CH 6

“What’s the matter?”

“Does Riett like dressing like that?”

In response to Evan’s subtle question, Riett looked at him and placed the spoon on the table.

“What’s wrong with my attire?”

Riett had a practical personality.

Her fiery red hair, as captivating as her eyes, would draw attention wherever she went, and if her long, unruly hair had any static, there was no way to control it.

Once, she tried to cut it all off, but her mother found out and hid all the scissors in the house.

After giving up on searching for scissors out of laziness, she mainly tied her hair up high and tight.

Her clothing was the same.

Other noble ladies would wear voluminous dresses, put on gloves made of silk, and always carry a small parasol that served no real purpose.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but such attire suited young ladies who primarily engaged in social and indoor activities.

In addition to indoor activities such as reading books and studying, Riett enjoyed outdoor activities like fencing, archery, and horseback riding.

As a result, it was only natural for her attire to transition to shirts and pants, like boys, when there was nothing special going on.

“I like it when Riett dresses like that.”

“I don’t dress like this for your sake! I wear it because it’s comfortable.”

When Evan spoke back defiantly, he handed Riett a glass of water.

“I hope you dress like this even when you enter the noble school.”

Riett narrowed her eyes and looked at Evan, unable to discern his intentions.

She knew that dressing like this as a noble young lady would attract attention from others.

However, at the moment, she was mostly engaged in a repetitive routine of “home-Evan’s house-home-Evan’s house.”

And most of the outdoor activities also took place on the large estate attached to the Kreutz mansion.

Anyway, it wouldn’t be appropriate to dress like this on formal occasions.

She had never deeply contemplated how to dress once she entered school, but now her mind was unnecessarily troubled because of Evan.

Nevertheless, it seemed like Riett had already thought about this issue as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Do you think I’m naive? Of course, I don’t dress like this normally.”

Evan remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering something, and then met her gaze.

“But do you know what, Riett?”

“What?”

“That 95% of the students at Truto Public Noble School are male?”

As Evan said, most of the students at Truto Public Noble School were male.

The young ladies of noble families generally aimed for successful marriages, so they emphasized bridal lessons and fitting into social circles.

Therefore, unless there was a specific purpose like Riett’s, noble young ladies didn’t need to attend school.

“Of course, I know.”

“So, wouldn’t it be better to dress like that? It might be too conspicuous if you wear dresses alone.”

It was a valid point, but which would stand out more: a noble young lady dressing like a boy or being the only girl among boys?

Riett pondered deeply in response to Evan’s question.

“And…”

“And?”

“You might appear somewhat approachable.”

Evan’s subtly thrown words became an arrow of discord that struck Riett’s heart.

With a lowered voice, Riett asked, 

“Appear approachable?”

“Dressed in dresses among boys, instead of being seen as a competitor, won’t they think of you as ‘ladies first’?”

It sounded quite convincing…

“Just my thoughts, Riett.”

It felt like he was saying, “The choice is yours.”

Riett couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the slightly withdrawn attitude at the end.

‘If you’re going to persuade me, then persuade me all the way!’

Throw a difficult question and show that smug smile of yours.

Riett’s heart was already leaning heavily in that direction, but still.

But he was also right about being sly.

Riett thought she should give Evan some kind of punishment.

“Evan.”

“Why, Riett?”

He even looks pleased.

When he’s in a good mood, his smile becomes deeper. Especially when she sees his narrowed eyes.

“Do you like that attire, Evan?”

Riett, in turn, asked Evan a question.

“Uh…?”

“I’m asking if you like your current attire.”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Evan glanced down at his outfit.

It was understandable.

Evan’s attire was nothing special for a nobleman, aside from the expensive parts.

“I think there’s a better outfit that suits you.”

“What…?”

Riett responded with an ominous smile to his uneasy inquiry.

Then, she put down her spoon, stood up from her seat, and grabbed Evan’s wrist.

Conveniently, a maid was passing by.

“Emma!”

The maid, Emma, turned around upon hearing Riett’s call.

“Lady Riett?”

“Emma! Can I borrow some cosmetics and clothes for a moment?”

“Um… Is Lady Riett going to wear them?”

“I’m not going to wear them! Thanks, Emma!”

As Riett attempted to move, Evan didn’t even flinch.

“Riett, are you…!”

“Just once!”

Riett playfully smiled and raised her index finger.

“Haah.”

Evan let out a small sigh and allowed himself to be led by Riett.

Arriving at Emma’s room, Riett swiftly opened the door and approached the dressing table.

There weren’t as many cosmetics as ordinary noble young ladies had, but it was enough.

Riett seated Evan in front of the dressing table and used a hairpin to fix his bangs to the side. Their perfectly proportioned features seemed to argue over who was more beautiful.

And why was his skin so clear and fair? If noble young ladies had seen it up close, they would have asked for the secret.

“I’ll make you look pretty in no time, Evan!”

Whenever Riett saw Evan, who was gradually acquiring a rather masculine appearance, she felt restless.

