Chapter 22

“Hehe, you’re sweet, Noel.”

“How come your pronunciation never gets better….?”

“Hm?”

“Enough. Anyways, have a safe trip. Princess Liz.”

He bent down as formally as the Duke had just done.

Why?

She felt strangely good after the greeting.

Rieta laughed out loud, and Noel grumbled for no reason, saying “Don’t go to the luncheon and do anything that demeans the Duke!”

It was such fun for him to say the words she had expected, that Rieta laughed again.

******

On the way to the palace by carriage.

The Duke looked at Rieta, who was delightedly clinging to the window and asked about the story she had just shared.

He was worried.

She didn’t seem to think very well about herself.

“It’s okay now.”

“Are you sure you’re okay, Princess?”

When the Duke asked again carefully, she nodded sincerely.

“Really.”

“Your mood changed in an instant.”

Rieta chuckled, ‘I know.’

“Because Noel has the unique talent of making people realize just how cherished they are.”

“I’m proud to hear that that kid behaved so nicely.”

“That’s right, he’s very nice.”

That’s great.

His lips were slightly smiling after saying it.

At that moment, Rieta felt like he had patted her head.

*****

When Rieta appeared at the emperor’s luncheon, all the nobles were surprised.

They only remembered the Rieta who had been a ‘poor, hungry-looking girl’ at the time.

The impression had been so strong, that her natural cuteness had been overshadowed.

But, today that girl looked different.

The nobles looked at Rieta in admiration as she greeted the emperor.

Maybe it’s because she looked confident and cheerful.

Anyone could easily think of the word ‘lovely’ while looking at her.

In addition, the Emperor presented beautiful shoes with ribbons to celebrate ‘Rieta’s safe settlement in the Empire’.

“The Empire has many things to see for the Princess.”

She guessed it meant ‘to see and learn many things with these cute shoes’’.

Rieta immediately put on her shoes happily, and the Emperor was very pleased.

Thanks to the public’s open goodwill, it had not been too difficult to win the hearts of the aristocrats.

Of course, some people were unhappy with the Emperor’s gift of shoes.

It’s the Duke of Mayer.

“It’s the role of a guardian to be responsible for the host. Your Majesty.”

“The princess is like a niece to me. Are you forbidding me from presenting a pair of shoes to my own niece?”

“Why does the Princess suddenly become your niece?”

When the Duke asked disconcertedly, the emperor questioned again in embarrassment.

“Oh, it’s not? Not yet?”

“It’s not ‘Not yet’, but not ever. I’m the Princess’ guardian.”

The duke seemed to clearly distinguish between “parent” and “protector.”

It seemed no different to the Emperor.

“My brother is too strict.”

“I’m just telling you the truth.”

“Is it because she took off the shoes you bought and wore what I gifted her?”

“…You’re speaking nonsense.”

Just in time, the servant brought in a good drink, and the brother’s discussion stopped for a while.

The emperor offered a toast, to commemorate the eternal friendship between the Kingdom of Liz and the Empire.

There was fruit juice in Rieta’s cup, so she could also shout a boisterous toast with the people of the Empire.

Rieta, who was much better, felt foolish to have worried for days about, “What if something happens at the luncheon?”

After attending it, she realised there had been nothing to be scared of.

Everyone’s meal time at the long table was over.

The attendant guided the Emperor and the nobles to a nearby salon.

Now, she attended on behalf of the Kingdom of Liz.

The minister was polite to the emperor and Rieta.

“This is Liz’s letter to the great Emperor.”

Thanks to his loud voice, everyone who had gathered in the salon noticed him.

The ministers read out the repayment plan sent by the king.

One spoke in the language of the Kingdom and stopped, so the other could change it into the language of the Empire.

Thanks to this, Rieta was able to understand the content perfectly.

It sounded pretty good, quite unlike what she had been dreading

Obviously, the few decent servants must have worked hard. They were really grateful.

All her father did was send flower pots and gold to beautiful girls in the countryside.

King Liz’s letter was immediately read after the announcement of the repayment plan.

He deeply appreciated the generosity of the empire.

Actually, there were many comments that seemed to flatter the Emperor.