Ending Maker Chapter 129
Ending Maker Chapter 129
Chapter 48 - Invitation
Three weeks after the engagement ceremony of Gale and Adelia.
Cordelia sat demurely at her desk, pouting her lips.
And there was one woman watching her.
Dahlia, Cordelia's escort knight and practically an older sister to her, chuckled softly and remarked as if passing by.
"My lady, my lady. You're sulking, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not?"
Cordelia answered reflexively, and Dahlia chuckled once more.
"Come on, you are sulking, right?"
"I said I'm not?"
Cordelia answered with a hint of irritation and even let out a huff, but thanks to that, Dahlia could be certain.
'She really is sulking.'
With that sulky expression and all.
Dahlia subtly shifted her gaze a little farther and looked at the paper Cordelia had been scribbling on.
It was a paper where she had been writing formulas for magic study, but small doodles could be seen in every corner, and as expected, they were about a certain someone.
'Yuder is an idiot. A dummy.'
At the scribbled writing, Dahlia quickly raised a hand to cover her mouth.
Because a motherly smile had appeared.
'How can she be this adorable?'
The reason Cordelia was sulking.
It was simple and clear.
'Because contact from Lord Yuder has completely stopped.'
Had it already been about two weeks?
About five days after Adelia's engagement ceremony, which had thrown everyone in the Count Chase Household into a happy shock, a letter had arrived along with a gift, but since then, there had not been a single letter.
'How cold-hearted.'
To go nearly half a month without a single contact.
'Though I did hear the rough reason.'
Like a flower withering, Cordelia had been drying up day by day since Yuder's contact stopped—of course, Cordelia would have vehemently denied it if she had heard, but Dahlia had already visited the Count Bayel Household once for Cordelia's sake.
According to the explanation of Knight Jun, with whom she had become acquainted during the journey to Langesthei, the reason Yuder's contact had stopped was as follows.
"The young master is devoting himself to training with Count Bayel every day from early morning until late at night."
In short, it meant he was busy training every single day.
"Hmm... Then it can't be helped."
"Yes, the young master is so quick to learn... The Count is also very passionate."
The fact that Yuder's martial talent was extraordinary had already been proven through various incidents.
It was understandable that Count Bayel was charging in with fire in his eyes.
"Both the Count and young master Gale have affirmed it. They said young master Yuder will become the strongest knight in the north."
"Oh..."
It was not something that could simply be dismissed as the talk of doting parents, given the weight of those who said it.
Count Bayel.
One of the Four Strong of the North and a member of the Ten Great Swordsmen who bore the title of Sword General.
Seeing someone like him discuss the strongest meant Yuder's martial talent truly was tremendous.
'Well, it is a talent that even that iron man Landius coveted.'
The man who was one of the Five Heroes of the Paragon Kingdom and always mentioned when discussing the strongest on earth was none other than the iron man Landius.
Yuder was Landius's disciple, and the reason Landius had taken Yuder as his disciple was just one.
'The Heavenly Martial Body.'
The incarnation of martial arts bestowed by heaven.
"Please... take good care of Lady Cordelia. They truly are a well-matched pair, and if their relationship were to sour over something like this..."
"Yes, that must not happen. I will speak well to my lady."
"Thank you."
Knight Jun let out a sigh of relief as if it were his own matter.
It seemed Knight Jun had become thoroughly devoted to the younger young master, Yuder.
'That's a good thing.'
Since Gale and Yuder also got along very well, the Count Bayel Household would surely run smoothly without problems.
'Anyway.'
Dahlia stopped reminiscing and looked at Cordelia before her again.
She sat demurely at her desk, moving her pen, and sure enough, irritation and dissatisfaction seeped into every little gesture.
'If you miss him that much, you could just contact him first.'
Or visit the Count Bayel Household once.
But Cordelia was not doing that.
Every day she puffed out her cheeks and pouted her lips, but she never once said she would contact him first.
