They left the amusement park, leaving behind the cacophony of sounds and dazzling lights. Dusk had arrived, painting the sky with soft gradients of orange, violet, and rose. A gentle breeze carried the scent of damp earth, tinged with the lingering sweetness of cotton candy and popcorn from the rides. Charlotte, with her white hair cascading down her back, walked beside Hastora with light steps. She glanced at him occasionally, his expression still his characteristically stoic, though a slight, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Charlotte, is the best restaurant in the capital far from here?" Hastora asked, his voice flat, yet with a hint of curiosity.
Charlotte giggled, her voice melodious like a chime. "Hmmm… you could say it's quite a distance from the amusement park. But from my house, it's not too far." Her eyes sparkled. "Why do you ask? Are you hungry? I'm starting to feel a little hungry myself, the smell of food at the park just made me crave it even more." She paused, observing Hastora's expression, which remained stoic and unreadable. "Don't worry, Hastora. We'll get there. Besides, evening strolls like this are nice, don't you think?"
Hastora nodded briefly, his expression unchanging. "No, I was just curious," he replied. "It's getting dark, I guess we'll reach there at night, right? I don't mind, but I'm a bit worried about you getting in trouble with your mom for coming home late." He looked up at the darkening sky, where stars were starting to appear one by one. "He's worried? How cute," Zarafel commented in Hastora's mind.
"That's right, consider it dinner, I'm treating you, how about that?" Charlotte offered, her smile widening. She seemed excited. "Don't refuse, alright? It's a thank you for accompanying me."
Hastora nodded again. "If you insist, I'll accept," he replied, his voice still flat, but with a slight hint of softness.
The night had fallen completely, the moon replacing the sun, casting a soft, silver glow. They walked together under the night sky, dotted with twinkling stars. A cool evening breeze kissed their faces, carrying the scent of flowers from the city park they passed through. Charlotte felt incredibly happy today. She was spending time with the person she loved. She walked with her arms folded behind her back, stealing glances at Hastora, who was walking beside her. She noticed every detail of his face, from his strong jawline to his long, dark eyelashes. She smiled faintly, feeling her heart flutter. "She's truly smitten, isn't she?" Zarafel observed, finding Charlotte's current demeanor amusing.
"The night sky is so beautiful, isn't it?" Charlotte said, her voice soft and full of feeling. "Just like you." She paused, watching Hastora's reaction. She hoped he'd say something romantic.
Hastora just glanced briefly at Charlotte, then resumed looking straight ahead. His expression remained unchanged. However, Zarafel sensed a slight shift in Hastora's mood. "He's slightly blushing, isn't he?"
Hearing this, Zarafel exclaimed joyfully in Hastora's mind. "AAAAA! That sounded so romantic!" Zarafel shouted in Hastora's mind. "Hastora, go on, give her some sweet words too! Don't let this opportunity pass you by!"
"You know, Charlotte? What's the difference between the stars in the sky and you?" Hastora asked Charlotte, his voice still flat, but there was a slight attempt at sounding softer. He tried to give sweet words, not because it was his true intention, but to get Zarafel to stop nagging him. "Just try it, you never know," Zarafel whispered in Hastora's mind.
"No," Charlotte replied, intrigued. She looked at Hastora expectantly, hoping to hear something romantic. "So, what's the difference between me and the stars in the sky?"
"The difference between you and the stars in the sky is, the stars I can only see from afar, but you, I can see up close," Hastora replied. His words sounded stiff, but there was a subtle warmth beneath them. "Not bad, Hastora! Romantic enough for a beginner," Zarafel praised in Hastora's mind.
Charlotte was flustered after hearing this, her face reddening, her heart pounding. She felt like hugging Hastora tightly. Her heart told her to embrace him, but her body protested. She felt a little embarrassed and awkward, but also a happiness she couldn't deny. "She's embarrassed! Her face is so red!" Zarafel commented gleefully.