She had always wanted to make him try cross-dressing while he still had a pretty face.

And now the time had come.

“It’s… something that has to be done to appease my conscience, right, Riett?”

“Yes.”

With a firm answer, Evan closed his eyes as if resigned.

Riett’s eyes sparkled as she started applying makeup to Evan’s face.

His already fair complexion became even paler.

‘Hmm, I like it!’

Next, she would groom his eyebrows and add some vitality to his cheeks!

Under Riett’s touch, Evan’s face was gradually transforming.

Finally, she painted his lips with a bold red, and well…

“It’s like having a separate doll.”

Riett admired her work as if appreciating a masterpiece. If there was a girl who looked like this, she would have grown up with stunning beauty.

“Is it done now?”

Evan asked wearily. However, Riett shook her head.

“No. I told you, Evan. There’s a separate outfit that suits you better.”

Riett gently smiled and took out a maid’s uniform from Emma’s wardrobe.

The maid’s attire consisted of a black one-piece dress and a white apron, forming a set.

As Evan hesitated, Riett pounced on him.

“If we’ve started, we should see it through to the end!”

Just as Riett was about to grab the collar of his shirt, 

“Riett!”

Evan grabbed Riett’s wrists.

Startled, Riett tried to pull her wrists free, but she couldn’t easily escape from Evan’s firm grasp.

“W-Why won’t you let go?!”

Riett, who had only pretended to undress him, looked at Evan with a bewildered expression.

But for some reason, it seemed like Evan was even more composed.

“Riett.”

Evan called Riett’s name softly. His pupils, meeting her gaze slowly, appeared unusually dark.

“I’m not a child anymore.”

Riett screamed in a high-pitched voice while still held by his hands.

“Are you an adult then?!”

For heaven’s sake, he was just fourteen!

She had seen Evan since he was young, and with the second chance at life, no matter how much he had grown, he still seemed like a child in her eyes.

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…!”

Evan, frustrated, bit his lip. But soon, he released Riett’s wrists.

With her freedom regained, Riett struck Evan’s chest with force.

“So you want to overpower me just because you’ve grown bigger.”

“You were the one who pounced on me first!”

“Pounce? I was just playing around!”

In response to Riett’s confident words, Evan ruffled his hair in frustration.

“Haah…”

He let out a deep sigh, then stood up and opened the door.

Before leaving, Evan turned back and looked at Riett.

“I’ll go rest first. Be careful, Riett.”

Left alone, Riett furrowed her brow.

‘Is it worth getting so angry about?’

* * *

Upon returning home, the Duchess of Marren greeted Riett.

“Riett! You’re here now?”

“Yes, I had dinner with Evan.”

“What happened? Having dinner alone with Evan. Duke Kreutz probably wasn’t there either.”

“You knew that the Duke wasn’t there?”

Riett asked with a surprised expression.

“Well, didn’t you know that your father went to meet Duke Kreutz and Haart as well?”

“Mom, you also know Duke Kreutz’s brother?”

“Yeah, have you seen him a few times?”

Riett was curious about Haart but forgot to ask Evan about it earlier.

The disappointment in Riett’s face, remembering Evan who was upset, faded away.

But soon, she raised her head. She didn’t even want to think about that guy even at home.

Riett led Duchess Marren by the hand and sat on the sofa in the hall.

“What kind of person is Haart?”

“Well… he’s not someone who leaves a strong impression.”

Unfortunately, Duchess Marren didn’t seem to remember him well.

‘Then, was he just an extra passing by?’

While Riett was pondering the contents of the book for a moment, Duchess Marren approached her closely.

“By the way, Riett.”

“Yes?”

“Are you really going to enroll in a noble school?”

Riett slightly raised her eyebrows at the sudden question.

“You’re saying that again?”

“Again! I’m really worried about our daughter.”

“Don’t worry, there won’t be anything to worry about.”

Riett gently stroked Duchess Marren’s worried hand.

Duchess Marren had been opposed to Riett entering a noble school and inheriting the duke’s title.

She grew up in a very conservative household, and she knew that the noble school wasn’t as refined and elegant as it was thought to be.

Duchess Marren’s younger brother also attended a noble school but couldn’t adapt and dropped out.

After that, some prejudice seemed to have formed.

“It will be much harder for Riett since there are only boys.”

“I told you before. My goal is not just to become a duke but to become a noble member beyond that. How can I become someone significant if I can’t even adapt to a mere school?”

Despite Riett’s determined ambition, Duchess Marren’s face turned dark.

“You really resemble someone…”

She’s sorry to say this to her parents, but there’s no one among the two who looks like her.

She lived as a college student in South Korea and died in a car accident, and one day she possessed the book.

“Of course, I resemble our queen!”

Duchess Marren finally softened her stern expression at Riett’s cute words.

Then, she suddenly remembered something and stopped stroking Riett’s hair.

“Oh, by the way, Riett. Do you know about that?”