'It's a push-and-pull game.'
Oohoho. How adorable.
She missed him, she wanted to see him, yet she held that feeling down and endured and endured again.
But this was a somewhat disadvantageous push-and-pull game.
While Cordelia had an overflow of time to think about Yuder, Yuder did not even have the leisure for other thoughts thanks to his one-on-one training with Count Bayel.
'So I should lend a little hand for my lady's sake.'
There had been a reason she had teased her today, asking if she was especially sulky.
"My lady."
"Whaaat."
"A letter has arrived."
"A letter?!"
Cordelia sprang from her seat, then blushed slightly and cleared her throat twice.
"What's so great about a letter."
She quickly sat back down and turned away, but Dahlia could still see the corners of Cordelia's lips curling upward.
'Hmph hmph, I knew he'd come first.' She was probably thinking something like that.
"Ahem ahem, but you know, Dahlia."
"Yes, my lady."
"I'm not really curious, but you know."
"Yes, my lady."
"Still, it did come, right? So it would only be proper for me to check it, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose so?"
"Ahem ahem, right. So bring me the letter."
Cordelia turned back around very slowly and held out her hand as if she had no interest at all, but there was one thing she could not hide, and that was her eyes.
'She's dying of impatience.'
Dahlia swallowed her laughter inwardly and held out the letter contained in a white envelope.
"Ahem ahem."
And then, snatch.
Cordelia grabbed the letter as if snatching it, then unfolded it with a contradictory motion—as slowly as possible, yet quickly—and soon furrowed her brow.
'Of course she would.'
Because it was not a letter from Yuder.
What had arrived was an invitation from the Count Pikers Household.
"A birthday party?"
"Yes, they say it is a party celebrating Lady Emma Pikers's seventeenth birthday."
"No, I know that much."
It was only natural for Cordelia to furrow her brow.
Because the Count Pikers Household, one of the twelve great families of the north, was not on very good terms with the Count Chase Household.
It was not to the point of fighting each other, but neither were they on friendly, amicable terms.
Moreover, Emma Pikers was someone who had often picked fights with Cordelia in various ways, as if burning with a strange sense of rivalry toward her since long ago.
'In the original, she was a character I barely even saw.'
It was not that there was no related side quest, but since she appeared only once, she was not a character who left much of an impression.
But as 'Cordelia Chase,' it was different.
After all, at her birthday last year, she had invited Cordelia and then bragged endlessly about her own fiancé.
'Oh my, is Lord Yuder absent again this time? How unfortunate, I feel so sad for you. It is still a future matter, but... there are no problems with the wedding, right? I worry because it is a health issue, after all... hoho.'
That voice and that look from back then.
Even before recovering her past life's memories—that is, even in the days when she was far more docile than now—her behavior had been infuriating, and after recovering her past life's memories, it made her even angrier.
"My lady, this time is the chance to show her what you're made of."
"Huh?"
"This time, Lord Yuder will be with you."
When Dahlia spoke with shining eyes, Cordelia blinked, not understanding right away, but only for a moment.
Fighting spirit and vitality began to fill Cordelia's eyes.
"We must repay all the humiliation from before! And using this as an excuse—no, since we must discuss this matter, you should also go see Lord Yuder."
This was why Dahlia had not lost her smile even while delivering the Count Pikers Household's invitation, which was sure to anger Cordelia.
A justification for Cordelia to contact Yuder first!
A means to plant in herself the thought that it was unavoidable, rather than that she was losing the game!
"T-to Yuder?"
"Yes, because it is something you must discuss with Lord Yuder. And it is urgent, too."
Emma Pikers's birthday was five days away, so there was not much time.
The Count Pikers Household was a place that took a full day to reach even by carriage.
Moreover, Cordelia had one more justification.
'Come to think of it, isn't it about time?'
The time for the royal capital to send invitations to participate in the 300th anniversary founding celebration.
