In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 40

EPISODE 40

Cordelia barely had time to worry before Isaac broke the silence.

“Are you not giving anything to your father, youngest?”  

“You’re already eating!”  

“Oh dear, it seems there’s no point in raising children. I’m truly heartbroken.”

She was speechless. They weren’t even married, but he acted like Noah was a son-in-law. Besides, the last plate of food had been handed to Noah. Perhaps Isaac noticed this, as he smacked his lips.

“We’re almost out of snacks.”  

“Wow, seriously. Should I send someone to the kitchen?”  

“That’s one option, but Cordy, would you mind stepping outside for a moment?”

Cordelia, who had been grinning ear to ear, suddenly narrowed her eyes at Isaac’s serious tone.  

“Why outside?”  

“To bring ‘that’ back.”

With those words, Cordelia caught something thrown towards her and checked it. It was the key to the storage room. Her hand trembled slightly.

“No way, ‘that’?”  

“Ha ha.”  

“I’ll be right back!”

The excited Cordelia was swallowed by the darkness outside. As the door closed, the room became quiet, as if it had never been lively.

Isaac spoke in a low voice.  

“Calia.”  

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Isaac looked at his eldest daughter, who drew a clear line expressing that she hated bothersome things. He turned his head to glance at Noah, who was blinking, holding an empty glass.

“You.”  

“Yes.”  

“Do you resent His Majesty the King?”

At those words, the flush on Noah’s face faded a little, as if he had sobered up. Facing Isaac’s steady gaze, Noah answered clearly.

“No.”  

His once hazy eyes now shone brightly. That didn’t mean, however, that there was no trace of gloom. Isaac, recalling when Noah used to laugh and chatter with a shy smile, felt a bitterness in his mouth.

He’s become a much more difficult person than before. Well, people can’t always stay the same.

“I just want the people I care about to always be happy. That’s all… that’s enough for me. Wanting more would be too greedy…”

Noah mumbled something after that, but it was too quiet to hear. His reddened eyes and the sorrowful look on his face made Calia uneasy, and she nudged Isaac with her elbow.

Though he pretended to be calm, Isaac’s eyes betrayed him, trembling slightly. Calia whispered urgently.

“Isn’t he about to cry?”  

“N-no. What did I do?”  

After questioning him like he was under interrogation, Isaac acted as if he didn’t know what was happening. Perhaps it was the alcohol causing his emotions to flare up. Calia decisively pinned him down.

“If he cries, you’re the one who’s going to comfort him. As I said before, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”  

“Is this how it’s going to be, Calia?!”  

“You’re the one who taught me not to live at a loss. I’m just living by what I learned.”  

“As expected of my daughter—no, wait, that’s not the point!”

As their playful bickering came to a halt, they noticed Noah starting to blink slowly. It felt like his emotions might spill over at any moment. The same thought crossed both their minds.

What if he starts crying?  

No, but why is this making them so nervous?

“I’m back! They said they’ll bring the food in a bit. Finally, it’s time to open the over-a-hundred-year-old Drango Mountain wine…!”

Just then, the door burst open, shattering the stillness in an instant. Cordelia entered with a bright smile, but the unusually somber atmosphere made her tilt her head in confusion.  

“What’s going on? Why is everyone like this? Did you miss me while I was gone?”

Cordelia quickly approached and placed the large bottle she was carrying onto the table. Then, she leaned slightly and glanced at Noah. A white hand waved gently in front of Noah, who was sitting with his head down.

“Why is he so quiet? I’m back, Noah. Are you sleepy?”

Noah’s blue eyes, which had been still, suddenly moved quickly as if he recognized the gesture. It happened in an instant.  

“Huh?”

Cordelia was startled when Noah suddenly grabbed her waist. She allowed herself to be pulled in, and Noah hugged her tightly, pressing his forehead against her side. His arms, unusually warm, wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly.

“Wait, uh…!”

Isaac, who had started to jump up, was held back by Calia. Unsteady from the sudden movement, Isaac staggered, and Calia handed him a glass of water.  

“Remember your age, please.”  

“Sometimes you’re too harsh…”

Of course, no one was more surprised by the situation than Cordelia. She had only stepped out for a moment—how did things turn out like this? She was seriously concerned.

Could it be that when he gets drunk, he has a habit of clinging to others?

It was cute, but it would be a problem if he did this to anyone other than her. She’ll make sure he never drinks outside, she vowed silently. Just then, a voice, thick with intoxication, rumbled against her waist.  

“Cordelia…”  

“Hmm? I can’t hear you well. What are you saying?”

She bent down to listen more closely and finally caught his mumbling.  

“Just… a little more…”

“He’s really drunk.”

