Chapter 26

“From your reaction, it seems it’s true.”

“I didn’t pay off his debts. I simply helped him once because the baron’s circumstances were so pitiful.”

Viscount Magnus spoke flatly and let out a sigh.

“To be honest with you, Duke, I’ve been troubled by that matter as well.”

“Why? Did something happen with the baron?”

“He was supposed to repay the money by the end of this month. But Baron Larishi vanished about a week ago.”

At those words, Noel narrowed his eyes.

“So you can’t reach him either?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then when was the last time you contacted Baron Larishi?”

“I last saw him at the party last week. That was when I stopped him from attacking Countess Blanche.”

“……What?”

The moment Viscount Magnus mentioned Yvette, Noel’s expression turned cold.

“You’re saying you saved my fiancée?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Oh my. It seems the Countess didn’t mention it. She must have been out of her mind at the time, so that’s understandable.”

Viscount Magnus clicked his tongue as if in regret.

“I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t been there.”

Noel silently stared at Viscount Magnus.

He did not seem to be lying.

There was no reason to lie about something that would be exposed the moment he asked Yvette.

“……Did you not see where the baron went after that?”

At Noel’s question, Viscount Magnus nodded.

He still wore a regretful face.

“No. He fled in a panic the moment he saw my face.”

“Couldn’t you have caught him?”

“At the time, I thought seeing to Countess Blanche came first. She seemed quite shaken.”

When Viscount Magnus mentioned Yvette once again, Noel’s eyebrow twitched minutely.

Viscount Magnus did not miss it and took note of the reaction.

“Come to think of it, I wonder if Countess Blanche is all right. She must have had a hard time because of what happened then.”

“I don’t think that’s something for you to worry about.”

Noel spoke flatly and stared at Viscount Magnus.

At his cold response, Viscount Magnus drew back a step.

“I apologize if I offended you. I’m simply far too interested in other people’s affairs.”

“Excessive interest can sometimes be poison.”

Noel retorted lightly and rose from his seat.

“It seems our conversation is finished, so I’ll be going.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you as soon as there’s any progress.”

Viscount Magnus, rising as well, saw Noel to the front door.

He waited until the carriage carrying Noel had departed, then called for the servant waiting nearby.

“Leon.”

“……You called for me.”

The servant who approached quietly bowed politely.

He was the same servant who had brought the tea earlier.

Viscount Magnus beckoned him closer and lowered his voice.

“How is the guest in the basement doing?”

“When I checked a little while ago, he was asleep. Shall I go wake him?”

“No, there’s no need for that. See to it that he doesn’t make a fuss going forward.”

“Understood.”

As Leon left the room, Viscount Magnus quietly turned to the window.

His reflection showed faintly in the glass.

“……Living with this face won’t last much longer.”

Viscount Magnus traced his cheek with his fingertips.

As if touching the hide of a beast, the surface of his skin felt rough.

Over the past year, how much effort had he poured into reversing his mistake?

The moment he had longed for was now close at hand.

‘……Anyway, that was unexpected.’

Viscount Magnus recalled the conversation from moments ago and subtly twisted the corner of his mouth upward.

“I thought the engagement to that girl was merely a façade.”

From what he had seen today, Noel seemed to care for Yvette a great deal.

“An unexpected harvest.”

Viscount Magnus muttered that and smiled secretly.

* * *

“……After investigating, it seems Viscount Magnus also attended the party that day. Several people witnessed him.”

“Was there anyone who saw him with Baron Larishi?”

“No. No one saw Viscount Magnus leave the party either.”

When Syd shook his head, Noel clicked his tongue lightly.

“Did he use magic to slip away?”

“That’s highly likely. Otherwise, it makes no sense that there would be no witnesses.”

“Keep watching Viscount Magnus. Report to me immediately if anything suspicious comes up.”

“Yes, understood.”

Having finished his report, Syd closed the door and quietly withdrew.

Noel rose from his desk and headed for the window.

The sun had already set, and the sky was turning dark.

‘……I don’t know what I’m doing.’

Noel swept a hand through his hair and let out a deflated laugh.

