Chapter 37

From there, she continued to engage in conversation with the approaching guests in that manner.

The nobles approached her with a variety of emotions and intentions.

And Charlotte, somehow mimicking her former self, dealt with each of them one after another.

Oswald assisted Charlotte and escorted her appropriately.

Of course, he occasionally checked the situation with her in a low voice.

"Hey, can you still manage? Can you keep it under control?"

"Umm, I might not be able to... Ever since then, the way Lord Oswald speaks so formally with the important people has been too much for me...!!"

"Alright, I understand. Hide your face with a fan and take deep breaths. Come on, try to pull yourself together and regain your composure."

"Y-Yes! Inhale... exhale... Ah, no good...!! I shouldn't be inhaling so much of the air near Lord Oswald...!!"

"Charlotte...!!"

Such exchanges seemed to go unnoticed by those around them.

"Look, Lord Langheim appears to be giving the Holy Maiden some orders."

"He must have complete control over the Holy Maiden. My, what a remarkable skill... Not only in commanding the battlefield, but in this as well..."

None of the nobles seemed to realize that Charlotte was on the verge of breaking down.

Then, a man approached them.

"Hey, Oswald!"

"Ignatz"

"!"

Oswald's voice had clearly changed, so Charlotte looked up at him without hesitation.

Oswald, looking down at her, gave her a gaze that seemed to say, "Look ahead, not at me." Indeed, that was the right thing to do.

(Um, this person is...)

At this ball, it was rare to see a young man.

He was probably around the same age as Oswald.

His straight, fiery red hair was tied back in a ponytail. With slightly upturned eyes, the man smiled and placed his hand on his chest, speaking respectfully.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Charlotte. I am Ignatz Raimund Wurtemberg, the heir of the Wurtemberg Marquess family. Please remember me."

"Lord Oswald, who is this?"

Ignoring Ignatz, Charlotte looked up at Oswald.

Oswald, unlike the other nobles, spoke without using the pronoun "I."

"He's a magician and my classmate. You could say we're old acquaintances."

(!!)

Ignatz immediately spoke up.

"Ah, that's a terrible explanation, man! We're friends who fought on the same battlefield. F-R-I-E-N-D-S."

"Shut up. No matter what anyone says, we're old acquaintances."

(Ah, Lord Oswald's 'friend'...!!)

Charlotte distorted her mouth and hid her face behind her fan to look at Ignatz.

(Does this mean he knows Lord Oswald in a way I don't? Because, because, Lord Oswald is already...!! The expression he shows to a close friend, or the more youthful aura...!!)

"I would love to have a proper conversation, but first, Oswald, shouldn't you go say a word to them?"

Following Ignatz's casual gaze, Charlotte and Oswald also looked in that direction.

A little distance away, three elegantly dressed young women were looking at Oswald with pouting eyes.

"They are the three sisters of the Gmühl family."

"...Ah..."

These were the rare young women in a ball dominated by middle-aged men.

(I've noticed it too. They've been staring at Lord Oswald all along...)

"Those are some intense gazes. Given your position, you should at least say a word to them."

"......I know."

After making a bitter face, Oswald glanced at Charlotte for some reason.

(?)

After feeling puzzled, she suddenly realized.

(I see! Lord Oswald has wanted to talk to those ladies all along. But he was worried that bringing me along might scare them...)

As Charlotte nodded in understanding, Ignatz shrugged his shoulders.

"Go ahead, it'll be troublesome if they get upset. I'll take over as Lady Charlotte's escort for a while."

"No, that's difficult. After all, Charlotte only listens to my orders..."

Charlotte clearly interrupted his words.

"It's fine, Lord Oswald."

"!"

Oswald looked surprised.

But Charlotte released her hand from Oswald's arm and stood next to Ignatz instead.

"...Charlotte"

(Sorry, Lord Oswald)

Charlotte sincerely apologized, feeling truly remorseful.

(I might have been making things difficult for Lord Oswald with my behavior...! I emphasized too much that I only listen to Lord Oswald...)

While thinking this internally, she maintained a strong attitude on the surface. However, Oswald furrowed his brow even more.

"...You won't listen. To anyone but me."

As if emphasizing this, Charlotte shook her head vigorously in her heart. For Oswald, she would listen to anyone.

"I will follow this person as well. From what I can see, his magical skills seem reliable."

"......"

But Oswald's frown deepened.

"...Damn... What is this...? The feeling when a stray dog you've been reluctantly taking care of starts eating from someone else's hand...?"

He muttered something, but it was drowned out by the noise in the hall.

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