Tail’s Curse Chapter 22

“Ouch, my back… huh?”  

 

Someone rubbed their lower back and lifted their head, locking eyes with Cordelia. 

 

He was a handsome young man with curly blond hair and violet eyes, but his loose tie, wrinkled coat, and the strong scent of alcohol wafting from him made it clear he was more of a rogue than a thief.  

 

Had he drunkenly stumbled into the wrong mansion? But there should be guards around… 

 

She gave him a wary look, and he seemed just as surprised, rubbing his eyes before scanning her up and down.  

 

“You don’t look like a maid. Who are you?”  

 

That was her line.  

 

When Cordelia didn’t answer and instead took a step back, he pressed a hand to his forehead, wincing—likely from a hangover.  

 

“I hadn’t heard about any guests at Navia Mansion. And I know all of my brother’s business partners. Wait, unless…”  

 

Muttering to himself, the young man suddenly looked wide awake and asked again, alarmed.  

 

“Please tell me I’m wrong, but… are you perhaps Sir Noah Tudor’s lover? If you’re staying here, you must be close…”  

 

“No, I’m not!”  

 

She reflexively shouted, her voice cracking in surprise before she broke into a cough. 

 

Flustered by her reaction, he hesitated awkwardly before hastily pouring a glass of water and striding toward her. 

 

Cordelia, who had been covering her mouth while eyeing him cautiously, stiffened like a bristling cat and retreated further. 

 

The instinctive aversion came from a drunken stranger getting too close.  

 

At her frightened reaction, he scratched his head sheepishly and raised his hands.  

 

“Uh, I’m not a suspicious person, I swear. May I know your name, my lady? I’m, well… a relative of Sir Tudor. Wait, judging by your appearance, you’re upper class, right? But I don’t recognize you? I know everyone in high society…”  

 

He looked genuinely offended. 

 

‘Ah, so he was part of Noah Tudor’s family.’ 

 

They didn’t resemble each other at all, but she relaxed slightly and offered an awkward smile. The more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed.  

 

“Hello. I’m… someone indebted to Sir Tudor. My name is Cordelia Marguerite.”

 

She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper as she added her title. 

 

However, her counterpart didn’t seem to mind, flashing a bright smile as he placed a hand over his chest in a casual greeting.  

 

“Cordelia! A jewel of the sea. What a beautiful name. I wasn’t aware there was a guest at my elder brother’s residence—my apologies for the rudeness. I’m Wayne Heryan.”  

 

Had Cordelia been well-versed in high society, she would have instantly recognized him as a member of the Heryan ducal family, and his appearance alone would have betrayed his royal lineage. 

 

But having spent her entire life in a remote colonial outpost of the empire, Cordelia simply thought, ‘He seems like a genuinely pleasant man.’  

 

Swept along by his golden retriever-like enthusiasm—so warm it felt like his tail might wag any moment—she awkwardly took a seat across the table. 

 

A glass of water was placed in front of her.  

 

“Did you come down for a drink of water? The southern heat comes early, making even the nights restless.”  

 

“Yes…”  

 

“If the weather here feels unfamiliar, you must be from another region. I thought you might be from the north, given how unblemished your complexion is.”  

 

He was skilled in social graces and naturally kind. His effortless ability to steer the conversation while making the other person feel at ease gradually loosened Cordelia’s tension. 

 

Though it was awkward being treated like a noble lady by Wayne, technically, she was one, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.  

 

“I’m from Zeneka.”  

 

“Ah! Zeneka! I’ve heard it’s a marvelous place. The descendants of mermaids live there, don’t they? And the sea is said to be breathtaking. I’ve always wanted to visit someday. You come from a wonderful place.”  

 

He had a way of speaking that made even the simplest words sound delightful. His cheerful expression and sparkling eyes made his compliments feel less like flattery and more like a genuine lift to the spirits. 

 

Much like Sasha Ander—a person so whole in other aspects that no sense of lack could be felt.  

 

Someone to admire and envy, yet who also made one reflect on their shadows…  

 

Ahh…  

 

“Um, if you don’t mind me asking, what is your relationship with Noah, my elder brother? He’s, well… exactly as he appears, haha. Quite particular about who he lets into his home. Especially allowing someone to stay for several days—that’s very rare…”  

 

Then it hit her—why he had seemed so familiar.

 

Wayne Herryan resembled Cordelia’s former fiancé, Jonathan. Their appearances and personalities were clearly different, but the aura they exuded was…  

 

As Cordelia’s face rapidly paled, Wayne slowly erased his smile. 

