Tail’s Curse Chapter 26

The car drove down a well-kept road and entered an alley lined with white buildings draped with red canopies like snow. 

 

The pleasant scent of fresh seafood mingled with spices wafted through the air. 

 

Having only eaten a light breakfast while preparing to go out, Cordelia’s small nose twitched slightly.  

 

Noah Tudor came to a smooth stop and smiled faintly.  

 

“Since you’ve dressed so prettily and come all this way, shall we treat ourselves to something delicious now?”  

 

Cordelia Marguerite was well aware that in social circles, compliments like ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’ were as common as greetings.  

 

Still, regardless of that, she couldn’t help but feel pleased.  

 

Not wanting to appear unsophisticated, overly excited by his every word, she cleared her throat and nodded.  

 

He gave a small smile, as if seeing right through her, but Cordelia pretended not to notice that fox-like grin. 

 

Today, she felt like she could forgive even if he mocked her or said something rude.  

 

Once again escorted by him, Cordelia sat at a table on the terrace, forcing her nearly bouncing toes to stay still. 

 

Noah, with practiced ease, flicked his fingers to call a waiter.  

 

“Jane might’ve already asked, but just in case—do you have any shellfish allergies? Or any seafood you can’t eat?”  

 

“Ah, no. I love everything from the sea.”  

 

In Cordelia’s childhood home, there was never a shortage of fresh fish, delicious clams, or shellfish. Both her mother and she had adored seafood dishes.  

 

Unlike the Empire’s general tendency to dismiss seaweed as mere waste, the Marguerite household always served dishes like kelp and sea mustard at the table, and the mother and daughter loved their briny yet fragrant, fresh flavor.  

 

Though after the family’s downfall, expensive seafood dishes became an unattainable dream, the nostalgia for those days still lingered in Cordelia’s heart.  

 

“Hmm, is that so?”

 

With his chin resting on his hand, Noah ordered a few dishes. 

 

Cordelia, hearing the fluent Rolandian flowing from his lips, belatedly realized this was a Rolandian specialty restaurant.  

 

The savory aroma of butter and frying fish made her mouth water. She tried to swallow discreetly, maintaining her composure, but Noah Tudor was already covering his lips with his palm, turning his head toward the sea as he laughed.  

 

“Wh-why are you laughing?”  

 

“You just looked so desperate, like a puppy that hasn’t eaten in three days. Made me wonder if I should toss you a treat.”  

 

Unsure whether it was praise or teasing, Cordelia gave an awkward smile. Had she been trained in rhetoric, she might have responded with cultured refinement, but she didn’t know such things. 

 

So she just pouted and muttered, “I’m not a puppy…”  

 

“It’s just a figure of speech. You’re far too pretty to be a dog, Cordelia.”  

 

His casual reply left her speechless. Cordelia rubbed her fingernails under the table, chewing on her tongue as she struggled to find words while he turned his gaze back to the sea.  

 

Strangely, when he stared at her with those striking eyes, she didn’t know what to do—yet the moment he looked away, as if bored, she couldn’t stand it. She didn’t know why. She just felt restless and parched.  

 

Was it because the year he had extended on a whim felt like it would slip away in an instant? 

 

She could only guess vaguely. Either way, her fate now rested in the hands of this man before her.  

 

“Um… Lord Tudor.”  

 

When she called him, the eyes that turned back to her were like crimson roses blooming under the sunset. 

 

Ah. He was undoubtedly dangerous—but how could a face like that exist in this world?  

 

“Don’t you know my name?”  

 

“I-I do…?”  

 

“Then call me by it.”  

 

His tone, as if coaxing a child, made Cordelia instinctively comply.  

 

“Noah?”  

 

His raised eyebrows at her boldness startled her, and she quickly corrected herself. Had she crossed a line?  

 

“My lord?”  

 

He shook his head and chuckled.  

 

“Being called ‘Lord Tudor’ makes me feel like you’re addressing my brother.”

 

I see. I wouldn’t know since you don’t have siblings. 

 

As she absentmindedly admired his face, an unexpected remark slipped from her lips.  

 

“Does your older brother look like you, Sir Noah?”  

 

“Of course he does. We’re twins.”  

 

“Wow.”  

 

To think there was another person as beautiful as him. The world truly was vast. 

 

At her unintentional admiration, Noah responded with a cynical tone.  

