039: Chapter 2.5 ~ I'm not scared at night anymore ⑤

“Hey, you can come out now.” Allen

“Yes” Charlotte

Charlotte steps out the back door of the mansion in response to Allen’s call. This area is a large garden, there’s fields and beds where Allen grows herbs. A corner of it is lit up right now.

“Wow!” Charlotte

Allen had moved the living room sofa outside and lined up a bunch of lanterns around. Next to it was a fire with a pot on top of it. It’s like an elegant campsite.

Allen hands Charlotte a mug containing liquid from the pot.

“Oh, be careful since it’s hot.” Allen

“Is this… hot chocolate?” Charlotte

The light brown liquid steams illuminated by the gentle light of the lanterns. There’s three large marshmallows floating in the mug.

“That’s right. Astronomical observations while drinking hot chocolate are all the rage.” Allen responds with a feisty grin.

“Wow, that’s wonderful!” Charlotte elates.

It’s like a scene out of a dream. Charlotte sits down on the sofa where Allen points and looks up to the perfect night sky. This area is far from the lights of the city, so the sky is full of stars. Allen sits down next to Charlotte under the glittering night sky.

Allen starts to mess with an some sort of incense burner.

“Aroma?” Charlotte

“Just insect repellant, also, here’s something to cover up with.” Allen

“Ok” Charlotte

Allen brings out a blanket from somewhere, and Charlotte wraps up with it. Even with warm days, the night breeze can still chill a person. With a blanket, you’ll stay nice and warm. The smoke rising from the incense burner has a refreshing scent that helps Charlotte relax.

The night stars twinkle overhead. The warm space in the garden. Charlotte’s happiness is obvious to any observer.

“How do you like it?” Allen

“Yes! It’s kind of exciting!” Charlotte

“Well, that’s great.” Allen

Allen sips his hot chocolate, then gives a small smile.

“Well, even if I go stargazing… I don’t really know the names for the stars.” Allen

“Huh?! Allen-san, don’t you know everything?” Charlotte

“I know the effect of star positions on magic, but I don’t remember much of the constellations, I’ve been sloppy.” Allen

Charlotte starts to point up at the night sky.

“So, that yellow dot is the eye of the spider. To the lower right is the two-headed dog Orthrus.” Charlotte

“I’m only able to see a collection of dots.” AlleN

Allen tries to look at the night sky. Even in normal times, he doesn’t cut an auspicious figure, but his current expression that wouldn’t shame
the name of King Piccolo. Charlotte giggles at the thought.

“I spent a lot of time study at my last residence. I learned the constellations then.” CHarlotte

“Really…” Allen

Allen’s face is temporarily clouded. Charlotte shakes her head at his moody look, but Allen changes to topic back to constellations. Charlotte locates the constellations and explains the myths surrounding each. Allen then explains a high-level view of the relationship between the celestial bodies and magic to Charlotte. The two continue their casual conversations for a while.

Eventually, Charlotte yawns.

“Are you getting sleepy?” Allen asks as he puts down his cup.

“Do you want to go back to bed? We can walk back to your room.” Allen

“No…” Charlotte says as she shakes her head.

“Today… I don’t want to go back to sleep.” Charlotte

Charlotte had just had a nightmare. She’s worried that if she goes back to sleep, she’ll go back into the nightmare.

Charlotte explains her worry as Allen listens.

What will I do if Allen is disappointed in me? Charlotte wonders to herself.

Charlotte worries that Allen will think she’s a child who’s scared of dreams. Allen notices her worried look as she turns her face away.

She’s worried, but…

“All right” Allen

“eh?” Charlotte squeaks as Allen grabs her hand.

Allen can feel a slight tension from Charlotte’s palm. He looks into Charlotte’s eyes.

“I told you. I’ll hold your hand. I’ll protect you from anything.” Allen

At this point, he grins.

If you’re locked in a nightmare, I’ll definitely go to save you, no matter what. So don’t worry about those things." Allen

“Mr. Allen…” Charlotte asks.

Charlotte is dizzy from Allen’s words, but a little bit angry too.

“Have you told me that before?” Charlotte

“Oh, I definitely said so, you just forgot.” Allen

“That’s… a bit wasteful of me.” Charlotte laughs a bit.

Charlotte can tell he’s not lying. That’s why she knows she won’t forget his words… she can count on it for protection.

A warm feeling suffuses Charlotte’s body, she rubs her eyes a bit.

“If you’re scared of your dreams, do you want to visit my dream?” Allen

“Visit Allen’s dream?” Charlotte

“So, there’s magic that allows people to visit other people’s dreams. I can use it on you.” Allen

“Oh, there’s magic like that. That’s amazing.” Charlotte

“Hmm… I mean, I’ll whip something up like that.” Allen

Allen screams a bit internally about the challenge he just took on…

“Anyway, what kind of dream would you like to have? Let me know your preference.” Allen

“Well…” Charlotte

Any dream would be enjoyable with Allen. Charlotte… decides to hope for something special.

“I’d like to watch the stars together in my dream.” Charlotte

“Oh, that’s easy.” Allen

They both laugh as they get up from the sofa.

A short while ago, the world was scary to Charlotte. Now…

She’s not scared of the night anymore.

Translation

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Do Better!

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