In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 45

EPISODE 45

CHAPTER 6. WHAT I WANT

“This is the most extravagant place I’ve ever seen.”

The woman, dressed in a neat black dress, slowly moved her throat as she sat in the chair. Despite the calloused hands, she had a rather delicate face. Honestly, she still couldn’t believe how she ended up in a place like this. The proposal she received seemed too good to be true, making her wonder if it was a scam. But after checking the credentials, it didn’t seem like that either.

The only condition she had to fulfill was having blue eyes. Could it be this simple?

The woman’s gaze swept across the lavishly decorated room. She had heard of such places but seeing one in person for the first time made her heart race. Perhaps she could have a proper meal for the first time in a while. Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The door opened, and several women who appeared to be maids entered. Nervously, she clenched her hands, and one of them smiled kindly at her.

“Please, put on this mask.”

The woman received a white mask handed to her. The large mask covered her entire face except for her mouth, with only two holes for her eyes. Despite feeling a bit eerie, she obediently put on the mask. She cautiously followed the maids, her steps tense with anxiety.

“This is the room.”

One of the maids said softly as they reached a large double door. As soon as the door opened, the sight inside shocked the woman.

***

Meanwhile, a secretive rumor began to spread like poison in a stream through the capital’s social circles. The rumor was that Cordelia Weichen, who had disappeared after the Duke of Weichen publicly announced the proposal for her marriage, had reappeared in the Eispain territory.

This, in itself, was not particularly surprising. After all, wasn’t that the territory governed by the previous Duke of Weichen, Isaac Weichen?

However, a few days after this news broke, someone claiming to be an envoy from the Lady appeared at the Duke’s estate and delivered a letter to the gathered suitors.

[To those who wish to formally propose to me, please come to Roychel Castle in Eispain territory. I will be waiting.

– Cordelia Weichen]

The letter was embarrassingly short, devoid of any embellishments, yet the reaction was explosive.

Not only the suitors gathered there, but every man who heard the news rushed into their carriages and urged their coachmen to head to Roychel Castle. The whole process took less than a week.

The men gathered in a large hall attached to a separate building right next to the castle. They ranged from boys around sixteen to men over forty, their ages and appearances varying widely.

“Has the Lady finally decided to marry?”

“She has delayed it long enough. But isn’t she getting a bit old for it?”

“Even the high and mighty Lady must be feeling the pressure of time.”

Although not many people had arrived yet, the number would soon increase significantly due to the massive prize at stake.

Not only did the winner stand to gain a marquisate, but they would also have the beautiful lady as their bride. On the surface, everything appeared cordial, but underneath, a fierce battle of nerves raged among the men. The intensity of the competition was such that even women would be put to shame by the fiery tension.

“Is the Lady planning to keep herself hidden? What kind of hospitality is this?”

One man grumbled, clearly displeased. Many others nodded in agreement.

“Just catching a glimpse of her face would give us some motivation, but it seems we’ll be disappointed.”

“I heard that Lady Calia has come here as well, but I wonder why she hasn’t shown herself.”

“Are you perhaps aiming for the Countess? Remarkably, her beauty hasn’t faded even after she turned thirty.”

“What does it matter? If you gain the land, everything else is trivial. Besides, she’s a virtuous woman.”

Though no one said it outright, most of them suspected the remark was a veiled reference to Cordelia’s rumored affairs.

“I heard she’s had quite a few men.”

“They say she’s fond of handsome faces. I guess, with her looks, it’s understandable, but still, it’s a bit much.”

“What does it matter? She’s beautiful, and her behavior can be corrected over time. Once she’s married, she’ll become more obedient, won’t she?”

“Indeed, a woman is at her most beautiful when she’s in bed.”

Amidst the men exchanging crude remarks, one man, who had been quietly listening, asked with curiosity.

“Is she really that stunning?”

The men around him fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. As the man furrowed his brow in confusion, another near him patted him on the shoulder in a reassuring manner.

“You’ve never seen the Lady in person, have you?”

“It seems not.”

Instead of explaining that he had been a recluse on his estate and was only here because his baron brother had pressured him, he simply nodded, brushing it off. The other men nodded in understanding.

“There’s a reason why every man in society fights so hard just to catch her eye.”

“Just looking at her is blinding.”

“And it comes with a title too. For those of us without inheritance rights, there’s no better opportunity.”

“Former Duke Weichen truly is impressive. To think he can still maintain such influence even after passing so much territory to his daughters.”

“Isn’t most of the southern kingdom owned by the Weichen family?”

