In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 47

EPISODE 47

“The weather is nice.”

Noah, sitting on a bench shaded by trees and holding a pen, gazed up at the sky. The blue and high sky, clearly proving that it’s still autumn, resembled a vast canvas. Fluffy white clouds drifted by like cotton. While Noah was drawing lines in his mind, he glanced over at the commotion happening across from him.

In the distance, a group of men, neatly dressed and walking in formation, was visible. Although their faces were not seen, it was easy to guess who they were.

They must be suitors.

He had heard something was going on with the suitors but hadn’t gotten the details. Cordelia had also been avoiding him, and he hadn’t pressed for more information.

“Well, what can I do?”

Why should he bother knowing? It was none of his business anyway. Even if he tried to draw lines, things never turned out as he hoped. What could be happening that made her not show up even at meal times?

Having not seen Cordelia for over a week made him feel uneasy; sometimes he couldn’t help but want to peek inside. Every time, he startled himself and pulled back his emotions. He couldn’t afford to switch bodies again by mistake.

Sometimes, Noah found himself to be a bit strange. It was just a fleeting acquaintance from his childhood. Of course, he found comfort in recalling the words spoken during tough times, but it was only a memory of that extent.

It must have been so, but why did he think of such a wish as soon as he saw the crystal orb? He was just curious if she was doing well.

He found it amusing that he was in such a state right after their reunion, and Noah let out a soft chuckle. Why were there so many distractions when they were supposed to part ways as soon as the body-swapping incident was settled? It was foolish.

Noah looked down at the paper fixed to the wooden board he was holding. Staring disheartened at the blank sheet he hadn’t drawn anything on, he sighed.

“Let’s stop.”

He thought that drawing something might improve his mood, but it was back to square one. He tried drawing a few things as a test, and fortunately, there was no body-swapping incident like before.

Still, it was dangerous to think about Cordelia for too long. Shake it off, shake it off. Shaking his head, Noah got up abruptly from his seat. Although the obscured view was uncomfortable, he was already used to it.

After tidying up his things, Noah carefully entered the main gate of the castle. Maybe he should return to his room. As he ascended the stairs absentmindedly, he suddenly turned and stood in a corner when he saw someone coming down the stairs.

“Ugh, tsk. How long are you planning to stay?”

“You’ve become harsher with age. Is it okay to drive away a guest like this?”

A middle-aged man was descending the stairs with Isaac. Despite his black hair mixed with sparse white strands, Noah could immediately sense who it was upon seeing his face.

His face was filled with dissatisfaction, looking just like Liam Gracia’s. No matter how much he tried not to pay attention, the voices kept sticking to his ears.

“Three days is a long stay. Why are you dragging your feet so much? Is Liam giving you the cold shoulder?”

“Hah, if he were giving me the cold shoulder, I’d be clinging on even more stubbornly. What does he take me for?”

Yuri, looking at Isaac who was chattering about someone having a bad temper being in his bloodline, narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you so eager to send me away? Is there something you’re hiding?”

“Hiding? It’s just that I’m tired of entertaining an old geezer.”

“You seem older than I do. This is why people need to maintain their mental and physical health…”

“Enough of this nonsense. Go for a walk or something.”

“Just a moment.”

Noah, hearing footsteps approaching behind him, broke into a cold sweat. As he fiddled with the board and paper, a serious voice called out to him.

“Hey, you…”

“There you are.”

A calm and gentle voice came right in front of him. Looking up hurriedly, he saw a young woman dressed as a maid looking at him. She was one of those who followed Calia, and Noah had exchanged greetings with her a few times. The expressionless woman, who seemed cold, handed him an envelope.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. I have something for Lady Calia. Would you mind taking it to her?”

“Eh? Oh, yes. I will.”

Noah took the letter and hurried down the corridor the maid indicated. The maid, watching Noah walk away with slightly hunched shoulders, bowed her head respectfully to Isaac and Yuri.

“I apologize. It’s a matter of urgency.”

“It’s alright. What is your name?”

“Veronica. I’m the head maid for Lady Calia.”

“That young man seems to belong to your side, doesn’t he?”

The woman nodded. Isaac, stepping back and discreetly wiping his chest, muttered to Yuri.

“Why did you suddenly start talking to someone busy with work?”

“It’s nothing special. He’s tall and looks quite sturdy. I thought he might be good with a sword, so I mentioned it.”

Yuri scratched his head, saying he hadn’t meant to scare him. Isaac seemed exasperated by Yuri’s unchanging martial spirit even in old age.

“What’s in your head, honestly…”

“Shut up. Aren’t you the same? You’re like a madman obsessed with books!”

Amidst the bickering between the two, Veronica glanced at the corridor where Noah had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Noah, walking down the corridor and wiping his sweaty hands on his pants, felt a chill at the thought of the recent encounter. No matter how he thought about it, she had to be helping him, right?

He’ll thank her later. As he walked to the end of the corridor, he found large doors guarded by maids on either side. Noah, avoiding the door that kept catching his eye, spoke politely.

“Hello, I’ve come to deliver something to Countess Weichen.”

Is Cordelia inside this room?

“If you go inside, there’s a small door to the right. Lady Calia is inside there.”

Showing the letter, Noah watched as the maids inspected the envelope and nodded, opening the door for him. As Noah stepped inside, he blinked in surprise at the sight before him.

Around the edges of the lavishly decorated hall, people gathered around tables laden with food and drinks, while those in the center danced to the music. Occasionally, individuals in white masks caught his attention.

At first glance, it looked like just another masquerade ball. What could this possibly have to do with the suitors? Lost in thought, Noah was about to walk towards the door on the right when he was startled by a scream and turned to look.

Noah’s face gradually showed his shock as he observed the commotion from a distance. He quickly moved closer to someone’s back.

All eyes turned to the direction of the scream. The woman who screamed glared at the man standing in front of her, trembling. A reddish color coursed down her neck from where her mask covered her face, reflecting the shame she felt.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry. It seems I made a mistake.”

Despite touching a sensitive area, the man was incredibly brazen. With his hands up and a smirk on his face, he seemed more amused by the situation than genuinely sorry.

The woman, unable to speak due to the rules, could only flap her mouth and take a step back. In the process, she accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress.

Ah!

As she was about to fall backward, she squeezed her eyes shut, but someone’s hand caught her. When she opened her eyes slightly, she saw clear blue eyes peering out from behind a white mask.

The smell was surprisingly pleasant—smoother than the perfume she had applied.

“Hey, let her go. Who do you think you are, being so insolent!”

Other servants who had quietly approached grabbed the man’s arms. The man, seeming displeased, shook off their hands and growled.

A servant with brown hair, who had caught the falling woman, knelt down and carefully brushed off the dress hem she had stepped on. The maid’s respectful demeanor made the woman’s cheeks blush under her mask.

Slowly standing up, the servant who had intervened positioned himself between the man and the woman, giving the man a stern look and silently clenching his fist. The calm yet intense gaze made the man feel an unusual sense of shame.

The man, pushing away the hands holding him back, walked toward the servant and reached out. The servant, retreating, subtly moved his leg as if to trip the man.

“What’s all this commotion about?”

A low and calm voice cut through the music. As the man tripped over the servant’s foot and fell loudly to the floor, the servant, who had slightly leaned back, felt his back come into contact with something solid.

The servant looked up to see who was standing behind him. A large man with a thick mane of black hair obscuring his eyes was gripping his shoulders with both hands.

The servant brushed off the man’s hands and looked ahead again. As he was fiddling with his ear, a somewhat awkward whisper reached his ear.

“Are you alright? Lady Cordelia.”