Chapter 25

“No, honestly, shouldn’t they be asking Noel for sponsorship instead of me?

You have way more money than I do.”

“They know letters like this won’t work on me.”

Noel answered lightly and set the letter back down on the desk.

“If it’s really too much, can’t you just say now that you won’t attend the reunion?”

“I can’t do that.”

Yvette lifted her head sharply and spoke firmly.

Perhaps it was an unexpected reaction, for Noel wore a surprised expression.

“Why can’t you?”

At his question, Yvette realized her mistake.

She was attending the reunion to meet Kerbel.

But she could not possibly tell Noel that.

“……It’s a bit much to go back on my word now.

Word’s already spread that I’m attending.”

Yvette answered a beat late and avoided his eyes.

She was not even committing a crime, yet she felt oddly guilty.

“Besides, the purpose of the reunion itself isn’t bad.

I’m also curious what the academy looks like.”

“Anyone would think you’d never been there before.”

Noel let out a soft laugh and spoke.

Yvette felt cold sweat running down her back and forced a smile.

“……Haha, that came out wrong.

I meant I wanted to see it again after so long.”

At this rate, I’m going to die before my time.

Yvette bit the inside of her cheek painfully and let go, then rose from her seat.

“I think I’ll go get some air for a bit.”

“Giving up already?”

Noel asked, half-teasing. Yvette shot him a look that was not quite resentful and spoke.

“At least I’m not slacking off like someone else.”

“That sounds suspiciously like you’re talking about me.”

“Oh my. You noticed?”

Yvette widened her eyes and pretended to be surprised. At the sight, Noel let out a soft laugh.

“……Seeing you joke like that, it seems you’ve gotten quite comfortable with me.”

“And you were teasing me from the very start, weren’t you?”

How easy did he think I was?

Yvette grumbled as she grabbed her outerwear.

Perhaps because it was still early spring, the wind felt quite chilly.

“The bad count who can’t do her work is going for a walk, so our great duke can stay here and read his book.”

Yvette lightly stuck her tongue out at Noel and left the study.

“……Where does she keep learning to say things like that.”

Noel let out a hollow laugh but slowly rose from his seat.

Because he could not let his fiancée, who never had a single quiet day, go off alone.

* * *

Unlike the blazing sky, the wind that blew relentlessly was quite cold.

Yvette clutched her collar and slowly walked around Witley.

Perhaps because it was on the outskirts of the capital, there were many forests around Witley.

So when her head was cluttered, she would sometimes walk around here and organize her thoughts.

‘Maybe because it’s daytime, it’s definitely quiet.’

Yvette looked around and slowly moved her feet.

Knowing that Noel had stationed knights throughout the area, she could move without worry.

‘And if it really feels dangerous, I have the bracelet.’

Yvette glanced down at her wrist. Then, between her sleeve, she saw the violet jewel dangling.

It was the communication stone Noel had left with her not long ago.

Fortunately, she had not run into Baron Larishi since then.

But Yvette did not let her guard down carelessly.

The last time she saw him, Baron Larishi had seemed like a man out of his mind.

No one knew when, where, or how he might appear.

And that was not the only thing bothering her.

‘No matter how I think about it, it was suspicious that Viscount Magnus appeared then.’

Not when she was being dragged away, but at the exact moment she was being attacked.

It felt as if he had known from the start that she would be attacked.

‘To begin with, he’s not the type to help anyone.’

Viscount Magnus was a thorough individualist, a man made entirely of selfishness.

There was no way a man like that would help her for no reason.

And most suspicious of all was the fact that Viscount Magnus’s specialty was mental magic.

‘What if Viscount Magnus used mind control magic to manipulate Baron Larishi?’

Then Baron Larishi’s recklessness would be explained to some extent.

‘Of course, it’s all just suspicion for now…….’

Yvette subtly furrowed her brow.

It was not entirely impossible.

But there was still one question she had not resolved.

‘Why would Viscount Magnus do something like that?’

That was when it happened.

“You look like you have a lot on your mind.”

“……!”

Breaking the silence, a low voice rang out.

Startled by the sound, Yvette staggered, and something solid wrapped around her waist.

“Oh my, you need to be careful.”

Noel, who had appeared before she knew it, smiled brightly at Yvette.

Having unintentionally ended up in his arms, Yvette panicked and straightened herself.

