Tail’s Curse Chapter 35

The once warm and joyful encounters of their childhood had now been filled with one-sided consideration and a sense of duty, reflecting the gap that had grown between them. 

 

It was regrettable, but not unpleasant. 

 

After all, they were to be married, so the girl was his rightful responsibility. And whenever he visited Cordelia, who had grown increasingly lonely, her radiant smile—as if she owned the world—made it all worthwhile.

 

Though she tried hard not to burden him, seeing the girl unconsciously cling to him like a savior stirred both pity and a strange emotion within him.

 

I should finish my studies quickly, marry her, and treat her well. 

 

For that poor girl, it’s her only escape.

 

He resolved that one day, he would give her everything she lacked in her crude and impoverished family. 

 

The thought of their shared future sometimes overwhelmed him with responsibility, but it also lifted his spirits. He wanted to prove to Cordelia that he was a man worthy of helping her, of standing by her side—that he could endure the long years ahead for her sake.

 

Once, it was simply natural that we would be together. There was no complexity beyond that. 

 

How did things end up like this?

 

In their childhood, Cordelia had been the elegant princess of a prestigious family. 

 

The only heir, born after much struggle and countless marital disputes, she was as beautiful as the Little Mermaid from fairy tales—innocent, kind, and radiant.

 

Whenever her small hand, destined from birth to be Jonathan’s bride, reached out to him, he felt an indescribable rush of emotion.

 

Though intelligent, Jonathan was only the second son, unable to inherit the family name. 

 

Cordelia was the one thing—the only thing—fated to be his. Even if their circumstances changed, she would always be his bride. He had never once imagined that fact could ever be altered.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

Jonathan, who had returned to his hometown after three years, let out an exasperated sigh as he wiped his face dry.

 

Seeing his parents avoiding his gaze, he gritted his teeth.

 

“Calling off the engagement? Without even a word to me?”

 

“Jonathan.”

 

Marquis Devillier sighed as he spoke.

 

“You should stop being stubborn and face reality. The Marguerites are no longer the family they once were. They won’t enjoy any glory from now on.”

 

“How admirable. You treated even your own children as business transactions, and now you’re doing the same till the very end?”

 

“Jonathan!”

 

The Marchioness of Devillier cried out in shock, but Jonathan stared coldly at his mother.

 

“You may have started this as you pleased, but how it ends is my right. Never—not even once—have I wavered. Cordelia has always been my bride.”

 

“Jonathan…”

 

The Marquis spoke with a weary face.

 

“I respect your loyalty and sense of duty. But you—we—have done enough. Do you really think I don’t know how many absurd demands you’ve tolerated from that girl’s father?”

 

“…”

 

Unfortunately, Cordelia’s mother, Marilyn, blinded by love, had made the worst mistake of her life. Her foolish choice to marry a smooth-talking swindler not only brought misery upon herself but also doomed her daughter’s future.

 

Cordelia had tried her best to stop her family from burdening her wealthy fiancé, but it was futile. Her father, a drunken troublemaker, constantly exploited Jonathan’s name, causing one scandal after another. 

 

Jonathan would comfort Cordelia, telling her it was alright even as he struggled to clean up the mess behind the scenes.

 

Naturally, as a young man and merely the heir to his family, the amount he could manage financially was limited. 

 

Eventually, the Devilliers found out. Recalling the disgust and outrage on his parents’ faces when they first discovered the truth, he had known this day would come.

 

But he never expected them to sever ties like this—ignoring his wishes entirely.

 

They had once revived the crumbling business that was the foundation of the Marguerite family, had been close friends with Cordelia’s late mother—practically acting as her godmother—and had cherished and doted on the young Cordelia. 

 

Never could they have imagined they would act so coldly now.

 

“What does that pittance of money even matter? How much has our family received and leeched off hers for generations?”

 

“Jonathan! How dare you!”

 

Jonathan’s face twisted as he spoke.

 

“She has no one now. Nothing but her late grandfather’s will, nothing but that fragile thread of hope tying her to us through his wishes! Have you even imagined what will become of her life if we abandon her?”

 

Under their son’s reproach, they averted their eyes and stayed silent. It made his blood boil.

