In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 63

EPISODE 63

The voice sounded kind, but as soon as she heard the words, Cordelia felt her skin prickle. When she turned to look at the man, his brow was slightly furrowed, suggesting he felt the same way.

“The process by which the protagonist, Icarus, overcomes various hardships and completes the mission entrusted to him by a noble figure is conventional, but it is handled with such excellent writing that it’s hard to look away.”

Elisa, glancing at the iris badge on the man’s chest, continued speaking.

“I was particularly impressed with Icarus when he was imprisoned and realized the princess had abandoned him. His anger was striking. Normally, one wouldn’t believe such a thing until hearing it directly, but the way he vilified the princess, given his previously shown loyalty, was quite memorable.”

Her voice was level, but it had a strange tension that made others uneasy.

“Yet in the end, he still marries the princess, even though there was a handmaiden by his side who followed him devotedly.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Don’t we all live interacting with others? Emotions that naturally arise between people are an important part of life. But it seems you’re focusing too much on the surface and neglecting what’s truly important. That’s what I’m thinking.”

Wow, it’s not easy to be that sharp while sounding calm.

As Cordelia looked around at the increasingly uncomfortable expressions of those around her, including the baron, she marveled at how Elisa remained composed.

Somehow, she thought she’d get along well with her sister.

“If one prioritizes big dreams, it’s easy to overlook the small things, right?”

Another person, Count Echelon, who also wore a blue iris badge, stood up to object. Elisa’s eyes gleamed as she looked at him.

“If you can’t even protect your own purse, how can you become a great merchant?”

When she responded with a metaphor befitting the only daughter of a wealthy merchant family, the count replied earnestly.

“One must always be generous to others. If you encounter someone hungry while walking, you should open your purse and feed them.”

“…But opening your purse by choice and losing it are two different things.”

“When you give to others, it eventually comes back to you. The same goes for a lost purse.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Does he think that’s the point?

Cordelia sighed inwardly as she watched the count steer the conversation in a strange direction, missing Elisa’s point entirely.

He’s just excited to show off what he knows.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere continued to spiral out of control. Just as Elisa’s expression began to tighten while facing the count’s preachy lecture, someone spoke.

“So, in conclusion, isn’t it this?”

Everyone turned their heads toward the source of the voice. Jasmine, who had risen from the sofa, was lightly brushing off her skirt. When she felt she had gained enough attention, she began to speak.

“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, after listening to what’s been said, I wonder if the two of you aren’t arriving at the same conclusion.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whether it’s the desire for chivalry or stories between people, it all seems to be a form of romance, doesn’t it? After all, isn’t the pursuit of an ideal something that aligns with both perspectives?”

Thanks to Jasmine’s skillful mediation, the overheated atmosphere cooled down, shifting in a more positive direction. Cordelia watched the scene with bewildered eyes. She glanced at Jasmine and then back at Elisa.

It felt strange to find people in a place like this who shared similar thoughts and spoke out like she did. They were different from the people she met at banquets or salons.

Something in her chest felt tightly wound, but Cordelia found that she didn’t dislike the sensation. On the contrary, it felt reassuring. It was different from when she thought of her sisters.

Suddenly, a fitting word came to her. Ah, this must be what a sense of belonging feels like—not because of family, but simply as herself. A place where she could stand, surrounded by others who shared the same goals.

It was a truly unfamiliar feeling.

Of course, aside from this sentiment, she had to acknowledge the unspoken truth that even when discussing the other two books, the entire time was filled with a tense battle of wits.

After hours of discussion, the men quickly departed. Exhausted and unable to move, Cordelia leaned her head against the back of the sofa, a groan escaping her lips.

Ah, so tiring!

Talking non-stop had left her throat sore. And while there were plenty of people on the other side, there were only three of them on this side. One of the other women had remained silent throughout the meeting, either because she agreed with the men or simply didn’t want to get involved in anything troublesome.

Cordelia understood. Normally, it made sense not to speak up just to avoid the hassle. But still!

In her heart, she wanted to rejoice in her newfound freedom and flail around with joy, but she held back. If she were the only one left in the room, it might be different, but there were still three of them here.

Jasmine Robin, Elisa Perriente, and the host, Viscount Owen. Why does that old man still have so much energy?

“You all truly are impressive. This old man can hardly keep up with the vigor you all seem to have.”

The viscount said, lightly stroking his beard as he instructed the servants to clear the sofa.

