Chapter 9
“Do you think they’re gone?”
“Probably.”
As soon as they let go of each other’s hands, which had been awkwardly holding on, Noah quietly stepped out of the alley. Was it just her imagination, or did his steps seem a little anxious?
Following him outside, Cordelia saw the street was still crowded with people. Unlike Noah, who was carefully scanning their surroundings, Cordelia, lost in thought, muttered to herself without realizing it.
“So this is what it feels like when the male lead looks down at the female lead…”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“What did I say?”
Feigning ignorance, Cordelia kept her composure, and Noah didn’t press the matter any further. A few strands of golden hair peeking from under his hood shimmered in the sunlight. She had sensed it earlier, but he didn’t seem like the talkative type.
Well, better that than someone who talks too much and ends up revealing things you’d rather not know. Serious and reserved feels good, doesn’t it?
Her past self, who used to give extra points to men who were good talkers, seemed to sneer at her from the sidelines. But Cordelia didn’t nod to that.
It’s fine because his face is entertaining enough!
Her past self froze for a moment before reluctantly nodding in agreement. Yes, this outcome was quite satisfactory.
“But, where do you think Rines went?”
As they walked side by side down the street, Noah suddenly asked. Cordelia shrugged lightly.
“We agreed on a meeting point in case we got separated. I’ll head there.”
At the moment, Cordelia had both hands stuffed into her pockets, giving off a rather casual air. It was to hide the mark. Noah’s steps slowed slightly. Taking the lead, Cordelia heard a quiet voice behind her.
“Um, I’m sorry.”
“Hm?”
“For dragging you into this mess.”
Turning around, she saw Noah looking down, guilt written across his face. Seeing him so downcast, Cordelia felt a strange twinge.
“It’s not like you did it on purpose. Besides, it’s not a bad experience—kind of refreshing, really.”
Trying to lighten the mood, Cordelia stepped closer, bent her knees slightly, and peered up at his face.
“By the way, you’re seriously tall. People don’t usually call me short.”
Compared to most women, she was fairly tall. But standing next to him, it didn’t really show.
“You do stand out.”
His expression didn’t look particularly pleased, which made Cordelia tilt her head inwardly. With that kind of face and that kind of height, he’d definitely be popular—so why did he seem so unenthusiastic?
“Hey, are you a commoner? Or a noble?”
“A commoner.”
“Do you get into trouble for standing out?”
“No, nothing like that… Uh, shall we keep moving?”
You totally dodged the question just now, didn’t you?
Cordelia started walking again, following Noah as he hurried ahead. Fine, he’s cute—I’ll let it slide. She stared at the back of his head with the kind of thought an old man might have. She noticed the glances they were drawing from passersby, but didn’t care.
Ah, this feels nice. How long has it been since I could walk the streets like this without a care?
The thought of how she used to move like a guilty criminal made her shiver. Wearing anything remotely fancy was uncomfortable enough, not to mention that long skirts were a nightmare for wandering through bustling streets.
Even in ordinary clothes, if she didn’t hide her face, there would always be some sort of trouble. She knew the world was harsh, but it was still exhausting.
Now that she thought about it, that earlier situation was pretty fun.
“By the way, can you read?”
“Yes.”
“Do you read books often?”
“Huh? Well… about as much as anyone else?”
His bewildered expression didn’t stop him from answering politely. Cordelia let out a quiet sigh of relief in her mind. Judging by how he spoke, he probably wasn’t the type to read romance novels.
I could definitely use what just happened as material for my next work. Sure, it’s a cliché, but clichés exist because they work. Two people on the run, hiding in a tight space, suddenly hyper-aware of each other—that kind of development.
Experiencing it firsthand really is different from just imagining it. This will help me write the scene.
Caught in such occupational thoughts, Cordelia strode forward and casually clasped Noah’s right hand with her left, fingers intertwining. As he flinched in surprise, she grinned and added the excuse she had prepared.
“Just in case we get separated. Anyway, if we keep dawdling, we’ll be walking all day. Let’s go!”
“Ah… okay.”
Head ducked, Noah quickened his pace, his ears turning a pretty shade of red—but Cordelia, cheerfully marching forward, didn’t notice.
By the time they passed through the city and the streets grew quieter, a brown hood in the distance caught her eye. Cordelia waved her hand and called out brightly.
“Rines!”
The man, eyes buried in a book—probably something he’d just bought—closed it and turned toward them.
“Well, finally. Thought you two had turned into snails. I dragged out time as much as I could, worried you’d gotten caught.”
“Sorry, things just happened.”
Grumbling about how he almost got caught himself, Rines carefully studied Cordelia’s face.
“Your face is glowing. Did you have fun?”
“Wh-what do you mean by that?!”
Cordelia barked back, flustered, while Rines, eyes half-lidded, shot a glance at the silent Noah and said:
“Anyway, let’s grab a carriage. We need to talk.”
