/
Everett, noticing Rieta’s gaze, said with a little smugness.
“It’s my pride.”
He fiddled with the little marble carefully.
“It’s something Grandmother gave to me.”
“She gave you the most precious thing.”
It’s an item that was left along in the portrait, so it’s probably an item that has a deep story to his grandmother.
“Right. My grandmother always loved me in any way possible.”
Regardless of means and methods.
His words were interesting, so Rieta laughed a little. On the one hand, she was also envious.
To be loved like that by their family


“I almost kept the princess standing here forever.”
He started walking down the hall again.
Maybe she noticed that Rieta was starting to think about her family.
“Oh.”
Then, in front of the tidy parlor they arrived at, he started talking as if he had just remembered something.
“Yes?”
“The male lead is also here. Princess.”
Male lead?
Rieta tilted her head slightly, and he smiled and opened the door.
* * *
Everett Hewitt had invited Rieta to the mansion because it was related to an event at the academy.
There, they regularly encourage various activities to develop students’ artistic literacy, including ‘theater’.
The students had to deal with everything related to the stage by themselves, and Everett Hewitt said he needed Rieta’s help here.
“Everett, the eldest son of the Hewitt family, Noel’s friend, and future member of the royal family, has asked the princess for help.”
Duke Mayer briefed her on the circumstances during tea time in the garden, and Rieta accepted.
Actually, she didn’t feel like it, but it seemed like the Duke wanted a positive answer.
Perhaps they were worried about Rieta staying at the mansion the whole time.
Because the Duke and Darrell weren’t free enough to take care of her deeply for all three weeks.
“Male lead?”
Rieta asked, turning to Everett before the door was fully opened.
She had, in fact, been told that he was doing plays, but she hadn’t been told which ones and with whom.
‘Could it be Noel?’
Rieta gave several reasons for her assumption.
At first glance, seeing Everett Hewitt dressed in such flashy clothes, it seemed unmistakable that he had took the title of ‘female lead”
So, the male lead has to play the role of a lover with him.
She could only think of Noel as someone who could be in such a position.
He was also Everett’s partner at the last banquet.
Rieta saw a man standing in the parlor.
He only looked pitch black like a shadow before the light came in.
“Princess.”
But Rieta knew his identity right away.
Thanks to that sweet voice.
“Long time no see, Hugh McLean.”
“It was a pity that I couldn’t see you for long last time.”
He immediately came over and knelt in front of Rieta.
As she held out her hand, his lips brushed over the back of her hand.
“You are as polite as ever.”
He lifted his head and smiled. It was a smile that seemed to have traces of his childhood.
“That’s right, because I have to pay my respects to you.”
To think that even the princess of a small country was treated like that.
“As expected, you’re the male lead.”
Rieta dared to voice her admiration, which she had had in her mind several times.
It’s not often that one gets a chance to say that ‘you’re the male lead’ to the male lead in person.
“I’m the male lead for practice.”
“For practice?”
“Yes, the real male protagonist is the Lord.”
He gently lifted the tattered script.
Fortunately, it was a script that Rieta knew well, and the content was a deep love story.
It featured a male lead who goes straight to the woman he loves despite family opposition.
Among them, the scene where he passionately confesses his love was a factor of its popularity.
“

 Noel is the male lead in the story?”
Rieta asked, forgetting that she had just thought, ‘I think Noel’s going to be the male lead.’
“Yes!”
Hugh McLean replied gallantly. With a face that was very proud of Noel.
“No one but the Lord can do such a wonderful lead.”
“Nonsense, anyone can see that it was cast for Hugh McLean! The donkey here is perfect for Noel!”
Rieta quickly protested as Everett took the deciding spot.
Hugh McLean, of course, did not agree with Rieta.
“No, that is nonsense! For the Lord to be a donkey. Besides, the only one in the world who looks at me like that is Princess Rieta.”
“No, what the princess said is also true.”
Everett quickly pulled out the tea sided with Rieta.
Does he have no employees to attend? Anyway, the tea he served was fragrant.
“Noel and Hugh. The academy was buzzing for a while about who should be the main lead. It was like a festival.”
Rieta opened her eyes wide, showing interest in the story.
She rarely hears stories about the academy.
“But how did Noel come to be?”
“No matter what, they couldn’t reach a conclusion, so an entire student vote was held. Please vote for your male lead!”
“It must have been fun!”
Everett replied with a giggling to the envious story.
“It was fun. For everyone except Noel and Hugh.”
“I also had fun. There aren’t many things I can do shoulder to shoulder with the Lord.