In Order to Meet You, Beloved - Chapter 81

EPISODE 81

Tyrain was thrilled at the sudden events, as she had offered to cooperate with him earlier. He was used to being manipulated to the bone. The sad part was that, after being tormented by His Majesty the King for so long, Tyrain had also begun to accept this situation naturally.

“You have to promise me you won’t do anything dangerous.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want that either.”

“Then why are you insisting on helping me?”

“I can’t stand not knowing. Besides, I heard the answer I wanted from you.”

Tyrain, wondering what she meant, nodded lightly. Was Cordelia referring to the reason Noah became an artist? Seeing the satisfied look on Cordelia’s face just because he had mentioned that much, a question naturally rose in Tyrain’s mind.

“Why do you care so much about Ian—no, Noah?”

Despite warning her not to play any tricks, Tyrain couldn’t help but think that Cordelia Weichen, of all people, could easily choose whoever she wanted. If she only considered the conditions, it seemed like the deal was much worse for her side.

“Because I like him.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“It’s exhausting to nitpick over every little detail. For me, a man just needs to be handsome and have a decent personality.”

Cordelia waved her hand dismissively as if the very thought was tiring.

“And he’s not exactly a pushover, is he? I can’t stand indecisive people. It annoys me to no end when they try to make excuses, saying they had no choice while tearing up after cheating. What on earth makes them think they did nothing wrong?!”

Seeing her shudder with distaste, it was clear she had experienced this before.

“But doesn’t he have a serious flaw in his background?”

“That’s something we can deal with over time. Giving up before even starting doesn’t suit me.”

Cordelia, after a brief pause, lightly added.

“And it’s not even his fault. How is being born with certain bloodlines a crime?”

While people might say that being born into nobility meant being bound by the name of the family, Cordelia believed that beyond the responsibilities she was willing to bear, anything more was excessive.

“And someone like Noah, once he falls for someone, he’s incredibly persistent. How miraculous is it to be loved by someone like that?”

Cordelia knew herself well. If it was only Noah’s appearance that appealed to her, she would never have put in this much effort.

“You know how rare it is to find someone so upright that they can’t compromise, right? Such people can’t compromise in love either. That’s why it’s even more valuable when you finally win them over.”

Despite her dislike for troublesome matters, she thought it was worth enduring if it meant she could have him. Humble but not servile, kind to everyone but with clear boundaries—Cordelia coveted him deeply. She didn’t want to leave him alone, nor did she want to let anyone else have him.

Cordelia placed her hand on her chest. The remnants of the emotions she had felt in the garden of the Roychel Castle at sunset still lingered, warming her from within. She took a deep breath.

Noah. She still finds it difficult to define these feelings. But at least she knows she doesn’t dislike them. So, until she comes to a proper conclusion, he must stay by her side. She won’t allow him to leave on his own terms.

Even if this was a selfish thought, it didn’t matter to her. She was used to getting everything she wanted.

“You’re truly… fascinating, my lady.”

“What’s so fascinating?”

“You make everything in the world sound so simple. Like anything is possible.”

“People just overthink everything.”

Cordelia said, pouting her lips.

Facing her, Tyrain silently stroked his chin. Although he managed to hide his troubled emotions, it was hard to smile as usual.

It’s not his fault.

Cordelia had spoken so candidly about something he himself couldn’t easily bring up. Tyrain couldn’t help but let out a weak laugh, realizing just how well he understood why his nephew was drawn to this woman.

‘It would have been nice if they could have met under more ordinary circumstances.’

Even though he tried to convince himself that he had no regrets, he couldn’t help but entertain such a thought.

The Borderoa family might have been a sandcastle destined to collapse someday, but maybe there could have been another way. If there had been, Ian might still be a prince today… and he might never have become an artist.

He had once seen Ian’s expression while he was painting. He wondered what was so enjoyable about focusing on a single piece for hours. Seeing the passionate gleam in his eyes, he hoped he could keep making that face, unlike his sister, who had already lost her smile.

“Well, I guess that settles our agreement.”

They had already spent a lot of time. As Tyrain glanced at the sun’s position and where the carriage was, Cordelia brushed off the leaves stuck to her clothes. With a slightly indifferent expression, Tyrain whispered.

“Shall we begin the discussion?”

Quickly and concisely.

* * *

“Where have you been all this time?”

Outside the mansion, near the front gate, Jasmine, who had been standing idly, widened her eyes as she spotted Cordelia climbing the stairs. Cordelia, expertly concealing her unsettled emotions, cheerfully called out.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I had a few things to take care of!”

As she scratched her ear, Cordelia casually asked.

“How long have you been standing here?”

