Chapter 48………..
At the low whisper, Cordelia’s heart nearly dropped.
Instead of moving her head—so stiff it felt like it might creak—she only lifted her gaze slightly, staring blankly at the man’s face as he looked at her in concern.
Clear emotion filled his large eyes. Blue eyes so guileless they almost felt like those of a newborn lamb. Is this what they call blind devotion? she thought absurdly.
There wasn’t a trace of doubt in his gaze. Somehow, he had recognized her at once. But—how?
“Argh!”
The cry of the man who had fallen broke the tense atmosphere. He shot up from the ground, clutching his knee dramatically, and jabbed a finger at Cordelia—still disguised as a servant.
“He—he tripped me!”
“What is going on here?”
Perhaps because the commotion was so great, Kallia came briskly toward them from outside. The man stammered, humiliated to be seen in such a state by a woman so beautiful that simply walking seemed like a painting.
“L-Lady Kallia—no, Countess.”
The chill in her gaze forced him to hastily correct his address.
“That one dared to treat me with insolence! A mere servant attempting to harm a noble’s body—how can this be overlooked?”
He should have been grateful for the rule of silence. If the glares directed at him from those nearby could be translated into words, he would have had to cover his ears.
“Is that so? And what, exactly, happened that you came to trip over his foot in the first place?”
“Well, that is…”
“You there—explain.”
Pointing to one of the servants who had restrained the man, Kallia questioned him. Calmly, the servant recounted everything that had just occurred. Once he finished, Kallia gave a slight nod.
“Escort this man outside. As for the rest—follow the rules.”
“W-wait! Then what about the proposal—”
“She may be my sister.”
Her voice, cold as a northern wind, cut him off.
“And yet you, who cannot even uphold the barest courtesy, expect me to show you leniency?”
The man could only gape wordlessly as the servants dragged him away.
“It seems much time has been wasted. I will extend the duration slightly, so please return to your places.”
Her voice, harsh a moment ago, softened gently. All the while, the music never stopped, wrapping the ballroom in its spell.
Watching her elder sister’s retreating figure—and Noah at her side—Cordelia’s mind tangled with restless thoughts.
She wanted to uncover the truth at once, but the ball still had a long way to go. According to the rules, she had to remain in place.
All right. Endure. I must endure.
Turning to Noah, Cordelia bowed her head in gratitude. He returned the greeting, flustered, and she left him there to slip quietly back to her original spot. Still, she glanced after him as he walked on with Kallia, her expression troubled.
When that day’s ball ended, Cordelia slipped outside. Blending in with the other servants along their passageway, she slipped away just before they returned to their quarters.
It was a clever use of the rules: even the servants couldn’t remove their masks or speak until they reached their lodgings. Dressed the same, people simply assumed she was one of them.
“Lady Cordelia.”
The moment she turned a corner, avoiding the others’ eyes, a voice called her name. Startled, she turned to see Noah standing idly near the wall. Their eyes met.
“Ah—sorry, did I startle you?”
Ugh. Perhaps because she hadn’t seen him in so long, his face seemed even brighter than usual. He had pinned back his bangs under his cap instead of letting them hide him as always—perhaps finally realizing how to use his face to his advantage.
But Cordelia wasn’t going to let him off easily. Remembering the incident earlier, her uneasy heart pushed her to slip off her mask. The cool evening breeze brushing her skin eased her expression.
Ah. I can finally breathe.
“How did you know to come here?”
“The Countess told me.”
So it was her sister’s doing.
“She seemed surprised when I said I ran into you along the way.”
Of course she would be. Cordelia herself had been no less startled at that moment.
“And what were you doing at the ball?”
“Miss Veronica asked me to deliver a letter that had arrived for Lady Kallia.”
“What? But you’re my guest—why make you run errands?”
“Well, something came up. Strictly speaking, she actually did me a favor.”
He removed his cap and wig, revealing golden hair pinned back, damp with sweat. At least the servant’s uniform was more comfortable than those damned dresses.
Men get to wear things like this? I’m jealous. I’m always dragging around heavy skirts…
She looked up as fabric brushed her shoulders. At some point, Noah had stepped forward and carefully draped a cloak around her.
