Chapter 19
“Let go of me!”
When she turned toward the commotion, she saw a man and a woman, who looked like nobles, struggling with each other. More precisely, the man had his arm around the woman’s waist and was holding her hand as if to stop her from slapping him.
“Lady, why are you being so difficult?”
“What an offensive thing to say. Count, I already conveyed my thoughts in my letter.”
“Yes, and every time, you said you were too unwell to meet. Yet, here we are. Fate must truly be fate.”
It was clear she had been politely rejecting him, but the man was deluded.
“…Have you read the last sentence I wrote in my recent letter?”
“I’ve read all your letters thoroughly. ‘Our circumstances and positions are too different. I wish to end things here.’ That line—ah, it felt like my heart was being torn apart. Even if our families don’t get along, wouldn’t our union help mend that relationship? Isn’t that something to celebrate?”
What? Anyone with ears could tell she was telling him to get lost.
His sugary words were as nauseating as moldy cheese. Cordelia gagged and glanced around, but unfortunately, no one else was around. Well, it made sense—people doing sleazy things in secluded places.
With a sigh, Cordelia casually strolled over to them. She moved with the swiftness of a fox.
“If we’re already here, perhaps we should make this moment a done deal— Ack!”
Just as the man tried to move his hand higher from her waist, a rough hand grabbed his arm and twisted it lightly behind his back. The man screamed in pain. Cordelia held him down harder as he struggled, and the hat she wore fell to the ground from the motion.
Cordelia looked at the writhing man with curiosity. She had known her new body was different, but she hadn’t expected it to be this strong—restraining a man without much effort.
“Regardless of union or anything else, shouldn’t all relationships be consensual? Forcing a response from a lady like this is hardly commendable.”
“W-Who are you?!”
He finally turned his head to look at Cordelia, and anger colored his eyes. Judging by her attire, he assumed she was a servant and shouted confidently.
“Let go of me! How dare a servant act so arrogantly!”
“You’re Count Zerne, aren’t you?”
The man flinched slightly when she spoke his name so precisely. Cordelia smiled subtly, but the shadow over her eyes made her look eerie.
“If you’re going to punish me, go ahead. But I’m not sure His Majesty the King would be pleased to hear about such a scandal.”
Her calm yet firm tone pressed down on the man. Anyone who knew how much the King adored the Queen could imagine his reaction to a scandal during her birthday celebration.
The man hesitated briefly, then shouted again as if nothing had happened.
“Is that a threat?”
“Oh, so this is what counts as a threat? Good to know.”
Cordelia released the man, as if tossing him aside, and blocked his view of the woman. The man stumbled backward but managed to avoid falling flat on his face. He scanned Cordelia from head to toe with snake-like eyes.
Just as she thought his gaze was disgusting, the man sneered.
“You should know your place. Who do you think you are to interfere in the affairs of your betters? Kneel and beg for forgiveness!”
Typical coward—too afraid to come closer in case he got hit again.
Wow, how exhausting. Is that all people like you can say?
Suppressing the urge to stick a finger in her ear, Cordelia responded more politely than ever, which made it sound like mockery.
“Perhaps my attire caused some confusion.”
“Confusion?”
“Count Zerne, would it be all right if I informed the lady’s family about this incident?”
When Cordelia responded in her usual graceful tone, the man’s face twisted with discomfort. She looked like a servant, but her speech and posture were undeniably noble.
Could she really be a noble?
If they were of the same status, this situation was unfavorable for him. Though he knew he should retreat, the man still looked at the lady behind Cordelia with lingering desire.
“…It seems we’ve been interrupted. I’ll see you again next time.”
Throwing the words out bitterly, the man turned and walked away. He tried to appear proud, but the speed at which he left was almost laughable—Cordelia nearly burst out laughing.
Such pretense. Still as immature as ever, that idiot.
“Thank you for your help.”
Cordelia turned slightly at the quiet voice.
The woman was a familiar face—Lady Dalia Polliette, daughter of a marquis. Just over twenty, perhaps?
Cordelia clicked her tongue at the thought of the Count’s pathetic conscience. There had to be at least a ten-year age gap between them. He wasn’t particularly wealthy or handsome—what nerve did he have?
