Chapter 43

“Don’t worry, you look like a great Princess.”

“Really?”

“That’s right, you look great today.”

Rieta’s worries continued, even though he had pointed to her thumb and praised her.

Still, she seems to be worried that, as a Princess, she would lack dignity in front of her own people.

Even so, she was just a 12-year-old little girl.

“If you really don’t believe it, would you like me to put ‘Princess’ on your forehead in Imperial language?”

“Then, should I put ‘Young Master’ on Noel’s forehead in Kingdom language?”

The two laughed together while imagining pasting notes on each other’s foreheads.

And soon, a carriage arrived in front of the mansion.

Rieta ran all the way to the front door.

Despite the freezing cold, she hadn’t even worn a coat.

“Alicia!”

Rieta shouted happily before the carriage door opened.

It was unclear whether it was because of the cold or the excitement.

However, recently her cheeks, which had become a little round, had turned rosy.

Finally, the carriage door opened.

The rider carefully got off.

In a neat, but slightly old, outfit.

That must have been specifically chosen for their encounter with Rieta.

Alicia sometimes put so much value on manners, to the point of being strict.

“Princess.”

He immediately put down one knee and placed his forehead over Rieta’s hand.

It was a long tradition in the Kingdom, which meant ‘loyalty’.

“Alicia…”

“Yes, Princess.”

Alicia finally stood up, right in front of Rieta.

Rieta looked at her old friend with such emotion reflected in her eyes.

His beautiful dark black hair remained the same.

She thought he had grown a little taller.

“You’ve grown taller.”

Rieta was so glad to see Alicia and to be able to use her Kingdom language after such a long time.

It was amazing that they could have this kind of meeting at the Duke’s mansion.

“You’ve grown up too, Princess. You look prettier than anyone else.”

“D-do I? I don’t know…”

Rieta mumbled as if she were troubled by the statement and looked back having just remembered.

She needed to introduce Noel and Alicia to each other.

“Noel,”

Rieta called quietly, but Noel didn’t answer.

He looked completely embarrassed, as if he had been surprised by something.

“Noel, what’s wrong? Do you have a crush on Alicia?”

“D-don’t be ridiculous! What the hell is that!”

Noel was so embarrassed that he forgot to act as a ‘gentleman’ and started pointing fingers.

That is at Rieta’s guest, Alicia.

“He’s a boy!”

Then Rieta nodded, as if saying, ‘of course.’

“Yes, Alicia is a man. I told you.”

“You didn’t!”

“Is that so?”

“I just told you you didn’t?!”

Noel screamed in a flush.

“Well, I don’t know how you came up with that misunderstanding, but this is Alicia, as I said.”

After a calm introduction, she told Alicia about Noel in the kingdom’s language.

“This is Noel Mayer. He’s the second son of the Duke and  my friend.”

Alicia glanced at Noel.

Noel’s eyes still seemed to be staring at him. To the point where he began feeling a little discouraged.

“…..”

Alicia looked down from Noel, and soon bowed politely.

It was a great greeting, proper of a gentleman.

Sadly, Noel’s finger-pointing continued in the meantime.

“W-why is your name so p-pretty when you’re a man? You made me misunderstand!”

Rieta quickly interpreted Noel’s words.

“Noel thinks Alicia’s name is pretty.”

“Is that so? The Young Master from the Empire is generous with his praise. I like my name too. Thank you, Young Master.”

Rieta again told Noel what Alicia had said.

“Alicia thanked you for praising his name.”

“What? When did I?”

“You just said his name was pretty?”

“I meant who would pick such a name for a man in this world!”

“But Alicia’s grandfather was also named Alicia. He was a very very brave knight.”

Rieta repeated the same thing to Alicia in the kingdom’s language.

“Yes, I’m proud of my grandfather,” he said, placing his coat on Rieta’s shoulder.

“And please, be careful when you step outside, since winters in the Empire are very cold. Even for a short time. Because the Princess gets cold very easily.”

“Ah.”

Rieta touched the warm coat and smiled at Alicia.

“You’re still so sweet, Alicia.”

“It is not a big deal, Princess.”