Chapter 14

The face right before her eyes was truly handsome enough to make one’s mouth water.

And Noel knew exactly how to use that face.

“But I only ever receive help from you, Noel…….”

Yvette subtly avoided Noel’s gaze and muttered.

“Doesn’t giving a gift come down to my feelings anyway?”

“That’s true, but……”

“If it really bothers you, then give me a gift too.”

Noel answered shamelessly and turned his gaze back to the display case.

Yvette could not find the words to refute him and quietly shut her mouth.

‘What on earth has gotten into him?’

She had thought something was odd from the moment he suggested going out to lift her spirits.

But she never imagined Noel would act like this.

Whether or not he noticed her gaze, Noel was peering into the display case with a rather serious expression.

Yvette watched him and let out a short sigh.

‘……Still, thanks to Noel, I do feel a bit better.’

She had pretended everything was fine until now, but the truth was, her mood had not been good since leaving the baron’s residence.

Because there was no guarantee Baron Larishi would not come after her again.

Even on the carriage ride over, that worry had filled her mind.

But after entering the jewelry shop, she had been so occupied with Noel that she had not thought of Baron Larishi even once.

‘Surely he didn’t bring me here on purpose because he knew I was feeling down?’

Yvette stole a sidelong glance at Noel.

Just from his expression, there was no way to tell what he was thinking.

“……I already owe you a mountain of debts, so please hold back on gifts that are too expensive.”

Yvette, who had crept up beside Noel, spoke to him.

Noel glanced at her and curved the corner of his mouth crookedly.

“Noted.”

Then, as if he had found a ring he liked, he pointed to a box displayed in the case.

“I think this would suit you too. What do you think?”

Inside the box was a ring set with a blue gem shaped like a flower.

It was the simplest design she had seen so far, so Yvette nodded without hesitation.

“This one is nice. The design is clean, and it’s not too flashy.”

The moment her approval was given, Noel immediately called the employee.

While the employee took the ring from the display case, Yvette looked around the shop with a renewed sense of wonder.

It was around the time she was thinking something silly like, ‘If you added up all the jewels in here, could you buy a country?’

Noel, who had come to her side before she knew it, abruptly held out a box to her.

“Huh? You already paid?”

Yvette looked at him with wide eyes.

“Open it first.”

Noel answered lightly and placed the jewelry box in her hand.

Though puzzled, Yvette opened the box as he instructed.

Then, along with the ring Noel had chosen earlier, a pair of earrings came into view.

“……!”

Perhaps they were sold as a set, for the center of the earrings held the same blue gem as the ring.

The hexagonal-cut gem sparkled brilliantly every time it caught the light.

Yvette stared blankly at the earrings and spoke.

“……I can’t accept something like this.”

When Yvette tried to hand the jewelry box back, Noel said flatly.

“Is that so? Then I suppose I’ll have to throw it away.”

As he reached out as if he truly meant to throw it away, Yvette panicked and clutched the box to her chest.

“Are you insane? Why would you throw away something this expensive!”

Just selling the earrings alone would probably cover a year’s living expenses.

As expected of a great noble, his scale for throwing things away was on another level.

“If you don’t want it thrown away, then just keep it.”

Noel shrugged as if to say, do as you like.

From the start, he seemed to know she would not be able to throw it away.

Yvette pressed her lips firmly together and looked down at the jewelry box.

Looking at it, gratitude and guilt mixed together in a complicated tangle.

“……All right. Then I’ll accept just this much.”

Yvette muttered, hugging the jewelry box tightly.

Truthfully, she had not shown it, but the earrings had pleased her greatly as well.

“From now on, no gifts until I give you one first. Got it?”

At Yvette’s playful warning, Noel let out a soft laugh.

“Now you’re smiling properly.”

At his low mutter, Yvette paused.

She rubbed the corner of her mouth and smiled awkwardly.

For some reason, she felt embarrassed.

‘I don’t look too much like a materialistic person, do I?’

She was a little worried, but fortunately, Noel did not seem to mind much.

“Shall we head out?”

When Noel began preparing to leave first, Yvette hurriedly gathered her things.

She decided to have the box sent directly to the townhouse, since carrying it around might get it stolen.

After leaving the jewelry shop, the two ate at a nearby restaurant and then returned to the carriage.

On the way back to Witley after finishing all their business.

The sunset light coming through the window softly illuminated their faces.

