Chapter 82

"......Just for the sake of a throne?"

Ozvalt's small voice was tinged with anger at this speculation.

"Using Charlotte's life, huh?"

(Lord Ozvalt...)

Charlotte, looking up at his profile, felt a sharp pain in her chest.

In Ozvalt's red eyes, there was no mistaking the flicker of anger.

(Or perhaps it's more like disgust. ...But, more than anything...)

Charlotte clenched the hand she had placed over her heart.

"Lord Ozvalt is the most wonderful person in the world!"

"...Charlotte?"

He looked at her with a surprised expression, as if wondering what she was suddenly saying. Even Emile seemed puzzled, but Charlotte couldn't take her eyes off Ozvalt.

"Lord Ozvalt, the leader of the Magic Knights, is wonderful! Lord Ozvalt, the Duke, is wonderful! Even Lord Ozvalt, who walks through the town incognito as an ordinary townsman, is wonderful! And I love Lord Ozvalt, the kind big brother who plays tag with the children, very, very much!"

"Wait. What are you doing in front of Prince Emile...?"

"And of course, Lord Ozvalt, as the son of the king and with the right to the throne...!!"

"!"

Charlotte, who had been standing next to Ozvalt, quickly moved to face him directly.

It was disrespectful to turn her back on Emile, but he silently watched without a word.

"Everything that makes up Lord Ozvalt is the Lord Ozvalt I love! If necessary, I can sit seiza and state each one carefully here!"

"Your feelings are appreciated, but it's fine!! What's wrong with you, you seem different from usual!?"

"Because...!"

Ozvalt tensed when Charlotte suddenly looked down. Despite feeling his kindness clearly, she couldn't stop the sadness.

"......It seemed to me that you were blaming yourself for being born as the heir to the throne, for my sake..."

"......!"

Ozvalt's eyes widened.

Whether it was from surprise at what Charlotte had discerned or from something he hadn't been aware of himself, it was unclear.

Or perhaps it was both.

"Indeed, my life may have been influenced by the royal family. But because of that, I am now able to stand next to Lord Ozvalt!"

"But..."

"Please don't forget, Lord Ozvalt."

Driven by the urge to convey her feelings, Charlotte couldn't help but grab Ozvalt's jacket.

It was a behavior she would never normally do, but touching him made her feel like it could make up for her clumsy words.

"Your very existence makes me truly happy. And now that I have become your wife, I will continue to be happy no matter what happens!!"

"......You"

"And besides! What if someone has been planning for years, maybe even Lord Ozvalt's older brother, to prepare for the day when Lord Ozvalt and I would get married...!! Just thinking about it...!! Family approval...!!"

"Wait, you're about to faint!!"

"Ah!!"

She was snapped back to her senses by a firm grip on her shoulder. Charlotte quickly looked at Ozvalt and repeated herself.

"Anyway, let's think about it, Lord Ozvalt! If it's a plot to sabotage our marriage, we can aim to resolve it with a counter-plot!!"

"......"

"Okay?"

Charlotte clenched her hands tightly and struck a pose to express her determination.

"I'll do my best!"

"......, hah"

The wrinkles on his forehead smoothed out, and Ozvalt let out a laugh as if he couldn't hold it in any longer.

He then smiled, looking at her with a slightly troubled but affectionate gaze.

"Being with you leaves me no time to hate myself"

"———...!!"

Enchanted by his smile, her cheeks grew hot. As Charlotte let out a silent scream and writhed, Emile's voice came from behind.

"You newlyweds. Don't forget that I'm watching."

"......I apologize, Prince Emile."

Ozvalt cleared his throat, and Emile smiled at him.

"Anyway, if there's a possibility it involves the succession dispute, I'll stick my neck out a little. It would be troublesome if things get too big and cause more problems—besides, I was asked by Grandfather to look after you two."

(Grandfather... I haven't been told his true identity, but it's probably...)

"I hope for a smooth transition, with my brother becoming king."

It was probably the least 'troublesome' option. Emile always stood a step back from the succession dispute.

"I am deeply grateful for your assistance, Prince Emile."

"This is a favor, Ozvalt. First, Charlotte, you'll be the decoy, right?"

"Huh?"

"Prince Emile..."

Even under Ozvalt's intense gaze, Emile smiled.

"I'll teach you, my half-brother with less royal experience. ...To achieve a resolution, you must be prepared to make sacrifices."