An hour later.
Charlotte finally appeared at the entrance, all dressed up with a small rattan bag in her hand, ready to go. Her hair was dyed black, adorned with the hair ornament that Allen had given her the day before.
However, her face was taut with tension.
She looked into the mirror once more, meticulously checking her appearance.
"Is... Is this really okay? I won't be caught?"
"Of course, you'll be fine. It's a magic that only I can undo, so don't worry."
"... Since you say so, alright then." Charlotte gave a small smile. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and stepped out of the door.
Charlotte squinted at the narrow path ahead, leading from the mansion to the town. Nervously, she glanced back at Allen, her face a shade paler. "Well then... I will be off. I'll be back before sun down."
"Oh, if it's possible, could you also grab dinner on your way back?"
"Sure!" Charlotte nodded, before walking slowly and carefully. Her departing figure seemed anxious, yet at the same time, it radiated a strong determination to take on a challenge.
Bathed in sunlight, she appeared very picturesque and Allen had to hold back his tears.
"Ugh... She was so lacking in confidence just a little while ago, like a fragile doll... And before I knew it, she's walking so confidently on her own...!"
"What kind of expression is that?" Erika asked as she emerged with Miaha from their hiding spot.
"It's quite unsettling, honestly." Miaha nodded, frowning at Allen, "You're not her dad y'know."
Even so, Allen wasn't discouraged by their comments. Seeing Charlotte's determined back had assured him he had made the right choice. Despite his worries, he was genuinely pleased to have seen her off.
But, from here on out, things are going to get tough.
Flipping his robe dramatically, Allen pointed in the direction Charlotte had left. "Alright, the mission begins! Let's do our best to support Charlotte's trip from the shadows!"
"If there's pay involved, Miaha is in without complaints."
"I'm only here so I can tell mom and dad how it went down."
And so, with his companions in tow, Allen headed towards the town in high spirits, secretly, without Charlotte noticing.
The town was bustling with people today.
Though it was a bit cloudy in the morning, as the day progressed and the sun rose, the blue sky took over, making it the perfect weather for shopping.
Arriving at the bustling main street, Charlotte let out a small sigh. "Wow... I really ended up coming by myself."
The distance from the mansion to here was just a quick twenty-minute walk, but to Charlotte, it had felt like an impossible task.
Charlotte stared absentmindedly at the main street for a while. Then, she clenched her fists determinedly and said to herself, "Alright, let's start here. I'm going to do my best!"
She took a small map from her bag, studied it, and started walking along the main street. All the while, Allen was silently observing her from the shadows.
"Well done! Great job, Charlotte! You managed to read the map just like I taught you!" Allen whispered to himself.
Before leaving the house, Allen had given her a few pointers. Things like looking at the map, not following strangers, asking for directions if she got lost, and so on.
It seemed Charlotte was heeding those instructions well. Even when she was approached by a street solicitor, she politely bowed her head and declined. So far, her first trip was going remarkably smoothly.
Allen's heart swelled with pride. It felt like he was witnessing a child who had been crawling, finally standing up for the first time.
Amidst all this, Erika and Miaha were conversing in a hush-hush manner. "I mean, seriously, what's with his behaviour?" Erika frowned, clearly unimpressed.
"You mean, the way he's acting like an older brother or father, right?" Miaha answered.
Erika nodded, "Whether he's doing it on purpose or not, it's as if he's... oh, I can't even find the words to explain it."
"I get what you mean," Miaha huffed, "it's hopeless to even try putting it into words."
"Oh! Quiet down, you two!" Allen scolded in a whispered tone, making sure not to catch Charlotte's attention.