Chapter 14

"Very well."

With that, she gently traced the air with her index finger.

After a gesture that seemed like conducting an orchestra, a tea set appeared with a soft thud, and Karlheinz was taken aback.

Claudia's pot, which she manipulated, poured tea into the teacup. Noah quietly observed the soft steam and the gentle bubbling sound.

"Do you need sugar in your tea, sir?"

"...No, thank you. Please don't trouble yourself."

Claudia smiled and made one of the cups float in front of Karlheinz.

After he took the cup, she released the magical levitation. She reached for her own cup and blew on it gently.

Without hesitation, Karlheinz drank the tea, placed the cup on the table, and said expressionlessly,

"Creating something from nothing is a highly advanced magic. Moreover, controlling such delicate movements and adjusting the temperature. To cast all these spells without incantation..."

His red eyes calmly met Claudia's. However, the praise that followed was undoubtedly sincere.

"Remarkable, Your Highness."

"Thank you."

Claudia's elegant smile revealed that she was no longer acting like a six-year-old girl.

There was no point in pretending in front of Karlheinz.

As the Chief Magician, he was clearly different from other magicians. While sipping the warm tea, Claudia lowered her eyes.

(If I can't deceive him, I'll have to use a different method. --To ensure this man doesn't interfere with me.)

Claudia's small body couldn't reach the table from her chair.

If she told Noah to "put it down," he would take the cup and saucer and place them gently on the table.

"Shall we get to the main topic, sir?"

Of course, she knew Karlheinz's purpose.

Claudia had heard everything from the conversation between her uncle and Karlheinz. However, she deliberately let Karlheinz speak.

"His Majesty is seeking new military strength for national defense. To achieve this, he has decided to re-investigate the magical powers of the royal family."

"Then, please give me the crystal. I'll let you measure my magical power."

Claudia, still smiling, extended her delicate hand as if asking for a candy.

"If it turns out that I'm 'still lacking,' Father will leave me alone, won't he?"

"..."

The gaze that seemed to want to say something came from Noah, standing diagonally behind her chair.

She could tell that it contained exasperation even without turning around. Of course, Claudia didn't think such a request would be granted.

"Your Highness, I serve this country."

As expected, Karlheinz said earnestly.

"If His Majesty has taken measures to protect the country, we must follow them. No matter how you manipulate the crystal's appraisal results, I have the duty to report what I see with my own eyes."

"That's a problem. I'm just a six-year-old child. It's wrong to be used as a weapon of war."

Claudia narrowed her eyes and chuckled.

"After reporting to His Majesty, you will return to the capital, Your Highness. You will receive the appropriate education and prepare for the coming battle..."

"Karlheinz."

For the first time, she called the man by his name.

Karlheinz must have sensed the meaning behind it.

While hugging the fluffy cushion on her lap, Claudia calmly said,

"If I were to, how long do you think it would take me to destroy the neighboring country?"

"..."

Karlheinz exhaled and answered cautiously.

"To defeat the enemy king, it would take just a few seconds. To annihilate the magical soldiers, a few minutes. To destroy the capital, an hour. To burn the entire country, three days, perhaps."

"Hehe. You are truly excellent."

Despite showing only a glimpse of her magic, Karlheinz's assessment was close to correct.

(But it's not exactly right.)

Satisfied with the information, she looked at Karlheinz.

"What about Noah here?"

"He has very raw but exceptionally talented magical abilities. --On par with those of a royal family in a major country."

"That's right. Noah has the same amount of magical power as I do."

Noah, standing silently, showed no sign of disagreement. It seemed he had already seen through what Claudia wanted to do.

(Noah's talent is real. But the claim about having the same amount of magical power as me is a lie. ...However, Noah currently shares my magical power through a familiar contract.)

When Claudia's magical power was measured, and when Noah's was measured, it was essentially the same storage being observed.

However, Karlheinz would see it as two separate storage units of the same size.

(Karlheinz is excellent. ...Because of that, he can clearly imagine the threat if 'Claudia and Noah' were combined.)

Claudia smiled serenely.

"The reason you want to take me is to protect the country, right?"

"...That is correct."

"Then, this is simple."

She raised her index finger in front of her small lips.

"The best way is not to interfere with me."

