In truth, Charlotte only asked Randolph that to buy some time to think.

“Why are you so hostile towards Lord Oswald? No matter how powerful he is, Your Highness Randolph is still an important member of the royal family. Therefore, there’s no need for you to do this. While he’s certainly a powerful vassal, you still have the advantage.”

“…Important.”

Fury emanated from his eyes.

“…You. Are you feigning ignorance right now? Or do you honestly not know anything?”

“About what?”

“…Heh. I knew it. You’re just trying to make a fool out of me with that oblivious charade.”

I wonder what this is all about.

All the while, cold droplets of water were still trickling from her hair. It was getting colder and colder, snuffing out her body heat.

“—This is why I was against it! If someone as vile as you were to be paired with Oswald, things would only become trickier! Still, my siblings—and even my father agreed to letting the two of you get married!”

Could it be…

Something dawned on her.

…Could it be, the real purpose behind the marriage wasn’t only to reign my power?

Did His Majesty the King have another agenda?

She’d always feel that something was off.

Lady Elvira and Sir Ignatius even said it themselves—Lord Oswald has received marriage proposals from various renowned families.

In fact, Charlotte herself witnessed it herself during the evening ball. The three sisters who proposed to Oswald were the daughters of a family who managed the country’s finances.

Objectively speaking, His Majesty would benefit more from having a close relationship with his excellent subjects. Conversely, he’ll gain nothing from marrying Lord Oswald off to a sinner like me.

—Even if he was the only one who could seal both Charlotte’s magic and fate.

Moreover, I had already been subjected to contract magic. Even without marrying Lord Oswald, it should be easy to control me.

Certainly, she was also told that when Oswald was about to seal her power, she resisted a bit.

But that was it.

If she had tried to resist, all they needed to do was call him once. Instead of, let’s say, forcing him to tie the knot with her.

That part stood out to her the most.

After all, how was the royal family supposed to keep her under their thumb using that method?

…Unless, His Majesty is aiming for something else.

—That is, Lord Oswald himself.

What if the king didn’t want Oswald to marry someone from a powerful family? And for what reason would that be, if not to prevent Oswald from getting stronger than he already was?

She recalled how angry Randolph was at her previous words.

…Surely, the ‘royal family’-part struck a nerve.

Oswald was a duke.

Furthermore, Oswald told her at the evening party the other day.

“Before it was discovered that he has tremendous magical power, he was brought up in a baron household. Afterwards, he was adopted by the Duke of Langheim.”

What if that was only a lie? After all, the title of duke was only given to branches of the royal family.

Oswald might not have been adopted to succeed the Duke of Langheim.

Thus, it could only mean one thing—

—he…

Oswald’s red eyes flashed across her mind, and Charlotte looked up.

Randolph, who was glaring at her, had the same red eyes as Oswald.

“…Lord Oswald is also a member of the royal family, isn’t he?”

Because of that, he became a thorn in Randolph’s side.

“Well, someone’s gotten a clue, finally.”

Randolph dismissed it with a displeased look.

“It’s absolutely despicable. To think that Oswald, a lowborn who’s only beautiful in appearance, is in fact our half-brother…!!”

It’s not just about having royal blood.

If he were Randolph’s half-brother, then Oswald’s position was obvious.

…Oswald is a prince whose existence has been kept hidden…!!

---

***T/N: Of course he’s a prince xd.

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