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nI have to get used to it.

nNot to take the glory herself, but for someone else to give it to her in a certain form.

nSuch a form will further solidify the position of the Emperor.

nTo make her realize it, the Emperor completely trampled on Gabriella’s hopes today.

n“I . . . understand.”

nThe answer she gave in the cracked voice was, in fact, close to resignation.

nBeing a ‘good Emperor’ was also her dream, so she had no choice but to accept it.

nEven if it was something that burdened her very nature.

n“Put it deep in my heart, make sure . . .”

nNevertheless, she couldn’t bear to say ‘make sure that never happens again’.

nHad she not wanted that?

nThe Emperor patted her head and stepped forward again.

nBut Gabriella stood still.

nSoon the attendants following her Emperor passed by.

nAfter some time passed, she was left alone.

nGabriella chewed on the Emperor’s words several times.

nAnd when a few minutes have passed,

n. . . That’s it.

nShe understood everything perfectly.

nCome to think of it, her father never even stepped in to achieve anything.

nHe made and provided a place for his servants to play an active role, and he took the fruit produced at the end.

nThinking about it, something got a little funny. Her former self eagerly waited to turn sixteen.

nAt this age, she was expecting that something would change drastically, that there would be something new.

n“Haa . . .”

nGabriella let out a long sigh.

n“You can’t sigh.”

nRieta, who had just approached quietly, grabbed the Princess’s hand.

n“. . .?”

nTurning around in surprise, Rieta lifted her toes and tapped the Princess’s shoulder.

nShe remembered playing something like this with Darrel a few times as a child.

nWhen they sigh, the fairy of misfortune will come, and she quickly swipes her shoulder.

n“Thank you, Princess.”

nAs she greeted with a smile, Rieta quickly removed her hand.

n“Have you seen the Duke who returned from hunting?”

n“No, we haven’t met yet.”

n“Oh no, it’s complicated, so it looks like the roads are crossed. Shall we find the Duke together?”

nThe Princess moved her steps first and said so.

n“No. Who I am looking for is. . .”

nBut Rieta shook her head as she grabbed her wrist and pulled it.

n“It’s the Princess.”

n* * *

nWhen the Princess received a token of victory from the Emperor, Rieta was watching it from afar.

n“Darrel.”

n“Yes?”

n“It seems that Noel could not catch a deer the size of a carriage.”

n“Are you disappointed?”

n“Um, maybe?”

nThe two laughed softly and looked at Gabriella again.

n“Princess, I don’t think she’s very happy.”

n“She wouldn’t be happy.”

nDarrell knew Gabriella well.

nThe two had been very close since childhood.

nJust like the current Rieta and Noel.

n“If it were her, she would have wanted to run on her own two feet, even if she made a mistake.”

n“Then why didn’t she go in person?”

nIt was a fact that was always on Rieta’s mind.

nGabriella’s attire made it seem as though she were ready to go out on her own.

n“Well . . .”

nDarrel did not give an immediate answer to Rieta’s question.

nHe seemed to be a little worried.

nIs it okay if I say this . . .

n“Maybe. Maybe it’s because everyone likes this way?”

n“. . . This way?”

n“Look, Princess.”

nAs Darrel said so, Gabriella raised her hand high, and draped the victory token on her body.

nThe nobles who watched this gave great cheers.

nWith a very happy face.

n“Look, everyone likes it, right?”

nIt is true that most people are enthusiastic and happy about it, but . . .

n“The Princess is someone who values

nmaking people happy.”

nRieta was trying to say, ‘But that’s why the Princess isn’t happy.’

nOf course, she couldn’t speak those words lightly.

nRieta was a Princess too.

nShe could understand that, sometimes, she had to satisfy something greater than her personal wishes.

nRieta left her beloved Kingdom, and with that heart, she was able to live here.

n“Still, that.”

nBecause it’s so upsetting

n“. . . Darrel. Can I go somewhere for a moment?”

nTo that question, Darrel didn’t ask where she wanted to go.

nInstead, he took his handkerchief from his arms and placed it in Rieta’s hand.

n“Have a safe trip, Princess.”

nRieta looked up at him in surprise.

nFor some reason, it felt as though he had peered into Rieta’s heart.

nWouldn’t it be better for him to go, not Rieta, but he . . .

n“No.”

nHe seems to have perfectly figured out Rieta’s heart this time too.

nThe answer to the proposal that was not presented came back.

n“The Princess is better.”

n“. . . Darrel.”

n“I’ll put someone there so people won’t bother you. Go safely.”

nAt the same time as those words, Rieta immediately turned her body and started running.

