In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 74
EPISODE 74
“No.”
“Why?”
From the beginning, some questions made it hard not to hesitate. Instead of complaining about the increasingly difficult questions, Noah raised his voice a little more.
“Because I don’t like it. Is there a need for a more specific reason?”
“Isn’t it rare to find someone with such conditions? Not only is the status high, but the person is also quite exceptional.”
“What are you saying? Do you think I’m someone who only likes people because of their looks?”
“Then what is important?”
Waiting silently for his response, Frederick added with a sense of frustration.
“Even if I overlook that you dislike political marriages, I’m asking how long you plan to waste your time.”
“Waste my time?”
“Seasonal society events are usually for finding a marriage partner. How long are you going to just choose someone? You’re throwing away such a good opportunity.”
Upon hearing this, Noah instinctively realized that the real reason Frederick had sent Cordelia to the party was to facilitate their meeting. With his fist clenched unknowingly, Noah glared at him. Frederick narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t tell me, you’re really planning to live alone like Calia?”
“So what if I am?”
Frederick sighed as if he were exasperated. A faint wrinkle appeared on his forehead.
“You’re crazy.”
He spoke again to Noah, who didn’t respond.
“I don’t think you’re that foolish. You must already know well how unmarried women of a certain age are viewed in society and the kind of threats they face.”
So he had set up the stage for courtship, only to find that his sister was so rebellious that she wouldn’t even eat the food prepared for her.
Noah, who had been watching Frederick with a strange look, finally spoke.
“Well, I probably know better than you.”
Imitating a nonchalant tone, Frederick sighed dramatically. He rubbed his forehead with his fingers as if he were troubled.
“I’ve known for a while, but you don’t take anything seriously. How long do you plan to live like that?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Your youth won’t last forever. Beauty is fleeting too.”
Unexpectedly, Noah was left speechless by the serious tone, and Frederick continued more coldly.
“If you’re not considering profit, it ultimately comes down to looking at people. People are easily swayed by appearances more than you think. While you may have suitors now, things will change over time. How many will continue to show affection to a wilting flower?”
His words, as cold as they were, carried a chilling sharpness that struck deep.
“This means that not everything can go according to your own will indefinitely.”
The options will continue to decrease. Frederick hoped that his sister would make a decision as soon as possible before facing this reality.
He knew that his sister had pursued love throughout her life, but it was now time to start compromising with reality.
In society, a woman’s value declines as she loses her beauty and youth. Although Cordelia is still beautiful, a flower that cannot bloom and withers usually meets an unfortunate end. She might be able to marry because of her inheritance, but even that would likely become a matter of compromise driven by urgency.
“So let’s leave it at that. I’ll do my best to meet the conditions you want, but please, take the situation a bit more seriously.”
Frederick shrugged lightly, and Noah’s almond-shaped blue eyes fixed on him intently. Thoughts tangled in Noah’s mind.
He didn’t think everything the duke said was wrong. He wasn’t oblivious to the concerns. Yet, while understanding the point, there was a subtle rise of resistance within him.
Noah clenched the hem of his dress tightly to keep his mouth shut. He sternly scolded the impulse rising in his chest.
He shouldn’t interfere.
It was different from dealing with the man who had insulted Cordelia. The man before him was Cordelia’s family. It was a family matter, and it wasn’t something he should meddle in.
To put it bluntly, who was he to offer such interference in Cordelia’s matters? He was merely avoiding confronting his own straightforward feelings.
Noah murmured to himself as if brainwashing himself, as always.
Be silent. Act like a mouse. Just shoot back like Cordelia would and then leave. Instead of trying to converse, ignore him. There must be a reason he said that.
He knows. He understands. But.
“Why are you speaking like that?”
The calm and composed voice rang out clearly. Frederick, facing his sister’s unmoving gaze, let out a hollow laugh.
“What?”
“I asked why you’re arbitrarily deciding my happiness.”
‘That doesn’t mean I don’t want to marry. I just want to marry someone I truly love. It’s not easy to spend a lifetime with someone, is it?’
‘I want both to date and to marry. But I don’t want to just marry anyone. I prefer someone I feel is special. Is that wrong? Whenever I say this, people call me childish. They ask how I can satisfy everything.’
‘In fact, I think my desire is full, but my emotions don’t quite follow… It’s not working out. I’ve tried to adjust to make things work, but eventually, it all ends. I can’t accept what doesn’t fit me.’
