Chapter 33

As I was inwardly cursing, Karlheinz hit a sore spot.

"Seems like you have some complaints about the princess you so deeply respect, don't you?"

"…Well, that's—"

Feeling awkward, I reluctantly opened my mouth.

"It's because the princess is trying to send me away from her side to the king and the princes."

"It seems so. She told me to take care of you if you were to serve at the royal castle."

"…You were pretending not to know, but you heard about it, didn't you?"

And Claudia has even arranged for my future. The thought made me clench my fists in frustration.

"It's because I'm still weak."

In response to my unconscious mutter, Karlheinz, unaware of my feelings, nodded easily.

"That's right. To the princess, you are a ward—a person to be protected."

"A servant doesn't need such consideration."

The image of my dead sister's smile, which I had seen only once, flashed through Noah's mind.

(I couldn't protect her. And now, I can't even do anything for the person I vowed to protect with my life.)

Feeling frustrated, I muttered.

"…It's fine if I'm just a disposable tool for her."

"You being this way is probably why she wants to keep you at a distance."

"What do you know?"

"I know."

"!"

I was genuinely surprised by his clear statement.

Karlheinz lowered his eyes and, with an expression that seemed to recall something far away, said:

"I, too, have experienced being saved by someone who gave me life and soul."

"…"

At that moment, Noah realized why he disliked Karlheinz.

(We're similar. Simply.)

Claudia had once taught him that this was called "in-group aversion." Despite feeling childish, he couldn't help but let his true feelings slip out.

"Even without me. …Without me, she would be much more free, and I understand that."

This became clear during the incident that made Claudia decide to come to the royal castle.

The magicians, said to be envoys of the queen, had come to the village to kill Claudia. Claudia had a deep attachment to the village. If not for the goal of not causing trouble for the village, she could have ignored the castle's summons and disappeared somewhere.

To Claudia, Noah is no different from the village. She is sending Noah to the royal castle for his future. To achieve this, she is even acting in a way that displeases her father.

(As a servant, I'm not only being protected by her but also getting in her way.)

This realization brings a sense of frustration and anxiety.

Karlheinz, as if seeing through everything, said:

"Words like 'it's fine to be disposable' are lies."

"They're not lies. I—"

"Your true wish is to protect and support Princess Claudia, isn't it?"

"…!"

Noah involuntarily gasped.

Karlheinz, with a slightly mischievous adult expression, smiled provocatively.

"That's why I'm saying, 'I'll teach you.' If you want to protect someone, you need to incorporate various techniques."

"…Did the princess order you to do this?"

"No, it's my suggestion. Noah, when you fight with magic, you sometimes use a sword, right?"

He knew this because he had been present during Noah's training at the 'Tower' before.

"I was surprised by the princess's teaching, but she doesn't seem to have any experience with swordsmanship."

Karlheinz was right. Claudia had said, "I don't like swords; they give me blisters. But since many of my disciples were sword users, I can teach the basics."

"Why do you know that?"

"Whether someone practices swordsmanship or not can be seen in their daily actions. …Didn't I mention it? My current title is the kingdom's chief magician."

Karlheinz chanted a short incantation, and a sword appeared in his hand.

"In the past, I also served as the instructor for the magic sword unit."

"…!"

He said it casually, but that must have been a significant achievement.

When Noah's eyes widened, Karlheinz said nonchalantly:

"I worked hard. …Because I, too, had someone I wanted to protect."

('I'…)

Karlheinz always used 'I' as his first-person pronoun.

Yet, in front of Noah, he changed it. It sounded almost like a call to a comrade, making Noah straighten his back.

Then Noah bowed to Karlheinz.

"…I apologize for my presumptuous remarks, despite being aware of my own weakness, Karlheinz-sama."

Then he raised his head, chanted, and manifested a sword, lightly swinging the tip.

"Could you please teach me swordsmanship?"

Gripping the hilt firmly, he looked straight into Karlheinz's eyes.

"…I need more strength to protect the princess."

"I won't hold back."

"That's what I want."

And Noah continued to receive Karlheinz's training until nightfall.

Throughout the training, Claudia's image lingered in his mind. He remembered her sad smile, even as he pleaded, and how she stubbornly pushed him away.

(…What is the princess afraid of?)

When night fell, a children's night party was held. As both a child and a servant and bodyguard, Noah was to attend the party.

If I can talk to her a little during the party, that would be good.

Thinking this, he focused on the training at hand.