Preparations for a Confession
"I'm ready, Master."
"Then let's be off."
Just as we'd discussed yesterday, today was the day for the "preparatory work" leading up to a confession. Wander the village together all day, then confess at the right moment. That was the plan.
"Still, I really am nervous. I should just enjoy today first, right?"
"I'm glad you're nervous. If you were too calm, it would only feel awkward."
"Is that so? Then I'll stay tense the whole time."
"Just the right amount of tension."
"Ahaha, that's hard. But when the time comes to hear the confession, I'll be properly nervous, so don't worry."
What set this confession apart from the others was that she already knew it was coming.
"How do I look in these clothes today, Master?"
"They suit you perfectly. Pretty and cute."
"Thank you. You look dashing yourself, Master."
"Much obliged."
Charlotte was wearing the "date outfit" Ed had once called pretty, topped off with nothing more than a straw hat. She had on her white gloves and pendant as well, which kept her prosthetic arm and leg hidden from view. Ed wore the same blue coat as last time, though the shirt beneath it was a touch more ornate than usual.
"Today… would it be all right if I leaned on you instead of using my cane? I want to walk holding your hand, Master."
"I don't mind, but I'll bring the cane just in case. I'll keep it for you—tell me if you need it."
"Ah, understood."
She's being bold, I thought.
Charlotte could barely walk without her cane at this point, so her declaration amounted to binding herself completely to Ed. Of course he was bringing the cane for her safety, yet both agitation and joy colored his voice at once.
"I'll lend you my left hand. Hold on and walk."
"All right. Let's go."
Charlotte gently took the hand Ed offered with her right one, and the two of them set off toward the village at a leisurely pace. They started out slow, but as time passed they seemed to grow used to it, their steps gradually quickening.
"Ed, where are we headed right now?"
"I was thinking of a bookstore, but what do you think?"
"I like that. The books at home are mostly difficult ones. I'd love something light to read."
"Do you have a favorite genre?"
"I like books like the ones about Charlotte and Carlos. It might sound a little strange, but… the Charlotte in the book reminded me of myself, and Carlos of you, Ed. It made me feel odd. It was exactly as if they were you and me, so it was fun to read."
"…I'd never thought of it that way. Understood."
They hadn't been out of the house long, yet her form of address had already shifted from "Master" to "Ed." She's determined to call him nothing but "Ed" today, I thought.
Truthfully they would have arrived with time to spare by now, but Charlotte was walking without her cane, so their pace stayed slow. Neither of them seemed to mind. Holding hands must have made them that happy.
"Watch the pothole, Charlotte."
"Oh, you're right. My skirt's going to get dirty…"
What Ed had spotted was a hole about the size of Charlotte's foot. In any other outfit she might have stepped past it without trouble, but right now she wore a long skirt and had no cane. If she tried to cross as she was, the skirt would definitely get soiled, so Charlotte paused with a thoughtful little "hmm."
"Um, Ed? Could you hold my skirt up for a second?"
The solution she'd come up with was simple. Charlotte lifted her skirt a little with her left hand and asked Ed to take care of the other side.
"This will be much simpler."
Ed considered her suggestion for a moment, then reached for her as naturally as breathing. Charlotte looked briefly startled by his touch, but the familiar feeling must have settled her, because she didn't resist.
"Oh—right. We always used to do it this way. I completely forgot."
Ed scooped Charlotte up into his arms, and she kicked her legs in delighted little flutters. Being carried didn't make her skirt any shorter, so she kept a firm grip on the fabric.
"Can't we go all the way to the village like this?"
"Why?"
"No reason. I just want to stay in your arms, Ed. Is that not allowed?"
"If that's the reason, I'll grant it as long as you like."
"Hehe. I'm so happy."
Charlotte kicked her legs even more happily, and Ed smiled at the sight.
"Being held by you really is fun, Ed. It's amazing how different everything looks just because my eye level is a little higher."
"I've heard that before, but I'm still glad you're enjoying it."
"Ah, that's right. Now that I think about it, I do remember telling you. Hmm… am I still light?"
"Light enough that I could carry you with one hand."
"I thought I'd put on a little weight, so I'm glad I'm still light."
Ed almost answered that without thinking, then shut his mouth before the words could leave it. Charlotte noticed the unnatural silence at once and turned her gaze on him, adding,
"…It's just that I was incredibly light back then. Not that I'm heavy now."
"Yes, I know. Looks like I've been found out."
"You admit it so readily… Well, I can tell just from your face…"
"My emotions show on my face? That's the first I've heard of it."
"Then that's perfect. I'll keep it all to myself."
Charlotte made a V-sign with her right hand for Ed to see, then looked ahead again. What met her eyes was the edge of the forest—the place from which a little more walking would bring them into the village.
"We're almost there."
Perhaps because of her words, Ed stopped walking for a moment and slowly surveyed their surroundings.
"I'll move us somewhere suitable to set you down. We'll walk from there."
"Ah, all right."
"I'll go settle the bill for these books. Wait here a moment."
"I can't move on my own, so please come back quickly."
As expected, nothing of note happened at the bookstore. Aside from the fact that they never once let go of each other's hands, the visit was thoroughly ordinary.