“I heard the Duke is very fond of his sister, and it seems that’s true.”

Some of the men, who had been chatting, sighed in a show of regret.

“It’s a pity about Lady Calia. Her age might be a bit of an issue, but even now, there are still many men who court her passionately.”

“If she’s not interested in marriage, there’s nothing we can do… but it’s a shame for a woman with such beauty to remain single.”

“Who knows? Maybe she has a secret lover.”

“If that were the case, we’d have heard rumors by now.”

As the conversation reached its peak, the previously closed doors suddenly opened. About twenty pairs of eyes turned to see the maids entering the room.

“Are you all the guests who have arrived today?”

The maid standing at the front spoke softly, asking the question. Everyone, still in a daze, nodded, and she told them to follow her. Someone, surprised, asked.

“All of us?”

“Yes, everyone, please come.”

Usually, in situations like this where a lady is choosing a suitor, she meets each one individually. Everyone was surprised by the unusual request to bring them all together, but they fell in line and followed the maids. Perhaps it was the disciplined and serious demeanor of the maids that caused a sense of tension to spread among the men.

They were led through the main estate and soon arrived at a large, tightly closed door. In front of it stood a woman with beautiful braided red hair. Her curly red hair, flawless white skin, a straight nose, and lips as red as her hair, all framed her sharp features. Her soft pink eyes sparkled with an air of nobility that could captivate anyone.

As Calia Weichen appeared, murmurs spread through the group. None of the men could easily tear their eyes away from her face, including the man who had previously questioned her beauty.

“I see some familiar faces.”

Calia said coolly as she folded her arms and gestured with her eyes.

“I commend you for arriving so early and for your efforts.”

Instead of saying that their efforts would soon be in vain, Calia offered a gentle smile. For a moment, it seemed as though flowers were blooming around her.

“Where is Lady Cordelia?”

One of the men, who had managed to regain his composure, asked. Calia responded with a brief answer.

“She is right inside.”

Following Calia’s direction, the maids opened the heavy doors. The men at the front moved slowly, but as soon as they stepped inside, they stopped in their tracks.

Inside the room, dozens of women, all wearing masks and dressed in luxurious gowns, turned to look at them simultaneously.

One of the men murmured in shock.

“What in the world…?”

The women were generally similar in height and build. Their outfits varied, but they all wore identical masks and white gloves on their hands. Some were holding accessories like fans.

Along the walls, spaced at regular intervals, were servants with brown hair, dressed in uniforms. They stood rigidly, with their faces mostly covered by masks except for their mouths. Their black-gloved hands were clasped behind their backs, and their gazes were lowered.

“You all seem quite surprised.”

Calia said, finally speaking again after all the men had entered the room. As soon as her voice fell silent, the room became eerily quiet.

It was then that the men realized that none of the women or the servants had spoken or moved at all.

“As you may know, my sister is a woman who dreams of romantic love.”

Calia’s strong, clear voice echoed in their ears.

“She desires to find a partner who truly matches her, regardless of status or wealth.”

Based on her reputation and the impression she gave, Cordelia’s plan was surprisingly simple.

“The conditions are straightforward. Within the allotted time, you must choose one person from this hall whom you believe to be Cordelia and bring her to me. You have only one chance.”

Despite the men’s stiffening expressions, Calia calmly continued explaining the rules.

“However, listening to their voices or removing their masks is against the rules. You may speak to them and observe their reactions. There are watchers in the hall with sharp eyes, so it would be wise not to attempt anything foolish.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the young men standing by the walls all turned their heads simultaneously to look at the men. Their doll-like movements were almost unnervingly precise.

“Only the person who finds the real Cordelia will have the right to propose to her.”

One of the men spoke up.

“Lady Calia—”

“Address me as Countess. It seems your family failed to teach you basic manners.”

“…Countess Weichen. Do you truly think this is reasonable? We can’t confirm her face or voice. How are we supposed to identify the lady?”

Several other men echoed his complaint. Calia waited for the murmuring to die down before she spoke again.

“Didn’t I tell you already? She dreams of romance.”

It puzzled the men—why were they, the ones proposing, asking for leniency?

“She seeks nothing but sincerity, without regard for any conditions. I fail to see why you find this unfair. After all, everyone is given the same opportunity.”

Calia said with a slight tilt of her head as if genuinely confused by their objections. The men found themselves at a loss for words.

Musicians seated in a corner began to play a tune. Calia, opening her fan, playfully fanned herself, hiding the slight smile that tugged at her lips. Her voice, calm and measured, echoed through the hall.

“Well then, I wish you all the best of luck.”