Chapter 74

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The open window let in a gentle spring breeze.

The sheer lace curtains fluttered in the room of an inn built right next to the grand cathedral. This place was designed for nobles and royalty who came to make pilgrimages, with only one room per floor. The ten-story tower-like building offered a panoramic view of the holy city from the top floor.

"Let's go over the situation again."

Oswald, sitting on a long chair, leaned his cheek on the armrest and exhaled. Having taken off his jacket from his formal attire for the grand cathedral, Oswald sat with his shirt sleeves rolled up, his legs crossed, and a serious look on his face.

"The man named Clyde seems to have shared some fact with the you from before. Specifically, about the memory loss."

"……"

"Based on our previous assumptions, the theory was that 'the you from before intentionally lost your memory' as a way to avoid the contract magic you received from His Majesty, as a means of escape."

This was because the 'Cruel Saint Charlotte' had a life-threatening contract magic placed on her by the royal family.

The magic made it impossible to disobey any command issued by the royal family.

The previous Charlotte, bound by this contract, was forced to behave cruelly on the battlefield.

However, the contract magic no longer worked on the current Charlotte, who had lost her memory. She would not be threatened with a painful death for disobeying the royal family's commands. Charlotte and her companions had assumed that the memory loss was the reason for this.

The previous Charlotte had taken such measures because she harbored a secret love for Oswald.

She did not want to involve Oswald in the royal marriage. Yet, with the contract magic in place, she could not escape the command.

So, Charlotte might have used the opportunity of her marriage to Oswald to loosen the royal family's surveillance and seal her own memory.

Furthermore, she had made herself believe that Oswald was an enemy and set up a way to make her run away from him once she recovered her memory.

Every time she felt a strong attraction to Oswald, she would activate the magic recorded in her notebook to show her false visions.

She believed this was the only way to avoid causing trouble for Oswald, whom she had secretly loved since childhood.

"I had no intention of objecting to your theory. But if we consider the man Clyde's account—"

"………………"

"The phrase 'You ended up losing your memory just as you feared.' If that's true, then your memory loss was not something you intentionally brought upon yourself."

"……………………"

Having finished speaking, Oswald looked at Charlotte, who was sitting next to him, with a puzzled frown.

"Charlotte?"

"――――……"

"Hey. What's wrong? You've been silent. Could it be that something happened when you were rejected by the gate…"

"お…………っ"

Charlotte, who had been holding back, finally let her emotions overflow as she hugged herself.

"――――Oswald-sama's, lazy jacket-off, shirt-sleeves-rolled-up, legs-crossed appearance……!!"

"……Lazy Jacket-Off, Shirt-Sleeves-Rolled-Up, Legs-Crossed……?"

Oswald, apparently not understanding at all, repeated the words as if they were a spell. However, Charlotte was too overwhelmed by the presence before her to pay attention.

"That's not allowed, it's unfair……!! To see the usually composed Oswald-sama in such a relaxed state!! The unique charm that only comes from a disheveled formal attire, different from just a casual look!!"

"Charlotte"

"In this luxurious room, you shine the brightest!! You are the most sacred being in the holy city, my beloved Oswald……"

"I love you too. So let's get back to the discussion."

"ふぁ"

I love you.

Charlotte, who had stiffened at the casual declaration, was met with Oswald's nonchalant continuation of his reasoning.

"If your memory loss was not intentional, then there must have been some other significant reason."

"……Love……Oswald-sama, aah, love……"

"And the man who claims to be your husband."

Even as her vision swirled, Charlotte wanted to follow Oswald's lead and continue the discussion.

"じ……"

Charlotte opened her mouth with a rusty hinge-like creak.

"Whether he is claiming it or not, the problem is that I can't definitively say, isn't it……?"

"……"

Putting aside the matter of 'I love you,' Charlotte tried her best to regain her composure.

"After all, I don't have any memories older than a few months……. And there's also the issue of the wedding gate rejecting me, as Oswald-sama mentioned earlier."

If she had already married someone else and received the blessing of the gods, she could not marry anyone else.

(If I really did marry someone named Clyde...)

Charlotte timidly glanced up at Oswald.

(What would happen to my marriage with Oswald...?)

"……"

Oswald sighed, seeing the sad look on Charlotte's face.