The sun had begun to set before they knew it, and the sky was turning a reddish hue.

“……Thank you for helping me today, Noel.”

When Yvette suddenly spoke, Noel, who had been gazing out the window, slowly turned his head.

His calm gaze rested on her face.

“Thank me for what?”

“For everything, really. The business with my uncle, and the gift earlier.”

Yvette smiled and met Noel’s eyes.

Saying something like this was a little embarrassing, but still, gratitude was gratitude.

“If it weren’t for you, today would have been really difficult.”

At her heartfelt thanks, Noel wore a peculiar expression.

Then, as if on cue, a shadow fell across his face.

“……You certainly have a lot to be grateful for.”

Noel muttered low and swept back his hair.

His usually relaxed lips pulled taut for a moment, then returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

“People should know gratitude to be happy. I want to be happier from now on.”

Yvette said this and smiled faintly.

At the same time, the shadow that had covered the window disappeared, and warm sunset light spread across Yvette’s face.

Noel, who had been quietly watching her, could not take his eyes off her for a long while.

* * *

A few days later.

News that would turn the empire upside down spread through high society.

It was the engagement of Noel Averon and Yvette Blanche.

The news of their engagement stirred up a great sensation in the previously quiet social circles.

When word also spread that Yvette had formally become the Countess of Blanche, the two became the center of attention.

How had two people with no prior connection come to be engaged?

Whenever people met, it was all anyone talked about.

And when rumors spread that it was not an arranged engagement between families but one born of mutual love, the nobles’ interest grew even greater.

Perhaps because of that, Yvette found herself bombarded with letters less than a week after the engagement was announced.

Seeing them piled on her desk and spilling onto the floor, there was no other word for it but a bombardment.

Even though she had not told anyone, everyone seemed to know her address.

Yvette looked through the letters and let out a sigh as if the ground were sinking.

“I’m glad I hired more help. Otherwise, Habert alone would never have been able to handle this.”

Habert had said he was fine, but Yvette had always been uneasy about him managing the townhouse alone.

So not long ago, she had hired a maid to help Habert manage the townhouse.

She had originally planned to hire more, but Habert said one was enough, so she settled on one.

‘Well, Iden helps Habert in his own way too.’

Yvette smiled faintly, recalling the first time she met Iden.

After being scolded harshly by her, Iden had spent a while avoiding her with a deflated face.

Feeling sorry for him, Yvette had bought him sweet snacks and toys a few times.

Then, at some point, Iden had begun following her around like a puppy.

‘I feel like a bad adult bribing a child with candy.’

But he was so cute, following her around with sparkling eyes, that she kept looking after him.

“……Anyway, what am I really going to do with all these letters?”

Having finished her pleasant reminiscence, Yvette let out another sigh.

She would have loved to use them all as kindling, but that was not an option.

‘Even so, I can’t just ignore nobles’ invitations like that.’

If her knowledge was correct, one had to send a reply to every noble’s invitation.

‘My wrist is going to break before I finish all of these.’

That was when it happened.

With a light knock, Habert’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Countess, I’ve brought your tea.”

“Ah, yes. Come in, Habert.”

She flinched briefly at the unfamiliar title.

Yvette smiled and raised her head.

‘Countess really does still feel awkward.’

After the engagement was announced, Habert had begun calling her ‘Countess’ instead of ‘young lady.’

Yvette had waved her hands, saying there was no need for that, but Habert was firm.

Thanks to that, the newly hired servants also followed Habert and called her Countess.

It was awkward, since it was a title she was hearing for the first time, but it also made her feel proud, as if she had become someone important.

“It seems you have a great deal of work.”

Habert entered the study carrying a large silver tray.

Yvette picked up a letter from her desk and let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t even mention it. So many people sent letters that I can barely keep the names straight.”

The names were all so complicated that it was hard to tell who was who.

While Yvette wrestled with the letters, Habert set the tray down on the desk.

Then he skillfully poured tea into her cup.

“I don’t know how they all find out and keep sending letters. I never told anyone I live here.”

When Yvette muttered as if lamenting, Habert smiled faintly.

“You must not underestimate the information networks of nobles. They probably would have found a way to send letters even if the Countess were at the edge of the continent.”

With that, Habert picked up one of the letters Yvette had set down.

“May I take a look?”

“Ah, yes. Feel free.”

Once Yvette’s permission was given, Habert picked up a few letters.

“This is an invitation from the Anzobi viscount family.”