Chapter 76
Noah froze for a moment under the cold brown gaze, frigid as an ice sheet. Though the man turned his head away indifferently, the sharp instinct that struck made Noah hesitate.
Strange. I feel like I’ve seen him before. Why does it feel like this?
“Excuse me.”
Before he could chase that sense of déjà vu, Noah felt a hand touch his shoulder and turned his head. A woman with jet-black hair that shimmered with a hint of blue. Her gray-blue eyes regarded him curiously.
It was the same woman from earlier.
“This way.”
The woman gave a subtle nod, signaling him to follow. Noah glanced back at the man he’d just seen, but in the end, followed the woman’s lead. He didn’t notice the eyes watching him intently from within the crowd.
Pushing through the throng, the two eventually stepped out of the mansion. Only after they began walking along the path circling from the front gate around the estate did Jasmine finally speak.
“Why did you only come now? You were so late I thought you’d stood me up.”
“I’m really sorry. Something came up on the way.”
“No, it’s fine. I was joking.”
Noah, who had reflexively answered in all earnestness, quickly closed his mouth. Right. I’m supposed to be Lady Cordelia right now.
“Anyway, everyone’s dressed awfully extravagantly, aren’t they?”
“The master of this mansion has a taste for that. He loves the arts, but especially the theater—so whenever he throws a banquet, he prefers everything to be as exaggerated and eye-catching as possible. The guests, well, they value mingling, but mostly they prioritize staying in his good graces.”
Noah silently agreed. That’s how people usually treated a nouveau riche who wasn’t born a noble. Wealth and power didn’t carry the same weight, and many found such people easier to belittle.
The crowd here also felt different from the banquets he’d attended before. As he moved among them earlier, Noah had quickly noticed that some of the jewelry adorning people was of poor quality.
Not many could afford to wear new clothes daily or to casually carry half a dozen pieces of expensive gemstone jewelry. Thinking of how hard they must have worked to plaster on an air of splendor made Noah feel oddly conflicted.
Must one really go this far, just to imitate nobility?
Once, he too had belonged in such exalted spaces, but eight years was more than enough time to create distance. If Cordelia had been nothing more than the aloof, elegant woman she appeared to be, Noah might never have shaken that sense of separation.
“My family has ties here, so that’s why I came. But I didn’t expect you to come, my lady. I thought you’d detest such banquets.”
“People can change their mind once in a while.”
“Well, that’s true. I was bored anyway—this worked out nicely.”
Jasmine picked up her pace slightly. Noah, matching her steps, whispered low.
“By the way… are you being chased or something? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Oh, I’ve had someone rather bothersome lately…”
“Miss Jasmine!”
At the bright voice behind them, Jasmine pressed her forehead in exasperation, while Noah turned with a puzzled look.
“There you are!”
A young man with platinum-blond hair approached them. Tall, yet still looking barely of age—perhaps just an adult.
His features were light overall, which gave him a radiant impression. A handsome face, a carefree smile—he was practically a walking sun.
Clutching a bouquet of white roses, the youth blushed as he held it out to Jasmine.
“I heard you like white roses. W-would you accept them?”
Watching the exchange, Noah flinched at the strong wave of déjà vu. Jasmine let out a low sigh as she stared at the bouquet.
“How long do you plan on bringing these?”
“Until you reply to my letters.”
The youth answered brightly. Jasmine, looking reluctant, took the bouquet from him. Seeing that, the youth let out a sigh of relief—before realizing Noah was there. He quickly offered a clumsy but polite bow.
“Hello. I’m Joshua Francis. You must be Lady Cordelia, right?”
“Yes.”
Noah didn’t ask how he knew her. From experience, he already knew Cordelia was well-known in society.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two together. You must be close.”
“Yes, somewhat. And I’ve told you before—stop bringing me these things, my lord. And stop sending letters.”
“But my family just received a lovely pearl hairpin. I think it would suit you perfectly. I’ll include it with my next letter.”
“I told you, no. I don’t need expensive gifts, I’ve said that countless times already.”
“Oh—so sincerity is more important to you? But I can’t possibly write more neatly than I already do…”
“Listen to what I’m saying!”
Wow, she’s fierce.
Joshua wilted under Jasmine’s outburst, his expression drooping. Noah thought he almost saw puppy-like ears flop down.
“Does this mean… you really won’t accept my letters? Truly?”
“Ugh.”
