“—Haha, your ‘homeland’?! This kingdom!?”

“Your Highness Randolph, the saint is merely using a metaphor to describe her deep attachment towards this kingdom…”

“I’m withdrawing my previous statement. How impudent is that!? Saint Charlotte, just because we’ve coddled you a little, do you honestly think that you have a place in this kingdom!?”

With a revolting smile on his face, Randolph spoke.

“—What are you talking about, when you definitely didn’t come from this kingdom? When my father, His Majesty the King, won the war, you were but a shabby child offered by the losing country. Did you understand what I am saying? You’re nothing but a spoil of war—!”

“The saint herself should be fully aware of that. Therefore, let’s not discuss this any further—”

“—My father is originally a cold person; therefore, it makes senses that you’d mistake his action as a form of kindness. After all, he did give status to a slave! Even though you were intended to be disposable, you were able to grow while being hailed as the saint!”

“—Your Highness!”

Oswald, who usually had a calm expression, seemed truly angered.

“…But well, Charlotte did devote herself to this kingdom, so I’ll give her that.”

Randolph’s grin widened.

“At the same time, it’s only to be expected? For the saint has no choice but to obey!”

Randolph pointed straight towards Charlotte.

“After all, you’re bound by contract magic with my father!”

“…!”

Charlotte was truly surprised by the revelation.

However, she didn’t let it show on her face. The same couldn’t be said about Oswald.

“Contract magic…?”

“Ooh, that’s right. Oswald isn’t supposed to know about it! Well, it goes without saying? It’s a secret that was being kept between Saint Charlotte and the royal family.”

Charlotte understood what contract magic was.

A compulsory magic used for contracts with slaves and the like.

It binds the soul of the target, and only one command can be given.

Charlotte put a hand over her left breast.

However, that one command was absolute.

Isn’t that the case—my former self?

Even if she were to ask herself that, it was unlikely that she’d ever receive the answer.

Randolph seemed truly delighted that Oswald was clueless about the contract magic.

“Do you want me to be more specific, Oswald? Engraved on the saint’s soul is, ‘Do your utmost to benefit the royal family of this kingdom until your death.’”

“…You should only be able to give a single order with contract magic.”

“—Precisely! Hence why, we demanded her absolute obedience. That way, she’d abide to us, no matter the order is.”

Oswald furrowed his eyebrows even further.

“…Then, the reason why the saint agreed to become my wife, even if it would it result in the sealing of her divine power—”

“—Of course, that was also one of father’s orders! However, the saint disliked the idea and things got out of hand. As a result, many magic soldiers were killed.”

“…”

“According to my father, ‘By making the command abstract, even if it’ll consume more time and effort, in the end, you’ll gain absolute obedience.’ As such, even if she’s a rebellious saint, escaping the contract magic was an impossibility.”

—!

Hearing that, Charlotte was taken aback. Still, she suppressed her emotions.

“As a test, should I order the saint to do something? I can show you something funny—”

At that moment when Randolph smiled—

“—Your Highness Randolph.”

“!!”

The moment Oswald spoke, it was as if the place had been encased in ice.

This is…!

The temperature of the castle should’ve been controlled by magic. As such, even in the courtyard, the air was supposed to be warm.

Even so, Charlotte’s skin was tingling as the place was filled with tension.

“Excuse my rudeness—but if I may…”

Oswald had ruled over the courtyard.

“—Won’t you cease this stupidity?”

“Oswald—!!”

A disgustingly cracked voice leaked out from Randolph.

“Do you understand your position!? By going against me, do you know what will happen to you, and to the saint!?”

“I understand that it’s my duty as a subject to admonish the idiocy of those I serve. For that very cause, I’m prepared to lose everything.”

“What!?”

Perhaps sensing Oswald’s seriousness, Randolph paled.

The air around Oswald was frigid.

In the dim, moonlit, courtyard, his fiery red eyes gleamed.

“D, did you just…”

This isn’t good…

“Oswald.”

When Charlotte beckoned to him, Oswald only glanced at her.

“Please stop? I’d like to say something to His Highness Randolph.”

“…”

Without a shred of a doubt, Oswald was angry for her sake.

However, at this rate, Oswald would truly lose everything. Even if the man himself was prepared for such an outcome, she wasn’t.

Oswald shouldn’t have to take such a fall.

Albeit of course, she believed that there were some underlying circumstances.

Nevertheless…

Nevertheless, what I did was wrong.

She recalled the scene shown in the diary.

—and I’m the bad guy.

No matter the circumstances, that was the one and only fact that couldn’t be overturned—

—for it was the absolute, undeniable, truth.

Even if she was compelled to do it—

Even if the memory of that time was gone—

—That was exactly why Charlotte decided to keep her amnesia a secret.

The one who should take responsibility for what “I” did shouldn’t be Oswald, but myself, and myself alone.

Hence, she smiled.

Heydemarie had taught her—

—Show the most beautiful smile possible.

She acted calmly, as if it was nothing.

“…I’m a saint who has done all she can to commit atrocities, you know?”

“—…”

Seeing that smile, Randolph’s eyes widened in surprise.

---

***T/N: Well that, that changes everything… I feel bad for her now, and for the prince’s absolutely cringy behavior.

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