In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 134

EPISODE 134

By the time they reached the second location marked by a red flag, it was unusually crowded, likely due to its proximity to the market. Cordelia, who genuinely had no interest in the festivities, planned to simply browse the market.

The moment they heard someone scream, both Cordelia and Noah instinctively turned their heads. They witnessed the red flag that had been hanging from the building fall and cover the people below.

That wouldn’t have been a problem, but flames suddenly began to lick at the edge of the flag.  

“Ahhhh!”  

“Help!”  

They exchanged glances and rushed toward the chaos. Thankfully, some of the gathered crowd and soldiers managed to pull away the part of the flag that hadn’t caught fire in time to rescue those trapped beneath, but half of the flag had already burned away. Thick smoke swirled ominously among the crowd.

What a terrible omen, an accident on the first day of the festival.  

“Why did it fall all of a sudden?”  

“Is everyone okay?”  

“Good thing it was just a piece of cloth; if it had been something heavier and bigger, who knows what could’ve happened?”  

“Oh, Julia! Are you alright?!”  

“I’m fine, Charles. Kufgh!”  

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, reflecting their shared concerns. Just as the soldiers were trying to calm the rising tension, a loud voice broke through.  

“This is all because the gods are angry!”  

So, when trouble arises, it’s always the gods’ fault?  

Cordelia clicked her tongue in genuine disbelief, while the gathered crowd seemed to take it seriously, unease settling among them. It appeared no one dared to bring up the royal family’s faults in front of the soldiers, but the whispering spread like an infection, prompting a knight to shout.

“Quiet down! It’s just an accident. Please wait while we fetch a replacement flag for those wanting to receive their tokens!”  

“If we just stand here, how can we be sure another incident won’t happen?”  

“That’s right, knight. Is it truly safe to proceed?”  

“There are already people who almost got hurt!”  

Amid the haze of smoke lingering around the crowd, those who had been trapped under the flag were gathering. One woman, burying her face in the chest of a man who appeared to be her lover, stood out with her frail shoulders trembling anxiously.  

It seemed Cordelia wasn’t the only one who noticed; many cast sympathetic glances toward the woman while also regarding the soldiers with distrust. Watching the crowd hesitating, as if waiting for permission to move, Cordelia fell into thought.  

It was difficult to rationalize this situation logically. Trying to do so might cause the gathered crowd to disperse immediately. And that would likely be exactly what those who set the flag on fire wanted.  

Feeling the public sentiment toward the royal family tilt precariously was a strange experience. Even if the knights denied it, people would only see it as a cover-up.  

More importantly, considering the reasons behind this situation, it felt too coincidental to be mere chance.  

Who had yelled just now? Scanning her surroundings, Cordelia caught a glimpse of someone slipping away among the crowd. Just as she instinctively reached to follow, a hand gripped her shoulder, causing her to turn around.  

“I’ll go.”  

Noah whispered, pressing down on Cordelia’s shoulder as if to keep her there, then hurried off. Well, if Noah’s on it, it should be fine. Cordelia brushed it off and made her way through the crowd.  

“Wait, what are you doing?”  

A knight stepped forward, eyes wide as he spotted Cordelia. Ignoring him, she brushed past and crouched in front of the discarded flag lying on the ground.  

“They say the gods are angry and burned the flag, so I wanted to see if it’s true. Oh, the fabric is quite good.”  

Getting involved like this wasn’t her style, but having seen it, there was no turning back.  

When Cordelia responded with an exaggeratedly innocent tone, the knights hesitated. If they had any awareness, they would have recognized her elevated status. She casually brushed the remnants of the flag aside and stood up.

“But there’s quite a strong smell of oil. The gods I know don’t express their anger through humans.”  

Although Cordelia had little interest in Fran’s teachings, her close relationship with Lyneth meant she possessed a decent amount of knowledge.

“Hey, one of you come out here.”  

“Us?”  

“Yes. If you check for yourself, you’ll see. If this truly is a curse from the gods, there wouldn’t be any human traces left.”  

Given the flag’s size and thickness, it would have required oil to catch fire from even a small spark.

Following Cordelia’s gesture, one person stepped forward from the crowd—a man who had been cradling the woman trapped under the flag. He approached cautiously, glancing between Cordelia and the singed flag, then knelt. As he gently fanned the air around the flag, his face lit up in surprise.  

“It’s true. It smells like oil!”  

As soon as he shouted, a brief silence fell over the crowd before it erupted into a loud clamor.  