He even managed to find where I hid it in the bushes…
Gathering up her mask, wig, and cap in his arms, Noah asked cautiously:
“Would it be all right if I walked with you? If you’d prefer, I can keep to the back.”
Was he asking if her anger had cooled? Instead of answering, Cordelia asked her own question:
“How did you know?”
He hadn’t once asked why she had been disguised that way. His attitude, drawing a line between them, stung a little, yet she couldn’t help but press.
“Pardon?”
“How did you recognize me?”
Her face had been almost entirely hidden by the mask, her hair by the wig, her figure concealed by loose clothing—and she hadn’t even spoken.
Yet Noah had called her Cordelia without a hint of doubt.
How?
“Well… I realized it when I saw you during that scuffle.”
At first, he’d only thought of stepping in to help if things went too far. But then—knowing she might be there—he couldn’t help but keep watch.
It had struck him as strange, and as he watched, he began to notice. Scratching his cheek in embarrassment, Noah continued:
“Lady Cordelia… When you’re troubled, you smile by lifting your left lip slightly. And when you’re angry, you clench your right fist first.”
Do I?
“And just now, you raised your hand toward your ear. That’s the gesture you make when brushing your hair back. I remember you sometimes stopped halfway while in my body, out of habit.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
She had never heard of such habits before. None of her past lovers had ever mentioned them.
“Even if I did, wouldn’t it be hard to recognize me right away in this disguise? I was even wearing a wig.”
“I figured it was something like a masquerade. So, the clothes might look different—but still.”
“…Most people don’t notice. No one’s ever said such things to me.”
“Well, after watching closely, it becomes clear. You’re very expressive, Lady Cordelia.”
They’d known each other barely a month. How could he notice all that?
“Then why did you just leave earlier?”
“I thought you didn’t want me to acknowledge you further. Was I mistaken?”
The setting sun bathed Noah’s earnest face in warm light. It wrapped him—and her—in a soft glow, like magic. Roses in the flowerbeds shimmered red in the breeze.
Her eyes stung.
She should have felt happy, but instead an odd heaviness pressed her chest. Cordelia rubbed at it, trying to soothe the tightness, but her voice came out sharp.
“Why are you like this?”
“…What?”
You said you didn’t want to give me those feelings. You said you didn’t want to love. I get it, I do. I act like I’m annoyed, but I know—it’s because you’re so worried about me.
But then why do you keep looking at me? Why do you only say what I want to hear?
Don’t make me expect things. Don’t make me think you might be different.
“…It’s nothing.”
She walked ahead, but when no sound followed, she glanced back. He was standing there, frozen, simply staring at her.
Even though he tried to draw lines, the moment she turned her back, his eyes looked like those of an abandoned puppy—drooping, helpless. Pitiful, yet strangely endearing.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
When she added curtly, Walk beside me, Noah’s face brightened into a radiant smile. Ugh, too cute. Rubbing her eyes with her hand, Cordelia let him catch up and match her pace.
“It feels like it’s been so long since I last saw your face.”
During the ball, she hadn’t appeared even at meals, under the pretense of caution. But the truth was she’d simply been avoiding him.
She’d wondered how he was doing, then forced herself to focus on her duties instead.
Last time, you never told me where you went. So I can have secrets too!
Childish competitiveness or not, emotions rarely listened to reason. And besides, how could she tell him about all the suitors—set up just to reject them—in detail?
“Noah, weren’t you upset not seeing me?”
She teased, but he said nothing—just followed silently. Still, Cordelia wasn’t discouraged.
At least he didn’t outright deny it.
Turning away quickly, she didn’t see Noah’s lips part slightly. Startled, he snapped his mouth shut again, fumbling to remove his cap as dark hair tumbled over his eyes.
With his vision obscured once more, he could barely see ahead. Hugging the items tightly to keep from dropping them, Noah pressed on despite the unease.
The masquerade ball at Roichel Castle lasted nearly fifteen days before it finally ended.
Many bold suitors had come to stake their chances, but not a single one had managed to find the real Cordelia.
Officially, at least.
Unofficially, the only one who had found her sought no reward. It seemed as though things had returned to where they started—yet something had changed. No one realized it yet.
And so, the commotion over suitors came to an end.
