Ragunna.
Uh...
What?
What did Phrolova just say?
She wanted to stay here for a while?
Ray's eyes widened slightly, his pupils dilating in shock. He stared at the crimson figure before him, at a complete loss for how to respond.
Phrolova continued to gaze at him silently. Deep in her eyes, some indescribable emotion flickered, an emotion like flowers blooming on the far shore, tinged with delight, yet something more.
She took pleasure in seeing him so flustered, regardless of the reason.
But his expression in this moment was like rain nourishing the parched field of the young woman's twisted desires.
"Wait, my head's spinning. Give me a moment to collect myself."
Ray raised a hand to his forehead, lowering his head slightly. After a long, confused pause, he slowly looked back up at Phrolova, utterly bewildered. "Why? Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Indeed, why?
Was she in trouble?
Of course not.
Phrolova had never been particular about where she stayed.
As long as the place wasn't filthy, even a cave would do.
So there was absolutely no need for her to make this somewhat presumptuous request to Ray but who was to blame for that? He owed her one.
And he owed her plenty.
So what if he had long forgotten the past? So what if his heart now belonged to someone else?
The past might have dissipated like the wind, but surely those memories still held meaning?
The corner of Phrolova's mouth curled into a faint smile. Her gaze drifted once more to the delicate perfume bottle on the table, then back to Ray, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness and slyness. "Mm… let's just say that's the case."
Actually, Phrolova hadn't originally planned this.
Her goal had always been the stone tablet, to use Ray to enter that sealed Sonora realm.
But when her eyes fell on that perfume bottle, and the image of Carlotta's haughty demeanor toward her resurfaced in her mind, a sudden impulse sparked within her, solidifying her resolve.
Using a past that had been cruelly severed to destroy the bonds he now so carefully maintained, didn't that sound…
interesting?
"That's easy." Ray's tense nerves relaxed slightly at her words, and he let out a long, relieved sigh.
Whew, so that's all it was.
Just some trouble?
As long as money could solve it, it wasn't really a problem.
"Tell you what. I'll help you rent a place in Ragunna. You can stay as long as you like, and I'll cover all the rent. How about that?"
Ray was quite confident in his little nest egg.
Not only did he have the Ephor's bonus, but the Second Young Miss also regularly sent him money, supporting Phrolova's life in Ragunna was no issue at all.
"That sounds like a very generous offer." Phrolova lightly rubbed her cool fingertips, her gaze toward Ray growing increasingly subtle. "But…"
She deliberately paused, then drew out her words, speaking slowly. "What if I insist on staying here?"
Ray: "..."
This woman…
What was up with her today?
She was completely different from the Phrolova he remembered.
Normally, wasn't she always cold and distant?
"That… wouldn't be appropriate, would it?" Ray's expression was hard to read.
"What's inappropriate about it?" Phrolova pressed.
"After all, the two of us, a man and a woman alone together, it's bound to be a bit awkward, isn't it?"
Phrolova's tone was matter-of-fact. "Is it? I don't think so."
Though Phrolova might look like just a young girl on the outside, in reality…
she wasn't some naive maiden who would blush furiously at the slightest provocation.
Besides…
she and he had already been "intimately familiar" with each other. Why should she care about these worldly conventions?
But now, this guy was putting on the same reserved act as when they first met.
"But I'd have a hard time explaining this."
If the Second Young Miss found out, wouldn't she hit the roof?
Sure, the Second Young Miss was reasonable and easy to calm down, and he wasn't exactly the most faithful guy, but still, he had to show her the proper respect, right?
It was like a cat that occasionally snuck a taste of fish, fine, but it couldn't just flaunt it right in front of its owner.
"Hard time explaining? Oh, you mean Carlotta, right?" Phrolova stood up, ignoring Ray's predicament, and began wandering around the room. "I heard you two are dating, aren't you?"
Ray nodded hurriedly. "That's exactly my problem. I can't just let another woman stay at my place behind my girlfriend's back, can I?"
"Heh." Phrolova let out a soft snort. "Now you're pretending to be all faithful. When you were messing around with that acolyte from the Order of the Deep, why didn't you think about your precious Second Young Miss then?"
Ray's face flushed. "…Phoebe and I are innocent."
Phrolova turned her head, staring at his face. "Don't you feel any shame saying that?"
"I'm already blushing." Ray lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Then letting me stay here for a while shouldn't be too much trouble for you, should it?"
Phrolova spoke as she moved lightly toward the bedroom. Before she could even reach out to push the door open, a rather peculiar scent wafted through the crack, reaching her nose.
How to describe it?
It smelled like something else.
Though it had been heavily diluted, Phrolova still caught it.
She paused briefly, then unconsciously bit her lower lip. But by the time she turned back to face Ray, her expression had already returned to its usual indifferent calm.
"Anyway, you're not going to refuse me, are you?" Phrolova's tone was as light as a falling feather. "Don't forget, you still owe me a favor."
"..."
Ray was at a loss for words.
He had never expected Phrolova to make such a demand.
So what should he do?
Refuse?
But that wouldn't be right.
After all, he really did owe Phrolova a favor.
But if he agreed, how would he explain it to the Second Young Miss?
Sigh, whatever.
At worst, he'd let her stay here and move out himself.
"Fine… alright. But I want to ask, why do you want to live with me? Are you really in trouble, or is there another reason?"
"The reason? It's simple."
Phrolova drew closer to him, her soft, round face nearly touching the tip of his nose. She gazed intently at her own reflection in Ray's eyes.
"Didn't you say you wanted to help me... move on from that heavy past?"