Tail’s Curse Chapter 14

Noah, who had been signing the documents, suddenly paused and raised an eyebrow.  

 

“You’re saying I lent money to that godforsaken place?”  

 

What place are you talking about?  

 

“The Marguerite family. A lineage nicknamed ‘the descendants of mermaids.’”  

 

“Ah.”  

 

Noah leaned back in his chair as if he’d just remembered. 

 

Right, that was it. Lost in thought, his long fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.  

 

“Surprisingly, they haven’t gone under yet. They were on the verge of ruin back then.”  

 

“And yet you still lent them money?”  

 

“There was something I wanted.”  

 

Noah’s eyes narrowed.  

 

“A man who gambled his family into ruin isn’t trustworthy, but if anything remains, the last true descendant of that house—that woman—would know.”  

 

So, where is our debtor currently?  

 

🫧

 

Cordelia headed straight to the harbor without passing through the town. 

 

First, she simply aimed for the sea. 

 

Zeneka was a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, so port cities were plentiful. The only thing that mattered was her destination.  

 

Truthfully, there was no real plan. Cordelia simply felt a sudden longing to see her homeland.  

 

Though she had spent her entire life growing up in Zeneka, this wasn’t her true home. Imperial nobles, especially those from aristocratic families, preferred to give birth in the homeland—specifically, the capital, Katisha. 

 

While this tradition was gradually fading, the societal stereotype remained strong; even those of pure Imperial blood but born abroad were often treated as illegitimate.  

 

Thus, many expectant mothers endured arduous sea voyages back to the homeland to deliver their children, and Cordelia’s mother was no exception. 

 

Back then, the family had still been fairly wealthy.  

 

She had heard that she spent the first year of her life in Katisha, though of course, she had no memory of it. 

 

Still, she could vaguely picture the scenery from her mother’s stories.  

 

A land ruled by mist and rain, a dazzling social season, grand parties and dances attended by nobles from all over, steamboats drifting along the beautiful Seine River, train stations, clock towers and palaces steeped in centuries of history. 

 

A city of cutting-edge fashion, boundless wealth, and artists. 

 

Citizens bustling through busy streets every day—the most vibrant city of life in the world.

 

She had always wanted to visit the beautiful city where she was born—at least once. Though it was said to be the center of the world, it was a place she had no memory of. 

 

Unlike the debutantes of other families, she couldn’t make her debut to find a suitor, but she still longed to see its glittering nightscape. She wanted to feel the intense energy radiating from the heart of civilization.  

 

After all, I won’t bloom so brilliantly.  

 

As if enchanted, she paid for a ticket to Katisha and boarded the ship. She would figure out what to do there step by step. 

 

No, actually… Countless desires surged in her mind one after another, leaving her flustered.  

 

She would visit the historic bakery her mother had loved as a girl. She would watch street singers perform in the square by the Seine and feed the pigeons. 

 

When the Academy Exhibition opened, she would see the collection of Signac Noël’s works hung in the innermost part of the museum.  

 

Her mother had said she looked at his ‘Girl Series’ while pregnant with Cordelia for prenatal inspiration. She would explore famous night markets and street festivals and taste the exotic foods of the foreign capital. 

 

She wanted to shed tears while listening to the aria of Ariaste, the greatest prima donna of the century. 

 

And then…  

 

To her own surprise, a flood of desires emerged from within her, something she never knew she had. Though bewildered, the thought that she could soon fulfill them all made her unbearably happy.  

 

Even as the illness that had taken root gnawed away at her life day by day—evident in her daily bouts of coughing up blood or nosebleeds—she tried hard to focus on the positive. 

 

After hurriedly wiping the streaming nosebleed with an old cloth and tossing it into the trash, Cordelia boarded the ship with a determined stride.  

 

The last days of my life will shine.  

 

Like a mayfly that had just opened its eyes to the world, Cordelia excitedly hugged her stuffed bear tightly. The weight of the plush toy felt like it was cheering her on.  

 

And so, she set off toward the sea.  

 

Overwhelmed by the sight of the ocean—her first since early childhood, a time she couldn’t even remember—Cordelia stood in awe.  

 

The sea was more beautiful than she had imagined. Vivid, dynamic. Alive.

