“Even if I pass the exam, I won’t be able to prepare the documents. As you may know, Princess—”

Alicia said he was in trouble, but Rieta didn’t mind him.

She already knew everything about Noel’s plans.

“To worry about documents is the privilege of someone who has passed.”

“Princess.”

“You don’t need to pass on your first try. But if you don’t work hard, I won’t let you put your forehead on the back of my hand for the rest of my life.”

Alicia’s face turned blue at Rieta’s threat.

Not allowing him to swear allegiance was like telling him not to breathe.

“Well, of course I’ll do my best. I will not bring shame to your honor.”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

“But whether I can really pass—”

As he rarely hesitated, Rieta took off her gloves and held out her hand.

“I’ll be waiting for you, Alicia Maureen.”

“…..”

He glanced at Rieta’s white hand for a moment.

In fact, there was something very important hanging on that tiny hand.

A bright future for the Kingdom of Liz.

That precious hand that was now counting only on his dreams.

What was he wavering like this for?

Alicia bent his knees.

Then he leaned his forehead on it and whispered his oath.

Rieta clenched her fist slightly, and held his oath in her hand.

*****

And a week and a day after.

A delivery man, in charge of the mail of the capital nobles, was leading a carriage into the Duke’s house.

He had already delivered mail to the Duke’s quite a few times.

Nevertheless, he was always nervous.

It was because of the beautiful maid working at the Duke’s house.

The same happened today.

He pulled out his sleeves to smoothen the wrinkles and straightened his collar.

He also did not forget to fix the badge on his chest.

All right, that was enough to see the Duke in person.

Of course, a mailman like him could not meet the Emperor’s brother and highest noble.

After taking a last long breath, he knocked on the giant door of the Duke’s home.

“It’s the mail!”

As usual, he did not forget to reveal his identity in a loud voice.

Now the door would open, and his crush would smile beautifully while saying, “Oh, you’re working hard today.”

Ah, she’s the only light of this desolate delivery life.

“……”

However, no matter how long he waited, the maid never opened the door.

What’s going on here?

He waited for another 20 seconds according to the ‘Mail Delivery Text,’ then shouted loudly again, “It’s mail!”

Then there was a bustling noise coming from beyond the big door.

What’s going on?

Worried, the mailman forgot the rudeness and carefully put his ear to the door.

He was worried that something bad might have happened to her.

There seemed to be quite a lot of people standing on the other side of the door.

They were delaying receiving mail, telling each other, “You go out.”

Why—?

He was leaning his head against the door, with his imagination running wild.

Finally, the door began to open little by little.

The mailman quickly straightened up.

He didn’t forget to smile for the pretty maid.

“…..?”

However, it was a man in a suit, the one that appeared between the doors.

It was a very luxurious party suit.

The mailman raised his chin to check his opponent.

“Huh!”

And he quickly aimed his eyes at the floor. He thought he must have gone crazy at last.

He couldn’t believe wouldn’t be able to see the maids face until the end!

“What about the mail?”

The mailman looked up again at the slow question.

With the hope that what he had seen moments ago might disappear.

“…..!”

But what he was seeing hadn’t changed a bit.

A luxurious party suit.

The terrifying presence of the Duke of Mayer!

And laying gently on his head!

—was a cone hat.

He’s wearing a cone hat! The Duke of Dignity is wearing a party suit and a cone hat!

Was the cone so bothersome that the mailman could not look away?

The duke explained the situation, slightly adjusting his hat on his head.

“It’s a hat that the Princess of Liz made herself.”

Was it an illusion to look bossy? Of course, it would be an illusion.