Like last time at his mansion, and this time too.

This moment of being alone with her wasn’t as unpleasant as he had thought.

It was then.

Yvette, who had shown no signs of approaching, suddenly moved.

As the rustling of the bedding grew louder, Noel unconsciously held his breath.

‘……I’m not a child. Why am I holding my breath?’

Even as Noel chided himself, he still couldn’t open his mouth.

Finally, Yvette’s face came close enough to almost brush his nose.

‘Bolder than expected.’

He had thought she would back away, saying she couldn’t do it.

For a moment, Noel felt a strong urge to open his eyes. He was intensely curious about what expression Yvette was making right now.

However, Yvette didn’t allow him even a moment’s gap.

Chu.

Soft skin touched his cheek, not his lips, and then withdrew.

Noel furrowed his brow at the sensation that passed like a breeze. For a moment, he couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

“After a hug, it’s a kiss on the cheek, of course.”

Before he could open his eyes, a proud voice was heard above his head.

Lifting just one eyelid, he saw Yvette smiling brightly.

Noel let out a wry laugh.

‘She got me.’

He opened his eyes fully and muttered in a somewhat grumpy voice.

“Anyone would think we’re the same age as that boy we met earlier.”

“Why? Holding hands or hugging, those are all things kids do too, you know.”

Yvette answered confidently, shrugging her shoulders.

Seeing her look so pleased with herself, he suddenly felt the urge to tease her.

“……There’s one fact you’re forgetting.”

“What? What did I forget?”

Yvette asked with her eyes wide open.

Her expression showed that she had no idea what he was talking about.

Instead of answering, Noel leaned towards Yvette again.

Surprised by the suddenly narrowed distance, Yvette’s eyes grew larger.

Noel smiled gently while taking in Yvette’s appearance.

“That it’s not your job to initiate skinship, but mine.”

With that short murmur, he kissed Yvette’s cheek and pulled away.

Caught off guard by the unexpected skinship, Yvette could only open and close her mouth without saying anything.

Perhaps due to the shock, she couldn’t even produce a sound.

‘What just happened?’

Yvette hurriedly covered her face with both hands.

Her face was already flushed red, so there was no point in pretending not to be flustered.

She had kissed him on the cheek to try and fluster Noel in her own way.

She never expected to receive it back like this.

“My fiancée seems to have frozen.”

Only after hearing his low chuckle did she finally come to her senses.

“W-who wouldn’t be surprised when you suddenly kiss them?”

“I wasn’t surprised, though?”

Noel tilted his head shamelessly.

It was obviously a lie, but Yvette, who had no way of knowing that, just pressed her lips shut.

‘He’s teasing me.’

She stood up abruptly, vowing that she would definitely make him flustered someday.

“…If we’re done here, let’s go now.”

As she turned her head away sharply, Noel put on a pretend hurt expression.

“How cruel. Did you meet me just for this from the beginning?”

As he recited his lines as if acting, Yvette raised her chin haughtily.

“You knew everything when you met me too, Noel. Don’t pretend you didn’t know now.”

As she grumbled but still played along, a faint smile appeared on Noel’s lips.

“Your acting has improved a lot since I last saw you.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Noel.”

Yvette answered primly, gesturing towards the door with her eyes.

“Let’s get going now. If we stay too long, Philia will misunderstand.”

“Wasn’t she already misunderstanding?”

Noel replied lightly as he approached Yvette’s side.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t told you that yet.”

Just before leaving the bedroom.

Noel casually leaned against the doorframe, blocking Yvette’s path. As he kept dawdling and wasting time, Yvette slightly furrowed her brow.

“What else are you going to say?”

“There’s a party hosted by the Marchioness Theron in two weeks. Would you like to go there with me?”

“…So suddenly?”

As Yvette asked back with a surprised face, Noel tilted his head as if wondering what the problem was.

“Isn’t two weeks enough time to prepare?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

I’m not mentally prepared yet.

Yvette bit her lip, swallowing the rest of her words.

She had never attended a party since her possession.

Let alone dancing, she didn’t even know how to properly converse with other nobles.

‘It’s not like I can call for an etiquette teacher at this point either.’

She was worried that she might just end up embarrassing herself if she went.

“Don’t think too hard about it. If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll take care of it.”

As if he knew she was worrying, Noel murmured in a voice softer than usual.

Yvette reluctantly nodded in response.

“…Alright then.”

Yvette heaved a deep sigh inwardly.

It seemed she would have to study etiquette on her own during the remaining time.

***

“…I’ll definitely pay you back by next month. So, for the sake of our friendship, couldn’t you help me one last time?”

In a room where darkness had settled deeply.

Baron Larishi was kneeling on the floor, looking more haggard than before.

And opposite him sat Viscount Magnus, with an unreadable expression.

“That’s the third time you’ve said that. I sympathize with your situation, but I can’t just help you recklessly because we’re friends.”

Viscount Magnus sighed, stroking his chin. Even in the darkness, his yellow eyes shone brightly.

“I heard you have some inheritance left by your brother. Am I mistaken?”

“That money all went to my niece. She came of age this year…”

Baron Larishi bowed his head deeply.

Originally, he had planned to find Yvette and reclaim the Blanche fortune.

But all his plans went awry when Yvette got engaged to Noel Averon.

If it had been someone else, it might have been different.

But an engagement to Duke Averon, whom even the Emperor couldn’t treat carelessly.

No matter how desperate he was, meddling with Yvette now would be tantamount to suicide.

“Ah, that’s right. You did have a niece. Yvette Blanche, wasn’t it?”

Viscount Magnus nodded slightly as if he had just remembered.

“I heard she’s engaged to Duke Averon.”

“That’s right. Duke Averon is a rich man, as you well know. If you could give me one more chance, I’ll try to talk to my niece and get some money…”

Baron Larishi seized the opportunity to plead with Viscount Magnus.

He had managed to hold on until now, but his gambling debts were snowballing as time passed.

Soon, he wouldn’t be able to pay his servants’ wages, let alone feed himself.

Viscount Magnus was the only person around who could lend such a large sum at once.

So he had to get his help by any means necessary.

“I’ll do anything you want. So please, just once more…”