"..."

Karlheinz slowly closed his eyes.

"Such words could be interpreted as harmful to the country. Even if you are a princess, I cannot overlook them..."

At that moment, Noah stepped forward.

Karlheinz looked at Noah. Noah must have been staring at him with his pitch-black eyes.

(Come on, good boy.)

Claudia patted Noah's head in her mind and smiled.

"I only do what I want to do."

Resting her chin on the cushion, she told him,

"Karlheinz... You don't really believe that taking me for Father's sake is the right thing to do, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Karlheinz's eyes widened slightly.

A minor change, but it was enough to confirm her suspicions.

"Why is the relationship between this country and the neighboring country so bad?"

"...The cause of the growing tension is the ongoing tension near the border. There have been skirmishes between the citizens, leading to disorder, and even disputes among the magicians who are supposed to mediate."

"Why do the citizens fight with the neighboring country?"

"The people who have drifted to the border areas of this country tend to be those suffering from poverty. In their struggle to survive, they cross the border to steal."

"Then, who is to blame for these people being hungry?"

"...Your Highness."

Before regaining her memories, Claudia was like a lonely doll.

Still, she wasn't completely unaware.

By organizing the information she had, she could grasp the general situation.

"Anyone can easily see what would happen if a foolish king were given a 'weapon' capable of easily destroying a country."

Karlheinz frowned.

As someone who served the country, he couldn't speak rashly here.

"Think carefully. What is truly necessary to protect this country?"

"..."

"Very well!"

Claudia hopped off her chair and smiled like a young girl.

"Our guest is leaving, Noah. We should see him off."

"Ah."

Noah's response carried a subtle warning to Karlheinz.

Karlheinz stood up and bowed to Claudia.

"For today, I will take my leave. We will be staying in a nearby village, so we can meet again another day."

"It would be troublesome if the Chief Magician were to stay here for too long and arouse suspicion."

Noah said this to Karlheinz.

Karlheinz sighed and looked down at Noah.

"...Black eyes?"

"Sure, but I won't give them to you."

"..."

When Claudia interjected, Karlheinz bowed again as if to apologize.

Then, he left the room.

(Sigh.)

Claudia sat back down in her chair and thought while hugging the cushion.

(I can probably imagine what will happen next. It's boring, but it can't be helped.)

As she closed her eyes, she sensed Noah moving beside her.

Claudia opened her eyes and looked over. Noah, with a serious expression, knelt down and reached out to her cheek.

"...You've used your magical power again, haven't you?"

"I had to make Karlheinz understand my power. Besides, I wanted to drink tea."

"Is creating clothes and outfits with magic really that advanced?"

"Yes, it's advanced and very useful. Just by being properly dressed, you gain a lot of persuasive power in your words and actions."

After explaining with a smile, Noah furrowed his brow and said,

"...I'll learn how to make tea."

"...Noah?"

Surprised by the unexpected words, Claudia blinked.

"I'll prepare your clothes. I'll comb your hair and let you dress up as you like every morning."

"..."

"As a servant, I'll do whatever needs to be done, so..."

Then, he said seriously,

"Don't push yourself so hard."

"..."

She was truly surprised.

Magical power and physical strength are very similar. When they are depleted, you feel tired and unwell. Claudia's inability to resist sleep was all due to this depletion.

However, she never expected to be so directly worried about.

Even the witch Ardelheit from her past life had never heard such words.

Ardelheit used powerful magic and influenced the fate of a country as a matter of course, and no one ever considered her exhaustion.

Yet, the nine-year-old boy in front of her was sincerely concerned about Claudia.

So surprised, she couldn't speak for a while. Eventually, Noah, feeling awkward, averted his gaze.

"...Maybe I'm off the mark."

"...You..."

Claudia, still bewildered, asked Noah,

"Will you... help me get ready?"

"!"

Noah's pitch-black eyes widened, and he nodded earnestly.

"Yes."

"...Hehe."

Claudia smiled and said sincerely,

"That's very nice to hear."

"..."

Noah also smiled, as if a flower had bloomed.

Now, where should she start teaching him? Claudia felt excited as she began to think about Noah's education plan.

It was a strange and unexpected turn of events, something she had never imagined before.