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n“Raise your head. Hugh . . . McLean.”

nRieta tried to call his first name without realizing it, but quickly added his last name.

nHer tone was a bit hesitant, but he didn’t seem to care.

nMaybe he believed that Rieta’s saying that because she is a foreigner.

nActually, it’s not that. In novels, the first name appears far more often than the last name. Somehow, his name just popped out.

nShe had to be careful.

n“Thank you for helping me and giving me flowers.”

n“Of course I have to give it to you!”

nOf course he has to give me flowers? Why?

nWell, he was the male protagonist, and he used to give flowers to the female protagonist several times.

nBut she hasn’t seen any descriptions of him giving flowers to other people.

nOr maybe there was some form of etiquette in the Imperial Palace that Rieta was unaware of.

nThe girl pondered and looked around for a moment.

nOn the floor of the greenhouse there were a few flowers that had fallen off the stems, most of which had torn leaves or soil.

nRieta found the most complete one among them and picked up one.

nShe blew it out with her mouth and gently spread it with her fingertips, but it didn’t look too bad.

n“I’m sorry that this is all. But the feeling of being happy to meet you is real.”

nRieta placed the flower on Hugh’s palm.

n“I am Rieta Liz.”

nAs if he had received some great treasure, he glanced at the small flower and smiled slightly.

n“It looks just like the Princess.”

n“…….Yes?”

nAt the unfamiliar words, Rieta was terribly surprised.

nThere was no one in Liz Kingdom who spoke such tickling words, nor was there in the Duchy of Mayer’s family.

n“I will cherish it. Every time I see it, I shall think of you.”

nAt this point, Rieta’s whole body seemed to be twisted.

nIt’s not that she hated to hear those words, but she was a little shy.

nAs expected, not just anyone can be the main character.

nNoel and Rieta are the two immature people competing to see who can eat the bigger slice of orange.

nHugh is precocious enough to be able to speak such words.

nIt’s amazing, the same goes for the female protagonist.

nEven right now, Rieta seemed to not know what to do because Hugh’s lines were tickling.

nHow could she be able to hear such words casually?

nI’m glad I wasn’t born as a female protagonist.

nAlthough Rieta had no desire to “be grateful for being abandoned by the King of Liz”, as another nobleman said a while ago . . .

nShe wanted to be grateful, at least, for not being born as the female lead.

n“Well, me too.”

nIn any case, as a Princess of Liz, she could not be disrespectful to the children of the Imperial nobles.

n“Every time I see this flower, I’ll . . .”

nI’ll think of Hugh McLean, she was trying to answer that.

nRieta kept her mouth shut.

nIt was because she met Noel, who was approaching Hugh’s back, and their eyes met.

nHe had his sharp eyes open and glared at Rieta, but it wasn’t really that scary.

nRather, he looked pitiful.

nIt must have been because he was panting and sweating profusely.

nOn such a cold day.

n“Noel, why are you running around?”

nRieta’s question makes him startled. He looked at her face and flower alternately.

nAnd he glared fiercely at the back of Hugh McLean’s head.

n“This, this dangerous bastard is really!”

nHe had said that Hugh shouldn’t meet Rieta. But that bastard had met her before he knew it and had even given her flowers?!

n“Ah, Lord Noel. I have something to tell you!”

nSoon Hugh smiled warmly and turned around.

n“What? Why?!”

nNoel answered, still gasping for breath.

n“Thanks to the Lord, I was able to greet the Princess with the correct Kingdom etiquette. Look, I gave the Princess flowers.”

nHugh smiled with a ‘I did well, didn’t I?’ face.

n“. . .”

nNoel had nothing to say.

nHe could only blame himself.

nAh, why did I say flowers? Really . . .

nIt was simple if the Princess liked flowers.

nHe should have said, ‘The people of the Kingdom greet each other by licking their elbows,’ or ‘The people of the Kingdom greet each other with three backward somersaults’.

nIf that was the case, Rieta might have been surprised and ran away without receiving Hugh’s greeting.

n“. . . Father.”

nNoel refrained from speaking the unkind words that were about to spring from his tongue and extended his hand to Rieta.

n“Duke Mayer has asked me to seek out the Princess.”

nHis tone was quite polite, unlike usual.

nMaybe because he was conscious of Hugh.

n“So you were looking for me?”

n“Otherwise? Even if I’m worried about looking for you . . . No, anyway. Come. Let’s go.”

nHe waved his hand wildly.

nHe seemed to be begging to catch her quickly.

nWhy was he making such a fuss?

n“It was nice to meet you. Hugh McLean.”

n“I was more than happy. Oh yes.”

nThe boy almost forgot something important. Then, he clapped his hands a little.

n“Happy birthday. I am so happy that the Princess was born into this world.”

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