Chapter 68

“So please, Your Grace, you must never, ever think that way…”

As Agnes tightly held Dylan’s hand, she suddenly realized that every knight and servant inside and outside the training grounds was looking straight at them.

She hadn’t raised her voice, nor had she mentioned anything about the curse, so technically there was nothing wrong.

But when she thought about how this scene must look to others, her face grew hot. Especially her hand still wrapped around Dylan’s.

“Ah, I only meant to tell you not to worry. I’ll explain the details later. Please continue your training.”

Agnes quickly let go of his hand and clasped both of hers neatly in front of her waist.

Yet the sight of a noble lady coming in broad daylight to grasp her husband’s hand so earnestly had already been seen by everyone present.

As she instinctively tried to step back and retreat, Dylan caught her wrist gently and pulled her closer.

“My lady, if you leave like this, they will misunderstand even more.”

When Dylan stepped closer, the heat from his body, warmed by training, reached her skin. Agnes tensed and looked up at him, startled.

He moved his hand naturally from her wrist to rest just above her elbow, steadying her lightly.

“They are not staring because you were improper. If anything, they probably found the sight romantic and thought of you as a courageous woman.”

Dylan smiled faintly and gestured subtly toward the knights inside the training yard.

Only then did Agnes regain her composure and glance in their direction.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity and amusement, but there was no trace of disdain.

When their gazes met properly, several knights even placed their hands over their chests and bowed in respect.

“If you were to flee now, what do you think they would assume about me? They would believe that I turned away a brave woman who came to see me. For my sake, it would be better if you stayed and spoke a little longer.”

He leaned slightly toward her and lowered his voice, almost playfully. For a moment, Agnes thought his tone sounded unusually mischievous.

When she lifted her gaze in surprise, his pale blue eyes curved faintly.

But the expression vanished in an instant, like a mirage. Dylan was once again calm and composed, the gentleman she knew.

“Did you speak with the magician from the Imperial Magic Division?”

His serious question brought Agnes back to her senses, and she nodded quickly.

“Ah, yes.”

“Did it answer all your questions?”

“Not all, but at least the urgent ones.”

“Then among those urgent matters, I suppose there was something that allowed you to tell me not to worry.”

There it was again. His voice carried a faint trace of laughter.

Without realizing it, Agnes tilted her head slightly, studying his face. But all she saw was the same handsome and composed man as always.

“I’ll hear the details later. Though I think I’ve already heard what you most wanted to say.”

He released her and took a small step back.

“This should be enough.”

Dylan brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it before turning toward the training field.

“Thank you.”

A short phrase. He didn’t specify what he was grateful for, yet the simple words filled Agnes’s heart with warmth.

“You’re welcome.”

She replied quietly, then turned and left the training ground. Her steps were calm and graceful, the way a noblewoman’s should be.

But once she returned to the office and was alone, Agnes leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor.

She covered her mouth with her hand and drew in a shaky breath.

If she didn’t, some feeling she still couldn’t name might spill from her lips and never be taken back.

Curling in on herself, she patted her chest and tried to calm her pounding heart.

“This is just repaying a debt of kindness.”

She knew how strange it was to whisper to herself in an empty office, yet she couldn’t stop.

“Yes. There’s nothing improper about this.”

Agnes buried her face in her hands. After sitting motionless for a long while, she suddenly lifted her head again with renewed determination.

“His Grace mustn’t worry over needless things. That’s all there is to it.”

She repeated it again and again, as if convincing herself.

When she had rushed to him earlier, she hadn’t thought it strange at all. But now that she’d heard him thank her, her actions felt embarrassingly foolish.

She waved her hands as if fanning away the heat from her face, then sat down at her desk.

She needed to work, hard and without rest. Maybe then her heart would settle.

* * *

That very night, after Agnes had completely rationalized her earlier behavior, she calmly explained Noah’s examination results to Dylan.

“So, the beautiful gem Noah said he saw in your heart wasn’t part of a curse. It was the manifestation of magical energy. He can see anything related to mana.”

After hearing all the details she had learned from Louis, Dylan nodded in full understanding.

“In that case, if Noah visits the training ground again, don’t come running in alarm. I’ll handle it.”

He meant he would no longer avoid meeting or speaking with Noah.

Agnes was relieved. At least now Dylan had understood what she wanted him to know.

She wanted to tell him that Noah seemed worried about him too, but she stopped herself. It might sound like she was asking Dylan to care for the boy emotionally, and that was not his duty.

* * *

A week passed.

Noah had enjoyed his time with Louis so much that when the magician announced his departure, the boy burst into tears.

‘Magicians rarely find people who truly understand them.’

Agnes recalled Louis’s words and felt a little sad.

Noah only stopped crying after she promised, “Next time we go to the capital, we’ll visit the Magic Division. You’ll see Louis again then.”

Later that day, back in her office, Agnes began reviewing the invitations she had received from the northern social circles.

If Noah truly wished to become a magician, she had no intention of stopping him. Since the Overhen family had fallen in disgrace, it was better for him to pursue a different path.

But she didn’t want him to live his whole life among magicians alone. She hoped he would still have ordinary friends to talk to.

So she wrote letters accepting invitations from several noble families that had children around Noah’s age.

She wasn’t yet ready to host a grand gathering at the Vasteron mansion, but forming acquaintances among the northern nobles seemed like a good start.

After finishing her letters, she called for Gavelin’s opinion.

“Gavelin, I plan to send replies to these three families first. Baron Orwellin’s family, Viscount Tavella’s family, and Count Peridot’s family. Are any of them problematic?”

Gavelin scanned the letters, then cleared his throat softly before speaking.

“You chose them because they have children around the young master’s age?”

“Yes.”

“Then your choices are reasonable. Especially Baron Orwellin’s family, they are lively and have many children. The young master will make friends easily there. But Count Peridot’s family…”

Agnes frowned slightly. “Is there an issue?”

Gavelin hesitated, then sighed and nodded.

“Count Peridot’s family was once very close to His Grace. So close they were even called the Prince’s House in the past. If I recall correctly, their daughter once shared a brief engagement discussion with His Grace.”