Chapter 49

***

"……………………Charlotte has run away from home."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Oswald openly clicked his tongue at Ignatz's laughter echoing through the street corner.

"Well, what do you know, you pretty boy!! As expected of Lord Charlotte, how refreshing!"

"Hey, even on a break, we're still in uniform. Keep it down."

The streets of the capital were bustling. Naturally, all eyes were on Ignatz. However, this old acquaintance of his paid no mind to the gazes and continued to pat Oswald's back vigorously.

"Oswald, this is your first experience with a broken heart, isn't it? Ha, how amusing! Write an apology letter right away, and I'll pick up the pieces if it doesn't work out."

"What are you talking about, it's not like that. Besides, Charlotte—"

"I'm crying from laughing so hard… I have to report this to His Highness Emile right away!"

"Listen to me."

Ignatz was really wiping away tears with his index finger. As Oswald frowned, several women walking down the main street saw them and squealed.

"Look, it's Lord Oswald! As always, he's so handsome and charming."

"Lord Ignatz is here too…! It's such a treat to see two such different beauties standing together!"

"……"

As they exclaimed, the women waved at them. Ignatz waved back cheerfully, but Oswald sighed and only gave a polite nod.

Even that made the women cheer. Not just them, but other women in the street were also looking their way, as evidenced by the gazes he felt.

"You're as unfriendly as ever, Oswald."

"You, on the other hand, don't you get tired of always being so polite and smiling?"

"Not at all. Well, maybe that's good for you? After all, you're secretly married."

"……"

"Still, to have your newlywed wife of less than a month run away. That's the shortest record of any family in the corps, isn't it?"

"Shut up. I know."

With a smirk, Ignatz said this, and Oswald started walking away from the shop. The women looked disappointed as he left, but Oswald didn't look back.

"Still, I finally understand, Oswald."

Ignatz, after waving one more time for Oswald, walked alongside him again.

"You were in a bad mood all morning and couldn't concentrate, right? Because of that?"

"……I'm always in a bad mood."

"You're usually a bit better. Your adjutant looked like he was about to die. You were really going at it with those old nobles."

Oswald couldn't argue with that, so he sulked and fell silent.

"Anyway, it's because of what Charlotte said yesterday, right?"

As expected, Ignatz, despite his carefree appearance, always observed his surroundings calmly.

"It's not just a simple argument. You should go and apologize to her quickly."

"……She's at Lord Heidemarie's residence."

"Oh. Inside the men's forbidden barrier?"

It was unclear if Charlotte knew about this and chose it as her destination.

But as long as she was in that house, Oswald couldn't go to her directly. He hadn't even accompanied her when he used the teleportation array to send her there.

"Still, that's somewhat reassuring. Even His Highness Randolph can't enter there, after all."

"……"

"Still, thinking about it, it's quite a feat that she was safe during your absence from the ball until now. I heard His Highness Randolph can break through minor barriers, right?"

"Minor ones, yes."

"Hmm?"

"Since the ball, I've set up five layers of barriers around my house. I configured it so that no one else can create a teleportation array, and it's heavily fortified."

"Five…!?"

Ignatz's eyes widened as he looked at him.

"Five layers… That's like the level of barriers used to protect the border with enemy countries during war."

That was true.

Of course, this meant that the live-in maids couldn't enter or leave, so he had to dismiss them all.

The reason he suggested sharing meals with Charlotte was mainly due to the barriers. However, he hadn't told her that.

"Better safe than sorry."

"Well, that's true. I thought your magic recovery was going smoothly, but it seems you've been using it all for the barriers at home…"

Oswald ignored the slightly exasperated tone.

Magic consumption varies depending on the spell used.

For example, teleportation, which Oswald often used, consumed a negligible amount. On the other hand, offensive magic and strong barriers required much more.

He used teleportation and other daily spells more frequently to avoid giving the impression that he was conserving his magic. It was surprising that Charlotte had noticed.

Ignatz kicked the snow at his feet and then spoke.

"……Hey, Oswald. Shouldn't you go and get Lord Charlotte back as soon as possible?"

"Did you hear me? There's a men's forbidden barrier at Lord Heidemarie's house, so I can't teleport there."

"Still…"

With a more serious expression than usual, Ignatz said:

"Are you aware that you used your remaining magic, not for defensive spells to protect yourself, but to set up barriers to protect Lord Charlotte?"

"…………!"

Oswald's eyes widened in surprise.

Ignatz grinned and shrugged, looking amused.

"When we were kids, you never used barriers even when fighting older upperclassmen. The reason for this change is quite clear."

"Shut up, be quiet. …Besides, I've made preparations."

Oswald pressed his forehead and muttered.

"If I'm going to do it, I'll do it thoroughly."

"Ooh?"

Oswald raised his head and glared at the castle in the distance.

"Charlotte left for a reason. If I'm going to bring her back, I need to eliminate that reason first."

"……"

Taken aback, Ignatz eventually laughed happily.

"So, you're going to do it, Oswald. This is great, it's getting interesting!"

"Stop it, don't get too excited."

While fending off his old acquaintance, Oswald began to plan his next move.

***

"Dear, beloved Lord Oswald――――……"

In front of the fireplace, where embers were crackling, Charlotte was diligently writing a letter.

"It's been about twenty hours since I left home. ……The thought of not seeing Lord Oswald's face for such a long time makes my heart ache."

Imagining Oswald in her memory, Charlotte's eyes welled up with tears of longing, and she sniffled.

"The real Lord Oswald is, of course, supreme, but even the Lord Oswald I recall during our separation is incredibly handsome! I wanted to convey this, so I'm writing my seventh letter today. First, let me tell you about Lord Oswald at breakfast the morning before yesterday—"

"……Charlotte"

"Professor Heidemarie!"