Chapter 19

"――……You don't have to do that, it's okay."

"……!?"

Oswald's voice, which sounded both exasperated and soothing, spilled right next to her ear.

The strange tickling sensation made Charlotte's spine shiver. She felt an inexplicable allure in his voice, which came from behind, as she was enclosed in Oswald's arms.

"You don't have to take it off, and you don't have to change. I understand that you weren't thinking about anything at all."

"Wh-what, wha-what, uh…!?"

She opened and closed her mouth, but no meaningful words came out.

"Take a breath."

"Huff!!"

If she didn't, she would die from lack of air. Though she was actually in no state to do so, she followed Oswald's command. Oswald confirmed this and continued.

"Good girl."

"Huh!!"

"Like that, now exhale slowly. ...Are you calmer now?"

There was no way she could be calm. However, she felt that saying so would only make things worse. Charlotte lied and nodded vigorously.

"Then it's fine. But what should we do?"

(Damn...)

Oswald, still holding Charlotte from behind, began to think about something.

(This dress is really thin...!! I can feel the touch of Oswald's arms and the strength of his embrace...!!)

She wanted to be let go, but she couldn't move at all.

"From the looks of it, the others are probably similar. And it's impossible to get a tailor to make a new one in time for the evening party."

(And, my breathing...!! Every time Oswald speaks, his soft breath touches my ear...!!)

She couldn't breathe properly, and her heart was pounding even more.

(What should I do...)

On the first day she woke up, Charlotte had clung to Oswald and asked for his name. While she was fine with initiating the embrace, she couldn't bear being held like this by Oswald.

It wasn't just a matter of crying. As Charlotte tried to maintain her sanity, the next challenge came.

"Charlotte?"

"Ah!"

Oswald called her name right next to her ear.

She really wanted to praise herself for not collapsing. This was truly a moment of bravery. She wanted to crouch on the floor, but she was held back and not allowed to.

(If this continues, it will really be a matter of life and death!!)

Her heart felt so constricted that she thought it might break at any moment.

"――――!!"

A ringing sound echoed in her ears.

(This is...)

Her vision was filled with an unfamiliar scene.

Before her eyes, a vast wilderness spread out, different from where she was. In the scene, Charlotte stood on a cliff, looking down at countless troops below.

"Go on, go on, advance!"

Charlotte shouted to the soldiers.

A large number of soldiers were clashing with what seemed to be enemy troops. Since they had little magic, they were armed with weapons, bleeding and fighting.

Looking down at the soldiers, Charlotte laughed joyfully.

"Even if you lose your limbs, or if your stomach is pierced, never falter in battle. There's nothing to fear! Even if your heart is torn out, even if your head falls..."

The Charlotte in the scene, with her pale golden hair fluttering in the wind, said with a somewhat seductive expression,

"I will heal you."

At her words, the soldiers of her army raised a battle cry.

"Charge, crush the enemy!!"

"Endure until the mages arrive. No, take their turn as well!!"

"No matter what wounds we suffer, it doesn't matter!! We have 'Saint' Charlotte-sama...!!"

At that moment, the scene in her eyes changed.

"......"

Before Charlotte stood a man.

It was the beloved Oswald, with a very cold expression. His face was stained red, and unusually, he was wearing a black cloak.

(That's not right. It's not that his usual blue cloak turned black...)

She realized that his blue cloak had been dyed red.

Oswald was drenched in so much blood. His red eyes burned with hatred as he quietly stared at Charlotte.

(...Oswald-sama...)

"Charlotte"

"!!"

Hearing her name called right next to her, she snapped back to reality.

(What was that...)

Unconsciously, her gaze fell on the diary on the desk.

(The scene was realistic, but it felt very unreal. It was as if all the emotions I should have felt upon seeing that scene were sealed away...)

But Charlotte's consciousness was quickly pulled back to the presence behind her.

"Charlotte? What's wrong?"

(Aaaaaah!! That's right, Oswald-sama was hugging me tightly!!)

The emergency situation had been so intense that her consciousness had drifted away. Charlotte's voice cracked as she tried to speak.

"W-what, what, what could it be...!?"

"I need to see your closet for the evening party preparations."

"Yes, I'll show you!! I'll show you everything, please!! Please help me, please spare me—!!"

"……?"

Then Oswald said, in a slightly reluctant voice,

"I'm not doing anything terrible to you, am I?"

(You can't be serious, are you unaware of your own actions!?)

Finally, she was released and slumped down. However, with Oswald giving her a stern look, she managed to wobble towards the wardrobe.

"H-here... Please look to your heart's content...!!"

"Ah."

Next to Oswald as he opened the closet, she repeatedly took deep breaths. The events of just now were not something to be happy about or to savor; they were far too hard on her heart.

(I have a new memory. The shock of being touched by someone is greater than the shock of initiating the touch! The same applies to contact with my husband. I don't think this will happen again...!!)

"Indeed."

"Oswald-sama?"

Finally regaining some composure, she peered into the closet with Oswald.

"――Your dresses, in general, are too revealing."

(...Probably the taste of my previous self...)