 

“When she was little, she used to pull at my hand, begging me to play. Since when did she start hesitating to even hold my hand, always acting like she owed me something? That girl who used to smile so easily now behaves like a debtor in my presence. Mother! You truly cared for her too, didn’t you?”

 

Madame Devillier flinched at her son’s words but turned away. Lord Devillier, wrapping an arm around his pale wife’s shoulders, spoke with a hardened expression.

 

“It’s already decided. Cordelia has accepted it.”

 

“…Did Cordelia really say that?”

 

Lord Devillier couldn’t hold his son’s piercing gaze for long.

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I can’t believe it. If that’s truly her will, then I need to speak with her directly.”

 

As his son turned to storm out with his belongings still in hand, the lord shouted after him.

 

“It’s pointless! She’s already left Zeneka!”

 

“Where to? Where could a girl who just came of age possibly go? Did you drive her out, Father?”

 

Had it truly been so, the Marquis of Devillier might have flared up in outrage, but instead, he exhaled in defeat and pressed a hand to his forehead.

 

“That girl’s father said it himself. He took what remained of their family’s fortune and fled.”

 

Though the news was shocking, Jonathan took a deep breath and calmly asked, “When did this happen?”

 

“Over a month ago.”

 

“You knew of such a thing, yet you never once contacted me? No, more than that—”

 

Jonathan muttered under his breath, dread creeping into his voice.

 

“Did Cordelia leave this place after the engagement was called off?”

 

Silence followed. Jonathan was now utterly sick of this situation.

 

“Truly… disappointing.”

 

Without hesitation, he turned to leave. The Marquis shouted after him,

 

“You must think us heartless, cold-blooded monsters! But there was no other choice. This was the best for us! If only you had seen just how shameless and vile that family was, my son. Entangling ourselves with such wretches would only bring misfortune—just like what happened to Marilyn!”

 

“I never said I would take responsibility for those rotten people!” Jonathan snarled.

 

“I would have done anything to get Cordelia out of there. I would have made sure she had the life she deserved. I even begged you before—to save Cordelia!”

 

“Do you think I didn’t want to? But he is her legal father—how could we have taken her away? That leech of a man had nothing left but his own daughter.”

 

The Marquis looked at his furious son with weary, sorrowful eyes.

 

“Jonathan, please forget her. She’s no longer ours to protect.”

 

“Don’t bother seeing me out. I won’t be in contact for a while.”

 

As his son walked away without hesitation, the Marquis finally shouted the truth after him.

 

“It’s pointless anyway! She’ll be dead soon!”

 

Jonathan, who had come to an abrupt halt, turned around with wide eyes. 

 

Madame Devillier could no longer hold back and burst into tears. Jonathan, who had been staring at his father in disbelief as he hung his head, muttered under his breath.

 

“What… What are you saying…? What do you mean, Father?”

 

“Exactly what I said.”

 

Lord Devillier looked as though he had aged ten years in an instant. He slumped down weakly.

 

“Marguerite’s curse has finally manifested in her as well. Just like her mother.”

 

For a moment, it felt as though the air had frozen, leaving them unable to breathe.

 

An old locket slipped from Jonathan’s fingers and clattered to the floor.

 

Crack—the glass enclosing the portrait of a smiling girl shattered into pieces.

 

🫧

 

The next morning, Cordelia stretched lazily as she woke from sleep. 

 

Having slept deeply, her mind was clear, and she felt refreshed. Still lounging comfortably, she gazed at the idyllic and stunning scenery of the maritime city visible beyond the now-familiar privacy curtains when a rhythmic knock-knock-knock sounded at the door. 

 

Without shifting her gaze from the window, she called out, “Come in,” assuming it was Jane bringing up wash water.

Unable to tear her eyes away from the bird perched by the window, pecking lightly at the glass, Cordelia exclaimed in delight.

“Jane, the bird’s here again today. Isn’t it adorable? Do you think they’d eat if I left out some biscuits?”

 

There was no reply. 

 

Huh, she’d usually say something like, ‘What a lovely idea! Shall I fetch a water dish as well?’

 

Finding the unusual silence strange, Cordelia instinctively turned—only to startle and spring up when she spotted a man leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.