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nHe didn’t want just a cute little snowman.

n“I’m going to make it big enough to be knighted by His Majesty!”

nRieta thought for a moment that the Emperor of the Empire would be very busy.

nMeanwhile, the lazy King of Liz didn’t even give titles to those who actually had merit.

nWho would confer a title for a snowman?

n“I know, but I’m done for today. I’m exhausted.”

nRieta plopped down next to the snowball.

n“No, the winter sunlight is precious. I was told to play outside until the sun goes down!”

nNoel, quoting the words of his grandfather butler, decided to take advantage of Rieta’s labor a little more.

nRieta used to be small and powerless, but perhaps she had been eating well these days.

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nHer ability to push snowballs was amazing. And she was willing enough.

nPerhaps, if the two of them worked together, he might be able to build a snowman that would really deserve a knighthood.

nNoel quickly reached out his hand.

n“I’ll help you, get up.”

n“Ugh.”

n“Come on!”

nThe two of them started rolling a mound of snow once more.

n* * *

nUnfortunately, it was a little quicker for the sun to move to the promised place than it was for the two to complete the snowman.

nNoel and Rieta heard the grandfather butler call to return to the mansion and rushed back.

nAfter returning to their rooms and bathing in hot water, they put on clothing that was a little more formal than usual.

nAfter that, they ran to the family room where something special was waiting.

nThe portrait of the Ducal couple was completed and hung on the wall, in the middle of the family room.

nThe three children in front of the portrait, their eyes shining with hidden emotions.

nThe younger Duke’s eyes were sharper than they were now.

nAnd the Duchess was very, very, very . . .

n“Beautiful.”

nAs Rieta murmured the word ecstatically, the Duke shrugged his shoulders slightly.

n“Actually, she was far more beautiful than this.”

nSaying so, the Duke kissed her figure on the portrait.

n“Welcome home, dear wife.”

nHis words were mumbled in a low voice, so that the children could not hear.

nIt was something of a tradition.

nWhen you hang up a portrait of someone that one doesn’t live with, kiss their likeness and say welcoming words.

nIf you did so, it was said that love and blessings would dwell within the frame and that the heart of the deceased left in the picture would be protected.

nAfter the Duke took a step back, Darrell stepped before the frame.

nHe also followed his father, kissing the portrait, and greeting his mother.

nNext was Noel.

nHe glanced at the portrait with a rather complicated expression on his face, then closed his eyes tightly and pressed a kiss to her figure.

n“Please don’t leave again.”

nWhispering the wish that flowed naturally, he looked up at the painting again, and somehow the words of course were answered.

nWhen the three family members finished their greetings, they all gazed toward Rieta.

n“May I do the same?”

n“If the princess doesn’t mind, I would like to ask you to do so as a favor.”

nAs the Duke spoke, he lightly pressed his palm against Rieta’s red cheeks and forehead.

n“You seem to have a small fever . . .”

n“Me?”

nRieta touched her face quickly.

n“I don’t know. Maybe it was because I washed with hot water a while ago.”

n“It would be nice if that was the case.”

n“I’m sure it is.”

nRieta smiled brightly and walked over to the portrait of the Duke and Duchess.

n“Don’t worry, Duchess. I’ll do my best to make Noel happy.”

nI will make him a good man, ensure that he overcomes the original story and the path of the main characters, and make the unrequited love of three generations come true! Please look forward to it.

nRieta kissed her on the frame, feeling as though she were sharing a secret promise.

nShe lifted her head and glanced back at the Duchess. The Duchess seemed to be smiling back at her, saying please take care of my son.

n* * *

nThe Duke’s concerns were correct. Rieta had really caught a cold.

nTheir doctor went to the mansion, and Rieta was prescribed a cold medicine, one that she proclaimed to taste like a far more serious illness.

nIf the Duke hadn’t quickly popped a fruit candy into her mouth after she had taken the medicine, she would have suffered a lot.

nStill, when she took good medicine and hugged her warm squirrel doll, she quickly fell asleep.

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nRieta went to sleep a little earlier than usual.

nAfter stroking Rieta’s sweaty forehead for a moment, the Duke returned to his family room.

nAll the children had retreated to their respective rooms, and now there was no one there.

nRelying on the dim light of the fireplace, he gazed at his wife’s portrait.

nVictoria Mayer.

nShe was the first ‘stubborn’ person he had interacted within his life.

nThe younger brother of the emperor, the pinnacle of nobility, none of that mattered to her. She was utterly irrespective.

nWas that the reason he fell for her? It wasn’t an easy relationship, and it wasn’t a simple marriage.

nThe most difficult obstacle of all was the ardent opposition of her father, Sir Jenkins.

nHe was a member of the secret intelligence department under the direct control of the emperor, and was adamantly against the marriage of his daughter and the Duke.

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