[Dear Yuan

Thank you for the congratulations! My return was successful. Well, I hesitate to call it a success myself, but everything has continued smoothly without incident.

Yesterday, I received cookies from a fan. They were butter cookies modeled after my face, a hundred times cuter than the real me. I felt so reluctant to eat them! I finally understand why you’re always talking about preserving my gifts!

The person who gave me the cookies is a fan I’ve seen occasionally since last year. Yesterday they came with friends and left after getting autographs. Judging by their uniforms, they must be students from a nearby school—I should ask sometime. I worry they might be straining their finances with these small gifts.

Oh, good news! The number of people requesting autographs has increased lately! There were a few on opening night, but yesterday there was actually a line!

Nine out of ten were people who waited for the lines for other actors to clear before coming to me, but that’s something, isn’t it? It means they remember me! It’s awkward when they ask questions about Bria Sol… but otherwise, it’s all fine.

Bria Sol insisted that I “don’t need to engage with everyone outside the stage,” but I don’t know. Perhaps because I’ve never experienced her level of popularity, but hearing how people came to see the play and in what circumstances gives me strength.

It makes me feel I can do better the next day.

Regarding horoscopes, I don’t look at them either. Not because “I don’t believe them,” but because I “might believe them too much.” I might become too dependent on them. The candy fortune I saw with Jin recently was almost my first.

Many actors enjoy fortune-telling. Some know all the best fortune-tellers, and quite a few study to read fortunes themselves.

It seems like an occupational characteristic. Actors are insecure in many ways. Unless you’re among the very popular few, you constantly audition. Time keeps passing while you don’t know if you’ll succeed, and even if you finally get a chance, with bad luck the entire production might be canceled right before opening.

Many also have strange superstitions. Like always putting on the left shoe first, always washing with boiling water, or never stepping on black paving stones.

I understand the desire to rely on something. The wish for reassurance that “everything will be okay” even if others find it pathetic… how could I not understand?

I have a habit of always buying a new pen to fill out audition applications, though it’s not quite a superstition. I might have a few more if I looked. You might have such habits too, Yuan, even if you’re not aware of them.

If you ever realize any, let me know—I’m curious.

And there was no psychological test in my last letter! No riddle or philosophical problem either. I was just curious and wanted your opinion.

My thoughts are similar to yours. If someone’s words and actions differ, we should judge based on their actions, right?

Sometimes when dealing with people, things get confusing. They say you can just ask directly, but even that answer might not be reliable.

Your response helped. Thank you!

January 22nd,

Wishing you as much luck as I’ve received, Perry.

P.S. I had a dream. I tried to go back to sleep, but I just couldn’t, so I’m writing a bit more. I’ve been dreaming more often lately. Perhaps because it’s cold, but the content isn’t pleasant. I keep running. I can’t see ahead and my legs are heavy, but I keep going and going. Like someone being chased, desperately.

I really don’t feel good… why am I having such dreams? My body is too tired to move any more, is that why?

The dreams I’ve been having lately are nightmares, no matter how I try to dress them up. The kind of eerie dreams where I try to scream but my throat is blocked.

What kind of dreams do you usually have, Yuan? If you have good ones, share them with me. I’ll definitely repay you.

Ah, the sun is rising. I should get a little more sleep. Goodbye.]

[Dear Perry

Did you sleep well today?

If only I could take your dreams away.

It reminds me of a childhood fairy tale. A story about a witch who collected children’s nightmares. If such a witch really existed, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

I haven’t dreamed recently, so I can’t fulfill your request—though I’ll try to dream soon—but I do have an alternative.

It’s a doll that wards off nightmares. The details should be in the instructions with the package, but it’s a “Brave Guardian_Black Dog” handmade by a family of craftsmen with a 179-year tradition. I heard it works if you write a name on the leather tag.

Believe it or not, perhaps it’s worth trusting the craftsmanship of a business that has lasted 179 years?

Since the year before last, they’ve collaborated with Witch Klaus to add a “warm in winter, cool in summer” function. The doll adjusts its temperature according to the owner’s body heat and the current temperature. Even if it can’t truly chase away nightmares, I thought it might help maintain your body temperature.

I hope it contributes to your sleep health.

They say it will snow next week. Please be careful of condensation and icy roads.

If you need my help, please let me know anytime.

January 27th,

Yuan.

P.S. No habits come to mind immediately, but I’ll tell you if I discover any.

P.P.S. It’s natural that more people are noticing you. How could moths not be drawn to a shining flame?—I don’t mean the audience are moths. …I used it as a conventional expression—However, you should be careful with food gifts. I don’t want to doubt their good intentions, but it’s easy to add “something” to food. From a safety perspective.

…Come to think of it, this isn’t my place to say. I’ll exercise restraint myself, so please consider it.]

[My fan, Yuan.

You worry so much! But I understand what you mean. Still, I can’t reject gifts from fans to their faces, so I’ll think about this slowly.

By the way, you seem to know something! Goodness! If gifts needed inspection, Yuan Bellium would have had the biggest share! Though you’re also my friend, of course.

You sometimes seem to forget we’re friends. Your last letter too—there was a strangely formal feeling? Well, it was amusing to see words like “cool in summer” in your handwriting.

Now, about the gift.

How did you get this doll? I don’t mean to interrogate. I’m using it well. The stern eyes are especially cute for a doll. Most dolls have smiling expressions. The serious look makes me more attached to it. It reminds me of someone.

I love how it’s big enough to fill my arms when I hug it. Whether it’s the warmth or the craftsman’s magic, I haven’t dreamed at all these past two days.

I was sharing this story with other actors and… my goodness! Do you know what I found out?

Wow, a certain actress with two daughters was shocked and shook my shoulders asking, “How did you get that?” When I honestly said it was a gift, she was incredibly envious and told me the history of the doll.

Goodness, released the year before last?

Yes, it was released then. But those 50 limited dolls sold out immediately, and just this year on January 26th! The day before you sent your letter! 30 more were sold exclusively in the capital store! The newly sold dolls had blue name tags to distinguish them from the previous batch.

Yuan.

Yuan!

Yuan…

You must be busy. How did our pilot, who travels between Roju and Priton and countless other cities I don’t know about, find time to visit the capital?

Oh, please don’t lie and say you found it by chance. I heard people were crowding outside the store before it even opened—that actress made the effort to go to the capital but gave up—did you perhaps spend the night in front of the store?

I can’t understand how else this limited edition doll of only 30 pieces ended up in my possession.

I await your honest answer.

February 2nd,

Your actress, Perry Humble.

P.S. Out of pure curiosity, why did you choose the dog from among the bear, rabbit, and cat dolls?]

[Dear Perry

Am I being scolded? I don’t understand the situation, so if you could explain in detail, I’ll adopt an appropriate attitude.

To answer your question, yes, I obtained it directly from the capital. Is that a problem? I wanted to help you, and since I don’t have the skill to chase away nightmares—I wish I’d learned that in school—I decided to try this traditional marketing ploy.

Since your nightmares have disappeared—even if temporarily—I still don’t understand why I should be scolded. …If you’re not actually angry, I apologize.

I’d like to rewrite this letter, but time is short, so I’ll continue.