Chapter 100

“Were you already this grown up when you were Noah’s age, Your Highness?”

It sounded like praise for Vincent, but that wasn’t really the point.

Agnes simply wanted to see how Vincent reacted to being called “grown up.”

But the adult mask Vincent had put back on showed no cracks.

“Not at all. I was a timid child who read books all day and shied away from people. Compared to that, Noah, who speaks so easily even to strangers, feels far more grown up to me.”

As Vincent smoothly passed the praise to Noah, the child beamed with delight.

With dessert finished, the meal was nearing its end.

“How was breakfast, Your Highness?”

“It was excellent and most enjoyable. Thank you both for your hospitality.”

The exchange between Dylan and Vincent, the two highest ranking people at the table, signaled the end of the meal.

As the party began to break up and things grew a little busy, Conrad quietly stepped closer to Vincent and whispered something in his ear.

Vincent nodded and was about to speak.

“Mom, Louis. Louis.”

But Noah tugged at the hem of Agnes’s dress first, his plea coming faster.

It seemed he’d been growing impatient since yesterday, having not seen Louis at all.

Agnes gently took Noah’s hand and said,

“You should greet His Highness first. Sir Sepion should be back soon, so we’ll go see him after. Come on, politely.”

Urged on kindly, Noah performed a clumsy curtsy he’d learned in etiquette lessons and greeted Vincent.

“Your Highness, it was nice to meet you. Thank you for eating with us.”

Vincent hesitated at Noah’s greeting, then continued. It looked like he’d been about to say something and stopped himself.

“I was pleased as well. Duke, Duchess. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I’ll take my leave now and rest.”

“I’m very glad you were satisfied. If there’s anything you need, please tell us anytime. Rest well.”

Even after hearing Agnes’s response, Vincent lingered, his gaze resting on Noah, before finally leaving the dining room.

As Agnes wondered about that look, Dylan approached and spoke.

“His Highness seems to be interested in Noah.”

“Why would that be? Noah’s just a child.”

As if he’d overheard the adults talking about him, Noah lifted his head brightly and urged Agnes again.

“Mom, Louis. Let’s see Louis now!”

Dylan looked down at the pleading child, then gently placed a hand on his head to draw his attention.

“Noah, if His Highness ever calls for you separately, you mustn’t go alone.”

“I won’t go alone. I’ll go with Lizzie and Pavel, or Daren.”

“Good. Make sure you’re always with them.”

Even after Dylan finished speaking, Noah craned his neck back hard, trying to see Dylan’s face high above him.

Unable to resist that gaze, Dylan bent down a little.

“What is it? Do you have another question?”

“Your Grace, is His Highness family with you?”

Dylan fell silent for a moment, as if faced with a difficult question, then nodded.

“Yes.”

“Like Mom and me are with you, Your Grace?”

At that question, Agnes parted her lips without thinking. Up to “Mom and me” was fine, but the words “like you” that followed felt dangerously close to something else.

She looked at Dylan with a nervous expression.

Dylan’s silence lasted a little longer this time. In the end, instead of answering directly, he knelt down on one knee in front of Noah and began speaking.

“I’m not sure how I should answer that.”

It was unexpectedly honest.

Agnes gently held Noah’s shoulder and watched Dylan’s lips. She was curious herself about what he would say.

After pausing in thought even after his first words, Dylan finally spoke again.

“Your mother and you, and… me. The three of us could be called one team. But being family doesn’t automatically mean being on the same team.”

“Then His Highness is family, but not on the same team?”

“That’s right. But that doesn’t mean you should see His Highness as an enemy.”

“An enemy?”

“It means you don’t need to hate him or reject his goodwill. But you mustn’t trust him unconditionally, the way you trust your mother or me.”

Noah furrowed his brow, trying to understand, and made a small humming sound. Then, as if he’d reached his own conclusion, he said,

“His Highness isn’t a grown up. He can’t be like Mom and Your Grace.”

It was hard to follow the logic, but Dylan didn’t correct him. Instead, he borrowed the child’s words.

“You’re right. His Highness isn’t a grown up yet. That’s why, when you meet him, you must always bring grown ups like Lizzie and Pavel with you.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Noah answered with a wide smile, as if he understood perfectly now. Dylan ruffled the child’s hair with his fingertips and stood up.

“Now go meet that magician. I need to discuss a few more things with the knights.”

Agnes nodded. Just as Dylan turned to leave, she suddenly remembered something and called out.

“…Um.”

“Go ahead.”

Dylan stopped and turned back to her. After a brief pause to gather her words, Agnes spoke.

“Your Grace, thank you. For what you said to Noah…”

Dylan hadn’t denied the word “family” Noah had brought up. More than that, he’d said they were one team. Those words sank deeply into Agnes’s heart.

Without needing further explanation, Dylan seemed to understand and gave a faint smile.

“I’ll take my leave.”

He gave a small nod and left the dining room. Agnes watched his steady back, then smiled at Noah.

“Shall we go see Sir Sepion now?”

At that, Noah jumped as if he might take off, gripping Agnes’s hand tightly.

“Quickly, quickly!”

Holding Noah’s hand, Agnes left the dining room.

As if he’d been waiting for this moment, Noah immediately tried to dash toward Louis’s room. Agnes held back a laugh and stopped him.

“Noah, going straight to a guest’s room isn’t polite.”

“Louis is okay with it. Louis told me to do that!”

Honestly, it did sound like something Louis would say.

“All right. Then we’ll do that when you’re alone. Today, since Mom’s here, how about we go to the garden? We can look at flowers with Sir Sepion and talk about magic.”

Noah puffed out his cheeks, clearly unhappy about having to wait in the garden when he could see Louis right away. But soon he nodded and followed Agnes to the garden.

Taking their seats in the now familiar gazebo, Noah sat down and leaned forward, craning his neck as he waited for Louis to arrive.

When Louis finally came into view, Noah wiggled in his seat, then jumped down and ran toward him.

“Louis!”

Louis, grinning broadly, spread his arms and ran toward Noah as well.

“Noah!”

Calling the child affectionately by name, Louis scooped Noah up into his arms. As he spun around once with the child, clear laughter rang through the garden.

Still holding Noah, Louis strode into the gazebo.

“It’s good to see you again, Duchess. You look even more beautiful today.”

He spoke smoothly, but he didn’t seem particularly interested in Agnes. It felt like he was reciting lines he’d prepared in advance.

He set Noah down in a chair and took an empty seat himself.

Rather than feeling offended, Agnes oddly felt relieved by his attitude.

When a maid approached to prepare tea, Agnes waved her away. She brewed the tea herself and filled Louis’s cup.

Only then did Louis shift his gaze from Noah and thank Agnes.

“This is far too much… Thank you, Duchess.”

Louis didn’t look noble at all, yet his manners while drinking tea were surprisingly refined.

Watching him with interest, Agnes spoke.

“The Imperial Magic Division seems very close knit.”

“Of course. In this era, magicians are already rare, and those knowledgeable enough to enter the Imperial Magic Division are rarer still.”

Agnes nodded, her fingers resting on her teacup.

“If you’re that close, do you share what you learn about magic with each other? Everything?”

It sounded like casual curiosity about an unfamiliar world. But Louis would’ve noticed the intent hidden behind the question.

Maintaining his light demeanor until now, Louis answered with a serious expression and tone.

“Of course, magicians of the Magic Division study ancient texts daily and discuss them to grow together. But sharing everything… that’s not possible. Knowledge always comes with desire. Especially when it concerns a young magician whom I trust this much.”