Tail’s Curse Chapter 60

Cordelia also glanced ahead, then flinched in surprise when she saw Georgiana’s expression. 

 

There was no way she could have missed that the other woman had been obsessively watching every single moment of it.

 

She realized it instinctively.

 

This person already knows about the two of them! Everything!

 

Then… since when?

 

Sasha spoke with a smile that seemed almost painted on.

 

“Congratulations on your engagement. I’ve been so distracted that I’m only saying it now.”

 

‘As you know, a lot has been going on with me.’

 

“Are you okay? I heard you weren’t hurt anywhere….”

 

“I’m perfectly fine. It’s all thanks to Miss Cordelia here.”

 

For the first time since entering the drawing room, Sasha gave a genuine smile and took Cordelia’s hand. 

 

Cordelia tensed for a moment before smiling back. She could feel that Sasha was leaning on her in this moment, and she realized Sasha felt the same from her. 

 

How wonderful it is to have a friend who can truly rely on you…

 

“Let me introduce you. This is Miss Cordelia Marguerite, who stayed with me on the Mermaid. Of course, everyone has probably seen her before.”

 

“Hello again. Has Lord Noah Tudor not come with you?”

 

When Georgiana asked with a faint smile, Cordelia—remembering their uncomfortable encounter from before—gave an awkward laugh and replied,

 

“He told me to have a good time.”

 

“Lord Noah seems to care for Miss Marguerite very much. If you’re indebted to him, does that mean you’re staying at the Kai Mansion?”

 

Though her friendly tone sounded kind, Cordelia clearly remembered the unmistakable hostility she had seen in Georgiana’s eyes earlier, so the words didn’t feel entirely sincere. 

 

Noah had warned her about this woman, but even beyond that, Cordelia found Georgiana Langham herself difficult and uncomfortable to deal with.

 

She had never met anyone quite like this before. 

 

Plenty of people disliked Cordelia, but at least they were honest about their dislike.

 

Mikael, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke up for the first time. When he showed interest, Cordelia inwardly tensed even more and nodded.

 

“Yes. Fortunately.”

 

“I see. It seems the people of that household regard you quite favorably.”

 

Mikael murmured as if amused.

 

“Those priceless white roses became almost impossible to even catch a glimpse of before Tudor House was opened to the public. You’re quite lucky, Miss Cordelia.”

 

Though his voice was gentle, to Cordelia it didn’t sound like praise at all. 

 

As she gave an awkward smile, Sasha stepped in.

 

“Anyone would like Miss Cordelia. She’s pure and honest. Unfortunately, people with that kind of character are rare.”

 

There was a hidden barb beneath her mild tone. 

 

Even at the indirect jab, Mikael merely lifted the corners of his lips. For some reason, his eyes seemed to burn more fiercely than ever before.

 

“Is that so? But Miss Sasha—didn’t God say that the world appears through the window of one’s heart? If that is how you perceive things, perhaps the cause lies in your own heart, which does not trust others?”

 

“I always treat people with genuine sincerity, Count. If someone devalues that sincerity and treats it as worthless, then our connection ends there. Since I pour my heart and time only into a very small number of people who pass through my life, I have far more precious people around me.”

 

At Sasha’s firm reply, the perpetual smile on Mikael’s lips twitched in a faint spasm.

 

“…How wise. I envy your cool-headed judgment.”

 

Cordelia alone felt her stomach twist as she watched the man and woman staring intently at each other. It was so obvious.

 

How on earth had they managed to meet in secret?

 

When she stole a glance, Georgiana was simply smiling like an innocent, guileless person. 

 

Cordelia couldn’t even begin to guess what lay behind that expression.

 

For a moment, she thought about how much better it would have been if she had come here together with Noah.

 

Noah would have sorted out the situation quickly, in whatever way necessary. 

 

Without worrying about appearances or maintaining decorum, he would have bluntly stabbed at anything annoying and cleared it away.

 

Having grown accustomed to his straightforward style, this kind of subtle eye-fighting and conversation laced with hidden blades felt exhausting and heavy to Cordelia. 

 

Was this why Noah didn’t particularly like Katisha?

 

“It seems you really like Miss Cordelia, Sasha. I’m surprised. You don’t let just anyone get close to you. Did the three of you meet on the Mermaid? Lord Noah rescued that ship from pirates, after all.”

 

When the two fell into an unnatural silence, Georgiana stepped in to speak. 

