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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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The cozy and warm atmosphere in the drawing-room was replaced by a sudden silence.
Melina and Arnold froze, as if time had stopped. Her eyes held a mixture of shyness and sincerity, while he was flustered and confused.
“Melina…”
Just as he was about to say something, Melina blushed and covered her cheeks with her hands, her golden hair shimmering in the light, her cheeks a brighter shade of pink.
“Sorry, was that too sudden…? Were you surprised?”
Melina hesitated and averted her gaze. He shook his head and replied,
“No, not really… Just a little flustered.”
He had been surprised, of course. He hadn’t expected her to suddenly kiss him. But he felt a strange mix of sweetness and bitterness.
“Heehee, really?”
She smiled faintly and nodded as he scratched the back of his neck. An awkward silence followed, but Melina broke it.
“So…? Actually, I wanted to be honest with you today.”
She took a deep breath and looked at him, her eyes clear and serious. He instinctively straightened his posture and waited for her to continue.
“You’ve been special to me since the moment we met. You always treated me seriously, and you appeared like a hero whenever I was in danger. You have no idea how much strength that gave me.”
Her voice was soft and sincere. Melina closed her eyes and continued, her hand resting on her chest.
“Especially… as the curse threatened to end my life at the hands of that evil spirit, that you shone as my destined savior.”
“You might not understand, but… I’ve lived my life running away from fear and worry.”
She clenched her fists, as if reliving a painful memory. Her trembling shoulders hinted at the hardships and sorrows she had endured.
“Knowing when you’re going to die… is a cruel reality.”
“The curse, approaching relentlessly, unstoppable and unavoidable, was a constant source of terror.”
Her voice trembled, her words filled with the terror and despair of her past.
“I lived every day in fear. What if the person who was supposed to save me never appeared? Did they even exist? What if I died even after meeting them, if they couldn’t lift the curse? These thoughts tormented me.”
But her despair was short-lived, replaced by a sense of gratitude for being able to live without fear now.
“That’s why, Arnold, you’re more special to me than anyone else. If it weren’t for you, I… would have been killed by that evil spirit.”
Melina looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety.
“So, today, I wanted to tell you how I feel. I don’t want to hide my feelings, no matter what you think of me…”
“These feelings of gratitude, apology, and… this fluttering sensation… I had to tell you, even if they’re not reciprocated.”
Arnold took a deep breath to compose himself before responding. He had expected this, to some extent.
She had said the exact same words to Varis in the original story.
Here, Varis would have…
“Thank you, Melina. I think you’re special too.”
Melina’s eyes sparkled at his words, and she bit her lip shyly.
“Really? You think so too?”
He nodded and smiled faintly.
“Yes. Melina, everything about you is precious to me.”
This was what Varis would have done in the game.
Melina’s face lit up with joy. She hesitated for a moment and then gently took his hand. Her hand was warm and soft.
“Thank you. Thank you so much…”
The fire crackling in the fireplace warmed the drawing-room, creating a cozy atmosphere. It felt as if time had stopped.
“Arnold -”
“Melina?”
Melina leaned closer again.
“Ahem -”
But just then, an awkward cough interrupted them. Both he and Melina froze.
“I understand you two are close, but I’d appreciate it if you acknowledged my presence.”
The maid spoke in a cold, disapproving tone. He and Melina averted their gazes, embarrassed.
“…….”
His body stiffened, and he couldn’t move. He regretted his words. He had gotten carried away by the atmosphere, as if he had been possessed.
“Ah, sorry! I just meant to say thank you!!”
She said with a playful smile, the room filled with unspoken embarrassment.
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As evening approached, the warmth of the drawing-room faded, and stars began to appear in the sky beyond the window.
Melina fidgeted nervously in the awkward silence, glancing at him from time to time. Then, she finally spoke,
“Arnold, do you like stargazing?”
Her voice was hesitant, a stark contrast to her usual confident and assertive demeanor.
Now that he thought about it, there was a stargazing event with Melina.
“I do like stars. Especially on a clear night like this.”
He replied with a gentle smile. This was also something Varis did in the original story.
“Then… would you like to go out to the garden with me? The view is much better there.”
Melina hesitated, her gaze averted, as if waiting for his response. She looked innocent and youthful.
He glanced out the window, following her gaze, and nodded.
“Sure. Let’s go.”
He took her outstretched hand. Her hand was warm, and he felt a slight tremor when he grasped it. They slowly walked towards the garden.
……
The garden was bathed in the stillness of night. Flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their petals shimmering in the moonlight, and fireflies danced among the trees.
The garden was filled with a mystical, romantic ambiance.
“Arnold, look at the sky.”
Melina stopped after walking a few steps and pointed at the sky.
“The view is much better from here, right?”
He looked up at the sky she was pointing at. Countless stars twinkled in the vast expanse of the night sky.
“It’s a beautiful sight. It feels special.”
It was his honest opinion. The sky wasn’t this clear in his previous world.
He spoke with a hint of wonder in his voice, his gaze returning to Melina.
Her blonde hair, illuminated by the starlight, and her gentle smile caught his eye.
Melina turned her head, as if sensing his gaze.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
She asked in a small voice, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
“You just look happy.”
He replied honestly.
Melina suddenly covered her face with her hands and lowered her head, flustered.
“What… Don’t say things like that so suddenly…”
Her voice was small, but her trembling tone betrayed her joy.
A quiet moment passed. The gentle sound of water trickling from a fountain somewhere in the garden filled the air.
They stood side by side in silence, gazing at the stars once more.
“Haa.”
Melina took a slow, deep breath as if to calm her nerves. Then, she gathered her courage and lightly tugged on his sleeve.
“Arnold…”
Looking up, She called him.
“Yes?”
He replied, looking at her with a gentle gaze.
“Thank you. For… spending time with me like this.”
Melina spoke sincerely, her eyes clear and bright. She was grateful, but this was something he had promised her.
“Don’t mention it… I promised to spend the day with you.”
Melina smiled faintly and leaned her head on his shoulder.
The air between them was warm, a warmth that even the cool night air of the garden couldn’t dispel.
“You know.”
After a few minutes of silence, Melina whispered hesitantly.
“Arnold, what if… we could have moments like this more often?”
He stared into the distance, as if lost in thought.
“We have all the time in the world now.”
It was probably the perfect answer for Melina.
Before, she hadn’t had the time to enjoy anything because of the curse.
But now…
“Hehe, really?”
Melina smiled faintly, as if understanding his hidden meaning.
“Then I’ll look forward to it~”
She chuckled, her words lighthearted. Then, she looked up at the sky again.
He followed her gaze, looking up at the stars in the night sky.
“Thank you. For being here with me.”
Melina’s smile was brighter than ever.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
