Chapter 92

Fortunately, the child didn’t notice his mother’s strange behavior and replied with a bright smile.

“Daren and I played hide and seek. But you know what, Daren says he hates nobles. But there’s exactly one noble he likes, and he says Noah counts too!”

At that, Daren, who had been standing quietly behind Noah, spoke with a flustered expression.

“T-That’s not exactly what I said, Madam.”

Even in such a tense moment, Agnes couldn’t help but smile in front of the child. Even if it was a smile that felt like a sigh drained of all strength.

“Daren, it’s alright. He’s just a child.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Agnes hugged Noah tightly, then let go and took his hand instead.

“Noah, since you had fun playing with Daren, want to play with Mom now?”

Noah nodded vigorously, as if he’d been waiting for that question. Agnes smiled softly, grateful for how Noah always put her first.

Agnes gave instructions to a nearby maid.

“We’ll have tea with the child in the garden, so prepare some refreshments. Make sure it’s something Noah likes.”

“Yes, Madam. Actually, the chef made cherry pie again for the young master. The cherries are nicely tart, so he’ll love it.”

At the maid’s words, Noah’s eyes sparkled.

“Alright, then please do that.”

Once the maid stepped away, Noah excitedly shook Agnes’s hand.

As the child grew day by day, he’d gotten much stronger too. Afraid she might lose her grip, Agnes held his hand a little more firmly as they went down the stairs together.

The path leading to the garden had already been carefully tended by the gardener, the grass trimmed evenly. As they got closer, small flower buds peeked out between the round hedges.

Noah stopped every so often, gently touching the buds and smiling brightly.

“The flowers are small and cute.”

His face and voice were gentler and lovelier than the tender buds themselves.

“Yeah, they really are.”

Agnes agreed as she walked along the path paved with neat white stones.

Before long, the two arrived at a gazebo near the garden entrance.

Hearing that the Duchess and young master were coming, a white tablecloth had already been laid over the tea table inside.

Agnes helped Noah sit on a chair taller than he was, then took the seat beside him.

“So, who won the game in the end?”

“Noah did!”

The child excitedly began explaining how he’d hidden so Daren couldn’t find him.

It was obvious Daren had gone easy on him, but Agnes pretended not to notice, clapping in admiration. Noah’s proud expression as he talked about having fun with Daren was adorable.

She’d thought Daren was a bit blunt, but it seemed he played well with children.

When the maid arrived pushing a tray, Noah bounced in his seat with excitement.

Seeing the child so happy, even the maid transferring the cherry pie from the tray had a smile on her lips.

While the maid brewed the tea, Agnes personally cut a piece of cherry pie and fed it to Noah. It was a section packed with preserved cherries.

Noah stuffed his mouth full and chewed happily, his cheeks puffing out.

“Is it good?”

“Yes! It’s the best cherry pie I’ve ever had!”

“Make sure you tell the chef later. He’ll be happy to hear Noah liked it.”

As she wiped crumbs from the corner of his mouth, Noah nodded enthusiastically.

Agnes gazed quietly at the bright red cherries filling the cut pie, then motioned for the maids to step back.

The maids withdrew to a distance where they could return at a signal, while the knights Pavel and Daren stopped a little closer than that.

After confirming the distance, Agnes pointed at the cherries and asked Noah.

“Noah, you said there’s a red jewel in His Grace’s chest, like those cherries, right?”

Noah shook his head side to side.

“It’s prettier than those cherries!”

For a moment, Agnes worried it had disappeared or that he’d been mistaken. But at his next words, she laughed and pressed her temple.

“Really? Prettier than cherries?”

“Yes. Really pretty. Even prettier than the brooch!”

She realized he meant the one Dylan had given him a few months ago.

“I see.”

Agnes nodded as she gently stroked Noah’s cheek.

Suddenly, Noah gasped and covered his mouth with both hands.

“It’s a secret! Oh no!”

“What is?”

“His Grace said I’m not supposed to tell!”

Thinking back, that was true. He’d clearly tried not to tell Agnes either.

After a brief moment of thought, Agnes explained carefully so she wouldn’t startle him.

“Actually, His Grace told Mom too. He told me to keep it a secret as well, so I asked the maids and knights to stay far away.”

Noah looked around, then nodded as if he understood. He let out a relieved sigh while patting his chest with his small hand.

“That’s a relief.”

“Yeah, so…”

Agnes started to get to the point, then trailed off, worried she might be rushing too much. She didn’t want Noah to sense her tension.

Fortunately, Noah was simply excited about sharing a secret with his mother and kept chattering.

“Then can Mom see that pretty jewel too? I guess other people can’t see it!”

“Mm, Mom can’t see it either. I only know because His Grace told me.”

“Really? Is this also magic sensi… magic sensi…”

Noah tilted his head, struggling with the word. Agnes waited a moment, then gave him the answer.

“Magic sensitivity.”

“That’s it! Is it because Noah can do that?”

Agnes nodded, even though one wouldn’t normally say you could do magic sensitivity. Then she gently held Noah’s hand and asked carefully.

“What does the jewel look like? Can you describe it in detail for Mom? I’m curious since I can’t see it.”

“It’s red! And pretty, and shaped like a drop of water. It sparkles, and it spins around like this.”

Pointing at Agnes with his short index finger, Noah twirled it in circles.

Imagining the jewel Noah described, Agnes asked again.

“Has anything about it changed since the first time you saw it?”

“It’s different every time. Sometimes it gets bigger, sometimes smaller.”

“Other than changing regularly, anything else?”

She worried that asking too many detailed questions might make Noah suspicious, but she couldn’t not ask.

Thankfully, Noah just tilted his head, not seeming to find it strange.

“It’s the same. It’s always the same pretty red.”

At the innocent answer, Agnes let out a breath of relief without realizing it.

Then unavoidable self loathing washed over her.

Dylan was her benefactor. It was right to do anything for him. But the thought that Noah might get hurt in the process terrified her.

Agnes hadn’t realized she could be this selfish.

Letting out a pained, low sound, she couldn’t bring herself to touch Noah, only cutting small pieces of cherry pie for him.

‘If only I could be the one to be sacrificed, I’d do it willingly.’

Thinking such meaningless thoughts, Agnes let out a quiet sigh where Noah couldn’t hear.

This conversation alone couldn’t confirm anything.

Neither Agnes nor Noah would know what kind of change should appear in the jewel Noah saw.

The information that could be gained from a child’s perspective was far too limited.

In the end, she’d have to go to the Imperial Magic Division again.

It was frustrating that the only group she could rely on in a situation like this was that bunch of eccentrics, but at least Louis’s kindness and interest toward Noah had seemed genuine.

Whether it was because he truly cared for Noah or because he wanted talent, he wouldn’t ignore Noah’s danger.

‘I need to move up the timing of our trip to the capital.’

Marcella’s words had filled Agnes with anxiety, but she couldn’t let herself be swayed by them alone.

She had to be sure whether Noah was truly in danger, and if so, whether it was really because of Dylan. Only then could she decide what to do next.

Agnes steeled her resolve.

She had no intention of letting anyone get hurt.

Not Noah. Not Dylan. Both were precious to her.

She didn’t care if it was called greed. To protect the people she cherished, she was willing to be as selfish as necessary.

Once her resolve was set, she could lift her head again and look at Noah’s face.