In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 131

EPISODE 131

‘Is it okay to put something like this up as a prize? What if it backfires instead?’

When discussing the item meant to lure the wizard, it was Lyneth who first came up with the idea of the crystal orb. As if fully understanding Tyrain’s concern, Lyneth nodded.

‘No, they’ll definitely come. After hearing that they’ve been lingering around Mr. Epherman’s surroundings, I’m convinced now.’

But she didn’t take back her words.

‘Trust me. Wizards are that kind of breed.’

Moths are drawn to a flame. A biting summary followed.

‘Even if they truly foresee the future, they won’t be able to resist coming. Especially if they’re confident in their skills, even more so. They likely believe they can cause a commotion and escape unscathed.’

Leaning back in her chair, Lyneth let out a small laugh.

‘From the moment they see it, they’ll be dying of curiosity. Something similar to what they created has appeared in the world, and they’ll be desperate to uncover how it’s different. They won’t be able to stand it.’

‘I agree.’

Silkion, who had been listening quietly, spoke up in agreement. It was clear they’d grown closer, no matter what they said. Watching the two, Cordelia murmured inwardly.

‘Then, what should Noah and I do?’

‘You two should…’

“It is a magical crystal orb that grants wishes!”

As soon as those words were spoken, a brief silence passed over the crowd before it erupted into cheers. The phrase was somewhat exaggerated, but it seemed people had understood it as a precious item.

“A play is about to start here shortly. The event I mentioned will begin after the play ends, at two o’clock, so please maintain order until then.”

Ding, ding. As if to emphasize the attendant’s words, bells began to chime in the distance. Before the twelve chimes faded away, he continued his explanation.

“The event will continue until two days after the festival ends, so please be careful not to rush and cause any accidents. Additionally, any cheating will be severely punished.”

“What should we do?”

Noah, who had just handed the child he’d been carrying on his shoulders back to its mother, hugged Cordelia tightly from behind, making sure not to lose her.

“Shall we watch the play and move slowly? There’s no way they’re going to visit all seven locations in a single day.”

But what if they were such a monster? No, even so, that would be too conspicuous. There was no need for them to advertise that they were a suspicious person, so they would probably show up tomorrow at the earliest.

Leaning into the comfortable embrace, Cordelia murmured.

“But isn’t it a total lie that it grants wishes? Is it okay to promote it like that?”

“It does have some magical abilities imbued in it, so I think it’s fine.”

A calm voice responded right beside her. At first, Cordelia thought it was Noah, but his voice wasn’t that low.

When she looked to the side, she spotted someone wrapped in a robe just like her. A large figure, with long, ominously dark brown hair, and peering through it, blue eyes glinting.

As soon as Cordelia saw the woman subtly peeking out from beside the man and waving at her, she immediately recognized her identity and gasped in shock.

“The Ki…”

Cordelia was about to shout without thinking, but Noah quickly covered her mouth. Thanks to him, she avoided causing a scene, and Cordelia gave Noah a grateful look. As soon as Noah removed his hand, Cordelia spoke up.

“Why are you here?”

Why is His Majesty the King, who should be staying quietly in the palace, here of all places? Her gaze, filled with that question, was met with a low reply from Franz. His hair was so long it must have been a nuisance to his vision, yet he didn’t seem to mind.

Well, with that kind of length, it would probably be difficult to hide such a striking face.

“There’s still time before the evening.”

“I asked him to come out. If left alone, he’d be working for three days straight again.”

Jerania, who was holding Franz’s hand tightly, blinked, looking a little embarrassed. Noah whispered enough that only the couple could hear.

“Even so, isn’t it a bit dangerous for just the two of you to be out?”

“We didn’t come out alone.”

The king gestured with his eyes to Jerome, who stood quietly behind him. Jerome gave a slight nod toward Cordelia and Noah. Recognizing Jerome, Noah seemed oddly satisfied.

“How did you find us?”

“Well, I just looked for someone tall. There aren’t many people taller than him in the kingdom.”

Franz, still holding his wife’s hand, glanced at Noah and commented.

“You look well.”

“Excuse me?”

“In contrast, it seems like she’s more tense than usual.”

“Well, how could I not be? It’s my own business after all. Isn’t that a bit much?”

As Cordelia muttered softly in complaint, Franz smiled. Wait, did he just smile? Cordelia, who was watching in confusion, heard him whisper in a gentle tone.

