Tail’s Curse Chapter 29

The talk about handing over my eyes or giving up my hair was half in jest, to be honest. 

 

Sure, the desire was genuine, but unless I’d completely lost my mind, would I really go around plucking out eyeballs like some infamous monster?  

 

Noah Tudor was occasionally a bit extreme or so they said, but he firmly believed—contrary to popular opinion—that he was far more sane than most. 

 

With a bored mutter to himself, he dismissed the idea. If that woman actually believed it, she must be naive.  

 

So when she mentioned another year without any real collateral, his cold businessman’s expression was about to surface—until he saw her eyes.  

 

Cordelia Marguerite was telling the truth, at least in part.  

 

“Not mermaid tears?”  

 

“That’s just a rumor. What I heard… was something else. Only once, though.”  

 

A mermaid’s tail.  

 

“A mermaid’s tail?”  

 

“People usually say whale tails bring good luck, right? But in the ancient kingdom era, there was a legend that mermaid tails granted fortune. Over time, the story got twisted.”  

 

“So, you’re saying that’s the original tale behind your family’s treasure?”  

 

“I don’t know if it’s ‘treasure,’ but… something like that has been passed down.”  

 

It might be very different from what you’re expecting.  

 

Cordelia trailed off. Watching her slightly troubled expression, he asked,  

 

“So, you know where this object is?”  

 

She’s answering more readily than I expected.  

 

Testing the waters, Noah smirked. The woman hesitated before speaking.  

 

“No matter what I say, I don’t think you’ll give up anyway.”  

 

A clever answer.  

 

Noah let out a quiet laugh.  

 

“The reason I said ‘a year later’ is… because that’s when I’ll inherit what my mother left behind.”  

 

She didn’t say it was death. But it wasn’t a lie, either.  

 

At his urging glance, she continued slowly, deliberately.  

 

“I only recently found out that my mother left something for me before she passed. I haven’t received it yet, but I will soon.”  

 

“Like a bequest?”  

 

“Something like that.”

 

As expected, Noah seemed convinced by the metaphor of the ‘inheritance.’ 

 

It was not uncommon for heirs of vast fortunes to have conditions—such as reaching a certain age, getting married, or having children—attached to their inheritance to prevent them from squandering the wealth at a young age.  

 

Moreover, Cordelia’s father was already someone who had drained his wife’s fortune. It was no surprise that such restrictions were placed when such a man was the guardian of a young daughter.  

 

“If my guess is right, that ‘inheritance’ is either a clue related to the mermaid’s tail or the thing itself.”  

 

Cordelia fell silent for a moment before answering.  

 

“I’ll definitely keep my promise.”  

 

To me…  

 

“The next year is too important for me.”  

 

“Why?”  

 

“I’ve been planning this one-year journey from the start. It’ll be the most important year of my life. Because… this is the first time I’ve ever made a choice for myself.”  

 

Noah wouldn’t understand. He had lived every moment of his life exactly as he pleased. They were just that different. 

 

Even the things that were mundane to him were rare and wondrous to Cordelia.  

 

“Nothing beyond this moment holds much meaning for me.”  

 

Noah simply looked at her with an odd expression, saying nothing more. He sat quietly beside her as she gazed at the distant sea, nibbling on her food until she sighed in satisfaction, then handed her a handkerchief to tidy herself.  

 

“Alright, let’s go now.”  

 

“Ah, before we head back, can we buy more of this bread? I want to bring some for Jane.”  

 

Noah chuckled briefly as he escorted her.  

 

“Who said anything about going home?”  

 

“Then where are we going?”  

 

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see the mermaid statue? Since we’re out, we might as well enjoy ourselves fully.”  

 

Ah… At a loss for words, Cordelia simply stared blankly at Noah’s composed face.  

 

“And there’s no need to worry about Jane. They’re already someone who makes the most of their vacations and free time.”

 

She bowed her head slightly to him as he opened the car door, then stepped inside.

 

Just as Noah started the engine and began to reverse, his arm shot out like lightning. Cordelia didn’t even have time to let out a startled scream. 

 

With a loud thud, the car jolted violently—something had rammed into the back.  

 

“Damn it.”  

 

Noah clicked his tongue in irritation before glancing at Cordelia, who was pale and gasping for breath in the passenger seat.  