 

“Don’t get it twisted. I’m the better-looking one.”  

 

“Ah… right…”  

 

“It’s true. Even my father prefers me.”  

 

Though his face remained expressionless, Cordelia somehow sensed a strange pride in his words.  

 

For a grown man to boast about being loved more than his older brother should have been absurd, yet somehow, coming from him, it didn’t feel entirely ridiculous. 

 

It was a little childish and amusing, though.  

 

Just then, the first dish arrived—Oysters Rockefeller, a baked dish featuring freshly harvested oysters, vibrant spinach, parsley, green herbs, rich and savory butter, milk cream, and cheese.  

 

In an instant, her mouth watered, and a flush spread across Cordelia’s cheeks. She might have heard a stifled chuckle, but the burst of oceanic freshness and smooth cream, paired with a hint of tangy lemon juice, only sharpened her appetite. 

 

‘This is so delicious!’

 

Beaming with delight, she happily dug in as Noah poured her a glass of white wine and began eating with refined grace.  

 

Unlike her, who couldn’t contain her excitement, he remained composed, internally deeming the meal passable—though he did end up eating more than usual. 

 

Maybe it was because she made everything look so delicious.  

 

Cordelia ate heartily. She devoured the Roland-style calamari (fried octopus and shrimp) drizzled with marinara sauce in the blink of an eye. 

 

The perfectly grilled sweetbreads, crab innards simmered with celery, onions, and carrots in a bisque sauce, lobster dishes, and sea urchin pasta adorned with flower shrimp—all disappeared as if her small frame couldn’t possibly have held so much.

 

Noah brushed the breadcrumbs from the corner of her lips with polite grace as she happily devoured a salmon roe tart filled with generous chunks of fish coated in cream. 

 

He then spoke up, “Miss Cordelia. Is it good?”  

 

“Yes. Why aren’t you eating more?”  

 

Noah watched the young lady—no, the girl—busy stuffing her cheeks and chewing messily before answering indifferently.  

 

“Hmm. Maybe because you’ve been eating so enthusiastically up front, I’m not sure if I need to eat at all.”  

 

Though it was just a habitual, joking remark with no real meaning, Cordelia immediately flinched, her shoulders tensing as she gauged Noah’s expression—as if she had been scolded for eating too greedily.  

 

Noah, who had been watching her like one would a squirrel nibbling on an acorn, relaxed and carefree, frowned at her overly sensitive reaction. 

 

Seeing this, she set down her utensils, her food half-chewed, and just rolled her eyes.  

 

‘Rolling her eyes again. All she has are big eyes.’ 

 

Even he, not particularly sympathetic, found it irritating. He spoke with disbelief.  

 

“You didn’t take that as criticism, did you? I was complimenting you for eating well.”  

 

‘Come on. I don’t have a hobby of watching others eat, but Miss Cordelia, the way you chew is funny and cute.’

 

At Noah’s rough-edged compliment, Cordelia hesitated before resuming her chewing—this time much more cautiously than before.  

 

‘Can’t even take a simple comment. Was she raised being scolded? She doesn’t seem like someone who grew up lacking anything, aside from being timid and overly fearful.’  

 

Though he flashed her an intentionally charming smile as she peeked at him, he couldn’t help but think that. 

 

After all, it was obvious—a gambling-addicted father who sold off his own daughter to pay debts wouldn’t have raised her properly.  

 

Since Noah didn’t say much else until dessert arrived, Cordelia managed to finish her meal without further trouble. 

 

Watching her nibble on a sherbet topped with seasonal fruits, Noah finally spoke again.  

 

“Finished?”  

 

“Yes.”  

 

Noah almost felt like a nanny looking after a child, but he brushed it off and got straight to the point.  

 

“The principal.”  

 

“Cough!”  

 

He handed her a handkerchief as she coughed violently. 

 

Cordelia muttered a ‘thank you’, covering her mouth while stealing nervous glances at his impassive face. 

 

Despite enjoying the meal, she now felt like she might throw it all up.  

 

“I don’t do business at a loss. But since you, Miss Cordelia, have nothing to pay back even if you were stripped bare, I’ve been thinking of a compromise…”  

 

The long-legged man crossed his legs and grinned.  

 

“I’ll buy information.”  

 

“Huh…? Information?”  

 

“Or maybe something else. Either way, this depends entirely on your answer, Miss Cordelia.”