Chapter 12

In response to the question, Noah furrowed his brow.

"…I’ve never even thought about it."

"You’re so unambitious. Isn’t it a perfect opportunity for a change of reign, now that the man is no longer useful?"

Claudia, who appeared to be sixteen, pointed at the capital from the rooftop garden.

Now that Noah was also in his adult form, he didn’t have to look up at her. In fact, he had to look down slightly to hear Claudia’s voice.

"This can be yours."

"…"

The sun had just set beyond the sea facing the capital.

The city, dyed in navy, looked nostalgic when seen this way. Over the past five years, there had been few opportunities to go outside the underground prison, and he hadn’t had the chance to leisurely enjoy the scenery.

Even so, the emotion he felt was just that much.

"There’s no need, and that man has a child. He’s my cousin, a year younger than me, and I’ve heard he’s very capable, so the country will be passed on to him."

"Oh, you’re letting the child of your enemy go?"

"I don’t mix up my targets for revenge."

Moreover, he thought.

"…I’ve seen my sister once, after she grew up."

Claudia didn’t know the details of what had happened to Noah.

However, he felt as if it was allowed to not talk about it, and he indulged in that feeling.

"My sister was smiling."

He could clearly recall the distant figure he had seen.

She was laughing, her golden hair, inherited from her mother, swaying in the sunlight. Her uncle was there, and her cousin was there, gently stroking her head.

The uncle must have truly liked her mother, and he must have genuinely felt that his sister resembled her. She had been raised happily.

"If that’s the case, then it’s fine. The idea that I wanted to mourn her with my own hands was just a deception."

"…Yes."

Claudia turned her cold gaze toward the city below.

She let go of Noah’s hand and started walking on the lawn of the rooftop garden. The garden, blooming with flowers of various colors, must have been beautiful during the day.

But now it was completely immersed in the evening twilight.

"What did your sister like?"

"…"

When asked, Noah couldn’t answer.

After all, he had only properly faced her right after she was born, and otherwise, he had only talked to her through his mother’s belly. There was no way he could clearly know what she liked.

"…When I saw her, she was holding flowers in both hands."

"Yes, flowers."

Claudia stopped at the end of the garden and looked down at the city.

Her light brown hair swayed in the wind. A small light gathered at her fingertips.

"‘…’"

It seemed Claudia was chanting some spell.

She then turned to Noah and beckoned him with a small gesture. Following her, Noah was taken aback.

"This is…"

From the city below, which was dyed in night, light floated up.

Floating in the navy darkness were faint orange lights, each shaped like a flower, slowly blinking and rising into the sky.

The city below was sparkling as if sprinkled with stars.

It was a beautiful sight that left him speechless.

"It’s a memorial."

As Claudia traced the sky with her fingertips, light responded and was born.

"Even if she’s buried anywhere in the city, she’ll surely see this, won’t she?"

"…Claudia"

"You don’t need to think that mourning is a deception."

Her eyes, which changed color like an aurora, looked straight at Noah.

"You’ve done well so far."

"…!!"

At the moment she smiled, his chest tightened.

He felt like he might cry, but he clenched his fists, determined not to. After all, he hadn’t accomplished anything, and he didn’t have the right to cry here.

"Dear Noah, you don’t have to be so strong."

"I’m not being strong. …Claudia."

While tucking her bangs behind her ear, Claudia tilted her head.

"I used you. Even though I once said I would obey, I lied and ran away from you."

"I knew from the beginning and still made the contract. I don’t feel deceived by you."

"Even so…"

Even if he hadn’t been killed, being abandoned would have been natural.

Yet, Claudia helped Noah.

In front of Noah, who had fled from being a familiar, she firmly said she would protect him because he was a familiar, and even performed a memorial for his sister.

"I know I’m not trustworthy. I want to spend the rest of my life repaying you."

The light of the flowers reflected in Claudia’s eyes.