"I've decided a bookstore was a poor choice for a 'date,'" Ed murmured quietly as he returned from the counter.
The self-reproach in his tone made Charlotte speak up.
"It wasn't bad. Looking at the same books as you was fun."
"Well, I suppose that feeling exists too. But the feeling I wanted was 'butterflies,' you see."
"Ahh, then it was a bit of a weak location. I'll look forward to the next place."
"Looks like the rest of the plan needs revising. I'd like your opinion—where do you think would be good?"
With a bag of books in one hand and Charlotte's hand in the other, Ed wore a faintly complicated expression. On any ordinary day it might have been a fine choice, but today, as he'd said, was "preparatory work for a confession." That fact was pushing him to pick somewhere "romantic and pretty," even though the real thrills would be more than enough right before the confession itself. They could have gone somewhere ordinary and it would still have been fine. Then again, agonizing over it was part of the charm of a date.
"What about a walking path around here? Just walking with you is enough for me, Ed."
"A good suggestion. Then we'll head to the park."
"I don't really know what's around here, so I'll just look forward to it."
"As long as you're not disappointed."
Charlotte carefully left the bookstore leaning on Ed's arm, and the two of them set off for the nearby park just as planned. Not a bad idea, I thought.
"What do ordinary couples usually do? Charlotte and Carlos are nobles, so just reading about them doesn't really help me relate."
"I've never lived as a noble either, so I wouldn't know."
They strolled through the park at a leisurely pace, chatting as they went. Well, walking somewhere scenic isn't a bad choice, I assessed.
"The lady at the jewelry shop seemed already married. She looked like she got along really well with the person beside her."
"I don't think she's old enough to be called 'lady,' but it's true the shopkeeper and her partner are close, so I suppose it doesn't matter."
"They were completely stuck together. Wait a second—like this…"
Charlotte let go of Ed's hand for a moment and carefully looped her right arm around his. Ed froze on the spot at finding himself in the classic linked-arms pose of a couple.
"Eek…! Walking like this won't work. It's hard to keep my balance."
"My left arm was warm, at least."
"Then should I keep holding on?"
"I'll take the thought. If you fell I'd feel terribly guilty."
"I want to stay like this… but okay, I'll let go for now."
Charlotte moved her right arm to take Ed's hand again and shifted back into the way they'd been walking before. A faint regret showed on Ed's face, but Charlotte was busy adjusting her posture and didn't see it.
"There… now I can walk. Let's keep going, Ed."
"Right. Where were we?"
"Ah, we were talking about what couples do. The jewelry shop—"
Growl.
The sound plunged Charlotte and Ed into a brief silence. It had clearly come from Charlotte's stomach. She broke off mid-sentence and covered her belly with her left hand.
"…That wasn't my fault."
"Of course. Looks like we've been walking too long. Let's find a restaurant."
"Please pretend you didn't hear…"
"Of course, Charlotte."
Leaving the awkward atmosphere behind, they turned around. As they started walking, Charlotte covered her face instead of her stomach. The sound had been fairly loud, so she had every right to be embarrassed… I thought. He probably found it cute, so it'll be fine, I offered silently, though the comfort would never reach her.
"So embarrassing…"
"We've arrived, but what do you think of this place?"
"The atmosphere looks nice."
"Then I'm glad."
Ed's choice was a perfectly ordinary restaurant—the sort anyone might pick. For a moment I wondered if he might drag them to Steric's place, but fortunately he did no such thing.
Ed led Charlotte inside and exchanged a few words with someone who looked like staff. Charlotte looked around the interior with open curiosity.
"Charlotte, forgive me, but could you save the sightseeing for a little later?"
"Ah, sorry. I got distracted."
When Ed tapped her shoulder she flinched for a second, then followed him.
"The inside is so pretty. I think it's even prettier than Steric's restaurant."
Once seated, Charlotte looked around again and spoke with open admiration. At the mention of Steric's restaurant, Ed paused for just a beat.
"…Charlotte, Steric's restaurant is not particularly pretty."
"I-is that so…?"
Charlotte sat there looking faintly awkward for a moment, so Ed cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"Let's order first. Do you have any preferences?"
"Hmm, I've never been to a place like this before."
"Look through the menu. I'll explain any dishes you don't know."
"All right. I'll try reading it…"
As soon as she finished speaking, Charlotte carefully opened the menu and began studying the offerings with great care. Ed was doing the same, though the difference was that he finished choosing before she did. Waiting for her questions or decision, he eventually grew tired of waiting and quietly spoke up.
"Charlotte, I have something to say if you'll listen."
"Of course."
At the sound of his voice Charlotte lifted her head, and of course Ed was sitting right there across from her.
"Once we finish eating here, we'll go back to the park."
"I'd like that. Nothing's as fun as walking, after all."
"And once we're there, I'm going to confess."
Charlotte's expression froze for a second at his words, then a smile slowly bloomed across her face.
"…Hehe. I'll be looking forward to it."
"I'll spring it on you out of nowhere, so keep your heart racing the whole time."
"Of course!"
That was abrupt, I thought. But Charlotte looked happy, and Ed seemed in a better mood too, so I supposed it was fine.