CHAPTER 92…………………………
. Even If It Isn’t Beautiful
“Lady Cordelia!”
The moment Noah’s body collapsed, Lineth’s face, which had been calm all along, lost its composure for the first time. When he twisted the man’s arm with telekinesis, a sickening crack resounded.
Leaving behind the man who fell with a terrible scream, Lineth rushed toward the two who had fainted. Blood was steadily flowing from the dagger lodged in the abdomen.
“There’s a knife stuck in his stomach!”
“Mite, over here. Use healing magic, quickly!”
At Daniel’s shout, the priest who had been waiting in the rear of the formation came forward and stretched his hand toward the wound. After he drew the sword out and traced a small magic circle in his mind, a pure white light spread into the abdomen and began to envelop the wound.
After a while, Mite tilted his head, then looked up at his companions who had gathered around him.
“The bleeding has stopped, but judging from the dark crimson color of the blood, it seems likely the blade was coated with poison.”
“Poison?”
“Yes. For now I’ll try to manage it with the antidotes I have, but ultimately he’ll need to be taken to the temple for further treatment…”
“No!”
The sudden voice cut Mite off. Everyone turned to look. The owner of the voice, Lineth, shook his head firmly.
“The bleeding has been stopped, so just maintain the spell. We’ll go down the mountain and leave him directly with a physician.”
“But—”
“Because that man’s guardian will definitely cause a scene.”
It was sheer luck that the thread of life hadn’t been severed. Since he couldn’t confess that Noah was under a spell, Lineth offered the safest excuse: an ‘overbearing guardian.’
“A guardian?”
“Tirain May.”
The moment they heard the name, the priests all flinched. Lineth nodded at their questioning looks.
“Do you think that man would ever let someone under his authority be entrusted to another’s hands? It’d just stir up more trouble. You know well enough how fanatical the royal household people can be.”
“I don’t quite understand. Just who is this youth, that…”
“Try contacting him first. Then you’ll understand.”
Though still doubtful, Daniel did as Lineth instructed. The communication ended with Tirain shouting furiously and ordering them to wait, and Daniel turned back to the group with a sour expression.
“…Let’s go to the physician first.”
“Noah!”
As soon as she threw the door open, Cordelia froze.
The room was built much like the one she herself had awoken in. In the center of the room, Noah lay on the bed. Cordelia trudged forward to his side.
She reached out and brushed aside his bangs, revealing his sculpted face, eyes closed as if in death. When she brought her hand to his nose, she felt the faint tickle of breath.
He’s alive.
“They said because the response was quick and treatment was immediate, his life isn’t in danger. He’ll have to refrain from exertion for a while though…”
Hannah added an explanation, as if to dispel Cordelia’s unspoken questions. But Cordelia didn’t answer. Feeling the strange heaviness in the air, Hannah excused herself to inform the others and left the room.
Cordelia gazed down at Noah blankly, until her eyes caught the golden strands of her own hair fluttering near her arm. From the messy state of it, she could tell her appearance must be quite wretched.
She should look in a mirror—but she didn’t want to leave this spot. Even knowing Noah was alive, she felt uneasy.
When the blade suddenly pierced her abdomen, she had thought: So this is what dying feels like.
She cautiously placed her hand on Noah’s cheek. She worried it might be cold, but warmth spread through her fingers into her chest.
Perhaps sensing the touch, Noah’s eyelashes quivered. His eyelids slowly lifted, revealing clear, beautiful eyes.
“Lady Cordelia…”
Still half-dreaming, Noah smiled softly. He nuzzled his face against the palm on his cheek without reserve. The words stuck in Cordelia’s throat finally burst out.
“I’m sorry.”
Cordelia lowered her head weakly. Thinking of Noah enduring the same pain she had felt made her chest ache.
I should have protected your body better. Why did I act so thoughtlessly back there? Fool, idiot!
“Huh…?”
Only then did Noah blink several times, as if realizing something was off. After fumbling to grasp the hand on his cheek, he seemed startled to realize it wasn’t a dream. His eyes widened, and he looked Cordelia up and down.
