Why...
Why did Phrolova know where he lived?
Ray stared at the young woman before him, utterly bewildered. She looked back at him quietly, her eyes reflecting a calm and natural expression, completely unreadable.
Though his mind was racing with questions, one after another like startled rabbits, Ray pushed them aside and, playing the host, stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.
"Please, come in."
Phrolova gave a slight nod, stepped into the room, and slowly let her gaze wander over the interior. It seemed like she was searching for something no, more like she was lost in some memory, a flicker of barely perceptible emotion passing through her eyes.
She went to the living room, sat down slowly on the sofa, and gently closed her eyes, savoring the moment of tranquility.
The task the Fractsidus's president had assigned her was to secretly monitor Ray, wait for the right opportunity, and see if she could use him to enter the sealed Sonora realm and gather valuable intelligence.
As for the its ultimate goals?
She didn't care.
All she knew was that the Fractsidus had only given her an illusory hope, an elusive promise.
But those hopes and promises were no different from the ones that person had once given her.
To prevent the other shore from turning into a world of regret, she was willing to give everything she had.
"So, what brings you here today?"
Ray asked, getting straight to the point.
He still owed her a favor, he remembered that very clearly.
After all, without her help back then, that operation wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
The corner of Phrolova's mouth lifted slightly. She elegantly crossed one leg over the other, rested her cheek lazily on the back of her hand, and looked at Ray meaningfully. "What? Can't I come see you if there's nothing urgent?"
"..."
A classic counter-question.
If you put it that way, what else could he say?
"That's not exactly what I meant." Ray said helplessly. "But you didn't come all this way just to chat with me, did you?"
Phrolova tilted her head slightly, a hint of teasing in her eyes. "Why not?"
"It's not really your style." Ray rubbed his chin.
"Then what is my style, in your eyes?" Phrolova asked.
Ray lowered his head and thought for a moment before replying, "How should I put it? Kind of like… a cat?"
"A cat?" Phrolova frowned slightly, not quite understanding.
"I mean, like a stray cat." Ray elaborated. "Moody, always cold and distant to people. And probably…"
"Probably what?" Phrolova pressed.
"Probably hiss at me."
Phrolova paused for a moment, then caught the teasing in Ray's words. The hint of softness on her face instantly chilled, a flash of anger in her eyes. "You—!"
"See? I was right, wasn't I? Just like that! The sudden hiss! That's the Phrolova I know!"
Before Phrolova could lose her temper, Ray immediately put on an innocent expression.
Phrolova bit her lip lightly, seeming ready to snap, but in the end, she just let out a cold huff, slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the fire in her chest. "Fine. I'm in a good mood today. I won't hold it against you. But I did come to you for a favor."
"That's rare." Ray said. "I thought with your cold, aloof personality, no matter what trouble you faced, you'd never ask anyone for help."
"Seems you have quite a few misconceptions about me."
"Don't I?" Ray shrugged.
With Phrolova's usual intimidating, keep-away aura and her unpredictable, complex nature, anyone would think she'd have a hard time getting along with others.
Phrolova let out a soft huff, a barely perceptible trace of loneliness flashing in her eyes.
Yet even so, her tone betrayed no hint of vulnerability.
"You're right. Unless absolutely necessary, I really wouldn't ask anyone for help."
Except for him.
Perhaps, deep in her heart, the young woman still harbored some illusion.
"But don't forget, you still owe me a favor."
Ray nodded. "Of course. Since I promised you, I'll keep my word."
A flicker of absentmindedness passed through Phrolova's eyes at his words, quickly replaced by her usual indifferent expression.
She covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh. "That line sounds like a joke coming from you."
".....So, what do you want me to do?"
"Before I answer that, I have a question for you."
Ray looked puzzled. "What question?"
Phrolova's smile faded slightly as she looked into his eyes. "Will you really help with anything?"
Ray's heart skipped a beat.
No, something felt off. Whenever a question started like that, it usually meant trouble was coming.
He paused before replying, "As long as it's not murder or arson."
"What?" Phrolova let out a soft laugh and shook her head. "Of course not. It's just a simple favor. But before I answer that…"
Her words trailed off as her gaze swept over to the table, landing on a bottle of perfume. The delicate design and sweet appearance were distinctly feminine, nothing a man would use.
A familiar face flashed before her eyes, Carlotta Montelli.
That smiling tiger of the Montelli family. On the surface, she played the elegant, refined young lady, always gentle, polite, and humble. But in reality?
How many people had fallen victim to her seemingly harmless smile?
Oh, right.
Those two are in a relationship now, aren't they?
Her recent "confrontation" with Carlotta was still fresh in her mind. Phrolova shouldn't have cared about it.
Yet somehow, seeing it all laid out before her, her long-sealed heart stirred with a strange feeling like suddenly discovering an old, beloved toy now being held in someone else's hands.
Perhaps she no longer cared about that "toy," but still…
a subtle bitterness spread through her chest.
Phrolova's fingers unconsciously tightened, her knuckles turning white, before relaxing again, as if she had finally made up her mind.
"I need to stay here for a while."
"Of course, you can—" Ray started to agree instinctively, then stopped mid-sentence. He paused, a note of disbelief in his voice. "…Wait, what did you just say?"
The corner of the young woman's mouth curved into a faint smile. She leisurely repeated her words, her tone soft yet brooking no argument.
"I said, I need to stay here for a while."