Chapter 81………………………..
Earlier, she had said she would cooperate with him, but now that the balance of power had shifted so naturally, Tyraine was dumbfounded. Anyway, she was a young lady who was used to commanding others down to her very bones.
The sad part was that, after being harassed so much by His Majesty the King, Tyraine himself was also starting to accept such situations as natural.
“You must promise me you won’t do anything dangerous.”
“Of course. I’d decline something like that too.”
“Then why insist on helping?”
“Because I can’t stand not knowing. Besides, I got the answer I wanted from you, didn’t I?”
Tyraine tilted his head slightly, wondering what she meant. Was she referring to Noah’s reason for becoming a painter? Seeing Cordelia look so satisfied after hearing just that much made a new question spring naturally into his mind.
“Why are you so concerned with Ian—no, Noah?”
Aside from warning her not to play tricks, truth be told, Cordelia Weitzen could choose anyone she wanted. By comparison, being with Noah was a deal where she was at a huge disadvantage.
“Because I like him.”
“Just for that reason?”
“It’s exhausting to weigh every little condition. What matters most in a man is that he’s good-looking and has a decent personality.”
Cordelia waved her hand dismissively, as if the very thought of it was annoying.
“And it’s not like he’s weak, right? I can’t stand indecisive types. Watching someone cry that they ‘couldn’t help it’ even after cheating—it’s maddening. What on earth do they think they did right?!”
Judging from how she shuddered in disgust, she had probably already experienced such a thing before.
“But doesn’t he have a pretty big flaw in his background?”
“That’s something I can prepare for gradually. Giving up before even starting doesn’t suit me.”
After a moment of thought, Cordelia added lightly:
“And besides, it wasn’t his fault. To say being born with a certain bloodline is a crime—that’s nonsense.”
People said that if you were born a noble, it was only natural to be tied down by your family’s name, but Cordelia thought that anything beyond the bare minimum of obligation was excessive.
“And someone like Noah—when he loves someone, he’s incredibly persistent. Being loved by someone like that, do you realize what a miracle it is?”
Cordelia knew herself well. If it were only Noah’s appearance that suited her taste, she would never have gone to this much effort.
“You know how rare it is to find someone so upright that they can’t compromise, don’t you? Such a person can’t compromise even in love. That’s why, when you win their heart, it’s worth that much more.”
Normally she hated troublesome matters, but if it meant she could win him, she thought it was worth enduring. Humble but never servile, kind to everyone but always keeping proper boundaries—she wanted him so much. She didn’t want to leave him alone, and she certainly didn’t want to hand him over to someone else.
Cordelia placed a hand on her chest. The remnants of the feelings she had experienced in the sunset garden of Roitchel Castle still lingered, warming her inside like a fading ember. She took a soft, deep breath.
Noah. I still don’t know how to define this feeling. But at the very least, I don’t dislike it. So until I come up with the right answer, you have to stay by my side. I won’t allow you to leave on your own.
Even if it was selfish, she didn’t care. She had always gotten what she wanted.
“You really are… something else, my lady.”
“What do you mean?”
“You make everything in the world sound so simple. Like anything is possible.”
“I’m telling you, people just overthink things too much.”
Facing Cordelia’s pouting lips, Tyraine silently stroked his chin. Even as he skillfully hid his troubled feelings, he found it hard to smile as usual.
It’s not your fault.
To speak so freely of something he himself could barely utter…
Tyraine found himself laughing helplessly, because he understood all too well why his nephew was drawn to this young lady.
If only they could have met under more ordinary circumstances.
He told himself he didn’t regret it, yet he couldn’t help imagining. Even if the House of Bodeiro was always destined to collapse like a sandcastle, wasn’t there some other way? If so, Ian would still be a prince…
He wouldn’t have become a painter.
Tyraine remembered seeing Ian’s expression while painting. What was so enjoyable about clinging to a canvas for hours? And yet, seeing those eyes shining with passion, he thought:
I wish you could always look like that. Unlike my sister, who has already lost her smile.
“Well, then. Since it seems we’ve reached an agreement…”
They had already spent too much time. Judging the position of the sun and the carriage’s location, Tyraine glanced back just as Cordelia brushed leaves off her dress. Putting on a prim face, she stood before him. Tyraine whispered softly:
“Shall we begin the discussion?”
Quick and concise.
“Where have you been?”
Outside the mansion, near the front gate, Jasmine was standing idly when she spotted Cordelia coming up the steps, and her eyes widened. Hiding her troubled mood with practiced ease, Cordelia called back brightly:
“Ah, sorry. I had something to take care of!”