Emma Pikers's birthday was a trivial event that could just be ignored and passed over, but the founding celebration was different.
Because it was the third task for the perfect happy ending.
"Yeah, yeah, right. This is really important. So I need to discuss it with Yuder."
When Cordelia spoke quietly as if telling herself, Dahlia immediately chimed in.
"Yes, my lady. Just as you say. So let us go to the Count Bayel Household. To meet Lord Yuder."
"Yeah, right. To meet Yuder."
"Understood. Then let us depart right now."
"Huh? Now?"
"Yes, now. Before it gets any later."
In fact, Dahlia had already sent a letter saying they would visit the Count Bayel Household today.
"W-wait a moment."
"Yes, yes, you must dress up prettily. I will give you that much time."
"Th-that's not it, okay? I don't particularly need to look pretty for Yuder, okay?"
"Really?"
"Well... ahem ahem. Still, I should at least do the basics. There is such a thing as propriety."
Cordelia muttered as if making an excuse and subtly moved her body toward the mirror, and Dahlia smiled again.
And three hours later.
The Count Bayel Household.
"Let us stop here for today."
"Already?"
On the training ground.
At Gale's words, Yuder, who had been sitting on the ground wiping his sweat, tilted his head and asked back.
That was only natural, because it was much earlier than usual.
"Yeah, already. I have some plans today."
"Did a letter come from sister-in-law Adelia?"
When Yuder asked teasingly, Gale shook his head as if it were absurd and said.
"If it's letters, they come every day. I write every day too."
"I-I see."
Gale was one thing, but Adelia was truly amazing too.
'It really feels like the character herself has changed.'
To think that Adelia, who had been like a hedgehog in the original, would become a young lady so deeply in love.
'The founding celebration will be quite a sight.'
To be frank, unlike Yuder or Cordelia, who could be said to be idling at home, Adelia was a royal mage stationed in the royal capital—specifically in the Royal Guard Magic Corps.
She had only taken a long leave to catch Yuder and Cordelia, and since she still maintained her position as commander, she had no choice but to return to the royal capital whether she liked it or not.
'So that's why they rushed the engagement ceremony.'
But as if she could not be satisfied with just the engagement ceremony, Adelia was planning to retire soon.
From what he had heard, once this founding celebration was over, she would step down from her position as commander and return to her hometown.
'Because brother Gale has to inherit the Count Bayel Household.'
It was a conclusion reached because Adelia could come down to Baylun, but it was impossible for Gale to go to the royal capital.
'She must really like him a lot.'
Since she was willing to give up the position of commander of the Royal Guard Magic Corps in one stroke.
'In any case... it's soon, then.'
The 300th anniversary founding celebration was about a month and twenty days away.
If things followed the flow of the original, the royal capital's invitation would probably arrive within a week.
"Hmm, it should be about time. Hurry and wash off the sweat. It's been a while, so you should look your best."
"Huh? What on earth have you been talking about since earlier..."
That was as far as he got.
Feeling the piercing gaze from behind him, Yuder quickly turned—and there she was, after so long.
"Cordelia."
A red-haired girl standing far away on a balcony overlooking the training ground, looking down this way.
"She said she has something urgent to discuss. It seems an invitation to the Count Pikers Household's birthday party has arrived."
After hearing Gale's explanation, Yuder nodded.
In the original, Cordelia had not been in Baylun at this point, so there had been no event like a birthday party invitation, but now the situation had changed, so it was only natural for such an event to occur.
Therefore, instead of bringing up questions about the Count Pikers Household, Yuder simply looked at Cordelia and asked Gale in a small voice.
"But brother."
"Yes, little brother."
"She seems sulky, doesn't she?"
"Hmm... probably?"
Gale and Yuder looked together at the girl on the balcony, and the girl, Cordelia, turned away with a motion that seemed to carry an audible huff.
"Go on quickly."
"Yes, brother."
