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Chapter 101

After the hunting contest was over, the Duke and Darrel decided to stay a little longer, saying that there was some cleanup left to do.

Instead, Rieta and Noel had to return to the mansion first.

They were on the way back to the Duchy by the carriage that they rode in the morning.

Rieta was riding in a carriage in the most uncomfortable position in the world.

It had nothing to do with the awful smell of sweat from Noel, who had worn a thick leather coat and helmet all day.

No, there was something worse than that musty smell.

Besides, it was Rieta who was the cause of such an atmosphere.

“. . . Sorry, Noel.”

Rieta apologized in a small voice.

“Hng.”

Noel quickly turned away his tired face.

“Are you . . . very mad?”

“If it happened to you, won’t you be angry?”

“That . . .”

Rieta switched Noel and herself in the situation.

“. . . I would be angry.”

Rieta had tied the handkerchief, which Noel gave her as a token, to the Princess’ wrist at will.

It also contained a sincere wish.

It was only natural for Noel to sulk so much when he heard the story.

“While I was hunting hard for the Princess, were you praying for someone else to win? Even with the handkerchief I gave you?!”

“Ah, that . . . that’s what I’m saying.”

Rieta decided to change the subject a little awkwardly.

“I heard the story! Noel, I heard you caught a giant stag beetle!”

“You!”

“You said you held it in your hand? I heard the noble boys all liked it. Noel is amazing!”

“You, you! Who told you that story?!”

“Huh?”

What did he mean, who . . .

“Of course, it was Hugh McLean.”

“Why is the Princess pretending to know Hugh McLean?”

“I was wondering what he caught. He said he caught a rabbit.”

“Hey, why is the Princess so curious about that guy’s performance?!”

The reason was obvious.

Because she was wary of him. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if he caught the eye of the Princess because he had been so active from a young age?

However, Rieta couldn’t tell Noel the whole thing, so she decided to wait around in moderation.

“Um, we’re friends?”

“. . . !”

Noel shook his head again with a sullen face.

“That’s, that’s fine. The Princess’s friend also caught the rabbit.”

“But Noel caught a rabbit last year too.”

“Huh! The one I caught wasn’t that small of a rabbit!”

“But, you know what, Noel?”

“What.”

“In the Kingdom of Liz, large stag beetles are extremely expensive.”

“. . . Really?”

“Mhm. Really! The big king stag beetle is sparkling and cool. That’s why you and I want one.”

“Well, what about the rabbit?”

“I don’t know anything about rabbits. Because it’s common, I don’t care. But the ‘extra large stag beetle’ is really rare.”

Did he like Rieta’s explanation?

Noel scooted closer to Rieta and sat down, his eyes twinkling.

“Really?!”

“Yeah, because it is.”

“I knew it!”

Noel smiled broadly now.

“For some reason, the shiny shell seemed very precious. Besides, it was really big! Do you know how big it is?”

To the pleasant question, Rieta pondered for a moment, and then answered with a bashful smile.

“As big as a carriage?”

Noel smirked. “Yes!”

But by the time they got to the mansion . . .

“Actually . . . it was a little smaller than a carriage.”

He said it frankly.

* * *

Thanks to the stag beetle story, Noel and Rieta returned to the mansion in a friendly mood.

Of course, Rieta was willing to compensate for the free gift of the handkerchief to the Princess.

“How can I compensate?”

As if Noel had something in mind, he quickly replied.

“Well then, there you go. Forgive me just one thing.”

“Huh?”

“So, have mercy. You are a Princess, so you have to show mercy anyway.”

* * *

Rieta soon found out what he was asking for.

It was the next afternoon.

When Rieta finished her etiquette class and returned to her room, Noel was waiting for her.

“Noel?”

Asking what was going on, he jumped to his feet, carrying something behind him.

There was something too serious about his face, and Rieta took a step back a little.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Princess, haven’t you forgotten?”

At the vigilant question, Rieta nodded her head once.

“Yesterday you decided to forgive anything?”

“Ye, yes.”

“I haven’t forgotten . . . Are you going to do it already?”

Did Noel do anything wrong enough to beg for forgiveness?

Of course, he was always rude.

It was too harsh for a foreign noble to treat a Princess of another country.

However, the two became close friends beyond their status and borders.

So there would be no need for things like ‘forgiveness’ or ‘apology’ with innocent rudeness.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

Rieta twisted her body slightly, trying to see what Noel had hidden behind her back.

However, as Noel took a few steps back in surprise, she failed to take a peek.