Chapter 23

In the original work, a total of two madmen appeared.

The first was Kerbel Petoras, who went mad with love and tried to destroy the world.

And the second was Viscount Magnus, who was simply called a madman.

Alber Magnus was originally a commoner, a case of someone who had been recognized for his magical talent by the late emperor and elevated to nobility.

He was also a strong candidate for the next Tower Master, and the only noble who interacted with the Magic Tower.

Perhaps it was because he possessed both tremendous talent and power at the same time.

Viscount Magnus became endlessly greedy, and in the end, he even dabbled in magic that should never have been touched.

The white hair and the half-hideously distorted face were the side effects.

‘But there’s a separate reason Viscount Magnus was called a true madman.’

No matter how greedy a person might be, it is not easy to want to destroy the world.

Yet Viscount Magnus tried to destroy the world simply because it did not please him.

In short, he was just a madman.

“……Th-thank you for saving me. But I think my fiancé will be looking for me by now. May I excuse myself first?”

Having barely regained her senses, Yvette smiled brightly and spoke.

Now that she knew the other party was a madman, the best course was to get away as quickly as possible.

But Viscount Magnus did not seem inclined to let her go so easily.

“Oh my. Are you going to leave without even telling me your name, my lady?”

Viscount Magnus furrowed one eye and spoke as if he were hurt.

Judging by his face alone, it was not such a strange thing to do.

But when she recalled that he was close to sixty years old, goosebumps rose all over her body.

“Haha……. Come to think of it, I didn’t tell you my name. I am Yvette Blanche.”

Yvette looked at Viscount Magnus with an expression that said, ‘Is this enough?’

“I see. Yvette Blanche……. I’ll remember it.”

Please don’t remember it, you madman.

Yvette swallowed the urge to shout that and nodded.

Her lips trembled from forcing a smile.

“Yes. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

With that brief farewell, Yvette hurriedly escaped the spot.

The matter with Baron Larishi had already been erased from her mind.

‘From now on, I must avoid that person at all costs.’

If she got entangled with him for no reason, there was no telling what might happen.

Yvette pressed a hand to her startled heart and returned to the party hall.

* * *

“……She’s late.”

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Noel, standing alone leaning against a wall, coldly scanned his surroundings.

It had already been thirty minutes since Yvette went to get a drink.

But no matter how long he waited, Yvette showed no sign of returning.

‘Was she held up somewhere?’

Perhaps because of her title as his fiancée, there were many nobles interested in Yvette.

Among them, it was quite likely that those who had been unable to approach due to Noel’s presence were now holding her back.

“Was the tea room this way?”

Noel headed in the direction Yvette had disappeared earlier.

He intended to go find her himself.

Passing through a door, he saw a neatly arranged table of refreshments.

There were a few nobles gathered and chatting among themselves, but Yvette was not among them.

‘……Where did she go?’

No matter how much he looked around, Yvette was nowhere to be seen, and Noel’s expression gradually hardened.

‘Surely she hasn’t collapsed somewhere again?’

According to Yvette’s calculations, it was not yet time for the flower to wither.

But curses were full of variables, so he could not be certain.

‘……Should I have people search for her?’

Noel furrowed his brow.

Perhaps sensing that his mood was rapidly worsening, the nobles around him quietly backed away.

It was around the time the noisy party hall was once again freezing cold.

Behind the thoroughly sharp-edged Noel, a white head of hair peeked out.

“What are you doing here, Noel?”

“……Yvette.”

The moment he spotted Yvette, Noel’s stiff expression melted away as if it had never been there.

As a smile rose to his lips, the nobles around them also let out sighs of relief.

The cold atmosphere returned to normal.

“I was worried when you weren’t in sight.”

At Noel’s blunt remark, Yvette smiled awkwardly.

“I went to get some air and took a look around for a bit.”

“You should have told me. I would have gone with you.”

“I thought you might be busy, Noel. You were surrounded by so many nobles earlier.”

Yvette gestured with her eyes to the nobles around them and scratched her head.

Just then, her sleeve slipped down, revealing her reddened wrist.

The moment he saw the flesh swollen red in the shape of a hand, Noel’s expression changed.

“……What is this?”

Yvette, who belatedly checked her wrist, panicked and hid her arm behind her back.

“Ah, this—I bumped into a wall while walking around. You don’t need to worry about it, Noel.”

Yvette tried desperately to explain, but Noel did not seem to believe a word she said.

“What kind of bold bastard laid hands on my fiancée?”

Noel lightly grasped Yvette’s wrist. Unlike his careful touch, his tone was icy.

At his question, Yvette swallowed a groan.

She could already feel the nobles around them murmuring and looking their way.

‘This is why I wanted to let it slide quietly!’

She was already the center of attention because of her engagement to Noel.

If it became known that she had been attacked by her uncle, pointless rumors would surely spread.

‘The curse alone is enough to give me a headache—I don’t want to worry about rumors on top of that!’

Yvette shook her head and whispered quietly so only Noel could hear.

“I’ll tell you everything later, so can’t we just let it go for now? There are too many eyes on us.”