 

“Are you alright?”  

 

“Y-yes… W-what happened?”  

 

Clutching her racing chest, Cordelia stammered out the question. 

 

Instead of answering, Noah frowned and told her to stay put before swiftly stepping outside. 

 

Frantic, Cordelia rummaged through her handbag, pulled out a pill, and chewed it down.  

 

Only then did she nervously roll her eyes and follow Noah’s retreating figure with her gaze. With no roof obstructing the view, the situation was clear.  

 

A man in uniform, mounted on a massive black horse that had crashed into the rear of the car, was dismounting. His long, golden ponytail and apple-cheeked smile made him strikingly handsome, but the deliberate nature of his actions made him far from likable.  

 

And from her perspective, it was obvious they knew each other.  

 

“Hey, Noah. Sorry about this. Did I interrupt your date?”  

 

The man spoke with a playful tone, but Noah ignored him, shoving his hands into his pockets as he indifferently inspected the damage to the car. 

 

The exterior was slightly dented, but the mechanics were fine. 

 

Without responding to the teasing remark, he simply flicked his head in annoyance.  

 

The man tilted his head.  

 

“What?”  

 

“Get lost. Can’t you hear me?”

 

With a raised eyebrow, her gaze swept over him as if regarding a bothersome dog—nothing but dry disdain in her eyes. 

 

The man let out an incredulous sigh.  

 

“I said I’m sorry. You’re being awfully harsh over a simple mistake.”  

 

“A mistake?”  

 

Noah’s lips curled mockingly, but the other man maintained a composed, almost pitying expression—clearly theatrical.  

 

“I heard the news. You wiped out some pirates? Still as impressive as ever. Even after leaving the military.”  

 

“How surprising. Was there ever a time I wasn’t?”  

 

At the shameless reply, the man let out a sharp laugh, though it carried no warmth.  

 

“Since you’re out on a date, I guess Isaac doesn’t need to worry. People were starting to wonder if you preferred men.”  

 

“What, were they hoping to be chosen?”  

 

The unspoken question—And what about you?—made the man smile in disbelief.  

 

“That’s a distasteful joke.”  

 

“Glad the intent got across.”  

 

“Hahaha… If by any chance the lady was injured—”  

 

“Hey.”  

 

Noah Tudor exhaled sharply—whether a scoff or a sigh—and rubbed his brow before cutting him off with an icy tone. 

 

Even the hollow courtesy was gone now.  

 

“Stop testing me and move along. Don’t babble about apologies you don’t mean.”  

 

By this point, even the man’s outwardly polite smile had stiffened. The chill between them was palpable enough for Cordelia to sense.  

 

“There’s a limit to arrogance, Sir Noah. I’d advise you not to forget that ‘Secret’ precedes my name.”  

 

“If that’s all you have to flaunt, of course, I remember. Want me to say it out loud?”  

 

Noah bared his teeth in a taunting grin, and though the man laughed, his displeasure was obvious. 

 

Wait—‘Secret’? 

 

That was a title reserved for direct imperial lineage. Cordelia was stunned, but Noah showed no sign of backing down. 

 

Given their attitudes, this clearly wasn’t their first clash.  

 

“The Grand Duchess would sigh if she saw this. Is this the state of the Empire’s so-called hero?”  

 

“Don’t drag innocent mothers into this. Though, I get it—not everyone has a mother like mine.”

 

Suddenly, with a slender smile, his sweetly whispered tone was gentle, but beneath it lay a strong undercurrent of mockery and sarcasm. His gaze, as if he could see right through him, was leisurely—yet all the more humiliating for it.  

 

The tense, murderous atmosphere between the two men, glaring fiercely at each othe,r had drawn the guards, but they hesitated, unsure whether to intervene. 

 

Then, unexpectedly, the man stepped back with a smile.  

 

“Alright, you seem busy, so I’ll step aside. Let’s meet soon with the Grand Duchess. Give her my regards—she’s been scolding you for being neglectful.”  

 

With a smirk, the man leisurely exited, receiving salutes from the guards. 

 

Noah barely nodded at the respectful greetings from those who recognized him and quickly returned to his car. 

 

Outwardly, his face was as impassive as ever, but the way his usually relaxed lips had pressed into a tight line made it obvious his mood had soured.