Chapter 65

"Claudia... why..."

"Hehe. My Noah can use teleportation magic and is super amazing!"

As Claudia clung tightly to Noah's arm, Noah gave her a look that seemed to say something. Claudia, who was the one who had taught Noah the teleportation magic, smiled at Lewis with an innocent face.

"---You know, Lord Lewis, that the outside world isn't actually scary, right?"

"…!"

At Claudia's words, Lewis slightly gasped. So, Claudia, as if inviting him to dance, took both of Lewis's hands.

"So let's play together. Don't worry, no adults will notice."

"…Claudia…"

"Noah, please."

"Yes, Princess."

Noah recited a short incantation and touched Lewis.

With a light tap, Lewis's clothes changed into commoner's attire that would blend into the city. While Lewis was still surprised, Noah also changed Claudia's dress. She even had Noah make a hat with rabbit ears, which he placed deeply on her head. Claudia smiled at Lewis.

"See, Lord Lewis."

"…!"

Lewis's eyes, which changed from red to a lapis lazuli color like the morning sky, shimmered with excitement and anticipation.

"…Yeah…"

Lewis took Claudia's hand in return. And the three of them began their 'exploration' of the city.

***

At first, Lewis seemed a bit hesitant, but he quickly blended into the crowd of the capital. His eyes sparkled at the fruit stands, and he looked with interest at the herbs and medicinal plants hanging from the eaves. He even peeked at children his age playing on the street.

"Lord Lewis, look! This is a fluffy and chewy treat!"

"Really... That's amazing. It must be from a foreign country, right?"

"And this sparkly one is also great! It's a candy in the shape of a bunny, just like Claudia's hat!"

"That's a sophisticated technique. Even though it's a small candy, can they make larger ones too?"

Claudia pretended to be curious as she safely led Lewis around. However, this was her second visit to this street. After hearing the story of the 'princess who never woke up from her sleep' curse, she had already toured the area during her first investigation.

"Claudia, what's over there...?"

"Let's go and see, Lord Lewis!"

Claudia smiled at the increasingly proactive Lewis. Noah, walking a few steps behind, said with an expression that was hard to tell if it was an act or not.

"Princess, you might fall if you get too excited."

"Hehe, it's okay, Noah. I'll hold hands with Claudia."

"...Yes, I apologize, Prince Lewis."

"Lord Lewis, hurry up!"

Then Claudia subtly glanced at Noah.

(I want to investigate Stuart too, but after hearing such a story, I can't just leave Lewis. This is the priority.)

Claudia had this conversation with Noah the night after dinner.

"---What kind of properties does Prince Lewis's eyes have?"

After changing into a nightgown after her bath, Claudia sat on Noah's lap while he combed her hair. While enjoying the warmth of the magical breeze and the soft brush, she answered with a sleepy voice.

"Magicians with two different colored eyes can have either odd eyes, where the colors are different in each eye, or a gradient like Lewis's. Generally speaking, both indicate that they are proficient in two types of magic... but..."

Claudia swayed her legs, making Noah, who was sitting in the chair, look uncomfortable.

"Magicians with odd eyes can use two types of magic completely separately. On the other hand, those with a gradient can mix them well. It's difficult to control, but if mastered, it can be powerful and produce unexpected combined effects."

"...Prince Lewis's eyes were a fierce red and a calm blue. The properties of the magic are contradictory, but..."

"That's why Lewis is highly evaluated for being able to use them well."

Claudia yawned and murmured.

"Magicians with two different colored eyes were rare even five hundred years ago. I only observed one because one of my disciples happened to be one."

"..."

When Claudia talked about her former disciples, Noah's face became a bit complicated and slightly pouting.

"Hehe. What's wrong?"

"...I feel a sense of something I can't intrude on between you and your former disciples."

"You're my servant and a dear disciple too."

Answering as if it were obvious, Noah's face became even more complicated. This was also a kind of cuteness that Noah probably wasn't aware of.

"It's understandable that Stuart, who is seven years older, feels inferior to Lewis..."

"...But Stuart's behavior seems a bit excessive."

Noah was probably referring to Stuart's lack of confidence. Or perhaps it was because he revered Claudia as a saint and tried to keep her in the garden.

Or maybe both.

"Even if his magic is inferior to his younger brother, it doesn't seem to be the only reason."

Claudia plucked a strand of her well-maintained hair and murmured.

"...There's one point that clearly bothers me."

"What is it?"

"Hey, Noah."

Claudia turned to Noah and whispered softly.

That was what happened last night.

***

"Then, let's take a break here!"

Running to a bench by the river, Claudia plopped down in the middle of the three-seater. She patted the seats on either side, calling the two boys.

"Lord Lewis, Noah, hurry up!"

"I'll go to that store and get drinks for both of you."

"Then, Lord Lewis, sit here!"

When Claudia called, Lewis smiled slightly and sat down next to her on the left.

"You've walked a lot. Is it okay to take a nap?"

"Hehe. Claudia, I'm not sleepy yet."

After saying this proudly, she looked up at Lewis and smiled.

"Lord Lewis, thank you for trying so hard at the 'ball toss' for Claudia! We were so close to winning the stuffed animal."

"Haha... I ended up trying multiple times, and now I feel a bit embarrassed when I think about it."

"Lord Lewis and Noah kept saying 'just one more time.'"

"......That's quite embarrassing......"

Lewis's cheeks, usually mature, were now tinged with red. It was a game where you had to hit prizes on a stand with a ball, and he had become too engrossed in it.

However, Noah had shown a similar reaction. He had looked frustrated when he couldn't knock down the prizes, just like Lewis. Remembering Noah's face, Claudia giggled.

"Lord Lewis, thank you for playing with Noah and me."

"...Claudia?"

In the distance, Noah was buying drinks at a stall. Claudia smiled as she watched his still small back.

"Noah always works hard. Even though he's still a child, he studies, practices, and trains every day to protect Claudia."

"...That's true. Even from my perspective, he seems that way."

"But Claudia wants Noah to play a lot too."

Then, she looked up at Lewis next to her.

"Not just Noah, but Lord Lewis too!"

"---!"

Smiling, Lewis's eyes widened in surprise.