“—What’s the matter with you!? You’re so different from before. It’s as if you’re a different person entirely!”

—Awawawa, I messed up! I couldn’t help but explode…!

Realizing that she had messed up, she covered her mouth with both hands. But Randolph seemed to disapprove of what she said rather than the change in Charlotte itself.

“Why, why do you admire Oswald so much…!!”

“Well, even if you ask me why…”

Now that it had come to that, there was no salvaging the situation. Charlotte dropped all her pretenses and turned to Randolph.

“It’s very unfortunate that his mother passed away, but how was that in any way his fault?”

“Wha…?”

“As for the incident where his magic ran amok… Wasn’t that caused by physical and mental abuse? Again, how was he to blame? If you want to blame someone, then blame those who tormented him!”

“…!!”

Randolph’s eyes went wide in shock.

“It doesn’t matter what he did in the past, or the aftermath of it. My feelings for Lord Oswald shall remain the same.”

As she said that, a certain idea was born in her heart.

…At that time, when we were watching the meteor shower, was that what Lord Oswald meant by those words? No matter what happened in the past, I have the right to be happy…

However, it was difficult for Charlotte to think that way about herself.

…Strange, what a contradictory feeling.

“I love Lord Oswald. I admire him for everything he says, does, or thinks! To me, loving him is more natural than breathing!”

“…Silence.”

“Oh, could it be that you still don’t understand? If you’d like, I’ll can tell you all about Lord Oswald’s splendor.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!!”

At that moment, Randolph reached out and grabbed Charlotte by her collar.

“Uh…!”

“You, are you trying to provoke me?”

As she was being grabbed by her collar, she began to choke.

“Rejoice, you were successful…!!”

Charlotte looked up at Randolph, her eyebrow still furrowed.

“Are you making a mockery of me!? There’s no way Oswald is better than any of us royal siblings! His blood is filthy! He has no right to succeed the throne…!!”

“Lord Oswald is a wonderful person…!!”

“I said shut up!! You only had a single purpose, anyway!!”

Those red, murky eyes were completely different from Oswald’s eyes.

The force around Charlotte’s neck grew.

“I’ll end you and let Oswald take the blame!”

…It doesn’t matter even if you do that.

After all, Oswald’s noble existence was untarnished.

When she was about to argue back, Charlotte sensed something.

This is…?

Forgetting her own predicament, she uttered her beloved’s name.

“…Lord Oswald.”

“What…!?”

Randolph’s expression contorted.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Lord Oswald will be here soon. I can sense him just outside the barrier.”

“You’re bluffing!”

“Mmnggh—!!”

Charlotte was suffocating.

“What utter nonsense…! This tower is surrounded by a strong barrier…!”

She didn’t even have to think about why he came to that place.

“No one can find you here! Not even Oswald!”

Regardless of the consequences, Oswald was very kind. If he knew Charlotte was in danger, he wouldn’t overlook it.

Please, don’t come here, Lord Oswald…!

As she grabbed Randolph’s wrist, Charlotte prayed while desperately trying to breath.

“Besides, this room is surrounded by stone walls!?”

Oswald’s magic was close to being exhausted.

Randolph, however, emanated a powerful surge of magic.

Be it the barrier that surrounded the place or even the magic circle that was used to douse Charlotte with water earlier, both were the work of a first-class magician.

His Highness Randolph is serious. He’s trying to harm Lord Oswald…!! Please, please, please don’t come here!

“You’re spouting nonsense! No matter how you look at it, there’s no way you can sense Oswald from here!”

Actually, she did sense him.

I can feel it, because he’s my dear Lord Oswald…

Whenever he returned home, her heart would fill with both excitement and happiness.

Even if she couldn’t hear his footsteps, his presence made her happy.

Every day, every time Oswald returned to the mansion where Charlotte was waiting.

Therefore, she couldn’t be mistaken.

Hence why she prayed.

“…Your Highness… Randolph, please, amplify the barrier…!!”

“W-what are you saying?”

“Please, strengthen the barrier! Hurry up!”

---

***T/N: I wish Charlotte doesn’t have to be such a selfless damsel in distress but…

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