The tower had a small room meant for relaxation, furnished with a fireplace, a couch, and other comfortable amenities. It was a space where Claudia often spent time reading, and today the table was packed with dishes.
Crackers spread with cream cheese, sprinkled with black pepper, and topped with smoked salmon and a squeeze of lemon. A fresh vegetable salad. Roast beef, cooked at low temperature for hours. Every dish on the table had been prepared exactly to Claudia’s request, all by Noah’s hand.
As instructed, Noah sat on the right side of the couch directly beside Claudia. Delighted, she clapped her hands in excitement.
“Well then, let us open the wine without delay! Tonight, I shall be the one to pour for you.”
“I am honored, Your Highness. And what is this?”
“It is a traditional wine, distilled from blossoms that bloom deep within the Abyssal Forest. It’s sweet as fruit, refreshing, with the smoothest of finishes.”
The liquor, as it trickled into the crystal glass, was the color of pale gold, reminiscent of honey.
“It effervesces on the tongue,” Claudia continued, her voice full of enthusiasm. “Even for a first-time drinker, it should be quite easy to get down.”
Claudia beamed. She always seemed to know the things that Noah didn’t.
Although she was physically thirteen—and her delicate appearance made her seem even younger—in her previous life, she had been eighteen. She had tasted alcohol before and attended soirées reserved for adults.
There is no hope of ever bridging that chasm of experience.
Even knowing that, Noah found himself frowning despite himself. “I shall now partake.”
“Oh, but don’t drink it all at once—”
The liquor, poured in a modest measure, vanished swiftly as Noah tilted the glass to his lips. Just as Claudia had described, it carried a floral fragrance, and the taste was closer to fruit juice than to alcohol.
“It’s good,” he muttered under his breath, and Claudia’s eyes crinkled with satisfaction.
“I knew it! I had a feeling this flavor would suit your taste. Just as you know me, dear Noah, I, too, know you.”
There was a quiet pride in her expression, leaving Noah with the feeling that he was gazing at something dazzling. Claudia was clearly pleased to be tending to him, and that, he thought, was no mere conceit.
“I’d love for you to try some of the other drinks as well, but we should take it slow. Here, have some food. Come now, say ahhh...”
“I must respectfully decline.”
And so, Noah steadily worked his way through the various flavors of alcohol, one by one.
Among the gifts, there was a remarkable variety of drinks: aged wine, a peach liqueur named after a water fairy, and even a liquor infused with red chili peppers. Some were evidently quite expensive, and when Claudia noticed the label on one of the bottles, she laughed. “They must have spared no expense for you on this one, Noah.”
Finally, after trying many different bottles, Claudia exclaimed, “Noah, you handle your alcohol well! Look, your complexion hasn’t even changed.”
“I cannot say I feel much of a difference myself. Perhaps it is thanks to Your Highness’s guidance in proper drinking etiquette?”
“Certainly, drinking water and eating well are key to pacing oneself,” Claudia acknowledged, “but that alone wouldn’t strengthen your alcohol tolerance. It’s mostly determined by your natural constitution.”
Noah was relieved to know that he was unlikely to cause trouble for Claudia when consuming alcohol. That said, the risk wasn’t entirely gone.
And with that, I’ve finished testing my tolerance. After I’ve finished sampling all of the bottles, I must return to the village and give them gifts in return. It would be best if I never had to drink again. That way, I can ensure I am always ready to protect Her Highness.
Perhaps Claudia saw through these thoughts, because suddenly she snatched the glass from Noah’s hand. He turned in surprise, his gaze meeting hers, and his breath caught.
“Princess!”
“Really, Noah.”
The Claudia beside him was no longer a child. She now stood taller than her thirteen-year-old self, bringing her closer to his height. Yet it wasn’t just her stature that made her feel so close to him—she was leaning in, peering at him with a slight pout.
“This is meant to be a celebration for you, yet here you are, lost in contemplation.”
Her words gave him pause.
“A celebration?”
“But of course, my dear Noah.”
Claudia reached up, cupping his cheek in her palm, her eyes soft as though soothing a difficult child.
“This wine is meant to celebrate your sixteenth birthday. Birthdays are always a cause for celebration, but your sixteenth is special. You have now come of age.”
Her long lashes were more striking now than in her younger form. It was as if they were made of fine glasswork, shimmering like stardust with each flutter of her eyes.
“I have watched as you pushed yourself, always striving to grow,” she said. “But I have always believed there was no need for you to rush.”
“Had I taken my time, had I allowed myself to be led by leisure,” he replied, “I could never have hoped to protect you.”
“Even so, childhood is something precious. For those who cannot begin anew as I have, it only happens once.”
Her hand, usually so light when patting his head, was different today. There was a quiet reverence in her touch.
“When you were little, you always worked so hard. Had you allowed yourself to be a child, had you sought to lean upon me even a little, I would have welcomed it. I truly mean that. And yet...” she said, laughing softly and gazing at him with such warmth that it could almost be described as reverence. “I cannot help but be happy that you’ve grown up.”
Her expression softened with warmth. She was so beautiful that, for a moment, Noah could hardly breathe.
“Of course, you will continue to grow,” she mused. “Compared to my nineteen-year-old form, you’re still a bit smaller and more youthful.”
Under normal circumstances, being called small would have frustrated him. But right now, he found he couldn’t bring himself to care.
“My darling Noah, you have reached the age at which you may drink, you have earned your knighthood, and now you stand upon your own two feet, no longer needing to rely on magic to shape your path.”
She placed his stolen glass upon the table and then she cupped his face with both hands. As she tilted her head slightly in quiet amusement, her hair, that soft brown color that reminded him of milk tea, spilled over her shoulders.
“And that,” she finished, “fills me with the greatest joy.”
Suddenly he felt like she had overestimated his tolerance for alcohol, for his hand reached toward her of its own accord.
Noah’s fingers brushed through Claudia’s hair, curling gently as though combing it, before they tangled around her soft locks. Leaning closer, he positioned himself near her ear, his lips almost touching her skin.
“Why won’t you tell me that you’re lonely?” he whispered.
“Noah...”
Such an action would have been unthinkable in any other circumstance. And yet, Noah would not blame his behavior on the wine. He knew that these were words that came from his heart.
“I sought to grow not for my own sake, but to always be by your side. The strength I have gained, the station I now hold exists for you, and for you alone.”
He prayed that Claudia would never forget these words—that they would never slip away.
His hand pressed lightly against her back as he spoke again.
“Please, never forget this—you are my one and only princess.”
He silently prayed that Claudia might hold on to these words forever, even in the deepest sleep.
“Of course,” she replied softly. “My devoted servant.”
Then Claudia wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “I’m sorry, Noah.”
If you say such things, then why...
It took all he had to swallow those words.
His beloved mistress was soon to enter a false death. If he were to act as a child who wept and begged her to stay, what sort of expression would she wear?
The thought was meaningless. Noah shut his eyes tightly, willing the idea away. For now, he held her in his arms, unwilling to let go. Not yet.
THE END