But the situation with Claudia was different.
Her heart did not beat. Her lungs did not take in air. And yet, her body refused to decay.
The sight once again caused Noah to recall the day two years prior when he had knelt before Claudia’s father, King Volkhard, and had spoken in protest.
“Her Highness is not truly dead. So why?” Noah had asked, voice shaking with anger. “Why place her in a coffin? Why dress her in this manner? This makes it seem as if she truly is...”
His voice had trailed off. He could not finish that sentence.
The king regarded him with unreadable eyes. Volkhard was a ruthless man, one who would not hesitate to execute his own vassals. Yet he had merely stated, “It was her wish.”
“Her Highness’s?”
“If she did not wake after one year, she asked that news of her death be spread.” He paused, a flicker of sadness crossing his face. “And as her father, how could I refuse?”
Three years ago, Claudia had entrusted her father with her will. She had taken a pen and written down only what she needed to before binding the parchment with her own magic to prove its authenticity.
By the time Karlheinz and the king had read it, she’d already enacted the magic that claimed her life.
Noah, who had known of her plan from the beginning, had steeled himself for any punishment that might follow, yet neither the king nor Karlheinz had ever sought to hold him accountable. Perhaps in that letter Noah had never been allowed to read, Claudia had left behind words in his defense.
Instead, Karlheinz later summoned Noah to his office and told him, “Noah, until Her Highness awakens, you will serve in the capital as a knight.”
Noah had tried to refuse. “I must continue as I have. I must seek out the sources of curses and destroy them, as Her Highness had been.”
“When such a task presents itself, I shall grant you leave as a special assignment. But beyond that, you would do well to make proper use of the knighthood bestowed upon you by Her Highness.” Karlheinz’s voice had been uncharacteristically gentle as he had addressed Noah. “With your abilities, you will swiftly rise to a station befitting your skill. It is only a matter of time before you take my place as chief conjurer—”
“I have no need for such things,” Noah cut in. “I am Her Highness’s servant. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“That will not do,” Karlheinz rebuked him, unimpressed. “The power and rank you attain will, in time, serve to better protect Her Highness. You would do well to remember that.”
Noah’s brow furrowed slightly, but Karlheinz paid him no mind.
“A change in station brings with it new avenues of influence. Trust me—I speak from experience,” Karlheinz said.
Noah watched him silently.
Karlheinz had once told him there was something he had failed to protect. This was probably his way of helping to spare him from having that same regret.
And so, Noah made his choice.
“As Her Highness’s servant, I have sworn to live a life without shame. If I must do this, then I shall give it my all.”
Karlheinz smiled then and said gently, “She was always fond of that part of you.”
Before she had fallen into her long slumber, Claudia had exchanged promises with Noah, who in return had promised her that he would remain the Noah she loved and stay true to himself.
To betray that promise would be unthinkable. And so, Noah had devoted himself wholly to his path, remaining true to himself. If knighthood was the means by which he could safeguard Claudia’s future, then he would embrace it without hesitation.
As a result of this single-mindedness, he had risen to the rank of captain in one short year, leading the First Chapter of Mage Knights.
“And yet, still you won’t awaken,” he murmured as he looked down at her in the coffin before him, her resting place for the last three years.
To try and awaken Claudia, King Volkhard had summoned scholars from every corner of the world. Once a month, the greatest minds of the age gathered, their knowledge pooled in pursuit of her resurrection. Yet, no answer had been found.
Noah reached out silently. His fingertips hovered just above Claudia’s pale cheek.
But in that instant, a surge of black light erupted from the coffin, striking his hand with violent force. The impact sent a sharp pain lancing through his fingertip, splitting the nail. Blood welled forth, crimson drops spilling onto one of the lilies that filled the coffin, painting it the same shade as Claudia’s lips.
It was a scene that had played out countless times before. This violent rejection only ever occurred when someone attempted to touch her.
Noah could sense that this magic was unmistakably Claudia’s.
This rejection was the only proof that Her Highness still yet lived.
Noah closed his eyes and exhaled.
I have already received this week’s reports from Lady Fiolina and Lady Lauretta. I must also hear Lord Stuart’s findings firsthand. And then I will use the intelligence gathered by Lord Cedric to review the latest missive from His Majesty Ashbal.
After silently listing the things he needed to do, he opened his eyes once more. The purpose of the scholars’ monthly gathering was to use their discussions to bring forth new perspectives.
Noah fixed his gaze on Claudia’s lifeless body, which he knew in his heart would one day reawaken.
“I will be back tomorrow.”
There was no time to dwell in his sorrow. If he was to fulfill Claudia’s wishes, he had to press onward.
With a sweep of his hand, he erased the blood that had marred the lilies. Bowing once before her, he turned and departed.
Inside her midnight-black coffin, Claudia lay quietly among the white flowers. Only her lips, crimson as a ripe apple, retained their color. No one would have been able to notice that a single drop of Noah’s blood had fallen upon her lips.