Tail’s Curse Chapter 33

 

Noah Tudor returned home well past midnight.

 

Naturally, the lights in Cordelia’s second-floor room were already off. 

 

As he stepped into the quiet mansion, it finally occurred to him that he had ruined her first outing. 

 

A faint pang of guilt pricked at him when he recalled her jade-green eyes, usually shimmering like the sea with excitement and joy.

 

This, too, was a rare occurrence. Since when do I care about a debtor’s personal feelings?

 

‘Still, she is kind of cute.’

 

He had always assumed he only liked things that were pretty and elegant, but it seemed he had discovered another unexpected preference. 

 

Though he had scolded her for being overly cautious, he secretly enjoyed her flustered, awkward reactions in a way. There was a certain charm to teasing her.

 

Yet another facet that satisfied this ill-tempered man’s tastes.

 

Running a hand over his stubbled jaw, he paused mid-step. 

 

Wayne, who was staying in the guest room, had set up a drinking session with Lord Pierrot in the parlor. So much for complaining about a headache earlier. What a useless fool.

 

He was about to ignore them and walk past when Wayne spotted him. 

 

Drunk, Wayne shook Lord Pierrot—who had dozed off with his head slumped—and called out loudly.

 

“Oh, hey! You’re just getting back?”

 

“Shut up. Go to bed.”

 

“Aw, c’mon~. Have a drink with us.”

 

“I’m tired.”

 

His reply was curt as he headed up the stairs, but Wayne trailed after him, grumbling.

 

“Well, no wonder. After what happened with Mikael today, everything’s a mess.”

 

Noah let out a derisive snort, unsurprised.

 

“Since when do I care what that lunatic does?”

 

“Guess he was curious about Miss Cordelia too. The whole of Katisha’s probably buzzing with rumors by now.”

 

‘I knew. I could have stopped it if I wanted to, but there was no reason to intervene.’ 

 

If this makes Isaac less bothersome about marriage arrangements, that wouldn’t be a bad outcome either.

 

As Noah entered the bedroom without a word, loosening his tie and undoing his cufflinks, Wayne hesitated while watching him through the mirror.

 

“How about having brunch together in the garden tomorrow? To comfort Miss Cordelia a little. You were rather harsh and rude to her.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“You know… it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.”

 

Even as he spoke, Wayne looked at him with a mix of suspicion and accusation, though he couldn’t bring himself to voice it outright. 

 

Instead, Noah responded indifferently.

 

“What, did I say I’d take her to bed as payment for the debt or something?”

 

“Brother!”

 

Though Wayne scolded him angrily, Noah paid no mind, carelessly tossing aside his jacket before removing his shirt. His well-toned upper body was revealed, marred by scars large and small, yet sculpted and firm like a statue. 

 

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Wayne chided him.

 

“Do you have any idea how shameful and scandalous that would be for a woman? Of course, I know you wouldn’t actually do that, but—”

 

“And why couldn’t I?”

 

“What?”

 

Noah glanced at his stunned cousin and smiled lazily.

 

“After all, she’s mine. How I handle her is up to me.”

 

“Brother, have you lost your mind?”

 

As Wayne muttered in disbelief, Noah turned away, pouring himself a whiskey before finally bringing up the first meaningful topic since his return.

 

“How did the check-up go? Any abnormalities?”

 

“Ah, thankfully, nothing was found. Jacques ran every test he could. For anything more detailed, we’d have to visit Katisha’s hospital, but…”

 

Noah didn’t say much. Lost in his own thoughts, he remained quiet, and Wayne, who had been watching him anxiously, pressed him again.

 

“Bro, you’re joking, right? What you said earlier… You’ve always stuck to the right path.”

 

“You’re overestimating me way too much, little brother.”

 

“Noah!”

 

Chuckling to himself, Noah recalled a face that, though not raised in luxury, carried an innate elegance and an untouched innocence. 

 

Well, even if his eyes kept drifting back, he probably wouldn’t want to hold onto that. 

 

For one, she’s too young.

 

‘Ah. Maybe not.’

 

Suddenly, Noah thought of the woman descending the stairs earlier that day.

 

The familiar dress that felt strangely foreign, the delicate curves of her figure, her long, deer-like neckline, the innocent eyes that had glanced his way—and the flush of crimson that spread across her nape and collarbones when she noticed his gaze. 

