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“Um, then.”
Noel smiled as he received a card with a lot of acorns on it.
“It means I can do as I please with Princess Rieta until the day of the banquet.”
Rieta couldn’t even refute that arrogant statement.
“. . . I wanted to do whatever I wanted with Noel.”
“Is that going to happen? You idiot.”
Noel didn’t try to flick Rieta on the forehead as usual.
At least he knew that he shouldn’t hit a patient.
“Then, firstly, listen to me, Rieta.”
The situation was hopeless, but Rieta couldn’t have been more stubborn.
Because there was no justification for that.
If she knew it would be like this, she would not have offered the bet.
“. . . Say it.”
Rieta swallowed the humiliation and bowed her head.
Then Noel squeezed her chin lightly and made her stare at him.
Perhaps he wanted her to see the elated expression on his face.
This smug guy.
Rieta cursed him in her heart and furrowed her brows.
Did that expression make him more happy?
The grinning smile looked even more happy.
“Put me next to you.”
“Uh…”
Rieta couldn’t even properly answer that unpleasant thing.
Then he demanded more insistently.
“All the time.”
“You’ll always be by my side… all the time?”
“Yes.”
Rieta’s face contorted slightly.
That was a little tricky. No, it was very difficult.
Only then would Noel be able to meet the female lead, and if that happened, Rieta’s efforts for the past few years will be in vain.
What to do?
She sighed and grabbed her hair.
It was fine even if it was just for a while, so she had to find a way to get Noel and the female lead to meet.
If he ever met her, he would definitely forget Rieta in no time, and be swept away by the female lead completely.
“What are you thinking about so intently?”
“That is . . .”
Rieta pondered how to convince him until the very end.
“No matter what Princess says, I will never leave your side. So don’t use any unnecessary measures.”
Noel laughed like a prankster.
“Hey, Noel… really?”
At that time, a good idea passed through Rieta’s head.
“What?”
“That you will never be apart from me.”
“It is. You don’t trust me that much?”
Rieta stared into Noel’s face and smiled.
“. . . !”
That pretty smile forced Noel to turn his gaze away from her, blushing slightly this time.
Unaware of his surprise, Rieta excitedly continued her words.
“Then will you swear? ‘Noel Mayer will be Rieta Liz’s hand!’”
“What??”
Noel’s voice grew louder at the absurd suggestion.
As expected, she knew he would fall for it.
Rieta smiled once more.
When the time finally came for Noel to raise his right hand and swear.
Elisha, who was standing quietly behind them, spoke in a serious voice.
“I am the one who becomes Princess’ hand. Please rescind that oath, Princess and Lord Noel.”
“Well… I don’t really have any intentions of wanting to become the Princess’ hand.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The two nodded their heads at the same time as they agreed on their own accord.
Those two are strangely on good terms.
Rieta pondered over what to say to Noel to swear.
“Rieta.”
“Uh, huh?”
“I will be the first to know your will.”
“…?”
“I will be there whenever you need me.”
He spoke in the Kingdom language.
With very solemn eyes.
If someone who did not know the Kingdom language saw it, it would have looked as if he had sworn eternity.
“Yes, thank you Noel.”
Rieta nodded her head, and she gladly accepted his heart.
“Then can you lift me up?”
Rieta held out her left hand to Noel, and he accepted.
Fortunately, it was good that he wasn’t overprotective enough to carry her like Elisha.
And she gave Elisha an order.
“Elisha, anyone is fine, call a maid whose hands are empty.”
“Yes.”
As he quickly disappeared, Rieta looked back at Noel.
“Noel.”
“What?”
“Can you go and change your clothes and come back?”
“Don’t worry, the academy’s clothes aren’t particularly uncomfortable.”
“No, I mean for you to dress nicely. Brush your hair a bit. Like the one you wore the last time you went hunting with the Duke. It was cool because you looked dignified.”
Noel was overjoyed whenever Rieta told him he was dignified or cool.
But as long as the word ‘hunting’ appeared before it… He just wouldn’t like it.
“You, don’t tell me.”
Noel glared at Rieta with eyes full of suspicion.
Just in time, Elisha had brought Rieta’s maid.
“Sorry for calling you when you’re busy.”
Rieta looked up at Noel, smiled and ordered the maid.
“I’m going out to the hunting grounds. Please help me get ready.”
“. . . What?!”
Noel’s mouth fell open.