Chapter 30

“Yes?”

“I thought the title was sorted out last time.”

“Ah, about that… … .”

Irene stumbled with a troubled face. Noel looked at her with a purely curious face. He seemed sharp at times, but he was insensitive in parts like this.

‘How can I call your name right away?’ – Irene thought to herself.

Among the nobles, calling by name means friendliness. This means that only family, friends, or lover can address them like that. However, she couldn’t have been able to call Noel by name soon after they had only met a few times. Especially, it even applies more to Irene, who is awkward in human relations.

“.……The Grand Duke also calls me Your Ladyship.”

Irene said, eagerly. It was an excuse. To escape from this situation. But, surprisingly, Noel turned serious at Irene’s words. Soon he nodded.

“That’s definitely right. It’s my fault.”

“No. That’s how it is ….”

“Irene.”

“….You too.”

When he uttered unannounced, Irene, who was pretending she was fine, looked at him dazedly. She never thought he’d call her name so suddenly. She was just making an excuse to hide her timidity.

“From now on, I will call you Irene, not Your ladyship. So please feel free to call me Noel.”

“Oh….that.”

“It will be easier to convince others.”

The name was called at once. It happened so abruptly that she didn’t have time to panic. Irene, barely distracted, nodded slightly.

“……Noel.”

“Good.”

When she finally brought out his name, Noel smiled lightly. Irene glanced at him. Like having achieved his purpose, Noel turned his gaze away from her with a satisfied face. However, Irene couldn’t take her gaze off him.

Noel.

She only called the name, but she somewhat felt close to him. It felt like he’s a little more on her side.

When Noel, who felt her stare, tried to look at her, Irene quickly turned and pretended to look out the window. But the effort was useless and translucent, as Noel’s figure was reflected on the window. She avoided Noel, but once again Noel was right in front of her.

Noel was looking at her already, meanwhile Irene was looking at Noel in the window. And she moved her little lips slightly as to mumble to herself.

Noel.

It felt like a spell. Surprisingly, her chest, quivering with tension, regained stability.

***

“Here it is. Take my hand and get off.”

When the carriage stopped in front of the main house of the Grand Duke of Kristen, Noel, who had already got off, reached for her. Irene did not make the same mistake as the first time. She raised her hand, and Irene, who barely got out of the carriage, struggled to swallow her exclamation.

The prestige of the Grand Duke of Kristen was only spoken in words, it was the first time she had ever seen it. The Countess of Chase is also a family that does not lag behind in the powers of his own, but it was incomparable to the Duchy of Kristen. From the other side of the line of field sight to the end, a huge mansion was filled.

Nervous, Irene swallowed her saliva.

‘What should I do if I make a mistake?’ Worry rushed over her.

“It’s fine.”

At that time, as if reading her mind thoroughly, Noel appeased her . Irene looked up at him with her tense face. Nonetheless, Noel had a casual expression. Rather, he soothed her with his calm smile.

“Before you came, my situation was already the worst. There is no need to rush.”

“…Noel.”

“So there’s no way you can make it more difficult or embarrassing. You just need to do your best, you do you, just as I do. That’s enough.”

It’s amazing.

Her body, which was trembling with tension, gradually found its calm. Breathing with ease, her vision narrowed to him. The pressure that had been pressing on her since entering the great mansion, had long disappeared.

“Therefore, you don’t have to blame yourself or overdo it. Irene.”

His sweet voice seemed to permeate her ears and spread all over her body. Irene nodded her head. And only then she could face him with a smile.

“Thank you, Noel.”

Noel smiled quietly at her words.

* * *

As Noel and Irene stepped into the main building together, a man approached as if he was waiting in advance. He was a man with modest green hair and emerald eyes. Irene could recognize him at once. Last time, it was this man who handed the envelope to Irene and her father as well as dragged Boris out.

“Welcome.”

“Tom. Is grandfather inside?”

“Yes, but…….”

Tom looked at Irene with an anxious face. Although the tension was obvious, Irene could not feel the gaze as she was staring at the door before her. Perhaps, beyond that door is the Great Kristen.

“Because the great Kristen is still silent…”

“He’s always been.”

Noel replied as if he had gotten used to it and glanced at Irene. Noel, who saw her face, was a little staggered. Tom’s expression also became strange.