As soon as she left, the young ladies nearby swarmed around Noel as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Yvette thought to herself that this was indeed the popularity befitting a male lead as she headed towards the tea room where various drinks and refreshments were prepared.

Unlike the crowded hall, there weren’t many people in the tea room.

As she entered, the nobles who were already conversing inside gave her curious looks.

Yvette lightly ignored their gazes and picked up a cool drink.

Judging by the tangy aftertaste, it seemed to be a lemon-infused beverage.

‘I feel alive again.’

Yvette held the glass in one hand while pressing her lips with the other.

Perhaps due to forcing so many smiles, she felt like her face might cramp if she smiled one more time.

It was then.

“Yvette.”

A familiar voice resonated from behind her.

Simultaneously, a strong hand grasped her shoulder.

“…Uncle?”

“I have something to say to you, come with me quickly.”

Yvette guessed who it was the moment she heard the voice.

However, before she could say anything, Baron Larishi dragged her out of the party hall.

She could see the surrounding nobles glancing at them, but no one stepped forward to stop Baron Larishi.

They all merely watched the situation with interested eyes.

‘What’s going on here?’

Yvette stared at her uncle with a bewildered expression as she followed him.

Baron Larishi, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, looked much thinner than before.

The area around his eyes was dark as if he hadn’t been sleeping well, and his skin looked rough.

However, Yvette didn’t feel any particular emotion seeing her uncle in such a state.

“If you have something to say, say it here.”

By now, the two had left the party hall and were passing through a deserted corridor.

Seeing the dim surroundings with barely any proper lighting, Yvette suddenly came to her senses.

Instinctively, she felt that she shouldn’t follow any further.

Yvette finally planted her feet firmly and stopped in place.

When she resisted and stopped following, Baron Larishi turned around irritably.

Soon, a grating voice flowed from between his rough lips.

“If you don’t want to tarnish the Blanche name, stop talking back and follow me.”

“…It seems that it’s not me who’s tarnishing the Blanche name, but you, Uncle.”

Yvette let out a hollow laugh and roughly shook off Baron Larishi’s hand.

Perhaps he had grown weaker, as Baron Larishi stumbled back powerlessly.

Looking at her stumbling uncle, Yvette spoke coldly.

“Even if we’re relatives, you shouldn’t touch someone’s body without permission. Isn’t that something a noble should know?”

At her pointed remark, Baron Larishi’s shoulders visibly flinched.

“Noble. A noble…”

Baron Larishi slowly raised his head to face Yvette.

An inexplicable madness had settled in the gaze that was once kind.

“If only you weren’t here, I could have lived like a proper noble…”

Baron Larishi muttered as if talking to himself. At the same time, his blank expression suddenly contorted.

“If only you weren’t here…!”

Without warning, Baron Larishi stretched out both hands towards Yvette’s neck.

Faced with this sudden attack, Yvette instinctively stepped back.

However, Baron Larishi was one step faster.

Where he suddenly got such strength from, Baron Larishi pushed Yvette towards the wall.

“Ugh!”

With a ‘thud’, she felt a dull pain in her back.

Yvette let out a short groan at the pain she had never experienced before.

“I should have done this from the beginning.”

Baron Larishi muttered as he choked Yvette’s neck.

His eyes were already unfocused.

‘This person is not in his right mind.’

Just a little further from here was the party hall full of people.

Yet he was attacking her so openly.

It was something only a fool would do.

“Let… go!”

Yvette struggled with all her might to escape from Baron Larishi’s grip.

However, Baron Larishi didn’t budge.

It felt like he was possessed by something, with overwhelming strength.

As she gradually felt her strength fading away, it happened.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

With a ‘bang’, the hand choking her suddenly disappeared.

It all happened in an instant.

“Cough, cough.”

Yvette clutched her throat and coughed repeatedly. As she inhaled all at once, she felt dizzy.

Turning her gaze to the side, she saw Baron Larishi lying on the floor.

Judging by his stillness, he seemed to have fainted.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

As a gentle voice fell from above, Yvette belatedly looked up.

Only then did she see the person who had saved her.

“You could have been in danger if I wasn’t here.”

The one who helped her was a man with snow-white hair, half his face hidden behind a mask.

Yvette stared at the man blankly.

‘Why does he seem familiar?’

As their eyes met, the man smiled brightly. A bright yellow eye shone vividly between his eyelids.

“Seeing as you’re silent, it seems you’re quite shocked, my lady.”

When she didn’t respond, the man shrugged awkwardly.

Yvette finally came to her senses, albeit a beat late.

“Ah, thank you for helping me.”

“I only did what any gentleman would do. I’m glad the beautiful lady wasn’t hurt.”

Unlike his overly gentle voice, the man’s eyes sharply scanned her.

Yvette felt a chill at the stark contrast.

‘What a strangely unpleasant person.’

His attitude was clearly kind, but there was an inexplicable sinister atmosphere that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Yvette straightened her clothes and tried to compose her expression.

“Um, I don’t know your name… What should I call you?”

After all, he was her savior, so it seemed right to at least know his name.

However, the man’s response made Yvette freeze.

“My name is Albert Magnus. Please call me Viscount Magnus.”

“…Viscount Magnus, you say?”

“Yes. You might have heard of me before.”

Viscount Magnus nodded with a smile. Yvette followed suit with an awkward smile of her own.

‘Of course. I’ve heard of you.’

You’re the second craziest character after Kervel in the original story, how could I not know?