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n“Oh, anyway, don’t rush yourself anyway. You can’t say hello to the Princess today. Understand?”

n“Okay, so what about this gift?”

nHe was a little troubled when he pulled out the package he had in his arms.

nNoel was about to say, “Take that and use it!” when he changed his mind.

nHugh McLean was still his good friend, and he should at least show his loyalty.

nThere’s no way Rieta would like such a small gift.

n“It can’t be helped. I’ll pass it on.”

n“Really?”

n“Yes. Because the Princess and I are very close.”

nNoel, with a smirk on his face, took the gift and shoved it into his pocket.

n“As expected, the Lord is amazing . . . Thank you.”

nHugh replied with a very grateful expression, and Noel sighed in relief.

nHugh and Rieta will not meet today.

n* * *

nRieta was right next to the Duke.

nShe was a little scared because it was a place with a lot of strangers.

nOf course, he took good care of Rieta.

nWas it because of that?

nAs time passed, she relaxed little by little.

nUntil she was curious about his surroundings.

nSoon, Rieta grabbed the Duke’s hem and asked.

n“May I go to the courtyard connected to the banquet hall?”

n“Will you be okay by yourself? I’ll go with you.”

nThe Duke said so, but Rieta shook her head

nShe whispered in the Kingdom language so that no one could understand their conversation.

n“Because of me, the Duke hardly had any conversation with other people.”

n“I am not a fan of conversation.”

nOf course, his answer also returned in a proficient Kingdom language.

n“Nevertheless, don’t worry. I am trying to be a little brave.”

nRieta took her hand off his arm.

n“You have to be careful.”

nShe nodded her head.

n“I’ll be careful.”

nRieta moved away from the Duke with a lively step.

nBefore she went out into the hallway leading to the courtyard, she looked back and soon found a large crowd of people surrounding the Duke.

nHe was very popular.

n* * *

nThe courtyard was a little cold.

nEven though the mansion surrounded it, it was still outside.

nRieta hurried up a bit and slipped into the greenhouse.

nA damp warmth touched the nape of her neck, and she immediately felt better.

n“Wow.”

nRieta looked slowly inside the greenhouse, and she remembered the large flower she had once received from the Duke.

nIt was a flower he had brought from the Imperial greenhouse, he said.

nWas it from here?

nOr was it another greenhouse?

nHer curiosity aroused, Rieta slowly circled the inside, looking for the same flower as that day.

nOf course, she was also delighted to see the new flowers, so Rieta’s stopped several times.

nOf course, Rieta was not the only one who came to the greenhouse with curiosity.

nSometimes over high vines, she could hear the voices of people shouting.

n“Beautiful.”

n“Whoa!”

n“Did you say that the Princess liked this greenhouse the most, so she prepared a banquet hall here?”

n“It’s nice to open your favorite greenhouse, that’s great.”

nThe voices of those who were not yet adults could not at all be heard.

nRieta was a little troubled, as she, unintentionally, seemed to be eavesdropping on the conversation of another.

n“Is it still a compliment to the Princess . . .”

nEven if they later found Rieta around the corner, she wouldn’t be too embarrassed.

n“She can even say thank you for a shabby gift.”

n“Ah, that?”

nThe two giggled for a moment and laughed out loud.

n“That was too much.”

n“I heard she was poor, but wouldn’t it be better not to come to give such a gift?”

n“It seems that she wanted a gift from the Princess. In the Kingdom of Liz, there aren’t any salaries for the servants, so the servants take off the decorations from the castle on their own?”

n“So they’re not servants but thieves.”

n“Then the King of Liz is the King of Thieves.” More laughter.

nAs they drew near, Rieta quickly hid her body behind the vine ornaments.

nIn fact, Rieta had no particular reason to run away.

nIt wasn’t even her fault.

nBut she is from a foreign country, and Rieta should avoid making ‘enemies’ if possible.

nShe wanted to refrain from becoming awkward with someone.

nSo she decided not to point out their rudeness, nor to stare at who they were.

nBesides, she was prepared that the gift would provoke a reaction like this.

nShe chose it with only the Princess in mind.

nIt was a little bit out of her expectations, though.

n“She couldn’t have done anything as the Princess. The King would have ordered it.”

n“I feel sorry.”

n“So, the Princess didn’t take care of the present herself?”

n“That would seem so. She is living in the Duke’s house now.”

n“Lord Darrel said that he cared for her like a sister.”

n“If I were the Princess, wouldn’t I be grateful to the King of Liz for giving me away to the Empire?”

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