She wondered how the lady had ended up with such a brute, but it wasn’t particularly surprising. Once someone gained a bit of social fame, things like this happened from time to time. Still, she asked out of courtesy.
“How did you end up in such a secluded place with that scoundrel?”
“I was just wandering, looking for a cool spot.”
Judging by the faint voices in the distance, they weren’t too far from the main hall. Just a bit farther, and they’d reach the outdoor banquet area.
As Cordelia picked up her hat and brushed off the dirt, Dalia quietly asked:
“What’s your name?”
“What use is it to know the name of someone so lowborn?”
It was practically an admission that the confrontation earlier had been a performance. Dalia’s brown eyes narrowed as she looked at Cordelia, who was now firmly pressing the hat back on her head.
“I didn’t ask about your background. I asked your name.”
Damn it. Nobles, I swear!
“Oh, right! Actually, I’ve got something urgent my mistress needs me to do. Please be careful on your way back.”
“Wait!”
But Cordelia ignored her and bolted in the opposite direction from the banquet hall. She had caused enough trouble in Noah’s body already—she didn’t want to add more.
Turning a corner and heading toward the path, Cordelia didn’t notice someone walking from the side. By the time she realized it, it was too late.
Noah instinctively brushed off the hand that grabbed his shoulder. The man who’d touched him shrugged and grinned slyly.
“That’s harsh. Can’t even say hello?”
He had curly brown hair and a confident smile. Though handsome, his face screamed playboy—someone who’d have a fling before marriage. His cheeks were slightly flushed, probably from drinking.
“Who are you?”
“Still as shameless as ever. You dumped me so heartlessly, remember?”
From the way he laughed in disbelief, Noah immediately understood the situation. This must’ve been someone Cordelia had dated.
“I’ve had a few flings… Someone might talk to you at the banquet. But don’t worry! It’s all been cleanly dealt with!”
He remembered Cordelia awkwardly admitting this, unlike her usual confident tone.
Noah wasn’t clueless. From how she treated him, Cordelia clearly knew her way around men. She had to be experienced in relationships.
The man was speaking nonchalantly, but there was still some lingering regret in his eyes. Remembering Cordelia’s instructions, Noah responded coldly.
“If you were dumped, there must’ve been a reason.”
Quoting Cordelia exactly, the man sighed.
“Yeah, I admit I said the wrong thing. But even so, cutting me off so completely—don’t you think that’d hurt anyone?”
“I gave you chances. I don’t understand why you’re acting like it’s partly my fault.”
Noah glanced around. People were already sneaking glances. One wrong move here could spark a nasty rumor, so he had to be careful.
“Speaking of which, I guess you got over your obsession with cleanliness?”
“Cleanliness?”
“You came on strong at first, but when it came to kissing, you acted all cold. I thought you’d be bolder. But I guess you’re still just a typical noblewoman.”
His voice grew loud enough for others nearby to hear—clearly trying to humiliate him. Cordelia might have scoffed and let it slide, but Noah wasn’t her.
He stared at the man with a pale face, as if he himself had been insulted.
“So you badmouthed me behind my back too, didn’t you?”
“What?”
“Judging by the way you talk, you probably spent your time trashing me to your buddies. Am I wrong?”
Men often did that when they gathered. Noah had overheard such conversations countless times. He sighed and placed a hand on his forehead, as if exasperated.
“Must be sad having nothing to brag about except tearing others down.”
His voice, filled with sarcasm and just loud enough for others to hear, drew attention. Now it was the man’s turn to get angry. Noah took note of the crowd. A full-blown fight would be impossible here.
But he underestimated the man’s drunken state. Though not completely wasted, he was drunk enough to act impulsively.
Clenching his teeth, the man reached out roughly to grab Noah. But Noah was ready. He stepped aside and subtly stuck out his foot.
The man tripped and fell face-first to the ground.
The tablecloth from a nearby table fluttered into the air and landed on him like whipped cream on a cake.
Laughter erupted from onlookers. Once one person started, the rest followed. Tangled in the tablecloth, the man’s face turned bright red as he threw it off and leapt to his feet.
Seeing Noah with his wide, innocent eyes only made the man’s face turn even more red and blue with rage.
“You little—!”
“Isn’t this a good time to stop?”
A brusque voice interrupted from nearby.
