In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 20

EPISODE 20

Jerania brought Cordelia to the reception room next to her bedroom. As Cordelia sat across from her at the table in the center of the room, Jerania, who had ordered the maids to bring tea, looked at Cordelia.

“So, you’re really Cordelia?”

“Yes.”

Jerania looked intently at Cordelia, who was blinking innocently. Indeed, it would be impossible for the name Laurence Blanc to come from anyone but herself. They had no connection, and it was nearly impossible for them to get entangled with each other.

“Explain what’s going on properly.”

“Sis, well… it might be hard to believe, but right now I’ve switched bodies with someone else.”

“Switched bodies?”

Cordelia carefully detailed everything that had happened. Since Jerania’s usual cheerful demeanor was replaced with a serious expression, it was clear that this was not a situation for jokes.

Cordelia sometimes demonstrated body movements, which would have seemed ridiculous coming from a large man, but Jerania didn’t laugh even once.

“Oh, so that’s why your reaction earlier was strange. I thought you might be ill.”

“It’s really hard to hide it perfectly… Noah turned out to be more shy than expected. I told him he could be a bit bolder.”

“He still did pretty well. Even our sister and I were uncertain.”

Sipping her tea, Cordelia nodded. Since Jerania had instructed that the reception room be empty, Cordelia could relax and fix her bangs with her hat.

With her vision cleared, she felt a sense of relief. He needed to cut his bangs. Resolving to do so, Cordelia finally asked the question that had been on her mind.

“Sis, why are you out already when it’s your birthday party?”

“I’m a bit tired. It’s just a formality anyway, and it’s an occasion to show the strength of the monarchy, so it doesn’t matter much.”

“Oh, I’d think the King might have a different opinion.”

Jerania looked dazed for a moment at the playful remark, then covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Your way of speaking is so much like you that I can’t even deny it.”

“What about my way of speaking? Is it cute and charming?”

“No, it’s straightforward.”

At the blunt answer, Cordelia pouted. Her sister was usually kind, but she was so cold when it came to things like this. Wasn’t it a bit harsh to have such a low opinion of her cute, charming, and lovely younger sister?

“Who else knows about this besides me?”

“Just me, Noah, and Lyneth.”

“Oh, then that’s a relief. Magic, huh…”

Jerania, who had been lost in thought with her chin propped up, finally spoke.

“For now, it might be best to call that person here to discuss countermeasures. Besides, I just met Rick. It would be troublesome if they ran into each other, wouldn’t it?”

“Right, I completely forgot. No, but I made sure to tell him to avoid him.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

“Well, if something happens, Liam would intervene as usual. He came today, right?”

“He did, but only briefly. He brought Mikhail with him.”

“Ah! The first child of that family, right? I heard he’s in poor health, but it’s good that he managed to come.”

“He’s the same age as Aira, so I’d like them to get along well. Just like us.”

Given her status, it was difficult for Jerania to make equal friends. Cordelia understood that sentiment well. Even those who were close to her still had to be careful around her.

Jerania approached the door to the reception room, called a servant, and instructed him to bring Cordelia. As Jerania quickly closed the door and returned, Cordelia, seizing the right moment, carefully asked the question she was most curious about.

“Sis.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to know Noah? Your reaction earlier seemed to suggest that.”

Jerania’s face grew even more troubled than before. Why was she making that expression? At that moment, Jerania spoke.

“If it’s not something the person himself has revealed, it would be better to meet him directly and hear the explanation.”

Cordelia looked at Jerania with puzzled eyes. Although Jerania was generally polite, it was rare for her to use honorifics in that manner given her position.

Who could Noah be for Jerania to react this way? No matter how much she thought about it, Cordelia couldn’t guess. While Cordelia wracked her brain, Jerania, watching her with a warm gaze, gently suggested.

“Anyway, let’s wait until he arrives. Would you like some cake?”

“Yes!”

Cordelia responded with enthusiasm as if she had never been gloomy, and at that moment, Jerania unconsciously patted Cordelia’s head when the door to the reception room opened.

***

Having left the palace where the party was held, Noah and his group had now entered the main palace. Noah, following the pace of the attendant, was deep in thought.

If a royal is called Cordelia, it must be the queen. Could she be holding a separate gathering since it’s been a while?

It wouldn’t matter if his identity was discovered. The problem would only get complicated afterward.

As they entered the corridor leading to the center, it became even quieter than before. Just as Noah was about to step into the eerily silent corridor, a commotion arose behind them.

“Who is it?”

At the soft call, the attendant and Noah turned around. As expected, the king was staring at them intently. The attendant quickly bowed his head.

“Y-Your Majesty.”

Noah, who had unconsciously bowed his head along with the attendant, remembered that he was in Cordelia’s body and slowly raised his head. Cordelia wouldn’t just bow her head in front of the king without reason.

The king, famous for his most dazzling appearance in the kingdom, made Noah sweat just from meeting his indifferent gaze. Noah clenched his fists to hide his nervousness.

“Why are you here?”

“The Queen has summoned us.”

“Good timing. I had business with the Queen as well. It would be best to go together.”

“Pardon? Yes.”

Unlike Noah, who spoke cautiously, Franz stepped forward as if he hadn’t expected a response. His steps seemed somewhat hurried, so Noah silently followed him.

***

As the door to the reception room opened and the figure appeared, the sisters were taken aback. It was an unexpected face. Jerania, regaining her composure before Cordelia, asked with a tone of confusion.

“Franz? What are you doing here?”

Franz, Jerania’s husband and the king of the country sighed and replied.

“I heard that you brought someone. I wondered what was wrong with the sick person…”

Franz, who intended to say he had come to check on the situation, had his expression change abruptly when he saw Cordelia. The change was evident. Cordelia had never seen such a surprised face on the king. Even amid the confusion, he quickly gave orders to the attendants.

“Bow your heads and close the door immediately. Then, go outside.”

“Yes.”

Following the king’s command, the door to the reception room closed swiftly, leaving only the four of them inside. In the heavy silence that felt like it lasted a century, the king’s gaze on Cordelia was as intense as the midday sun.

“How on earth did you…”

Franz’s mouth gaped open, but no more words came out. His eyes, filled with astonishment, sharpened suddenly when a voice emerged.

“Please wait. I can explain.”

Cordelia-or Noah, -stepped in front of them, Franz trailing behind him. After a glance at Cordelia, who looked bewildered, Noah began to explain.

“To put it simply and skip the details, somehow my body and this person’s body have swapped. I am here to deliver the Queen’s birthday gift on behalf of Lady Cordelia, and Lady Cordelia is here simply to visit her blood relative, the Queen. There is nothing to worry about.”

Noah spoke quickly, as if to prevent anyone from interrupting, and forced a bitter smile. Although he didn’t know why Cordelia was here, what was done was done; resolving the situation was the priority. He appealed to the king.

“Please forgive my impoliteness for not kneeling, as I am not in my original body. I am truly sorry to meet you in this way, Your Majesty.”

With a gentle tone and slightly lowered voice, something instinctive seemed to resonate with Franz, and his eyes widened even more than before. Above all, he knew well that Cordelia didn’t use such a tone. The maturity in her speech, which had grown even more over the years, was striking.

Franz opened his previously tightly shut mouth and declared.

“You may address me as before. I permit it.”

Since the attendants had already been dismissed, only the four of them were left in the room. Grateful for the king’s leniency, Noah bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Then, he spoke.

“It’s been a long time, brother.”

The final words of his voice trembled slightly and were slightly distorted.