“Don’t worry. That person will win no matter what we do. If it’s someone else, we’ll just shut them up somehow.”

“Somehow?”

“Somehow.”

Watching the king deliver such villainous lines in a calm, collected manner, Cordelia briefly wondered if the depictions in her stories were more realistic than she thought. Of course, she wasn’t brave enough to say that out loud.

“By the way, the play is about to start. Will you watch it?”

“I was planning to… but what’s it about?”

“You’ll see.”

The king fell silent, and shortly after, the play began.

Cordelia understood exactly why he said she’d know once she saw it as soon as the first scene unfolded.

The play featured three sisters. The first was the epitome of elegance, the second was the epitome of wisdom, and the third was the epitome of loveliness. As the clown’s narration introduced each of them, their monologues were spotlighted.

The eldest was beautiful and graceful like a rose but found life dull. The second was calm and wise but lacked the means to achieve her ambitions. The youngest was endlessly charming and had no shortage of suitors, but she didn’t understand what true love was.

Despite their different circumstances, the people they met, and the stories they were involved in, they all shared one thing in common: they pondered the meaning of life.

In the end, the eldest sister found freedom by shedding all the constraints around her. The second lost something precious but achieved the goal she had long sought in return. The youngest met someone she truly loved and became whole.

And the play concluded by calling all these different lives just unique paths.

It was a fairytale-like story. A happy ending with just the right amount of realism and sentiment.

“No way, this is…”

And the inspiration was glaringly obvious.

As Cordelia watched the actors joking around after the play ended, she couldn’t close her mouth in shock. She turned to look at Franz. Raising his hands, Franz spoke.

“Don’t misunderstand. It went through proper discussions and approval.”

“Who on earth wrote a script like this?”

“Without even asking for my permission!”

Cordelia glared at them, but unexpectedly, Franz let out a small chuckle. It wasn’t the smooth, impenetrable smile of a king, but a warm and unguarded one. Cordelia was left bewildered by this unusual expression.

“The person responsible is right next to you.”

“What?”

No way. Cordelia turned her head, and there stood the culprit, looking awkward as if caught red-handed. Jerania’s green eyes blinked gently.

“Well… I just thought it might be nice to tell a story like that now and then.”

She admitted easily, but Cordelia couldn’t believe it and asked again.

“You wrote that? Sister, really?”

“Yep.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Because it’s a story that says everyone ends up happy, one way or another.”

Jerania whispered, her voice laced with emotion.

“No one knows how life will turn out. So, isn’t it nice to paint a happy ending in advance?”

Jerania’s gaze lingered on Cordelia for a moment before subtly shifting to Noah, who stood quietly beside her. She gave him a warm smile as if encouraging him, then continued speaking.

“They say words are powerful, and the more you speak of such a life, the more likely you are to live it.”

Her gentle, serene green eyes seemed unshakable, no matter the situation. Ever since Cordelia was a child, whenever she met that affectionate gaze, she would feel a desire to cling to her older sister. Perhaps, Cordelia thought, part of her never wanted to grow up. That’s why the words telling her to wake from her dream and face reality had always cut so deep. It wasn’t until she met Noah that she finally understood.

Because she’s the one who told her it’s okay to make her dreams a reality, that’s why she came to love him.

“I spoke with Calia about it first. We wanted to surprise you, which is why we didn’t tell you. I’m sorry if it upset you.”

“You did this as a gift… for me?”

Cordelia asked.

Jerania stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Cordelia in a tight embrace. As she stood there, stunned, Jerania whispered in her ear.

“I’ve always wanted you to live a life as happy as the story in that play. Even if things are tough or painful, I hope that, in the end, you’ll have a life where you can smile.”

Her hand patted Cordelia’s back with such tenderness that it made her eyes sting with emotion. As Cordelia grew older, during those times when she was constantly told to make compromises with reality, her sisters were the only ones who never invalidated her feelings. They were the ones who never dismissed her dreams as mere fantasies, and it was because of them that she had managed to come this far.

How wonderful it would be if Calia were here too. Then again, maybe it was better this way; otherwise, she might have ended up crying embarrassingly in the middle of the street.

“Cordelia, you’re happy now, right?”

At the gentle whisper, Cordelia nodded softly.

“Of course I am.”