blame him. If he could have just resented him without reservation, he wouldn’t be feeling so troubled now.  

Why had Tyrain suggested a different path for him? If he hadn’t given him any openings, it would have been easier…  

Deliberately walking slowly, Noah turned the corner and entered the winding alley. As he stepped out, he spotted a carriage waiting in front of him and came to a halt.  

The carriage appeared ordinary, devoid of any markings, but there’s such a thing as instinct.  

When the door of the carriage opened, he was startled by the face that greeted him, but he quickly composed himself. Taking a steady step, he climbed into the carriage, and as the door closed, it began to move.  

Closing the inner shutters and drawing the curtains made the interior dark despite it being daytime. The man sitting opposite him, Hamel, bowed politely.  

“It’s good to see you again, Your Highness.”