“Leonhard?”
In the dreamworld, where she was still searching for a way to awaken, Claudia called the name of the young man who held her captive.
“Hey, Leonhard, are you listening?”
She was met only with silence.
“Leonhard?”
Perched without the slightest thought of decorum atop his desk, Claudia attempted for a third time to gain his attention, but Leonhard, seated beside her, continued to work in silence, eyes never lifting from the documents before him.
“Really now,” she said, puffing out one cheek in a clear show of protest. “That simply won’t do. When someone calls your name, it’s only proper to answer.”
He didn’t so much as glance up at the rebuke.
“If you persist in ignoring me...” She turned her gaze toward the clerks posted near the entrance of the study. “I may simply ask one of your retainers to escort me outside.”
“Adelheid.”
The irritation in Leonhard’s voice was enough to make the clerks stiffen.
Claudia stretched her legs and gave them a disarming smile.
“Forgive him. He can be rather frightening, I know. But don’t worry, I’ll accept any scolding on your behalf.”
“Do not seduce my staff,” Leonhard snapped.
His voice was curt, his mood plainly soured. Claudia looked down at him from her seat.
“My, but I’m doing no such thing. I’m merely enjoying myself. I sit on desks in short dresses, stretching my legs, because I wish to, nothing more.”
He scowled at her.
“If you find it improper, you could always send me back to my chambers,” she added, tapping his side lightly with her bare toe, having kicked off her slippers some time ago. “It’s your fault, really. You insist on keeping me by your side every hour of the day.”
“I have little choice. You’ve made it clear that I can’t take my eyes off you for a moment.”
Ever since Claudia had thrown herself from the castle window a few days prior, she had been placed under strict surveillance. Her bedchamber had been relocated beside his, and during the day, she was made to remain in his office under guard.
And all the while, he barely acknowledged her presence. Claudia could hardly bear the tedium.
This isn’t just because I spoke with Sieghart—there’s something more to it.
She was more convinced than ever that Leonhard, despite all outward differences, was indeed the same person as Noah.
The same soul. The same spirit. The same boy—only raised along a different path. A little warped, perhaps, but fundamentally unchanged.
Take, for example, the white fur mantle draped gently over her shoulders. Leonhard had conjured it himself for her. Even when his voice was cold and his words dismissive, he still thought to take care of her needs.
If I think of him as Noah in his rebellious phase, then even his overbearing behavior is endearing. Still, being with him all the time is rather inconvenient.
She had tasked Sieghart and Karlheinz with a certain investigation some days ago, and by now, they should have had results. But as long as Leonhard’s eyes were upon her, there was no chance for her to meet with them.
If I only could use magic, even a little bit, then I could perhaps create a chance to slip away.
Yet Claudia’s magic remained utterly unresponsive. And so, despite knowing it would likely be in vain, she had continued to pester him.
“Leonhard, I’m dreadfully bored. If you won’t amuse me, I should very much like to return to my room for a nap.”
“No. I will not grant you permission.”
Feigning dejection, she pouted. “Even when I asked so sweetly?”
Leonhard furrowed his brow ever so slightly. See—at his core, he was still the same as her Noah.
Leonhard let out an audible sigh.
My, my. That was quite exaggerated.
His obsidian eyes looked up at her, still seated atop the desk.
Then, to her surprise, Leonhard said something completely unexpected.
“Please. Stay by my side.”
Claudia’s eyes widened in shock.
Leonhard looked away, clearly uncomfortable, and muttered as if to justify himself, “You said if I beg you, you’d listen to me, right?”
“Tee hee!” She couldn’t help the delighted laughter that slipped from her lips. “Still not good enough. You forgot the ‘sweetly’ part.”
“Silence. If you continue to misbehave, I’ll put you to sleep with magic.”
The clerks exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether to be alarmed or amused.
But Claudia knew that she needed to come up with a plan to slip from his watchful gaze soon.