“Now to find Noel….”
Right at the moment when Irene, who struggled to clear her complicated mind, went back to the Count’s residence to find Noel…
“Irene!”
A familiar voice came from the hill. When she turned her head, her husband was running in her direction.
Irene could recognise the silhouette of him anywhere.
“Noel...”
“Irene, are you hurt anywhere? I heard it all from Louiselle. Why are you acting so reckless alone...!”
His voice was so intense that you could feel the urgency. Seeing that, Irene opened her lips and spoke apologetically.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“...no. It’s all right. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then that’s a relief. A carriage is parked nearby. Let’s go right there.”
Noel took her hand and spoke. Irene nodded and followed him meekly.
As Noel said, a black carriage was waiting not far away. Irene got into the carriage and took off her mask. Although it was winter, she wandered around so frantically that she was sweating profusely. But it was so rewarding.
“I found the necklace.”
Irene held out the sapphire necklace to Noel, who had taken off her mask.
“To my eyes, it just looks like an ordinary necklace. Is there something different in Irene’s eyes?” Noel asked, looking down at the necklace.
Irene smiled softly at his question and nodded.
“Yes. It’s pretty in my eyes….”
Irene looked down curiously at the blue energy flowing through the blue sapphire gems. It seemed to have the effect of lowering her burning body temperature. Besides...
My body is strangely full of strength.
Irene then understood why Riel wanted this necklace so much. It was because the moment she grabbed the necklace, her body, which had run out of stamina, was filled with strength.
A soft smile appeared on Noel’s lips, who was quietly watching Irene happily smiling.
♔♔♔
As soon as the two arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence, they immediately went up to the room.
“Louiselle, you worked hard.”
“No. I’ll be guarding the door. Talk for two minutes.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Louiselle left the room, Irene, who had been fiddling with her necklace, faced Noel.
It was Noel who broke the silence first.
“I heard from Louiselle,” he said. “What kind of conversations did Ascardo, and Chase have?”
At his words, Irene bowed in guilt.
“Sorry. because of me...”
“It is not for Irene to apologise.”
“But because of me, I got involved in a conflict….”
“…I have something to show you.”
At Noel’s sudden words, Irene looked at him with a puzzled expression. He soon took something out from under his arms.
“...what is this?”
What he put on the table was a bowstring that had been broken in half. The skeleton was broken, and the cord was broken. It was very old, and there were dark, unpleasant stains.
Irene looked at Noel in confusion, and after a moment’s silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice.
“…this is what my brother had before he died.”
“...Yes?”
Surprised by Noel’s words, Irene looked at the bow again. Upon closer inspection, the design of the Grand Duke was drawn.
But why does Noel have this?
Looking at him with his doubts, Noel let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.
“I found it in Count Rixis’ warehouse.”
“That means…”
“The one who killed my brother was Count Rixis.”
“...”
Having a heart attack and having physical symptoms were two completely different things. Irene pursed her lips in shock and looked at Noel worriedly. He was confused himself; she worried about Noel.
“Even if that is not the case, the dispute between Count Rixis and the Grand Duke Kristen is unavoidable as long as the evidence is available. Because Grandpa won’t just let it pass by.”
“Noel...”
“It’s just that the turmoil that will go down coincidentally involves you, so there’s no need for you to be sorry.”
Noel smiled as if nothing to worry about. But the more he reassured her. The more Irene could not hide her complicated feelings. She seemed to be a burden to him, and it seemed that she was a little relieved after hearing his words.
Irene clenched her fists.
“… I’m sorry, Noel.”
“Irene. I told you….”
“Anyway, I’m sorry.”
She was relieved for a moment, and her burden lightened a little.
She felt apologetic to him for being reassured and supported.
Irene buried the truth she could not convey in her heart. Noel, looking at Irene, got up from his seat and knelt down in front of her.
Irene’s eyes widened at his sudden action.
“If you are sorry for me, I am grateful.”