“So what does this mean? Did someone tamper with the flag?”  

“What kind of mischief was done to this precious silk?”  

“If it’s not the gods’ anger, then what could it possibly be?”  

The knights, bewildered by the sudden shift in the atmosphere, turned to the direction where the mysterious woman had stood.  

“…She’s gone?”  

Leaving behind the soldiers searching for her, Cordelia slipped into an alleyway, observing the noisy scene outside.  

Since Noah had asked her to stay put, it would be best to wait. She crossed her arms and looked up at the clear sky peeking through the narrow alleyway.

* * *

Meanwhile, Noah had followed the figure he’d seen slipping away into the narrow alleys between buildings. After walking for some time through the sunless, tangled passages, he halted at the end of a corridor where he spotted two people. He stopped a few steps away from them, looking steadily at their faces.  

“You, what are you plotting?”  

Feigning ignorance, one of the men responded gravely.

“Are you trying to interfere?”  

“Interfere?”  

“You know it’s a necessary process, don’t you, Your Highness?”  

At the mention of “Your Highness,” a faint twist appeared at the corners of Noah’s mouth. Since they recognized him, it seemed they weren’t just any commoners; they were likely knights affiliated with his maternal family.

“Then you should have at least stayed out of my sight. What right do you have to speak without discussing your plans with me?”  

The men bowed their heads, sensing his icy tone.  

“We apologize.”  

“And if you’re going to follow me, show a little more sincerity. My companions may be somewhat dull, but I’m aware of your presence.”  

He had already noticed that someone had been tailing him. Entering the alley was also a way to shake off those lingering gazes.

“We’re just concerned you might be in danger, Your Highness.”  

“Sure, I suppose.”  

The men’s faces tensed at Noah’s inscrutable expression.  

“Well then, get going. You have your tasks to finish.”  

With that indifferent command, the men bowed.  

“Yes, Your Highness. Stay safe.”  

Noah, who stood frozen in place until they were out of sight in the alleyway, turned around, thinking of his lover waiting for him.

As he walked past the darkened corner, a slight ripple of magical energy vibrated in the air. A young man, having placed his token in his pocket, began to walk slowly, turning the corner just ahead of Noah. The men quietly following him peered around the corner just in time to see the young man enter a distant alley, prompting them to quicken their pace.  

“…He’s gone!”  

In the dead-end alley, there were no traces left behind. Just as he was left in bewilderment at the sudden disappearance, the apparent leader among the pursuers quietly commanded.  

“Don’t let him escape. Split up and search!”  

As the pursuers turned the corner of the dead end, the walls seemed to peel away like bark. The figure standing beyond couldn’t help but chuckle softly. The young man, casually exiting, had hair that had turned white and swayed gently in the breeze.

* * *

‘Quite an entertaining game they’re playing.’

That had been her initial thought when she first laid eyes on the crystal orb. Next, she wondered if everything happening was merely a coincidence.  

But believing in coincidences was something she had outgrown long ago. She understood all too well that this world turned on the gears of inevitability, intricately aligned.

The blatant hints being thrown her way were amusing, but she decided to let it slide for now. Wasn’t she curious about what kind of stage had been set?  

‘And perhaps, within the royal treasury, there might be an artifact imbued with such power.’

After manifesting as a wizard, she learned many things. The vast knowledge she had accumulated at such a young age had robbed her of much of her zest for life. She felt compelled to do something—only then did she truly feel alive.

As she floated in the air, she gazed at the sea of stars visible beneath her. Countless stars danced among the streets of the capital, illuminated by the lanterns.  

In contrast, her surroundings were dark and silent. Perhaps it was due to the moon being obscured by clouds, but sneaking around without being seen by the patrolling soldiers was not difficult.

Eventually, she reached her destination. Upon opening the door to the royal storage, she found the floor thickly covered in anti-magic sigils, which made her smirk.  

Without stepping on the magical circle, she floated inside, spotting the dark blue box she had seen earlier in the day.

Could the crystal orb be inside?

Following her gesture, the box levitated gently into the air. She carelessly reached out and grabbed it.  

In that moment, her vision abruptly shifted, as if a painter had brushed over the scene. She found herself in a brightly lit space, where lanterns illuminated the walls. Below her lay the magical circle, and she noticed those standing outside of it.

Three people dressed in pure white, alongside a man in a black robe. Two of them she already recognized.  

It was only when she spotted Noah and Cordelia seated within the magic circle that her bored expression shifted, and she let out a sigh.  

“Well.”