Chapter 32

"…Your Majesty. If I may, I would like to escort the princess to her room."

"Very well. You may also leave then."

"Yes. —May the night's curtain fall upon you, and may the golden dawn soon arrive."

"May it arrive soon! Good night, Father!"

He firmly held the other hand of Claudia, who was waving her hand vigorously. This was something he had learned from Noah.

The door closed, and as soon as they stepped out of the audience chamber, Karlheinz knelt without hesitation.

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness. However, please do not put yourself in danger to help me. I implore you to prioritize your own safety above all else."

"Danger? What danger?"

"You must understand. Even if the king speaks in such a manner, there is no guarantee that he won't change his mind and impose a severe punishment on you."

Indeed, Volkhardt is intrigued by Claudia.

But that is only for now.

His interest will eventually wane, and her fearless behavior could very well offend him.

However, Claudia dismissed Karlheinz's heartfelt concern with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"…!"

She started walking down the corridor, no longer displaying the childishness from before.

"Rather than that, Karlheinz."

As he stood up and followed her, Claudia continued in a serious tone.

"Noah has been sulking all this time. When I told him my thoughts, he seemed very upset."

"…Do you mean during the magic appraisal earlier? When the king's interest seemed to shift from you to Noah?"

"Yes. So, how do you make a nine-year-old boy happy again?"

Her tone was as if a woman older than nine was asking about how to handle someone younger.

(…Is she more concerned about a servant than the king's mood? Truly, she is an enigma…)

Karlheinz sighed and offered his advice.

"Then, let me have a talk with him."

"Karlheinz? …Hmm. Perhaps it is better for a man to handle this."

"Yes. Of course, the commonality of being the same gender is a factor, but it's not just that…"

He could imagine how Noah felt, as if it were his own.

(I understand your frustration. …The pain of being unable to protect someone you want to protect.)

So, he told Claudia:

"I wish to repay your kindness. If you could give me a moment alone with Noah…"

Claudia tilted her head slightly in response.

***

"…I didn't ask you to teach me, Lord Karlheinz."

"Hmm? That's quite a bold statement, Noah."

That morning, after silently finishing Claudia's preparations, Noah was unexpectedly summoned to a corner of the castle.

Claudia had ordered him to go there, but the person waiting for him was someone else.

Caught off guard, Noah glared at the man standing there.

Karlheinz, dressed in what appeared to be training robes, had tied his long silver hair into a ponytail, unlike his usual low ponytail.

And he declared:

"Today, leave the care of Princess Claudia during the day to the castle's maids. Instead, you will receive combat training from me here."

Noah, taken aback by this sudden announcement, immediately rejected Karlheinz's plan.

(Absolutely not. Training me? Why would Karlheinz suddenly do such a thing…)

It made no sense. Moreover, Noah, though he tried not to show it, did not like this man, Karlheinz.

When Noah stepped back in caution, Karlheinz calmly said:

"Of course. I've known for a while that you dislike me."

"…Yes. For example, the way you confirm such things with a straight face."

"I think you also lack positive emotional expressions…"

(That's none of your business.)

Noah curled his lips but quickly shook his head.

Showing his emotions, whether positive or negative, was not something Noah intended to do easily.

(Controlling one's emotions is also necessary to protect the master. Stay calm and always be mindful of how you present yourself to others… like the princess.)

Noah closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened them.

Karlheinz, observing Noah, placed his hand on his chin and narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm. You're nine, right? Despite your young age, you control your magic quite well."

(…'Young age'…)

Though the words were unwelcome, he reaffirmed:

"I don't need your guidance. As you know, I am learning from the princess."

"Of course."

"My teacher is her. —I need nothing other than what I have received from the princess."

He stated this with a straightforward heart.

Karlheinz, after widening his eyes, softened his expression as if looking at something endearing.

"…What are you trying to say with that look?"

"Heh. Nothing, really."

(Damn. This guy, who usually has no expression, is…)

"I can imagine what you're thinking, but I often say the same about you."

Karlheinz's expression remained unchanged, but Noah could sense a hint of amusement.