Chapter 31

Even when his real daughter smiled, Folchart did not change his expression.

"Get out of the way, Claudia. Where did you sneak in from? Go over there."

"Hey! Claudia wants Karlheinz!"

Claudia pouted and turned to look at Karlheinz, who was kneeling.

"Right, Karlheinz?"

"Your Highness... It's not proper. Please return to your room."

Karlheinz's voice betrayed his anxiety as he tried to stop Claudia.

He knew she was not just any girl, but she was still a six-year-old child. No matter how powerful her magic, if she incurred Folchart's wrath, it would not end well.

And if Folchart deemed her a threat, he would eliminate her, even if she were his own daughter.

As expected, Folchart's cold gaze remained as he stepped toward Claudia.

"Your Majesty, please. The princess is still young and only wants to play."

"Silence. I did not give you permission to speak, Karlheinz."

The oppressive aura directed at him was a genuine threat.

Karlheinz's instincts warned him of the danger. He remained expressionless, calculating how to protect Claudia.

(If His Majesty harms Princess Claudia... Even if it means being called a traitor...)

"Hmph."

Folchart's perfectly composed face twisted into a mocking smile.

"Look, Claudia. My loyal servant seems to have been completely won over by you, hasn't he?"

"Hehe! Karlheinz loves Claudia!"

"Yes, it seems so... But—"

Folchart grabbed Claudia's face with one hand.

"You lack discipline, my daughter. You haven't been taught the basic lesson of not taking what isn't yours."

"Your Majesty!"

"Let's see. Perhaps I should teach you a lesson as a father?"

Karlheinz's face lifted, searching for a spell to counter Folchart's impending magic. The moment seemed to stretch into several seconds.

(Even if I am executed here, it doesn't matter. No matter how much power I gain, it's meaningless if those I want to protect are not alive.)

He had regretted this ever since losing contact with his benefactor.

For Karlheinz, the moment he realized she was Claudia's mother was also the moment her death was sealed.

(I must protect her this time—)

Just as he was about to act on this resolve—

"...Push!"

"Princess—"

Claudia, whose face was held by Folchart, extended her small hands straight forward. Then, her hands enveloped Folchart's face.

And she squeezed his cheeks.

"—Huh?"

Folchart, completely caught off guard, let out a strange sound.

Karlheinz, who had been watching, was also momentarily stunned.

Claudia, meanwhile, was laughing innocently as she kneaded her father's cold face.

"Daddy, you're so good at staring!"

"..."

Her bright voice echoed through the audience chamber.

"Are you playing with Claudia? That's why you're touching Claudia's face? Claudia's cheeks are so chubby, right?"

"..."

"Oh, but Claudia is so happy to play with Daddy, so I'm smiling..."

After a serious expression, Claudia slipped out of Folchart's weakened grip and looked up at Karlheinz.

"Karlheinz, did Claudia lose?"

"...Princess..."

Just as Karlheinz was at a loss for words—

"...Hah, hah... Hahaha!!"

"Your Majesty...?"

Folchart burst into laughter.

"Haha! You, the first to touch my face so boldly and play with it as you please, Claudia."

"Ah! Daddy is laughing too!"

"You truly know no fear. ...Well, now I feel ridiculous."

Karlheinz was taken aback by his tone.

(He's not angry? ...Under normal circumstances, the princess would be punished for such behavior. But now, His Majesty seems genuinely amused...)

Claudia then beamed with a smile like a blooming flower.

"Daddy! Since you laughed, does that mean Claudia won?"

"What are you talking about? You laughed first, Claudia."

"Oh! That's right!"

Her small hand covered her mouth.

Then, Folchart, in a gentle voice as if explaining to a child, said:

"In this case, it's called a draw."

"Draw!"

"Both of us lost, and both of us won."

Claudia nodded and smiled.

"Does that mean Claudia and Daddy are the same?"

"Yes... Karlheinz."

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Karlheinz bowed deeply to Folchart.

"As I said, I feel ridiculous. I will overlook your 'oversight' in your report for now."

(...Hiding the situation from His Majesty was not an oversight but a clear act of betrayal. Even knowing this...)

The current Folchart seemed genuinely in a good mood.

(No, I can't. Even if His Majesty says so, I shouldn't be complacent. I must take responsibility...)

"Karlheinz!"

"!"

Claudia's small hand tugged at Karlheinz's clothes.

"Hurry up, let's go to bed! Noah isn't here. Someone needs to sing a lullaby, or Claudia can't sleep."

"..."

"Hurry up."

She pulled him again, more forcefully.

"..."

The strength of her pull reminded him of something from the past.

"—Wake up! Hey, wake up, be strong!"

On a snowy night, the girl who had roused him from a deathly sleep had looked at him straight, just like Claudia now.

(...Claudia's actions today were a gamble. She must understand that if she incurs His Majesty's displeasure, her peaceful life could be threatened, and in the worst case, she could be killed.)

No matter how much magic Claudia possessed or how skilled she was, the situation remained perilous.

Yet, she had acted for Karlheinz's sake.

(...I never thought my debt would be repaid not by protecting her, but by being a babysitter.)

Finding an unexpected turn of fate, he couldn't help but smile.

"—As you wish, Princess."

Karlheinz bowed deeply to Claudia.