CH 241

“It’s strange.”

Rieta tilted her head.

“If it’s an apology, Everett, the party involved, had already done it himself. Besides, it wasn’t such a big deal.”

“But the Count has the duty of a guardian.”

Although the Duke answered like this, at that moment, when he thought of Count Hewitt’s position, he thought that he hadn’t done anything to have resulted in such a particularly concerning letter.

Perhaps the Count was afraid that even a small feeling would remain.

Of course, not to Rieta, but to the Duke himself.

It was no secret that the Duke cared about Rieta quite a bit.

With Everett being discussed as Princess Gabriella’s official fiancée, he may have wanted to relieve his anxiety that he might be hated by the Emperor’s beloved Duke.

He was well aware that making Everett a member of the Imperial family was a long-held dream of the Hewitt family.

He could almost call it an obsession.

A long time ago, the Hewitt family was revitalized as the Emperor’s maternal relatives.

It was only natural that they did not want to leave even the slightest seed of uneasiness behind in the opportunity that had come after much struggle.

“Will the Princess write a reply granting the visit?”

“Is it okay to do that?”

“Of course I will leave a signature with you at the bottom.”

Rieta’s expression brightened at the Duke’s words.

To have the Duke’s and her own signature on it, that might be a bit cool.

Rieta felt sorry for Everett, who must have been scolded by his father, but these little things made her feel better for a moment.

* * *

When Rieta and the Duke replied by setting a date and time, Count Hewitt arrived on the agreed date.

He stood there with a carriage full of presents.

Rieta felt a little sorry for Everett, who must have had a hard time getting in between the presents.

Including the fact that he was heavily armed in a gentleman’s suit on this hot day.

“The other day, my son was rude. Princess, the Duke.”

Contrary to Rieta’s imagination, the count had a very gentle face.

To the extent that he could actually be said to resemble the ‘Portrait of Grandmother’ introduced by Everett that day.

“If that’s the case, I’m really fine, Count.”

Rieta gladly accepted his apology.

But the Count shook his head.

“It’s not just that. To send my son alone to the Duchy as after that. It’s a shame for me.”

He bowed his head again.

Anyone who knew would think that Everett had done a great disrespect by coming to the Duke’s house.

“Let’s go in anyway, I can’t stand here forever.”

The Duke himself offered to be the guide, and soon after, Rieta followed him.

Since their last conversation in the garden, Rieta would stick by the Duke’s side at every opportunity.

She liked the sweetness that was like candy given out little by little each time.

Rieta grabbed his outstretched arm and smiled excitedly.

After she entered the parlor, she sat close to the Duke too.

Of course, in a way that didn’t go too far.

The Duke did not tell Rieta to be more careful as she behaved in a friendly manner towards him, and did nothing to push her away.

On the contrary, he took care of what she wanted and showed a very caring figure.

Thanks to this, Rieta became very happy, and the Count, on the contrary, became very anxious.

He had certainly heard rumors that the Duke regarded Princess Rieta as special, but he never thought that they would be so intimate.

His hands began to tremble pitifully as he sat across from them.

“I will apologize to both of you for the wrongs my son has committed, even if it means devoting my life.”

As he glanced at the door, various presents soon began piling up in front of Rieta.

There was not only food, but also various accessories and scented candles.

“I didn’t know what you would like, so I brought them all.”

Rieta responded cheerfully, putting her hands together.

“Oh, can I just choose one of these?”

“Of course not!”

Why? She thought it was too much to have all of them.

However, Rieta’s prediction seemed wrong.

The Count jumped up.

“Everything is about the Hewitt family’s devotion to the Princess and the Duke. Please forgive our rudeness.”

Rieta looked up at the Duke for a moment.

He nodded, and Rieta answered the Count again.

“Of course I forgave Everett for what he did to me. And I did a bunch of similar things to him.”

Rieta splashed a huge amount of water on Everett too but he did not resist.

Besides, she threatened him with Princess Gabriella’s name.

“I was the one who didn’t apologize. I’m sorry to bother you then, Everett.”

As Rieta bowed her head, the Count hurriedly waved his hands from his seat.

“No! My God, it is not right for my son to receive an apology from the Princess.”

He continued to look at the Duke’s eyes, not knowing what to do.

Perhaps because Rieta lowered her head, he seemed anxious if he had offended the Duke.