Maybe it was because after Princess Gabriella left, more people expressed their intentions to return. It wasn’t long before the banquet hall became surprisingly quiet.

Mayer’s people led the employees and started organizing the urgent items, and decided to clean up the remaining items one by one starting tomorrow.

First of all, the workers must be very tired.

Noel greeted his brother and father, and headed to his room.

However, he stopped walking in front of Rieta’s door, and went back and forth in front of it several times in uneasiness.

He had something he wanted to ask Rieta.

Did her arm still hurt?

Did she eat at the banquet?

Or if Hugh McLean had committed any disrespect.

And above all . . ..

… He missed Rieta.

She’d be asleep already, so he won’t be able to see her.

Should I go to sleep too?

With that thought in mind, Noel returned to his room and saw the pen and paper he had left on the desk.

He stared at it blankly, then impulsively wrote, ‘Are you sleeping?’

Noel ran down the hallway holding the paper.

Even though he wasn’t doing anything particularly bad, the reason why he was holding his breath was probably because it reminded him of his childhood.

Even at that time, when Rieta’s door was closed like this, he would sneak away and leave a note in order to talk to her somehow.

Thinking back, it was really fun.

The two of them would be writing until dawn, not realizing that the hallway was cold.

Finally, Noel arrived in front of Rieta’s room and pushed the paper in.

And he waited.

He hoped that Rieta would tell him something as she read the paper.

He would be more than happy even if she wrote the everyday things.

“…”

However, even though he waited for a long while, he couldn’t feel any presence beyond the door.

Was she asleep?

He put his ear to the door and held his breath.

There was only the sound of the occasional breeze when the window was open.

Noel let out a deep breath as he put his weight on the door.

***

Rieta opened her eyes.

No, she tried to, but her eyes were swollen and it was a little difficult.

She lightly pressed the corner of her eye with the palm of her hand.

It was swollen ugly from crying all night.

Why did she cry? Stupid.

She raised her body.

Perhaps it was because it was a little hot under the blanket, and the autumn breeze that blew softly felt refreshing.

Maybe this cold wind would help to calm her swollen eyes.

She turned her face toward the window, remembering the maids putting ice on her eyes.

And she realized one thing.

The moon was approaching at a low place. It seemed that dawn was near.

She hoped her eyes were fine before the maid came.

Because it seemed like she would make them worry for nothing.

The grateful wind blew again and erased the remaining heat from her face.

And now the wind blew past many things in Rieta’s room.

A tapestry decorating a wall or a dress hung on a screen… And the lost wind blew away a piece of paper that had fallen on the floor before it calmly died down.

Rieta turned her head to where the wind had last touched it.

There weren’t too many cases of paper rolling around on the floor, so a certain assumption came to mind.

… Noel?

And soon, Rieta found a piece of paper with his handwriting on it.

How long has it been here?

The ink was completely dry.

In addition, the corners were curled up as if they were fluttering in the wind that had been in the room all night.

Rieta felt upset for some reason, and she cried as she hugged her paper.

She shouldn’t have fallen asleep and waited a little longer.

She wanted to talk to Noel.

She didn’t know where to start, but she didn’t know what to say when she saw his face.

Anyway, it’s almost dawn now, and today was the day after a tiring banquet, so she’d have to wait half a day more before meeting Noel.

To her disappointment, it was inevitable. Rieta let out a small sigh and took a pen with her hand under the wounded arm.

Even though it was late she had to write a reply.

Yes, sorry. I was sleeping.

After writing the usual answer, Rieta pondered for a while before adding the following words.

Did you wait for me? If you did, I’m sorry.

And she picked up the paper now.

The ink didn’t even dry, but she couldn’t wait for that.

Because morning was coming.

Rieta walked hurriedly with bare white feet and opened the door.

“Ack…!”

And contrary to her hurried heart, she stopped for a moment.

With a small startled sound.

It was because there was a black shadow in front of her room.

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