Chapter 78

However, she couldn't fall asleep because everything was too overwhelming for her heart.

The warmth of Oswald's body nearby, the sound of his breathing, and the occasional rustle of his movements—all of these made her tense up, and she found herself repeatedly checking if this was real in the middle of the night.

And now, Charlotte, who had finally overcome the tense night, is facing a new challenge.

"Good morning..."

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Charlotte!?"

At the sound of Oswald's soft voice as he opened his eyes, Charlotte rolled off the bed.

"Hey, what's wrong!"

"The morning light from Oswald-sama is too dazzling...!!"

"......"

Oswald, whose presence she had tried to ignore all night, was too much for Charlotte. Especially now, as he had just woken up, this sight was truly precious to Charlotte, who usually woke up in a different room.

"Even in the dark room, with the curtains still closed, Oswald-sama is too dazzling...!! Your radiance is like the sun itself, and my internal clock is adjusting...!!"

"When I try to get closer to you, you move away just as much... like opposite poles of a magnet...?"

She rolled around on the floor to put some distance between herself and Oswald. This caused her skirt to come undone, and Oswald cleared his throat.

"Charlotte, let's get dressed before breakfast."

"Yes!! I'm sorry for my appearance!!"

Before Charlotte could hurriedly get up, Oswald had already left the bedroom and moved to the next room. Charlotte let out a sigh of relief and began to undo the ribbons of her nightgown.

(Oswald-sama and I in the same room...! It's the happiest thing, but I can hear the sound of my life being drained away!!)

"Charlotte"

"Yes!!"

She heard his voice from the other side of the door and quickly responded while getting dressed. She tried not to listen to the sound of Oswald changing clothes and slipped into her white summer dress.

"We'll do some sightseeing this afternoon. ...It would be good to think about what you want to do."

"......!!"

Charlotte was overwhelmed with joy at Oswald's consideration. Just as she was about to thank him enthusiastically,

A distant voice echoed from below the window, which was still covered by the curtains.

"---H-help me!!"

(There's a scream outside!?)

Immediately after the scream, the sound of a window opening came from the next room. Charlotte rushed to the adjacent room and screamed at the sight that was seared into her mind.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH, Oswald-sama's shirt buttons are all undone!!"

"Calm down!! Don't shout more energetically than the cry for help!!"

Oswald, fastening the buttons at his collar with one hand, placed his foot on the window frame.

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

"Oswald-sama, please be careful...!"

Though she wanted to follow him wherever he went, there was little she could do to help, as her divine powers were sealed. She watched Oswald jump down from the window of the guest room.

From the tenth-floor window, the street below was so far away that individual faces couldn't be recognized. As Oswald's figure grew smaller, Charlotte realized the reason for the scream.

Despite the early morning, there were many people on the cobblestone street. At the center of the commotion was a man writhing in agony, enveloped in a terrifying light like a thunderbolt.

(This is a magic surge...!?)

It was a condition where a person with strong magical power loses control of their abilities. The uncontrollable power wreaks havoc, causing damage to the surroundings and sometimes even leading to fatalities. Oswald's mother had died due to a magic surge caused by Oswald's own powers.

(Why is this person... in the middle of the street!?)

Oswald landed and instantly cast a barrier. From this tenth-floor room, it was difficult to get detailed information.

(Oswald-sama's magic was almost depleted when he sealed my divine powers. He said that after a few months, it had recovered to about 20% of its maximum...)

Even 20% of his magic was a tremendous amount compared to an ordinary person. However, by Oswald's standards, he was still not at full strength.

(I should try to help in any small way...)

Just as she was about to move away from the window, Charlotte gasped.

"Wait. Charlotte"

"Wh-what...!?"

Her wrist was grabbed with a snap.

Turning her head to look back, she saw a man standing behind her. The sight of his face made Charlotte's throat constrict.

"Good morning. ...Isn't it a nice morning?"

(W-why is Lord Clyde in our room!?)

The man who had captured Charlotte and smiled was Clyde, who claimed to be her 'husband'.

---

[Announcement] I've started a new work!

Title: 'Nice to Meet You, My Betraying Husband.'

It's a story about a strong bride who appears at her own wedding in a blood-soaked dress to start her revenge, and a cold, beautiful husband who kisses her but refuses to be her ally.

* A happy-ending romantic fantasy where a strong girl gets what she wants and finds happiness.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7032ij/