Chapter 47

"Then? Where exactly do you want to go on a 'date'?"

"U-uh, u, uuuuuhhhhhn…………!"

When asked by Ozvalt, Charlotte covered her face and sniffled.

"It's impossible, impossible, impossible...!!"

"Huh? What's impossible?"

"Well, I did say I wanted to go on a date with you, Lord Ozvalt!! But in reality! Truly! I didn't want to go on a date...!!"

"…?"

Even though she was on the verge of tears, Ozvalt looked puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, so...! I want to go on a date with Lord Ozvalt, but I don't want to go on a date with Lord Ozvalt...!!"

"??? I don't understand at all what you're saying."

For Charlotte, it was a simple psychological issue, but Ozvalt couldn't understand it.

"I want to go on a date... I do, but when it becomes reality, it's all so complicated...!! My heart is already filled to the brim with Lord Ozvalt... If anything more is added, it will definitely explode!!"

"Wait. What's the sound of something exploding?"

"My head...!"

"Your head...!?"

Ozvalt took a step back, looking a bit startled, but then sighed.

"Never mind. It seems nothing will progress if I leave it to you. Put on your coat."

"Wh-what!? Lord Ozvalt, you can't be serious!!"

"Take my hand. Let's go."

"AAAAAAAAAAH!! That's so...!!"

Despite Charlotte's feeble resistance, Ozvalt activated the teleportation array.

"!"

Suddenly, a cold north wind blew, and Charlotte closed her eyes. When she cautiously opened them again,

(Oh, it's a snowfield...!!)

The entire area was covered in silver-white snow.

The moon was a crescent, almost a half-moon. Despite the faint moonlight, it felt surprisingly bright, probably because the snow was reflecting the moonlight.

(So beautiful...! A pristine snowscape without a single footprint...!)

Charlotte exhaled a soft, white breath. In the vast snowfield, a single tree stood in the center, like a silhouette cut out in black, with the beautiful night sky above.

Charlotte, who had been on the verge of tears just moments ago, now had sparkling eyes.

"Please look, Lord Ozvalt!! It's so beautiful, isn't it...!"

"Yes, if you think so, that's good."

"Ah, of course, the most beautiful thing in the world is Lord Ozvalt! Hehe...!"

"…I didn't ask for that…"

"Yes, but it's important!!"

Ozvalt was illuminated by the pale moonlight. His long eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks, making him look very mysterious. His black hair and red eyes had a different charm under the moonlight.

"Still, the air is so clear because it's winter! Are you cold? I hope Lord Ozvalt doesn't catch a cold...!?"

At that moment, Charlotte couldn't believe what was happening.

"…!?"

Her hand was being held by someone. The moment she realized it, her blood seemed to boil. Forgetting the cold, she quickly looked down at her hand.

"B-b-b, ah, Oz...!!"

"…What now?"

"Your hand...! Your hand is holding mine...!!"

"……"

The moment she said it, she realized it was real. Charlotte's hand was firmly held in Ozvalt's large hand.

Then, Ozvalt exhaled a white breath and, with a slightly awkward expression, said,

"Didn't I promise? I said I would hold your hand."

"―――――!!"

She wanted to cover her mouth with both hands, but she was still holding Ozvalt's hand. He avoided her gaze, still looking a bit awkward.

"Ah... It might be cold, but at least your right hand will be warm, right? Let's go to that tree over there."

"……"

"…? Charlotte"

But Charlotte planted her feet firmly and resisted moving.

"Charlotte"

"U-uh, uuuu...!! It's impossible, I can't walk in this state...!! Lord Ozvalt, holding hands with you is so overwhelming, I might melt!!"

"Ha!? Just go... Wait, stop resisting!! Are you a dog refusing to go for a walk!?"

"AAAAAAH!! That's so rude, so rude...!!"

Pulled by Ozvalt, Charlotte started walking again, sniffing.

"U-uh, uuuu, thank you...!! Holding hands with Lord Ozvalt is so overwhelming, I might faint, but I'm so happy... I'll treasure it forever, I won't wash it...!!"

"No, wash it. As soon as we get home, wash your hands and rinse your mouth. …After all that resistance, you're so grateful, aren't you?"

"Lord Ozvalt doesn't understand how fast my heart is beating...!"

"……"

Really, at this rate, she might break.

Ozvalt would probably look at her with a "I don't understand" face, as he did before. But he looked down at Charlotte and smiled.

"―Huh?"

"……!!"

Why did he look so satisfied at that moment? Her heart beat even faster. It was already beating fast, but now it was a different kind of rapid heartbeat.

"……???"

She touched her cheek with her free hand. It should have been cold from the outside air, but it was still warm. Next to her, Ozvalt, still holding her hand, said,

"If you don't have a place you want to go, I thought I'd bring you here."

Hearing those words, Charlotte was so happy she almost cried.

"Does that mean you thought about me...!? Oh, I'm so happy! Thank you, Lord Ozvalt...!!"

"…I always think. Aren't you too lenient in judging your happiness and joy with me?"

"That's not true! My beloved person did something for me. Just with this, I can stay happy and healthy forever...!"

When she said that, Ozvalt smiled again.

"Hmm. …Too lenient, no matter how you look at it."

"Mmm, why! And, this scenery is so white, like a dream..."

To Charlotte's words, Ozvalt replied,

"Tonight, you'll see something even more beautiful."

"More? More beautiful than Lord Ozvalt?"

"Forget about me. Or are you only looking at me and not paying attention to the sky above?"

"Above..."

Ozvalt looked up at the sky, and Charlotte followed his gaze.

She had been aware of the stars and the moon since they arrived. But after staring at the sky for a few seconds, she finally noticed.

"Oh...!!"

A shooting star fell gracefully. In a corner of the sky away from the moon, it burned with a silver tail, twinkling and disappearing. It was only for a moment, but Charlotte saw it clearly.

"A shooting star, Lord Ozvalt!"

"…Yes."

Ozvalt must have seen the same shooting star.

"I remembered that tonight is the peak of the meteor shower after the sun set."

"Ah..."

While they were talking, another star slid across the sky. It was so sparkling, and Charlotte didn't want Ozvalt to miss it, so she pointed it out one by one.

"Lord Ozvalt, there! …Ah, look, over there too! It's terrible, two at once! Two shooting stars at the same time!"

"Yes, that's right."

What a wonderful sight. The white snow, the crescent moon, the black sky with falling meteors, and her beloved person by her side.

"That one was really long, and it looked a bit red! That shooting star was the most beautiful I've ever seen!"

"Really? I think they're all equally beautiful."

"No! The red one was special!"

Charlotte stretched up, reaching out her hand even though it was impossible to touch. Then, she turned to Ozvalt and smiled.

"Because the red color is the color of Lord Ozvalt's eyes!"

Seeing her smile, Ozvalt caught his breath.

"Charlotte"

"Yes! What is it, Lord Ozvalt?"

And then, Ozvalt, still looking down at Charlotte, asked,

"…Do you like me?"

"…!"

At the question, her heart ached. Ozvalt's words were sweet and bitter. Her heart was pounding so hard, but she quickly opened her mouth.

"S…"

"S?"

Charlotte stopped her lips at the "s" sound. She had said it many times, but being asked again made her feel embarrassed.

"S. S, s, s, s...! S...! S... I... I... I... like you."

"……"

"No! I love you. I admire you...!"

She gathered her courage and declared it.

But when Ozvalt heard Charlotte's "I love you," he had a serious look on his face.

"…Lord Ozvalt?"

"At the ball the other night, you said it to Ignatz, didn't you?"

And then, Ozvalt said these words.