A second sofa was placed opposite the one Jasmine and Cordelia were sitting on, and tea and refreshments were carefully arranged on the table in the middle.

Cordelia watched in confusion as the viscount and Elisa sat on the opposite sofa. What’s going on? Why does it suddenly feel like they’re about to have a tea party again? The sun is already starting to set!

Whatever. She’s thirsty, so she might as well drink.

Though she had sipped water throughout the meeting, her throat remained parched. She wasn’t used to spending hours sparring with certain people, so the experience had drained her.

After soothing her throat with the warm tea, Cordelia finally took a deep breath and began to speak.

“Viscount Owen.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry. You kindly invited me, but I feel like I created a difficult situation for you.”

Honestly, it felt like she had been more reckless than careful, but who was Cordelia? Any pangs of conscience she might have had were long folded neatly and tossed into a corner of her mind.

The old man looked at Cordelia steadily before shaking his head.

“No, I found it quite entertaining.”

Cordelia was caught off guard by his unexpected response.

“Excuse me?”

“These days, gatherings are rather dull. No matter how many people gather, they end up repeating the same things over and over, don’t they? It’s understandable for someone old like me, but it’s quite pitiful to see young people doing the same.”

So, what he meant was…

“Then, the reason you invited Lady Elisa Perriente was also because…?”

The viscount’s teal eyes twinkled as he stroked his beard.

“One’s writing often reflects a part of their identity, doesn’t it? Everyone here is a bit too stiff-necked, so I thought meeting someone with a different perspective might bring some energy back into the group.”

Cordelia’s jaw dropped at his admission that he had deliberately orchestrated today’s situation. The old man shamelessly added another remark.

“The opinions you sent in your letter were quite impressive, Lady Cordelia. Thanks to you, I’ve had a lot of fun in my old age.”

Unbelievable, this man!

“Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but…”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t people often call you eccentric?”

“When you get older, you inevitably get labeled with all sorts of names.”

Cordelia inwardly clicked her tongue at the unflinching old man. Wow, this grandpa is tough.

“Come to think of it, how is Her Majesty the Queen faring these days?”

“What?”

“Never mind, I’m sure she’s the same as ever.”

Cordelia gave the laughing old man a playful glare before turning her attention to the other two.

“Are you both all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Jasmine replied calmly, her tone almost cold. In contrast, Elisa remained silent. Facing her expressionless face, framed by fine dark brown hair and with a smattering of freckles across her nose, Cordelia felt a bit awkward.

Wait, why does it feel like she’s staring at her so intently? Does she have something on her face?

“Um, there’s something I’m curious about. Lady Cordelia, right?”

“Ask away. You can just call me Cordelia.”

“Then, Cordelia, have you read anything I’ve written?”

Wow, she gets straight to the point.

“Yes, I have.”

“I thought so.”

“Thought so?”

“Since we were introduced, you’ve been glancing at me now and then, so I figured you must know what I’ve written.”

Was it really that obvious?

At first, Cordelia found the voice gentle, but after hours of experience, she realized it wasn’t entirely friendly. Not that it mattered; she had no reason to be concerned.

“Well, I was surprised.”

“Because an uneducated commoner like me has a knack for writing?”

“No, I was just surprised that the impression I got from your work didn’t match what I imagined. I like your writing. It’s fun.”

Elisa fell silent at her candid response. Cordelia picked up a cookie and continued.

“Writing isn’t exclusive to nobles. It’s not something that’s limited by gender either.”

“The other nobles we met today seemed to think differently.”

“That’s just how they are. If you ignore them and treat their barking like background noise, it gets easier to deal with.”

Cordelia replied nonchalantly. Elisa chuckled and took a sip of her tea.

“You’re right. That’s why I can’t see myself getting involved with men in that way. It stifles my creativity.”

Cordelia, not quite sure whether she agreed or not, responded with silence. Elisa sighed as if she understood, then lamented.

“If only all men had even half the sense of the viscount, I wouldn’t have to think like this.”

The elderly viscount, who maintained a warm tone and spoke respectfully even to a much younger woman of lower status, made Cordelia understand Elisa’s feelings completely. Today had been both frustrating and entertaining.

In most social gatherings, people didn’t dig so deeply into each other’s thoughts, so there usually weren’t any issues. But now she realized just how exhausting it was to engage in conflicts of opinion.

That was why she preferred broad but shallow relationships.

“By the way, I didn’t expect to see you here, Lady Jasmine.”