CHAPTER 105……………………………….
A lively voice cut through their conversation. Wondering what it was, he turned his head to see that the door — which had been closed — was now open.
Standing there was a woman dressed neatly in a dark gray outfit. She had a slightly plump figure, large eyes, curly red hair, and a dusting of freckles across her nose.
Her face was ordinary yet oddly captivating. Her clear, bright tone seemed to reflect her cheerful personality.
“…Huh?”
The dazed voice broke the silence. Even during the earlier argument, Noah had been quietly observing the situation, but now he couldn’t hide his surprise as he muttered under his breath.
“Th-the sculpture?”
A small dimple appeared at the corner of the woman’s lips as she smiled softly. Her gentle voice followed.
“Are you a guest?”
No one answered immediately. Then she noticed Cordelia standing beside him and smiled warmly.
“Lady Cordelia, you’re back early.”
“I just took a short walk around town. Ah, and yes, this is my guest.”
“I see. Then I’ll have the kitchen prepare an extra portion for dinner.”
“Pamela!”
“Your Grace, why are you shouting?”
Watching his wife tilt her head, Frederick could only open and close his mouth soundlessly. Pamela walked gracefully toward him and met his gaze. The cheerful smile on her face was as unyielding as stone — there was no arguing with her.
“…Do whatever you want!”
As always, unable to win against his wife, Frederick clicked his tongue and stormed out, his cloak fluttering. Pamela tilted her head again as she watched him leave.
“I wonder why he’s in such a bad mood again?”
The fact that she truly didn’t know made it hard not to laugh. Cordelia, thinking once again that the two were made for each other, lightly cleared her throat to change the mood.
“This is Noah Epperman. As I mentioned, he’s my guest. Noah, this is Pamela Weitzen — Duchess Weitzen and the lady of this castle.”
“Hello, I’m Noah Epperman.”
Noah bowed awkwardly, glancing at the woman before him.
The Duchess of Weitzen? He had thought her outfit looked unusually refined — turns out she really wasn’t an ordinary noble.
“Please, just call me Pamela. ‘Duchess’ sounds so stuffy.”
Normally, words like that from a noble would sound like empty politeness, but from her, it felt strangely sincere.
Still, he hadn’t expected Duke Weitzen to back down so easily. Noah’s expression grew serious as he studied the woman who somehow resembled a squirrel.
“What, Father left?”
From the crack in the open door, Linda poked her head in. Apparently, it had been her unexpected appearance that brought in this reinforcement. Cordelia barely suppressed the urge to ruffle her niece’s hair.
“Well, it’s about time we introduced ourselves properly. I still have the wooden sculpture from back then — my son loves it.”
At her kind tone, Noah hastily expressed his gratitude.
“Oh, n-no, thank you… Wait, how did you know it was me?”
It hadn’t been a particularly memorable event — certainly not something one would recall from a single mention of a “sculpture.”
“I might not remember faces well, but a man of your size isn’t easy to forget. The statue is displayed in our salon.”
“Statue? Wait — what? You were the buyer that time?!”
Linda’s eyes went wide as she finally pieced it together. Noah scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“I knew it — you looked familiar somehow.”
“Huh? What are you two talking about?”
“When we visited Roichel Castle, we stopped briefly in Devron…”
Seeing Cordelia’s puzzled look, Noah briefly explained what had happened.
He had met a man who’d been swindled and was in trouble, decided to help him by carving and selling wooden sculptures, and the last piece had been bought by the very mother and daughter now standing before them.
“So that’s why you were so busy back then?”
“Yes. It took more time and effort than I expected.”
“You could’ve asked me for help… No, wait, you wouldn’t. That’s not your style.”
Cordelia pinched his cheek lightly, muttering about how being too self-reliant could be a problem.
“You’re too softhearted, you know that? You didn’t have to go out of your way to help a stranger.”
“He said he had a sick mother, and before I knew it, I was helping. Just self-satisfaction, I guess. It wasn’t a big deal.”
Pamela, watching the two of them — Cordelia’s sharp tone that barely hid her concern, and Noah’s easy, gentle smile — suddenly asked with an innocent look,
“Are you perhaps close to Lady Cordelia?”
“Uh?”
