n

n

nHe didn’t think he talked much with her, but an hour had already passed.

n“Then, I’ll go.”

nHe stood up in a bit of a hurry.

nFor a while, he thought to find a good excuse for if Rietta caught him, but fortunately, she didn’t.

nInstead, someone else came to see him in the tea room.

n“Young Master.”

nHe was the family’s butler.

nHe held something in his hands, and Noel paled when he saw it.

n“I heard that you left a book you borrowed from the Royal Library a little while ago, and the librarian brought it to the mansion.”

nThe butler handed Noel a book with the cover ‘All About the Kingdom of Liz! Curious Things About the Territory.’

n

n

n“…..!”

nWhy was he parading it around like that!

nNoel shrieked internally and quickly grabbed the book the butler gave him.

nThen, with an uneasy look, he looked at Rieta on the opposite side for a moment.

nShe didn’t know any Imperial language, so he hoped she didn’t know what book he borrowed.

nBut his wish was useless.

nThe raggedy book’s title was in both the Imperial and Kingdom languages.

n“Oh, I’m telling you in case you misunderstand. I’m not even curious about the Kingdom of Liz!”

n“….?”

n“That’s right!”

n“Ah!”

nSoon Rietta said, clapping her hands with an enlightened expression.

n“Noel likes the Kingdom of Liz.”

nShe completed a nonsensical sentence and gazed at him with a look on her face asking if she was correct.

nOf course, it was grammatically correct! That was true!

nPerhaps it was because Noel couldn’t answer.

nThe butler, who had been watching the two, answered with a thumbs up.

n“It’s perfect, princess!”

nIt’s not!

nNoel’s face crumpled as he despaired inside once again.

n****

n“Prince Noel, I heard Princess Liz is living with you.”

nThe Count’s son whispered quietly in Noel’s ear.

nNoel went because he was invited for dinner, but he couldn’t believe this was the only thing the Count’s son asked.

nWhat was so great about Liz’s squirrel princess?

n“So what?”

nNoel continued eating as if it were nothing.

n“I heard that Princess Liz is very pretty.”

nKiiik.

nNoel’s fork scratched the plate.

nHe exerted too much force at the moment.

n“Prince?”

n“I don’t enjoy this sort of casual banter.”

n“…!”

nThe Count’s boy looked surprised, and quickly bowed his head.

n“I-I’m sorry, I’ll stop being rude—”

n“Well, it’s not me whom you must apologize to.”

n“That’s right. I must apologize when I see the princess later.”

n“Why are you meeting the princess?”

n“Pardon? T-that… Can’t I?”

n“Of course you can’t.”

nNoel replied with a twisted smile.

nHe didn’t have to tell the other aristocrats that the squirrel princess couldn’t speak the Imperial language.

n“I-is that so..”

nNoel felt a strange sense of victory when the count’s boy answered, despondent.

nAnd he didn’t know why he felt that way.

n*****

nIt was dark when Noel came home by carriage.

nConsidering his young age, it was too late for him to return.

nDozing off in the carriage, he suddenly woke up as soon as it stopped moving.

nSoon, the butler opened the door, so he got off the carriage, drowsily rubbing his eyes.

n“Welcome back, young master.”

n“Father?”

n“He’s in the office.”

n“Brother?”

n“I speculate his conference ends late.”

nAfter his return, all the ceremonial greetings exchanged between Noel and the butler ended.

nNevertheless, the butler stared at him.

n‘Is there anything else you would like to ask?’

n“….P-princess?”

nAt his question, the butler smiled.

n“She’s in her room. She ate very little again, so everyone in the kitchen is worried.”

n“I’m afraid someone like the princess is being too picky.”

nJust then, the Duke’s valet arrived, bowing to the two.

nHe said that the Duke was looking for a butler, and that he was waiting for Noel’s return.

n“Go to your father first, I’ll be there to greet you soon.”

n“Yes.”

nWhen the butler and servant disappeared, Noel immediately pulled the uncomfortable collar slightly.

nClassy suits were good, but also way too uncomfortable.

nHe heard that he would get used to it over time.

n“Oh, Noel!”

n

n

nAs he was about to enter the mansion, he heard Rieta’s voice from far away.

nWhen he looked up, she waved to him, her head sticking out of the window.

n“Good morning, oh no. It’s evening.”

nIn an instant, Noel chuckled at the morning and evening greetings.

nShe seems to have learned a new greeting from the Imperial language teacher.

n“Good morning, Princess.”

n“It’s evening.”

nRieta slightly pursed her lips at his teasing greeting.

nSo she also sulked, Noel thought, it was also interesting.

n“Noel, uhm…”

n