Looking down at it closely, Noah declared:

"Once again, I swear my loyalty as your familiar."

"…"

Her bewildered blink was like that of a young girl.

After a few seconds, Claudia smiled playfully.

"…You’re silly. A person with your resolve shouldn’t live like someone else’s dog."

"Didn’t you say, ‘choose your way of life’? The reason I lived until today is gone."

From now on, he wouldn’t live to protect his sister or to seek revenge on his uncle.

If he were to choose his way of life, he wanted to choose this path from the bottom of his heart.

"So, I’m fine being your dog."

"…!"

He swore his loyalty.

Looking into Claudia’s eyes again, he repeated it, and she quietly lowered her gaze.

(…And)

What worried him was the words his uncle had said earlier.

‘The legendary witch who lived five hundred years ago! She was praised by people but, at some point, took her own life—’

Claudia didn’t deny anything about Adelheid’s end.

That silence seemed to be an affirmation. In other words, Claudia in her previous life had chosen to die by her own hand.

(She’s strong, yet somehow seems fragile. If that’s the case, I want to…)

"…Alright."

Claudia’s hands gently cupped Noah’s cheeks.

"I’ll make you mine. I wanted a big, strong, and beautiful dog. …But if you want to run away, just say so."

It was as if she was saying that Noah would inevitably follow such a future.

She had a transparent, beautiful yet lonely smile.

"I don’t want to run away. Absolutely not."

"Hehe"

After looking at him with eyes that didn’t believe him at all, Claudia looked at the city again.

"The pursuing magicians will soon figure out and come here. …Noah"

"Ah"

He understood what she meant, and Noah also looked down at the city.

"…"

He was born here and raised to be the king of this country, but that was taken away.

He carefully memorized the city below, where his sister must be sleeping. He probably wouldn’t have the chance to look down at it again.

"Hey, if you want this country, once more…"

"‘Teleport’"

Holding Claudia’s hand, he interrupted her and chanted.

When they opened their eyes again, they were in Claudia’s tower. On the sofa were many blankets and flowers in Claudia’s hair.

"For a servant, it’s quite cheeky to teleport your master."

She said it, but Claudia seemed to be enjoying it.

"Anyway, you must be sleepy, right? Your voice is gentler and more affectionate than usual."

"Mmm…"

It seemed Noah was right, as Claudia lay down on the sofa.

In her sixteen-year-old form, it must have been uncomfortable to sleep on the sofa. If she could at least revert to her child form, he could carry her to the bed in the back of the room.

"Hey, go back to your original size. It’s hard to carry you like this."

"No. I’m very sleepy and don’t want to do anything. So…"

Saying that, Claudia reached out her hands.

"Carry me."

"…Hey"

He frowned, thinking it was a joke.

Even though he had grown ten years, Claudia was still in the form of a sixteen-year-old adult. He wondered if she had no resistance to being carried, but she didn’t seem to.

"Carry me. It’s an order."

"…"

Asked to do so, Noah let out a very large sigh.

If time passed, both Noah and Claudia would probably return to their original forms. However, since it was unclear when that would happen, they couldn’t wait for it.

Resigned, he knelt and picked Claudia up in a cradle hold.

"Hehe"

"…What?"

"It’s your first official task as a servant, Noah."

He was exasperated by her playful words.

"I wanted a more proper order…"

"I’ll give you a proper one later. Like, drive away the castle magicians or bluff them away."

Hearing Claudia’s words, he wondered what had happened to them.

But he imagined they were probably waiting without any explanation, so he didn’t bother to ask.

Then, he looked down at the sleepy Claudia in his arms.

(Even though she’s a body made of magic, she’s way too light.)

He carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.

By then, she was already breathing softly.

"…Good night."

Whispering, Noah yawned widely.

Sleeping here right away was probably unbecoming of a servant. He knew it, but couldn’t resist, and ended up sinking into the bed.

And he fell into a deep sleep until morning.