Chapter 36

It's a children's night party, and while Claudia has some knowledge of it, this is her first time actually attending one.

Claudia, holding hands with Noah, walks through the hall filled with tables laden with sweets. Along the way, she receives a lollipop that looks like frozen stardust from a stuffed animal they pass. As Claudia tries to get one for Noah, several boys gather around her.

"Hey, hey, you! I'll give you this sweet, it's delicious!"

"More than that, there's a pink rabbit stuffed animal over there. Want to go meet it?"

"I'll get you a balloon. What color do you like?"

Surrounded, it seems they can't go anywhere. Claudia smiles and tells the boys:

"Claudia likes people who are good at tag."

"Huh..."

"Claudia is the one chasing! Ready, set, go..."

"Wh-what!? Wait, wait, I'll run!"

The boys scatter in a panic at Claudia's count. Noah watches them with a sympathetic look.

"That's fine, right? Let's go, Noah."

"Is it alright to chase them away like that?"

"If we're surrounded, we can't enjoy ourselves. There are so many tables, we need to explore them systematically."

Noah looks at her with a surprised expression.

"You seem to be having a lot of fun."

"Yes, I am. There are sweets, music is playing, and the stuffed animals are so cute. What about you, Noah?"

Noah closes his eyes and says with a composed expression:

"I'm not a child who gets excited by such things."

"Oh."

Claudia giggles and approaches a table. She stretches up, places a small chocolate cake on a plate, and pierces it with a golden fork.

"Here, Noah, ahhh."

"!"

Noah's eyes widen in surprise as Claudia shoves the cake into his mouth. After a moment, he covers his mouth with his hand, chews slowly, and then looks at Claudia with a questioning expression.

"Princess..."

"The cake was delicious, right?"

"..."

Claudia giggles and gently tells Noah:

"I'll tell you, Noah. Even adults love sweets and get excited about fun nights."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is."

Claudia nods and thinks to herself:

(And... you, being a child, should enjoy the things that normal children find fun.)

Claudia takes a small breath and looks at her target across the hall.

The blond boys there are her older brothers, Wilhelm and Erenfried. Wilhelm is surrounded by many, especially younger children.

"Lord Wilhelm, look! There are so many strawberry sweets over there!"

"Oh, that's great, Dirk! You do love sweets. Hey, Kurt, don't go that way! If you want to go to the garden, come with me!"

(Wilhelm may seem rough, but he's good with younger children. Noah, being one year younger than Wilhelm, might be treated kindly for the same reason.)

Wilhelm calls out to his younger brother, who is a bit further away.

"Eren, come over here!"

"I'm fine. I'm examining how this stuffed animal is powered."

"You're studying again at a night party!? I can't believe you!"

(Eren is studious, but he doesn't overdo it, making it easier to guard him. Noah is also quiet, so it might be less trouble to be with him. As for Emilia... )

Claudia doesn't hide her thoughts. Noah, who is beside her, seems to have anticipated them and calls out to Claudia, expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Princess."

"..."

Called by Noah, Claudia looks up at him once. Then, she tries to pull Noah closer to her two older brothers, showing them Noah.

"Brothers! You see, my Noah..."

At that moment, Noah, seemingly anxious about Claudia's plan, takes an unexpected action.

"!!"

Claudia's eyes widen in surprise.

"Hey...? I thought I heard Claudia's voice calling us."

"That's strange. There's no one here..."

The voices of her brothers, who seem to have turned around, are heard faintly.

(Of course, they won't find us.)

After all, Claudia is under a table covered with a tablecloth, pulled by Noah's arm.

"..."

It seems Noah is the most surprised by this situation.

To avoid being seen by his brothers, Noah has hidden Claudia under the tablecloth and is hugging her tightly.

"..."

This is certainly unexpected, and Claudia blinks in surprise. She can feel Noah's rapid heartbeat through her back. Noah seems conflicted about his actions but doesn't want to be found by his brothers.

From the dim space under the table, their voices can be heard through the cloth.

"Eren, did you hear Claudia's voice from around here?"

"No... I think it was a bit closer."

"Hmm. But there's no one here."

After their voices fade away, Noah finally loosens his grip and looks down at Claudia.

"...I'm sorry, Princess."

"..."

Looking up at his genuinely apologetic face, Claudia speaks.

"...It's perfect, Noah. Do my hair for me."

"Huh?"

In the space under the tablecloth, Claudia turns to face Noah and takes out a hairpin from a hidden pocket in her dress.

"Here."

"...Understood."

Noah takes the hairpin and, hesitantly, begins to gather Claudia's hair as usual.

"..."

"..."

"..."

But as he does, Claudia can no longer hold back.

"..., hahaha."

"..."

Once it starts, it's no use. She has been holding back, but now her shoulders shake with laughter.

"Haha... Hahaha, hahaha...!"

"...Princess...!"

Noah, looking uncomfortable, calls out to Claudia, wanting her to stop.

She tries to cover her mouth with both hands but finally gives up.

After all, the spontaneous action of her servant is just too endearing.