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unedited
It seemed like he was trying to pretend to be cute, but in Noel’s eyes, it was just a sight he wished he could put away.
“Since a beauty like me accompanied Noel, I wondered if Princess Rieta would be jealous.”
“You are funny.”
Noel groaned and turned his head away.
“What do you mean a beauty? Besides, Rieta wouldn’t blink an eye even if I came with a real beauty.”
Then he bit his lip lightly.
Come to think of it, Rieta had been like that from before.
Because she used to say that she always wished his kindness was directed towards other women besides her.
“Oh, is that why you’re angry? That Princess Rieta wasn’t jealous?”
“You are misunderstanding something strange. No matter how comfortable I put it, Rieta is still a princess.”
Noel’s brow narrowed. Jealousy, what?
Rieta was a princess. She is from a kingdom in crisis, full of serious problems.
“Even if it’s not so, do you think a princess with complicated circumstances will have time to care about aristocrats from other countries?”
“But Princess Rieta must have personal feelings as well. That and this are separate.”
What personal feelings? That person is a patriot who only has the Kingdom of Liz in her head!
Noel tries to talk about how much Rieta loves her country, but he just decides to stop.
For some reason, he didn’t want to talk about Rieta right now.
“

 It’s okay, I’m tired.”
He just closed his eyes.
Everett said something more to him, but Noel didn’t even listen. He just wanted to get inside the blanket as soon as possible.
Maybe he’ll kick the blanket a few times.
[“

 I like him. I love Noel very much.”]
Playboy princess. Confusing people.
Wouldn’t anyone misunderstand if she said that with that face and expression?
‘I will never be fooled again.’
Noel quickly suppressed a certain sincerity that was about to be revealed.
* * *
Gabriella sent a letter to Rieta one last time before leaving the capital.
The next time she returned was autumn, so it was a kind letter telling Rieta to stay healthy until then.
Rieta also sent a friendly reply to this.
She wants Princess Gabriella to come back healthy and happy. But that wasn’t what Rieta really wanted to say.
Actually, she wanted to write these words.
‘The next time you return, you’ll be with the female lead.’
Of course, she couldn’t really write such a thing, so she had to think it in her mind to herself.
After that, Noel was also focused on the academy’s schedule again, so he couldn’t get in touch with Rieta.
Prior to the female lead’s appearance, Rieta wondered if she should at least tutor him on the wonderful lines of play that captivates someone’s heart.
She wrote letters to Noel from time to time.
She sometimes suggests that they have tea together or go to a play.
Noel always replied to Rieta’s request, but unfortunately, all he could give was a refusal.
He seemed very busy.
‘Then I can’t help it.’
Just because Rieta called him didn’t mean she was free.
She, too, was receiving daily lessons from the most elite professors assigned by the Duke.
Rieta’s schedule was busy with only the review, preparations, and assignments.
In addition, whenever she hears BB’s story, who visits secretly from time to time, Rieta even studies difficult books the professors have not yet recommended.
When she returned to Liz, she might not be able to find a book that contained such profound knowledge, so she had to learn as much as she could and understand it all, or at least memorize it.
Knowledge and reality are different, but without knowledge, nothing can begin.
As Rieta spent more time delving into her studies, her sleep time naturally began to decrease.
Darrell, who closely watched her life, teased her Rieta by saying, “You look like a researcher at the Academy of Sciences who is obsessed with books.”
Anyway, she didn’t hate her current life.
Except that she rarely talks to Noel.
After such a rainy season, a very hot summer has begun.
Rieta’s schedule continued to be intense.
The maids would often say, ‘The smell of paper and ink never falls off the princess,’ and whenever that happened, Rieta laughed happily.
For some reason she felt that she was doing the right thing.
Then one day.
The Duke invited Rieta to tea time.
This time, not inside the mansion, but under a specially made tent in the garden.
“Duke.”
Rieta, unaware that there was ink on the sleeves of her dress, ran to where the Duke had called her.
“Princess.”
He bowed politely and greeted her just as he did when they first met.
“I was surprised that you called me so suddenly.”
Wanting to stop the Duke who was trying to apologize by saying he was sorry, Rieta quickly added another word.
“Of course, I was always happy to wait for the time to be with the Duke.”
Then she smiled and sat down at the seat he had offered.
The unevenness of the floor made the slight wobbling feel interesting.
Soon a cold drink was placed in front of her Rieta.
To her delight, Rieta quickly covered her glass with both her hands.
‘It’s cool.’