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In fact, whenever she saw Darrell treating Noel, Rieta used to think of her younger brothers.

Fortunately, they didn’t resemble their father, so they were very cute.

“I’m sorry. I hope the two princes can send you a letter somehow…”

“Yeah, but you would have to disobey my father. It’s alright.”

“I’m sure the two princes miss you very much, too. You’re their only sister.”

Alicia hesitated for a moment, informing her of the others.

“The servants are all concerned about you.”

“….Yes. I know.”

She remembered how sorry they felt for her when she had to leave for the empire.

The Empire was only wonderful because of the people who cared for her.

“I want everyone to know that they don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“They’ll worry regardless of your situation.”

Rieta smiled cautiously, smoothing out her hair. She was grateful for those who cared about her well-being.

“I should be grateful. It’s the same now, but I think I should be more thankful.”

“It’s our duty to worry about the master that we follow.”

“Ah-that’s just what you say.”

“That’s the truth.”

“I think of Alicia as a friend.”

“I am always grateful for your generosity. But I can’t think of my master as a friend.”

They couldn’t be friends. Unconsciously, Rieta felt rejected.

Alicia was strict.

Besides, she knew that even if he spoke like that, they would befriend each other regardless.

“Oh, yes.”

Rieta thought of something fun.

“We’ve been in the Empire after a long time. Is there anything you want to see? Like something famous here….”

“I’ve already seen what I really wanted to see.”

“A-already?!”

“Yes.”

“……That’s very fast. I wanted to show you.”

As Rieta answered sullenly, he laughed a little.

Alicia realized that she was as mercurial as ever even after all her difficulties.

“Well, I’d be glad if you could show me what you like. As a servant, I want to know what my owner is interested in.”

“Don’t you want to know that as a friend?”

“It’s absolutely impossible for the princess and me to become friends. Besides, don’t you already have a good friend?”

“Who? Noel?”

“Yes, you can build your friendship with Prince Meyer. I think your bond can last forever.”

She was sure of it.

“Come to think of it…”

As if he had just thought of something, he knocked his fist against his palm.

“There was a place I wanted to go.”

“Where? Where did you want to go?”

“The military academy.”

“Military… academy? The place knights go, there?”

“It’s where the knights of the Empire are trained.”

“You want to be an Empire Knight?!”

“I do not wish to.”

“Then, why?”

Rieta asked again, but he just smiled and shook his head.

It seemed to be quite a personal reason, so Rieta decided not to ask anymore.

“Okay, then let’s go to the military academy together tomorrow. I’ll talk to the Duke and get you access.”

“Thank you.”

“You should thank the Duke, not me.”

“Of course, I am deeply grateful to the Duke. However, you’re my lifelong benefactor.”

“Oh my God, that’s how much you wanted to go to military school?!”

“Ah, yes.”

The way Alicia’s answer was strangely stretched bothered Rieta, but she smiled anyways, saying, “It’s good to have a lifetime benefactor.”

******

Fortunately, the military academy granted Alicia permission to visit, the duke said. It might have been easily approved because Alicia’s grandfather was a knight.

Knights’ respect for each other passed the boundaries of time and space.

“That’s romantic.”

“Yes, they value it.”

The military academy, the birthplace of knights, must have been a very romantic place, but Rieta’s joys of visiting were dashed as unfortunately, something quite unromantic happened.

“I-I’m sorry, Alicia.”

Rieta saw him off at the front door tearfully.

“Actually, I wanted to go with you… but I forgot that I had an Imperial language class today.”

“It’s all right.”

Alicia fixed Rieta’s slightly stiff ribbon with a careful hand.

“As a servant, I’m just glad that you are devoted to learning.”

“I don’t study enough for it to be called academic.”

“That’s not true.”

He shook his head seriously.

“It’s no use weighing the weight and depth of learning. All of it is a blessing.”

“B-blessing?”

“Yes, I remember the princess always wanted to learn. If that prayer was fulfilled, isn’t it sacred?”

“That’s.. That’s right.”

When Rieta smiled, he knelt in front of her and pressed her hand to his forehead like the day before.