 

He smiled faintly. The subtle fragrance that lingered around her, like a misty, diluted sea, had a rather enticing effect. Her waist was slim enough to hold in one hand, too.

 

Now that he pictured it, that kid was clearly a full-fledged ‘woman.’

 

Well, maybe it could work?

 

Though he’d have to undress her to know for sure.

 

“I’m being serious here—I trust you won’t do anything irresponsible.”

 

“What are you talking about, Wayne? I’ve been plenty generous, and I’m taking proper responsibility for her even now.”

 

Truth be told, by Noah’s standards, he had been unusually kind and lenient. 

 

Normally, he was indifferent to the feelings and trivial conditions of those he exploited to the fullest. But this was a special case, so there was no helping it.

 

Suddenly, Noah tilted his glass and asked, shifting his gaze.

 

“Did she seem unwell to you?”

 

“No? She looked healthy. She ate well, too. Why?”

 

“Then that’s that.”

 

With her eyes lowered, the pale face sipping whiskey was inscrutable. 

 

Even at the best of times, his intentions were hard to read, but with that young lady, it was even more impossible to guess what was going on inside him. 

 

Wayne let out a sigh.

 

“Anyway, be good to her. She’s pitiful, isn’t she? No family to look after her in this faraway land.”

 

“The world is overflowing with pitiful people. Why don’t you donate to all of them? You’ll be penniless in no time.”

 

“You really have no humanity, brother.”

 

Wayne lamented, but he got no real response. His attitude toward Cordelia was somewhat odd, raising expectations, but it seemed she was just some kind of special collateral. Disappointed for some reason, he sighed again.

 

“Big sister asked when you’re coming to Katisha. It seems Duke Arsen is eager to express his gratitude for the recent pirate suppression. The whole of Katisha is waiting for you.”

 

“Sure. Just another scheme to tie me to his daughter and drive up her value.”

 

Sasha Ander was currently the flower of high society—everyone wanted to associate with her, and she was the top priority for party invitations. 

 

But in the marriage market, things were a little different.

 

Since Duke Arsen openly favored her so much, she was the ideal bride for most upper-class men—beautiful, young, and carrying an enormous dowry. 

 

But for men at the very top, who already had wealth, power, and prestige, she had flaws as a marriage prospect.

 

No one said it outright, but Sasha Ander was the illegitimate child of Duke Arsen and a ballerina from Roland, with whom he had once been passionately in love. 

 

If the Duke had simply intended to marry her off to a reasonably respectable groom, there would have been no issue. But if his sights were set on royalty or the heirs of the wealthiest 0.1%, problems would arise.

 

The world had changed a lot, but to the old aristocracy, lineage and background still mattered greatly. 

 

Unless the groom was willing to defy all opposition and ardently desire Sasha Ander, that is.

 

But where could one easily find such romantic love? 

 

Despite growing up with parents still deeply in love and seeing other happily married couples, Noah Tudor was skeptical about love. He acknowledged that such emotions existed in the world—after all, he had witnessed them himself.

 

Yet, having never felt even a semblance of that emotion himself, it seemed as vague and distant as a mermaid’s treasure from legends. 

 

Love was beautiful but exhausting, sometimes foolish, and messy.

 

For a man whose deepest affection extended only as far as his blood-related family, he had little interest in such passionate and dangerous emotions.

 

Wayne hesitated before speaking.

 

“Miss Sasha Ander is truly beautiful and perfect, isn’t she? Don’t you have any thoughts about her?”

 

“Well, she is pretty.”

 

Noah responded indifferently, briefly picturing the woman who was like a carefully tended rose. 

 

As a healthy adult male, Noah wasn’t entirely immune to a woman’s outward charm or sexual appeal.

 

But he was no longer a teenage boy, past the age of being preoccupied with such things. 

 

In fact, his interest in sex had waned after his first experience. He had tried it out of curiosity, seeing how the men around him acted like they were in heat, but it hadn’t been particularly enjoyable.

 

It felt more like a messy sport with the added pleasure of climax and release. He found it much more satisfying to appreciate the artistry of a master’s work for cerebral pleasure. 

 

Money, combat, and navigation gave him far hotter and more intense pleasures.

 

“I thought you had a thing for blondes. Didn’t you like bright, sunny hair?”

 

“Did I?”