n* * *

nGabriella smiled apologetically at Rieta’s words that Rieta had been looking for her.

n“I’m sorry, Princess.”

nAnd she carefully asked for Rieta’s understanding.

n“I have to go do the work of a Princess from now on.”

nMeeting people who worked hard all day on the hunting ground and praising them for what they hunted.

n“So, if it’s about Noel’s story, let’s meet separately next time. I’ll write you a letter, so let’s schedule it.”

nThe Princess looked around for a moment.

nFortunately, the knights attached to them by the Duchy were taking good care of Rieta’s surroundings.

n“Then take care and go back. Princess.”

n“No, Noel. Not!”

nTo the Princess’s greeting, Rieta responded very quickly. Again, with a misleading sentence.

nIf I’m embarrassed, my words seem to get tangled.

nAfter all, it was only natural that the Imperial language was foreign to her.

nRieta’s messed up Imperial language continued a little longer.

n“Not a story, I.”

nBut that was it.

nShe seems to have realized that it is difficult to convey her message through the rush of messy words.

nRieta stopped her speech and opened the handkerchief she was holding.

nIt had been given to her by Darrel a while ago.

n“Princess?”

nEven though Gabriella was puzzled, Rieta didn’t say anything else.

nShe simply wrapped the long hanging handkerchief tightly over her wrist.

nHoping that it will never be released.

n“. . . This.”

nThe Princess murmured in a low voice.

nTying a handkerchief around the wrist was a fairly common scene in hunting competitions.

nHowever, this act.

nIt was done before one left for the hunt.

nNot now when everything is over.

nMaybe Rieta came from a foreign country, so she doesn’t know about it?

n“Thank you, Princess. I have already won.”

nThe Princess lightly touched the sign of victory on her clothes.

nRieta’s gaze followed her hand.

nBut it was also for a while.

nThe blue eyes were facing Gabriella again.

n“The Princess will win.”

n“. . .”

nListening to Rieta’s words, the Princess felt a little strange.

nIt wasn’t because of a strange foreign accent or a slightly flat pronunciation.

nGabriella had one thing on her mind all day long, saying things that people liked to hear.

nShe wondered why there is no one who can tell her what she wants . . .

nBesides, she realized that she wasn’t even allowed to ask for something like that until a little while ago.

nSo . . .

nShe was completely giving up

n“You will win.”

nHowever, it was surprising that a young Princess from a small country she had never met more than a couple of times said such a thing.

n“Really.”

nStanding with an unshakable gaze too.

nGabriella touched the handkerchief, which Rieta had tied, with a hand that had touched the badge a moment before.

nAt the end, Darrel’s name remained in pretty embroidery.

n“. . . It was Darrel.”

nAs she muttered his name softly, Rieta hurriedly released the handkerchief from her wrist.

n“It’s not just Darrel who is praying for the Princess to win. I’m looking forward to it too!”

nRieta also quickly tied another handkerchief.

nSuddenly, there were two handkerchiefs side by side hoping for Gabriella’s victory.

n“Next time, the Princess will win! If not, later! If not later . . .”

nRieta didn’t know the word for ‘next time’, so she hesitated for a moment.

n“Later?”

nShe didn’t think ‘later time’ was grammatically correct.

nHowever, it was difficult to find a dictionary.

nLooking at Gabriella with a perplexed look, she immediately hugged Rieta tightly.

n“Thank you.”

nRieta was relieved because the voice she heard in her ears was gentle and somehow happy.

nIt must have been that all of the unresolved words had been conveyed.

nRieta leaned her head near Gabriella’s heart, and she closed her eyes for a moment.

nIt’s really good that I entered the novel.

nShe thought about it for a moment.

nOf course, the Princess was someone who would walk the path she wanted even if Rieta did not support her like this.

nBut if she could give the Princess a little hope earlier, maybe . . .

nThe Princess may achieve what she wanted a little faster than the original story.

n“Ah.”

nRieta, who suddenly realized something, slipped out of the Princess’ arms.

n“I think it’s ‘then time, not ‘later time.”

nIs she still having a problem with the sentences that are still not connected? The Princess smiled a little with a curious look.

nEither way, neither was the right answer, and the Princess couldn’t find the right word.

n“I can’t help it. I will make sure to win ‘next time’. Princess.”

nThat way, Rieta won’t have to struggle with strange words like ‘then time’ or ‘later time’.

n“Yes, that would be great!”

nOf course, Rieta actively agreed with that opinion.

nThe Imperial language is very difficult, she said, not forgetting to complain slightly.

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