Scratching her ear, Cordelia asked casually:
“How long have you been standing here?”
“I came right out after getting a drink.”
Leaving the bewildered Jasmine behind, Cordelia first made sure no one else was around. Thinking of who might be waiting below the stairs, she deliberately made her footsteps loud as she began walking along the mansion’s outer edge.
“By the way, has anyone gone out or come in while you were here?”
“Hmm. As far as I saw, no one went out. Some people came in, though. But why are you suddenly asking that?”
“Well, it’s a secret, but… earlier someone pushed me down the stairs.”
“Oh, I see. Someone pushed you… Wait, what?!”
Because her voice shot up so sharply, Cordelia quickly pressed a finger to her lips.
“Shh.”
“Wait—are you all right?”
“Thanks to falling onto the grass, I’m fine for now. But maybe because of the shock, my memory is a little hazy. Could you explain what happened recently? I’m worried I might have some blank spots.”
Cordelia revealed the bump she had hidden beneath her hair, and Jasmine’s eyes widened in horror.
“Oh my goodness! What happened to you? You need treatment right away!”
“I’ll get treated once I return home. More importantly, I need to find out who pushed me…”
“What nonsense! A person must take care of their body first!”
Jasmine glared in disbelief, and Cordelia flinched at the scolding.
“If I get treated here, it’ll cause a huge commotion. Better to just catch the culprit quietly and be done with it.”
“But this should cause a commotion! Look at the slope of those stairs. If what you say is true, this was an attempted murder!”
“I doubt it was a premeditated act. Hardly anyone knows I’d be attending this event. Since no carriages have left yet, the culprit must still be inside. If I appear unharmed, the culprit will surely be shaken. And I don’t know many people connected to Baron Delos anyway. Narrowing down the suspects shouldn’t be difficult.”
Her name carried too much weight for someone to threaten her life without reason.
“If we report this officially, the mansion will be locked down and everyone will spend days searching for the culprit. Just imagining it is exhausting.”
Cordelia thought her explanation was perfectly rational, but Jasmine’s sharp gaze didn’t soften at all. Cordelia found it curious, and when she stared too long, Jasmine muttered curtly:
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just been a while since someone treated me like this. Most people are a bit intimidated by me.”
Cordelia joked lightly, thinking of her wide, shallow network of acquaintances, but Jasmine only sighed.
“You’re more reckless than I expected, my lady.”
“Hey, that’s harsh. Anyway, hurry and explain what happened earlier. My head’s starting to ache again.”
“Well…”
Jasmine recounted everything in detail, from meeting Viscount Horel and Count Eshilon at the front gate to encountering the group at the table afterward. Cordelia nodded and began walking again toward the gate.
“There was one man walking very quickly. Like he was being chased.”
“What did he look like?”
“Hmm… I remember he wore a red hat, but that’s about it.”
“That’s enough. And I don’t think he’s the culprit.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He was likely one of Tyraine’s men. Because she had already been told what he looked like, Cordelia quickly dismissed him as a suspect.
That left, of course—
“I guess I did bruise their pride a bit at the reading club.”
Even earlier, when she’d faced them at the table, they’d hardly spoken to her. No doubt they wouldn’t dare show open hostility because of her family’s status.
The number of suspects was small, but not insignificant. Considering the scale of the banquet, it wasn’t many, but the fact that six or seven people on her list had all recently crossed paths with her was suspicious enough.
Thanks to Jasmine’s sharp eye, it looked like the problem might be solved more easily than expected. That was lucky—or perhaps not, considering she had already rolled down a flight of stairs.
Just as they stepped inside the main gate, Jasmine whispered, almost in disbelief:
“There’s no way someone would try to kill you over something that small.”
“Holding a grudge isn’t that hard for people. Someone once cursed me out just because I didn’t reply to a letter.”
Cordelia spoke indifferently as she strolled leisurely. But halfway down the corridor, she stopped in front of a staircase branching off to the side.
“Why don’t you go on ahead? I have a quick errand. Oh, and join that group for now. Remember the setup we agreed on?”
“I remember, but… you’re not going to get hurt again, are you?”
“My body’s precious to me too, you know. Don’t worry—it’ll be quick.”
After sending the anxious Jasmine inside, Cordelia strode briskly up the stairs. The moment she reached the second floor, as she passed the first door, a hand shot out from the slightly open crack and yanked her inside.
