Chapter 35

"Even with this hair, I'm super cute, right?"

Claudia smiled, and the maids blushed.

"Of course, Your Highness."

"You're still so young. Perhaps it's better to be natural."

"Hehe. Then, Claudia, I'm going to the night party! Thank you, everyone!"

Claudia left the room. The guards waiting there were not Noah but two adult magicians.

"Are you ready, Princess Claudia?"

"Yep."

"You look absolutely adorable. Let's go to the hall, then."

Claudia nodded, and Noah was not by her side. This was as she had instructed Karlheinz beforehand.

"I'd like you to take care of Noah until the night party starts."

"Of course. The more time we have to teach him, the better... But is it alright for you to go without Noah?"

"I might be able to get things done faster on my own."

Karlheinz showed a slight sign of sympathy for Noah, but if things progressed quickly, it would be for the best.

(If the Empress acts early, it will save us the trouble of waiting. My father certainly has no intention of protecting or helping me.)

However, she thought it was unlikely that the Empress would act during the day.

Claudia was surrounded by many magician guards. The Empress probably didn't consider Noah, a child, a problem and would want to avoid the magicians' eyes.

"Once it's time, send Noah directly to the hall."

"Thank you. For a while, you'll have to be a bit inconvenienced..."

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and Claudia spent her time drawing and taking walks in the castle.

Finally, it was night.

Claudia walked along, looking at the annex of the castle where the party was being held.

(The Empress might act here. If she uses magic, my father will notice, so she might use a physical weapon instead.)

She tilted her head in thought. No one looking at Claudia from the outside would imagine that such a young child was thinking such things.

Karlheinz had also said something like this.

"Even if Empress Ilmela is considering assassinating Princess Claudia, she wouldn't act in a place where the other children, especially her beloved daughter Emilia, could see."

(...)

Claudia lowered her eyes, and the guards on either side of her stopped.

"Then, Your Highness, please enjoy the night party."

"Okay! Thank you, everyone."

After waving to them, Claudia observed the hall.

(Well then... )

The 'night revelry' for children, which is usually not allowed at this time, continues until midnight.

Unlike the adults' evening party, the hall was decorated with many balloons.

The tables were filled with light snacks, a lot of sweets, and juices, and fluffy costumes moved by magic were serving them.

"Big sister, let's get some chocolate cake!"

"Ah, wait. I want to hug the rabbit first!"

The children gathered here were not just those from yesterday's tea party. There were probably about fifty of them, ranging from around four to ten years old.

Their parents were in the main hall of the castle, in the middle of their evening party.

"Let go, that balloon is mine!"

"I got it first!"

"Hey, don't fight! If the adults notice the commotion, the night party will be canceled!"

"Sorry..."

Even though it was a party for children, magic was cast everywhere to prevent dangerous things from happening.

Surveillance magic was also in effect, and magicians were watching from a distance to ensure safety.

Amid the lively atmosphere, Claudia stepped into the hall.

Immediately, he appeared before her.

"Your Highness."

"Noah."

Claudia was slightly surprised to see Noah approaching her directly.

Even though he was supposed to be a guard, he was told that he could eat some sweets tonight.

However, Noah came to greet Claudia without any interest in such things, as if to say he had no interest in them at all.

He knelt before Claudia and straightened his back.

"I apologize for being away from you all day."

(...Just one day, and he seems to have matured a bit more.)

She blinked, feeling this.

Noah was dressed in a military-style uniform with a red base. It was something Claudia had created with her magic before, but the black gloves on his hands were new to her.

Despite being a boy, he had a dignified and handsome appearance. The girls were captivated by his looks.

"That boy is so cool..."

"He looks like a prince from a fairy tale!"

But Noah was focused solely on Claudia.

(Karlheinz. It seems he has strengthened Noah's resolve in the opposite direction of what I asked.)

She pouted, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

(—Then, I need to break Noah's spirit.)

Claudia narrowed her eyes, and Noah stood up, extending his hand.

"Your Highness. Your hand."

"Okay, Noah! Hey, hey, let's go get some ice cream over there?"

Claudia made an innocent smile and firmly held Noah's hand.

(If the Empress is going to act... )

The magicians monitoring the hall with magic might be the enemy.

Or all of them. Moreover, the Empress herself might be a monitor.

(I should move to a place where I'm an easier target. Somewhere dark, for example.)

With this in mind, she went to get ice cream with Noah.