“Noah… I should have come with Noah! If that person were here…”

 

Then what would be different?

 

If Noah were by her side, he wouldn’t have freaked out as she did. He would probably hold her tightly, cover her ears, and whisper that everything’s okay, soothing her.

 

Even while wearing that signature mischievous smile of his, he would stay right next to her.

 

The more desperately she imagined it, the more it really felt like he was actually there.

 

Shhh— a low breath.

 

A large hand.

 

A teasing, faint chuckle.

 

His big, pale, beautiful hand patted her pounding chest, and gradually Cordelia began to feel relieved.

 

Then that touch suddenly stopped.

 

His hand was still resting on the soft swell of her chest, but the feeling was completely different from the gentle patting just moments ago.

 

“Haa…”

 

A dark, heavy sigh brushed against her ear, sending a chill through her in an instant.

 

The hot hand abruptly grazed her breast— “Ah,” she almost let out a moan.

 

W-what…?

 

Long fingers slowly stroked her skin, circled her navel, then—just like Mikael had once done to Sasha—spread her legs apart and firmly pressed down on her inner thighs, kneading.

 

And then he laughed.

 

“You’re wet.”

 

Her eyes flew open.

 

W-what is this…?

 

Knock knock knock!

 

“Sasha! Mikael! Are you in there?”

 

It was Miss Georgiana Langham.

 

The three people in the room froze simultaneously and held their breath.

 

In each of their separate states of chaos, a long silence stretched on.

 

After knocking a few more times, Georgiana muttered to herself.

 

“Where did everyone go and leave a person alone like this?”

 

Before her footsteps gradually faded away.

 

Only after perfect silence returned did ragged breathing burst out. Then, even when Mikael called her name, Sasha grabbed her clothes, slammed the door with a bang, and left.

 

Soon after, he too spat out a curse, let out a long sigh, straightened his clothes, and exited the room.

 

Cordelia remained alone in the room, clutching her madly racing heart, blinking blankly.

 

…What the hell was that just now?

 

She fidgeted with her toes and squeezed her thighs together.

 

Between her legs… she was wet.

 

🫧

 

After that, she had no idea how time passed.

 

Soon the tea party began, and one by one the new guests arrived. 

 

It seemed that Mikael in question and Georgiana had already left the mansion in the meantime, and although Sasha was wearing a perfectly composed smile on the surface, she somehow seemed lost in her own thoughts. 

 

Still, the party flowed along reasonably smoothly.

 

As she had said, all the invited guests were people very close to Sasha, and they were friendly toward the beautiful Cordelia, who had been introduced as her friend. 

 

Being surrounded by strangers and trying to fit in was, ironically, a relief. 

 

It meant she didn’t have to think about the embarrassing events from earlier.

 

In truth, seeing someone else engaged in something resembling sexual activity had been shocking enough, but the fact that it made her think of Noah—and that her body had become aroused because of it—was utterly mortifying.

 

Why? Why did I think of Noah?

 

Why did I so naturally imagine him touching me…?

 

Noah had absolutely never behaved like Mikael.

 

But if someone were to ask whether he had ever once shown even the slightest suggestive nuance in his actions…

 

Cordelia thought of Noah sucking and licking her injured finger.

 

The atmosphere and texture of that moment—far too sensual to be called a simple gentlemanly kiss on a lady’s hand or mere first aid.

 

The way his eyes had gleamed as if he wanted to devour her.

 

And it wasn’t as if she had only seen that look from him that one time…

 

Unconsciously, Cordelia slipped the thumb he had once sucked into her own mouth, about to mimic the motion—then startled and quickly clenched her fist.

 

I’m crazy. What’s wrong with me?

 

“Cordelia? Are you okay?”

 

“Hm?”

 

At someone’s concerned question, Cordelia quickly shook her head and returned a smile.

 

All her energy seemed to drain away at once.

 

I want to go home…

 

Without even realizing it, she had started calling the place where she stayed with Noah “home,” and she murmured the word to herself inside.

 

Even though this was the very gathering she had looked forward to, it wasn’t as thrilling or enjoyable as she had imagined it would be.

 

In the warm and cheerful atmosphere, Cordelia quietly wondered when this gathering would end and when Noah would come to pick her up.

 

Come to think of it… How does he always manage to arrive exactly when it’s over? 

 

He never said anything about that.

 

And then, as if by magic, he appeared.

 

A polite knock—knock knock—sounded, and the footman who entered announced the visitor.

 

“Lord Noah Tudor has arrived.”

 

“Hm? Who?”

 

“Wait, the Lord Noah Tudor?”

 

“You don’t mean that Noah Tudor, do you…?”

 

“The one from the scandal…”

 

“Oh come now, we—Sasha’s friends—know better than anyone that those rumors aren’t true, don’t we?”

