Carlotta lay awake all night.
She stared at the ceiling above, her weary gaze trying to pierce the white plane.
Beside her came Phoebe's steady, deep breathing, she was sleeping soundly.
Carlotta turned her head slightly, her resentful gaze falling on Phoebe's peaceful sleeping face.
After everything that happened... she can still sleep so soundly.
No, what's more absurd is that she can sleep so contentedly next to a love rival, without a trace of guilt.
Is this really how a priestess of the Order should behave...?
As for Phrolova?
She had been placed in the guest room next door.
"Guest room" was a generous term for what was essentially a slightly tidied storage room.
After all, aside from Carlotta herself, almost no one had ever stayed overnight in this house.
Besides, between her and Ray... there was no need to be so particular.
Was it really strange for lovers to sleep together?
"That bastard Cat's Eye..."
Carlotta bit her lip, unconsciously clenching her fingers.
How many romantic debts did he have to rack up outside before he'd stop?
The Septimont situation she could overlook, after all, Iuno and Lupa's reach didn't extend this far.
But what about Ragunna?
That guy had been right under her nose, so blatantly...
Though...
It was her fault too.
Family matters had kept her constantly busy, leaving her no time to spend with him. That's why these women had found their openings!
Carlotta rose and walked to the window.
The rising sun cast pale golden light into the room, yet she seemed to be gazing at something invisible to others.
She needed someone to keep an eye on him!
But the question was...
Who?
Anby?
Sigh, though easily bribed, perhaps because of its symbiosis with Ray, it would definitely side with him.
Besides, that little stomach wasn't very reliable.
So then...
Carlotta thought for a moment, then reached for her terminal on the bedside.
"Zani, I have a new task for you."
...
...
What a heart-stopping night.
Truly a heart-stopping night.
Ray lay on the living room sofa, his thoughts still lingering on the scene from last night, what could only be described as a harem battlefield.
Even he himself was surprised that he had actually managed to fall asleep.
Though the process had been full of twists and turns, he had narrowly survived the crisis.
He was safe.
For now.
Afterward, since the Order's curfew had already passed, Phoebe had no choice but to spend the night here.
Though Carlotta had her reservations about the relationship between them, the Second Young Miss of the Montelli family was never heartless.
In the end, she had agreed to let Phoebe stay.
"...Time to get up."
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Ray sat up on the sofa and stretched his stiff body.
Now he had to think carefully about how to come up with an explanation that the Second Young Miss would accept.
He walked slowly to the balcony and gently parted the curtains with his fingertips.
Morning light instantly flooded the living room, spreading across the wooden floor in a pool of warm gold.
Ray pushed open the floor-to-ceiling window and was about to enjoy the refreshing morning air when his gaze was suddenly drawn to a blue butterfly resting on a flowerpot nearby.
Its delicate wings shimmered with a dreamlike iridescence in the rising sun, trembling slightly with each breath.
"Here again today?"
Ray bent down slightly, bringing his face closer to the patch of blue resting on the edge of the flowerpot.
In this world bathed in gold, this color always stood out.
He couldn't remember when it had started, but this little blue butterfly appeared here every morning without fail, like clockwork.
Like an NPC in a game, programmed with a fixed routine, its only purpose to meet him.
Though Ray found it strange, he figured it was just a little butterfly and didn't think much of it.
He instinctively reached out a finger, wanting to gently touch its dreamlike wings. But before his fingertip could make contact, the butterfly fluttered its wings and vanished into the morning light.
Ray stared at the empty edge of the flowerpot and let out a soft sigh.
In the end, it was just a butterfly.
"Sigh, I thought after all these meetings, it would have formed some attachment to me. Was it all just wishful thinking?"
Heavy footsteps sounded behind him.
Ray turned and saw Phoebe already dressed, standing there, sleepily rubbing her eyes, a few unruly strands of hair sticking up.
"Good morning, Mr. Ray."
Her voice was still hoarse from sleep, and combined with the way she rubbed her eyes, she looked very cute.
"Mm, good morning." Ray turned and smiled back. "And the Second Young Miss?"
"Miss Carlotta?" Phoebe looked toward the bedroom, her voice soft. "She seems... still resting."
Mentioning Carlotta made Phoebe's fair cheeks flush.
Saying those things to Mr. Ray yesterday, and then ending up sleeping with Miss Carlotta...
'And most importantly, I actually fell asleep!
Miss Carlotta must think I'm a shameless girl.
But...'
The young woman quietly clutched her skirt, stealing glances out of the corner of her eye at the man who made her heart flutter.
She knew this was wrong, that these feelings might be a sin that shouldn't have sprouted.
But
Once the heart moved, it could never go back.
Sentinel Imperator above, please forgive my sins...
Phoebe silently prayed.
Ray, oblivious to the young woman's thoughts, asked calmly, "Up so early? Work at the Order?"
"Yes, my schedule is full." Phoebe lifted her face, morning light dancing on her lashes. "This morning, I need to lead worship at the cathedral, then go to the orphanage to help fix the leaky roof, and then..."
She counted off her tasks on her fingers. Though she had no time to rest from morning till night, there was no trace of complaint in her voice.
If anything, she seemed... to enjoy it.
Ray couldn't help but smile.
Right. Phoebe was always light and bright.
It was because of people like Phoebe that one couldn't paint the entire Order of the Deep with the same brush.
But those atrocities... someone had to pay.
"In that case, I have nothing to do. Let me walk you to the cathedral," Ray offered.
"Eh, really?" A flash of joy lit up the young woman's eyes, but then a hint of gloom passed beneath them. "But what about Miss Carlotta..."
That was true. If the Second Young Miss woke up and didn't see him, she'd hiss at him again.
But then again...
Staying here would also get him hissed at!
And by both Phrolova and Carlotta at that!
Running away might be shameful, but it was useful!
"It's fine. As long as we're quick, no one will notice."
"Eh, is that so?"
Phoebe murmured softly, feeling like something was off about that statement, as if they were about to do something wrong.
But looking at Ray's gentle smile, she finally nodded. "Mm, then I'll trouble you, Mr. Ray."
...
...
When Ray had dressed and was tiptoeing down the stairs with Phoebe, he suddenly stopped at the landing.
A familiar and unexpected figure was quietly leaning against the wall downstairs, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.
"Zani?"