Chapter 12: A Renewed Oath

At that question, Noah frowned.

“…I’ve never even thought about something like that.”

“How unambitious. That man is no longer of any use, so isn’t this the perfect opportunity for a change of rulers?”

Claudia, in her sixteen-year-old form, pointed out over the royal capital from the rooftop garden.

Now that Noah was also in an adult form, he didn’t have to look up at her.

If anything, he was looking slightly down at her as he listened.

“This could all be yours.”

“……”

Beyond the sea facing the capital, the sun had just set.

The city, dyed in deep navy, felt strangely nostalgic from this height.

In the past five years, he had rarely left the dungeon, never able to quietly take in the view.

Even so, that was all he felt.

“I don’t need it. That man has children. I’ve heard my cousin—one year younger than me—is capable. The country will go to him.”

“Oh? Even though he’s the child of someone you hate, you’d let him go?”

“I don’t confuse my targets when it comes to revenge.”

And besides—

“…I saw my sister once, when she was older.”

He hadn’t told Claudia the details of his past.

But somehow, he felt like she allowed that silence, and he leaned on it.

“She was smiling.”

He could recall that distant image clearly.

Under dappled sunlight, her golden hair—like their mother’s—fluttered in the breeze as she laughed.

His uncle was beside her. So was his cousin.

They gently patted her head with affection.

Perhaps it had been true—his uncle had loved his mother, and had seen her in the girl.

His sister had been raised happily.

“…Then that’s enough. Wanting to bury her with my own hands… that’s just my own selfishness.”

“…I see.”

Claudia turned a cool gaze toward the city below.

Letting go of Noah’s hands, she began to walk across the rooftop garden.

In daylight, the colorful flowers blooming there would have been beautiful.

But now, everything was steeped in dusk.

“What did your sister like?”

“……”

Noah couldn’t answer.

He had only seen her properly right after she was born.

Other than that, he had only spoken to her through their mother’s womb.

There was no way he could know her likes.

“…When I saw her, she was picking flowers with both hands.”

“I see. Flowers, then.”

Standing at the edge of the garden, Claudia looked down over the city.

Her pale tea-colored hair flowed softly in the wind.

Small particles of light gathered at her fingertips.

“‘——…’”

She murmured a spell.

Then she turned back and beckoned him closer.

When Noah stepped beside her, he caught his breath.

“This is…”

From the darkened city below, soft lights began to rise into the air.

They glowed a gentle orange, each one shaped like a flower, flickering as they floated upward.

The entire city shimmered like it had been sprinkled with stars.

It was so beautiful that words failed him.

“It’s a funeral offering.”

As Claudia traced the air with her finger, more lights bloomed in response.

“No matter where she’s buried in the city, she’ll surely be able to see this, don’t you think?”

“…Claudia.”

“You don’t need to think of mourning her as hypocrisy.”

Her eyes, shifting like an aurora, looked straight up at him.

“You’ve done well, all this time.”

“…!!”

The moment she smiled, his chest tightened.

It felt like he might cry, and he clenched his fists to stop it.

He had accomplished nothing—he had no right to cry.

“My dear Noah. You don’t have to act tough.”

“I’m not acting tough. —Claudia.”

She tilted her head slightly as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I used you. I said I’d obey you, but I lied and ran away.”

“I made that contract knowing that from the start. I don’t recall being deceived.”

“Even so.”

Even if she didn’t kill him, being abandoned would have been natural.

And yet—she had saved him.

Even after he fled from being her servant, she declared she would protect him because he was her servant… and even performed a funeral for his sister.

“I know I’m not worthy of trust. But still—I want to spend the rest of my life repaying what I owe you.”

The glowing flowers reflected in Claudia’s eyes.

Looking down at her from up close, Noah spoke.

“I swear my loyalty again—as your servant.”

“……”

She blinked in surprise, like a young girl.

After a few seconds, she gave a teasing smile.

“…Fool. A person with your spirit shouldn’t live like someone else’s dog.”

“You told me to choose how I live, didn’t you? The reason I lived until now disappeared today.”

He would no longer live to protect his sister.

Nor would he live under his uncle’s revenge.

If he was to choose his own life—

Then from the bottom of his heart, he wanted to choose this path.

“So I’ll be your dog.”

“—!”

He swore his loyalty again, meeting her gaze.

Claudia quietly lowered her eyes.

(…And besides.)

What lingered in his mind were his uncle’s words.

‘The legendary witch from five hundred years ago… who was said to have taken her own life—’

Claudia hadn’t denied it.

That silence felt like affirmation.

Which meant—her past self had chosen death by her own hand.

(She’s strong… but somehow fragile too. If that’s the case, then I will…)

“…Very well.”

Claudia gently cupped Noah’s cheeks with both hands.

“I’ll make you mine. I’ve always wanted a big, strong, beautiful dog. …But if you ever want to run away, tell me right away.”

She spoke as if that future were inevitable.

Her smile was beautiful—yet faintly lonely.

“I won’t run. Never.”

“Fufu.”

She looked at him as if she didn’t believe a word.

Then she turned her gaze back toward the city.

“The pursuing mages will realize soon and come here. …Noah.”

“Yeah.”

Understanding her meaning, Noah also looked down at the city again.

“……”

He had been born here, raised to become this country’s king—

And yet, it had all been taken from him.

He carefully etched into his memory the city where his sister lay somewhere below.

He would likely never see this view again.

“Hey. If you want this country, we can—”

“‘Teleport.’”

Taking Claudia’s hand, he cut her off and cast the spell.

When he opened his eyes again, they were back in Claudia’s tower.

On the sofa lay many blankets—and the flower that had been placed in her hair.

“For a servant to teleport his master—how impertinent.”

She said that, but she sounded oddly amused.

“You’re sleepy anyway, aren’t you? Your voice is softer than usual… kind of sweet.”

“Mm…”

As he pointed out, Claudia lay down on the sofa.

In her sixteen-year-old form, it looked uncomfortable.

If she returned to her child form, he could at least carry her to the bed.

“Hey, go back to your original size. You’re hard to carry like that.”

“No. I’m really sleepy right now, and I don’t want to do anything. So…”

She stretched out both arms toward him.

“Pick me up.”

“…Hey.”

He frowned, as if it were a joke.

Even if he looked older now, Claudia was still in an adult form too.

Did she really not mind being carried?

Apparently not at all.

“Pick me up. That’s an order.”

“……”

At her insistence, Noah let out a long sigh.

Eventually, both of them would return to their original forms—but there was no telling when.

He couldn’t just wait.

Giving up, he knelt and lifted her into his arms.

“Fufu.”

“…What?”

“My first task for my official servant, Noah.”

She said it playfully, and he looked exasperated.

“I wish it were a more proper order…”

“I’ll give you proper ones eventually. Like driving off royal mages or making excuses for things.”

Hearing that, Noah briefly wondered what had happened to those mages—but decided not to ask.

He could already guess she had simply left them waiting without explanation.

Then he looked down at the drowsy Claudia in his arms.

(Even if this body is made with magic… she’s way too light.)

He carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.

By then, she was already softly breathing in her sleep.

“…Good night.”

He whispered, then let out a large yawn himself.

Sleeping here like this was probably unfit for a servant.

Even knowing that, he couldn’t resist—

And soon sank into the bed.

Before he knew it, he slept soundly until morning.