Baby Prisoner of the Winter Castle

Maximilian replied with a straight face, for there was some confusion in what she said.

“My wife, Brielle Sheridan, is a lady who knows how to be loyal to the royal family.

“Still, Max. Do you think that’s true?”

Debina brushed her long scarlet hair and smiled bitterly.

“You don’t know anything about a woman’s heart. You’ve never been curious about my thoughts in the first place, have you?”

“Yes, I never have.”

Maximilian replied as if it were natural.

“…How cold.”

“Then I will leave.”

He managed to give a straight greeting, suppressing his displeasure.

“Max.”

On the way back, he heard a call from behind, but he didn’t stop walking.

“…I’m sorry.”

And he heard the words of apology again, Maximilian went back to the villa after hearing it in one ear.

****

It just rained on the day the Duke and Clarisse returned to Sheridan.

It was also a sign that spring was coming soon.

Sheridan’s spring was much colder than any spring Clarisse had ever experienced, but it was still the most enjoyable time.

She went to see frogs waking up from hibernation, and completed journals by observing newly growing kidney bean sprouts the size of fingernails.

But the most exciting thing was to meet Noah, who came to report once a month.

It was fun even if she didn’t play any special games with Noah.

There were several times when they chatted and fell asleep while curled up together on the narrow window sill.

Sometimes Noah’s cat’s mask was a little loose when they played with each other, but—.

Each time, Clarisse suppressed her curiosity and quickly looked away or helped him put on the mask again. 

Such a short spring has passed in an instant, and it has become summer.

Clarisse would now be completely free from her round furry clothes, and would enjoy wearing a fluttering, comfortable dress.

But this time, what Noah, who had just arrived from the castle wall, found was Clarisse, dressed in a gorgeous dress as if she were going to a banquet.

“Isn’t it hot for a girl?”

He took Clarisse’s hand and cast a spell to cool her down.

Perhaps thanks to magic, the sweat that had formed on the girl’s nose quickly disappeared.

“It’s hot, but it can’t be helped.”

Clarisse shook her hand and blushed.

Noah coughed in vain.

“Hmmm, how could you dress so politely all of a sudden when I said I’d come—”

“The teacher is coming today!”

Clarisse held Noah’s hands tightly.

“Teacher?”

“Yes, yes! You know, I told you last time that I was going to tell the Duke that I was going to prepare for the public official exam?”

“O, of course I remember. “

“I said I would study alone, but the Duke found a teacher for me.”

“…Was it something like that?”

“I dressed politely because I wanted to show my teacher a good side. You know, my teacher is a very smart gentleman who graduated from college.”

“T, there’s something wrong with girl’s words. Just because he graduated from college doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he’s smart!”

‘But.”

Clarisse answered as she led him into the entrance.

“The Duchess said so. So it must be true. The Duchess never lies to me. “

“…Hmph.”

“Oh, by the way, do you want to see how much my kidney beans and morning glory have grown? You’ll report to the Duke in the evening, right?” 

This was an implicit rule that had never changed since winter.

“…Today’s priority is to report to the Duke.”

But somehow Noah responded with a momentary impulse.

“There must have been an important discovery.”

“It’s not like that in particular…”

“Then, let’s ask Grandpa Butler if we can see the Duke right away.”

Clarisse turned around to the mansion’s butler, who was watching them from a few steps away.

At that moment, a white ribbon floated in front of Noah’s eyes.

It was the same ribbon that was wrapped around his wrist, the ribbon he and Clarisse shared when they first became friends.

“Ah.”

Without realizing it, he grasped the end of the long ribbon.

The loose ribbon fluttered down into his hand with a soft sound.

“….?”

“N, no.”

Noah quickly cast a spell on the ribbon and sent it back through Clarisse’s hair.

The enchanted ribbon made a pretty knot by itself, just like a living snake.

“I didn’t know… you were wearing a ribbon.”

“Of course.”

Clarisse fiddled with the end of the returned ribbon with her fingers.

“You know, actually, the teacher didn’t really decide to take on me. I guess he was planning to make a decision after meeting me in person. So, to be honest, I’ve been nervous all along. But…”

Clarisse smiled back at Noah.

“From the moment I put on the ribbon I shared with Noah, I seem to calm myself down little by little.”

“….”

“Thank you, Noah. “

“…There is no fool who doesn’t accept a cute child like you as a disciple.”

“Huh? What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Noah shook his head and grabbed Clarisse’s arm.

“As expected, it would be better to see the growth of plants first.”

“But wasn’t there an important report for the Duke?”

Instead of answering, Noah left a message to the butler nearby.

“Tell the Duke I’ll see him after dinner.”

When the old butler smiled happily and tried to answer yes.

The sound of a carriage came from the garden.

Clarisse and Noah looked at each other.

****

The famous professional teacher, Rafferty Lockhart, came in the carriage.

He was quite well-received by local aristocrats due to his strictness.

The reason why he came all the way to Sheriden was because he cared about Maximilian’s growing reputation.

When Maximilian came to Sheridan, people thought that Maximilian and Lysander must be fierce enemies.

That’s because both the throne and his fiancée were taken away.

However, those who watched Maximilian take care of Lysander in the war began to say that all rumors so far may be false.

Of course, not everyone trusts the story.

But Lockhart had an extraordinary situation.

His younger brother, who had participated in the war on his behalf, had sent a letter from the battlefield with the same content.

[You know, Brother. The Duke and His Highness seem to be on very good terms.]

Therefore, Lockhart believed that the Duke was still closely connected to the royal family.

He wanted to take on the child of a great family in order to gradually increase his reputation.

When he came across the news of the Duke’s private tutor recruitment, he thought that the opportunity had finally come. 

The Duke’s family is looking for a tutor for a ten-year-old child.

It was decided that it must be to find a teacher to secretly teach the youngest prince, ‘Valentine Saphers’, who is hidden and raised by the royal family.

Other than that, the Duke, especially the tutor, would have no children to take care of.

‘The Prince’s teacher…’

He sat in the drawing-room where he was guided by the butler and smiled happily.

If only he had a background in teaching a child belonging to the royal family, the noble family would have spent as much money as possible to call him.

“Teacher Lockhart.”

Soon there was a knock, and the butler approached and bowed deeply.

“It is difficult to meet the Duke and Duchess right away because they are currently attending an important meeting. I ask for your understanding.”

“No it’s alright.”

Lockhart had a good smile.

A tutor is a job that usually has to please parents or employees, so this was not that difficult.

“I arrived two hours earlier than the time you said, so I’d rather ask for your understanding.

“Thank you very much for saying so.”

“Then, can I meet a student who I will teach first?”

Lockhart was rather pleased to be able to meet the child before the Duke.

He taught many children, and was confident in winning their hearts.

As long as Prince Valentine follows Lockhart well, this glorious job will surely be in his possession.

“I’ll go check if it’s possible.”

The butler poured the tea into Lockhart’s glass and withdrew from the drawing-room.

Left alone again, he sat with one leg crossed and smiled with anticipation.

****

The butler delivered Mr. Lockhart’s message to the Duke.

Then the Duke said, ‘If Clarisse wants it.’ and handed over the choice.

Clarisse pondered for a moment, but soon accepted the sudden encounter.

However, the fact that she had to have a conversation with an adult she didn’t know really made her nervous.

“Will I be able to do well on my own?”

In fact, before coming here, she asked the inner wall, “How does the teacher look?” but she didn’t get a specific answer.

If she thinks about it, the interior walls can’t even read minds, so there was no way they could know the details of the guest first.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Noah accompanied Clarisse, who was very nervous, to the front of the drawing room.