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n“Why? Is there anything good written in the letter?”

n“Yes. There is a message asking if he can visit the mansion for a while in five days!”

n“What is it, are you so happy he said that we barely met?”

n“Of course I am happy. We haven’t seen each other since last winter. I missed him a lot . . . Oh, right.”

nRieta made a troubled expression for a moment as if she remembered something.

n“Will the Duke allow Elisha to visit?”

n“I don’t know.”

nNoel responded that way, with full knowledge that his father had no objection to such a visit.

nBecause he wanted to see Rieta exert some effort for the visit.

n“Ugh, what will I do if the Duke doesn’t allow it?”

n“I can’t help it.”

nNoel crossed his arms slightly and lifted his chin.

nHe had an expression that was pompous.

n“If the Princess wants that much, I’ll go with you and ask for it. Hopefully he won’t turn down the Princess and mine’s request together.”

n“Really? Are you going to come with me and ask?”

n“Yes, of course.”

nToday’s Rieta must have been in a really good mood.

nWhen he sees that she doesn’t frown even though he did a bunch of condescending things.

n“Yes, thank you so much Noel!”

nBesides, she honestly said ‘thank you’.

nAs though that alone was not enough, she even hugged Noel.

nNoel was very happy to receive such thanks.

nIt made him think that he should be better for Rieta in the future.

nBut contrary to his thoughts, completely different words came out of his mouth.

n“Don’t get too close!”

n“Why?”

n“Because it’s hot. Aren’t you feeling stuffy?”

nEven though he twisted his body, Rieta smiled bashfully and hugged Noel tightly.

n“But thank you very much. Noel is my best friend!”

nHe secretly smiled again at the gentle compliment that came in his ear.

nIt was nice to have someone hug him like this.

nIt seemed like she valued Noel.

nBut he couldn’t say, ‘Thank you for hugging me.’ Instead, only slurred words came out.

n“Your best friend has been kind to you, and yet you bother me like this.”

n“It’s not bothering. Thank you so much!”

nAs Rieta said so, Noel playfully hugged her with both arms and hugged her tightly, very tightly.

nIt felt so good to be close to each other.

nOf course, even though his mouth was crooked, he couldn’t say those words.

n“Look! Hot! Don’t you feel like you’re going to die?! Now, you’re not bothering me?!”

nWas it fun to hear him scream?

nA giggle was heard near his shoulder.

nApparently, today’s Rieta was in a very good mood, so it seems that whatever he does, she just enjoys it.

nAnyway, it’s simple.

nNoel, who thought that way, is also in a good mood today, so he thought Rieta would be happy no matter what.

n* * *

nThe Duke gladly allowed Elisha to visit.

nAdditionally, he added the generous words that Elisha would always be welcomed to make him feel welcome.

nRieta immediately wrote a reply with this news, so in the afternoon the postman came back and took Rieta’s letter.

nSo, on the next day . . .

nWhen Noel went to visit Elisha, he found that he was bowing politely to the incoming Rieta’s letter.

nIt was as though he were facing a real Rieta.

nMoreover, he knelt reverently the whole time he read the letter.

nIf anyone unfamiliar saw it, he would have thought he was a knight reading the king’s orders.

n“It’s all thanks to the Lord.”

nAnd Noel received thanks again this time.

nNoel was expecting it, wondering if Elisha would also hug him tightly.

nNo, he was worried.

nElisha didn’t do such a thing.

nNoel was a little sad. No, he was relieved.

nWell . . . I don’t really like someone hugging me.

nApparently, because of Rieta, he began to enjoy strange things.

n* * *

nNoel hoped that Rieta’s happy mood would carry on until the ‘Promised Day’.

nSo he pretended to see his teacher every day, checking in to see if Elisha was okay.

nOn one occasion, the cadets who beat up Elisha talked to Noel.

n“Lord, this guy is not worthy of Lord’s care.”

n“Especially because his academic grades aren’t good enough, He barely avoided failing.”

nThat was a bit surprising, so Noel asked about his grades when he met Elisha.

n“They are the ones who barely avoid failing, not me.”

nElisha denied their words, but in Noel’s eyes, it was almost like an affirmation.

nAnyway, did that mean that his grades are bad?

n“I have no choice. It is said that the ones with the best grades are selected for various events.”

n“Then you don’t like that, so you purposely get things wrong?”

n“Isn’t it obvious? I have no intention of showing my face at an event where the Princess was not even present.”

nBesides if Elisha— a foreigner— was there, it probably wouldn’t sound too good.

n“My grandfather used to say, a true knight must know when to take a stand and when to step back.”

nNoel was a little impressed by these words.

nHe thought if he failed the exam in the future, he would say, ‘This was a test I had to back down’.

n. . . Will it work?

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