***

Noel Averon waited with his arms crossed for the door in front of him to open.

In his hand was the dress that the knight had just delivered and left.

Finally, after a brief wait, the firmly closed door opened.

And through that gap, the face he had been staring at all night appeared.

“Where’s the dress?”

Yvette asked him, poking only her head out.

Her sky-blue eyes were full of wariness.

“Here.”

Noel uncrossed his arms and showed her the dress he was holding.

“Are you going to change in there?”

At his question, Yvette widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“I just asked in case. If you want, I can close my eyes.”

Noel chuckled and held out the dress to Yvette.

Yvette tried to snatch the dress by just extending her arm.

However, Noel stepped back slightly before her hand could reach it.

“…What are you doing?”

Yvette asked in bewilderment, seeing him suddenly a step further away.

Seeing her frown, Noel calmly spoke.

“Really, did you not know I was Duke Averon?”

Yvette furrowed her brow at the unexpected question.

“Don’t tell me you’re upset because I didn’t recognize you?”

“Of course not.”

Noel shook his head, flatly denying it.

“I was just curious. You’re the first person to act like this even after knowing who I am.”

Normally, people would have immediately fallen to their knees upon learning he was Duke Averon.

But Yvette was only flustered, not trying to treat him with respect due to ‘Duke Averon’.

“W-well, that’s.”

Yvette flinched at his observation.

Her gaze wavered uncontrollably, then she quickly spoke.

“…We s-spent a night together! We’ve shared time together, so wouldn’t it be too cold to act so formally?”

With just a door between them, Yvette earnestly laid out her excuse.

“But if it makes you uncomfortable, I can show proper etiquette right now…!”

“No. Just continue as you are.”

Noel, who had been quietly listening to her, spoke.

“This is refreshing, and not bad at all.”

He smiled and handed the dress to Yvette again.

Yvette, looking back and forth between him and the dress, carefully reached out her hand.

Noel waited until she grasped the dress before lowering his arm.

Then, with an inscrutable expression, he said.

“Change and come out. I’ll be waiting.”

***

‘…It looks more expensive than I thought.’

Back in the bathroom, Yvette let out an admiring sigh as she looked at the dress Noel had given her.

The high-necked dress had an overall bluish tint.

Although it didn’t have any fancy decorations or patterns, the fabric was soft and thick.

It was perfect for wearing in the chilly autumn weather like now.

Yvette checked if the door was properly closed, then quickly changed her clothes.

At first, she worried it might not fit, but surprisingly, it fit perfectly as if tailored.

‘…This should be fine, right?’

After a final check of her appearance, Yvette opened the bathroom door.

Noel, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, smiled slightly and said.

“The dress seems to fit well.”

“Yes. Fortunately, it fits perfectly.”

Yvette nodded.

“By the way, I don’t see the knight who brought this dress?”

Seeing Yvette looking around, Noel said.

“I just took the dress and sent him back. I thought it might be uncomfortable to meet in this situation.”

“…Ah.”

Yvette paused at those words.

Right. I caused an incident with this man.

As she recalled the forgotten fact, her face flushed hot.

Yvette fanned her face with one hand, quickly changing the subject.

“Um, can I pay you back for the dress later? I only have enough for transportation right now…”

“There’s no need to pay me back.”

Noel shook his head.

“I bought it for you anyway, so consider it a gift.”

“But it looks quite expensive…”

As Yvette trailed off, Noel slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

“If it really bothers you, you can pay me back with something other than money.”

“…Something else, like what?”

For a moment, many imaginings flashed through Yvette’s mind.

As if he had noticed what she was thinking, Noel calmly added.

“It’s nothing difficult. Just tell me your name.”

“…My name?”

Yvette pondered for a moment.

‘I guess it’s okay to tell him my name?’

After all, they probably wouldn’t meet again after today.

Noel had also told her his name, so it seemed impolite for her to keep hers a secret.

Finally making a decision, Yvette nodded slightly.

“My name is Yvette Blanche.”

“…Yvette.”

Noel softly recited her name.

“I’ll remember that name.”

Noel nodded with a smile.

Even though he just smiled, it felt dazzlingly bright.

‘As expected of the male lead, he’s unnecessarily handsome.’

If he wasn’t the male lead, she might have tried to seduce him right then and there.

But this was Noel Averon.

He wasn’t someone a mere extra like her could dare to pursue.

“…Well then, I’ll be going now. My family will be worried.”

Yvette spoke after a moment of silence.

She had changed clothes. Now it was really time to part ways with him.

“Shall I take you home?”

“No, I can go by myself just fine.”

Yvette hastily waved her hands, rejecting his offer.

She wanted to escape this situation as soon as possible.

“Thank you for the dress, I’ll wear it well. Then, goodbye!”

With those words, Yvette fled from the inn.

She quickly went out to the street and hailed a passing carriage.

“Please stop here for a moment!”

***

‘I survived.’

Finally riding a hired carriage, on the way back home.

Yvette leaned against the wall languidly, slowly recounting the events that had happened to her.

‘…What kind of extra life is this eventful?’

Suddenly possessing a character in a novel.

Spending a night with the male lead while drunk.

It was hard to believe all this had happened within a week.

Yvette, having barely calmed her mind, looked out the window.

Only now that she was alone did reality slowly start to sink in.

‘From now on, what should I do?’

She had never thought about the future since becoming ‘Yvette Blanche’.

That’s because she thought she was going to die anyway.

As a result, she didn’t have any particular plans for how to live from now on.

‘…For now, should I go home and think about it slowly?’

Yvette blankly watched the passing scenery.

Until yesterday, she had envied people living ordinary daily lives.

But in just one night, she too could now enjoy an ordinary life like them.

‘I’m alive, aren’t I?’

Yvette, who had been fixing her gaze out the window, closed her eyes.

She had thought nothing could be more unrealistic than possessing a character in a novel.

But now, the very fact that she was alive and breathing felt like a dream.