Chapter 17

After Madame Emily came, Rieta went to visit Noel.

Knock, knock.

When she knocked, she heard a sound that could have been a grunt or an answer.

“Noel?”

She opened the door carefully and looked inside, seeing Noel lying on the bed.

“Why are you here?”

When asked bluntly, Rieta just smiled awkwardly. She came to apologize.

The weather was very nice today, so Noel decided to show Rieta, who was always cooped in her room, the garden.

Of course, it was to play in the garden. That’s how nine-year-olds naturally live.

Even though the two children couldn’t communicate well, the ‘hate of loss’ was a wonderful connection.

There was an infinite amount of competition.

Who is faster, who finds the bigger one. Who can…..

…Climb higher.

Noel said he recommended climbing trees first, but it actually started with the tacit consent of the two.

It wasn’t until later that Rieta learned all the blame fell on him. That he got hurt more than she thought.

That was why she was here now.

Rieta thought even though she couldn’t help the sub-male lead of “The Survival of an Ordinary Lady,” she was worried that he might have gotten an ugly scar.

“How’s the clothes? Uh, I mean. Clothes! Madame Emily.”

“Yes, it’s pretty.”

“Well, of course.”

Everything would look pretty compared to Rieta’s shabby clothes.

“Excuse me.”

“What, why?”

Rieta slipped out her hand to Noel.

“How much does it….hurt?”

Then she pointed her thumb at me and named it as “big” and “small” at her little finger.

Like he did in the kitchen not too long ago.

“What, are you copying me like that day?”

Noel snorted with laughter.

It was kind of cute to think that Rieta was imitating him.

She must have been amazed by Noel’s intelligent method of communication.

“Big. It’s so hurt that it’s killing me.”

He grabbed Rieta’s thumb and shook it cheerfully.

“……”

However, Rieta’s expression was still not good.

She looks worried when he says he’s really sick.

Maybe he shouldn’t say this?

“Just kidding. It’s actually here.”

He moved one space from her thumb to her middle finger, as if with a good conscience.

“….Well, to be honest, it’s here.”

And eventually, he grabbed her little finger.

Then Rieta asks the next question.

“Did you get in trouble?”

It was an unexpected question. Noel looked surprised for a moment.

“Did my father scold you?”

Rieta nodded and reached out her hand again.

As if she was asking him to tell her how much he was scolded.

“It’s a bit vague.”

For now, he grabbed Rieta’s middle finger.

The Duke told him about the ‘mindfulness of dealing with a lady’.

But he didn’t think he was very angry.

Or should he say that he looked happy?

But he doesn’t know the reason.

“Anyway, it’s alright.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. And I’ll show you tomorrow the rest of the garden you didn’t see today.”

“But Noel is sick?”

“I said I’m fine!”

He jumped up from his seat.

Actually, his body hurt a little from the shock of catching Rieta.

….It hurt his pride to be sick for a day just because he caught a squirrely little girl.

“Tomorrow, whatever happens, we’re going to the garden! Tomorrow! Garden!”

He did make a promise like that.

The next day it rained with thunder and lightning.

Noel’s arm ached a bit, so he secretly was relieved of Rieta.

******

Less than a week later, Madame Emily visited the Duke.

In fact, there was something the Duke had asked her to do.

Soon, Rieta would attend her first social event, so the dress had to be completed as soon as possible.

As she changed into her new dress, Rieta warned Noel in advance not to laugh.

However, when Noel saw Rieta in an imperial dress, he was almost rolling on the floor with amusement.

Rieta Liz was finally freed of her shabby clothes.

Even just imagining it was hilarious to him.

*****

There were two sets of clothes that Rieta tried on.

At first, she tested casual wear, a soft shirt and comfortable pants.

Rieta looked down at her body slightly darkly. It was a little awkward to move because it was her first time dressing in such a simp since she was born in this world. Pants were difficult to wear if they didn’t fit well, so she never had a chance to try them on so far.