"Ekhmm… those were good words," Charlotte complimented, putting on a shy expression. "So, are those all the words you have?" She hoped Hastora would say something more romantic.
"Yes," Hastora replied briefly, his expression remaining stoic. He found the situation slightly amusing. He wasn't used to being in such romantic situations.
Zarafel urged him again in Hastora's mind, "Come on, Hastora! One more! Give her some sweet words again!"
However, Hastora flatly refused. Saying those sweet words had already made him feel uncomfortable. He couldn't handle situations that were too romantic. "No, Zarafel. I can't. I feel funny," Hastora thought.
After that, they continued their journey towards the best restaurant in the capital. They passed a city park filled with colorful flowers, though most had closed their petals for the night. The scent of the flowers still lingered in the air, mixed with the damp aroma of the earth. They also passed a magnificent museum, its building dark and silent in the night. Then they walked by a quiet library, the light from the lamps inside illuminating the windows, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Now they were walking along the seashore, the gentle sound of the waves adding to the romantic atmosphere of the night. A cool sea breeze kissed their faces, carrying the distinctive scent of salt. Charlotte breathed in the fresh air, feeling very comfortable beside Hastora.
While walking along the shore, Hastora's mischievous side seemed to emerge. He wanted to see Charlotte's embarrassed and flustered reaction. He considered her earlier embarrassed reaction to be a form of suffering, and he wanted to inflict that suffering again with his sweet words. He felt a little amused at the thought of seeing Charlotte squirm. "Good idea, Hastora!" Zarafel agreed with the mischievous plan. "This will be fun!"
"Charlotte," Hastora called, his voice flat, but with a hint of mischievousness. "I have a question."
"What is it?" Charlotte asked, a little curious. She felt a bit nervous because she knew Hastora was going to say something romantic.
"What's the difference between you and those stars again?" Hastora asked, a faint smile reappearing behind his stoic expression.
Hearing this, Charlotte felt that Hastora was going to give her more sweet words. However, this time, she wasn't going to be flustered and embarrassed after hearing them. She was prepared for it.
"I don't know," she replied. "So, tell me."
"The stars may twinkle, but your eyes are far more captivating. They're silent, while I want to hear the whispers of your heart all night long," Hastora said. This time, his words sounded more genuine, even though his facial expression remained stoic.
"Eh?" Charlotte couldn't hold back any longer, those sweet words, like poetry, were too strong. She didn't expect such sweetness from Hastora's mouth. Charlotte was on the verge. She sat on the side of the road, covering her face with her hands. "You're mean, Hastora, HAHAHA! Look at her!" Zarafel cheered in Hastora's mind.
"Damn! AAAAA! It's so sweet, you jerk!" Charlotte screamed, sitting on the ground at the edge of the road while holding her cheeks in embarrassment. She felt a mix of extreme happiness and embarrassment.
Zarafel, in Hastora's mind, burst out laughing. "Damn you, Hastora! You may be cold, but you can be really romantic too!" Zarafel's voice echoed in Hastora's mind, filled with amusement.
Hastora felt a little happy seeing Charlotte flustered with embarrassment. In his mind, he was seeing Charlotte suffering because of the sweet words. He wanted to torture her again with sweet words, but this time he hesitated. "Maybe that's enough," Zarafel whispered, a little worried. "Don't let her run away."
Charlotte, unable to hold back any longer, stood up, brushing off her clothes, which were dirty from sitting on the road. She looked at Hastora with a cold stare, even though her face was still flushed. She felt a mix of embarrassment and overwhelming happiness.
"This is all your fault, Hastora! Don't blame me!" Charlotte shouted, walking towards Hastora, her voice slightly trembling with mixed emotions.
