Calliphe was momentarily dumbfounded.

‘So… he went to the imperial palace for me? To confront the Crown Princess?’

It was a reason she hadn’t considered at all.

The complicated thoughts that had been making her head throb momentarily disappeared.

‘Still, how could he think of going to the imperial palace alone?’

This introverted little kid who disliked strangers.

“…”

Without realizing it, the tension that had built up in Calliphe’s shoulders suddenly dissipated.

Raul, who had been watching carefully, added:

“For reference, if he had gone this time, it would have been his thirteenth visit to the imperial palace.”

“What?”

“…Hmm.”

“Wow.”

Calliphe, Lynen, and Allen each reacted differently.

All four adults, including Raul, looked at the child simultaneously.

Noah was trying hard to stop his tears that had already started flowing. His tiny shoulders jumping with each sob were pitiful to see.

Allen, whose heart had softened, was about to speak.

But Calliphe blocked him with the sound of her fan snapping open.

“Why are you crying? Do you know what you did wrong?”

“Y-yes…”

“Then what will you do from now on?”

“From now on, I’ll…”

He hiccupped while thinking for a moment before continuing.

“From now on, I won’t go out alone.”

“That’s important, but there’s something more important.”

“Umm…”

He seemed unsure of how to answer. Calliphe asked again.

“How do you think I would feel if you disappeared without telling me where you were going?”

At that, Noah burst into tears again.

Calliphe flinched involuntarily. But she still spoke sternly.

“Don’t cry and answer properly.”

“Waaah, sob, I-I think you’d be s-scared.”

“…Scared?”

She had expected answers like feeling bad or worried. That kind of response.

Noah’s answer went a step beyond Calliphe’s expectation.

“Scared that I might never see you again…”

“…”

“Scared that we couldn’t live together like this anymore.”

Imagining this possibility, Noah couldn’t continue speaking and just sobbed loudly.

‘…What am I doing right now.’

Calliphe suddenly felt Noah’s affection for her. She also felt how anxious he was.

It was an emotion she couldn’t sense through the system’s affection numbers.

“…I feel the same way.”

Ironically, hearing Noah’s answer made her feel like she was the one being scolded.

‘What I’m doing is partly for Noah’s sake too. Yet I’ve been neglecting Noah himself.’

She had been so busy solving the immediate problems that she hadn’t paid attention to Noah.

Even if the child had been hiding it, she only just found out that he had gone out alone multiple times.

Perhaps she had unconsciously directed the reproach meant for herself toward the child.

“When you go out alone without saying anything, I worry. I get scared too.”

“…You get s-scared too, hiccup?”

“Of course. I’m always scared that you might get hurt.”

“…”

Noah’s wet eyes widened slightly.

‘I thought I was the only one…’

Calliphe folded her fan.

Then she opened her arms toward Noah.

“Come here.”

“…”

“Hurry.”

After hesitating for a moment, Noah approached Calliphe with small steps. He wondered if Calliphe was going to hit him.

That’s what she used to do when she was angry before.

But not this time.

Calliphe embraced Noah in her arms as he came close.

“…!”

Noah was surprised.

A warm hand patted his back.

“Sigh. You little mutt. I’m sorry.”

Mutt is a bad word.

But somehow it felt nice to hear.

He felt relieved that Calliphe wasn’t angry anymore. He wasn’t scared. He was happy that she was hugging him.

But strangely, more tears came.

“Huu.”

Pat pat.

“I’m sowwy… Won’t do it again…”

“Your words are getting shorter.”

At Calliphe’s voice, tinged with a slight laugh, Noah sniffled even more.

He burrowed into the embrace like a young animal, with her short arms holding him.

‘It’s warm.’

He wished she would hold him for a long, long time.

* * *

After the crying had subsided.

Allen smiled softly.

“Noah is amazing. He even knows how to protest bravely.”

Nod.

Noah was sitting right next to me, almost clinging, munching on an apple.

Lynen naturally wiped the juice flowing down the child’s chin with his thumb.

He too seemed to be reflecting on his neglect of the child, showing subtle but meticulous care.

‘Brave, huh.’

Indeed, going all the way to the imperial palace to confront a member of the imperial family isn’t something just anyone could do.

The difference was clear when I thought about the Noah from before.

When I first met him, Noah would silently endure ab*se from adults without even crying.

But now he even knew to go to the imperial palace to protest. And for my sake.

‘He’s still such a small kid.’

It’s been just over three months since I met Noah.

Though his height was still tiny, it seemed his heart was growing deeper.

Suddenly, my eyes met Lynen’s.

He nodded slightly.

Though no words were exchanged, I understood what he meant.

I poked Noah’s cheek.

“As punishment, you’re grounded for a week.”

“…!”

Thud. Noah dropped his apple.

“But since you honestly admitted your mistake and reflected on it, I’ll allow you to participate.”

“Participate in what?”

“The harvest festival.”

The child jumped up excitedly.

“R-really?”

“Have you ever heard me say one thing and then another?”

“But the Crown Princess…”

I smiled slightly at Noah’s concern.

“You weren’t banned from participating.”

She couldn’t have done that.

Blocking a child just to torment me would damage the Crown Princess’s dignity.

“So there’s no need to go to the imperial palace anymore.”

“…But I have something to say.”

His cheeks puffed up with dissatisfaction.

Participation was one thing, but he still wanted to say what he had to say.

“Alright. But only if Lynen can go with you.”

With him beside Noah, he could mediate any potential conflicts and ensure Noah’s safety.

“What do you think, Lynen? I was just about to ask you to go to the imperial palace and check on the Crown Princess’s situation anyway.”

As I spoke, I turned Noah’s face toward him. How about it? His eyes sparkled with anticipation!

Lynen smiled wryly.

“Hard to refuse.”

“Great.”

“I was planning to visit the imperial palace anyway. Isn’t that right, Saint?”

Allen, suddenly addressed, was surprised for a moment before laughing.

“As expected, Duke, you’re amazing. I haven’t even brought up the main topic yet, but you’ve already guessed it.”

Allen briefly mentioned the correspondence he had with Lynen.

He said that they had recently received results from reinvestigating the village where the monster incident occurred, in cooperation with the Duke’s house.

“I was going to tell you about it today anyway.”

“Then I’ll listen now.”

“Yes, that’s good. Since Lady Calliphe is here too. But…”

Allen looked at Noah and asked.

“Is it alright if Noah stays?”

“Hmm.”

I looked down at Noah, who had a stubborn expression suggesting he wanted to stay here.

Well, it should be fine. Noah already knows a lot.

“It’s okay. His lips are tighter than most adults.”

“That’s true.”

Allen smiled gently and began to explain the investigation results.

When Allen finished his story a while later.

Lynen’s brow was furrowed in confusion. After thinking for a moment, he called Noah.

“…Noah.”

“Yes?”

“You said you wanted to meet the Crown Princess?”

Lynen said to Noah, who was nodding his head.

“I think we can see her as early as tomorrow.”