Chapter 80

Do the people of the Empire even say that on the birthday of a stranger? Could it be a term that comes with happy birthday?

“Th, thank you.”

Rieta answered awkwardly and Noel quickly grabbed her hand.

“We have to go quickly. Father is waiting.” He quickly led Rieta out of the room.

Because of this, Rieta was not able to talk to Hugh any more.

Still, she had good feelings for the male protagonist that she met for the first time, so she glanced back.

He was holding the flower that Rieta had handed over to him and staring at her.

The way he speaks is a little strange, but I think he’s kind nonetheless.

Rieta gave Hugh one last smile just before turning around the corner.

* * *

Rieta followed Noel back to the banquet hall.

The Duke seemed a bit busy among the adults, so the two children quietly walked around the banquet hall, watching people.

When the sun began to set, little by little, the three returned to the Duke’s residence.

As Rieta got off the carriage, she was greeted by a white cake and candles.

Rieta was shocked by the surprise party prepared by the employees, so she hid behind the Duke for a while.

But she soon found her courage and she blew out all the candles on the cake.

When she returned to her room after receiving many congratulations, Elisha’s letter on the desk was welcoming Rieta.

Elisha . . .

His congratulations were just as they had been when she was in Leeds.

Rieta held it in her hand for quite a while, before carefully opening the letter.

The card it held was obviously expensive.

There were words of congratulations written over it . . .

And there were words of unwavering loyalty.

I’m going to write a thank you letter.

With that thought in mind, she set the envelope down on the desk when she suddenly heard a thud.

It seems that something is still inside the envelope.

Was it a gift? Rieta quickly opened the envelope again.

She saw a piece of polished wood.

Although it looked somewhat clumsily made, the name ‘Rieta’ was engraved with care.

It was a bookmark.

Rieta imagined Elisha, who would have made this in his spare time even during his hard training.

I have to make something too, and send it to you.

What would be good?

As she was immersed in her pleasant thoughts, she heard a knock at the door.

“Yes, come in.”

Allowing it, the door opened to reveal a face with a slight smirk.

The narrow door opened slowly, revealing Noel.

“Noel.”

Unlike Rieta, who smiled brightly, he looked a little hesitant as he approached.

Why?

“That . . .”

Noel hesitated for a moment, then looked at the wooden bookmark Rieta was holding.

“What is that?”

“Yeah, isn’t it pretty? Elisha made it for me as a gift.”

Rieta waved the bookmark in front of his eyes.

“. . . That guy was sent to be a knight, not a sculptor.”

At Noel’s sentiments, Rieta chuckled.

To say he was a ‘sculptor’ was to compliment the quality of the bookmark.

“So, what’s going on? You didn’t even change your clothes.”

Noel was still wearing the suit he had been wearing since the Princess’s banquet.

“You didn’t change your clothes either.”

He pointed to Rieta’s dress with the tip of his chin.

“Ah, right.”

Rieta turned her body around and ran to the mirror.

“Wow, it’s really pretty.”

At Rieta’s admiration, Noel asked, “What nonsense is that?” before walking closer.

“This is the hair ornament that the Princess gave me.”

“Ah. You only saw it now?”

“Mhm. Noel didn’t tell me what it was like.”

Rieta shook her hair back and forth.

A butterfly ornament with blue jewels danced along her hair.

“That, other people probably told you it looks good so many times that you got tired of it.”

“Yes, but . . .”

Because other people only show politeness on the outside, and Rieta didn’t know what they truly thought on the inside.

Like the people I met in the greenhouse.

“I mean, I was curious what Noel was thinking. Well, now that I know it’s pretty, that’s enough.”

Rieta could now see how absurdly shabby her gift was.

“Oh, and the flowers that Count McLean gave me are here. Are they pretty?”

Rieta pointed to the small vase.

Next to it was a hand towel that wrapped around the stem, neatly folded.

“Did you lose the handkerchief I gave you?”

“No way, I took it with me again today. The Duke’s emblem is engraved, right?”

“It is, but why did you borrow his handkerchief?”

“I didn’t borrow it, he had to wrap it up and give it to me, so I couldn’t help it.”

Perhaps it was because he was concerned about the little thorns on the stems.

As expected, he was a meticulous male protagonist.