Chapter 72

For Charlotte, everything is measured against Oswald. No matter how handsome a man might appear before her, her thoughts always drift to Oswald.

While pretending to be a villainess, Charlotte asked with a composed face,

"…Do you need something from me?"

Above her, where the restrained Charlotte looked up, were deep blue eyes.

The young man directed a smile at Charlotte, one that would make any other woman fall in love at first sight.

"Please don’t act in a way that is unbecoming of you, Charlotte."

(…Huh?)

***

"Your Grace. ——Why was Charlotte repelled by the barrier at that gate?"

In the room to which he was led, Oswald asked the bishop a straightforward question. The bishop put on an obvious fake smile, trying to divert the conversation.

"Lord Langheim. Since you have come from so far away, I will prepare some tea for you…"

"That’s fine. I intend to walk around the town with my wife and visit some shops afterward."

Normally, he would exchange more polite pleasantries, but Oswald had no intention of doing so now. Recalling Charlotte’s face from earlier, he felt bitter.

(She was forcing a smile. …In the first place, I didn’t want her to get close to the Grand Cathedral.)

Charlotte, as a child, was raised in a temple in the capital and received a strict education.

When he learned that she was treated almost like a slave, he felt a boiling rage in his head.

One reason no one helped her was that Charlotte was not a native of this country but a slave sent from another country.

Fourteen years ago, an enemy country, after a fierce territorial dispute, used Charlotte, the 'Holy Maiden,' as a condition to prevent further invasion.

Oswald’s father, the king, agreed to this and began to use Charlotte, who possessed immense power, for the country.

The temple in the capital was the institution for this purpose.

(Originally, the blessing of marriage could be received at the temple in the capital. And now, Charlotte has no memory, only seeing her childhood experiences through magical images. …Even so, I didn’t want to take her to the place where she was oppressed, which is why I chose this Grand Cathedral…)

Suppressing his inner displeasure, Oswald exhaled.

"Your Grace. I wish to return to my wife as soon as possible."

"B-but, Lord Langheim. This is your first visit to the Grand Cathedral. I would very much like to hear the stories of the renowned Magic Knight Commander…"

"Unfortunately, I am on leave."

The majority of people do not approve of Oswald and Charlotte’s marriage.

There are Charlotte’s bad reputation built by the royal family, the political factions’ plots to marry Oswald to a noble lady, and various other schemes.

Since declaring their marriage, he has frequently faced such interference. He has been trying to crush all of it before Charlotte notices. However, Charlotte, despite her appearance, is intelligent and may have already sensed and been hurt.

(Leaving Charlotte outside was also to avoid making her feel down due to the bishop’s attitude. Otherwise, there would have been no need to discuss Charlotte’s issues without her.)

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, but he did not say it, only glaring at the bishop. The bishop, finally conceding, got to the point.

"…There are several reasons why the barrier at the gate repelled her. To put it bluntly, your wife does not qualify."

"Please explain clearly what you mean. Our marriage has been recognized by His Majesty the King, and the legal marriage has already been established."

"W-well, the qualifications for receiving divine blessing differ from the country’s laws… One possible reason is that she has not yet reached the age of sixteen."

Oswald considered this. Charlotte’s current age should be eighteen.

(Given His Majesty’s intentions, he must have planned to marry Charlotte for political use… He would have verified and provided evidence of her correct age. And with the significant difference in age during childhood, it would be difficult to falsify her age by more than two years.)

When Oswald prompted him to continue, the bishop cleared his throat.

"Another, more significant issue is…"

"An issue?"

"Um, how to put it…"

The bishop, more hesitant than before, made Oswald frown.

"——The person is already married to someone else."

"………What?"

***

Outside the Grand Cathedral, Charlotte, who was smiled at by an unfamiliar red-haired man, felt suddenly tense inside.

"It’s been two years since I last saw you, Charlotte."

(This person…)

His smile was very gentle, and he seemed like a good young man.

From his expression and tone, it was clear that he was not afraid of Charlotte.

(Certainly, I must have known this person before I lost my memory! Meeting such a person is inevitable, but the problem is…)

"You must have endured many sorrows and still acted as the 'Cruel Holy Maiden,' right? It must have been a great hardship, but you are a strong person."

(This person seems to know me very well…)

Seeing Charlotte’s puzzled expression, the man smiled sadly and shrugged.

"Indeed, you have no memory."

(…!)

"Two years ago, when I saw you after a long time, you confided in me. You feared that you would lose your memory, and that’s what happened, right?"

"…You are…"

The man placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely.

"My name is Clyde."

He introduced himself and narrowed his slightly droopy eyes in happiness.

"Please call me Clyde as you did before. …After all, I am your 'husband.'"

(Wh-what…?)

At that moment, she opened her eyes wide, and it was a miracle that she didn’t scream out loud.

(O-oh, h-husband…!?)

Thus, Charlotte, after Oswald, met her second 'husband' in her life, a man she had no memory of.

[To be continued in Chapter 2, Part 2]