 

Amid the murmuring crowd, Cordelia felt her face flush hot.

 

Was it really this exciting just to have someone come pick her up?

 

“Ah, yes, didn’t Sasha mention that Miss Cordelia is currently staying at Tudor House?”

 

“What? Really?”

 

All eyes suddenly turned toward her, and Cordelia broke out in a cold sweat.

 

Ah… this is overwhelming.

 

“I heard from Sasha that Miss Cordelia was also on board that infamous Mermaid during the incident.”

 

“Oh—then perhaps…”

 

“Um, well, that’s…”

 

The guests didn’t bother hiding their unspoken question:

 

Why is a stranger suddenly receiving the Tudor family’s patronage and staying at the main residence?

 

And especially, what exactly is her relationship with Noah Tudor?

 

She had always known it, but Noah Tudor truly did draw every eye in the room.

 

Everyone talked about him, stole glances at him, admired him, speculated about him, praised him, and resented him.

 

Though each person’s feelings pointed in a different direction, they all fixed their attention on him.

 

It wasn’t simply because he was a hero, the second son of the Tudors, and obscenely wealthy—his very presence pulled people’s gazes like a magnet.

 

His striking beauty, his outrageous way with words, his fearless behavior—everything about him.

 

Yes… just like right now.

 

“I owed a great debt to Miss Cordelia’s mother. She is the most honored guest whom I am personally looking after.”

 

…Well, when he puts it like that, what more is there to say?

 

Looking down at everyone with that slightly tilted, beautiful face, Cordelia couldn’t help but break into a wide smile.

 

For some strange reason, just seeing him made her feel as safe and secure as if she were a child hiding behind her guardian.

 

When their eyes met, the way he gave that crooked, amused smirk was also unbearably charming.

 

As Noah approached with the confident, leisurely stride of someone marching triumphantly through a city gate, his fully matured presence was almost blinding.

 

He had swept his platinum hair neatly back, wearing a navy semi-formal suit patterned with subtle sprite motifs. 

 

Unlike this morning, he now looked every inch the young entrepreneur—or perhaps a royal enjoying high-stakes gambling at a casino.

 

Everyone’s eyes were glued to his smiling face.

 

Even Cordelia couldn’t look away.

 

Why did he have to show up looking this good on purpose?

 

Really, the man was hazardous to her heart in every possible way.

 

Noah extended his hand toward her and flashed a grin.

 

“Come on. If you’re done with your walk, let’s head home, my little puppy.”

 

Under everyone’s watchful gazes, Cordelia timidly placed her hand in his and gave a small protest.

 

“I’m not a puppy.”

 

“Oh? Weren’t you?”

 

His deliberately casual reply was so obviously teasing that it only made her more annoyed.

 

Yet she didn’t pull away from his escort—instead, she quietly slipped closer to his side.

 

When Noah had first suggested coming together, she had refused, worried just as he had warned that too much attention and gossip would follow.

 

But now that the exact situation she had feared had come to pass, she found she didn’t mind at all that his attention was focused solely on her.

 

If anything, her shoulders kept wanting to lift with pride, and she felt a little embarrassed realizing she actually liked this feeling—like a small child showing off to a parent who had come to the school performance.

 

Unaware of her feelings, Noah glanced down at the round crown of her head as she subtly pressed closer to him, tilting his own head and whispering,

 

“Who bothered you? You’re sticking to me even more than usual.”

 

“No one did.”

 

She pouted and tried to pull away a little, but he immediately draped his arm around her shoulders, practically hugging her close, and remarked with genuine surprise,

 

“Oh, the height is perfect for resting an arm on. Should we just walk around like this from now on?”

 

“Get off.”

 

Even though he was being annoying, the way he chuckled while looking ridiculously handsome made her think, ‘Fine, I’ll let it slide this time.’

 

Truthfully, after everything that had happened, her mental energy was completely drained, and she just wanted to go home quickly—but Noah had appeared like magic, so Cordelia was actually in a very good mood.

 

“How come you came so early?”

 

“I was worried my clueless little puppy might be getting bullied out here. High society isn’t exactly a gentle neighborhood, you know.”

 

While taking the car keys from the footman, Noah replied casually.

 

Cordelia hurried to keep up with his long strides, chattering as she went,

 

“Yeeeah… actually, I ran into Miss Langham.”

 

“You weren’t alone with her, right? Doesn’t trouble usually come in sets?”

 

“How did you know?”

 

Cordelia’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Noah looked at her with an expression that said are you serious? before letting out a hollow laugh.

 

His response subtly confirmed that both of them—Mikael included—were indeed troublemakers, yet he seemed completely unaware of it himself.

 

Honestly, the man had quite the personality.

 

She stared at him as he snickered, having no idea what was so funny.