Noticing that burdensome gaze, Noel slightly turned his head.

[There’s something like that? About who… likes who.]

[Aahh.]

Princess Gabriella nodded her head as if she finally understood.

[You mean that McLean likes Princess Rieta?]

[…!]

With that prompt reply, Noel looked back at her with startled eyes.

He realized now that Gabriella’s eyes were shining with curiosity and playfulness.

[Si, Sister, I can’t believe you knew everything from the beginning…!]

[Of course. It’s because I always care about Princess Rieta’s matters.]

Does that mean that she knew what happened between Hugh and Princess Rieta?

[If so, maybe…]

Noel started speaking cautiously with a somewhat nervous face.

[If the question is whether I know what happened between the two of them, the answer is ‘yes’.]

[That, then—!]

[But if you were to ask if I could tell my younger brother about it, the answer would be ‘no’, of course.]

Gabriella said, stroking his cheek lightly with a feather she had picked up.

Noel stood there with a stiff face, staring at her.

[Is the reason you can’t talk, after all, because Hugh McLean has been rude?]

[Why do you think so?]

[That’s…. Sister and the McLean family have a special relationship.]

[And?]

[Hugh is the heir of the family.]

[Is there more?]

Noel was choked up by the repeated questions and spoke his honest heart.

[Because Hugh McLean is a dark-hearted guy!]

Despite his saying so while clenching his fists tightly, Princess Gabriella’s attitude did not change much.

Gabriella patted Noel on the shoulder and smiled.

[If you’re so worried, shouldn’t you follow her right now, instead of following me?]

Of course, Noel wanted to do that, if it was possible.

But didn’t he try and fail the last time?

When Noel said he would stay by her side, Rieta refused so fervently.

To be honest… he was hurt.

It was quite difficult for him to offer twice when rejected once.

Besides, he was busy with the banquet’s preparation, so it was good for him to look away for a while and calm his mind.

… That is, until he heard that Hugh McLean had became Rieta’s partner.

It was a complacent thought, but deep down Noel knew that his father would preventanythingthat from happening in the first place.

Since all the men’s thoughts were the same, they wouldn’t let that dark-hearted guy be beside Rieta.

[“The Duke asked my intention first! I said I’d be with him, so he’s given the permission!”]

However, after hearing Rieta’s story, an important realization came to him.

His father has always been the one who puts ‘intentions’ above all else.

That.

That means…

Rieta really gave permission.

When he realized that, he felt emotional. He wanted to ask Rieta right away.

Why? What did she like about that guy?

But he didn’t dare to do that.

The kind Rieta will point out Hugh McLean’s strengths one by one.

Kind words, facial expressions, and good manners.

Come to think of it, Hugh obtained many of the traits Rieta had asked Noel for.

So, wasn’t it natural for her to be attracted to him?

No matter how hard he tried, Noel wouldn’t be as friendly as Hugh could be.

He attended the banquet with a sense of defeat, and kept an eye on Rieta all the time.

He leaned against the wall with a troubled expression.

Even when Rieta held McLean’s hand and went out into the hallway, he watched everything.

While trying to calm his heart.

So, when he had exercised his patience fifty thousand times . . .

The incident happened.

The smug Victorina, who had not even considered the durability of her shoes, began to fall in an unsightly manner in front of him.

That’s good. Retribution for all the times she had made fun of Noel!

At first he thought so, but soon he remembered that she was a dear friend of Sister Gabriella.

If he showed Victorina his ugly side here, it will never lead to anything good for Sister Gabriella.

It’s really annoying, I’m going to die!

In other words, he was forced to be kind.

[Careful…]

When Noel, who had said that, pulled her by the waist.

Suddenly, Rieta, who was standing far away, met his eyes.

It seemed that the moment she had suddenly disappeared with Hugh Maclean, and troubled Noel’s mind, had now returned.

Noel still held onto Victorina, while closely observing Rieta’s condition.

Because Rieta looked a bit weird.

Had anything happened to McLean during that time?

And not long after, Rieta turned her head away first.

With a face looking like… she was deeply hurt.

… Rieta?

Come to think of it, she also seemed a bit odd when she lent Victorina her shoes.

She deliberately avoided Noel’s gaze, and she said nothing other than what was absolutely necessary.

Did I get caught staring at her too much throughout the banquet?

But he couldn’t understand the hurt look on Rieta’s face.

Coincidentally, Noel knew that expression.

Lately, it looked like his own expression in the mirror.

Was it because of that?

He kept getting misunderstood.

Somehow, he thought that maybe Rieta’s and his feelings were heading in the same direction…

“…”

Of course, it must be his own delusion.

***