Chapter 11

***

Oswald caught Charlotte, who had fainted, in his arms and made a grimace.

"Charlotte. Can you hear me?"

"Uuun… It’s not right, I’m so envious of myself…"

(…What is she saying…?)

Her complexion doesn’t seem bad at all. Rather, her cheeks are flushed, and she looks quite healthy.

(Well, it’s no wonder she fainted suddenly. The divine power that once flowed through her is now almost completely depleted.)

Every creature born in this world has magic power within them, just like blood, which is necessary to sustain life. ‘Divine power’ is simply a special term for the healing ability of humans, but essentially it is no different from magic power.

Before the sealing, Charlotte had an immense amount of divine power. Oswald, who possessed magic power nearly equal to hers, used every means at his disposal to seal it.

When they faced each other during the sealing, Charlotte knelt on the floor of the cathedral, glaring at him with a look of loathing.

He remembers the flame of hostility burning in her pale blue eyes. Oswald bound her with the black chains of a binding spell, not even giving her a chance to speak.

It was an order.

"Capture the Holy Maiden, it’s fine to hurt her, but don’t kill her. Once secured, seal her divine power so she can never perform such cruel acts again."

Following the royal family’s instructions, Oswald even silenced her voice.

He had only heard Charlotte’s voice that one time.

"Oswald Ralph Langheim."

She called out his name with a voice that seemed to curse his very existence. Oswald, too, harbored an equal amount of hatred towards her.

(I’ve heard that the reason the healing magic users in the army couldn’t heal the severely wounded was because Charlotte had sealed their divine power.)

As a result, the healing magic users serving the country could no longer use their healing magic.

When the royal family questioned her, she reportedly laughed and said, "Isn’t it impudent for other women to use healing magic?"

"I am the only one who can heal others. That’s enough."

Despite this, Charlotte did not heal anyone on that battlefield. Even when everyone bowed their heads, she refused to nod in agreement.

"She said, 'I don’t want to dirty my dress,' in a bored tone."

Charlotte didn’t even look at the injured, let alone pray for those who had become corpses by the next morning.

All those who died that day were Oswald’s friends.

Despite this, the royal family ordered Oswald, the only one with the magic power to seal Charlotte’s divine power and the ability to kill her at any time, to marry her.

(…But)

Oswald recalls her from earlier.

"Charlotte… Every time you call my name, it feels as if the reality of my name seeps into the depths of my heart."

(Which means, the current Charlotte…)

He then sighed deeply.

(…All her memories from before the sealing are gone…)

Realizing this, he understood all her actions.

(Probably from the moment she woke up this morning. The Charlotte in my arms now has no memory of her past as the Holy Maiden, who committed countless evil deeds.)

Her asking for his name and pretending to fall in love at first sight were not acts to deceive and confuse others.

(Maybe Charlotte herself, for some reason, sealed her own memories.)

Oswald couldn’t help but click his tongue.

(Why won’t she explain the situation to me? Even if she doesn’t bear the responsibility of her past self, without her memories and without the cooperation of others, she must have struggled a lot today…)

The Charlotte in his arms was breathing softly, her flushed cheeks now cool, and her face as innocent as a child’s.

(I can’t forgive the Holy Maiden Charlotte who let my comrades die.)

Oswald bowed his head.

(But… the current Charlotte, who has lost her memory, is not responsible for her past actions…)

Before and after losing her memory, she is still the same person. However, Oswald couldn’t bring himself to think that the memory-less Charlotte should atone for the sins of her past self.

(Hating the person in front of me, yet knowing that the person inside is not worthy of that hatred, creates a strange feeling that makes me hesitate.)

"What is your goal, 'Charlotte'?"

He recalls the previous Charlotte, who glared at him with intense focus.

The Charlotte sleeping here is nothing like her. Despite being the same person, it’s a strange feeling.

"…Hmph"

After frowning, Oswald stood up, still holding Charlotte in his arms. Her body was light, and she floated up easily. The hem of her pale purple nightgown spread out like a blooming flower.

He carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. He placed her head on the pillow, pulled the blanket over her, and tucked it up to her shoulders to keep her warm.

"I’ll go along with your invitation… For now, I’ll pretend to be deceived."

He sat on the edge of the bed, placed his hand beside her, and looked down at her face.

"But don’t forget. Depending on your actions, I might—"

"Mmm…"

At that moment, Charlotte shifted uncomfortably in her sleep.

Worried that he might have woken her, Oswald fell silent. After a while, Charlotte’s face relaxed, and she smiled in a way that seemed reassured.

"Lord Oswald…"

Hearing her call his name in a meltingly sweet voice, Oswald felt a bit flustered.

(…Don’t smile like that, it’s making me lose my composure too.)

Instead of scolding her, he pinched her nose with his finger.

"Phew"

Charlotte shifted again and mumbled in her sleep.

"Mmm, Lord Oswald, just a little… Just a tiny bite, okay…"

(…What kind of dream are you having, you…)

Despite not wanting to know, Oswald left her bedroom.

***

This marks the end of Chapter 1!

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