"Charlotte, are you—" Hastora hadn't even finished his sentence. Charlotte kissed his lips suddenly, Hastora didn't even have time to react. Charlotte's lips were already on his. She kissed him passionately, revealing all her bottled-up feelings. His lips felt warm, sweet, and soft. Hastora didn't know what to do, so he just stood silent, maintaining his stoic expression. Although he kept his face impassive, he was truly surprised by this sudden kiss. "Wow! This is actually happening!" Zarafel exclaimed in astonishment in Hastora's mind.
Zarafel, witnessing this, fell silent for a moment in Hastora's mind. He couldn't believe that the shy girl could be so aggressive. "I didn't expect her to be so reckless," Zarafel thought, a bit taken aback.
Charlotte didn't let go of Hastora's lips. She held his face and kissed him more passionately, as if she wanted to express all her bottled-up emotions. Their kiss lasted a long time, filled with passion and emotion. The gentle sound of the sea waves provided a perfect backdrop for this intimate moment.
After a while, Charlotte released his lips. She looked at Hastora with a serious expression, her face flushed, and her breathing slightly ragged. She felt nervous, but there was also a sense of relief because she had finally expressed her feelings.
"Hastora," she said, her voice trembling. "I love you." Charlotte confessed her feelings under the light of the moon, with the sound of the sea waves as a backdrop. This was a perfect declaration of love, in her mind. She was so sure that Hastora would not reject her. Her deepest fear now was the rejection of her love by Hastora.
However, something shocking happened. More precisely, something so ridiculous that it left Charlotte speechless. It also made Zarafel furious in Hastora's mind.
"Love? What is that?" Hastora asked, his facial expression remaining completely unchanged. He genuinely did not understand what "love" meant.
Hearing this, Charlotte stood frozen. She didn't expect Hastora to give an answer like that. She felt like she had fallen into a deep abyss. "Damn!" Zarafel cursed in Hastora's mind. "You idiot!"
"D-do you not know love?" Charlotte asked, her voice slightly choked, trembling with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief.
"No," Hastora replied curtly, with no remorse at all.
"HAHAHA! You jerk!" Charlotte burst out laughing. She found the situation hilariously ridiculous. She couldn't believe that the person she loved didn't even understand love. However, she wasn't giving up.
"Then I will make you fall in love with me until you understand what love is," Charlotte declared, her gaze filled with conviction. She took hold of Hastora's arm and pulled him to start walking. "Good! She's not giving up!" Zarafel praised in Hastora's mind.
"It's getting late, how about we just head home? We'll eat at the best restaurant in the capital another time," Charlotte said, holding Hastora's arm. She tried to remain calm, even though her heart was still a little disappointed with Hastora's answer. But she wouldn't give up so easily. She would keep trying until Hastora understood love.
"Okay," Hastora replied curtly, his facial expression remaining unchanged. He didn't mind going home, although he felt a little curious about the restaurant Charlotte had mentioned.
Hastora escorted Charlotte to her home. They walked eastward towards Charlotte's house. Even though Hastora didn't understand love, Charlotte was determined to make Hastora fall in love with her. She would never let go of him. Even if Hastora married another woman, she would wait for him. Charlotte was truly willing to do anything to get him. "Wow, this girl is really persistent," Zarafel commented in Hastora's mind. "I'm curious to see how Hastora will react."
After 14 minutes of walking, they finally arrived at Charlotte's house. Charlotte's house was enormous, a magnificent palace made of white stone, adorned with intricate carvings. The glow of lights inside the palace was visible from afar, creating a grand and elegant atmosphere.
"Okay, we're here," Charlotte said, her voice a little shaky with mixed emotions. "Thank you."
"No problem," Hastora replied curtly, his facial expression remaining stoic. He felt a little odd about everything that had happened. He didn't understand why Charlotte was acting like this, but he wasn't bothered by it.
Before leaving, Charlotte kissed Hastora once more as a thank you for accompanying her. The kiss was brief, but full of emotion.
"What was that kiss for?" Hastora asked, curious, his facial expression still stoic.
