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n“When you were young, you practiced every day, so you must have done well. But have you ever embroidered after that?”

n“Unfortunately, today is the first time.”

n“I can’t even . . .”

nThe Princess attached a new piece of cloth onto the frame.

nAfter she threaded a blue thread through the needle, she skillfully began to engrave pretty letters.

n<“Darrel Mayer is an idiot.”>

nThe content was to make fun of Darrel.

n“As expected, Princess.”

nNevertheless, Darrel admired her skills with a kind smile.

n“It’s really hard work. Have you been practicing since then?”

n“Yes, I asked Countess McLean to be my teacher. Madam is a great educator.”

n“Amazing.”

n“I don’t want to hear compliments from you. Why didn’t you go hunting? Doing so much better than me . . . Oh, Princess?!”

nGabriella immediately called for Rieta with a startled expression on her face.

nSurprisingly, even in the midst of this chaos, Rieta was diligently looking up her dictionary and researching words she didn’t know.

nThat was a very commendable attitude, but there was one problem.

nIt’s that the sentence she was searching in her dictionary read Darrel Mayer is an idiot.

nThere’s no way she doesn’t know Darrel Mayer is an so the word she was looking for was highly likely to be . . .

nIdiot!

nMy God, Gabriella the Princess, teaching the neighboring Princess the word idiot!

nWhat an idiot thing to do!

n“Prin, Princess! You can’t find a word like that. That’s a very bad word. A good child should never use a word!”

nWhen she cried out in haste, Rieta stopped her hand from looking up the dictionary.

n“A very bad word?”

n“You should never use it on anyone else.”

nOf course, when she said this, Gabriella was somewhat embarrassed.

nBecause she said something so bad to her beloved cousin brother, and had even embroidered it.

n“A bad word you should never say?”

n“Yes. So that means . . .”

n“Like the words ‘dimwit’ or ‘fool’?”

nThe Princess was at a loss for words for a moment at the ‘bad words’ that came out of Rieta’s mouth.

n“Hey, cousin brother.”

n“Yes, Princess.”

n“What kind of education is the Duchy giving to the young Princess from a foreign country?”

n“Don’t worry. I haven’t taught her to say ‘idiot’ yet.”

n“Idiom?”

nBut when Rieta followed the pronunciation, Darrel smiled in embarrassment.

n“Well, it looks like she’s learned it now. Haha.”

nYou just taught her!

nThe Princess had to press down her desire to stick the needle back into his finger.

n* * *

nAfter the atmosphere had calmed down a bit, Rieta was able to hear a small explanation about Darrel’s relationship with the Princess.

n(It was a story not mentioned in the original novel, so it was the first time Rieta had heard of it.)

nThe two explained that, before they were ten years old, they had taken classes together at the Imperial Palace.

n“At that time, the Princess called me ‘brother’. Even now, she does it when I’m embarrassed.”

n“Darrel called me Farrell.”

n“Farrell?”

n“It’s my name. Gabriela Farrell Mechidia.”

n“It’s funny because the pronunciation is somewhat similar. Darrel, Farrell.”

n“That’s what the Duchess said.”

nPerhaps it was due to his mother’s influence that Darrel called the Princess that way.

n“I did not know. You two are close.”

nHad she known this would happen, she would have received Darrel’s help when choosing a present for the Princess.

n“Well, rather than being friendly…”

nThe Princess touched her lips for a moment, then she grinned.

n“We’re just like siblings.”

n“Princess, doesn’t that mean that you get angry when you see me?”

n“It is a law that you are well aware of. Common sense. My savvy older brother.”

n“Well, it’s better than the Princess.”

nDarrel got out of the couch and picked up a practice bow that had been arranged on one side of the tent.

nHe had brought a few as spares.

n“Take it.”

nHe dared to throw the bow to the Princess.

nIt was a reckless act, but the Princess seemed familiar with it and accepted the bow.

n“A little small.”

nHowever, she was a bit dissatisfied with the bow.

n“It wouldn’t be bad for practice. Princess, you’re still short.”

nDarrell also took the smallest bow and a few blunt-tipped arrows.

n“Are you going to practice now?”

n“Is there any reason not to?”

n“I’m just here to spend time with Princess Rieta. I didn’t come to see older brother’s degenerated bow skills.”

nRieta was very surprised by the story.

nEven so, not so long ago, she had given up on meeting the Princess herself.

nBut in addition to meeting like this, she can even spend time together.

n“Spend . . . spend time with me . . .?”

nRieta asked, stuttering in disbelief.

n“Yes.”

nWhen she heard the answer, Rieta somehow felt as if the Princess had bought a part of her heart.

n“I’m glad, really.”

nRieta barely calmed down and responded that way. She meant it.

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