Chapter 58

The moment she understood.

Charlotte's consciousness was pulled back, returning to the flaming barrier.

Oswald's lips met hers, and a hot sensation touched her tongue, spreading through her entire body.

"Mmm...!!"

The world distorted, losing its balance.

When their lips parted, Oswald knelt and finally lowered Charlotte to the floor.

"Lord Oswald...!!"

But they were on the teleportation magic circle.

Light spread, enveloping Charlotte. Once the teleportation circle activated, there was no resisting it.

"..."

Struggling not to fall to the floor, she managed to prop herself up with her hands, raising her upper body.

(I can't... I can't lose consciousness here!)

Her body was hot, as if power was surging through her veins.

She could clearly feel the divine power sealed in her left chest, spreading throughout her body. The overwhelming force threatened to overwhelm her consciousness.

(I can't endure this...!! Even when I was sealed with divine power before, I lost consciousness because I couldn't bear it...)

Contrary to Charlotte's resistance, the teleportation circle grew brighter.

It was taking time to activate because only a small amount of magic was being used.

(The magic to sustain his life is being used for this magic circle...!!)

Charlotte tried to shake off the encroaching light and reach out to Oswald.

"No, Lord Oswald!!"

But Oswald, gripping the ice sword he had thrust into the floor, did not look back at Charlotte.

"Die, Oswald...!!"

With a roar, the flames around them intensified.

It must have been Randolph's last high-powered attack. The barrier shattered, and as Oswald's last ring broke, the surrounding flames disappeared.

From the other side of the smoky black smoke, Randolph brandished a flaming sword.

Oswald, without hesitation, raised his ice sword to meet the burning blade. Their magic clashed, sending blue-white sparks flying.

"Oswald, you...!! Where do you have such magic left...!!"

"Unfortunately, unlike you, I have experience on the front lines of battle."

"Don't mock me...!!"

Randolph swung his sword and attacked Oswald again. Oswald stopped the attack and pushed Randolph back.

His magic manipulation was truly impressive. It was no wonder young Charlotte had fallen in love with him at first sight. But the current Charlotte couldn't be captivated by it.

(He doesn't have any magic left! Lord Oswald must be standing only by his willpower.)

Thinking this, her consciousness began to fade. She managed to hold on for a moment, the shock of hitting the floor keeping her from fully losing consciousness.

"Ugh...!"

The sensation of the returning divine power was too much for her body and mind to bear. But she desperately held onto her consciousness and tried to get up.

(Move, my body!! Don't be overwhelmed by the returning divine power. Escape the teleportation and help him!! Or else...)

Taking shallow breaths, she envisioned the inevitable future.

(If this continues, Lord Oswald will be killed...!)

The feeling of not being able to save him was something she had already experienced in the scene she had just seen. Even without her memories, it was something that had happened to her.

"Die...!!"

"..."

At that moment, the sword in Oswald's hand was knocked away, and he knelt on the stone floor.

"H...!"

"Lord Oswald!!"

With a pained breath, Oswald coughed, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from his chin and fell to the floor.

"Finally, Oswald. I can finally get rid of you, who have been a thorn in my side for so long..."

"No!! Lord Oswald, please reach out your hand...!!"

If they could hold hands, they might be able to teleport together. Even though she knew the magic circle's power wouldn't allow it, Charlotte reached out.

But Oswald, with a smile on his lips, did not respond.

(I can't save him...)

"It's over!!"

Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut.

She hadn't given up.

Holding onto her fading consciousness, she prayed strongly to escape the activation of the teleportation.

(—How to use this vast divine power)

She spoke to the little girl deep in her memories, to herself.

(Please, remember. ...To save Lord Oswald!)

At that moment,

"———!"

Charlotte opened her sky-blue eyes.

She felt the power scattered within her body suddenly come together.

Her long golden hair, sky-blue eyes, eyelashes, and lips shimmered like jewels.

The once painful and hot divine power now pulsed in sync with the heartbeat in her left chest.

(I can control it. All of this divine power, by my will!)

Charlotte used her will to block the magic of the teleportation circle.

Then, she raised her hand toward Randolph, who was raising his sword, and created a barrier.

"What...!?"

The wall of light she created stopped Randolph's sword, sending sparks flying.

Charlotte's hair gently swayed. The sword, after spewing flames, turned into a blackened lump.

When Randolph, surprised, let go of the sword, it fell to the floor and shattered.

"What's going on!? What did you just do to me...?"

"Please don't move, Lord Randolph."

"Stay where you are, Holy Maiden Charlotte!! By the power of the contract magic, as a royal, I command you to 'bow and kneel'!!"

Randolph shouted with a cracked voice, pointing directly at Charlotte.

But Charlotte couldn't pay attention to Randolph anymore. She flipped the hem of her coat and ran to Oswald.

"Why...!? Why can you move!! The Holy Maiden can't disobey the command of a royal!!"

"Lord Oswald...!!"

Ignoring his shouts, Charlotte ran to the person she loved.

But Oswald, kneeling, twisted his face in pain and raised a voice to stop her.

"Don't come, you should run...!"

"..."

"Run from this place, from the royal family, from the king, and go wherever you want freely."

Even if he commanded her to do so, Charlotte's destination was already decided.

"I want to be by your side...!!"

She called out and, without hesitation, hugged Oswald.

He seemed to catch his breath.

Charlotte was well aware of how selfish her words were.

In the snowy field under the meteor shower, she had once chosen to leave Oswald's side.

She thought it would make him happy, but in the end, she wanted to be here.

"I don't want you to be healthy and live a long, happy life without me. I can't be happy if I can't see it with my own eyes!"

"...Charlotte"

"That's why...!"

Charlotte reached out with both hands toward Oswald's cheek.

Oswald was surely risking his life to protect Charlotte.

He had chosen to let her escape from this place and from the royal family's control.

(How can I be such a bad wife, rejecting the gift from my husband?)

But even so.

(I was truly a foolish wife. ...Just as my happiness isn't where Lord Oswald has let me go, I can't decide his happiness for him either)

Charlotte floated a heartfelt prayer.

"Please, be happy with me. ...Lord Oswald"

"..."

And this time, Charlotte kissed Oswald.

(Imagine it. The feeling when you transferred the divine power to the guardian stone...!!)

She poured the divine power overflowing within her into Oswald.

Their tongues did not touch, just their lips, but she infused the kiss with her thoughts and prayers.