“I came straight out with something to drink.”

Leaving the bewildered Jasmine behind, Cordelia made sure no one else was around. Thinking of the person who should have been standing at the bottom of the stairs, Cordelia deliberately made her footsteps louder as she began walking along the perimeter of the mansion.

“By any chance, has anyone gone outside or come back in while you’ve been here?”

“Well, I don’t think anyone went out while I was standing here. There were a few who came back in, though. Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

“Well, this is a secret, but someone pushed me down the stairs earlier.”

“Oh, I see. Someone pushed you down the… What?!”

Jasmine’s last exclamation was so loud that Cordelia quickly raised a finger to her lips and hushed her.

“Are you okay?”

“Thanks to landing on the grass, I’m mostly fine. But I think the shock blurred my memory a bit. Could you tell me what happened just before this? I’m worried there might be gaps in my memory.”

Cordelia casually revealed the bump on her head, which had been hidden by her hair, causing Jasmine’s eyes to widen in shock.

“Oh my goodness, what happened to you? Shouldn’t you get treated first?”

“I’ll take care of it once I get home. But more importantly, we need to find out who pushed me…”

“What nonsense is that! You should take care of your health first!”

Jasmine’s eyes flared with indignation, and Cordelia couldn’t help but flinch at her scolding.

“If I get treated here, it’ll cause a big fuss. It’s better to just catch the culprit and be done with it.”

“This is something that deserves a fuss! Just look at the slope of those stairs. If what you’re saying is true, this was an attempted murder!”

“I doubt it was premeditated. Almost no one knew I’d be here today. And since no carriages have left yet, the culprit is still inside the mansion. Right now, we can quietly identify them.”

If the person who pushed her saw her walking around unharmed, they would probably become extremely agitated. Besides, Cordelia didn’t have many overlapping connections with Baron Delos. It wouldn’t be hard to narrow down the list of suspects to those she was at least somewhat familiar with.

Her name alone was too significant for anyone to attempt to harm her without some deep-seated grudge.

“If we officially announce the situation, they’ll lock down the mansion and spend days searching for the culprit. Just thinking about it is exhausting.”

Although she thought she was being quite reasonable, Jasmine’s sharp gaze didn’t soften. Finding this rather intriguing, Cordelia continued to stare until Jasmine snapped.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s just been a while since someone treated me the way you do. Most people are a bit intimidated by me.”

Recalling her wide and varied network, Cordelia joked, which prompted Jasmine to sigh softly.

“My lady, you’re more reckless than I imagined.”

“Come on, that’s too harsh. Now, hurry and tell me what happened. My headache is starting to come back.”

“Well…”

Jasmine proceeded to recount everything that had happened since Cordelia met her—meeting Viscount Horrel and Count Echelon near the front gate, then encountering the group at the table. After finishing her explanation, Cordelia nodded and started walking back towards the main gate.

“There was one man who seemed to be walking very hurriedly. He looked like someone being chased.”

“What was he wearing?”

“Um… I remember he was wearing a red hat, but that’s about it.”

“That’s more than enough. But I doubt he’s the culprit.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

That man was likely one of Tyrain’s subordinates. Thanks to the description she had received earlier, Cordelia quickly ruled him out as a suspect.

So, it comes down to this.

“I did ruffle a few feathers at that reading group.”

Given that the people at the table barely spoke to her when they crossed paths earlier, it was indeed suspicious. They couldn’t openly show hostility due to the influence of her family, but the tension was palpable.

The number of suspects was both small and large—small compared to the number of people attending the gathering, but large considering that six or seven people had recent interactions with her that could have led to this. Fortunately, Jasmine’s keen observation skills meant the problem might be easier to solve than expected. Though, given she had been pushed down the stairs, perhaps her luck wasn’t as good as it seemed.

Just as they were about to step through the front gate, Jasmine whispered, almost as if she couldn’t believe it.

“They wouldn’t try to kill you over something like that, would they?”

“It’s not that hard for people to hold a grudge. I’ve had people curse me out and hate me just for not replying to a letter.”

Cordelia spoke casually as she walked slowly down the corridor. When she was about halfway down, she stopped in front of a staircase branching off to the side.

“Why don’t you head in first? I have something I need to take care of. Oh, and make sure you stick with those people from earlier. You remember the plan, right?”

“I understand, but… you won’t come back with more injuries, will you?”

“I do value my life, you know? Don’t worry, it’ll just be a minute.”

After sending the anxious Jasmine ahead, Cordelia quickly ascended the stairs. As soon as she reached the second floor, she passed by the first room, and just then, a hand shot out from the slightly ajar door and grabbed her.