Chapter 23

※I also updated yesterday. If you haven't read the previous chapter, please start from the one before.

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

The guards around her turned pale, unable to utter a single word. Of course, the children, including the crown prince, were no different.

Emilia's expression was tense, as if she were about to collapse at any moment. However, the one who was most agitated was the woman with the same red hair as Emilia.

"Emilia!!"

The woman quickly stepped forward and firmly grabbed Emilia's wrist.

(She must be the queen, Irmela.)

She was a beautiful and elegant woman, but her face was filled with anxiety, as if she were facing a more pressing issue than her daughter disgracing the king.

"What have you done?!"

"A... I, I..."

"How dare you play such a prank on His Majesty?! What would you do if something happened?!"

"But, but, Mother!!"

Emilia shook her head and pointed at Claudia.

"It's not me. It's her fault, all of it is her fault!!"

"Really?"

(Oh dear, she's being accused without any evidence.)

Of course, such things didn't matter to Claudia. However, Irmela, with her amethyst eyes burning with anger, glared at Claudia intensely.

"Is that so? Emilia, you have no fault in this?"

"Y-Yes, Mother! She was being mean to me, which is why this happened!"

"What a child...!! Did you hear that, Your Majesty? It seems that all of Emilia's behavior is due to Princess Claudia..."

At that moment, King Volkhardt, who had been silent until then, finally spoke.

"Hey."

"!?"

Irmela instinctively hugged Emilia protectively.

"Be quiet, you've been noisy since just now."

Volkhardt's voice was so cold and intimidating that Irmela instinctively shielded her daughter. He lightly brushed off the mud on his clothes and said dismissively,

"To make such a fuss over a trivial matter. If it gets dirty, just change and throw it away."

"Y-Your Majesty..."

"More importantly,"

Volkhardt's finger pointed directly at Irmela and Emilia.

"A person who cries emotionally is far more unpleasant to have around. Take Emilia away."

"But...!! Please listen, Princess Claudia will surely harm the other children too! Before that—"

"Are you going to make me repeat myself?"

"!!"

King Volkhardt's eyes were a garnet red. The color of one's eyes reflects the nature of their magic and their personality. His burning red eyes alone seemed to suppress those around him.

Queen Irmela, showing a hint of fear towards her husband, bowed deeply.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Mother... I, I..."

"What are you doing! Come quickly, Emilia!"

Irmela stood up and grabbed Emilia's muddy wrist, starting to walk. As they passed, Irmela seemed to glare at Claudia intensely.

Claudia could only imagine this because Noah, the young boy, stood in front of her, shielding her with his small back.

(Noah really tries his best to protect me.)

Claudia buried her face in Noah's back, giggling softly. Noah must have heard her laughter.

"Hehe, don't pout, Noah. I'm laughing because I'm happy?"

"Princess..."

"...More importantly. Be a good girl from now on, okay?"

After Irmela and the others left, the king said,

"Look at me, Princess."

Noah didn't move, but when Claudia gently touched his back as a signal, he obediently stepped back.

Now, nothing stood between her and the king. Claudia looked up at her father again. King Volkhardt also looked down at her quietly.

Though he no longer seemed as cold as before, his expression was rather listless. It didn't seem like the face of a man looking at a daughter he had never met in six years.

Volkhardt's golden hair and long eyelashes seemed to glow faintly in the sunlight that fell into the courtyard.

(Objectively, he is a handsome man. ...But)

Volkhardt, with a rather stern expression, eventually spoke.

"Come here. I'll pick you up."

Hearing this, the eldest brother, Wilhelm, widened his eyes.

"Y-You, Father!? Erenfried, have you ever been carried by Father?"

"Of course not! It's rare enough to hear a word from Father directly..."

The voices of the brothers, who were standing at a distance, were collected by magic. Of course, they shouldn't be heard by the king or his attendants. However, the faces of the attendants showed that they were just as surprised by Volkhardt's words.

"What's the matter? Come here."

"...Father?"

"Yes. I am your father, am I not?"

A well-shaped hand was extended, urging Claudia. One of the attendants also urged her.

"Princess, quickly!"

(...If I upset this man, it could be disastrous. He probably won't show mercy, even to his own daughter.)

The eyes of everyone around her were on her. Even Noah, who stood by her side, watched her quietly.

"Hurry up. I am not a patient man."

"...Father..."

"Come on. Come here."

And with that, Claudia, with a cute and innocent smile, said to her father,

"---No!"

"---...!"

The beautiful father was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.