Chapter 67

Rieta took the letter Noel had written, and she stood there for a moment.

Don’t you think you can’t do without Noel?

Well, it was fun to play with Noel . . .

But she didn’t know if it was possible to say that he was an indispensable existence.

For Rieta, indispensable meant clothing and knowledge suitable for a meal or a place.

Perhaps she felt this way because there was a time when she didn’t have it.

Still, she enjoyed being with Noel.

At first he only complained, but now he listened to pretty much whatever she had to say.

Based on a relationship like this, would it be called good friends . . .?

Rieta, for the first time in a while, wrote a reply that was frank and full of gratitude.

Yes, I like playing with Noel.

Would he like this answer?

Rieta squatted in front of the door, waiting for a reply.

She actually wanted to open the door and she wanted to see Noel and his face, but she couldn’t.

Because she couldn’t make Noel catch such a bad cold.

But no matter how long she waited, there was no reply.

Is it back yet?

“. . . Noel?”

She spoke quietly to him.

She didn’t say it out loud, lest other people overheard.

“. . .”

But he didn’t answer.

Did he go back to his room?

“Noel.”

Rieta called him with a little regret.

It had been a while since she had so much fun . . .

It was still quiet outside the door.

What was this?

He asked a strange question, which made her write something shameful. And then he just goes back to his room.

When she met him later, she should just say, “It’s okay without Noel.”

Because it was annoying.

However, after that . . .

Rieta, who could not let go of her regret, kept her ear to the door and waited for a reply for a long time.

* * *

Early that morning, Duke Mayer went to Rieta’s room briefly, after finishing some of his work.

He was sorry that Rieta had caught a cold because it seemed like it was his fault as her guardian.

The winter in the kingdom was softer than it was here, so careful attention was needed.

Had he known this, he would have bought the thick fur scarf and thick socks that Madame Emily had recommended last time.

He refused, saying the shape was not beautiful, but it was not the time to question that.

He hopes that Rieta will be healthy the rest of the winter.

The second winter would be better than this.

When he arrived in front of her room . . .

“. . . Hmm?”

The Duke was very rarely startled.

Noel was lying in front of Rieta’s door.

What the hell is this?

He panicked and ran to his son.

His cheeks were cold to the touch.

His body was trembling in only a thin nightgown.

It wasn’t good.

The Duke frowned, holding his frozen son in his arms.

Even indoors, the hallways were rather cold. And yet Noel had slept on the floor?

He was just glad that his son’s lips didn’t look bad.

Drop-

A thin slip of paper fell from Noel’s arms.

“. . .?”

The Duke looked down at the paper that had fallen at his feet.

There were a lot of cute words written on the paper filled with the handwriting of children.

It seemed that this paper was what caused Noel to fall asleep there.

Anyway, he now had to quickly take the child to a warm place.

The Duke picked up the paper and hurried his steps a little.

* * *

Thus, there were three cold patients in the Duchy.

As for why the toll became three, it was because Darrell had caught a cold from a friend at the Academy.

Rieta had a fever.

Noel had a runny nose.

Darrell had a sore throat.

Caring for three children with different symptoms, the Duke would be lacking in time even if he could split his body in two.

Still, he didn’t forget to stop by his family room to see the portrait of Victoria before he fell asleep.

It was because he missed her, and also . . .

It was because Rieta had asked for something.

In the early morning when the moon was full, he stood alone in the Duchy’s family room.

His gaze was on Victoria alone.

For a very long time.

But at one point, his head moved slightly.

He felt a presence.

“I’ve been waiting. Sir Jenkins.”

He murmured softly, and bowed politely.

If anyone had seen it, he would have looked like he bowed to thin air.

“I know you are annoyed with me. However . . .”

The Duke took out the scarf Rieta had given him from his arms.

A rather dark-colored woman’s scarf. There was no way the Duke could not recognize it.

Besides, he had already heard through reports that Rieta and Sir Jenkins had met.

“I’ve been waiting to return this. It’s something you cherish.”

It was only in the dark that Sir Jenkins revealed his appearance.

Although his hair was white, he was still a knight working for the Emperor.

Those combative eyes that did not at all grow weary with age were directed towards the Duke.