Chapter 33

A few days before meeting Liliana.

Yvette went out into the city to get some air and buy a gift for Liliana.

Since she had decided to win Liliana’s favor, she intended to do everything she could.

“Countess, how about something like this? They say this perfume is popular among young ladies these days!”

Filia, excited about the outing after so long, bustled around the shop and recommended gifts worthy of giving to Liliana.

Yvette followed behind Filia and carefully examined the items.

“I don’t know Liliana’s tastes well yet, so if possible, I’d like a gift that isn’t too particular.”

“A gift that isn’t too particular…… Then how about giving her something she’d use often in her daily life?”

“Something she’d use often?”

“Yes! For example, since you write a lot in your daily life, Countess, you could give a gift like a quill pen!”

At Filia’s words, Yvette nodded slightly.

“That sounds good. Liliana likes to paint, so I suppose I should focus on art supplies.”

“As far as I know, the art supply shop is this way! Just follow me!”

Filia confidently shouted and thumped her chest.

Yvette let out a soft laugh and followed behind her.

‘I’m glad Filia is here. Otherwise, I would have gotten lost.’

Filia, born and raised in the capital, knew the city like the back of her hand. Thanks to that, all Yvette had to do was trot along behind her.

* * *

A short while later.

The two arrived in front of the art supply shop.

After thinking it over for a long while, Yvette bought a high-quality set of brushes made from marten fur.

She even paid extra to have her name engraved on the brush handles.

‘I hope Liliana likes the gift.’

Yvette left the shop with equal parts worry and anticipation.

She had bought the gift. Now it was time to head home.

But Yvette had not gone more than a few steps before she came to a stop.

Because an unwelcome figure was blocking her path.

“To run into you in a place like this—what a coincidence.”

The man who had approached her before she knew it shone with golden eyes and smiled brightly.

“……Viscount Magnus.”

Yvette instinctively backed away.

Meeting his golden gaze made the hair on her entire body stand on end.

‘Of all people to run into, it had to be him.’

Viscount Magnus was someone she did not want to get entangled with under any circumstances.

But contrary to Yvette’s wishes, Viscount Magnus seemed interested in her.

“Since we’ve met like this, it must be fate. How about a cup of tea together?”

“……I’m sorry, but I don’t think today will work. I have a prior engagement.”

Yvette smiled brightly and gestured with her eyes to Filia beside her.

“Filia, isn’t it about time the duke arrives?”

At first she wore a puzzled expression, but Filia quickly understood Yvette’s intent.

She nodded hurriedly.

“Yes! If we don’t leave soon, we might be late.”

“Then we’d better hurry. I can’t keep my fiancé waiting.”

Yvette subtly emphasized the word ‘fiancé’ as she spoke to Viscount Magnus.

“So, as you can see, I’m a bit busy. If you’ll excuse me.”

It was the moment she was about to take Filia and walk past him.

“Wait.”

Viscount Magnus caught her arm and muttered secretly.

“Aren’t you curious where Baron Larishi is?”

The moment Yvette heard those words, she stopped dead in her tracks.

In that instant, a warning bell rang in her head.

“……What do you mean?”

“If you’re curious, follow me. I’ll tell you what you want to hear.”

Viscount Magnus, his tone now completely changed, smiled slyly.

Yvette lightly clenched her fist and turned to look at Filia.

“Filia. Go on ahead and tell the duke I’ll be a little late.”

“What? But……”

Filia looked back and forth between Yvette and Viscount Magnus with worried eyes.

She seemed to have sensed something unusual in the air.

“Don’t worry about me. Go tell the duke. Tell him I miss him terribly and that he must wait for me.”

Yvette smiled brightly to reassure her.

“Understood. I’ll go tell him right away.”

After hesitating, Filia eventually nodded and left.

Yvette watched her grow distant and bit the tip of her tongue lightly before letting go.

‘I hope Noel understands.’

Today was not originally a day she was supposed to meet Noel.

But just in case, she felt she should get in touch with him.

‘Filia is quick-witted, so she’ll get the message across properly.’

