Chapter 30

Oswald, who had slightly bent his body, straightened his back after parting his lips from Charlotte's ear.

Still holding Charlotte close, a man seemed to speak to him, his face hidden.

"Hey, mister. You don't have to leave so soon, you know."

"That's right. How about it? Let's talk at that shop. Your magic, and that young lady's healing magic, were truly amazing."

"Thank you for the kind offer, but—"

Oswald said, stroking Charlotte's hair.

"My wife seems to be quite tired."

"―――!?"

At this point, there was no time for thinking.

While soothing the frozen Charlotte, Oswald bowed to the people.

"Please be careful on your way back, everyone."

"Wait—"

As he felt the activation of magic, the scenery around him changed.

They were in Charlotte's bedroom, and Oswald let out a sigh. Then, he loosened his grip on Charlotte.

"Well, Charlotte—"

"…………"

Charlotte silently took a step back from Oswald.

"Hey? What's wrong?"

"………………"

"Usually, you'd be thrashing and making a fuss by now. Why are you silent with that blank look, staring into the distance?"

As Oswald pointed out, Charlotte, with her vacant eyes and expressionless face, let out a small voice.

"……I can't……"

"Huh?"

"It's impossible. I'm trying to shut down all my senses right now."

"What are you talking about?"

"……Because you, Oswald, did such a terrible thing……"

Her hands were trembling.

Charlotte looked down at her palms with a terrified gaze, then covered her hands with a cry.

"Ugh, why, why did this happen to me!! It's terrible, it's too much, it's cruel!! My sight, hearing, smell, and touch, everything has been destroyed by you, Oswald!! Ah, no, my senses, you mustn't work now, or you'll be irreparable!! If I recognize the presence of Oswald in front of me, I'll lose my mind completely!!"

"Don't say such scandalous things!! And you're already out of your mind at this point!?"

Charlotte, who couldn't maintain her expressionless face, crumpled to the floor with a distorted face. Over the past few days, she had been prone to collapsing on the floor whenever she was moved by Oswald, to the point where it might be more comfortable than a bed.

"Hic, hic, uh……. Whether it's the Oswald who uses sleep magic or the one who activates ice magic……!! You were the coolest in the world……"

"……At least I can see that there's no real problem with your health."

"Are you worried about me!?"

"Don't come hugging me with your face all teary and messy!"

Too happy, she couldn't help but move her body. She knew Oswald was kind, but it made her happy to think he was kind to her too.

(Hehe. To be so considerate even to a wife he dislikes…)

She pressed her melting cheeks with both hands and smiled happily.

Then, Oswald looked down at her with a bitter expression.

"……This time, you did something reckless that you shouldn't have."

"!"

At his tone, Charlotte straightened her back and sat up. Though she was still on the floor.

"The divine power I left in you is limited. There was no guarantee that the healing magic would work, right?"

"……Yes……"

Oswald was right.

Not only the issue of divine power, but Charlotte had also not fully remembered how to use healing magic. It was a miracle that she managed to activate it before being thrown off or attacked by Fenrir.

"You could have really died. Do you understand that…?"

At that moment, Charlotte was startled.

"Oswald-sama……!!"

She hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry!"

"!!"

Oswald, taken aback by her sudden apology, held his breath.

(What a rash decision. If something had happened to me, Fenrir and Oswald-sama would have been held responsible.)

She looked up with tears in her eyes at the person she loved most.

Oswald had married her under the king's orders to monitor her.

Since he didn't kill the cruel saint Charlotte and was monitoring her this way, it would be inconvenient if she died.

(If I die, it will be seen as a failure of Oswald-sama's supervision, and he will be reprimanded. Fenrir might also have been punished. I acted without considering these things.)

It wasn't a matter that could be resolved by just her getting hurt and dying.

She sincerely reflected on this.

"I won't act so recklessly again in the future!"

"……We'll see. When you rushed to Fenrir, you didn't hesitate."

"Ah… At that moment, I wasn't thinking of anything! I promise it will be different from now on, really! I want to be of help to Oswald-sama without putting my life at risk!"

However, Oswald still looked skeptical.

(No, no, he doesn't believe me! I need to say something more convincing…)

Charlotte, at a loss, thought hard. Then, she had an idea.

"Um, that… Yes!! If I can be of help to you in a safe and reasonable way—will you go on a date with me, Oswald-sama!?"

If she gave this reason, "I want to go on a date with Oswald," he might believe her.

It was a very serious proposal, but Oswald furrowed his brow deeply.

The air felt colder than the snowy landscape outside.

"Ugh… No, this won't work…"

As Charlotte wilted and looked sad, Oswald's frown deepened.

"Hmph"

She braced herself for a severe scolding.

But the next words he spoke were gruff but kinder than she expected.

"…If you can really do it, I'll go on a date with you, even hold your hand."

"………………!!"

Her vision filled with bright light.

"O-Oswald-samaaaaaa!!"

"Alright, back off, don't hug me!!"

This way, Charlotte gained significant reflection and learning from her day out shopping.

But she didn't tell Oswald.

She couldn't yet bring herself to mention the two concerns that had formed in her heart.

＊＊＊

This concludes Chapter 3!

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