He lowered himself towards the kid’s head.

“. . . Sorry, it’s so sudden.”

Rieta apologized, to which he shook his head.

“No, it’s as if I’ve led to such merciless phrases. Forgive me.”

“It’s simply, it’s true.”

“Nothing hurts greater than one thing that can not be modified.”

“That’s . . . true.

“Princess.”

Rieta lastly opened her teary eyes barely and checked out him.

“Princess Rieta.”

He addressed her once more. Nevertheless, it was somewhat completely different from earlier than.

Though he used the phrase ‘Princess’, her title was connected to it.

Hardly anybody known as her title besides Noel . . . It was a lonely title.

“As you stated, I’m not Princess Rieta’s father.”

“I . . . know.”

“The Princess is just not my daughter. She will’t be.”

“Huuh.”

Rieta took a deep breath.

It felt like there was a gap in her coronary heart.

“Nonetheless, I . . .”

A big hand reached over to Rieta’s head and gently stroked it.

It was heat, as if giving her consolation.

“I’m at all times involved.”

“. . .”

“Even the Princess’ smallest actions had been a priority to me.”

His fingers continued to maneuver via her hair.

Maybe he was nonetheless apprehensive about Rieta.

“And I don’t know if . . . You’re additionally a terrific satisfaction.”

“. . . Me?”

Rieta appeared intently.

Rieta hadn’t accomplished something to be notably pleased with.

“Sure.”

“However I haven’t accomplished something.”

It was true. She didn’t even maintain the highest spot within the academy like Darrel.

She had by no means displayed her prowess in a searching contest like Gabriella had.

“It doesn’t matter should you don’t know what I’m pleased with. It’s only a proven fact that exists.”

He took a handkerchief from his chest and handed it to her.

“Princess Rieta.”

The kid took his handkerchief, wiped her face, and rolled it up tightly.

“I can’t be your father. Besides, we . . .”

“. . . We . . .”

Rieta arbitrarily intervened in his phrases.

She type of wished to try this. She looks like she is aware of what he would say subsequent.

“We aren’t not a household . . . proper?”

The phrases he stated via her eyes filled with tears had been a bit cute, so the Duke smiled with out realizing it.

“Nevertheless, it’s unusual to make use of two negatives.”

He spoke slowly, as if he was educating Rieta the Imperial language once more.

“We’re household, Rieta.”

“We’re . . .”

It was such a straightforward factor to say, however Rieta couldn’t bear to observe via to the top.

It was partly as a result of the phrases sounded so fairly, and partly as a result of she appreciated that the Duke known as her by her title like this.

“If I had recognized you desire to it this a lot, I’d have informed you somewhat earlier.”

“Sure, I prefer it.”

Rieta didn’t wish to depart any regrets behind on this excellent second.

Even when it was late, or one thing like that.

“I prefer it a lot.”

He stroked her hair once more.

“, I really . . .”

And Rieta realized that now could be the time to talk her thoughts.

“I got here all the way in which right here as a result of I’ve one thing I have to let you know right this moment.”

“It appeared so. It’s one thing that may’t be postponed, in order that’s why you will need to have been in such a rush.”

Rieta nodded her head barely.

“I informed you, I got here right here to do something for the Kingdom.”

“Sure.”

“That feeling has not modified even now. The individuals of the Kingdom could have forgotten me, however nonetheless.”

She gripped the Duke’s handkerchief somewhat more durable.

She was squeezing out braveness from there.

“I believe I must be the place I have to be, and do what I have to do.”

“I see.”

“So, the day I flip sixteen and get my rights again. On that day, I, the Duke’s household . . .”

I’ll depart.―The phrases by no means got here out. Even when they had been crucial phrases.

Nevertheless, maybe as a result of it had already reached the Duke’s coronary heart, his expression darkened considerably.

“. . . I’m sorry.”

Rieta was apprehensive that he is likely to be disillusioned in her.

A short while in the past, they tied one another fairly along with the phrase household, and now she stated this.

“No. I used to be guessing.”

“What?”

“No, I knew.”

“Do you know?”

“Princess, I used to be additionally the prince of this nation.”

“Ah.”

Rieta recalled one thing she had forgotten for a very long time.

“I do know no less than somebody with the nation’s title would assume.”

“Duke . . .”

“If I had been the Princess, I’d have accomplished that.”

He stopped stroking Rieta’s hair.

“Because the Princess’ guardian, I respect and help all of your choices. Might there be a manner.”

There was a lot in his reply.

Belief, help, and particular affection.

Rieta was so pleased that she hugged him tightly by the nape of his neck.

Maybe he was stunned, he paused for a second, however then he awkwardly patted Rieta on the again.