 

The four towering chimneys of the massive passenger ship billowed smoke as people at the harbor waved and smiled at the departing vessel. 

 

Cordelia blew kisses and farewells to the crowd of strangers.  

 

Gripping the ship’s railing tightly, she watched the vast ocean stretch before her, the steel whale cutting powerfully through the waves, leaving white foam in its wake. 

 

The sunlight danced on the water like fish scales, and even the briny sea breeze carried the crisp scent of freshly picked lemons. Tucking her windblown hair behind her ear, she exhaled deeply.  

 

Had she ever felt this free in her entire life?  

 

To save money, she had settled into a worn-out third-class cabin, but Cordelia was too exhilarated to care. 

 

The snoring middle-aged woman in the bunk above, the chatty runaway girl, the old lady muttering curses under her breath, the Gypsy sisters casting suspicious glances—even the squeaking rats and the musty odor—none of it could dampen her spirits. 

 

Compared to living with her family, this was far more bearable.  

 

“Where are you heading all alone, young lady? I’m off to see my daughter, who just gave birth,” boomed the middle-aged woman who had introduced herself as Mrs. MacKenzie with a voice as loud as her snores and a nose as big as her business. 

 

The others pretended not to eavesdrop.  

 

Though Cordelia usually kept her hood low and spoke little, her poised demeanor and delicate jawline set her apart from the typical scrappy girls from rough backgrounds. 

 

Yet she was no sheltered noblewoman either—she had a strong stomach and wasn’t picky.  

 

“I’m going home to see my mother.”  

 

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Part of her reason for heading to Katisha was to trace the remnants of her childhood with her mother.  

 

“Where’s home?”  

 

“Katisha.”  

 

“Perfect timing! The social season is about to start—the whole city will be buzzing.”  

 

Her heart fluttered. Noticing Cordelia’s blush, the woman clicked her tongue and added, “But be careful. With all the excitement, thieves and scoundrels come crawling out. Plenty of them prey on young ladies like you.”  

 

“I know.”  

 

Cordelia’s own mother had fallen for a swindler, ended up pregnant, married in haste, and lived a miserable life. Cordelia had no intention of wasting what little life she had left on something as foolish and futile as love. She had far too much to do.  

 

“At least the weather’s good. If we hit a storm, the seasickness will be unbearable.”  

 

“I’ve heard pirates have been spotted near these straits lately.”  

 

“Oh, surely Sir Noah Tudor, the Empire’s naval hero, will drive them off! Have you seen his dashing face? I must debut at a social event and meet him!”

 

Every morning, the freckled nineteen-year-old girl Brandy was busy brushing her hair and looking in the mirror when she cheerfully exclaimed. 

 

This naive young lady loudly proclaimed her ambition to go to the capital, meet a handsome and dashing man, and get married—though of course, no one paid her any mind.  

 

The third-class passengers, either worn out by life or hardened by its harshness, had little patience for such foolish vanity. They either scoffed or grew irritated at the ignorant girl’s chatter.  

 

Only Mrs. McKenzie frowned and retorted,  

 

“A debutante? That’s only for noble girls or those with money and land. Do you think just anyone who goes to the capital becomes Cinderella?”  

 

“Oh, madam, that’s old-fashioned talk. These days, even beautiful common girls can find a sponsor and make their debut. The nobility is a thing of the past.”  

 

“Well, that’s true. What even is nobility these days? Without money, they’re just well-dressed beggars.”  

 

Amid the chuckles and nods of agreement, Cordelia also inclined her head. She was living proof of that. The world had entered an era where money was power.  

 

But Mrs. McKenzie shook her head.  

 

“Foolish talk. Titles may have been replaced by money, but reality hasn’t changed. Sure, there are exceptions like Sasha Ander, the flower of high society despite being a commoner. But is Miss Brandy as beautiful, clever, or witty as her? Does she have influential connections willing to sponsor her? Can she dance exquisitely or sing like a canary? Or is she wealthy? From what I see, Miss Brandy isn’t even as pretty or sharp as Miss Cordelia here.”  

 

At Mrs. McKenzie’s blunt remarks, the gypsy sisters burst into laughter.