Cordelia sighed softly as she watched Noah, who was now clinging to her quietly, only breathing steadily. She removed his hat and gently patted his head, feeling the soft hair under her hand.

He’s like a puppy like this.

The warmth of his breath, heated by the alcohol, brushed against her waist, making her feel a bit strange. Yet, she didn’t feel the urge to push him away.

Looking down at Noah, who remained frozen in place, Cordelia asked the others in the room.

“But seriously, why is he acting like this all of a sudden? Father, did you keep giving him drinks?”

“N-no. That was the last of it.”

Isaac stammered as Cordelia narrowed her eyes at him. He tried to defend himself but quickly fell silent, knowing he wasn’t entirely blameless.

As if trying to change the heavy atmosphere, Isaac stood up and pulled the bottle closer to him.

Up until that moment, Noah continued to hold Cordelia like a statue.

“Are you just going to stay like that?”  

“Why not? I might as well indulge him a little.”

Cordelia’s remark earned a chuckle from Calia, who shook her head in amusement, knowing her sister could be quite stubborn. Isaac, having skillfully composed himself after the initial surprise, quickly returned to his cheerful demeanor.

“Alright then. Let’s drink!”  

“Hey, do you want some too, sis?”  

“No thanks. The aroma alone is already strong enough.”

As soon as the bottle was opened, the rich scent of aged wine filled the room, bringing a wide smile to Cordelia’s face. Meanwhile, Noah, still clinging to Cordelia, kept muttering to himself, unaware.

Just a little longer. Just for a little while…

***

As the sun rose, it gradually brightened the room that had been shrouded in darkness. Noah frowned deeply as the strong sunlight hit his eyes, and after a few attempts, he slowly opened them.

Is it morning already…? When did he fall asleep?  

The soft surface beneath him suggested he was in a bed. The lighting was good. What time is it? He need to get up and finish… what was he working on?

His mind, still groggy with sleep, was flooded with random thoughts. After blinking a few times to clear his blurry vision, he finally began to recognize the objects around him.

A pale face, long lashes, and full, red lips. Golden hair cascaded around the perfectly sculpted face, glimmering so elegantly that it made him want to reach out and touch it.

…Wait a second.

The moment Noah realized that Cordelia was sleeping peacefully beside him, he nearly screamed. With a shred of rationality, he managed to keep his mouth shut and quickly sat up. His eyes scanned the room with a mix of urgency and alarm.

His bundle, left in the corner of the room, was still intact, confirming that this was indeed his room, which only made things more concerning.

Why is she here?

Fortunately, both of them were fully dressed. After confirming that the door was securely closed, Noah tried to piece together his scattered memories.

Right, he was at the drinking party. He kept accepting the drinks they offered, and at some point, he wasn’t fully in control.

In truth, Noah wasn’t so much unable to handle alcohol as he was afraid that drinking too much might loosen his tongue. This fear had led him to avoid drinking more than necessary, so much so that he wasn’t entirely sure of his own limits.

Maybe he should have refused more firmly. He thought he could handle it, but he guessed the lively atmosphere got to him. He wants to punch his past self for just going along with it.

Although he wasn’t one to suffer from hangovers, the fragmented memories made his stomach churn. When he recalled the moment he hugged Cordelia, he nearly flailed, almost falling off the bed. He made a firm resolution: He will never drink like this again.

He remembered resting his head on the table, feeling drowsy… but everything after that was a blank.

Anyway, he needed to leave the room quickly. If anyone saw them like this, it would lead to a huge misunderstanding.

Wait a minute, but this is his room. If he leaves Cordelia here alone, wouldn’t that cause an even bigger problem?  

“Hmm.”

As Noah was stuck in his dilemma, he flinched when he heard a low murmur beside him. He slowly turned to look.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Cordelia showed no signs of waking up. She seemed to be dreaming something pleasant, as she was smiling softly in her sleep. Noah watched her quietly.

As he shifted slightly, the warm sunlight streamed directly onto Cordelia’s upper body. Dressed in a red gown embroidered with golden threads, her chest rose and fell gently with each breath. Even though she was just lying there, limbs sprawled haphazardly on the white sheets, the scene resembled a piece of art.

It felt like glimpsing a fleeting, beautiful moment that could never be recaptured. Though she was right in front of him, he couldn’t shake the feeling of longing. It didn’t make any sense to him.

Noah suddenly had the urge to pick up a brush and paint, but he quickly snapped out of it. This was dangerous. He needed to calm down. Once he regained his composure, he made a decision.

“Cordelia, Cordelia!”

Resolving to wake her up, Noah called out to her. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, revealing her bright blue eyes, which met his.