Chapter 49

"Carry me, Noah!"

"…Princess…"

In the corridor outside the audience chamber, Noah, who had been waiting, looked exasperated at Claudia, who had reached out her hand.

The magicians standing by the door chuckled softly. After a moment of hesitation, Noah reached out to Claudia with a resigned expression and picked her up.

Then, he asked in a whisper that only she could hear.

"Since we came to this castle, haven't you been acting more childlike than before?"

"Noah, you're being strange. Claudia is a child, after all."

"…Sigh…"

When she said this with an incredibly cute face, Noah sighed with a troubled expression.

The cheerful Claudia waved goodbye to the magicians. While still being carried by Noah, she turned the corner of the corridor and, after confirming that no one was around, began to chant.

In an instant, they were teleported to the guest room. Noah, who seemed to have become more accustomed to this, gently set Claudia down on the floor.

"Being too young is just right. If I act like a cute child, it will reduce the trouble for now."

"Your father and Karlheinz-sama must have already noticed."

"Father? I think he sees me as just a child with a lot of magic power. I can sense that he underestimates me, thinking he can manipulate me whenever he wants."

If that's the case, it's convenient.

However, Noah, who had started preparing cake on the guest room table, frowned.

"You seem dissatisfied, Noah."

"That's only natural. I don't like it when my lord is underestimated, even by her father."

"Hmm"

Hearing this, Claudia recalled an incident from a few days ago.

On the day they came to the castle and had their magic power assessed, Noah had been in a bad mood all day. She had thought it was because the king had shown interest in Noah, but perhaps it was also because Claudia had been mocked.

"I don't mind, you know?"

"I understand. I know that you are intentionally doing this, and that I, a mere servant, am just getting angry on my own."

"True… But when someone says something bad about you, I get angrier than if they said it to me."

"!"

When she said this, Noah stopped his preparations and looked awkward.

Though his expression seemed troubled, Claudia knew that Noah's frown was a sign of embarrassment.

"Hehehe"

"…What is it…?"

Claudia said, "It's nothing," and sat down in a chair at the round table by the window. Noah placed a plate of cake in front of her, and she propped her chin on her hands, waiting for the tea.

However, sitting in the sunlight made her drowsy almost immediately.

"Ahhh…"

Claudia yawned. Her condition had recovered to about eighty percent.

All physical injuries had healed, and she felt no pain. The only issue was that the magic power she had used had not yet returned, but it would likely be back in a week. Even with the current amount of magic power, she had as much as several hundred ordinary magicians combined.

Still, she was incredibly sleepy.

If she went to a warm place or leaned against something soft, she would fall asleep in no time. Noah, aware of this, stopped preparing the tea.

"Princess, are you going to sleep?"

"Mmm…"

"The time you were supposed to use for your nap today was taken up by your brothers. You must be tired and sleepy."

Noah was right.

Wilhelm and Erenfried were shaken by the fact that their sister Emilia was involved in the incident and had stayed by her side until she woke up.

However, upon waking, Emilia was placed under house arrest by the king's order. A nurse was now with Emilia, encouraging her in place of their mother.

Her two brothers had come to encourage Claudia, bringing a letter Emilia had written.

Although they had managed to fool the younger children about Claudia using advanced magic despite being 'magic-less,' her brothers had seen through it.

However, they seemed to have understood something and spoke in a voice that the guard magicians couldn't hear.

"Claudia, you have a secret, don't you? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Big brother…"

"I agree," Erenfried nodded.

"I want to know more about your magic, but we can talk about it later. Karlheinz also said it's better to let Claudia rest now."

"Emilia wrote a letter, and I want you to read it… But if you're angry, you don't have to read it. Just because she said sorry doesn't mean you have to forgive her."

"Even though I'm saying this, the truth is, I'm worried. Both Emilia, who made a big mistake, and Claudia, who protected us, are my sisters."

"El! What a cheeky thing to say, you…!! …But you're right. Claudia, if anything happens, tell us."

After the two brothers left the room, Emilia's letter was filled with many apologies.

Claudia had made her feel threatened, thinking her place would be taken. She was afraid of her mother and wanted her father's attention. Yet, when Claudia saved her without hesitation, Emilia felt deeply ashamed.

She also wrote about her feelings for Noah and her regret for trying to take him without his consent.

These sentiments were expressed in childlike language.

So, Claudia wrote a reply in purple crayon, the same color as Emilia's eyes, with just the words, "Sis, let's play together next time."

(Emilia doesn't know… that I, in fact, tried to decide Noah's future without his consent.)

Thinking this, Claudia lowered her eyes.

"What do you want to do? Go to the bed…"

"No, I'm not sleeping yet."

Claudia shook her head. After a slow blink, she looked up at Noah.

"More importantly, are you really okay with this?"

"Okay with what?"

"Choosing to be my servant. …Giving up all other possibilities to stay with me?"

For Claudia, this was a question for Noah's sake.

However, Noah, setting the tea set on the round table, looked at her with an exasperated expression.

"Even you repeat the same story twice?"

(Ah, Noah is being a bit cheeky.)

She thought this but didn't say it out loud because she was sleepy. Noah, who had become skilled at making tea in a month, counted the time and spoke.

"If giving up something means I can definitely get what I want, then it's a fortunate way to live."

"…"

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his voice calm and steady.

"I would choose to live by your side, even if I had to give up any possibility in the future."

"…Noah"

His unwavering words were so straightforward that they were blinding.

The sunlight streaming in from the window brought back memories of the past. Recalling the days with people she had parted ways with five hundred years ago, days that would never return, Claudia squinted her eyes.

The sincere look in Noah's eyes now was different from anyone in those days, filled with a unique resolve.

"…I should give you a reward."

"?"

Noah stopped his preparations and looked puzzled.

"If you hadn't helped me, I would have died again."

"…Never make that choice again."

"I won't, because you'll cry. Noah, is there anything you want?"

Asking like she was talking to a child, she thought to herself.

(Noah might say he doesn't need anything. It would be nice if he asked for something.)

However, Noah came to Claudia's side, knelt down, and looked up at her.

"…Will you give it to me?"

"Ah?"

Surprised by the unexpected response, she laughed happily.

"Hehe, of course. What do you want?"

Noah, looking at her with his obsidian eyes, said:

"Then, please praise me to the fullest."

"!"

Claudia's eyes widened, and Noah continued earnestly.

"I said I don't need anything if I can be by your side. But that was a little lie."

"…You really want something more?"

"Everything you give me as my lord will be enough."

Noah spoke these passionate and greedy words with the same sincerity.

(You are truly straightforward.)

Claudia smiled and reached out to touch Noah's head.

She stroked his black hair, which was slightly tousled, and smiled at Noah, who seemed ticklish.

"Good boy. Noah."

Then, she spoke from the heart.

"Because you were there, I could choose what I truly wanted to do. …My proud servant."

"…"

Noah seemed to catch his breath for a moment.

But then, he smiled happily.

(…Ah)

It was a carefree, satisfied expression he had never shown before.

(He always acts mature, but he can laugh like a normal child too.)

Knowing this made Claudia even happier.

So happy that she ruffled Noah's hair, causing him to protest, and she laughed.

Feeling sleepy again, she decided to eat the cake and take a nap with Noah. After a good sleep, they would return to the tower together.

Thinking about this, Claudia spent some time lavishly praising Noah.

---

End of Part 1

Thank you for reading this far.

The first volume of the book, which includes this part, is now available!

The book also includes a new short story where Claudia adores her favorite Noah, a heartwarming tale.

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