In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 69

EPISODE 69

‘What’s going on?’

Fortunately, he had good observational skills and eyesight. So he could tell from a distance that Cordelia was anxious.

Her face, pretending to smile primly, seemed flawless, but Noah thought that Cordelia was quite honest with her emotions. After all, language and expressions aren’t the only ways to judge a person.

Accustomed to observing objects and people due to his profession, Noah could easily see different aspects of Cordelia. Things like her gestures, habits, and subtle glances.

Noah, who was carefully watching her habits that appeared when she was anxious, quickly followed Cordelia’s gaze. He blinked when he saw the wide-open door of Motius.

Why is she looking so seriously at that entrance?

Noah, who knew well the legend about the door, hid his body behind the tree right in front and alternately observed the entrance and Cordelia. It wasn’t hard to find the cause. Her eyes shifted with every person who came out.

Intuitively, it seemed she only felt relieved when a woman came out alone. Was there some reason?

When Noah saw Cordelia’s face crumple when several men came out with a woman, he discreetly moved to choose one of the other entrances and entered the palace. Having lived there until he was sixteen, he knew the layout even with his eyes closed.

Noah quickly folded the letter he brought into a rabbit shape and handed it to one of the passing maids.

“There is a beautiful blonde woman outside the door wearing a rose pink dress and a rose-shaped hairpin made of pink jewels… It’s very important. Could you please deliver it to her? As soon as possible, if you can.”

“Yes, understood.”

With a polite request, the maid briefly looked over Noah’s attire before walking towards the entrance. Noah sighed in relief and lightly touched his purple top.

He never expected that the clothes Cordelia provided would help in this way.

Then, he spotted the king and queen approaching from the other side and quickly pressed himself against the wall.

“Franz, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

“Do I? Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“You’re still dull. I can tell right away.”

“If you say so, then it must be true.”

Noah’s pounding heart only slowly calmed after the softly whispering conversation disappeared. As he walked towards the exit, he sighed in exasperation.

What was he even doing here, neglecting the queen’s request? Whether he sees Cordelia or not, what does it have to do with him?

He was self-deprecating but knew it. Even so, he would have made the same choice over and over again. Even if it was meaningless or just self-satisfaction, that was fine.

He only wanted to be of a little help to her. Since he was in a position where he couldn’t give her what she wanted most, at least he could do this.

“Oh, it’s you.”

The moment Noah was about to head outside, he turned around instinctively at a strange but familiar voice, only to be startled. The noble lady he had met at Marquis Paulette’s residence was staring at him with surprise.

Although he had insisted that he had never met her before, facing the truth made him awkward. Of course, he genuinely didn’t want to be involved, so he didn’t regret his previous remarks.

“Are you perhaps working at the court now?”

“Pardon?”

“I noticed that your outfit has changed so much. I thought you had no connection to such clothes.”

Observing his attire with curiosity, Noah replied brusquely.

“I’m here only to deliver something to a distinguished person.”

“Hmm.”

The woman’s brown eyes scanned Noah’s purple outer garment. The man, who seemed only large, was quite well-built. His muscular body and height could make him appear clumsy, but the well-fitting clothes made him look more stylish.

The saying ‘clothes make the man’ wasn’t just an empty phrase. With his polite manner and pleasant voice, he was exactly the type that noble ladies would envy. Though she was hesitant, Dahlia cautiously asked.

“Are you, by any chance, receiving sponsorship?”

“No.”

Noah immediately denied it, sensing what she might be imagining. He had no intention of dragging Cordelia into any unpleasant assumptions.

“I can afford to buy a suit or two. The Marquis must have hired me for that reason.”

“Ah, I see. To think you’d leave your hair as it is even in such clothes, your tastes are quite refined.”

“If that’s all you have to say, may I leave now?”

He had to complete the task the queen requested. As he tried to excuse himself, Dahlia, who had run up to him, grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. I just…”

Dahlia bit her lip lightly before letting it go and looked up at Noah with a composed expression.

“You said you’d tell me what you wanted the next time we met.”

“This doesn’t seem like the place for that discussion.”

Noah was starting to feel a bit tired. How long would she insist on forcing unwanted favors on him?

