Noel, who got caught up in Rietaâs contract, hated being taken to the hunting grounds.
To counteract this, Noel used a slightly sleazy tactic.
He immediately ran to his father and told him that Rieta was about to leave for the hunt.
âShe may need to get some fresh air. Be careful when you go.â
ââŚWhat? Do you want her to go?â
Noel asked back in surprise, but the duke did not answer the same question twice.
Meanwhile, Rieta, who had finished her preparations, was coming down the stairs wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Snacks and drinks for Rieta were being prepared in the carriage.
Noel was very unhappy that the whole mansion was siding with Rieta.
âNoel, you havenât changed your clothes yet.â
Rieta looked a bit disappointed when she discovered Noel still in his previous clothes.
âIt doesnât matter what I wear. You will only stay in the tent anyway, and I will too.â
âBut I prefer Noel to dress nicely.â
Rieta considered Noelâs resemblance to the Duke as one of his  greatest qualities. He has to appeal to that point a lot when he first meets the female lead.
Rieta stared at him with a desperate face.
Then Noelâs eyes began to quiver.
âUh, thatâs not it.â
âNoel swore to be the one who knows my heart best.â
Noel nodded his head without hesitation.
âAh, alright. Iâll go change.â
He nodded his head again when she asked again with twinkling eyes.
He even found it funny because she wondered what was so good to get him to change clothes.
âYes, Iâll dress up until you will even fall in love with it. Is that enough?â
Yes, Iâm willing to do it if you want it so much. Noel shrugged his shoulders.
Rieta nodded enthusiastically when his attitude changed.
âYes. Comb your hair nicely⌠Oh, thatâs right. Donât forget the perfume, too? The one Darrell picked out for you before.â
âFine, fine. This nagging princess.â
âThen hurry up, Iâll be waiting for you here.â
Rieta pushed Noel on the back slightly, so Noel went back to his room a little embarrassed.
When Noel came out again moments later, Rieta struck her again
âI love it. Perfect!â
She hovered around Noel, pulling her dress.
âYou combed your hair well, itâs really nice.â
âDo I look nice for just a day or two?â
âOf course, Noel is always looking good. Besides, you smell really good now.â
Rieta slightly lowered her head near Noelâs arms and inhaled the subtle scent.
With her eyes closed, Rieta smiled slightly.
When the female lead is in his arms, she will definitely feel good when she smells this scent.
Meanwhile, Noel looked down at Rieta with strange eyes, as she was almost in his arms. He wondered if she was testing his reason right in the middle of the mansion.
âNo way, thatâs impossible.â
He quickly hid his itchy hands behind his back.
âAlright. Letâs go now.â
Rieta raised her head again.
Their faces turned towards each other.
Noel was taken aback, but he tried not to express it and took Rietaâs left hand.
âItâs nothing, Iâm just keeping my place.â
Noel responded in a polite manner befitting his fancy attire.
Soon Elisha approached from the other side. He was carrying things that Rieta needed.
Rieta raised her head and smiled at him.
âThank you to Elisha too.â
âI, too, am just keeping my place. Princess.â
âFor some reason, it feels very reassuring to have two people on my side.â
But Rieta had to recall what she had said in less than a minute.
They each occupied the seat on Rietaâs either side in the carriage.
When the row was seated with two large men, the seat soon became cramped. That three peopleâs shoulders touch.
ââŚExcuse me, why are we sitting so close to each other like this?â
Friendly answers came from both sides to Rietaâs question.
âDidnât you say I was reliable?â
âYou said I was reliable?â
But that was when theyâre outside, and now theyâre cramped inside a carriage and it was uncomfortable.
âWell, I wonder if it would be good for at least one of us to sit on the other side.â
Rieta tried to get herself up quietly.
But Noel and Elisha put her back in her seat almost at the same time.
âWhy is the sick person moving?
âYes, one of us can go.â
The two of them uttered similar words and began to stare at each other.
Something⌠The eyes seemed to be demanding something from each other.
âAre they insisting on the other to go?â
Rietaâs eyes were filled with doubt. The seat across from her was in the right direction, so it was actually a better seat than where Rieta was sitting.
âIt canât be helped.â
As their staring contest lengthened, Elisha pulled something familiar from his bag.
It was the playing card that had plunged Rieta into the pit of hell a moment earlier.