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“I wish I can help him fulfill his dream, even if it’s something small.”

Rieta stroked the cover with a cute squirrel on it, smiling sorrowfully. There was nothing she could do for Alicia in her current state.

Heavy silence pervading the room, the children stopped work on the puzzle.

“Noel, you know what?”

Rieta, having just dredged up an old story, pressed her finger slightly over her lips.

“My thoughts on this matter are supposed to be secret, so can you not tell anyone?”

“My lips are sealed.”

Noel smiled slightly, putting another piece of the puzzle together.

“I still don’t like it. I don’t want anyone to know except you.”

“….Not even Alicia?”

Noel didn’t know why he asked such a thing.

Despite this, Noel looked at Rieta with a puzzle piece in hand, waiting for an answer to his question.

“Yes, I told you. It’s a secret to everyone except you. Only you should know for the rest of my life. Okay?”

Rieta was dazzling when she covered her smile.

Noel dropped the wooden piece he held in his hand.

Click.

This time, luckily, the fallen puzzle piece filled the empty space perfectly and completed the rectangle.

He had only finished the easiest step, but Noel was elated.

*****

The next day, Noel nervously loitered in front of Alicia’s room.

What should he say? Ah really, what should he say?

After muttering to himself, Noel held his wooden sword erect, filled with determination.

‘I’m not doing this because the princess was cute when she said it’s a secret. The squirrel wasn’t cute at all! It’s just—I want to do this.’

In his hurry, Noel forgot to knock and directly opened Alicia’s door.

“The weather’s nice, so what are you doing in your room? If you have time for this, let’s practice swordplay!”

Noel chucked a wooden sword at him.

He was worried that it might hit Alicia’s head, but fortunately, Alicia simply grabbed the wooden sword that flew in.

Noel was glad Alicia didn’t get hurt, for it would make Rieta sad.

…That didn’t mean he wanted to make her happy.

“Young master.”

Alicia grabbed the sword he handed to him and pointed out the window with the end of his chin.

“There is a fine winter wind howling outside.”

“……”

“T-this cold is nothing to the Empire Knights! You can’t even do this?!”

“I never said I would be a knight—”

“S-shut up! Today is the day my swordsmanship instructor is coming. He said he’d make us do basic training until our arms won’t work anymore, so us beginners should be prepared.”

Noel quickly turned around in mock rage, his blush from embarrassment appearing late.

He really didn’t know what he was doing.

******

Everything Noel said was true, from the fact that the swordsmanship teacher was coming to the fact that his class was very strict.

In the end, it was Noel who went down faster.

Considering his young age, it was natural that he would be exhausted before Alicia.

Furthermore, according to the swordsmanship teacher, Alicia had an advantage in his natural physique.

“Does that mean Alicia was born with a good talent?”

“I don’t say such a word like ‘talent’ in front of students.”

He didn’t find the word “talent” to be all that frightening, but Noel thought Alicia was quite suited to knighthood.

Especially with his strict personality.

***

“Then, could you tell my father?”

When Noel asked again, the swordsman teacher smiled as he stroked the boy’s head.

“Young master, are you trying to take advantage of me?”

Noel nodded honestly at the teacher’s words.

The man looked at Noel’s very serious look and laughed.

He knew roughly what had happened.

Because he had heard that Noel and the boy from the poor Kingdom had gone to the Military Academy yesterday.

‘The Young Master has become quite cute since the Princess came.’

Moreover, helping a boy with such attractive talent was not a bad suggestion.

The job of a Knight is to protect, so he will have to protect the boy’s dream.

Feeling better, the swordsman teacher went to the Duke’s office after class, smelling of sweat.

*****

Three days later, the Military Academy held a test to recruit new cadets.

Rieta and Noel kidnapped Alicia and threw him at the test site.