My Charlotte Hates Me

Chapter 83: Life Choices

"...Lady...Charlotte...Lady Charlotte!" Knight Evan said as he shook me.

I woke up slowly from Knight Evan's embrace.

"...Evan," I said as I slowly got up from the carriage seat. "I am fine. What happened?"

"We have arrived at the place you wanted to visit, Lady Charlotte. I called out for you earlier, but you did not wake up no matter how many times I called out to you, Lady Charlotte," Knight Evan said.

Why am I here? Where is Ursula?

"...Ursula!" I shouted.

"Who is Ursula?" Knight Evan asked.

"The shop owner!" I said as I pushed him aside.

The lot where Ursula's shop should have been at had now become an empty lot of land.

"...That Witch is always coming and going as she pleases...Damn that vile witch! I will definitely kill her once I get my hands on her!" I shouted angrily.

That old woman cheated me...She promised me that I could save Arielle if I gave up my identity. She dammed me to this weak female body and gave me the ability to go back in time but did not fulfill my wish to save Arielle's soul. Arielle is still miserable no matter how many times I go back in time.

"Lady Charlotte?" Knight Evan said with a concerned face.

"My apologies...It appears that my dream kept me in a daze," I said as I responded with an awkward smile.

Seeing as though staying here any longer would no longer bring any further leads, I decided to make a short pitstop at the Exurbia Library.

"What kind of business do you have here, Lady Charlotte?" Knight Evan asked as he helped me down my carriage.

"I am here to see my friends," I answered.

"Charlotte?" Alina said.

"It's Charlotte!" Maura said excitedly.

They both rushed and hugged me tightly.

"It is good to see you two again," I said happily.

"Why are you back again? Actually, spend the night here with us. Let's spend all night talking," Maura said as she slowly edged me closer and closer to the dormitory.

"Ah! I actually have company," I said as I hinted back at my Knight Evan who was standing at a polite distance.

"You have to stay with us now," Alina urged.

"I'm sorry?" I said confused.

"The handsome man can stay in a spare room. I am the boss, and whatever I say, goes!" Maura said.

In the end, Sir Evan and I were dragged and held against our will. We were dragged through to their drinking party that held place inside of the Library after closing hours. These people have either too much or too little respect for their workplace. There is no in-between. Even the straight-laced Knight was forcefully fed alcohol by the other drunkards. Having felt guilty that I had dragged him all the way here only to get hammered, I rested his head on my lap and made sure that he did not hit his head on the ground.

"Is this pitiful looking person really your Knight?" Maura asked.

"Yes...he is the Knight I most pride myself in having by my side," I said with a smile as I caressed his head gently.

Whether I was Charlot or Charlotte, this person blindly followed me no matter how far I regressed. He was a stupidly loyal retainer, yet I could not see him as anything beyond a pawn of mine in my first life. He is too good for me.

"It certainly looks like you are the one taking care of him now," Alina said.

I have had practice taking care of Eli, so this much is normal, or rather on the much easier side of taking care of someone.

"That is not true. He is a good person who is willing to listen to my selfish requests," I said.

"Is he your type?" Maura asked.

"I like someone who is more sweet and kind like cotton candy," I answered.

"...That is unfortunate news for others," Alina said.

"Where is Arielle right now? Did she come with you?" Maura asked.

I flinched at the mention of her name.

"...She is busy preparing for a wedding," I said.

"Ah, are those two finally tying the knot?" Maura asked excitedly.

"Yes, Garett decided to propose not too long ago," I said. "I am sure that they will send invitations very soon."

"It must be difficult traveling back to Nariel. At least you can still come see us more often," Maura said.

"...I will be getting married soon as well," I said.

"M-Married? To who?" Maura asked anxiously.

"...Someone very important," I answered.

"...Have you sorted your feelings in order?" Alina asked.

"What is there to sort? I have no feelings towards the matter anyways," I said.

I felt bad from how I put everyone in an awkward mood and decided to force out a laugh in order to help ease the tension in the room.

"We all have our separate paths we have chosen to follow," Alina said as she pat the top of my head.

"Senior..."

Maura soon dragged my Knight Evan off of my lap and had her underlings Johor and Clovis take him off my lap and put him in a spare room. Afterwards, everyone either dispersed back into their rooms or passed out on the floor from drinking.

"Charlotte, I am getting married soon," Maura said as I joined her in some late night tea along with Alina.

"That is great news. Congratulations, Senior!" I said excitedly.

"You can be more happy with other people's engagements than your own. I hope that you will be able to accept the consequences brought on by your choices," Maura said with a serious expression.

"I have something I desperately want to protect...no matter what happens to me," I said.

"Charlotte, I have been down a similar path towards the one you are reaching. At the end of it all, there is only pain and heartbreak," Alina said with a solemn expression.

"...I will accept all of the consequences of my actions," I said.

When I went to bed, I had a dream of the past Ursula gave back to me. When I trapped people in underground dungeons, I earned the curse of every person I walked by regardless of whether or not they worked for me or not. Nonetheless, I could wash over my sins because I was now living with the very proof of it right now. This female body I hated so much was the result of the curse I had agreed to take on in order to save Arielle.

Even though I am aware of how terrible of a person I was in my original timeline, I cannot help that I still want your love no matter how selfish it is, Arielle. This crushing loneliness will only go away once I see that you are content with your life.

In the morning, I was greeted by my Knight Evan. He had a terrible hangover but still managed to keep his usual smile on his face. I felt guilty for dragging him here on my selfish request once more.

"Does your head hurt very much?" I asked as I stood on my toes and rubbed the top of his head.

His face was slightly flushed.

"Your concern is too much," Knight Evan said as he removed my hand from his head.

"Let us go on our way then," I said with a smile.

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