Merry Christmas to all my readers! To celebrate, I’m treating you to extra chapter updates. Please enjoy this special release of four bonus chapters! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

(Lurelia’s Christmas Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before Christmas: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

After briefly observing him, Noel quickly lost interest and turned his gaze away.

“The conversation might be long, so please have a cup of tea first.”

As Viscount Magnus offered a teacup, Noel firmly shook his head.

“I’ll pass on the tea. Let’s get to the conversation.”

“……Very well.”

Viscount Magnus clenched his fist under the table before releasing it and smiled brightly.

“If you have any questions for me, please ask anything.”

“How is the investigation progressing? Are you tracking the traces left at the scene?”

“Currently, we’ve sent mages specializing in magic detection from the magic tower to investigate. As the traces are quite faint, it seems to be taking a long time.”

“Which means you haven’t found out anything yet.”

“The culprit of this incident is not an ordinary thief, but a mage. Naturally, the investigation is bound to be difficult.”

Viscount Magnus answered as kindly as possible, narrowing his eyes that were visible outside his mask.

“Have all your curiosities been satisfied?”

“No. There’s one more thing I’d like to ask the Viscount.”

Noel, who had shifted his posture slightly, continued as if he had been waiting.

“There’s a rumor going around that you paid off Baron Larishi’s gambling debts. Is that true?”

When Noel mentioned Baron Larishi, Viscount Magnus’s eye twitched slightly.

“……Haha. Where did you hear such a story?”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems to be true.”

“I didn’t pay off his debt, I just helped him once because the Baron’s situation was so pitiful.”

Viscount Magnus said firmly and sighed.

“To be honest with you, Duke, I’ve been having a headache because of that matter.”

“Why? Did something happen with the Baron?”

“Originally, I was supposed to receive the money by the end of this month. But Baron Larishi has been missing since a week ago.”

At those words, Noel narrowed his eyes.

“You mean you haven’t been able to contact him either?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

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

“I last met him at the party last week. That’s when I stopped him from attacking Count Blanche.”

“……What?”

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

“You saved my fiancée?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of this.”

“Oh my. It seems the Count didn’t mention it to you. She must have been quite shaken at the time, so it’s understandable.”

Viscount Magnus clicked his tongue as if regretful.

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

Noel silently stared at Viscount Magnus.

It didn’t seem like he was lying.

There was no reason for him to lie about something that could be easily exposed if he asked Yvette.

“……Did you see where the Baron went after that?”

To Noel’s question, Viscount Magnus nodded.

He still had a regretful look on his face.

“Yes. As soon as he saw my face, he fled in a hurry.”

“Didn’t you think of catching him?”

“At the time, I thought taking care of Count Blanche was the priority. She seemed quite shocked.”

As Viscount Magnus mentioned Yvette once again, Noel’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Viscount Magnus didn’t miss this reaction and took note of it.

“Come to think of it, I wonder if Count Blanche is alright. She must have had a hard time after that incident.”

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

Noel said curtly while staring at Viscount Magnus.

At this cold response, Viscount Magnus took a step back.

“I apologize if I offended you. I tend to be quite interested in others’ affairs.”

“Sometimes, excessive interest can be poisonous.”

Noel replied lightly as he stood up from his seat.

“It seems our conversation is over, so I’ll take my leave.”

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

Viscount Magnus, who also stood up, escorted Noel to the entrance.

He waited until Noel’s carriage departed, then called for a servant who had been waiting nearby.

“Leon.”

“……You called, sir?”

The servant who had brought the tea earlier approached quietly and bowed politely.

Viscount Magnus gestured for him to come closer, then spoke in a low voice.

“How is the condition of our guest in the basement?”

“When I checked earlier, he was asleep. Shall I go wake him?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Just make sure he doesn’t cause any disturbance from now on.”

“Understood.”

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

His reflection was faintly visible in the glass.

“……I don’t have much time left living with this face.”

Viscount Magnus traced his cheek with his fingertips.

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

How much effort had he put in over the past year to rectify his mistake?

The moment he had longed for was now just around the corner.

‘……By the way, that’s unexpected.’

Viscount Magnus slightly twisted the corners of his mouth as he recalled the recent conversation.

“I thought the engagement with that woman was just for show.”

From what he saw today, Noel seemed to care deeply about Yvette.

“An unexpected harvest.”

Viscount Magnus muttered as he smiled secretively.

***

“……After investigating, I found that Viscount Magnus also attended the party that day. There were a few witnesses.”

“Anyone who saw him with Baron Larishi?”

“No one. They say no one saw Viscount Magnus leaving the party either.”

As Sid shook his head, Noel clicked his tongue lightly.

“Did he use magic to slip out?”

“That’s highly probable. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense that there are no witnesses.”

“Keep watching Viscount Magnus. Report immediately if there’s anything suspicious.”

“Yes, understood.”

Sid finished his report and quietly withdrew, closing the door.

Noel stood up from his desk and walked to the window.

The sky had already darkened, tinged with dusk.

‘……I don’t know what I’m doing.’

Noel ran a hand through his hair, letting out a deflated laugh.

He had never been this involved in someone else’s affairs before.

But strangely, he kept finding himself intervening in matters related to Yvette.

‘She’s a woman who keeps me concerned.’

Noel tapped his fingers on the desk.

After learning about Yvette’s family situation, he couldn’t help but worry more.

He had experienced the emotions she was feeling a long time ago.

He wanted to ease her pain, even if just a little.

‘……Someone might think I’m really in love.’

Noel chuckled.

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

Among the pile of documents, a familiar handwriting caught his eye.

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

[To Noel,

As I promised before, I’ll make sure to keep the day you want free.

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

1. Is it really okay with just one day? No changing your mind later!]

Reading the letter, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

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

The contract he had written with Yvette was also in there.

“……Well, it’s not bad living like this for now.”

Noel muttered quietly to himself as he closed the drawer.