Yuder grinned, then immediately rose from his spot and hurried his steps.
* * *
'You're sulking, right?'
'No, I'm not? I'm not sulking at all?'
'Seems like you're sulking?'
'I'm not? I'm not sulking at all?'
Yuder and Cordelia, seated across from each other with a table between them, rapidly exchanged glances, and at that amicable sight, Maia and Dahlia wore pleased smiles.
'They really do suit each other, don't they?'
'They certainly do.'
The two, who had likewise conversed with their eyes, quietly rose and excused themselves.
It was to give Yuder and Cordelia time alone.
"You're sulking, right?"
"I said I'm not! There's no way I'd sulk just because there was no contact for a mere sixteen days!"
"Oh."
Sixteen days.
She had even been counting the days.
'How satisfying.'
All that patience had been worth it.
Yuder smiled with satisfaction, and Cordelia, busy huffing, did not realize what mistake she had just made.
"Anyway, I'm sorry. I was too busy with training."
"Hmph, I said it's fine."
"Then that's a relief."
When Yuder brushed it off casually, Cordelia momentarily furrowed her brow, but it was too late to drag the matter out now.
"So, is your training going well?"
When she asked in a slightly sulky voice without realizing it, Yuder immediately nodded.
"Yeah. I'm training to embody the power of the Nine Heavens Nine Gates more... and learning the sword of the Count Bayel Household—more precisely, its combat techniques."
"Hmm."
She did not quite understand what that meant, but it seemed he was working hard at any rate.
'I guess it really couldn't be helped.'
Should she forgive him after all?
'No, it wasn't even something to forgive or not in the first place.'
Because Cordelia herself had never been sulking.
"Anyway, Cordelia, what about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you wouldn't have just been playing around either."
"Of course not. Do you know how hard I've been training?"
Letting out another huff, Cordelia subtly pulled a coil of detonating cord from her waist.
It seemed she wanted to show off the results of her training.
'But of all things, detonating cord?'
No, it was certainly a tool that required training to use properly, and it was also a tool that Yuder himself had given her, but still.
"Why? Do you want to see?"
When Cordelia asked in a suggestive voice, Yuder immediately nodded.
If he pretended to be oblivious here, she really might sulk.
"Yeah, I want to see. I really want to see."
"Ahem ahem, well... if you insist that much..."
It wasn't like she couldn't show him.
The corners of Cordelia's lips lifted as she picked up the detonating cord, but even she could not use it in the reception room.
Therefore, Yuder lightly stopped Cordelia and said.
"We'll have to go to the training ground to see that, so let's put it off for a moment. Before that, I have something to show you."
"Something to show me?"
"Yeah, you came today because of the Count Pikers Household's invitation, right? There's also the founding celebration invitation that will arrive soon."
"Yeah, right."
She had briefly forgotten, but today's visit was to discuss how to respond to the Count Pikers Household's invitation.
"We'll have to crush her."
She was a wench who not only picked fights with Cordelia every year but even insulted her.
Yuder had not the slightest intention of letting it slide.
"Hey, Yuder? We're going to a birthday party, okay? We're not going to fight, okay?"
"Yeah, right. What fight? We're just going to crush her one-sidedly."
At Yuder's words, Cordelia narrowed her brow, but somehow her chest felt refreshed, so she decided to let it be.
"And it's perfect timing. Before using it in the royal capital, we can use it as practice... as a demonstration ground."
At Yuder's words, Cordelia tilted her head again.
She could not understand what on earth he was talking about.
'Ah, come to think of it...'
Was it Langesthei?
Yuder had said he had a secret weapon he was preparing to exert influence in the royal capital.
"Right, that's what I'm talking about."
As if he had read Cordelia's mind, Yuder spoke immediately, and Cordelia decided to just ask instead of thinking further.
"So what is it?"
"It's this."
Yuder smiled a little more wickedly than usual and placed the item he had prepared over the past three weeks on the table.
