He barely managed to hold back his laughter as he turned his gaze away and said.

“…Go now. It’s bedtime for little ones. Your guardian will be worried.”

“I’m so glad we could meet today. We kept missing each other all this time.”

“…That’s true.”

‘I can’t leave Noah like this. I need to help him escape quickly.’

“Shall we meet again tomorrow? Oh, tomorrow is…”

Liria frowned as she recalled her heir training schedule.

If she skipped lessons, there was a risk of resetting the conditions that satisfied her grandfather’s wishes.

“Then let’s meet here the morning after tomorrow. Ah! That’s right!”

‘I was having such a good time with Noah that I completely forgot. The last target of the Heart Key might be Noah, no, Adrian.’

“…No. Don’t come.”

“Whyyy? Don’t you like me coming?”

Those grape-like sweet eyes looked like they would drip tears at any moment.

Every time her pink hair fluttered in the wind, it reminded him of a cotton doll.

When her small maple leaf-like hand grabbed his collar and shook it gently as if coaxing him, Noah said.

“…I don’t dislike you. I’m just worried that if someone finds out you come here often, you’ll get in trouble.”

Adrian spoke slowly, rolling his blue eyes with concern.

“Hehe, I’m glad you don’t dislike me. I really like Noah!”

“……”

‘How can she say such things so easily?’

It was amazing how she could honestly express her feelings in words.

So clear and transparent.

So sparkling.

She seemed like a being from a completely different world than his opaque and dark self.

“Anyway, are we meeting the day after tomorrow? You promised to be my magic practice partner.”

“Ah……”

With reddened earlobes, Noah stammered.

“Does, does that magic practice take long? What if we just do it quickly now.”

“Mmm. Should we? Okay.”

Liria closed her eyes and began to concentrate on gathering mana.

Paaaa!

Then the Key of Power and the magic book were summoned.

After that, Liria stared directly into Noah’s eyes and said.

“Noah, I want to know your heart!”

But inwardly, she thought:

‘Adrian, I want to know your heart!’

***

Four days after recovering from his sickbed, Classid returned to his daily routine.

During the day, he was reorganizing the Roberg knights, and at night, he was holed up in his office taking care of family affairs.

Even 24 hours a day was not enough for that alone, but none of the businesses that formed the backbone of the Roberg family had been handed over to him yet.

He had expected to receive something on the day when the family meeting summons was issued.

It seemed his father was about to give him something even bigger than he had anticipated.

He recalled his father’s words from yesterday as they passed by each other.

“Classid, how about going to the Imperial Capital soon?”

“Suddenly to the Imperial Capital?”

“Yes. You should go and gain experience too. How long are you going to stand back from management? Those green young sprouts are already eyeing the good parts, but you show no interest at all? Even though I raised the great von Roberg family, I’m getting old too, you fool.”

“…I don’t like the Imperial Capital. Besides, I have perfectly fine older brothers and sisters.”

“Yes, as you say, I don’t have a single perfectly fine child… Tsk. I’m so worried about the future of the von Roberg family that I can’t even sleep!”

After leaving such a scolding and something like a lament, he left.

Whether it’s management or business.

That’s something only people with natural talent can do.

Just taking it on because one is a member of the von Roberg family – isn’t that the fastest way to ruin the business?

While thinking this and rolling his pen, Classid’s ears perked up.

When he went out to check the rustling sound, there was no one there.

Instead, something else was placed on the floor.

Yesterday, and the day before.

A letter that had been delivered in the afternoon for over a week now.

It was a letter from his daughter, Liria.

It was actually quite unexpected.

He thought Liria would be disappointed by his cold treatment and never come to see him again.

That she would send letters.

And such consistent letters at that.

The contents weren’t particularly special.

「Father, today,

I ate orange-flavored pudding.

The castle chef’s skills are really good.」

「Father, hello?

You know, today I received a cute bear doll from Marit.

So now I have two identical ones. I’m so, so happy.」

「Father.

Please stop Marit and Yuphi.

They keep trying to spend the budget on strange things!」

Such light everyday matters were the main content.

He had never sent a reply.

She probably didn’t send them expecting one anyway.

「Father, Father.

Today the clouds in the sky were so beautiful.

It feels like real magic is happening in the sky.

So, while looking at the sky, I thought a little about my father, the most handsome man in the world.

But I won’t come to see you.

I won’t bother you.

I… did well, right?」

Just as he finished reading the most recent letter, someone knocked on the office door.

It was Emmett, who had been temporarily assigned to assist Classid with his work.

The Duke seemed to have arranged it so that Classid could adapt more quickly.

“I’ve brought the budget reports from last year to last month. These are the accounting documents for each territory.”

“Thank you. Put them there.”

Emmett glanced at the sheep-decorated letter spread out on the desk and said.

“Young Lady Liria is a very intelligent child.”

Assuming it was just a customary compliment, Classid replied.

“Thank you for that as well.”

“I’m not simply saying this as a formality.”

“…Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Though her appearance is small like a baby, her thoughts and actions are certainly not like those of children her age.”

Pushing up his glasses and speaking with serious, shining eyes, it didn’t seem like he was joking.

“…On what grounds?”

“The other day.”

The story Emmett told was surprising.

“Thanks to my daughter, the security of the magic bank has improved?”

“Yes, look at this. Originally, magic account books could be accessed just by verifying an individual’s signature. But this showed vulnerability when someone forged a signature or forced someone to sign.”

“…I’m aware of that issue.”

“There’s a method of sealing, but it was insufficient to apply individually to each person’s magic account book. However, with the method suggested by the young lady, things have changed like this now.”

Emmett took out a magic account scroll and, instead of signing the signature field, entered a six-digit number.

Then, after the code was unlocked, the magic account scroll unfurled with a swish.

“…What is this? A new magic?”

“No, not at all. We simply applied a ‘password’ system to all magic account books. It’s simple and convenient.”

“…Liria taught you this?”

“Yes, it’s amazing how she could come up with such an idea.”

It seemed like the first time that Emmett, who was similarly taciturn and businesslike as himself, had shown such favor toward someone.

Anyway, it was a statement that his daughter was more exceptional than ordinary children.

He had dismissed it when Master Suleiman talked about Liria’s outstanding magic and cleverness every time he saw her face.

But for even Emmett to say such things.

Somehow, his shoulders rose with pride, and warm air filled his previously suppressed chest.

After staring at the door through which Emmett had left for a while, Classid got up from his chair.

Classid put Liria’s letter in his coat pocket and set out to see the face of the child who would be sleeping by now.