“Lady Cordelia. Are you alright?”
“What?”
“I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Cordelia was momentarily speechless in astonishment. Her bewilderment quickly transformed into anger. She shouted furiously:
“That’s what matters to you right now?! You got hurt because of me!”
“Well, Lady Cordelia was also injured because of me. I’m sorry. It wasn’t on purpose, but I did fall down the stairs. I saw you had bandages on your forehead…”
“It’s just a bump!”
If anything, thanks to that, she had been able to hold on longer against that perverted bastard.
“We both ended up hurt, didn’t we?”
“That’s not the same at all!” Cordelia snapped. “If I hadn’t insisted on coming along, this wouldn’t have happened! And you—you don’t even blame me?”
“In the end, everyone’s safe. That’s what matters.”
If I said it was fortunate it was my body that was hurt, she’d only get angrier.
Noah swallowed his words and tried to sit up, but groaned as a dull pain struck him. Startled, Cordelia quickly grabbed his arm.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m just a little weak.”
Answering honestly, Noah glanced at her. Her disheveled golden hair caught his eye.
He suddenly recalled the incident at Roitchel Castle. Cordelia normally never showed herself in such a disordered state. At least, back then she hadn’t been wearing only a shift like now.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Eh? Was I smiling?”
“Yeah. What’s so funny?”
Leaning back more comfortably, Noah reached toward her and gently toyed with a lock of her hair fluttering before his eyes.
“Nothing, just… it reminded me of what happened at Roitchel Castle. I was so surprised back then…”
Maybe because the room was well-lit, the tangled strands shimmered prettily. Beautiful enough to make him want to kiss them.
“Back then, I worried for you. But now you’re worrying for me. It just makes me realize—you never know how life will turn out.”
A kiss would be too much, surely. But at least she let him play with her hair. Suppressing his regret, Noah released the strands. Cordelia’s eyes followed the motion.
“Still, I’m really glad you’re safe, Lady Cordelia.”
He spoke with a little sincerity. Come to think of it, hadn’t he resolved to be more honest, before their bodies had been swapped?
“I also have something to tell you—”
“I really…”
Cordelia ran a hand down her face.
“I really, because of you, I’m going insane.”
Her strangely weary, powerless voice made Noah’s heart plummet. Had she truly grown angry?
“Lady Cordelia?”
“Thank you… for trying to save me. Truly. But…”
Biting her lip, Cordelia suddenly broke into a bright smile.
“Never mind! We’ll talk about this later.”
“Uh—”
“Rest now. I need to tell the others you’ve woken up. Don’t you dare overexert yourself!”
She gripped his hand tightly, then let go and quickly left the room. Staring blankly at the spot where Cordelia had disappeared like the wind, Noah tilted his head.
“What was that?”
Slap!
As Tirain received the sting of the hand striking his cheek, he thought: Her hand’s gotten much harsher than before.
“Where is my son?”
Looking at the slender woman gripping his collar, Tirain raised both hands and rubbed his stinging cheek.
He had hardly faced her since being confined. And yet—why had she not changed at all? He had expected Irene to be furious, but that was precisely why he needed to say what he must.
Because he had promised to take responsibility, whatever form it took.
“I told you—he was injured and is recovering elsewhere.”
He tried to make his tone light, but Irene wasn’t so easily swayed.
“And how am I supposed to believe that? Let me see him.”
“That is not possible.”
“He’s always cautious about everything. What could have happened that left him injured and isolated?”
“I cannot tell you.”
If she heard he had nearly had a hole punched through his stomach, she would surely faint—or worse, cause an uproar. If she learned he still hadn’t regained consciousness, the situation would only escalate.
As Tirain repeated “No” like a parrot, Irene tightened her grip on his collar, her voice chilling.
The fabric dug into his throat—he could feel it constricting. Where did such strength even come from?
“He is my son.”
“And also a key witness in the incident.”
Normally that should have been enough to make her back down. But Irene didn’t budge an inch. Tirain’s smile faded into unease, just as she murmured—
