A Monodrama for Carolyn August - Chapter 39

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 39.
The man, unsure what to do as his pupils dilated in shock, had no choice but to close his eyes.
And he remained there quietly for far longer than Caroline had.
Just as she began to wonder what wish could possibly take so long.
He slowly opened his eyes.
“Have you finished wishing?”
Red light glimmered within his green eyes like Christmas ornaments.
Caroline could tell that the brightness in his gaze stemmed from more than candlelight alone.
He was delighted.
His face had shed all trace of the exhaustion from before, as if it had been nothing but makeup.
“Well then, shall we have some cake now?”
Caroline cut an enormous slice and placed it on his plate.
She had thought that given Aiden’s build, such a portion would be easy enough, yet here he was, fork in hand, hesitating.
“Do you perhaps dislike cherries?”
“……No, I do enjoy them.”
And then he began to move his hand, as if suddenly conscious of her gaze.
She hadn’t asked, yet Caroline thought she understood why.
It was what she had learned from reading his Black Diary.
The woman who had spent her whole life as a dancer knew precisely how to preserve her son’s exceptional looks from deterioration.
A lifetime of perfect posture, the prohibition of indulgent foods, treating him only as a commodity to be valued.
As a result, Aiden likely had scarcely any memory of ever tasting something this sweet.
The desserts that appeared at the Mansion were nothing more than fruit-based sorbets at best, weren’t they?
“Oh.”
Yet moments later, Caroline let out a small exclamation.
Aiden had emptied his plate in one go, and now wore a rather bashful expression.
He seemed startled by his own appetite.
“The friend who sent this must be very proud.”
“It appears your friend possesses truly excellent taste.”
Caroline chuckled and spooned another slice onto his plate.
Watching Aiden eat gave her a different kind of satisfaction than eating herself.
The brightened expression on his face, the chocolate cream lingering faintly at the corner of his mouth—both were lovely to behold.
“That’s right. They have wonderful taste. That’s why we became close so quickly.”
“How did you come to meet this friend?”
Embarrassed that he had practically inhaled the first slice without ceremony, Aiden eagerly began a conversation with her while reaching for a second bite.
“We met at the Academy. We live in different places, have different personalities and preferences, but our tastes in food are similar, so we grew close. Now we’re best friends.”
“……It seems truly fortunate to have such a friend.”
Aiden’s expression grew a shade more subdued as he took another bite of cake.
Caroline thought she could guess what he was thinking.
‘Regret and longing, perhaps.’
Aiden was a kind and gentle person toward others, yet that didn’t necessarily suggest he cultivated close human relationships.
‘Watching Aiden blur the line between reality and theater, I learned so much about Acting. Though it was difficult to approach him.’
In fact, a colleague had mentioned as much in an interview.
‘Aiden likely never had the capacity to grow close to anyone.’
The life of a top star is a lonely one.
Looking at Aiden now, Caroline understood the truth of those words.
“I never attended school, so I have no childhood friends. Through Acting I’ve gained many acquaintances, but I have never cultivated an intimate friendship.”
The sun sank lower, dipping gradually toward the horizon.
Bathed in the golden-orange glow, Aiden’s caramel-colored hair gleamed with hints of red.
Gazing at the sunset vanishing beyond the Lake, Aiden spoke as if lost in memory.
“Even at this age, to find myself with no one to truly connect with—it’s strange somehow. Perhaps I’ve lived a wasted life.”
By now he had completely relaxed.
No longer sitting in the formal posture he maintained during their usual tea times, saying only what needed to be said.
With his elbow resting on the table, Aiden gazed out at the sunset and spoke his true thoughts with ease.
‘Does Aiden now regard me with genuine closeness?’
Could he, who had always lived gripped by the tension of Acting, finally let his guard slip?
Click.
Caroline carefully rose from her chair and took his hand.
“You haven’t wasted it.”
She understood why he felt this way.
A life devoted entirely to Acting, and even that not of his own choosing.
“Aiden is counted among the rare truly great actors of his generation. The life he’s devoted to his craft has never been in vain.”
But that wasn’t everything she wanted to say.
“And if it ever feels hollow, you can always stop and try something else. I’m genuinely sad about your retirement as a fan, but I support you doing whatever makes you happy.”
She didn’t know exactly why he was going to die, but she desperately hoped he would live.
Even if he had no self, even if he was just a role dictated by the system’s design.
“From now on, eat plenty of cake, make friends, try new things. Open the second act of your remaining life. You’re still so young, after all.”
Not a single word was hollow.
In this moment, Caroline was nothing but sincere.
“And I’ll be here for you, Aiden. I’ll listen to what you have to say, see you often, talk with you. We’ll celebrate your birthday together. I’ll remember your birthday this year, next year, every year—and I’ll celebrate it with you.”
Aiden blinked, studying their clasped hands as if finding her fascinating.
“So… if you say you’ll be my friend, does that make us friends right away?”
“Oh.”
Only then did Caroline realize what she’d said.
Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
“Well, that alone isn’t quite enough—I mean, your opinion matters too, of course…”
“Ha.”
She stumbled through her explanation, eyes darting away, when she heard his laugh.
Aiden was smiling—a broad, genuine smile she’d rarely seen from him lately.
“Very well, Caroline. We are friends. Although… wait.”
He fell silent and stared at her face intently.
‘What is it?’
He withdrew his hand from hers.
Aiden studied her carefully for a moment, then rose from his chair as well.
“?”
He leaned toward her.
A shadow fell across her face, and suddenly he was much closer.
His large hand drew near, and then…
‘What are you doing?’
Her heart began to race.
Like an alarm sounding, Caroline felt her entire body go rigid with alert as Aiden’s face suddenly filled her vision.
And then.
“!”
His long thumb gently brushed across her lower lip.
The sensation was soft and unhurried—her lip pressed slightly but without pain.
He lingered there for a moment, then withdrew.
“There.”
On the tip of his finger was chocolate cream—smudged, undoubtedly, from her own mouth.
“Oh!”
She’d been speaking this whole time with that on her face.
Your life wasn’t wasted, I’ll be your friend…
‘And I was trying to sound so noble!’
Heat spread all the way to the nape of Caroline’s neck in an instant.
Unable to bear the mortification, she quickly wiped his finger clean with a napkin.
“Th-thank you.”
“No, thank you, Caroline.”
“?”
When he gave the same response unexpectedly, Caroline’s eyes widened.
“The sun is setting. It’s been a lovely tea time. I’m grateful for the invitation.”
The sun revealed only its uppermost edge above the lake, then disappeared entirely.
The sky, still flushed with red, gradually darkened into twilight.
“Shall we head back to the Mansion?”
Aiden extended his arm as if to escort her, and Caroline took hold of it.
Together they walked toward the Mansion.
“By the way, Aiden—what did you wish for just now?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Come on! Between friends?”
“Then what did you wish for?”
“If you say it out loud, it won’t come true.”
“Yet you asked me first.”
“I’m sorry.”
It felt as though they had truly become close friends.
Smiling at Aiden’s joking reproach of himself, Caroline watched a window materialize before her eyes.
[Special Mission Complete!]
[Aiden felt a sense of happiness from being invited to a tea time by Miss Caroline. As a reward for mission success, we present to you .]
At the same moment, Caroline felt a letter slip into her hand.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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