Chapter 71

The light spread out in front of the gate is a barrier that repels intruders.

The magical arrays that float in layers are inscribed with the components of spells that mean:

"Rejection"

"Exclusion"

"Blockade"

"......This... this..."

While being supported by Ozvald, Charlotte clenched her numb hand tightly.

(For a holy maiden to be repelled by the great cathedral's barrier... Isn't this, in a way, very bad for one's reputation and problematic...?)

Thinking that she might cause trouble for Ozvald, she felt her blood drain away. Fortunately, there were hardly any pilgrims around, but the cathedral's bishops would certainly notice.

Sure enough, an elderly man with a beard rushed over, his face changing color.

"Lord Langheim!"

"...Your Grace."

The bishop, who called out Ozvald's surname, gave a somewhat awkward look and a nod.

"There is something I wish to discuss with Your Grace. I would like to ask Lady to wait outside for a moment, and speak only to Your Grace's ears."

"I cannot agree to that. I insist on my wife's presence—"

"O-Ozvald-sama."

Charlotte turned her back to the bishop and whispered to Ozvald in a voice that no one else could hear.

"Please, go and talk to the bishop. I will wait outside properly..."

"......"

Although she had to act like a wicked woman, she ended up hanging her head and looking visibly upset.

Charlotte, who couldn't even act in front of the bishop, urged Ozvald on for that reason.

"...I'll be back soon."

(Ugh, Ozvald-sama, who looks so worried...! Normally, I could cheer up just by seeing this face, but now...!!)

Charlotte forced a smile. Ozvald exhaled and touched the pendant of the protective stone hanging from her chest.

"Wait here with this stone visible to everyone."

"Y-Yes!"

"Good girl."

Ozvald patted Charlotte's head and started walking towards the bishop.

"Please be brief. I don't want to keep my wife waiting."

"Then, if you please, this way."

The gate that Charlotte could not pass through closed, and Ozvald's voice became inaudible.

Normally, she would stick to the gate and try to gather as much sound as possible, but it was difficult for Charlotte now.

(I must find a place where no one can see me and not cause any trouble...)

She stumbled down the stone steps and headed towards a less conspicuous corner. Once she settled into the gap between a column and a wall, Charlotte began to wilt like a mushroom that had lost its water.

(I was rejected by the gate that is supposed to grant the blessing of marriage...!!)

Not being able to pass through that gate means not receiving the blessing of marriage. She couldn't think of any reason or solutions for this.

(Ozvald-sama said he was looking forward to it so much...)

She curled up, sobbing and lamenting her inadequacy.

(Did I trample on Ozvald-sama's feelings because I couldn't pass through the gate? Despite all the efforts Ozvald-sama made to protect me from various considerations. Despite how happy Ozvald-sama looked, despite all the effort Ozvald-sama put in, despite... Ozvald-sama...)

Many images of Ozvald floated in her head, and Charlotte stopped her lamenting.

"......"

She lifted her face, sniffed, and shook her head.

(No! I must not think incorrectly, I must remain calm. Ozvald-sama would never approve of me blaming myself like this...)

Ozvald, whom Charlotte loves, dislikes the fact that she is sad more than the fact that she was rejected by the gate.

"...Perhaps my mental strength was not enough."

Charlotte tried to convince herself, imagining that this must be the case and puffing out her chest.

"The current immature me, if treated as Ozvald-sama's wife, would faint from not being able to endure everything! The gate must have seen through this, there is no doubt about it—"

"Excuse me, Lady."

"!"

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind her, and she turned around reflexively.

There stood a young man with red hair, whom she did not know.

His red hair, compared to Ozvald's black hair, had a slight curl.

Ozvald sometimes uses hair gel at evening gatherings to fix his hair in a different style, and this young man also seemed to be keeping his hair from flying up too much.

He was only slightly shorter than Ozvald, but he was still tall. His age was probably close to Ozvald's.

The military uniform he wore was the same red as Ozvald's eyes. He also wore black gloves with exquisite gold embroidery.

(Those black gloves would surely suit Ozvald-sama very well...)

Imagining Ozvald wearing the gloves, she was captivated even though it was just in her imagination.

However, Charlotte also loved Ozvald's bare hands.

For example, if she ever got the right to choose Ozvald's clothing freely, she would probably spend a whole night agonizing over whether to have him wear gloves or not.

As she thought about this, the young man smiled a little sadly.

"...You look at me with such a beautiful gaze, as if you are gazing at a distant landscape."

(H-Huh! I was thinking about Ozvald-sama through the man in front of me without realizing it!)

But it seemed that he hadn't noticed.

---

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