The Evening that Bell Stayed at Stardust Garden
The room was cloaked in the soft glow of the moonlight, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Bell, with a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, gazed at Alise, his benefactor, who was meticulously arranging the bed for him.
"Miss Lovell, why are you doing all of this for me?" Bell's voice carried a note of genuine curiosity,
Alise paused in her task, her hands briefly stilling as she met Bell's gaze. "First, you can just call me Alise," she said her voice warm and comforting; "The reason is actually pretty simple. We are a lot alike. I lost my parents when I was younger, but there wasn't anyone there for me. It took a while before I met Mother Astraea and finally had someone that looked after me. So when I came across you, it reminded me of myself, and I decided I couldn't abandon you. That's all."
Bell, touched by the sincerity in Alise's words, simply said, "Thank you, Miss Alise."
"You are welcome, Bell. Now, get to sleep," Alise ordered, her directive softened by a tender smile. The atmosphere in the room shifted to a more comforting warmth.
As Bell settled down on the bed, Alise's watchful eyes followed him. She had insisted on him taking the bed, arguing that part of their agreement was to ensure he didn't do anything inappropriate or try to sneak out of the room.
Once Bell was nestled under the covers, he closed his eyes, and settled into a peaceful embrace of sleep. However, as the night wore on, Bell's expression twisted into one of anguish as nightmares took hold of his slumber. Bell started to toss and turn, as he called out, "Mama."
Alise, who had become used to sleeping in the Dungeon, noticed Bell's distress immediately.
"I see. He is having a nightmare," Alise murmured to herself, her eyes soft with concern as she observed Bell's restless form. She pondered, her mind racing for a solution, until inspiration struck. "It can't hurt."
Alise shifted on the bed and curled up beside Bell. Gently, she began running her fingers through his hair, the touch meant to soothe the turmoil within him. The moonlight played upon their figures, casting a silver veil over the room and illuminating Alise's face and hair.
"You know, Bell, no one else gets this treatment, so you had better appreciate it," Alise remarked, her voice carrying a hint of playful teasing. Yet, as her words lingered in the air, she transitioned seamlessly into a calming melody.
Life blooms like a flower
In the moonlight or the sun
Each petal tells a tale
Of journeys just begun
Lost in the winding roads
Or dancing in the rain
I'm waiting for the one
To guide me home again
Rain falls a thousand times
You who once went by
Where will you belong?
I feel your sigh and breath
In the whispers of the breeze
Not yet the final chapter
In this tale of memories
In the echoes of your footsteps
That linger in the night
I'm searching for the path
That leads me to your light
Life blooms like a flower
In the valleys and the hills
Waiting for the one
To mend the time it kills
Time flows across the world
There's always a longer way to go
But I'll journey through the storms
'Til I reach your arms, I know
A traveler on this road
With a heart that beats for you
In every mile, in every song
There's a promise to renew
Rain falls a thousand times
You who once went by
Where will you belong?
The story's not yet ended
As I'm walking through the unknown
Life blooms like a flower
And I'm finding my way home
Alise continued her melody, her fingers threading through Bell's hair until she realized that his rubellite eyes were wide open.
"Oh, Bell, you're awake?" Alise's voice, normally composed, betrayed a hint of nervousness. The realization that she had been caught in the act of singing stirred a blush across her cheeks, painting them with embarrassment.
"I'm really not good at singing. Don't you think so too, Bell?" she stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to regain her composure.
"I-I..." Bell's attempt to respond was cut short as Alise, interjected with a self-deprecating comment.
"It's fine, I know it. No need to console me!" Alise managed a small smile, her gaze averted. She seemed to seek refuge from any potential judgment mirrored in Bell's rubellite eyes.
Bell, though momentarily caught off guard, gathered his thoughts, his rubellite eyes softened and he spoke, breaking the silence with sincerity, "No, Miss Alise, the reason I couldn't answer was because I thought your voice was so beautiful it took my breath away. It was comforting and made me feel happy. Also, the moonlight is making you look even more beautiful than normal. You look even more beautiful than many of the goddess in Orario. "
The words hung in the air, a confession that cut through the silence. Bell's heart and mind raced as soon as those words left his mouth. Panic seized him, and internal screams echoed in his thoughts.
"What am I saying!?" he berated himself, attempting to conjure an excuse before Alise misunderstood his intentions. The girls had entrusted him to behave, not to let any lines blur. Yet, here he was, offering compliments that could easy be interpreted as him flirting.
In his internal chaos, Bell failed to notice the subtle transformation in Alise. Her cheeks, much like the vibrant hue of her hair, were now crimson. Caught in the unexpected moment, Alise found herself at a loss for words, her attempt to still her rapidly beating heart evident as she placed both hands in front of her chest.
As she blushed profusely, Alise struggled to find her voice. She opened and closed her mouth several times before she finally managed to articulate her question, "R-really? You think my singing is beautiful?"
"Y-yes. Your voice was lovely," Bell responded, his own voice tinged with nervousness as he gauged Alise's reaction.
Alise, though flustered, found a way to deflect the attention with a teasing smile. "Bell, you are such a flirt, but thank you for the compliment. It means a lot. I never, ever sing in front of other people. So, no telling anyone, okay?" With that, she playfully poked Bell on the cheek.
"Ow…Okay, I promise," Bell responded, a flicker of relief in his rubellite eyes.
"Good, now back to sleep," Alise instructed, and Bell dutifully complied, drifting back into the embrace of sleep.
However, Alise, despite the outward assurance, found it challenging to calm down. "ARGHH! WHY AM I SO EMBARRASSED by his compliment!?" Her internal panic, hidden beneath a veneer of slight embarrassment, raged on. As she struggled to quell the turmoil within, Alise realized it would be a long time before her heart calmed enough to allow her sleep.
The night unfolded with the room shrouded in moonlight, wearied by the incessant panic, she succumbed to the drowsiness that enveloped her and fell asleep right next to Bell.