“That’s right! But it’s a secret.”
It didn’t feel much like a secret anymore, given how many people knew.
As Cordelia looped her arm through his, Noah reflexively put his arm around her shoulders, ignoring the uneasy feeling that he was getting swept along again.
“For now, Mr. Epperman, why don’t you get some rest? His Grace just returned, so he’ll probably stay in his room until dinner.”
“Oh, you can call me Noah.”
“Oh my, I couldn’t possibly — not when you’re so close to Lady Cordelia.”
“Give it up, Noah. Pamela always does whatever she wants, no matter what.”
Cordelia shook her head as Pamela only smiled innocently, unconcerned.
She looked gentle and cheerful, but her sense of normal was a little… different. She could seem both perceptive and oblivious, and even if someone cursed her to her face, her nerves were made of steel.
The funny thing was that Rick — for all his irritation with her — hated when anyone else criticized her.
“Give Noah a room near mine. And we’ll take care of our own meal. If Rick and I meet right now, dinner will just turn sour. It’s your family time anyway — I shouldn’t intrude.”
“It’d be more boring without you, though…”
Cordelia shook her head firmly at Linda’s pout. Pamela looked worried.
“You and His Grace still aren’t getting along? I thought you might’ve reconciled since you came to the castle after so long.”
“We’re always like this. By the way, Pamela, do you still call Rick ‘Your Grace’?”
“Well, he is the duke.”
Pamela looked genuinely puzzled, and Cordelia looked away with a sigh. Some things never changed, no matter how old they got.
Though, she had to admit — in a way, that made them seem like a truly long-married couple.
“…You do love Rick, right?”
“Of course I do.”
Right. That’s why that guy still hasn’t completely lost his mind.
Cordelia glanced up at Noah. Maybe someday he’d show at least a cute bit of jealousy like that.
“All right, then drop your stuff off and come meet me. I’ll be waiting in the west parlor.”
Pushing Noah gently toward the door, Cordelia waved cheerfully. Watching him leave, she stretched her arms high above her head.
After setting down his luggage and changing into more comfortable clothes, Noah joined Cordelia, and they walked down the wide corridor together. The neat rows of gray stone bricks hinted at the castle’s long history.
“Oh! Lady Cordelia, what brings you here?”
“I was hoping to get something small for dinner. I think our guest missed his meal.”
An elderly man greeted them warmly as they entered the kitchen. It wasn’t too busy yet, since dinner was still a while away.
The faint heat of the stoves, the lively sounds of knives chopping and pots clattering — the whole kitchen felt alive.
Noah looked around awkwardly, rubbing the tip of his nose.
“I’m fine, really.”
“You haven’t eaten, have you?”
Unable to deny it, Noah fell silent as Cordelia gave him a sharp look. He always eats well — what’s kept him so busy he skipped meals?
“Anyway, something with meat. And a bottle of wine!”
“Understood. Is this gentleman your guest?”
“Yes, this is Noah.”
“I’m Kallen, head chef of the castle.”
The chef bowed with a friendly grin, and Noah instinctively bowed back. A few pleasant exchanges later, Noah walked out holding a large basket the chef had prepared for them.
“So… where are we going now?”
“On a picnic! If we don’t hurry, the sun’ll set!”
As Cordelia led the way enthusiastically, the setting sun tilted low in the sky. The light was still bright but already turning golden.
Noah followed quietly, his gaze fixed on the back of her head. Even though she’d trimmed her hair neatly, it was still short enough to bare her neck — and that somehow pained him to see.
He couldn’t help but wonder what feelings had led her to cut it that way.
“Lady Cordelia, good evening!”
“Did you go for a walk? The weather’s been lovely today.”
“Whoa, are you going to eat all that by yourself?”
“The sun’ll be down soon — take this shawl with you!”
As they walked up the steps into the castle, they passed by many people — some simply bowing, others greeting Cordelia warmly.
The sense of familiarity and respect in their tone felt strange to Noah, who still remembered how people used to greet him when he was in Cordelia’s body.
They entered through a side door leading into a tower and climbed a long spiral staircase. Finally, a closed door came into view at the top.
Cordelia pushed it open and hopped inside — and when Noah followed, his eyes widened in surprise at the sight before him.
