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“It’s kind of surprising. That Noel?”
“That’s it.”
“It is understandable that Princess Rieta is dazed.”
“I, I don’t really care.”
“For that, you look like you’re really angry.”
“Th, that!”
Because Noel will soon find someone he will love for the rest of his life.
The only regrets are that it would have been better if he had saved the first kiss for that time.
Of course, Rieta has no right to say anything like that.
“. . . I just don’t like men who kiss lightly.”
“Lightly?”
“I think it’s because he spoke about it lightly.”
“Did he say that to Princess Rieta casually? For example . . . ‘I kissed someone.’ Like that?”
“It’s almost the same. How could that be? That’s insensitive.”
“Well, it sure seems insensitive.”
Princess Gabriella stroked Rieta’s hair and offered her consolation.
Rieta didn’t know why she was the one needing the consolation though.
The Princess was exceptionally kind to Rieta.
She didn’t realize when she received that kindness, but as she later returned to the mansion, she thought about it.
. . . Did she misunderstand?
That Rieta has a crush on Noel, or something like that?
Rieta, who was riding in the carriage, had a bad look.
Uh . . . If that was the case, it would be troubling.
The next time we meet, I’ll have to tell her for sure.
She didn’t think of Noel as a romantic partner.
They had been living together for a long time, so they were practically brother and sister.
It would be difficult if that was misunderstood.
If Princess Gabriella considered Rieta and did not introduce Noel to the female lead, she would be in trouble . . . eh?
“Oh no!”
Rieta jumped up from the carriage, startled by the conclusion.
Thud!
She slammed her head into the ceiling of the carriage at that moment, and soon fell back onto the chair, clutching her head.
She hit her head pretty hard, but she didn’t feel any pain.
For now, he must have been pretty good.
How hard has it been for her to make Noel’s image as a gentleman to the Princess until now!
Now he was a gentleman who kissed without thought.
Princess Gabriella will advise the female lead to avoid Noel, in order to protect the female lead.
“Haa . . .”
As she lay down on the chair and sighed, the small sliding window on the coachman’s seat opened.
He was worried about that thump and opened it perhaps.
“Are you okay, Princess?”
When the coachman asked, Rieta replied sadly with her head resting on the chair.
“I am stupid . . .”
“It’s okay. You’re not going to turn stupid by banging your head in the carriage ceiling.”
“No, I am stupid.”
Why did she ruin something she’d been working on for so long.
This was all because of her carelessness.
“You will feel better when you go back to the mansion and eat something delicious.”
The coachman, who did not even know her circumstances, gently consoled her.
“. . . I don’t know.”
That may make Rieta feel better, but Noel’s already shattered reputation will remain as it was.
Rieta prayed that the appointment ceremony, where she could meet Princess Gabriella again, would come soon.
* * *
The appointment ceremony was quite an important event in the Empire.
It was the day that the new knights who would dedicate their lives and fates to the Imperial family would make their vows.
In gratitude for their service, the Imperial family used to hold the largest banquet.
Not forgetting to prepare for the people outside the palace as well as inside the palace, so they could enjoy it together.
Thanks to this, the streets of the capital were overflowing with people, and Rieta looked at their happy faces with envy.
No, she was envious of just looking at the leftovers on their table.
According to the story BB gave Rieta, it seems that there was no such thing as ‘leftover food’ in certain villages.
“Princess.”
Did Rieta’s emotions show on her face?
Elisha, who was sitting opposite her, spoke anxiously.
He was wearing a new suit that Sir Jenkins had prepared for him. The unique stiffness of the new fabric remained, and made it look even more neat.
“Elisha, you look great.”
Rieta praised him to divert the topic. But she wasn’t lying to escape the situation.
The suit that fell smoothly over the trained body was really cool.
Elisha’s parents would be very proud if they saw this.
“Oh, right. Elisha.”
Rieta clapped her hands as if thinking of something.
“Yes.”
“Do you often exchange letters with your parents?”
“I sent them a few times right after I came to the Empire. But for now, we have agreed to stay in touch with each other only when something very serious happens.”
“Something serious?”
“In this case, it means something related to life and death.”
At that extreme content, Rieta stammered the words unknowingly.
“That, that means you hardly ever exchanged letters!”
“Yes. We concluded that for the sake of the Princess’ safety, it would be better to do so.”
“My . . . safety?”
“Yes, shouldn’t the Princess return safely to the kingdom?”
Did that mean that someone in the Kingdom had the potential to harm Rieta?
. . . In that case, they might be able to spy on Elisha’s letters.
Because of the letter’s nature, the security may not be perfect.