Jasmine’s fierce energy faltered instantly at his downcast look. Noah was certain then—Jasmine was weak to those who looked vulnerable.
“…Fine. Letters only.”
“And replies…?”
“Fine, fine! I’ll write back, alright?”
While Jasmine ground her teeth in frustration, Joshua’s face lit up with joy. He even accepted her curt dismissal with no complaint, retreating cheerfully—though not without waving enthusiastically as he went, drawing attention from nearby nobles. Jasmine pressed her brow as though warding off a headache.
Noah sympathized a little.
“Miss Jasmine.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you accept him?”
Cordelia had mentioned the young man wrote romantic stories. Though he seemed a bit reckless and overly cheerful, he didn’t strike Noah as a bad person.
Why did she recoil so much?
At once, Jasmine’s brows furrowed deeper, her expression growing harsher.
“For starters, he’s too young.”
“How old is he?”
“Nineteen.”
So, he’d been an adult for barely a year. Noah lowered his voice.
“Ah… compared to you, that makes—”
“Six years apart.”
“Well, still, he is an adult. Age isn’t everything…”
Noah thought of his own age gap with Cordelia and muttered defensively, but Jasmine shook her head firmly.
“Someone who just became an adult hardly knows anything. And besides, he doesn’t seem serious—he’s far too frivolous.”
Noah had to agree. The youth’s brightness came at the cost of any real depth or gravity.
“And it’s not as if we share some profound bond or history. We merely exchanged a few words at a banquet—does that justify such passionate pursuit?”
“Well… his feelings did seem sincere.”
“The brighter the flame, the quicker it burns out. He’s unreliable. And if things went sour, I’d be the one blamed. They’d say I lured a young man barely of age and ruined him.”
It was a cold assessment—but persuasive. Noah had seen enough of love’s disasters to know she had a point. He almost nodded.
Almost—because just then, Cordelia’s smiling face overlapped with the boy’s bright expression in his mind.
“…But still, sometimes when you get to know someone, they turn out different from what you thought.”
By the time he realized what he’d said, it was too late. Noah quickly tried to cover his slip.
“People aren’t always as they appear. Who knows—you might end up getting along well.”
If the boy had seemed dangerous, Noah would’ve warned against him. But he had a good temperament, and Jasmine hadn’t entirely rejected him either—she had taken the bouquet, after all.
“I’m not saying you should rush into anything. But replying to a letter wouldn’t hurt. Rather than rejecting everything from the start… Even if people gossip, isn’t it a shame to let that dictate your choice?”
Another thought struck him, and he added quickly:
“Of course, if you’re not interested in marriage at all, then forget I said anything.”
“Somehow, your advice makes me feel ashamed.”
Jasmine wrinkled her nose, embarrassed, then smoothed her expression. She stroked the rose petals of the bouquet in her arms as she murmured:
“Well, you do have plenty of relationship experience, my lady. Perhaps you’re right.”
Noah groaned inwardly. I’ve never dated anyone in my life.
It felt like lying by omission. He apologized silently—but Jasmine couldn’t hear it.
“Oh—Miss Elisa asked me to tell you she couldn’t come today, something urgent came up.”
“What a pity.”
Noah feigned disappointment, though he felt nothing of the sort. One sharp-eyed companion was more than enough—he was already sweating from trying to choose his words carefully.
He decided to strike while the iron was hot.
“Actually, I also need to leave before dinner.”
“What, you’ve got a tight deadline?”
“No, I just have someone to meet.”
The original owner of this body, that is.
Unable to say that aloud, Noah flicked open his fan. Jasmine resumed walking and said:
“There are outdoor tables in the garden. Not as crowded as the banquet hall. Why don’t we sit there and chat a while before you go?”
“Sounds good.”
Following the path leisurely, they reached the back garden. Well-kept flowers bloomed in bright colors, and the heady fragrance wafted on the breeze.
Unlike the lavish front of the mansion, this place was smaller, modest compared to other estates—but after the glittering hall, the green space was easy on the eyes. Half a dozen round white tables were scattered about.
Noah had expected the area to be empty, but to his surprise, the nearest table was already occupied. He glanced past them carelessly, but Jasmine froze at the sight of the group seated there.
“What’s wrong, Miss Jasmine?”
“Let’s go back.”
“What?”
“Well, I didn’t expect to see the two of you here.”
But before they could turn around, one of the group spoke up. Both of their heads turned toward the table.
