The door shut behind them with a quiet click.
Noah looked around Cordelia’s room. It was neat and orderly, not too different from his own. Books were stacked precisely on a low shelf, and a set of enchanted ink quills sat beside her desk, glowing faintly with unused mana. A single coat hung on the back of her chair. The place smelled faintly of jasmine.
Cordelia kicked off her shoes and stretched with a groan. "Alright, wait here. I’ll go change real quick."
Before he could respond, she disappeared into the bathroom.
Noah stood by the window, arms crossed, idly watching students down below cross the courtyard. The day was clear, and the soft breeze rustled the leaves of the Cercis trees outside.
A few minutes passed.
Then the door creaked open.
Cordelia stepped out wearing nothing but a loose white shirt that reached barely to her thighs. Her long white hair was still damp, sticking slightly to her shoulders.
Noah blinked. "...Shouldn’t you be wearing more than that?"
She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I’m in my room. So? Didn’t you say you weren’t a virgin? Unless... you’re planning something?"
Noah’s expression didn’t flinch. "No."
"Hah. That’s what I thought." She flipped her hair over one shoulder and sat down on the edge of her bed, toweling it dry with slow, deliberate motions.
Noah didn’t say anything, but internally he sighed.
’This girl... definitely likes to test people.’
Noah leaned against the wall, arms folded again as he watched her towel off her hair.
"So... what exactly do your parents want?"
Cordelia didn’t look up. She continued drying her hair as she replied casually, "The usual. You know—since someone decided to spread that I have a boyfriend... they want to meet you."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Right. Your overprotective and loving family."
"You get it." She glanced at him with a half-smile. "They’re kind, really. But they don’t take this kind of stuff lightly."
Noah nodded slowly. "Makes sense. My family’s not so different. I’ve got two younger brothers and a little sister. My mom’s... very hands-on. Dad’s strict, but fair."
Cordelia perked up slightly. "Huh. I didn’t know that. The novel didn’t mention it."
He gave her a sidelong look. "Didn’t you read everything?"
Cordelia shrugged. "As I told you, you were a side character. Most of what I know about you is from when you were next to Cael. He was the protagonist, remember? You were just his Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters."
Noah chuckled without humor. "Right. Background noise in someone else’s story."
A brief pause settled in.
Cordelia’s voice was quieter this time. "You want me to meet your family too, then?"
Noah looked thoughtful. "Maybe. But only if you’re okay with it."
Cordelia glanced at him and said, "Well... I already told you this whole thing is just an act, and I’m grateful you’re helping."
She gave a small shrug. "You have no idea how many guys started hitting on me after it came out I’m a Quad-Enchanter. It’s exhausting."
Noah tilted his head. "Can’t say I’m surprised."
She squinted at him. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
He smirked. "You’re strong. Talented. And... not hard to look at. It’s natural they’d be interested."
Cordelia turned her head away abruptly, hiding the flush rising in her cheeks.
’Again... not fair when you say stuff like that.’ she thought bitterly. ’You don’t even realize it—but you were always my favorite. Meeting you ... it’s like living out a dream, even though your character is pretty different...’
Noah leaned back slightly in the armchair by the window, arms crossed. "So... when exactly do I get to meet your parents? If I’m gonna be your ’boyfriend,’ I should be properly introduced, right?"
Cordelia sat on the edge of her bed, still toweling off her snowy hair. "Next weekend. There are no classes, so I told them to send a carriage. We’ll head out in the morning."
"Sounds good," Noah said. He narrowed his eyes a little. "Truth is, I was planning to meet them anyway."
Cordelia blinked. "Really? Why?"
He glanced at her, serious. "Because your family is a variable in this world. Just like you. I told you before—this timeline is off-script. The Ross family didn’t exist in the original version. I don’t know how much they’ve changed, but I want to find out."
A brief silence stretched before Cordelia spoke, her voice low. "You sure you trust me that much? Last time you tried handling everything... I get that Cael betrayed you, but I’m not him."
Noah’s gaze didn’t waver. "I hope not."
Cordelia gave a soft snort. "Tch. Dramatic much."
He smirked. "Always."
She rolled her eyes, then smiled. "Okay then. It’s decided. I’ll make sure the carriage is waiting next weekend."
Cordelia tapped her foot impatiently in front of the academy’s main gate, dressed in a sleek travel outfit—deep navy jacket over a dark skirt, her white hair tied back neatly. She glanced around, and then finally spotted Noah approaching from the side path.
Her expression flattened. "Are you serious right now?"
Noah held a small bouquet of deep blue flowers in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. He wore a dark gray blazer, simple but clean. "What? First impressions matter, don’t they?"
"You’re acting like you’re meeting my parents for real," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"I am meeting them for real. It’s part of the role." He grinned, eyes glinting. "Besides, I’m a great actor, remember?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t overdo it."
"Too late," he said, adjusting the ribbon on the wine bottle.
Together, they stepped into the enchanted carriage that had arrived for them. The design was sleek, with engraved silver patterns along the sides. Inside, plush seats and softly glowing crystal panels lit the cabin. The vehicle glided effortlessly—powered by a series of mana-infused propulsion runes embedded beneath the chassis.
As they settled in, Cordelia turned slightly toward him. "Eight hours, huh."
"Seven and a half, maybe. This thing’s fast."
Noah stretched his legs a little and glanced at her. "So... do you have your dress ready for the auction?"
Cordelia gave a small, smug smile. "Of course. You’ll see it on the day."
"I grabbed the masks last week, by the way. Yours is blue and silver," he said casually.
Cordelia nodded approvingly. "Good choice."
The carriage continued through the winding forest roads as the afternoon sun filtered through the trees, their branches swaying softly in the breeze.