Chapter : 11
Charlotte’s first impression when seeing him up close was clear.
“More beautiful than her portrait.”
It was a plain, unbiased evaluation.
One thing was certain: in that moment, Alfonso felt as though he understood why society both feared and admired the villainess of Noah so greatly.
Charlotte possessed an atmosphere that captured one’s gaze—something beyond mere physical beauty.
He couldn’t tell the reason.
Was it her vivid red hair, standing out even in the darkness?
Or perhaps that cold expression, as if she despised everything in the world.
‘She had that same expression the entire time she was dealing with Melia.’
Thinking of how Charlotte had been smiling brightly and chatting warmly in the banquet hall, it felt completely different.
And yet—why was it that cold expression that suited her better?
‘Perhaps because, for someone so cunning, she lacks malice.’
But if that were all, Alfonso would never have spoken to Charlotte.
He would have simply turned around and returned to the banquet hall as though he had seen nothing.
From the beginning, Alfonso’s purpose had only been to confirm whether Charlotte truly had been sabotaging his marriage proposals.
More importantly, Charlotte was exactly the type of person Alfonso disliked the most.
‘Cunning people inevitably destroy themselves.’
Selfish people destroyed only themselves.
Malicious people dragged one other person down with them.
But cunning people dragged everyone around them into ruin.
That was why they were the worst kind.
The wisest choice was to avoid such people entirely.
Thus Alfonso had no intention whatsoever of becoming entangled with Charlotte.
At least—until he heard the conversation between Charlotte and Melia.
“Are you really not going to do anything? No threats… nothing?”
“That’s right. If you ask me that one more time, I’ll assume you want me to threaten you.”
“N-no, that’s not it… I’m just worried you might change your mind later, Lady Noah. This is important to me. Why do you only want the engagement cancelled?”
Melia’s gaze was resolute.
It looked as though she was prepared to get slapped if necessary, as long as she heard the answer she needed.
Charlotte must have sensed the determination in that gaze, because she let out a somewhat annoyed sigh.
“I can’t explain in detail, but… let’s just say it’s because of love.”
Melia’s eyes widened.
“L-love…?”
“Why? Am I not allowed to love someone?”
“N-no! I was just curious what kind of person the one you love is.”
“He’s a good person.”
Charlotte’s answer was short, but her voice was softer than before.
Did she realize?
That while speaking about love, she wore a smile like the petals of a magnolia blossom.
“Someone very gentle… soft-hearted by nature. Someone nothing like me…”
Like someone homesick speaking of their hometown, Charlotte’s voice carried a trace of longing.
Perhaps it seemed even more so because of the faint smile on her face.
“It sounds like you really love him, Lady Noah.”
“I do.”
“But if you love someone… why the marriage proposal…?”
“It’s my family’s command. I have no choice. A family order is absolute.”
As if asking whether all of Melia’s questions had been answered, Charlotte’s expression turned cold again.
As though that tender face from moments ago had been a lie.
Strangely enough, however, that brief moment changed Alfonso’s mind.
But still—
“…Perhaps she hates me now.”
At Alfonso’s muttered words, Ludvik—who was heading toward the carriage—tilted his head.
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“…Nothing.”
“I see. By the way, Arno is probably going to laugh his head off when we return.”
“That can’t be helped. I was rejected—I can’t pretend I wasn’t. Anyway, prepare the fourth proposal.”
Alfonso replied indifferently as he climbed into the carriage.
“Understood. Should I proceed in the usual order this time as well?”
“No. I have someone in mind.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that, Your Excellency. May I ask who?”
“Charlotte Noah.”
The moment the answer ended—
Thud.
The carriage door slammed shut.
“Ah—someone good—wait a minute! Your Excellency? Did I hear you correctly?”
“Be quiet. Depart.”
“Noah?! Noah?! Are you serious?! Your Excellency?! Your Excellency!”
Ludvik urgently knocked on the carriage door, but Alfonso had already closed his eyes.
Only Ludvik’s unanswered cries echoed pitifully through the night.
* * *
The moon hung high in the sky.
Charlotte returned to the mansion and leaned against the door, catching her breath.
She was still wearing her uncomfortable formal clothes, but she had no time to worry about such things.
‘I don’t even remember how I got back here.’
The reason was obvious.
Alfonso’s sudden proposal.
“Please marry me, Lady Noah.”
The moment she realized what those words meant, her thoughts froze.
No—her heart dropped.
When she first heard Alfonso call her name earlier, it had felt like facing a towering wave.
But this time felt different.
It was like standing at the edge of a sheer cliff.
She couldn’t keep her expression from twisting.
Her words came out before reason could intervene.
“…That kind of joke is unpleasant.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t joke. Everyone says I’m bad at it.”
I know. I’ve told you the same thing myself before.
“Then there’s even less reason to talk. You already rejected the proposal Noah sent.”
“And after I did, someone kept sabotaging all the following proposals. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be easier to simply accept the offer?”
“If that offended you, I apologize. I won’t interfere anymore.”
“I’m not blaming you. Didn’t you say family orders are absolute?”
Then—
“Or is it because you love someone?”
At Alfonso’s words, Charlotte—who had been speaking rapidly like a wound-up music box—suddenly fell silent.
She didn’t even need to ask how he knew.
Her conversation with Melia immediately came to mind.
“…So you heard everything.”
“You should be more careful of your surroundings next time.”
Alfonso said it without even attempting to deny it.
Because of that, things Charlotte had forgotten about Alfonso surfaced in her mind.
‘Right. He’s more shameless than he looks.’
She had forgotten because he behaved so honestly most of the time, but this man was a noble to his very bones.
Someone who naturally held the upper hand.
He was always polite, so it wasn’t obvious—but when necessary, there was no reason he couldn’t be shameless.
And if she continued talking with him, she would only be drawn further in.
“How rude. I don’t see any value in continuing this conversation, so I’ll be leaving. I won’t interfere with your marriage proposals anymore.”
Charlotte left the place as if fleeing, never relaxing her expression even until the end.
Fleeing.
A word that had probably appeared fewer than ten times in her entire life.
But she had no choice.
There was nothing else she could think to do.
‘Alfonso isn’t the type to joke.’
He wasn’t someone who would say something like that out of anger, impulse, or whim.
Which meant there was no need to reconsider.
That proposal had been sincere.
Charlotte had no time to remain in shock.
‘Once was enough for Alfonso to become unhappy by marrying me.’
If she failed to make him happy again this time, then the meaning of sacrificing her life to turn back time would be lost.
Thankfully, there was one saving grace.
The fact that Alfonso wanted to marry her had not yet reached Noah.
The proposal had been exchanged secretly in the empty garden.
‘If Father hears about this, it’s over.’
The current Charlotte could not defy Dominic.
She couldn’t die without making Alfonso happy.
At least within Noah, Charlotte was powerless.
‘…In that case, there’s no other choice.’
She stopped in front of a door and took a small breath.
Then she knocked.
Soon the darkness shifted and the door opened.
“Coming to see me at this hour, Charlotte.”
The face revealed was both extremely familiar—and deeply detestable.
Her half-brother, Quincy Noah, who always looked at Charlotte with affectionate eyes.
Even when she demanded answers about Alfonso’s death, he had worn that same expression.
Just remembering it made her feel as though maggots were writhing in her stomach.
But she had no other option.
“Quincy. I need to talk to you.”
Charlotte opened her mouth as if swallowing poison.
If this poison killed her, Alfonso would surely be pleased.
She repeated the thought she had once had while drinking the potion the alchemist gave her.
