Charles, who'd just been drifting off, suddenly perked up. He propped himself up and looked at the girl. "Why are you here? And with your own quilt?"
In the dim tent light, he could tell Anno's face was quickly burning red.
"I gave my tent to one of the wounded," she said in a small voice. "I didn't have anywhere else to go, so… I came to bunk with you."
Looking at her adorable expression and hearing such a clumsy excuse, Charles had to grab his stomach, almost bursting into laughter.
Playfulness got the better of him. Setting aside any thoughtfulness, he joked, "Oh? Well, good thing I packed an emergency tent just in case. Looks like it's finally going to come in handy…"
He started digging into his bag, feigning seriousness.
Anno's eyes went wide—then she grew anxious. "No—That's not… I'm worried about you!"
Flustered, she threw her quilt over him with a huff. "You're injured too! I was worried about you, so I came to check on you… You're hopeless! Why don't you ever get it?"
Of course Charles got it—he'd just wanted to tease her a little. But knowing she might genuinely storm off, he wisely stopped while he was ahead and gave her a look of heartfelt gratitude. "So that's it. You're so sweet, darling."
Anno let out a little huff—for her, most of that frustration had already melted away. She lay down, tugged the quilt half off him and half over herself, and said anxiously, "But seriously, Charles, I'm only here because I'm worried about you—not for any other reason, really."
"So don't get any weird ideas. We agreed before: Not before marriage. That's the rule. Got it?"
As she spoke, her quilt wriggled around—she was probably removing her heavier clothes underneath. She'd come in bundled up, but even with the tent being reasonably warm, winter nights outside were still freezing.
Charles nodded with a straight face. "Understood. Relax. I promise—I won't do anything I shouldn't."
—Just the things you should in moments like this.
He kept that last bit to himself. Anno seemed to relax, tossing her clothes outside the quilt and turning to face him, her big, lovely eyes meeting his. Her heart was pounding; her cheeks were rosy, excitment coursing through her so strongly she didn't feel the slightest bit sleepy.
Charles smiled softly, rolling to his side to face her as well. He didn't say a word—just looked at her, content in the silent moment as if happiness itself was simply lying here, looking into each other's eyes.
After a while, Anno suddenly spoke, searching for something to say. "Does your wound still hurt?"
Like hell. It hasn't hurt for ages.
Charles thought, Ever since Theresa pulled me out and you pumped me full of divine healing, I could've had my skeleton shattered to dust and you'd have still fixed me up.
He nearly blurted out "I'm fine," but stopped himself at the last second. "I'm a little cold."
Anno looked confused. "Cold? You're bundled up more than I am—how can you still be cold?"
She frowned. "Wait, are you sleeping naked again? Put on some pajamas at least."
Charles shook his head. "No, I'm wearing them. Still, I feel cold—my body's shivering."
The girl's brow furrowed, and then she thought of a possibility that clearly worried her. "Maybe you lost too much blood today?"
Charles nodded solemnly. "That's possible."
Anno was instantly flustered. "T-then what do I do? Should I give you another quilt?"
Charles quickly shook his head. "No—then you'll freeze."
"I'll be fine, I'll just go grab another from my stash," Anno replied. "I brought plenty, after all."
Wow, she really did plan ahead, Charles thought. But as he mulled it over, he suddenly said, "Well, there is one way we could both stay warm…"
Anno blinked. "What's that?"
"You could come under my blanket and help warm me up," Charles said with a straight (but not entirely innocent) face.
Instantly, the paladin girl, who had just gotten her color back, went scarlet all over again. She gave him a light kick through the blanket, huffed, "Stop being a pervert!"
Then, in a huff, she rolled over, turning her back to him. "If you're fine, just go to sleep. I'm exhausted—I've been dying to rest all day."
Charles sighed softly. Guess there was no rushing things tonight. He resisted his longing, closed his eyes and murmured, "Goodnight."
The tent fell quiet. Their breathing evened out, as if they had both drifted straight off to sleep.
One minute passed.
Two minutes.
Three minutes…
"Charles," Anno suddenly whispered.
"Yeah?"
"I can't sleep."
"You? I thought you always slept like a rock."
"I… my sleep schedule got all messed up."
"Or maybe you've just got something on your mind?"
"That… well, maybe a little."
"So what's bothering you?"
"It's just… everything today."
She curled into herself. "When you fell, I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't imagine what I'd do if something happened to you, I—"
She couldn't finish, her words trembling with fear and pain. Charles scooted closer, put an arm around her over the blanket, and hugged her tight. "Don't be afraid, love. I'm strong. Even Abyssal Lords can't beat me. No one can."
His gentle words soothed her, and finally, Anno rolled over to face him, head down, sniffling.
After a beat, she suddenly asked, "Are you still cold?"
Charles' heart skipped a beat. "A… a little."
Telling the truth this time—his arm was still outside the covers, holding Anno for comfort.
"Then…" The girl sniffled, finally seeming to work up her courage. "Can I come into your blanket and warm you up?"
She hurried to add, "But you have to promise not to do anything stupid. No funny business."
Charles nodded, "I promise."
Anno carefully peeled back his blanket, then slowly snuggled over—whole body sliding into his arms like a fawn into its mother's embrace.
At once Charles was enveloped in her warmth. Beneath the blanket, all she wore was a thin, silky pajama—nothing but a wisp of fabric between her skin and his. Her youthful fragrance made his heart race; holding her, he never wanted to let go.
Anno, it seemed, had no idea of her own allure. She gently embraced him, confirmed he really was wearing pajamas and hadn't tricked her, then asked in a whisper, "Better now?"
Charles hugged her tighter, wishing he could melt her into himself and never let her go. "Much better. Thank you, dearest."
Anno's cheeks were flushed—not from embarrassment but from how warm it was. Both of them were physically fit and now squeezed together under thick blankets, so pretty soon both of them were burning hot.
"Charles," she said softly, her voice like a gentle wind, "I'm hot."
Charles closed his eyes, pretending to drift off. "Then just take off the pajamas."
Anno pinched his side. "Trying to be naughty, huh?"
He dodged, feigning innocence. "I'm not! You're the one who said you were hot. It's not like the blankets are rough—"
Anno pouted, totally unconvinced—clearly thinking that was his plan all along.
After a moment's hesitation, she broke free from his arms, slipped her hands to the hem of her pajamas, and shimmied out of them. She tucked them beside her under her quilt to keep them safe.
Almost at the same moment, Charles' big hand suddenly climbed up to one of the plump but firm peaks, and his five fingertips pushed from the outside to the inside, gently kneading the tender breast flesh.
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