Tail’s Curse Chapter 38

 

At those words, a peculiar voice murmured as if intrigued.

 

“Is that so? I had no idea.”

 

Only then noticing Noah staring intently at me, Cordelia hunched her excited shoulders and timidly nodded. Watching her flushed cheeks, red as apples, Noah raised his brows as if urging her to continue. 

 

And? 

 

After hesitating in belated embarrassment, Cordelia fidgeted with her fingers and spoke again.

 

“It might seem crude, but doesn’t everyone have things they’d want to do if they went to Katisha? I’d like to visit the bakery my mother used to take me to when I was little. I also want to see the splendid works at the Academy Exhibition and the famous Figure Noelle’s Girl Collection. And maybe toss a coin into the cherub fountain at Plaza Hall…”

 

Her wishes were small and simple, like the charming illustrations from childhood fairy tales or the round, handwritten entries in a diary. 

 

Before long, one by one, the conversations around the table ceased, and all eyes turned toward her. 

 

Flustered, she trailed off.

 

There was something about her humble, honest desires that tickled the heart and left a warm glow. 

 

Despite her awkward, blushing demeanor, there was an endearing loveliness to her. Even Jason, the prickly and indifferent secretary, regarded her with more goodwill than when he first entered the room. 

 

Even Lord Pierrot spoke with a gentle expression.

 

“Lovely wishes. You’ll have the chance to fulfill them all this time. I believe Lord Noah will stay long enough for Cordelia to fully enjoy Katisha. Isn’t that right?”

 

When Cordelia glanced at him, Noah met her gaze with an unreadable expression. 

 

Wayne chuckled cheerfully and added—

 

“It’s your first trip to Katisha. Since I was born and raised there, I can’t even imagine how that must feel. If things had gone as originally planned, did you have any other wonderful places in mind to visit after Katisha?”

 

“I haven’t thought about the next part of the journey yet. When I left my hometown, I promised myself to focus on living each day to the fullest rather than worrying about the future,” She murmured a little shyly. 

 

The kind-hearted group praised her, saying even that was admirable. 

 

They really were good people. It was such a rare experience for Cordelia to share her humble wishes and receive such a warm response that she grew even happier.

 

Then, a soft chuckle reached her ears.

 

“Exactly. This time, we must make it to Katisha. If we don’t, someone might cry their eyes out in disappointment.”

 

Wait, are they talking about me right now?

 

Cordelia’s lips parted slightly, and Noah, resuming his meal, lowered the corners of his mouth that had been curling up. 

 

For no reason, her lips, and cheeks felt stiff.

 

After the meal, teatime awaited. Cordelia nibbled on delicious black tea and cookies, making an effort not to swing her legs excitedly. Ever since arriving at this mansion, her days had been nothing short of ‘aristocratic.’ 

 

It was the kind of refined, leisurely tranquility she had only felt in her faint childhood memories, back when her grandfather was still alive.

 

Enjoying formal dinners together, the historic mansion’s fireplace, exotic carpets, elegant mahogany chairs and tables with visible wood grain, thick wool blankets, delicious snacks, fine gentlemen and ladies, and bridge games. 

 

Lighthearted cheer and dignified conversations.

 

“Cordelia, come here.”

 

Once, Cordelia’s family had enjoyed such things too. 

 

Back then, her father was quite the gentleman in appearance and would sometimes play mischievously with his daughter. He was sweet to his wife and often went out holding little Cordelia in his arms.

 

It might have been an act to avoid drawing the ire of the strict family patriarch, but even so, those days remained a distant memory for Cordelia.

Had her grandfather still been alive, would he have remained unchanged? Would they still have been happy?

 

Now, it was all just futile imagination. She was full. It seemed that once life became comfortable enough to eat and live, these regrets started creeping in.

 

Lost in thought with a silver teaspoon dangling upside down from her mouth, Cordelia suddenly rolled her eyes at the plate of pudding placed before her. 

 

Noah Tudor jerked his chin as if urging her to take it quickly.

 

“Still not full? You’re grinding your teeth.”

 

“No, not really.”

 

Timidly accepting the plate, she dug her spoon deep into the custard pudding topped with cream and muttered under her breath. 

 

What does this man even think of me? Sometimes, it feels like he sees me as a lost dog or something similar. Still, it’s better than being ignored, I suppose.

 

The pudding was delicious. Her gloomy expression soon faded, and her small face relaxed. 

