“I am Yvette Blanche of the Blanche Count’s family. I’ve come to see Noel, I mean, Duke Averon…”

Yvette spoke with difficulty, mustering all her strength.

She had thought her physical condition was not good even while riding in the carriage.

Standing in the sunlight made her head spin.

‘It wasn’t this bad even before my birthday.’

Damn curse. Damn Kervel.

Yvette clenched her fist, inwardly cursing the mastermind whose face she didn’t even know.

“I’m sorry, but you cannot enter without a prior appointment.”

However, regardless of her circumstances, the guard was extremely firm.

Yvette bit her lip in frustration, feeling her insides burning up.

‘What should I do? It’s too late to make an appointment by letter now… But if I stay like this, I might die.’

It was then, as she was fidgeting anxiously.

An unfamiliar voice addressed her in a friendly manner.

“Oh? Aren’t you that young lady from before?”

“What brings you here, my lady?”

The one who spoke to Yvette was a young knight with brown hair and amber eyes.

Yvette couldn’t help but hesitate at the unfamiliar face.

‘Is this someone who knows me?’

Judging by how he greeted her first, they seemed to be acquainted.

Unfortunately, she didn’t recognize the knight at all.

As Yvette just blinked silently, the knight slightly frowned with a look of realization.

“Ah, you don’t remember. I’m the one who brought you clothes that day…”

“Oh, I remember now.”

Yvette nodded hastily.

As soon as she heard the word ‘clothes’, she could guess who he was.

‘So this person knew my face.’

She had thought he wouldn’t have seen her face since Noel sent him first.

‘Wait. Does that mean he also knows what happened that day?’

As soon as that thought occurred to her, her ears grew hot involuntarily.

Yvette cleared her throat unnecessarily and turned her head.

Even that simple movement made her dizzy.

“Seeing you here, it seems you’ve come to see His Grace.”

Noticing her embarrassment, the knight tactfully changed the subject.

His smiling face was quite likable.

“If you wish, I can guide you to His Grace.”

“Sir Blur!”

When one of the guards raised his voice in protest, the knight raised an eyebrow and turned to him.

“What?”

“Outsiders cannot enter without permission. Sir Blur, you know that’s the rule.”

“I know. That’s why I’m taking her in. This young lady is not an outsider to our Duke.”

At those words, the guards exchanged bewildered glances.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. I’ll vouch for her.”

“If Sir Blur insists…”

As the guards stepped back, the knight turned to Yvette with a grin.

By then, Yvette’s complexion had grown even paler.

Seeing her face that looked like she might collapse at any moment, he widened his eyes.

“Oh my, we should get you inside quickly.”

He furrowed his brow and extended his hand to Yvette.

“If you’ll allow me, I’ll support you to the mansion.”

“Thank you. Please do.”

Yvette was in no state to worry about appearances.

Literally, she felt like her life force was draining away with each passing moment.

As soon as she gave permission, the knight immediately took Yvette’s hand and placed it on his shoulder.

Then, as if lifting a feather, he effortlessly picked her up.

‘I’m sure he said he would support me.’

This wasn’t support, but a princess carry, wasn’t it?

Yvette’s thoughts ended there.

The moment she was lifted by the knight, she lost consciousness.

***

“…so what did…”

“Did the doctor… mention…. cause?”

“Well…”

Murmuring voices. She could hear people conversing softly above her.

Yvette opened her eyes with a grimace.

Her vision was blurry, probably from having her eyes closed for quite a while.

Yvette blinked several times until the scene before her became clear.

“Oh, I think she’s opened her eyes?”

One of the voices conversing above her head announced her awakening.

Then, a face that seemed familiar suddenly entered her field of vision.

“Are you conscious?”

Yvette blinked slowly.

As her blurred vision cleared, a familiar face was revealed.

“…No, el?”

Her voice cracked at the end as if it had become hoarse in the meantime.

Yvette cleared her throat softly and raised her upper body.

Although her head spun with the sudden movement, it wasn’t as severe as before.

As her body swayed, Noel instinctively reached out.

“Be careful.”

He supported Yvette’s upper body to prevent it from collapsing and placed several soft pillows behind her back.

“…Where am I?”

Yvette slowly blinked after leaning against the pillows as he instructed.

Her mind felt hazy, as she wasn’t fully conscious yet.

“I heard you collapsed, so I had you moved to my bedroom.”

Noel answered briefly, placing his hand on Yvette’s forehead.

His hand felt relatively cool because her body was feverish.

“How are you feeling?”

“…I’m not sure.”

Yvette answered as concisely as possible.

Her mouth was too dry to speak at length.

As she clutched her throat and frowned, Noel immediately gave an order.

“Sid. Bring water right away.”

“Yes, sir!”

The knight called Sid moved hurriedly as soon as the order was given.

‘So that knight’s name was Sid.’

If it weren’t for Sid, she might have been lying on the bare ground by now.

Thinking she must thank him later, Yvette turned her gaze back to Noel.

“Tell me if anything hurts. I’ll call for a doctor.”

Noel said as he removed his hand from her forehead.

As the cool sensation disappeared, Yvette unconsciously let out a regretful sigh.

Just then, Sid returned with water, right on cue.

“Here, I’ve brought cool water.”

Sid, who had brought an entire pitcher, poured water into a glass.

Yvette took the glass from him and drank it without hesitation, gulping it down.

‘Ah, now I feel a bit more alive.’

After drinking the water, her scratchy throat felt much better.

“…Thank you, Sir Blur.”

Her voice, now clearer, flowed from between her lips.

As she expressed her gratitude, Sid playfully winked one eye.

“Please, call me Sid. For a beautiful lady like yourself, I could do this much any…”

“Your small talk is getting long, Sir Blur.”

Noel, who had been quietly observing, spoke in a warning tone.

Sid then glanced at him and quietly stepped back.

“Haha. Then I’ll take my leave before I get scolded by the Duke. I wish you a speedy recovery, my lady!”

With that cheerful farewell, Sid exited like the wind.

At last, only Noel and Yvette remained in the bedroom.

‘What should I do now?’

Yvette quietly observed Noel’s expression.

She had originally come to tell him about the curse.

But now that she was about to speak, the words wouldn’t come out.

‘He won’t think I’m crazy, will he?’

To suddenly hear from someone you barely know that you’re their destined partner.

Even if she were in the opposite position, she’d probably be bewildered.

‘But I can’t help it. What can I do about being cursed?’

Yvette swallowed a sigh.

Either way, if she didn’t want to die, she had no choice but to get Noel’s help.

“You look like you have something to say.”

At that moment, Noel broke the silence first.

At his words that hit the mark, Yvette lightly bit the tip of her tongue.