He recalled the conversations shared while sitting on the grass, the downcast face looking away in contemplation, the vivid eyes that sighed yet remained lively, and her blushing smile as she clasped the flower ring with her hands.
‘It’s so lonely not having anyone to praise me for working so hard. It’s hard to meet my sisters often.’
The lonely expression she revealed when she said that was not just an illusion. Though she said she wanted to be a light-hearted person, there must have been countless agonies before making such a decision.
“My life isn’t as insignificant as you think. I’ve always lived diligently. Rick, you might not understand, but.”
Though Noah hadn’t known Cordelia for a long time, he knew well that her life did not deserve such disdain.
No, more than that. Who dares to arbitrarily judge someone else’s life?
“Just because you don’t understand doesn’t mean the fact disappears.”
Perhaps taken aback by Noah’s unusually proactive approach to the conversation, Frederick’s voice followed with a slightly strained tone.
“You.”
“Rick, listen.”
Noah repeated his words calmly.
“Do you want to talk to me? Or do you want to impose your thoughts on me?”
Frederick blinked silently. The sister who was always bright, stubborn, and would explode at the slightest cold remark was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there stood an unusually cold woman.
Was his sister always like this? It felt like facing a completely different person.
“Is duty the only answer? Just because everyone does it, must I live that way too? Even if I say that kind of life isn’t happiness for me?”
The woman’s eyes, which were asking questions in succession, slowly contorted.
“Is my happiness so cheap and insignificant that it should be dismissed by you?”
It felt incredibly awkward to say these things. Perhaps it was the remnants of long-held obsessions stabbing at his heart.
Words flowing through Cordelia’s voice seemed rather amusing. He wondered if he wanted to hear these words himself.
“…It’s the age we live in.”
After a long pause, Frederick was finally able to respond.
“Following the predetermined path would be much more peaceful. Why do you keep going astray?”
Noah almost burst into laughter. Ah, he could immediately tell what answer she would give.
The smile he hadn’t managed to suppress naturally curved into a line as if it had been meant to be that way from the start.
“Because I want to live that way. That’s all.”
What more reason would be needed? At least for her, it would be.
Even though he’s the one speaking, it feels like it’s not him, and he feels the difference between her and him at moments like this. Maybe he’ll never catch up to her in his lifetime.
But that’s okay. Even if their values are different, coexistence is possible, as she taught him.
Noah slowly descended the stairs. Walking at neither a fast nor slow pace, he passed by Frederick, who was standing blankly. As soon as Noah passed him, Frederick, who had just realized, called out to Cordelia, who was about to leave through the door.
“Cordy, stop there!”
Even at Frederick’s icy shout, Noah did not look back. He thought that Cordelia would do just that.
***
“I’m sorry about this. I ended up making a fool of myself by acting like I knew you when I saw your familiar face.”
Cordelia smiled faintly, as if she were the true owner of his body, at Benjamin, who awkwardly scratched his cheek.
“No, not at all. I’m the one who should be grateful for Ephinas’ favor that brought me to this point.”
They were walking down the corridor leading to the annex. The quiet hallway, rarely visited except by a few passing priests, was perfect for a quiet conversation. In the distance, a faint sound of something being knocked could be heard.
“The expansion has officially started, you see. Decorating the sanctuary requires quite a bit of work.”
Benjamin explained earnestly to Cordelia, who seemed interested. Yet, he glanced at her with a touch of disappointment.
“I wish we could have invited Mr. Epherman. I was quite looking forward to the marks you would leave on the sanctuary.”
As Cordelia looked at the oddly excited man with curiosity, Benjamin cleared his throat softly.
“Sacred buildings are all so lofty and don’t reveal their flaws. In truth, the deity has quite a bit of a ‘plain’ side to Him.”
“That’s rather irreverent to say.”
“Well, yes. It’s okay. I’ll repent again this evening.”
Is everyone from the temple eccentric?
Muttering with a hint of prejudice, Cordelia glanced at Benjamin walking alongside her. His gentle appearance was accompanied by a down-to-earth and cheerful demeanor.
As people age, their personality tends to show more on their face, doesn’t it? Cordelia quite liked this straightforward and bright man.
“By the way, it’s a bit surprising that you want to see the mural you worked on again.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had the feeling you would never look back once the work was finished.”
Benjamin, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly threw out a casual remark.
“By the way, how is Lord Tyrain doing?”