“So, where’d you like to go for our date?”

“Uu, uh, uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…!”

When asked by Oswald, Charlotte swooned and proceeded to cover her face.

“T, this is impossible, just plain impossible…!!”

“Huh? What is?”

“While I did say that I’d like to go on a date with Lord Oswald—no, I really want to! I absolutely want to! But I didn’t think that you’d actually go on a date with me!”

“…?”

At her lackluster complaints, Oswald seemed doubtful.

“What are you talking about?”

“So, what I’m saying is…! I want to go on a date with you, but at the same time, I don’t want to…!”

“??? Seriously, what the heck are you talking about?”

Although it was a simple psychological struggle to Charlotte, to Oswald, that wasn’t the case.

“I want to go on a date with you, I definitely want to… But once that becomes reality, it’s an entirely different story…!!! I’m already overwhelmed by your sheer existence… If you were to add anything more, then—BANG!”

“…Wait, what was that popping sound just now?”

“Well, my head…!”

“Your head!?”

Oswald withdrew rather warily, but then sighed.

“…We’re getting nowhere like this. Put your coat on.”

“Eh!? Lord Oswald, uhm, it’s really impossible?!”

“Take my hand. Alright, time to go.”

“Aaaaaaaah—!! No waaaaaaay—!!”

Charlotte’s modest resistance was in vain, as Oswald still casted teleport spell in the end.

“!”

The Northern wind blew, and Charlotte inadvertently closed her eyes.

After that, she timidly opened them.

Wow, it’s a snowy field…!!

The entire place was blanketed in silvery-white snow.

A half-moon was adrift in the sky, almost forming a crescent.

Despite the faint moonlight, the moon itself seemed strangely bright, perhaps because it was reflecting the snowfield.

How beautiful…! A snowy landscape without a single footprint to be found…!

Charlotte released a silky, white breath.

A lone tree stood amidst the snowy landscape, like a black silhouette basking under the beautiful starry sky above.

She was so mesmerized was she by the sight, she forgot to speak.

Then, her eyes lit up.

“Lord Oswald, look!! How amazing, this place is very beautiful!!”

“I see. Well, isn’t that fine?”

“Ah, of course, in this world, Lord Oswald is the most beautiful! Heehee…!”

“…I don’t remember asking about that…”

“I know, but it’s still important!!”

Oswald was bathed by the twilight.

His lush, eyelashes casted shadows on his cheeks, giving him an enigmatic vibe. Under the moonlight, both his black hair and red eyes were a different shade.

“The air is as clear as a crystal, must be because it’s winter! But, it’s a bit cold? I wouldn’t want Lord Oswald to catch a cold, but—huh!?”

Charlotte couldn’t believe what happened to her a moment later.

“…!?”

He took her hand.

Upon realizing that, Charlotte’s blood sizzled. Forgetting the cold, Charlotte frantically looked at her own hand—

“—I, Lord Os—…”

“…What is it, now?”

“Y, your hand…!! It’s, it’s holding mine…!!”

“…”

The moment she put it into words, she realized it was real.

Oswald had firmly grasped her hand and enveloped it in his wide palm.

As he let out a white breath, Oswald spoke with slight bashfulness.

“Didn’t I promise you? I told you that I’d hold your hand.”

“—!!”

…She wanted to cover her mouth with both hands, but she couldn’t since Oswald had taken one of them.

Averting his gaze, he spoke in a shy tone.

“…Ah, while it may be cold, at least your right hand will be warm with this? For now, let’s head to that tree.”

“…”

“…? Charlotte?”

Charlotte, however, refused to budge.

---

***T/N: HIS HAND!!!! IT’S HOLDING HERS!!!! CALL THE INTERPOL!!!!!!!

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