In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 125

EPISODE 125

“Ah… I see.”  

Noah swallowed the words he wanted to say about how long it’s been and looked at him. He looked thinner than the last time they met, and a large scar appeared on his right cheek that he hadn’t seen before.  

“That injury must hurt.”  

“Oh, this? It’s nothing, so don’t worry about it.”  

The nonchalant reply weighed down on Noah’s heart like a heavy stone. He nodded, acknowledging it, and gazed steadily at the man.  

Cordelia had said she wouldn’t tell anyone. That was a kindness toward him, but it also felt like an unintentional declaration that there were no more excuses to run away.  

The truth was, Noah still found it hard to find his footing. No matter how much they were called traitors, they were people he had known since he was an infant. He had formed bonds with them that made it impossible not to feel sorrow at their supposed deaths. How could he turn his back on them just because the circumstances had changed?  

Still, he had come to meet him, knowing that avoiding the issue wouldn’t solve anything.  

“I’m relieved to see you are still the same, Your Highness.”  

“…Me?”  

“You’re still kind and meticulous. I thought you had become a bit more curt since the last time we met…”  

“That time, I was a bit overwhelmed.”  

“I understand. After eight years of no news, it must have been shocking for you to suddenly see me. Please forgive my lack of consideration.”  

“It’s fine.”  

The sound of the carriage wheels rolling, the horses whinnying, and the distant noise from outside lightly brushed past them. Instead of chattering like before, Hamel, watching the taciturn man’s demeanor, slowly spoke up.  

“So, have you thought it over?”  

At the cautious question, Noah paused for a moment. He couldn’t keep his mind clouded forever. Calmly, he chose his words as if testing the waters.  

“To be honest, do I even have the right to refuse, Hamel? It seems like you’ve already prepared everything.”  

He hoped for even a hint of surprise, but Hamel’s expression was as serene as a still lake.  

“Your Highness, are you perhaps testing us?”  

“Testing?”  

“I know you wouldn’t refuse. Surely, you’re not saying you’re satisfied with this life?”  

Noah fell silent, and Hamel, gritting his teeth, voiced what he wanted to say.  

“It may seem like an opportunity, but in reality, he is trying to tame you. There’s no way someone as astute as you wouldn’t realize that.”  

Since Noah didn’t respond, Hamel seemed to take his silence as agreement and revealed his thoughts freely.  

“A tiger that is merely caged will only become more restless. There are ways to subjugate it through violence, but if that backfires, it could cause even greater problems. It’s uncomfortable, but if you gradually become accustomed to a comfortable life, people tend to confine themselves willingly.”  

Even at this level, he’s fine with it.  

“If this isn’t an attempt to break your will, then what is it?”

Words that felt as cold and harsh as being doused with cold water poured into Noah’s core. Hamel, noticing Noah’s expression urging him to continue speaking, responded gravely.  

“Are you truly satisfied with the way things are now, having everything unjustly taken from you, having to watch your steps even when going outside and having to hide your face? Your Highness.”  

Noah’s gaze sharpened instantly.  

“Unjust?”  

In contrast to the softness of Hamel’s voice, his own was unexpectedly smooth and calm.  

“Does that mean the accusations against my grandfather for conspiring with the temple to kill the late king, and then trying to pin the blame on the then-crown prince, are false?”  

Noah tried to suppress the rising edge in his voice and asked with a hint of compassion. Hamel nodded in response.  

“It was unavoidable. You know it as well as I do. If one wishes to attain glory, one cannot avoid sacrifice.”  

Watching the man who did not deny it, Noah felt laughter bubbling up. He thought of the countless scars on his brother’s body. He had only come to bear true scars after leaving the palace.  

If he defined that reality as ‘unavoidable,’ didn’t it also mean that the king’s oppression of him and his allies was justifiable? The thought surged to the back of his throat.  

“As I’ve said before, I don’t like the idea that you must sacrifice yourselves for my sake.”  

Noah was accustomed to patience. In response to his quiet endurance, Hamel, ever the loyal subject, delivered a resolute reply.  

“Your Highness, please don’t say that. Your ascension is an honor for all of us.”  

“Is it?”  

Noah muttered, then looked directly at Hamel. For a moment, Hamel felt a disconnection.  

“Was this how the prince I knew looked?”  

“Hamel, if I were to turn my back on all those eight years and suggest surrendering to the royal family, what would you do?”  

Now it was Hamel’s turn to be speechless. Noah lightly responded to the knight, who was left blinking in surprise.  

“Just joking.”  

The laughter that erupted in the carriage pulled Hamel back to his senses.  

“Surely, Your Highness isn’t—”  

“I was just curious about the depth of your loyalty.”  

Hamel straightened up, his posture slightly faltering under Noah’s cold tone.  

“We are always prepared to risk our lives for you, Your Highness.”  

Yet, Noah seemed disinterested in his answer. Then, with a slight smile, he asked a question that sounded like an attempt to change the subject.  

“Well then, what are you planning to do after the operation succeeds? Changing the king will surely cause great upheaval and significantly affect diplomacy. Given that it hasn’t rained much for the past two years, it seems the repercussions are still quite strong. What will happen…”  

“Your Highness.”  

Hamel boldly interrupted Noah, who seemed poised to continue.  

“There’s no need for you to worry about that. We can think about it after seizing the throne.”  

Noah wasn’t naïve enough not to understand the implication behind those words. His low voice had a somewhat somber tone.

“Well, I guess so.”  

“Yes. Everything is prepared. Now we just need to wait for the right moment.”  

Noah hoped for a definitive answer soon. As Hamel looked at him intently, Noah responded quietly.  