“No, how can a person just appear like that without a single sign?

I thought my heart was going to drop!”

“Who knows. Sure you didn’t just not hear me because you were lost in thought?”

“……Does it look like my head’s a mess even to you, Noel?”

Yvette let her shoulders droop weakly.

She felt a little embarrassed that she had done such a poor job of managing her expression in front of him.

“A little.”

Noel answered lightly and draped the jacket he was wearing over her shoulders.

At the unexpected gesture, Yvette blinked slowly.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Because I think you’re more vulnerable to the cold than I am.”

Noel answered briefly and fastened the jacket securely so it would not fall.

Yvette was bewildered but did not refuse his kindness.

“You really do have good manners at times like this, Noel.”

“You say that as if I’m usually rude.”

“Not rude, but you don’t exactly act like a gentleman either.”

Yvette threw out the words half-jokingly. At that, the corner of Noel’s mouth rose slightly.

“So you’ve been nursing quite a few complaints about me.”

“As if. I’m always grateful to you.”

Yvette shook her head.

She had said it like a joke, but it was true that she always felt grateful to Noel.

“……For someone grateful, isn’t your expression of it a bit lacking?”

Noel muttered as if he were genuinely hurt. Unlike his tone, a faint smile lingered on his face.

“Then how would you like me to express it?”

Yvette asked.

She had been feeling sorry for always receiving help from Noel anyway.

‘At least once, I should do what Noel wants.’

Yvette thought that and looked at Noel.

When their eyes met, the smile hovering at Noel’s lips grew deeper.

“If I tell you, will you do anything?”

“Yes. I’ll do anything.”

Yvette nodded readily.

Then, after a moment’s thought, Noel opened his mouth.

* * *

“Vi-Viscount. Duke Averon has come to see you.”

“……What?”

Early in the morning.

Viscount Magnus furrowed his brow at the news that an unexpected guest had arrived.

“Coming at this hour without notice.

The duke is certainly diligent.”

“I’ve shown him to the reception room for now. If it’s inconvenient, shall I tell him to come back another time?”

When the servant asked cautiously, Viscount Magnus shook his head.

“No, there’s no need for that. The conversation will likely run long, so bring us some tea.”

“Understood.”

The servant bowed deeply and withdrew.

Viscount Magnus checked his attire and headed for the reception room.

When he opened the door and entered, Noel, who had been staring expressionlessly into space, turned to look at him.

The moment their eyes met, Viscount Magnus smiled brightly.

“Good morning, Duke Averon.”

“Indeed.”

Noel gave a slight nod in place of a greeting.

Viscount Magnus forced his smile to remain and sat across from him.

“……Seeing you come at this hour, it must be important. What is it?”

“I came to see whether the task His Majesty commanded is progressing well.”

Noel leaned comfortably back in his chair and looked at Viscount Magnus.

At his probing gaze, Viscount Magnus’s lips twisted minutely.

‘Insolent bastard.’

He ground his teeth inwardly but smiled brightly on the outside.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Just then, with a polite knock, a red-haired servant entered the reception room carrying tea.

Perhaps of a timid nature, the servant moved with his head bowed low.

Noel studied him briefly, then quickly lost interest and looked away.

“The conversation may run long, so have some tea first.”

When Viscount Magnus offered the teacup, Noel firmly shook his head.

“Skip the tea. Let’s get to the point.”

“……Very well.”

Viscount Magnus clenched his fist beneath the table and released it, wearing a bright smile.

“If there’s anything you’re curious about, ask away.”

“How is the investigation going? Are you tracking the traces left at the scene?”

“Currently, mages specializing in mana detection from the Magic Tower are conducting the investigation. The traces are so faint that it seems to be taking a long time.”

“So that means you haven’t found anything.”

“The culprit in this case is not an ordinary thief but a mage. Naturally, the investigation is bound to be difficult.”

Viscount Magnus answered as kindly as possible and narrowed the eye visible outside his mask.

“Is your curiosity satisfied?”

“No. There’s one more thing I’d like to ask you, Viscount.”

Noel straightened his posture and continued as if he had been waiting.

“There’s a rumor going around that you paid off Baron Larishi’s gambling debts. Is it true?”

The moment Noel mentioned Baron Larishi, a small twitch spasmed at the corner of Viscount Magnus’s eye.

“……Haha. Where did you hear such a story?”