“I’ve been thinking while you two were gone.”
As the carriage rolled toward the place where the old woman was said to be, Rines, seated across from the two huddled together, spoke up. He had insisted on sitting alone, claiming both seats since neither of them seemed familiar, and Cordelia gladly agreed.
Not that I’m complaining—gives me a reason to sit next to him!
Rines squinted knowingly at her but didn’t comment further. His own comfort was his top priority, after all.
“Breaking the spell outright seems difficult, but if we think simply, there’s something we can try right now.”
Even now, Rines didn’t forget to set up a soundproof barrier. When Cordelia joked about him being a conspiracy theorist, she earned a sharp smack to the knee—probably because this wasn’t her real body, he didn’t hold back at all. She pouted, rubbing the spot.
“What is it?”
“You two are connected by a thread. If we cut it, you might return to your original bodies.”
Cordelia lifted her left hand, eyeing it with curiosity. The hexagram etched there stood out clearly. The thread that had been attached to her middle finger was gone without a trace.
“You mean that thing I hid earlier?”
“Yes. It should be possible, but… I can’t guarantee what kind of backlash it might cause. Or it might not work at all.”
“Then let’s just give up—”
“Let’s do it!”
Cordelia cut Noah off mid-sentence. Two pairs of eyes turned toward her.
“Whoa, are you serious?”
“We have to try something. We can’t just leave things like this. He’s got his own schedule, and so do I.”
“But it might be dangerous.”
“If it were life-threatening, you wouldn’t have brought it up at all. Am I wrong?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“You agree too, right, Noah?”
Hearing his name spoken so naturally startled Noah. Even so, some part of him found her lively voice pleasant—and that thought made him cringe inwardly. Still, his lips dutifully formed a reply.
“Uh… yes.”
He did have an appointment with a client in two days, so staying like this was a problem. Nodding with a dazed look, Noah glanced up just as Rines casually changed the subject.
“Oh, that reminds me—the queen’s birthday is in a week.”
“What, you knew too?”
“How could I not, when all the high nobles will be out of their seats?”
“Exactly. We need to find a solution fast. My sister’s too sharp to miss something like this.”
Jelania, the queen of this country and Cordelia’s second eldest sister, was a universally acknowledged genius, armed with keen insight and observational skills. Even the slightest oddity would alert her immediately.
“You’re not planning to skip the party, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Skipping a birthday banquet she’d attended every year would look suspicious, and besides, missing her sister’s once-a-year celebration over something like this was unthinkable.
“Honestly, wouldn’t it be okay to confide in her? She’s the most powerful person in the kingdom.”
“She’s got plenty on her plate already. And if possible, I’d rather resolve this myself.”
Watching Cordelia speak so firmly, Noah exhaled a sigh of relief.
The carriage reached their destination soon after—but, disappointingly, there was no sign of the old woman. Cordelia patted Noah’s shoulder lightly, trying to comfort his slumping figure.
Their next stop was one of Cordelia’s own properties—the one closest to Noah’s residence.
The servant in charge opened the door, revealing a spacious yet simply furnished house. As Rines glanced around the well-equipped parlor, he asked curiously:
“With a place like this, why do you still live at the duke’s estate?”
“Because it’s familiar. But I think I should stay here for a while. Too many people at the estate know me well. Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable for you too, Noah?”
“Uh, well… it’s just…”
“Hm?”
“It’s a bit awkward to change clothes alone… I, um, did get help from a maid.”
Even as he spoke, he kept sneaking glances at her face. Blinking, Cordelia quickly nodded.
“Ah, right. I forgot about that.”
Men and women had different body structures—an obvious fact, but it slipped her mind. If he knew she’d gone wild touching everything the moment their bodies switched, he’d probably faint. Flustered, Cordelia cleared her throat.
“Alright, if Rines’ method doesn’t work, I’ll arrange for a maid. But really, don’t worry too much. Like you said, even maids see things when dressing their mistresses. It’s unavoidable.”
Her intention had been to ease his burden, but maybe it backfired—Noah’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Lady Cordelia.”
“Yes?”
“You barely know me. You shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly. If anything, you should assign someone to keep an eye on me. After all, this might be my fault…”
Gone was his sheepish smile, replaced by a voice unusually calm and low, his face filled with concern. She had thought he was a bit clumsy before, but the steady look in his eyes now felt strangely unfamiliar.
Even though it was her own face, it was strikingly clear that he was someone else entirely.
Which made the feeling even stranger. Ignoring the thudding in her chest, Cordelia forced out a cheerful tone.
“Come on, I only said that because I thought you’d worry. I’m pretty good at reading people, you know.”
“That’s not the point.”
“If that’s what you’re worried about, then… how about you just take responsibility for me?”
