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nOh dear.

nNoel looked at the classical poetry book with his eyes wide open.

nWhen he turned a few pages, he saw densely written text smaller than his fingernails.

nBesides, there were only words that he didn’t understand.

nIt would be much easier to understand if he had read a fairy tale book in the Kingdom language rather than ‘conversing with’ something like this.

n“Noel.”

n“Yes, yes?!”

n“If you are ready to tell the truth, you can do it any time.”

nDid that mean . . . For him to be honest with everything, it would set him free from this painful book?

nNoel squeezed his lips together tightly and bit them.

nHe opened the book and unscrewed the cap of the inkwell.

nBecause Noel couldn’t tell the secret that Elisha had been sacrificing his body for.

nHe filled the nib with ink, and he wrote ‘Chapter 1’.

n* * *

nNoel did not leave the Duke’s office until it was dark.

nIt was enough for him to eat while he transcribed the book.

nIt was only when it was time for sleep that he was freed from punishment.

nThe Duke said there would be no further punishment for what happened today, and Noel nodded his head.

n“Now go back to sleep.”

nAfter saying that, his father kindly opened the door for some reason.

nIt was unfamiliar for him to receive such kindness even after being punished, so Noel left the office with a frown on his face.

nThe hallway was a little dark.

nHowever, there were lights at regular intervals, so there was no problem standing around.

nNoel turned to go back to his room.

n“Noel!”

nRieta stood in front of him as if she had risen from the floor.

nShe must have been squatting near the office and waiting for him.

n“Princess?”

n“Were you scolded a lot? Are you okay?”

nRieta scraped her feet against the ground with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

nIt was a little out of the blue in this situation, but Noel must be very surprised with Rieta’s feet. He had an idea.

nEven when good things happened, they wouldn’t last. And even when bad things happen, you would have to move on.

n“Haha, I’m fine. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

n“Well, Noel . . .”

nRieta was about to reply, but she stopped talking.

n“What’s the matter?”

nWhen Noel asked, she carefully grabbed his right hand and clasped her hands around his.

n“. . .”

nNoel just realized something.

nWhy did his father open the door?

nIt was because Noel’s hand was a shaking mess.

nIt seems like this happened because he had to put all his effort into copying the difficult book all day long.

n“Does it hurt? Are you sick . . . ?”

nNow Rieta pressed his fingers gently and blew on it.

nAnyone who saw it would think that Noel had suffered a major cut on his finger.

n“It doesn’t hurt, idiot.”

nNoel was a little embarrassed that his hands were trembling, so he backed away and escaped from Rieta’s hands.

n“Let me see again, it looked really painful.”

n“What difference does it make when you hold my hand like that?”

n“It’s . . .”

n“Besides, it’s late. If you stay in the hallway at this hour, a scary ghost might appear.”

nHe was just telling a funny story.

nTo let Rieta say ‘It’s too much!’ and rush back to her room.

nBut contrary to his intentions, the foolish Princess was still worried about Noel.

nShe looked worried and as if she was going to die.

n“. . . Ugh.”

nNoel had no choice but to answer seriously with a face that negated his playfulness.

n“Don’t worry about me.”

n“How can I not worry? It’s the first time I’ve seen the Duke scold you all day.”

n“I couldn’t help it.”

n“I wish you had been honest and forgiven.”

nHe knows.

nNoel actually thought so.

nBut he couldn’t help it.

n“The subordinates have important things to understand among themselves.”

n“. . . Subordinates?”

n“Yeah, it was a time I could never back down.”

nNoel didn’t forget to use Elisha’s words to show off a little.

nThat was a cool thing to say, he hoped that Rieta would look at him with longing eyes.

nHowever, Rieta’s reaction was different.

nShe tilted her head slightly and only wondered.

n“You mean it was a subordinate’s job for Noel to try to miss class by lying? Did the Princess do it?”

n“How could Sister do that! Rather, how the hell did you know I was going to miss class?!”

n“There is no one in the mansion who doesn’t know. Everyone knows.”

nRumors spreading throughout the mansion were so fast.

nNoel pouted his lips slightly, and Rieta grabbed his arm and led him.

n“Anyway, I’m glad Noel didn’t intend to miss class with a bad heart.”

nNoel stopped arguing.

nHow does the Princess know my heart?

nFor some reason, he was happy that Rieta knew that.

nThe throbbing pain in his right hand made him somewhat proud.

nThis must be the loyalty between subordinate and master.

nRieta took Noel to his room, and she said good night.

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