If that’s the case, maybe . . .

Was he trying to ask what happened when she lent her shoes to VIctorina?

At that time, Rieta consciously avoided Noel’s gaze, so it might have looked suspicious.

“…”

A little more time passed.

Noel still didn’t say anything, and Rieta mustered up the courage to tell her side of the story first.

“At that time, I was a little… upset. No, actually, very upset.”

“What?”

Noel slightly shook Rieta’s shoulders with widened eyes.

“You mean that bastard upset you? That much?!”

“Huh?”

Rieta wanted to ask what the hell he was talking about, but the agitated Noel misunderstood it as an affirmation.

“He’s really done it this time. That’s why I can’t let that McLean bastard…!”

“No, not Hugh Maclean!”

“What, why are you covering for him all of a sudden? You said you were upset!”

“I’m not covering for him. Hugh Maclean was nice to me. He cheered me on. He gave me support.”

“What do you mean by cheering you on! That guy won’t be nice to you for no reason! His heart isn’t pure!”

“Noel. Why are you angry?”

Noel shouted excitedly. But at Rieta’s comment, he hesitated and offered excuses.

“…No, it’s not like that. It’s, it’s because I’m worried about you. You said you were upset.”

He looked at Rieta’s eyes, then quietly asked the question again.

“So, what the hell is going on?”

“… Uh.”

”Rieta regretted having guessed his question on her own.

If she had known this would happen, she would just wait patiently.

“Which guy made you upset?”

It’s you! Rieta swallowed the words she couldn’t bear to say.

Without knowing that it was fueling Noel’s anxiety even more.

“You really… won’t tell me? I’m really upset.”

He held both of Rieta’s shoulders.

Of course, Rieta also wanted to be honest. Now Noel didn’t seem… like just a friend.

Her feelings had deepened enough to be jealous that he was with someone else.

But the moment when Rieta mustered up the courage to say it . . .

“Wasn’t I the Princess’ childhood friend who had seen everything?”

Noel pointed out their relationship again.

“…”

It was something they both had said several times, but it was strangely heartbreaking.

“I . . .”

Rieta opened her mouth after a while.

“Yes, tell me anything.”

“… I’m not going to tell Noel.”

“What?”

Then Rieta turned her head away from his gaze.

Maybe Noel will be angry. She would rather do that now.

“Princess.”

But there was not the slightest hint of anger in his voice.

He was surprisingly worried. Worried and anxious

“Perhaps . . . Did I… do something wrong?”

Rieta closed her mouth tightly. For some reason she didn’t want to say anything.

“I guess so.”

Noel rumpled his own hair, then gave her an apology.

“I’m sorry, pPrincess. I was wrong.”

Rieta reacted coldly to his desperately spoken words.

“That’s enough.”

“Can you stop being angry? Please?”

Noel even put his hands together and began to beg. His expression looked very desperate.

“You don’t even know why I’m angry.”

“I don’t know what it is, but if the Princess is not in a good mood, then of course I should beg.”

“…What does that mean? Usually, every day . . .”

He always did whatever he wanted.

“Every day, I do whatever I want?”

A surprising answer came from Noel.

Rieta, whose thought was caught, raised her head in amazement.

When their eyes met again, Noel grinned.

“But the Princess always does whatever you want, too.”

“I don’t.”

“No. Who do you think is the one who kept feeding me horrible sweets?”

But that was for Noel. It was to teach him the female lead’s taste.

“Who nags me to be nice to people I don’t like?”

It was inevitable because if he didn’t care about his reputation, he couldn’t stay by the female lead’s side.

“Who took me to the hunting grounds at will?”

That’s… she wanted to let him meet the female lead.

Now, just thinking about it makes her heart ache.

“At the hunting ground we arrived at, you abandoned me in the tent and ran away.”

“I didn’t abandon you.”

“You abandoned me. Do you think I want to have a cup of tea with that strange woman?”

Rieta didn’t answer for a moment.

Even though she should have asked why he said that Victorina was a strange woman.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Wait, I didn’t mean to want an apology. Umm…”