He had never involved himself so deeply in another person’s affairs before.

Yet strangely, when it came to matters involving Yvette, he kept stepping in.

‘She’s a woman who weighs on my mind.’

Noel tapped the desk lightly with his fingertips.

After learning of Yvette’s family circumstances, he could not help but care even more.

Because he too had experienced those feelings long ago.

He wanted to ease that pain, even a little.

‘……Anyone would think I’m actually in love.’

Noel let out a soft laugh.

His gaze, which had been wandering in the air, suddenly turned to the desk.

There, among the piled-up documents, a familiar handwriting caught his eye.

It was the letter Yvette had sent a few days ago.

[To Noel.

As promised, I’ll make sure to clear my schedule on whatever day you want.

It’ll be my turn to cheer you up then, so don’t even think about spending money.

P.S. But are you really all right with just one day? No changing your mind later!]

As he read the letter, a smile rose to his lips on its own.

Noel carefully folded the letter and placed it in his desk drawer.

Beneath it was also the contract he had written with Yvette.

“……Well, for the time being, things aren’t bad like this.”

Noel muttered to himself as he closed the drawer.

* * *

The day of Luhen Academy’s 100th alumni reunion.

Having finished dressing early, Yvette stepped outside the townhouse.

The outfit she wore today was the suit she had ordered from Veri.

Consisting of a white shirt, a black vest, and black trousers, the suit was neat and did not cling too much, making it easy to move in.

Gold thread embroidery adorned the pockets, sleeves, and collar.

It was a design into which care had been sewn stitch by stitch.

‘They said Luhen’s reunion has no dress code, so I should be fine wearing something comfortable, right?’

To find Kerbel today, she would have to move around busily.

But wearing a trailing dress would inevitably restrict her movements.

‘Well, who’s going to say anything to me? I’m wearing the clothes I want to wear.’

It was not as if she was the only person in the empire who dressed like this.

Yvette shrugged once and crossed Witley’s garden.

A carriage was parked not far away.

“You’re as beautiful as ever today.”

As she approached, Noel, who had been leaning against the carriage, smiled brightly and greeted her.

Yvette, now somewhat accustomed to his compliments, nodded.

“It’s all thanks to Veri making the clothes so beautifully.”

“Did Veri make that outfit too?”

“Yes. I saw what Veri was wearing and thought it was so pretty that I asked her to make me one too. Pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s pretty.”

Noel nodded.

At his answer, which came as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Yvette wore a satisfied smile.

“Shall we get going now?”

“Let’s.”

As soon as the two settled into their seats, the carriage rattled into motion.

“This is my first time going to Luhen since I graduated.”

When Noel muttered while looking out the window, Yvette’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never attended a single reunion until now?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“I simply never felt the need to attend.”

Noel answered lightly and turned his gaze to Yvette.

“……Then why are you going this time?”

Yvette blinked and asked. It was a question she had thrown out without much thought.

Noel did not answer right away. He slowly curled the corner of his mouth upward.

Then a low voice rang through the carriage.

“Because you said you were going.”

For a moment, Yvette was at a loss for words and hurriedly lowered her eyes.

Her oblivious heart pounded loudly.

‘What is this. That heart-fluttering line.’

No—it’s not the line that’s fluttering. Is it his face that’s fluttering?

Yvette kept her head down and cleared her throat softly.

Even knowing it was a meaningless remark, she felt oddly embarrassed.

‘It’s not as if he’s really going because of me.’

This reunion was also the place where the original story began.

Which meant that even if she had not been here, Noel would have attended.

‘……Come to think of it, isn’t today the day he first meets Liliana?’

Suddenly, forgotten content from the original work came to mind.

The original story, which begins from the male lead’s perspective, starts with the scene of Noel stepping down from a carriage.

As he steps down, Noel bumps shoulders with a woman who suddenly appears, and that woman is none other than the original female lead, Liliana.

‘In the original story, Noel falls in love with Liliana at first sight.’

Yvette glanced at Noel.

Noel was resting his chin lightly on his hand, gazing out the window.