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n5-7 minutes 25.12.2020

nNoel was also quite tired, so a big yawn erupted on its own.

n“Hurry up, Princess, too.”

n“Yes.”

nRieta smiled bashfully and gently put her hands together.

n“Noel, I hope there will be no class tomorrow.”

n“Don’t make fun of me.”

n“I’m not kidding. It’s nice to be able to play together all day. Above all else, Elisha is coming tomorrow!”

n“. . .!”

nNoel was startled, and he unknowingly took a step back.

n“. . . Noel?”

nRieta called him, puzzled, but Noel hurriedly closed the door and slipped into the bed.

nWhen the thin summer duvet covered the end of his head, the anxiety he had been putting off finally came.

nWill Elisha be okay?

nWhat if he isn’t?

nIn the end, Noel could barely sleep despite his fatigue.

n* * *

nThe next morning.

nOne of the Duchy’s carriage headed for the military academy.

nIt was none other than a carriage sent by the Duke, and it was meant to pick up Elisha.

nEven though Rieta wore a pretty dress she had picked out a few days ago, she was anxious several times and she grabbed Noel’s sleeve.

n“Noel, do I really look like a Princess? Do I?”

n“Are you worrying about that again?”

nNoel grabbed Rieta’s hair ribbon and untied it.

n“It’s too much.”

nAs Rieta snatched the ribbon and ran back to the maid, Noel stood in the hall near the porch and looked out anxiously into the garden.

nWhat if Elisha arrives with a bluish face?

nHe was really sorry.

nHe felt guilty that he didn’t keep his promise to protect Elisha until the very end.

nJust then, the sound of a carriage began to be heard from afar.

nNoel was nervous and twisted the hem of his clothes.

nSweat was forming on his hands, and it was probably not just due to the heat.

nThe carriage came closer and closer, and the figure of Elisha in it looked like a black shadow.

nIs his face okay?

nWill it be covered in bruises?

nNoel confirmed the appearance of the coachman who knew the answer to this problem.

nIf Elisha had a bluish-purple face, he must have rushed the carriage with a rather anxious expression.

nBecause if the Duke’s guest was injured, he thinks he needs to be taken to the mansion quickly and treated.

n“. . . Ummm.”

nHowever, no matter how hard he stared, he could not read the coachman’s mind.

nNow it was like this.

nThere is only one thing Noel needed to wish for.

nHe needed to meet Elisha before Rieta, understand the situation, and respond somehow.

nAt the very least, shouldn’t Elisha greet Rieta with a face that was tended to?

n“Noel, the carriage has arrived!”

nWhen Rieta, who had just tied her hair back again, approached, he quickly pulled out the ribbon in Rieta’s hair.

nHer long hair flew into the air again, hanging long down Rieta’s shoulders.

nNoel held out the ribbon to Rieta.

nIt meant, to go back and tie her hair again.

nThat way, when Rieta isn’t around, Elisha will arrive.

n“You’re really mean. Why do you keep making jokes like this?”

n“Hey, you’ll look ugly with your hair in a weird ponytail.”

n“It doesn’t matter if I’m ugly. I just need to look like a Princess.”

nRieta snatched the ribbon from Noel’s hand, and sprinted to the front door.

nNoel belatedly tried to catch Rieta.

nBut how fast the squirrel-like Princess was, she began to wave her hands excitedly on the porch where the already hot sun was falling.

nHe was doomed.

nThe next best thing to check Elisha’s condition first is no longer an option.

nAll that’s left is to hope that he turns out to be fine.

nThe speed of the carriage approaching across the garden was faster than usual.

nBesides, Elisha, who was sitting there, looked like he was bowing his body.

nNaturally, Noel had a sinking feeling in his gut.

nGod damn it . . .

nNoel was thinking so.

nJust then, the carriage stopped right in front of the mansion.

nThe servant placed the footrest, and the carriage’s door began to open.

nNoel went all the way to the front door with a resigned face.

nAnyway, since it is a guess that arrived when the Duke and Darrel were not there, it was right that Noel took the lead in welcoming them.

nWhen he came out to the front door where strong sunlight was falling from the inside, the whole world seemed white for a moment.

nNoel covered his forehead with one arm and frowned slightly.

nHe saw the carriage door wide open.

nJudging by the fact that there was no one at the door, it seems that Elisha had already gotten off.

nRieta’s silence without a word was somehow unsettling.

nAfter Noel blinked a few more times, he finally got a glimpse of the situation at the front door.

nThere was a scene like the one he had seen a long time ago.

nElisha was on his knees, pressing his forehead on the back of Rieta’s hand.

nThe scene where Elisha, perfectly outfitted with the cadet’s uniform, dedicates his allegiance to Rieta is perfect indeed.

nEven if this is the case, the problem is . . .

nFinally, Elisha raised his head.

nNoel rushed to the side of the two of them without realizing it, and looked closely at Elisha’s face.

nOh my gosh.

nThere’s not a single wound!

nHis skin was perfectly smooth, and besides, the corners of his eyes and mouth were neat and clean.

nNoel quickly placed his hands behind his back.

nHe wondered if there were any wounds that he couldn’t be seen.

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