unedited

“So, Mclean. If you want to dance with her, you can go and see her.”

“I don’t enjoy dancing.”

As he said that, he leaned against the wall.

“Besides, I don’t really like crowded places like this.”

“So do I.”

Rieta replied, thinking it must be because he saw something uncomfortable in her mind or something like that.

“So that’s the first thing we have in common.”

Soon after, Princess Gabriella, who had been away for a while, returned.

People were buzzing, so when she checked, Princess Gabriella was wearing the uniform of the Imperial Knights, not the dress she had been wearing.

Of course, Gabriella was a member of the Imperial Knights.

However, the name of the emperor and his successor belonged to her, and it was rare for her to wear knights’ clothes like this.

Despite the astonished gazes of those who looked at her, she stood tall before Everett.

“Beautiful heroine, will you dance with me?”

Everett was so flustered by Princess Gabriella’s request that he dropped the prop fan.

Noel picked up his pathetic roommate’s fan and gave him a light push on the back.

So the two danced together.

Although it was somewhat awkward as Princess Gabriella was not used to leading, she seemed very happy.

“Lord Noel seems to have been a good teacher to Princess Gabriella. She looks happy.”

Hugh Mclean admired the scene. Rieta asked with her eyes wide open.

“Noel?”

“Yes. Princess Gabriella said she wanted to surprise Everett, so she practiced leading. I heard that Lord Noel has been diligently teaching her tips for the past few days.”

He smiled softly, adding, “I only heard about it from my mother.”

“Ah, then that’s…”

Rieta recalled what had happened this morning.

When Noel said “I’m going to see Sister Gabriella,” it seems that he really meant it literally.

The person that was learning to dance was also Princess Gabriella.

‘I stuck with other interpretations because of my stereotypes.’

At that moment, Rieta felt a surprisingly peaceful feeling in her heart.

Maybe it’s because the misunderstanding has been cleared.

‘Misunderstanding?’

But soon another confusion came.

Relieved that Noel didn’t spend time with the female lead.

Isn’t it strange no matter how she thinks about it?

This is all the more so when Rieta considers that her goal so far has been to ‘help Noel connect with the female lead.’

“Are you okay?”

Hearing the sound right in front of her, she looked up to see Hugh Mclean staring at Rieta’s face.

Looking deeply concerned.

“Mc, Mclean.”

A little embarrassed by the distance she was not used to, Rieta took a step back. Fidgeting with her wavy hair.

“I’m sorry. Actually, I had a hard time sleeping last night.”

“That’s another thing we have in common. Of course, the reasons must be different.”

Hugh Mclean held out his hand.

“We need a break,” he said.

His hand, which she held in a daze, led her down a silent hallway.

It happened to be near the family room, and there was a small window and a chair.

They sat side by side on either side of the chair.

“It’s nice that there is a chair.”

“I think it was brought here for people who want to rest quietly. Normally, there is nothing.”

Rieta looked curiously out of the unfamiliar window.

She had lived in the mansion for several years, but it was the first time she had ever sat down and admired the scenery.

There was still something unfamiliar in the mansion.

Rieta was seized with a slightly strange feeling.

Hugh Mclean, who had been watching her, quietly said.

“It means that this place is not an ordinary space for Princess Rieta.”

“If you put it that way… that’s right.”

He replied in a low voice, “That’s good,” and was silent.

Rieta didn’t particularly want to talk, so she quietly leaned back in the chair and lost herself in her thoughts.

“You were looking at it.”

And after a while a quiet voice came from beside her.

It sounded hesitant.

“…?”

Rieta looked back at Hugh Mclean.

His gaze was on the floor.

“Every time Princess Rieta’s gaze was elsewhere.”

Was it about her?

The last time she didn’t hear it at the hunting ground…

Rieta was in a cautious mood, so she didn’t answer carelessly. However, she did not take her eyes off him.

“You were looking at it all the time.”

“… ..”

“Of course, even at the moment when Princess Rieta held my hand and came all the way here.”

However, the final part naturally raised questions.

“Now…”

What are you talking about? Rieta wanted to ask him that, but lost the timing as his story continued.

“I’m telling you because Princess Rieta doesn’t seem to know.”

“I do not understand.”

“You’re surely not asking me what I’m talking about.”

With those words, Hugh Mclean raised his head and met Rieta’s gaze.

His face, illuminated by half the moonlight, looked somewhat sad.

Rieta now realizes what she has to say.