“Why didn’t you save him…?”

After the war, the families of his deceased friends paid Oswald a visit.”

“He always boasted how strong you are. ‘If Oswald is here, there’s no way we’ll lose’, he said…”

Oswald had heard those words as well, directly. Even though the tone was light, the gaze was serious.

“Why didn’t you protect my son?”

“…Madam.”

“Langheim, had you seriously tried to save him, he probably wouldn’t have died! If only you put more effort in keeping your allies safe rather than killing our enemies…!”

The woman, who’d been the mother of his friend, cried as her small shoulders trembled.

“Because you chose to kill rather than protect, that child is dead…!”

“…”

Oswald bowed his head.

“I have no words to apologize—I’m truly sorry.”

After the war, many touted him as a hero. As a result, his father grew more interested in him while his half-brothers became more hostile.

However, there certainly were people who denounced him.

Oswald went to visit the bereaved families of all his comrades who’d perished in the war. Some of the mages who accompanied him were outraged.

“None of this is Lord Oswald’s fault! They died because Saint Charlotte refused to heal them! She said she didn’t want to get her dress dirty!”

“That’s not the case. While the saint is deplorable, if they hadn’t been injured, they wouldn’t have died. The saint’s inactions have nothing to do with my lack of power.”

“Lord Oswald…”

Many people hailed him as a hero.

However, what he remembered were the battlefields that’d been reduced into scorched earth.

I did that. In the end, I’m simply a killer playing with magic. I’m no different than when I killed my mother.

From then on, Oswald was given various “unwanted things” on the pretext of having made achievements on the battlefield.

His adoptive father, who was single, died, and as a result, Oswald didn’t only inherit the title of Duke of Langheim, but also became the youngest division commander in history.

The turning point came about two years after the war ended.

“Marry the saint, Oswald. Then after sealing her divine power, take Charlotte Leah Ainsworth as your wife.”

Such was the king’s order to Oswald.

Naturally, it wasn’t joyful news for him. For Oswald at that time, Charlotte was undoubtedly a villain—an abominable existence.

“…Your Majesty the King. Pardon me, but I don’t understand the purpose behind your order.”

“No explanation is needed. I ordered you to marry her, so do it.”

From those words, he could roughly infer the king’s intentions.

Recently, the number of marriage proposals coming to me has reached a level where I can’t simply dismiss them. He’s trying to prevent me from marrying into a prestigious family to keep me from do anything unexpected. If it’s the infamous saint, she won’t pose a threat as my wife.

The king was probably watching his every move. Although the current situation was beneficial for the country, the king had lingering suspicions about what he’d do in the future.

“In recent years, the saint’s tantrums have gone too far. She’s simply too much trouble. Now that we aren’t facing a major war, her role as a saint has become redundant. Nevertheless, we can’t let her fall into the hands of another country.”

“…”

At that point, Oswald was looking for a way to refuse.

After all, no matter how beautiful she was, he had no intention of marrying someone so cruel.

“If you seal her divine power and marry her, wouldn’t she be a little easier to control?”

What changed Oswald’s mind ever so slightly were the words his father said after.

“—Although, if she still acts impertinent, you may kill her.”

“—”

To his father, those words probably meant nothing.

However, Oswald certainly remembered them. Back when he was still a child, his father looked down at him and said indifferently, “If keep acting cocky, I’ll have no choice but to kill you.”

…Is the eccentric saint the same as me?

While still on his knees, Oswald began to contemplate.

After all, no matter how much power one has, or how loyal they are to their country, if they get in the way, they’d either be killed or disposed….

…I never expected that the saint and I would be similar in this regard.

That was all there was there to it.

For Oswald, Charlotte was still an abomination.

Still, he made a decision.

“I understand.”

He lifted his head and stared into the red eyes of the man in front of him.

“The order to make Saint Charlotte my wife—I respectfully accept your decree.”

Thus, Oswald decided to marry Charlotte.

He suppressed her using his magic, signed the marriage contract at the church, and finally sealed her divine power with a kiss.

After she fainted, Oswald took her home.

The saint also hates me.

But I’m used to it.

If he hadn’t achieved those feats in the battlefield, no one would’ve acknowledged him.

If Charlotte continued to resist, he’d eventually have to kill her. The thought was so troublesome, he even wished that she’d never wake up.

However, the first thing Charlotte said far exceeded Oswald’s imagination.

Charlotte, with rosy cheeks and a gaze stating she had just seen the most wonderful thing in the world, said:

“—I fell in love with you at first sight!”

---

***T/N: Lmao and then Charlotte appears and BAM

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