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 3/4 🎉)

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

***

On the day of Ruhen Academy’s 100th alumni reunion.

Yvette, who had finished getting ready early, stepped out of the mansion.

The outfit she wore today was the suit she had ordered from Berry.

The suit, consisting of a white shirt, black vest, and black pants, was neat and not too tight, making it comfortable to move in.

Gold embroidery adorned the pockets, sleeves, and collar.

It was a design crafted with care, stitch by stitch.

‘Since Ruhen’s reunion doesn’t have a specific dress code, it should be fine to go in comfortable clothes, right?’

To find Kervel today, she needed to move around actively.

But wearing a flowing dress would inevitably restrict her movements.

‘Well, who’s going to say anything to me? I’ll wear what I want to wear.’

It’s not like I’m the only one in the empire wearing such clothes.

Yvette shrugged her shoulders once and crossed Wheatley’s garden.

Not far away, a carriage was waiting.

“You’re as beautiful as ever today.”

As she approached, Noel, who was leaning against the carriage, greeted her with a gentle smile.

Somewhat accustomed to his compliments now, Yvette nodded.

“It’s all thanks to Berry making such a beautiful outfit.”

“That outfit is also made by Berry?”

“Yes. I saw Berry wearing it and thought it was so pretty, so I asked her to make one for me too. Isn’t it pretty?”

“It is pretty.”

Noel nodded.

Satisfied with his matter-of-fact response, Yvette smiled contentedly.

“Shall we depart now?”

“Let’s do that.”

As soon as the two settled in their seats, the carriage started with a rattle.

“It’s my first time going to Ruhen since graduation.”

As Noel muttered while looking out the window, Yvette’s eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never attended an alumni reunion until now?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t feel the need to attend.”

Noel replied lightly, turning his gaze to Yvette.

“……Then why are you going this time?”

Yvette asked, blinking her eyes. It was a question she had asked without much thought.

Noel didn’t answer immediately, slowly curling up the corners of his mouth.

Soon, a low voice resonated inside the carriage.

“Because you said you would go.”

For a moment, Yvette was at a loss for words and hurriedly lowered her eyes.

Her indiscreet heart began to pound.

‘What’s with that heart-fluttering line.’

No, it wasn’t the line that was fluttering, was it her face?

Yvette cleared her throat softly while keeping her head down.

Even knowing it was said without much meaning, she felt oddly embarrassed.

‘It’s not like he’s really going because of me.’

This alumni reunion was also the place where the original story began.

In other words, Noel would have attended even if she wasn’t there.

‘……Come to think of it, isn’t today the day he first meets Liliana?’

Suddenly, she remembered the content of the original story she had forgotten.

The original story, which starts from the male lead’s perspective, begins with the scene of Noel getting out of the carriage.

As Noel was getting out of the carriage, he bumps shoulders with a woman who suddenly appears, and that woman is Liliana, the female protagonist of the original story.

‘In the original story, Noel falls in love with Liliana at first sight.’

Yvette glanced at Noel.

Noel was staring out the window with his chin slightly resting on his hand.

Whenever the sunlight illuminated his face, it felt like looking at a masterpiece painting.

‘I wonder what Noel looks like when he’s in love?’

While curious, she also didn’t want to know.

Noel falling in love meant, in other words, that she would become a hindrance.

How many people would engage in skinship with someone else when they have a beloved partner?

At least, the Noel she knew wasn’t that kind of person.

‘But it’s not right to separate them just for my own sake.’

Yvette thought bitterly.

Regardless of the circumstances, she had no right to come between Noel and Liliana.

After all, wasn’t it written in the contract that they wouldn’t interfere in each other’s private lives?

‘……Let’s not think unnecessary thoughts. It’ll all be resolved once the curse is lifted anyway.’

Yvette forcefully swallowed her bitter feelings.

The reason she came to the reunion today was to find Kervel.

If she finds him and lifts the curse, there would be no problem even if Noel falls in love with Liliana.

After that, it wouldn’t be her concern anymore.

“We seem to be arriving soon.”

Just then.

As Noel opened his mouth, the carriage could be felt gradually slowing down.

Yvette lifted her head with a start.

Looking out the window, she could see a line of carriages stretching far ahead.

“There are really a lot of people.”

As she murmured in amazement, Noel smiled slightly.

“It’ll be incomparably more than the last party.”

“……Hearing that suddenly makes me want to go home.”

Yvette shook her head as if nauseated.

Noel chuckled and continued.

“If you want, we can turn back even now.”

“No. Since we’ve come this far, I should face it.”

Yvette said with a determined face.

At last, the carriage carrying the two of them came to a stop in front of the academy.

“Looks like we’ve arrived.”

As Noel stood up first, Yvette unconsciously gulped.

