In fact, he didn’t welcome Rieta in the residence very much in the beginning.

Rumors had already spread in the capital that the king’s existence alone was a disaster.

With a father who was like that, he thought his daughter couldn’t be a proper person.

‘From what you say, I’m sure of it.’

He heard the butler talking to Rieta again.

“If you need any help, you can talk to the master anytime.”

What?! Was the butler trying to get him into that girl’s shoes?!

Noel said, “What nonsense is that?” and then stopped.

Disrespecting the butler was what only the uneducated did.

He didn’t want to look like someone like Rieta.

‘…I-I’m not trying to look good. I’m trying to show her the dignity of the Duke.’

This was a noble dignity that could never be imitated in a kingdom indulged in desires.

A moment later, he heard the butler leave the study room.

Noel quickly shoved his head deep into his books.

If he pretended to be focused like this, even that stupid princess wouldn’t be able to talk to him.

“….”

However, his study was quiet, contrary to his expectations that Rieta would run to him straightaway.

He was a little prepared to see her be lazy.

‘Did you find a book to read?’

There was no way, she couldn’t even speak, how could she read?

He couldn’t overcome his curiosity and looked up.

Between the two books, he could see the side of Rieta’s book.

‘…Huh?’

Noel looked carefully at the book that Rieta had taken out and laughed.

She was nine years old, and it was ‘Sweet Squirrel.’

The small princess looked like a squirrel, and the book she chose was so cute.

If the princess’s hair was a common brown, not a rare pretty blond, she would have looked like a real squirrel.

‘Pretty gold?’

He laughed at his unconscious thoughts.

‘The princess’s clothes are shabby, so her hair stands out.’

Even with the addition of an excuse, the boy’s glancing at Rieta was a little longer.

Was it curiosity about a strange girl from another country?

He didn’t know. But he thought it was fun to watch her anyways.

Suddenly, she lifted her head.

He suddenly heard a cheerful voice that he had never heard before.

“That’s meant to be sweet!”

…How could she suddenly yell in the Kingdom language?! She startled him!

After trying to rein in his surprise, he berated her for nothing.

‘When you come to the Empire, speak in the Imperial language. You stupid princess.’

He turned to the book he was reading again.

However, he couldn’t read a single line properly because he was paying attention to the sounds coming from beyond the bookshelf.

“You’re sweet… sweet, you’re sweet. Sweet, sweet.”

It was a little amusing to hear her repeat the word “sweet” in the flat pronunciation of the kingdom’s language.

What the hell was she doing?

She stopped her clumsy practice after a long time.

Was she satisfied enough thinking she had mastered her pronunciation?

It was still a mess.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Now, he turned the pages with the idea of reading the book again.

He determined that no matter what she did, he would never look back.

At first glance, he heard her muttering something in the language of the kingdom.

Of course, Noel didn’t care. Not a bit!

“….”

No, he was actually paying attention.

But of course that’s natural.

If anyone in the world finds a noise maker in a bookshelf, they would be interested.

Bad attention.

‘I can’t help it.’

He rose from his seat.

It was just to warn her to be quiet.

He didn’t know what it was like in the Kingdom of Liz, but this was the capital.

In the capital city, it was ‘etiquette’ to not disturb others’ reading.

“….But what is paper in the Imperial language?”

Then a blurry voice suddenly cut in.

Judging from how he didn’t understand, it must have been in the kingdom’s language.

‘I don’t know… what she’s saying.’

However, the words conveyed deep emotion for some reason.

Maybe it was because he didn’t know their meanings, so he felt this way.

He stood up and looked back at her again.

Rieta stayed where she had just stood.

She held a book with a squirrel that resembled her closely.

A sense of vanity could be felt in her blue eyes, slowly passing through the air.

…Vanity?