Chapter 87

Those who can use healing magic are but a handful in this world.

Moreover, they are only born as women, and those who can heal major wounds are even rarer, known as Holy Maidens.

The power used by Holy Maidens is called divine power, but it is equivalent to magic. Using magic consumes divine power, which requires time to recover.

(Charlotte just saw through my lie that I am in love with her. ...At the very least, she must be suspicious that I could be her enemy.)

Clyde watched as Charlotte, who was using healing magic, had a serious expression.

Her well-shaped eyebrows were twisted, and her intense gaze on the wound even seemed to show concern for Clyde.

(Using healing magic, which should be used sparingly, on a suspicious existence like me? ...This expression. I've seen it somewhere before...)

"Please relax. ...Just a little more..."

A beautiful drop of sweat ran down Charlotte's neck.

Clyde looked down at her sincere eyes, remembering something from the past. Eventually, Charlotte released her hands from Clyde, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and let out a sigh of relief.

"It's sealed! Is it still painful?"

"...No."

The voice that echoed in Clyde's mind was that of a red-haired girl who had healed him when he was young.

"Is it still painful?"

(When I went to see her again...)

I wanted to thank her, so I went to the church with many flowers in my hands.

But the adult there said to Clyde:

"That girl was taken to war because she could use healing magic, and she died there."

My heart felt as if it had frozen.

Remembering that day, Clyde slowly told Charlotte:

"Thanks to Charlotte's healing magic, I'm fine now."

"!"

When he answered, Charlotte's face lit up with a broad smile, and she said with genuine relief:

"That's great...!"

"――――..."

The girl he met when he was young had red hair.

(But hair color can be changed. Why didn't I realize that? And most importantly, these eyes...)

Charlotte's light blue eyes are exactly the same as the girl's from back then.

"...Lotti"

"Lotti...?"

Charlotte tilted her head in confusion, and the sinister aura from before was gone.

If the haughty woman from before was an act, and this is the real Charlotte, she is identical to that girl.

(Could it be you?)

Clyde swallowed hard.

(I thought she couldn't possibly be alive. ...What a foolish judgment I made...)

"Ah...!"

Charlotte finally seemed to come to her senses.

Her adorable, worried expression for Clyde suddenly turned into that of the 'Cruel Holy Maiden.'

"Th—This should serve as a reward for you protecting me. But don't do anything unnecessary in the future."

"..."

"Kyaa...!?"

Clyde knelt before her, took her hand, and looked up into her eyes.

"I am truly grateful for the Holy Maiden Charlotte's mercy. I will surely repay this kindness someday."

"...It's not necessary."

Charlotte pushed Clyde's hand away. The force of her rejection was weak, as if she was still concerned about his injury.

"I'm going back. Your fault made my dress dirty."

With that, Charlotte turned and ran away from Clyde.

He desperately wanted to chase after her and grab her, but he restrained himself, pressing his head down and looking down.

(It can't be wrong. ...It can't be wrong, it can't be wrong, it can't be wrong...!)

His heart was pounding fiercely.

(How foolish I've been!! I've tried not to think about Lotti. But if I line up the information about the Cruel Holy Maiden Charlotte, this is obvious.)

Clyde placed his hand on his left chest and gripped his jacket tightly.

(...Charlotte is my 'destined girl'...)

***

"Phew...!!"

Charlotte, who had run away from Clyde with all her might, leaned against a wall in an alley and let out a breath she had been holding unconsciously.

(I mustn't! I accidentally reverted to my usual self while using healing magic on Lord Clyde...!!)

She repeated shallow breaths, but there was no time to rest. Charlotte ran further into the alley and jumped into a glowing magic circle.

Wrapped in a comfortable magical power, her body floated.

The master of such precise magic was waiting on a long bench at the inn where they were staying.

"I'm back, Lord Ozvalt!!"

"!"

Ozvalt immediately stood up at the sight of Charlotte returning through the teleportation. Charlotte ran to her beloved husband, intending to report what had happened.

"Um, I'm very sorry!! I made a small mistake, so I need to report that first..."

"―Charlotte"

"!!"

Interrupting her words, Ozvalt embraced Charlotte.

His arms, which were checking her safety, tightened with passionate strength.