Chapter 32

The academy had a total of three departments.

The magic department and the swordsmanship department, which focused on practical skills.

And the general department, which focused on theory.

The general department had the highest proportion of nobles. That was because it taught most of the virtues nobles needed to know—management, economics, politics, history, and so on.

‘……And on top of being top of her class three years in a row in that, she even graduated as the youngest?’

Yvette let out a sigh as if the ground were sinking.

‘The current me would be lucky just to avoid last place, let alone top of the class.’

It had been fine when she did not know, but knowing made it painful.

Because it seemed others, like Chapelle, would hold expectations of her.

‘Did Noel know this too?’

Noel was also a Luhen Academy graduate.

Even if they had not attended at the same time, there was a high chance he had heard rumors about her.

‘Should I study secretly from now on?’

Until now, she had been too busy thinking about the future to look back at the past.

But to live safely as Yvette Blanche going forward, she felt she had to learn about her past somehow.

‘……While I’m at it, should I visit the territory?’

There might be records about the past Yvette left in the Blanche territory.

She had to go down there at least once anyway, so it might not be a bad idea to investigate while she was at it.

‘While I’m there, I should see what the territory is like too.’

Since becoming ‘Yvette Blanche,’ she had never once visited the territory.

Because the previous count’s aide was carrying out the duties of acting lord in her stead while she stayed in the capital.

‘I should write a letter to Sir Labat as soon as I get home.’

Yvette thought that and stared blankly down at her hand.

Today, that hand felt strangely unfamiliar, as if it belonged to someone else.

“……Yvette.”

That was when it happened.

Noel, who had been silent since they set off, called Yvette.

“……Yes?”

When Yvette flinched and raised her head, Noel spoke low.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. Is something troubling you?”

At his question, Yvette bit her tongue inconspicuously and let go.

‘Honestly, his intuition is frighteningly sharp.’

Or maybe I’m just bad at hiding my expressions.

She swallowed a sigh and forced a smile.

“It’s just that I’m a little tired.”

“If you’re tired, close your eyes for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

“It’s a bit uncomfortable to sleep here. I can hold out for now, so it’s fine.”

Yvette shook her head, telling him not to worry.

Noel quietly watched her, then rose from his seat.

“Then this should work.”

With a thud, Noel moved to sit beside Yvette.

It happened so quickly there was no time to stop him.

“……What are you doing?”

The flustered Yvette looked up at Noel.

Seeing her wide eyes, Noel smiled subtly.

“I thought I’d lend my shoulder to my tired fiancée.”

Saying that, Noel lightly pressed Yvette’s head to rest against his shoulder.

“You don’t have to go this far…….”

Yvette hesitated but followed Noel’s direction.

Once she actually leaned on him, she did feel fatigue rushing over her.

“It’s not particularly difficult, is it.”

Noel answered lightly and covered Yvette’s eyes with his hand.

“So don’t worry about it and just sleep comfortably.”

Yvette wondered what to do, then eventually closed her eyes.

Whether he truly intended to put her to sleep or not, Noel quietly closed his mouth after that.

Only the rattling of the wheels filled the carriage.

‘……How am I supposed to fall asleep like this.’

Yvette kept her eyes closed and let out a small groan.

Leaning against his shoulder made Noel feel far too close.

Because of that, Yvette even became conscious of her own breathing.

‘Is this man doing it on purpose? Or is it just innate?’

No matter how she thought about it, the idea that Noel was a clumsy fool who had never even held a woman’s hand made no sense.

He made people’s hearts flutter as naturally as breathing—there was no way all of this was his first time.

‘If he keeps acting like this, it’s going to be a problem.’

Even if they had signed a contract, she was still a person.

With that face making her heart flutter so persistently, how could she possibly not waver?

But the more situations like this repeated, the more difficult things became for her alone.

‘I don’t want things to become awkward between Noel and me.’

Until the curse was broken, she had no choice but to rely on him.

But what if she ended up liking Noel?

Could she still maintain the same relationship then?

She could not speak for others, but Yvette did not have that kind of confidence.

‘……From now on, I should keep a reasonable distance.’

Anyway, in a year this contract engagement would end.

All she had to do was somehow break the curse in the meantime.

‘For now, don’t think about anything else—just focus on the curse.’

Today, unfortunately, she had not been able to meet Liliana again, but that did not mean the opportunity was over.

Since Liliana had shown interest in her first, there were plenty of ways to approach her.

‘Modeling is, well…… I’ll have to think about that a bit more…….’

As Yvette was making all sorts of plans in her head, she drifted off to sleep at some point.

It seemed the fatigue had accumulated from keeping her nerves on edge all day.

“……Finally asleep, are you.”

Breath in, breath out.

Looking at Yvette breathing evenly, Noel let out a soft laugh.

Careful not to wake her, he turned his gaze toward the window.

It was the first moment the weight pressing down on his shoulder felt pleasant.

* * *

A few days later.

A letter from Liliana arrived at Witley.

It was a reply to the invitation Yvette had sent not long ago.

[To the beautiful Countess Blanche.

Thank you for contacting me first.

As it happens, I had been waiting only for the day I could meet you again, so this is perfect.

I have classes on weekdays, so if possible, I would like to visit you on the weekend. Would that be all right?

You may set the time however you like. I am happy simply to be able to meet you, Countess.

Oh, right!

I don’t mean to pressure you, but have you perhaps thought about my offer to model for me?

If you ever feel inclined, please let me know anytime.

Then, I will be waiting for your reply.

— From Countess Blanche’s ardent fan, Liliana.]

‘……An ardent fan, she says.’

As she slowly read down the letter, Yvette wore an awkward expression.

It seemed Liliana’s remark about her being her ideal type had not been entirely a joke.

“I should set the date right away.”

Yvette pulled out some stationery and quickly wrote a reply.

To summarize roughly, it said that the weekend was fine whenever, so come by whenever it was convenient.

‘As for the modeling, I’ll have to think about it a bit more.’

Perhaps because she had never done anything like that before.

She hesitated to readily accept Liliana’s offer.

After finishing even her signature, Yvette entrusted the letter to Habert.

Some time later, Liliana sent another reply.

It said that if it was all right with Yvette, she would visit the following weekend.