Chapter 54

"Hey, don't cling to me so much. ...You really are like a puppy, aren't you?"

"Arghhhhh...!! But, but, Ozvalt...!!"

There were so many things she wanted to say.

Things like how cool Ozvalt looked, and how much she loved him, but her thoughts were all jumbled up.

However, right now, she had to get him to escape from here.

"Ozvalt...!!"

She could feel Randolph slowly lifting his head.

If the barrier was forcibly broken, the shock would go to the caster. Thanks to this, Randolph, who couldn't move for a while, glared at Ozvalt with a hateful look.

"Do you intend to defy the royal family? Despite pretending to be detached, you've finally shown your true colors, you impostor...!!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"What!?"

Ozvalt, still holding Charlotte, calmly looked at Randolph.

"The holy maiden is drenched. After abducting someone else's wife, you seem to have been quite rough with her..."

(Ozvalt-sama...?)

Ozvalt looked cool on the surface, but a drop of sweat trickled down his neck. It was the middle of winter, and cold air was blowing in from the collapsed wall, yet Ozvalt's coat was draped over Charlotte.

"I cannot say that you are acting with the awareness of a royal."

"You... What are you saying to me...?"

"Can't you even understand such a simple thing?"

A bad feeling welled up inside her, and she couldn't hear their conversation. Despite Ozvalt's attempts to hide it, Charlotte could clearly feel that his breathing was shallower than usual.

(Could it be that Ozvalt-sama...?)

She noticed rings and earrings on his fingers and ears, which he usually didn't wear. They seemed to be imbued with divine power, similar to the ones she had handmade.

These were tools to protect Ozvalt. Imagining why such a strong person would need to wear so many of them made her blood run cold.

"Ozvalt-sama, no...!!"

"I am saying that the one disgracing the royal family is you, 'Your Highness.'"

"......!!"

At that moment.

"You...!!"

Randolph, provoked by Ozvalt, shouted in anger.

"How dare you talk about the royal family, you mongrel!!"

"......"

Flames erupted from the magic circle, surging like a muddy torrent. The intense heat and roar were almost blinding. However, Ozvalt calmly extended his right hand toward the flames.

A faint light barrier formed, blocking Randolph's flames. At the same time, there was a sound like a shattering explosion.

The ring Ozvalt was wearing crumbled like sugar.

(This barrier is not from Ozvalt-sama's own magic, but from external protective stones...! Teleportation magic and powerful barriers should require only a small amount of magic for Ozvalt-sama. Yet, he has to rely on protective stones to maintain the barrier and can't teleport from here immediately...)

Charlotte was certain.

(Indeed. ...Ozvalt-sama's magic is depleted...!)

At that moment, she shuddered with fear. Magic and divine power are, in a sense, the source of life. While the amount of latent magic varies from person to person, it is essential for sustaining life.

(Certainly, the last bit of magic was used to break the barrier earlier... to save me and protect me...)

Charlotte tried to hurry down to the floor, but Ozvalt, holding her with one arm, adjusted his grip. As they did, a second wave of flames attacked.

"Ozvalt!! It's all unpleasant because you were born into this world...!!"

"Ozvalt-sama!!"

The second ring exploded with a loud noise, and a third barrier was formed. At this point, Ozvalt should be struggling even to breathe normally. Still, he looked up at Charlotte and said,

"Stay still. I want to reduce Randolph's magic as much as possible here."

"But, Ozvalt-sama...!!"

"His offensive magic is indeed high-powered and high-impact. ...But if he keeps firing recklessly, his magic will run out quickly."

He spoke each word deliberately. However, there was no time for such leisurely talk. Flames were slithering around the barrier like snakes.

"Get rid of that clever barrier right now!!"

"..."

With Randolph's shout, the barrier broke. However, the earring Ozvalt was wearing created a new barrier. But there was no time to relax.

(Ozvalt-sama has seven protective stones left...! If only I could give him the earring I intended to give him...)

The handmade earring imbued with divine power was at the Heidemarie mansion. Searching for something, she realized it was at her own chest.

(Then, this lost tag I received...!)

It seemed this beautiful blue stone was not just for letting Ozvalt know her location. It was imbued with powerful magic and had protected her.

If she returned it to Ozvalt, it would surely help him. However, when Charlotte tried to remove the chain from her neck, Ozvalt's hand caught hers.

"This is a gift for you. ...I would be troubled if you didn't wear it all the time."

"...Ozvalt-sama...!!"

His touch was gentle, but Ozvalt's grip was strong, and Charlotte couldn't remove the necklace. Confirming this, Ozvalt let out a small breath, as if saying it was fine. Then, a magic circle appeared at Ozvalt's feet, holding Charlotte.

(Could it be...?)

The light from the circle was a pale green. Charlotte immediately understood what the magic circle was for.

"Charlotte..."

Looking up at Charlotte, Ozvalt smiled. At that moment, Charlotte gasped.

(What Ozvalt-sama is about to choose...!!)