Chapter 7

(“C-cold…!!”)

She instinctively held her breath, but indeed, the water wasn’t that deep. Still, there might be deeper spots, so she cautiously took one step at a time.

(If I rush, I’ll lose the scarf in the current. Slowly… I need to carefully check if there are any steps with my toes…)

Thus, she reached the scarf and extended her trembling fingers.

“!”

“Miss!”

She almost lost her balance and fell, but she steadied herself and regained her composure.

“I-I’m fine! I’m safe!”

“P-please come back quickly!!”

Charlotte nodded and secured the waterlogged scarf. She slowly made her way back along the path she had taken, and when she reached the shore, the old man hurriedly pulled her out.

“What a reckless thing to do…!!”

“R-really! I shouldn’t have underestimated the winter lake! It’s so cold!”

“Over here! I’ll light a fire with magic!”

As the old man spoke, a magic circle appeared on the ground. From it, a gentle flame rose, and Charlotte crouched beside it. Thanks to her dress not getting wet, the cold was alleviated by the fire.

“Please check if the scarf is undamaged. I hope it’s not damaged…”

Worried, she spread out the dripping scarf. However, the old man looked at her with a troubled expression.

“Miss, first, we need to make sure you’re not hurt.”

“!”

His words made her realize she had caused him worry.

“…I’m sorry for startling you. I’m fine, I don’t hurt anywhere!”

“In that case, I’m relieved… But why would you do such a thing for a stranger…?”

When asked, Charlotte answered.

“Sir, you’re still in love with your late wife, aren’t you?”

“…What does that have to do with anything…?”

“In fact, I just fell in love with someone recently.”

“!”

Thinking of Oswald, Charlotte smiled softly.

“All I have now is this love.”

After all, she had no memories.

Having nothing and with her divine power depleted, this was the only precious thing Charlotte had.

“Imagine how it would feel to lose something given by someone you love. It would hurt so much, my heart would tighten, and I’d feel like crying.”

The blue coat she had left in her bedroom was precious to Charlotte.

Even though she knew she had to return it soon, she didn’t want to dirty it at all.

If this scarf was as important to the old man, she couldn’t just stand by.

“But, I’d rather help retrieve it than just cry about it, right?”

“…”

“Of course, in my case, I’m heartbroken, unlike the old man!! …Oh? But thinking about it…”

Seeing Charlotte’s swirling thoughts, the old man smiled with a troubled expression.

“…Really, what have you done…”

His face seemed on the verge of tears.

“As an elder, I should scold you for doing something dangerous. But right now, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude.”

“Wow! Please, look up!”

“Thank you. —I will repay this kindness someday.”

Deeply bowing, the old man shook his head.

“Don’t worry… B-but! If you don’t mind, could I ask you something?”

“What is it? Please, anything.”

“Um! Actually, I’d like to ask about someone named Oswald who lives in this mansion… Do you know him?”

“Hmm.”

Hearing this, the old man looked surprised.

“Of course, I know him; he is the master of this house. I’m not sure if I can be of much help, but I’ll tell you what I know.”

“That’s fine! But this might be a very, very, very inappropriate question!!”

“…Inappropriate…”

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you…!”

Charlotte, fidgeting and looking down, mustered the courage to ask the old man.

“…Could you tell me Oswald’s full name…!!”

“…Inappropriate…?”

This way, Charlotte obtained the very important information of her love interest’s full name.

***

After Charlotte was thoroughly warmed and returned to the mansion, the old man watched her go.

The scarf she had retrieved for him was still slightly wet.

Looking at it, memories of the past vividly came to mind.

In his youth, during a winter when his late wife had just married him, they went to the town for the first time together.

His wife’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the town, which she had never seen before.

And she shyly wrapped a blue scarf around him, saying, “This is the first time I’ve given a gift to someone.”

The old man looked down at the scarf, a memento of his wife, and sighed.

(…Really, what a reckless young lady.)

Thinking of the girl who had entered the lake, he felt a chill. She had laughed, saying she was fine, but it was a relief that she was unharmed.

(But, ‘in love’… Life is unpredictable, indeed.)

At that moment, a man’s voice came from the other side of the garden.

It seemed he had been found, so he sighed and extinguished the magic circle.

The red-haired man, seeing the old man, let out a relieved breath.

“Oh, you’re here! You’re pretending to be a gardener again…”

“You’re being too noisy. I said I’d return soon, didn’t I?”

“You’re important, and that’s not acceptable. Please understand.”

“I understand.”

His weekly pleasure was over.

Gripping his cane, the old man suddenly thought of something and asked the man beside him.

“Hey, if I ordered you to dip your feet in this lake for me, would you do it without hesitation?”

The man immediately paled and looked at the lake.

“N-now? In this season?”

“No, no. Just asking that shows you’re already hesitating.”

“That’s… true…”

The man looked embarrassed, but it was a normal reaction. Even after serving his master for years, there were things he didn’t want to do.

(Not to mention, few people would do something like that for a dirty old man they just met.)

Sensing the old man’s good mood, the man asked curiously.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, I just made a new friend. I realized I should go out regularly.”

“A friend… Could it be about the trees in the garden?”

“Hmph. Listen and be amazed, it’s a love story.”

“Huh!?”

The old man chuckled and glanced at the mansion.

Through the window of the corridor, he saw a girl waving and smiling at him. He bowed politely in return and started walking.

***

The old man walked, holding his cane, and the red-haired man followed.