 

Noah, watching her from the corner of his eye, let out a short chuckle, covering his lips with his hand before turning away. 

 

So simple-minded.

 

Wayne, who loved being around people, was already in high spirits from the gathering and beamed as he spoke.

 

“The weather’s lovely—how about we go on an outing? Once we head to Katisha, we won’t have this kind of leisure, you know!”

“Whether there or here, I doubt Prince Herlian’s daily life will change much,” Jacques Pierrot remarked with a friendly smile.

 

Wayne let out a mock groan, pretending to be hurt but still laughing.

 

“Well, that’s true! But in Katisha, there’s just too much to be cautious about. Narath is a city of tourism and the sea! We’ve come all the way to the south—why shouldn’t we enjoy ourselves?”

“Slacker.”

“Ah, brother!”

 

Cordelia had actually thought the same. 

 

Looking at Wayne, it seemed like his life had no tragedies or hardships at all. 

 

Born with parents and a family lineage that left nothing to envy, wealth without the accompanying responsibilities or expectations—what kind of life was that?

On top of that, despite the occasional scolding, he had a capable and dependable older sister who clearly adored him. 

 

Along with brothers who would love Wayne unconditionally, even if he never grew up or did anything for the rest of his life. Beyond what he was simply born with, Wayne was also the kind of person who made others feel good just by being around him—warm, cheerful, and kind. 

 

That was probably just his nature.

 

Sasha Ander, Wayne, and Jonathan were all good, kind-hearted people who knew how to extend goodwill without reason.

Cordelia liked such people and wanted to be around them, yet she couldn’t help but feel a sense of inferiority.

 

Lost in thoughts of Jonathan for the first time in a while, Cordelia grew a little gloomy and, out of habit, glanced at Noah as he inhaled the scent of his black tea, gauging his reaction. 

 

But why didn’t she feel that way around him? By all accounts, he had just as much, if not more. Why?

 

“Want to see the mermaid?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Your eyes looked like a puppy begging for a walk, so I asked. You do want to see it, don’t you?”

 

At Noah’s prompting, Cordelia reflexively nodded, and Wayne lit up with excitement. 

 

Ah, that mermaid statue!

 

“It’s the city’s landmark! You wanted to see it? Let’s go right now!”

 

Wayne made such a fuss about how they absolutely had to see it before leaving that, before they knew it, the whole group ended up going on an outing. 

 

Clinging to Noah, who was checking his pocket watch, Wayne asked eagerly,

 

“You’re coming too, right? Busy again today?”

 

Without a word, he instructed the butler to prepare the car, and Wayne let out a cheer. He had apparently been wanting to drive one of Noah’s car collection. 

 

As Wayne, who had caught the car keys Noah tossed, bounded off like an excited golden retriever, Cordelia stood dazed, accepting the assistance of Jane, the maid. She brought her a bonnet to block the harsh sunlight, a parasol, and lambskin shoes for going out.

 

Sliding his hands into his pockets and standing at a distance, Noah waited for her. 

 

Glancing at him, Cordelia pursed her lips. She didn’t really have anything to say, but she felt an inexplicable urge to speak to him. 

 

Not understanding why she felt such an impulse, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

 

“If you’re busy and only doing this because of yesterday’s promise…”

 

“Promise?”

 

When Noah tilted his head in confusion, her face flushed completely red. He might have already forgotten about their plan to see the mermaid statue. 

 

And here she was, oblivious…

 

Fidgeting with the bonnet tied with a slanted ribbon, she tried to hide her reddened cheeks. 

 

Noah slowly walked over and lifted her chin with his long, elegant fingers. It was a simple, polite gesture, yet arrogant in the way it demanded her gaze to fix on him. 

 

But that was just like him.

 

As he studied her peach-colored face, he reached out and flicked open the silk ribbon. His white hands moved as if playing an instrument, carefully reshaping the ribbon. 

 

Cordelia held her breath. 

 

There was something inexplicably sensual about the way he tied it so firmly and perfectly, as if undoing a lady’s corset.

 

Once she was as pretty as a doll, he slowly withdrew his hands and gazed at her for a moment, as if admiring his work. His firm thumb brushed against her pink chin.

 

“Pretty.”

 

‘Ah. If he was doing this on purpose, he was truly wicked!’

 

Only then did he answer her question.

 

“That’s part of it. But today, I just wanted to go.”

 

With you…

 

Watching his platinum-blond hair as he turned away with a smirk, Cordelia sulked inwardly.

 

‘This playboy!!’