n

n

n

n“Anyway, I’m going out to buy a card tomorrow.”

n“Why?”

n“Of course, to write a thank-you letter for the birthday present. I was going to write that I really like it and send it.”

nRieta counted the subjects to write the letter to, one by one, with her fingers.

n“Elisha, the Princess . . . and Hugh McClean and the Duke and Darrel too.”

n“Why are you writing letters to father and brother?”

n“Because the Duke bought this dress, and Darrel bought a pretty pen stand.”

nNoel didn’t show it, but he was very surprised.

nWhy did everyone in this world seem to have given Rieta a birthday present?

nExcept for Noel.

nWhen the hell did everyone prepare for that?

nThe only thing Noel thought about Rieta’s birthday was what he was doing all day and what he would have fun with.

n. . . Well, I guess that kind of thinking isn’t that great.

nIt didn’t cost any money, and it doesn’t remain in form.

nStill, he thought really hard.

nNoel grunted a little as his heart twisted.

n“Do you like birthday presents that much?”

n“Of course. Someone thought of me and prepared it for me.”

n“What do you mean, thought of you, that’s just giving.”

n“But, Noel.”

nRieta leaned her back slightly and she smiled playfully.

n“Even if you say that, aren’t you actually here to give me a present?”

n“Oh, don’t be funny! Who wants to give you a present!”

n“Who? Noel is giving it to me.”

nRieta knew he had one of his hands behind his back all the time.

nShe also noticed that behind his back there was something with a glimmer of a ribbon.

nShe quickly stretched out both her hands.

n“Give me quickly. I’m very curious what kind of gift Noel has prepared for me.”

n“. . .”

nNoel turned his head away, clutching the gift.

nIt was a little uncomfortable for Rieta to have her eyes wide open and look very expectant.

nEven so, this . . .

nBecause Count McLean prepared it.

nIn fact, Noel was a bit fussy when it came to Hugh McLean.

nHe promised not to greet Rieta, and he ran to her and offered her flowers.

nLiar.

n. . . Of course, Noel also lied to Hugh, so it would be a draw.

n“Noel?”

n“Are you really going to receive this gift?”

n“Well, of course.”

nWith a grin, Noel began to carefully hand out the gift he had hidden behind him.

nWhile giving this, what should I say to Rieta?

nCould he say that McLean wanted him to give it to her? No, that seemed a bit odd.

nIt was kind of funny to say that it was from the McLean family.

nBecause that little gift didn’t seem to be worthy of being sent from a ‘family’ unit.

nAh, how do I explain it?!

nWhile Noel couldn’t even choose the proper words.

nRieta quickly snatched the present he had offered her.

n“Ugh! What are you doing!”

nHe reached out his hand in surprise, but Rieta quickly ran away and grinned.

n“What are you giving with so much thought?”

n“No, who said I was thinking much!”

n“But it was that kind of face.”

n“. . . You hawk-eyed girl.”

n“Huh? What?”

n“You don’t need to know. Anyway, give me the present. How can you just take whatever you want?”

n“But it’s already open.”

nRieta untied the ribbon from her gift, and she opened the thick paper bag.

n“Wow.”

n“You you! What if you open it?! Do you know what it is and just open it like that?!”

nShe pulled out the brooch from the gift bag.

n“It looks like a ribbon, it’s so cute.”

nRieta smiled happily as she pinned the brooch on her dress.

nHow the hell did Noel choose a gift to fit Rieta’s taste?

nIn the original story, when she looks at the way he chooses gifts, it seems that he reflects his own tastes more often than the tastes of the other person.

n“I like it very much. Did anyone help you choose?”

n“. . . Who helped?”

n“Then you mean Noel chose it alone?!”

nRieta was really very surprised.

nThen he chooses gifts well, but she wondered why he was like that in the original story.

nShe thought she should give Noel a lot of compliments today, anyway.

nIf he accumulates a lot of ‘good memories’ about ‘gifts for the other person’, he will do the same when choosing a present for the female protagonist later.

n“Amazing, Noel.”

n“No, that’s just . . .”

nNoel’s embarrassment deepened.

nHe had to say that the brooch is actually a gift from McLean.

nBecause Rieta was starting to like it more than he had thought.

nFor some reason, his words were blocked.

n“It’s really pretty, I’m very happy.”

nDon’t like it too much, you idiot. That said, Hugh McLean bought it.

n“Did you remember that I like ribbon shapes?”

n“. . . Uh, what.”

n“Did the blue jewels in here match the color of my pupils?”

nSaying that, Rieta’s eyes sparkled even more than those jewels.

n“That . . . that’s right, sure.”

nNoel nodded his head saying yes, as if possessed by something.

nHe wasn’t even aware that he was lying.

n“I will cherish it, thank you very much.”

nRieta put down the brooch.

nNoel shuddered.

nI can’t believe I’m telling lies!

nIt was a shame as the son of the Duke of Mayer.

nSo, Noel took a big breath and gathered up the courage to tell Rieta the truth.

n