Chapter 26
“Come to think of it, Count Elan…?”
But instead of asking further, Cordelia changed the subject. Noah noticed something off in her expression, but didn’t point it out.
“He’s the lord who governs this city. Also, a former client of mine.”
He had once commissioned Noah to paint the lives of the city’s people. Normally, patrons commissioned paintings of historical or religious themes, or portraits of themselves—not the scenery of the city they ruled over.
When the request first came in to the guild, most of Noah’s colleagues had been reluctant to take it. Although the pay was generous, the job did nothing for their reputations, and the conditions the count set were quite strict.
Noah was the only one interested in the commission, partly because—unlike the others—he wasn’t struggling to make ends meet at the time.
In the end, the lord had been very pleased with the finished work, and Noah remembered it as an enjoyable project. It had been mutually beneficial.
Having met the count numerous times during the long period of work, Noah had come to understand his character to some extent. At the very least, he didn’t seem like the type to abuse his authority.
“Still, thanks to you, things turned out alright in the end.”
“It’s not thanks to me, it’s thanks to you, Lady Cordelia.”
“Hm?”
“That man’s attitude started to change after he saw this face.”
Noah tilted his head up slightly to meet Cordelia’s gaze. Her eyes, as vivid and blue as the sky above, met his.
He found himself thinking—Were my eyes always this color?
‘For example, do you know lapis lazuli? Only paint made from ground lapis can produce such a vivid blue.’
Remembering what Noah had just said earlier, Cordelia lightly fanned her face, which had grown warm.
Blue eyes were nothing rare, so why was she reacting like this?
At that moment, a small child, only waist-high, brushed past her. Cordelia instinctively touched her hip. The small dagger was there, the leather belt was there, but—
It was gone.
Realizing her coin pouch was missing, she immediately turned. She spotted the small figure slipping away into the crowd and, without thinking, sprinted after it.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
“Lady Cordelia!”
Even when she sensed Noah hurrying after her in alarm, Cordelia kept running with all her might. The loss itself was a mere trifle compared to her wealth, but letting someone get away with it was not her style.
As soon as they turned onto a less crowded street, the child darted into a narrow alley between two buildings on the left. Cordelia followed and turned into the alley—only to see a small back standing still in the dead end.
“You little brat—!”
Stealing from others? Bold, aren’t we?
She muttered under her breath and stepped forward, but the child turned around.
Messy brown hair fell over the child’s face, but through the strands, Cordelia caught sight of eyes with a faint violet hue staring straight at her.
The expression was calm, yet the gaze was so sharp it seemed to pierce her to the core. Cordelia stopped instinctively. Only five steps separated them.
The child’s small lips moved.
“Are you more susceptible to provocation than I thought?”
The high, clear voice was calm, almost pleased at how easy this had been. It was pleasant to the ear, but oddly chilling. Cordelia rested both hands on her hips, quickly masking her wariness.
“And who might you be?”
This was no ordinary child. Cordelia noticed then that the sounds of the city had vanished around her. Having often traveled with Rines, she could guess what this meant.
Magic. She was inside someone’s barrier. Becoming aware of it made her conscious of the feel of the gloves on her hands.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re a cleric… So, are you a mage from another country?”
The child, who had been staring blankly at her, finally spoke.
“My master has business with the woman who’s with you.”
“So you separated me from her?”
When she stated it bluntly, the child fell silent again. Clearly the type to keep their mouth shut when the answer was unfavorable.
“That’s ridiculous. You think separating me is enough? I’m not her only protector.”
Cordelia wasn’t without confidence. With guards around, it wouldn’t be so easy to take someone away. But then a chilling thought crossed her mind.
“You’re not thinking of taking me hostage to lure her, are you?”
“You’re quite quick-witted.”
“How rude!”
The child’s flat tone earned a snappish retort from Cordelia.
“Will you come quietly?”
If she went quietly now, she’d be a dog, not Cordelia.
Above all, for Noah’s sake, she had to get back quickly. She couldn’t give the impression she was trying to flee.
Even as she regretted her hot temper, Cordelia decided not to waver but to take a gamble.
“Hey, kid. I know you’re a mage. But you don’t think I’d follow you without a plan, do you?”
Her bold words made a flicker of tension cross the child’s face. In that instant, Cordelia lunged at them.
“Who are you people?”
Chasing after Cordelia without thinking, Noah skidded to a stop when several men blocked his path. Purple cloaks fluttered around their feet before settling.
“Our master wishes to speak with you, miss. Would you come with us?”
Though their tone was polite, an unspoken pressure accompanied it. And the fact that they appeared right after Cordelia vanished was far too coincidental.
The cloaks made it hard to discern details of their clothing. There were perhaps six or seven of them. In his own body, Noah might have considered escape, but Cordelia’s body had less stamina than he’d expected.
Could that kid earlier have been…?
“I have no intention of following strangers who won’t reveal their identities or purpose. Why don’t you start by telling me who you are?”
Noah replied coolly, all the while glancing behind him without anyone noticing. The guards assigned to Cordelia would catch up soon; he just needed to buy time until then.
“When you ask such questions, our master told us to say this.”
“Yes?”
‘Why bother asking when you’ve already figured it out?’”
Then we’ll see you in Ritte.
He hated to admit it, but there was no denying it—those words immediately brought to mind silver hair. That sly voice seemed to echo in his ears, making him shake his head as if to fling away the irritation.
“I see… so that’s how it is.”
Noah drew out his words as if deep in thought, feigning the appearance of someone unsettled.
“Why separate me from my companion? Are you aware this could become a diplomatic issue?”
“We were told we mean no harm.”
“That doesn’t erase the discourtesy.”
He tried to step back, but one of the men in front grabbed his arm.
“Forgive the discourtesy.”
“Let go!”
Noah tried to yank his arm free, but he couldn’t match the man’s brute strength. In his own body, perhaps, but not in Cordelia’s.
When Noah relaxed his body as though ready to comply, the man’s grip loosened slightly. The moment it did, Noah wrenched himself free with all his strength.
“Agh!”
The man cried out, clutching his hand. Noah hadn’t thought he’d struck that hard. His eyes dropped to the hand that had just been holding him.
A small dagger was buried in the back of it.
Noah stepped back in shock, and the others behind the man all drew their swords at once.
“Well, now.”
Noah’s back and head struck something solid—like a wall. Slowly turning, he saw the face of the person standing behind him.
Short black hair, sharply defined features that looked mid-thirties, broad shoulders and a frame that seemed large even for his build. The hand gripping Noah’s shoulder was covered in calluses.
“What kind of men gang up on a woman like this? Have you no decency?”
The smooth, relaxed voice cut through the silence like a cool breeze. Despite the crescent curve of his smiling eyes, his navy-blue irises were piercingly cold. Standing this close, Noah could feel the stark contrast.
“Don’t interfere. This is our business.”
“Our business? That’s cold. Don’t be like that.”
Whatever the men said, he seemed to take it lightly, letting it pass in one ear and out the other.
“Hey there, miss. Been a while.”
The grin on his face was so familiar that Noah murmured without thinking,
“…Uncle?”