Yvette took a deep breath and turned her gaze back to Viscount Magnus.

‘For now, I should hear what that man is scheming.’

Under ordinary circumstances, she would not want to get entangled with Viscount Magnus either.

But if he knew something about Baron Larishi, that changed things.

‘Maybe, just as I suspected, he’s the one controlling Baron Larishi.’

She had been worried about the two of them as it was.

This was the perfect chance to turn her suspicions into certainty.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Habert, tidying the house as usual, raised his head at the sound of a knock.

‘Is there a guest expected at this hour?’

He headed for the front door, puzzled.

But before he could even grasp the handle, the front door opened on its own.

At the same time, a familiar face came into view.

“It’s been a while since I visited this house.”

As the familiar beautiful voice rang out, Habert’s eyes went wide.

Then a faint smile rose to his lips.

“Young Master Kerbel.”

“I think I’m well past the age of being called young master. How long do you plan to keep calling me that?”

Kerbel grumbled as he pulled off the hood he had worn low over his head.

Habert, who naturally took his outer coat, answered with a smile.

“Then shall I call you master?”

“……No. Just call me what you always have.”

Kerbel waved his hand as if it were bothersome and stepped into the townhouse.

That was when it happened.

Hurried footsteps came from the stairs, and an excited Iden appeared.

“Habert! Habert! I just smelled the master somewhere……!”

Iden, who had been charging toward Habert, stopped short the moment he spotted Kerbel.

At the same time, he shouted loudly.

“It’s the master!”

“The fox cub has grown quite a bit since I last saw him.”

Kerbel tilted his head crookedly and stared at Iden.

When he spread his arms, Iden threw himself into them as if he had been waiting.

“I missed you, master!”

“Iden, you must mind your manners in front of the young master.”

Habert lightly scolded Iden, but there was a smile on his lips.

He too was excited by the rare reunion.

“I’ll prepare tea, so please wait in the reception room for a moment.”

“You remember my tastes, don’t you?”

“You ask the obvious.”

While Habert went to fetch the tea, Kerbel took Iden to the reception room.

Perhaps because he was happy to see his master after so long, Iden would not leave his side.

“Master, master, have you been well? Have you been eating properly?”

“Anyone would think you were my parent.”

Kerbel answered indifferently but did not push Iden away.

His bright red gaze rested on the top of Iden’s head.

“It seems you can control your ears and tail now?”

“Yeah! I’ve never let them out in front of Yvette even once!”

Iden, proudly boasting, suddenly paused and looked up at Kerbel.

“……Master, you’re not here to chase Yvette out, are you?”

When he asked cautiously, Kerbel let out a soft laugh.

“Why. Have you grown attached to that woman in the meantime?”

“She’s not ‘that woman,’ she’s Yvette.”

Iden, now separated from Kerbel, spoke with a frown.

At his fiercer reaction than expected, Kerbel smiled.

“I’m not planning to chase her out yet, so there’s no need to react like that already.”

“Then will you chase her out later?”

“Who knows. That depends on what that woman does.”

Just then, Habert returned to the reception room carrying tea.

“I put in plenty of sugar, just the way you always like it, young master.”

“It seems your memory hasn’t failed you in your old age.”

“That’s all thanks to you, young master.”

Habert smiled brightly and set the teacup before Kerbel.

Kerbel took a sip right away and continued.

“Has the Blanche child gone out?”

“……Didn’t you already know that before coming?”

“I knew. I just wanted to confirm.”

Kerbel set down his teacup and leaned comfortably back in his chair.

“That child came to see me not long ago.”

“You, young master?”

When Habert asked in a surprised voice, Kerbel nodded slightly.

“She seemed to know who I am. You didn’t tell her, did you?”

For a moment, Kerbel’s eyes turned sharp.

Habert, meeting his gaze calmly, shook his head.

“I have never once spoken about you, young master.”

“Right. There’s no way you would.”

Kerbel let out a deflated laugh, then turned his gaze to Iden this time.

Then he spoke.

“Surely the fox didn’t tell her, did he?”

“It wasn’t me! I didn’t say a single word!”