“I’ll send a reply later. For now, it’s best if you don’t come to see me until after the operation. The watchers might catch on.”  

Seeing Hamel’s expression brighten a bit, Noah smiled more openly.

* * *

“When exactly do you plan to keep coming?”  

While strolling through the garden, Jasmine turned to look back. Joshua, bundled up in thick clothes to fend off the cold, tilted his head in confusion.  

“Is there a deadline for this?”  

There was no one else around. A cold winter breeze brushed against their cheeks. The garden, stripped of flowers and leaves in the dead of winter, felt desolate.  

Jasmine felt frustrated just trying to escape, and seeing Joshua follow her made her even more irked. She sighed softly and snapped back.  

“Why on earth are you following me so closely? I don’t mean to say this, but I’m not incredibly beautiful, nor am I particularly charming or sociable. Well, I do have some wealth, but that’s not unique to either of us, is it?”  

Both were only children from noble families, and their fortunes were quite ample. Aside from the significant age difference, their circumstances were nearly identical.  

“You’re kind, my lady. So…”  

“That kind of kindness can be offered by anyone.”  

Having been out in the cold for too long, Jasmine’s cheeks were quite flushed. Joshua suppressed the urge to kiss her delicate, lovely cheeks and asked instead.

“Lady Jasmine, must the circumstances of falling in love be so grand?”  

Instead of smiling, Jasmine answered him calmly.  

“You’re still young and have your whole life ahead of you. There’s no need to make such a significant decision now.”  

“That’s interesting. Everyone says this is the right age, and if you miss this time, you’ll be a loser in life.”  

“A loser? That’s just nonsense from greedy people wanting to sell their goods at high prices.”  

Joshua chuckled at her biting words, even before she could ask why he was laughing. He stepped closer and extended his hand toward her.  

“Lady Jasmine, may I take your hand?”  

Seeing the stubborn determination in Joshua’s eyes, Jasmine slowly reached out one hand. He gently took it and bowed his head to kiss the back of her hand.  

“I believe this is the most important moment of my life.”  

His blue eyes sparkled like a clear summer sky as he looked at Jasmine.  

“Even if you’re not beautiful, charming, or sociable as you say… I still hold affection for you.”

Just holding her cold hand feels like his heart is being crushed by how much he likes her. How is it that she doesn’t know this?  

“So please stop looking down on the one I admire.”  

“That’s…”  

“Since it’s cold, let’s head inside. I’ll be going back now.”  

He took Jasmine’s hand and led her toward the mansion, oblivious to how her ears turned slightly red as she followed him.

* * *

“How was it?”  

With a nervous heart, Cordelia gazed at Noah, who was sitting across from her. After placing a stack of papers on the table, Noah smiled gently.  

“This is interesting!”  

“Isn’t it?”  

“Yes. I like all the characters that come out. All the scenes are great, but I especially liked the moment when the two protagonists team up to defeat the monster that appears in the palace.”  

“Why?”  

“Because I knew they would survive, but they kept getting hurt, and I couldn’t help but wonder if something really bad was going to happen.”  

Seeing Noah’s relieved expression as he brushed his hand over his chest made Cordelia relax and smile back at him.  

“But the last page is blank.”  

The last scene shows the protagonists defeating the king’s monstrous creature and making him pay for his sins before rebuilding the kingdom. Seeing the one empty page, Noah tilted his head in confusion.  

The story wasn’t finished, so there should be more pages left.  

“Typically, a cliché ending would have the hero and princess fall in love and get married, but… since it’s ambiguous, I wonder if they did fall in love. I’m still thinking about it.”  

Even though she knew she had to write it as promised to the king, the process of contemplating was enjoyable.  

Noah, deep in thought, nodded at Cordelia’s opinion. While there was a bond between the two deeper than friendship, it did feel a bit unclear when it came to love.  

“Or maybe it’s better to leave it open for a sequel. Just hinting at their marriage would leave room for interpretation.”  

“That could work.”  

As Cordelia gradually moved closer, she casually laid her head on Noah’s lap. He blinked in surprise, and Cordelia offered her simple thoughts.  

“It’s stiffer than I expected.”  

“Should I get a cushion?”  

“No! Not at all. This is perfect.”  

With a gentle, careful touch, he tucked her hair behind her ear. Glancing at the stack of papers in front of her, Cordelia looked up at Noah.  

“That’s the first thing I’m showing you. Consider it an honor.”  

“I truly see it as an honor. But this content feels strangely familiar. When have I seen this before?”  

“Huh? Well, adventure stories are all kind of the same, right?”

Even though she surely felt a sense of unease, Cordelia playfully responded to Noah, whose silence suggested he wouldn’t ask anything. His gentle touch was incredibly comforting.  

Noah, smiling at Cordelia’s refusal to inquire about the outcome of their meeting, briefly recalled the letter resting in his drawer. The reply, expected to be sent tomorrow or the day after, would be adorned with elegant handwriting on creamy stationery.

[To my loyal friend,  

As time is of the essence, I have promptly concluded discussions with the late queen. While it is customary to start with pleasantries, lengthy writing only obscures the main subject, so I’ll get straight to the point.  

I agree with you. As you said, we cannot live in confinement forever. I cannot, and for the sake of my mother, I must not. I have no face to show my late grandfather either. I will deeply appreciate the efforts you have made in preparing for this undertaking over the past eight years.  

Perhaps it is fate that I have reunited with you at this moment, seeking to reclaim what was rightfully mine. Such an opportunity has presented itself.  

I will await your next correspondence.  

Ian Borderoa-Linaen]