 

Sasha quietly sipped her tea in an impeccably elegant, doll-like posture, while Mikael coldly shut his mouth after his last remark.

 

Cordelia tried to clasp Sasha’s chilled fingertips between her own to share some warmth, then answered with a small start of surprise.

 

“Yes. I received help from both of them.”

 

“I heard it was actually Sasha and Lord Noah who received help from Miss Cordelia. So it was mutual aid?”

 

Faced with the smiling question, Cordelia had no reply. 

 

In truth, she had only received help one-sidedly—she hadn’t done anything noteworthy herself. 

 

The longer the conversation dragged on, the more one thing became painfully clear, Georgiana was showing an extraordinarily intense interest in Noah.

 

“Are you perhaps a professor or a scholar, Miss Cordelia? Or maybe an accountant or something of the sort?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then what sort of advice could you possibly give? A pretty, young lady like you.”

 

Her small face revealed curiosity in a light, almost fluttering way that didn’t seem overtly aggressive, yet Cordelia found her forwardness burdensome.

 

Because the interest wasn’t really directed at Cordelia herself—it was a naked question about the relationship between Noah and Cordelia. 

 

And the assumptions underlying it didn’t seem likely to do anything good for Cordelia’s reputation. Her intuition was correct.

 

“I’ve heard that despite Lord Noah’s fame, fortune, and charm, he views women with stone-cold indifference—yet he often shows interest in ‘passionate relationships’ while never quite losing his gentlemanly dignity. He’s so impeccably mannered that even with his chilly temperament, plenty of ladies still cling to hopes of winning him over. If you’re a friend of Lord Noah’s, Miss Cordelia, it might be good to be aware that you could end up arousing their misunderstandings. Since it seems this is your first time in high society, I was a little worried for you.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Cordelia was utterly stunned. 

 

So in other words, what she was implying…

 

Unable to stand by any longer, Sasha intervened gently but firmly, cutting her off.

 

“Georgiana. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t put Miss Cordelia in an awkward position. She is not here as Lord Noah’s guest—she is my guest. I want my friend to feel comfortable while she stays in my home.”

 

At the veiled warning, Georgiana moved her lips awkwardly.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have come on too strong because I wanted to become close quickly. You’ll forgive me, won’t you? I really do want to be friends with you, Miss Cordelia.”

 

If Noah were here, he’d probably have shot back something like, “Friends? More like she’s fishing for material to play the bitch with. Do I automatically have to be her friend just because she wants it?” 

 

Imagining his cynical, irritated expression almost made Cordelia burst out laughing. She shook her head, feeling noticeably better than she had just moments ago.

 

“Thank you for your concern. But I’m actually quite boring, so I’m afraid I’d fall far short of being able to keep company with someone as splendid as you, Miss Georgiana.”

 

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and they sounded rather cold even to her own ears, she was slightly startled by her own tone. 

 

Still, Cordelia thought to herself that she had at least spoken politely. 

 

Of course, that was only her own opinion; in Katishan culture, it came across as quite a blunt and direct rejection.

 

Sasha also seemed startled, and interest flickered into the eyes of Mikael, who had been silent the entire time. 

 

Georgiana gave an awkward smile.

 

“You’re being awfully firm. Do I perhaps displease you?”

 

“Huh? No, not at all. It’s just that Sasha is the only friend I have. Please forgive my clumsiness.”

 

Cordelia, flustered and waving her hands in denial, looked every bit the innocent young lady freshly arrived from the countryside, untouched by the polish of high society. 

 

Georgiana fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

 

“Is it perhaps because of something Lord Noah Tudor said to you in Narath? There has been a long-standing misunderstanding between him and me. Who knows—maybe you could help clear it up, Miss Cordelia. Whatever the reason may be, if I’ve made a mistake, please tell him I apologize.”

 

“Well… I’m not sure I’m qualified to clear up any misunderstanding he might have.”

 

Cordelia murmured honestly before she could stop herself.

 

“And honestly, I don’t think he misunderstands people very often. If he dislikes someone, he’d probably just curse them out right then and there.”

 

“Pfft!”

 

Mikael let out a sudden, explosive laugh that sounded almost like he’d choked on it, and the atmosphere instantly turned bizarre. 

 

Even Sasha’s lips twitched as though she couldn’t help but partially agree with the famously blunt reputation Noah had in high society. 

 

The only ones not laughing were a completely dumbfounded Cordelia and a coldly frozen Georgiana.