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nHe led her to the estate’s large kitchen.

nIt was empty now because everyone’s working hours were long over.

n“Noel?”

n“Ssh.”

n“Ssh..?”

nShe seemed to be asking why they should be quiet.

nTo explain this, Noel tried to communicate through a charade.

nIf I am caught, I’ll die.

nIt was natural.

nThe princess and prince were not allowed to rob the kitchen.

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n

nNext, he lightly traced Rieta’s neck.

nYou’ll also die.

nWas she nervous about his harsh explanation?

nRieta looked at him with wide open eyes.

nDid he scare her too much?

nHe stopped trying to add more to the explanation.

nRieta’s stomach was once again gurgling.

nNoel began searching the dark kitchen.

nHe opened a large pot and looked into the food storage box.

nIn the end, they found some dirty vegetables and potatoes.

nThere was nothing to eat right away. He thought there was always something like bread.

nAfter a long search for food, he realized that Rieta, who had been following him right behind him, had disappeared.

nHe looked around in surprise and saw her squatting in a dark corner.

n“What are you doing?”

nShe showed him the bottle of sugar she was holding, facing him directly.

n“That’s not a meal, stupid.”

n“I like this one.”

n“Sugar?”

nRieta turned the big lid around and opened it as if to prove it.

nThe sweet smell came to her. It was the smell that she missed.

n“Yes, I like it.”

nShe dipped the tip of her finger in sugar and licked it.

nIt reminded her of the old days.

nStill reminiscing, she hurried to dip her finger in sugar again.

n“Is it delicious?”

nNoel frowned and asked, so she held out a bottle of sugar.

nAs if she wanted him to try it.

n“E-enough!”

nHe tried to refuse, but Rieta eating it like it was delicious made him poke his fingers into the sugar.

nIt was sweet. It wasn’t good because it was too sweet.

nBesides, he hated sweets immensely.

nRieta said, ‘Isn’t it good?’ and dipped her finger in again, so he couldn’t help but taste more.

nThey were busy dipping sugar in their mouths when their eyes met.

nRieta’s mouth, as well as the sparkling sugar in her hair, made him laugh.

nWhy did she relish it so much?

n“You just had to eat well at mealtime in the first place.”

nHe scolded her.

nEven though he knew she wouldn’t understand.

nRieta didn’t ask about what he said.

nInstead, she began to talk about other things in the language of the kingdom.

nWithout her knowing, it naturally came out so.

n“There is… You know, sometimes when I made my father angry, I couldn’t get any dinner.”

nNoel, of course, could not understand at all what she was saying.

nUsually, he would have grumbled, saying, ‘Stupid princess, speak Imperial language in the Empire.’

nBut now, nothing has been said.

nShe just fiddled with the sticky sugar.

n“If I can’t eat, then the maid can’t eat, right?”

nRieta once again dipped in sugar.

n“But the maid would sneak sugar from the kitchen and put it in my mouth. She was afraid I would be hungry.”

nThe maid who spoke like that must have been hungry all day because of all the hard work.

n“She’s a really nice person, isn’t she?”

nShe smiled, leaning her face slightly on her knees.

nHer gold hair fell along her cheek.

n“….”

nNoel quietly thought over her story.

nThe intonation and facial expressions.

nHe thought he could understand why, and what she was saying.

nRieta must have told him something precious to her.

nProbably something of someone important in the Kingdom of Liz.

n“Do you want to go back?”

nHe asked without her knowing. Frustrated, he quickly changed the question to an easy one.

n“Princess.”

nFirst, he pointed his finger at her face.

n“Kingdom Liz.”

nHe pronounced her country slowly.

n“Do you want to go?”

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n

nHe used ‘go’ since she knew those words.

n“…Yes.”

nFortunately, his words seem to have reached her.

nShe was worried about her answer.

n“Uh-huh..”

nHer troubles grew a little more

nIn fact, she had no choice but to say so.

nNo matter how hard it was for her growing up, it was her home.

nHer father gave Rieta a hard time but there were still many friendly people.

nBut when she returned, she would lose the benefits of learning again.

n