n

n

n

n“What about Noel?”

n“Noel seems to have business with his friends.”

nThe Duke looked around for a moment and then pointed to a certain corner with his hand.

nAs she followed his hand, she saw Noel grabbing a boy’s shoulder and dragging him along.

n. . . What are you doing?

nSomething about his behavior looked very suspicious.

nHe looked like someone who does something really bad?

nRieta sips her juice, and she continues to observe Noel’s actions.

nImmediately, her eyes met Noel, who was turning his head back and forth.

nWhat are you doing?

nRieta mouthed the question.

nEven in the mansion, she often asked questions this way, so there was no way he could not recognize the shape of her mouth.

nStill, Noel shook his head.

nThe teacher said that that was rudeness you should never display at a party!

nWhy are you doing that?

nCould it be he didn’t like Rieta’s choice of a modest gift?

nHe might have thought that sturdy leather boots were too unsightly to be handed over by a member of the splendid Duchy family.

n. . . I don’t know if I’ll hear another word when I go back.

nRieta took a deep breath.

n* * *

nMeanwhile, Noel was having a very tense time.

nWhen he followed his father to the banquet hall, he looked around with his eyes shining like a hawk.

nOf course, the person he was looking for was the Lord of County McClain.

nHe was Noel’s best friend, but at the same time, his biggest rival.

nIn all fields, from academics, swordsmanship, and art, Noel excelled.

nBut there was only one thing he couldn’t win at.

nThat was popularity.

nThe McLean Lord was strangely popular amongst the girls of the Capital. No, it wasn’t just the girls.

nEven the elderly wives used to be especially fond of Lord McLean, telling the story that he was cute and smart.

nSo was that why?

nNoel wasn’t very happy with Hugh McClean’s interest in Rieta.

nAnyway, he focused his eyes and looked around.

nHe succeeded in finding Count McLean and his wife once.

nBut the Lord didn’t seem to be around those two.

nHe’s not here?

nNoel was vigilant and looked around a little more.

nI don’t think he really came.

nIf he looks until this far, he still couldn’t find him.

nSoon it would be time for Rieta to take her gift and step out in front of the Princess.

nNoel nodded his head to Rieta, who met his gaze for a moment.

nThere is no dangerous McLean, so feel free to go out.

nOf course, even if Hugh McLean was there, he wouldn’t have been able to stop Rieta.

nHe crossed his arms and looked at Rieta, who skillfully greeted the Princess.

nThat’s pretty good.

nAfraid of giving compliments in his heart, he heard the bewildered Rieta presenting the flattened Kingdom pronunciation.

nThat fool.

n“The Princess must have been embarrassed.”

nThen, someone spoke in a friendly voice.

nNoel let out a small sigh.

n“That’s why. What’s the point of practicing ‘sincerely’ more than a hundred times? It’s wrong even in practice.”

n“Has she practiced more than a hundred times? You must be upset that she’s wrong.”

n“What can I do? The flat pronunciation of the Kingdom is not easily correctable . . . ”

nNoel stopped talking for a moment and looked back in surprise.

nThe handsome boy. Hugh McLean was smiling bashfully with his white face shining.

n“Yes, why are you here!”

nHe screamed, but the boy bowed slightly, as if familiar with it, and offered a smooth greeting to the Duke and Noel.

nIt was the perfect look of a gentleman.

n“When I saw the Lord come, I immediately ran to you. Because I like the Lord.”

nNoel looked at the other person with cold eyes.

nIf you can get the best popularity in the Capital, you won’t mind saying such tickling words.

nNoel didn’t want that kind of popularity.

nFirst off, wasn’t it creepy?

n“Today, I was very happy to hear that the Lord was going to attend with the Princess.”

n“Did you miss me that much?”

n“Yes. But most of all . . .”

nHugh turned his head to look at Rieta, who was talking with the Princess, and smiled.

n“I was curious about the Princess. I was surprised that she was cuter than I had imagined.”

n“Why are you imagining the Princess’s face?! Why!”

n“That’s because there’s been rumors abound and we’ve never seen each other before.”

nNoel felt really bad.

nHe doesn’t know why he was in a bad mood, he felt terribly bad anyway.

n“Well, can I stay with the Lord?”

nAt that time, he earnestly asked by putting his hands together.

n“Why?”

n“This, it’s been so long since I haven’t seen the Lord, so many stories have been pushed back.”

nAs the boy grunted, Noel let out a little bit of displeasure and smiled.

nAnyway, this guy’s popularity!

nIf Hugh McClean was the most popular boy in the Capital, then Noel was the most popular with said boy.

nSo, the most popular boy in the Capital is me.

n