"It's a thank you," Charlotte replied, smiling faintly. She ran into the gate of her house, waving her hand. "See you at the academy tomorrow. Just you wait until I make you fall in love with me."
"Whatever you say," Hastora replied curtly, starting to walk back home. He felt a little confused about everything that had happened, but there was also a sense of joy he couldn't deny.
Charlotte entered her house. Seeing this, Hastora immediately hurried back towards his own home. For some reason, he felt a little happy today. He put both his arms into his pockets and walked back, a small smile playing on his lips, a smile unseen by anyone except Zarafel.
"He's smiling!" Zarafel exclaimed joyfully in Hastora's mind. "This is a major breakthrough!"
"What a strange girl," Hastora muttered, a small smile still on his lips. He felt a little different today, even though he couldn't explain what he was actually feeling.
Zarafel sensed that Hastora was a little softer today. He felt that it was all because of Charlotte. Hastora had changed a bit when he was with Charlotte. Zarafel decided to ask Hastora about his mood today. He intentionally asked this because Hastora seemed different today.
"How are you feeling today? Are you happy?" Zarafel asked in Hastora's mind, his voice sounding serious, unlike his usual playful tone.
"A little," Hastora replied curtly, in his mind.
"So, how did it feel to kiss a very beautiful woman?" Zarafel asked, this time his voice sounded mischievous. "Was it a WOW experience?"
Even though Zarafel was asking a strange question, Hastora didn't seem angry at all, unlike his usual self. Hastora walked, looking up at the night sky, seemingly showing no emotion. However, even though his face didn't express any emotion, he was actually feeling a little happy today.
"Not bad," Hastora replied in his mind, feeling like he had to answer Zarafel's strange question.
Zarafel chuckled in Hastora's mind. "In my opinion, you've truly changed today, you've become softer and more honest with your feelings." Zarafel felt that his plan to make Hastora fall in love with Charlotte was progressing slightly better. However, making Hastora fall in love was no easy feat. Zarafel felt that the only way Hastora could gradually fall in love with Charlotte was through Charlotte's actions. Zarafel had been observing the two of them during their date, and he felt that Charlotte was a natural weakness to Hastora's cold and Machiavellian nature.
"Hurry up and walk, your mom will be mad if you get back late," Zarafel said in Hastora's mind, urging him to pick up the pace.
"You're right, we should hurry," Hastora replied in his mind, speeding up.
Hastora quickened his pace, a small smile playing on his lips, a smile that couldn't be explained. He felt like there was something different in his life, and maybe, just maybe, it was Charlotte. "Maybe I am a bit different today," Hastora thought. "Maybe I… like her?"
"Today was really nice," Hastora said in his mind, walking quickly towards his house. He wasn't lying when he said that, he was saying it according to his current feelings.
"I'll just run," Hastora said in his mind, picking up the pace even more, eager to get home.
"... "
After 15 minutes of fast walking, he finally arrived at his house. He returned with a slightly different vibe. Although he still had his stoic and cold expression, his mood was happy and cheerful at this moment. He entered the house and immediately ran towards his room.
"You didn't eat dinner?" his mother asked curiously. "You haven't eaten since noon."
"No, I'm not hungry," Hastora replied, jumping onto his bed, his tiredness instantly gone, replaced by thoughts of Charlotte.
Hastora didn't understand what was happening to him. He felt something strange about himself today. But he quickly tried to push the question aside and closed his eyes.
"Zarafel, I want to sleep," he said in his mind. "So, good night."
"Good night, Hastora. Dream of stars," Zarafel replied in Hastora's mind.
And at that moment, in the darkness of his room, Hastora smiled as he thought of Charlotte, feeling new hope blossoming in his heart. He didn't understand what love was, but he felt something different, something that made him feel a little... happy. Something related to Charlotte. And for the first time, his stoic expression, always etched on his face, felt a little lighter. A small change, but a significant one. Maybe, this was the start of something new.
"... "