Love Your Destiny

As the beginning of the original story drew near, I suddenly felt nervous.

‘Now, is all that’s left to clash with Liliana?’

Noel, who got up first, opened the carriage door and stepped out.

Yvette didn’t immediately follow but counted to 3 in her mind.

However, contrary to her expectations, nothing happened outside.

‘…What? Has the original story changed?’

Yvette stared blankly at the carriage door.

‘I’m sure today is the right day.’

While she was confused, Noel suddenly poked his head into the carriage.

“What are you doing, not getting out?”

Yvette was startled and hurriedly got up from her seat.

It seemed she had waited too long for Liliana to appear.

“Ah, I’m getting out now! I was just fixing my clothes…”

She hastily gathered her belongings and got out of the carriage.

In her rush to move, she didn’t think to look around.

And so, the moment her feet touched the ground.

With a thud, Yvette collided hard with someone.

“Ouch…”

Yvette, who had fallen on her bottom, let out a small groan.

Her tailbone ached, as if she had fallen quite hard.

“Oh my, I’m sorry!”

A shadow fell over her as she was groaning.

At the same time, someone addressed her in a flustered voice.

“Are you hurt anywhere? It looked like you fell pretty hard.”

Someone extended a white, slender hand to Yvette.

Only then could Yvette properly see the other person’s face.

The person was a woman with strawberry blonde hair with a reddish tinge, and green eyes that seemed to hold the verdure of summer.

Though she had seen many beauties before, this woman stood out among them all.

You could say she had an indescribable aura.

Thanks to this, Yvette could immediately recognize who she was.

“Liliana…?”

As she cautiously called out the name, Liliana’s eyes widened.

She seemed very surprised.

“Oh my, you know my name?”

Good heavens. To think it was really Liliana.

Yvette hid her bewilderment and quickly got to her feet.

‘Why is Liliana appearing now?’

From the moment she confirmed that the person she collided with was Liliana, Yvette’s mind became a mess.

Unaware of Yvette’s circumstances, Liliana continued in a worried voice.

“You don’t look well. If it hurts a lot, should I go fetch a doctor now?”

Yvette, who had been staring blankly at Liliana, finally regained her senses.

“No, I’m fine, so don’t worry about it!”

Yvette shook her head hurriedly. Her bottom was a bit sore, but not enough to call a doctor.

“Just in case, make sure to see a doctor later.”

Still seeming worried, Liliana urged with a serious expression.

Just as Yvette nodded in agreement.

“If you’re done, why don’t you let go of that hand?”

Noel, who had been watching the situation from a step away, intervened between Liliana and Yvette.

He was looking at the hand Liliana was holding with a displeased expression.

Only then did Yvette realize that Liliana was still holding her hand.

“…Tch.”

A short clicking of the tongue was heard from somewhere.

Yvette hesitated and looked up.

She saw Liliana smiling brightly as if nothing had happened.

“I was so absent-minded, I was rude for a moment. I’m sorry.”

Liliana said this as she carefully let go of Yvette’s hand.

A fleeting disappointment passed through her green eyes, but only Noel noticed this.

“…Are you a student attending the academy?”

Noel, who had somehow wedged himself between the two, spoke up.

His gaze towards Liliana seemed quite askew.

“Thank you for thinking I look young, but I’m not a student, I’m a professor.”

Liliana burst into a short laugh and met Noel’s gaze.

Her smiling face exuded composure.

“…A professor? I’ve never seen you before.”

Noel said, narrowing his brows.

“I became a professor for the first time this year. So you might not know me.”

Liliana shrugged lightly and looked him up and down.

“Judging by your attire, neither of you seems to be students. Are you here for the alumni meeting today?”

“What if we are?”

“I was just on my way there too. We might as well go together then.”

“Why should we go with you?”

Noel asked in a cold voice. Liliana tilted her head as if wondering what the problem was.

“We’re going in the same direction anyway, aren’t we? Since we’ve met like this, let’s go together.”

Noel frowned deeply, apparently displeased with her answer.

However, Liliana didn’t seem to care whether he frowned or not.

“Is that not okay?”

Liliana’s gaze moved past Noel and fixed on Yvette.

As their eyes met, Liliana smiled dazzlingly at Yvette.

Seeing her eyes crinkle into a smile, Yvette couldn’t bring herself to say no.

“…Then let’s go together with Liliana.”

As Yvette reluctantly nodded, Liliana’s smile deepened.

“Well, it’s decided then. Let’s hurry and set off before it starts.”

Liliana gracefully walked over and stood next to Yvette.

She seemed to pay no attention to Noel.

“If you feel uncomfortable walking, let me know. I’ll support you.”

Liliana said this and gave Yvette a light wink.

And so, the three of them, an ill-matched combination, headed towards the party venue where the alumni meeting was being held.