Besides, it wasn’t even his doing. He was already overwhelmed with confusion, and he couldn’t understand why this young lady was so stubborn.

Noah gently and politely removed her hand from his clothing. Since the clothes were a gift from Cordelia, he wanted to handle them as carefully as possible.

“And I don’t know how many times I need to say this, but it’s not necessary. If you expect something in return for a small favor, that’s quite ridiculous.”

“Don’t dismiss it so lightly. You may think that way, but it was a novel experience for me to see someone helping while risking their disadvantage.”

“That can’t be…”

“Without experiencing it, how can you answer?”

Seeing Noah’s tightly closed mouth, Dahlia took a deep breath.

“I only want to give a proper reward. Why do you reject such goodwill so firmly?”

Noah responded coldly.

“There’s no such thing as a favor without a price.”

“But you’re not asking anything from me, are you?”

Noah flinched at the pinpoint response. Despite the blue eyes looking down at him indifferently, Dahlia remained resolute.

“To give willingly but to dislike receiving is an incredibly arrogant mindset. It’s just as difficult for me to deal with one-sided favors.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t have helped?”

“It means there should be something given in return. Are you planning to embarrass me further?”

If Noah had been more alert, he might have sensed the faint yearning in Dahlia’s voice. But he was already exhausted from the flood of emotions he’d been dealing with recently.

He simply wanted to end this meaningless argument. Perhaps he should just ask for a reward. Since it was clear she wasn’t going to back down easily, Noah reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Well then…”

“Wait, who said you could decide?”

A cheerful voice interrupted Noah’s words. Even before he could turn toward the source of the sound, the hand that grabbed his arm felt familiar, but Noah managed to keep his expression neutral.

As expected, Cordelia had come up next to him. Her mere appearance drew attention, and the passersby in the corridor all focused their gazes on them.

How did she know to come here? Noah was quite surprised but knew it wasn’t the right time to ask. Cordelia greeted them with a soft smile.

“Hello, Lady Dahlia.”

“Yes, it’s been a while. By the way, what brings you here…”

“I came to look for someone. I didn’t expect to find you both talking like this.”

“If you were looking for someone…”

“Since it’s my party, do you two know each other?”

At Cordelia’s hint, Noah quickly played along.

“I saw her briefly at the estate before.”

“At the estate?”

“I went there for a commission.”

While exchanging pleasantries about known facts, Cordelia’s eyes widened as if she had just remembered.

“Excuse me, but I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I should leave now. Is that alright?”

“…If it’s urgent, I suppose there’s nothing to be done.”

Hiding her disappointment, Dahlia answered warmly. After giving a polite farewell, Cordelia took Noah and headed outside. Thanks to the time passing, the area was now bathed in clear sunlight.

Walking along the empty path, Noah stared at the back of Cordelia, who was leading the way, holding his hand. After taking off her gloves and holding his hand again as if relieved, Cordelia carefully asked.

“How did you know to come?”

“Who else could have brought this to me? It was like a level of advertising.”

With nothing more to say, Noah kept quiet. He had only intended to make the invitation look somewhat plausible, worried that the maid might find it strange if he just handed it over.

“By the way, what were you two discussing?”

“She kept insisting on giving a reward, so there was an argument about that.”

“Did you agree to accept it?”

“No.”

Cordelia nodded in approval.

“Good. It’s not something you should accept. If you do, they’ll just use it as an excuse to keep making promises and asking for more.”

“Really?”

“Of course. It’s clear that she seems to like you!”

Unlike Cordelia, who sighed heavily, Noah shook his head.

“No, that can’t be. She must think of me as a common painter.”

“What does that matter? If necessary, they could buy a title and adopt you as a son-in-law. Marquis Paulette dotes on his children, so if a noble lady begs with tears, what wouldn’t he do?”

“That’s absurd.”

“You’re so dense. Honestly, I could do that too, but I’m holding back. Be thankful.”

Cordelia complained as she tightly held Noah’s hand. Noah, being pulled along, smiled gently.

As he held onto the firm warmth, it felt like new growth was emerging in his previously hollow heart. The clear joy filling his chest made his recent worries seem insignificant.

He shouldn’t be feeling this way, but he couldn’t help but smile.