 

“Miss Cordelia?”  

 

Thump—

 

Her heart pounded. Her hands trembled as she clutched the hem of her skirt. Furthermore, her fingertips had already turned icy cold. 

 

Though the momentary palpitations subsided, a dull ache lingered. 

 

‘Why is this happening? I already took my medicine. Is it because I thought of Jonathan after so long?’ 

 

It was fine to suffer alone, but having a witness was troublesome.  

 

No matter how immersed she seemed in her luxurious life now, Cordelia was nothing more than a debtor, living on borrowed time under Noah Tudor’s grace and mercy.  

 

It was hard to imagine how he—the one who had playfully granted her a one-year reprieve—would react if he knew she was a patient who could drop dead at any moment. 

 

Even if Wayne was a good man, wasn’t he still part of Noah’s family?  

 

“Are you alright? Your expression…”  

 

“Ah, no, I’m fine. I—I should get going…”  

 

Cordelia forced an awkward smile and hastily tried to stand, only to stumble as her foot slipped. 

 

‘Huh?’ 

 

Just as Wayne panicked and reached out, a strong grip seized her waist, steadying her. 

 

The force was so firm that Cordelia was pulled back effortlessly, her eyes widening at the refreshing, ocean-like scent that enveloped her.  

 

“Miss Cordelia, every time I see you, you’re in some drunken predicament in the middle of the night.”  

 

‘What an unusual taste.’

 

When she met his lazy, mischievous red eyes, Cordelia gulped. 

 

Noah Tudor, his damp hair loosely tied, tilted his head slightly as he looked down at her.  

 

The moment she recognized him, Cordelia hastily stepped back. He let her go without resistance, but when her steps wavered, he subtly extended his arm to support her back. 

 

The touch was feather-light, barely there, so Cordelia didn’t even notice. 

 

In truth, she was too distracted by the presence of the handsome man she hadn’t seen in a while.  

 

With his bangs down and an easygoing demeanor, Noah seemed like a completely different person from his daytime self—younger, more carefree, exuding a raw energy. 

 

It was as if a beast that usually wore the pretense of a collar had calmly stepped out of its cage at night to groom itself.  

 

As she studied him, he, too, observed her—seeing her for the first time in days.

 

Noah, who had been scanning Cordelia’s slightly fuller cheeks and damp eyes, along with her somewhat pale complexion, spoke irritably.  

 

“Did you say he was drunk and bothering you?”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

Receiving no reply, only a blank stare that seemed to say, ‘Are you asking again?’ 

 

Cordelia glanced sideways at Wayne, who stood frozen in confusion, then shook her head vigorously.  

 

“N-no, that’s not it.”  

 

“Then why do you look like a scrawny chick that couldn’t even get a sip of gruel?”  

 

“I—I’m sorry.”  

 

She didn’t know why, but it felt like she had to apologize. But wait—she had eaten plenty. In fact, she had never eaten this well in her life.  

 

Crushed by his imposing tone, she opened and closed her lips like a chick’s beak, unsure how to explain herself. 

 

Wayne, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.  

 

“Brother, is that any way to speak to a lady?”  

 

Noah, who had been distractedly examining the girl’s thin wrists and slender neck with a look of fascination—as if wondering if she had stunted growth from malnutrition—replied dismissively.  

 

“You still here?”  

 

“Wow, didn’t you hear me earlier? I asked you to let me stay over. I got kicked out by Father.”  

 

“Go to Joseph. Why are you causing a scene here instead of bothering your own brother?”  

 

“Joseph nags too much.”  

 

“Then whine to Aunt Eliza or your sister like you always do.”  

 

“Mother said she won’t put up with it anymore. And my sister’s busy. She is a… you know.”  

 

The young man, grumbling like a boy, hesitated and glanced at Cordelia before trailing off. 

 

Noah, sharp as ever, caught the hint and snorted softly.  

 

“Miss Cordelia, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, Wayne Heryan. Her Majesty the Empress’s troublesome little brother.”  

 

“Ah, brother!”  

 

Wayne scowled. 

 

Cordelia’s eyes widened. If he were the Empress’s brother, that made him royalty. 

 

Even Cordelia, oblivious as she was to worldly affairs, knew that the new Emperor, Castia IV, had married his cousin. 

 

Flustered, she muttered an apology, to which Wayne scratched his head awkwardly and sighed in embarrassment.