“……Then let’s move somewhere else first.”

Noel nodded and offered his arm to Yvette.

When Yvette reluctantly took it, Noel led her straight out of the party hall.

At last, the two climbed into the carriage that had been waiting for them.

“Now tell me. Who did this to you?”

Noel undid a couple of buttons at his collar and leaned comfortably back against the carriage wall.

Unable to withstand his piercing stare, Yvette reluctantly opened her mouth.

“……Actually, I ran into Baron Larishi earlier.”

“Baron Larishi—isn’t that your uncle?”

Noel asked, pointing to Yvette’s wrist. Yvette subtly pulled down her sleeve and nodded.

“He seemed very angry with me. He grabbed me and dragged me away the moment he saw me.”

Yvette continued, recalling the haggard figure of Baron Larishi.

“I think something must have happened while I was away from the estate.”

“……Come to think of it, I once heard that Baron Larishi recently incurred a massive gambling debt.”

At Noel’s murmur, Yvette smiled bitterly.

Considering Baron Larishi’s personality, it was not particularly surprising news.

“He must have grown desperate because of the debt. That’s why he came at me so recklessly.”

Yvette spoke calmly and turned her gaze toward the window.

If Baron Larishi truly had a large debt, as Noel said, there was only one way to solve it.

To eliminate her, the Countess, and take the title himself.

It was something she had thought might happen someday. But that did not mean it was any less shocking.

“……Yvette.”

That was when it happened.

Noel, who had been silent for a moment, spoke.

“If you have worries, tell me. As your fiancé, I’ll listen.”

Noel looked at Yvette and muttered low.

Because the distance was close, his voice sounded all the clearer.

“I don’t really have any worries……”

Yvette trailed off.

In truth, she had many worries.

She worried about how to persuade Kerbel to break the curse, and how to deal with Baron Larishi going forward.

There were countless other small worries as well, but she could not bring herself to confide in Noel.

Because she was already receiving too much help from him.

“……I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

Yvette forced a smile.

At her weak voice, Noel’s expression hardened slightly.

“How exactly are you fine?”

His sunken voice rang in her ears. When she raised her head, she saw Noel staring at her with an expressionless face.

“You were attacked by your uncle today. Is that a fine thing for you?”

“……”

At the sharp question, Yvette could not answer and could only bite her innocent lip.

When she failed to reply, Noel let out a small sigh and continued.

“I have an obligation to be responsible for your safety. So if you need help, tell me anytime.”

With that, Noel closed his mouth.

Instead of answering, Yvette slowly repeated his words in her mind.

Suddenly, a question arose.

‘Why does Noel keep trying to help me?’

When you thought about it, there was no reason for Noel to go out of his way to help her.

Yet Noel looked after her as if she were his real fiancée.

‘Is it just because I seem pitiful?’

She had lost her parents at a young age and had even been attacked by her only blood relative.

From Noel’s perspective, she might seem pitiable.

‘……Whichever it is, I’m grateful for it.’

Yvette stared quietly at her wrist.

If Noel had not been there, the situation might have turned out much worse.

Whatever the reason, just having him help her was a great relief.

“We’ve arrived at the ducal estate.”

At last, the carriage they were riding in stopped, and with a knock, the driver announced their arrival.

“It’s been a while, Lady Blanche. Or should I call you Countess now! I made a mistake.”

As she stepped down from the carriage, a familiar face greeted her.

“It’s been a while, Sir Bler.”

Yvette smiled and greeted Syd.

Syd, whom she had not seen in weeks, was as energetic as ever.

“I heard you were injured, Countess. Whoever did it, if they fall into our duke’s hands, they’re dead…….”

“The physician? Is he waiting?”

Noel, who had stepped down from the carriage belatedly, cut off Syd’s words.

Only then did Syd straighten his back, gauging Noel’s mood.

“Yes. I had him stand by the moment I received word.”

“Then take us to him right away.”

“Yes!”

As Syd took the lead, Yvette quietly followed behind him.

Noel walked in step with her, his expression unreadable.

At last, they arrived at a small reception room attached to Noel’s bedroom.

As the three entered, the physician who had been waiting there shot up from his seat.

As he hurriedly tried to bow, Noel raised a hand to stop him.

“Skip the greetings and treat the patient first.”

“Ah, yes! Which person should I examine?”

“Here.”

Noel gestured with his eyes to Yvette’s arm.

“I hear my fiancée has injured her wrist.”

“I see. Let me take a look.”

The physician nodded and approached Yvette.

“Excuse me, but could you roll up your sleeve for a moment?”

When the physician asked politely, Yvette hesitated and rolled up her sleeve. Then her red, swollen wrist was revealed.

The physician examined Yvette’s wrist carefully with a serious eye.

“How much pain do you feel when you move it?”

“It’s not severe, just a slight ache.”

“Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any problem with the bone. Still, it would be best to be careful not to strain your wrist for the time being.”

The physician said this and recommended several herbs good for reducing swelling.

“Then I will excuse myself now. If you feel any discomfort, please call for me anytime.”