"The Leonidas Grand Hotel? Hmm, not bad taste."
The cloaked young woman stopped under the hotel's magnificent portico, looking up at the gilded sign with a satisfied nod.
This was the most luxurious and renowned top-tier hotel in all of Capitoline Hill City, always the first choice for nobles receiving their dearest kin and most honored guests.
"Now this is more like it. Finally, a place worthy of this Oracle Maiden's status."
A slight smile touched Iuno's lips, yet her hands subconsciously pulled the cloak's hood even lower, carefully concealing her features.
Without permission from the Senate and Grandmother Lillibet, Oracle Maidens were strictly forbidden from leaving the Tetragon Temple alone.
If recognized now, it wouldn't just bring unnecessary trouble. If it alerted the Senate or the Tetragon Temple people, her plan to sneak out and have some fun would likely vanish into thin air.
"It seems Miss Iuno has quite high standards for accommodation?"
Ray walked to her side, holding two bottles, one was Heart's Quench, the drink Lupa endorsed.
Ever since having a can at the tavern, he'd taken a liking to the taste.
The other was an olive-flavored soda.
Back at the patisserie, Ray had noticed Iuno seemed quite fond of olives.
As he spoke, he naturally offered the olive soda to her.
Iuno accepted the soda, twisted off the cap, and took a small sip, an air of inherent grace about her. "Of course. Settling for less? Absolutely not! I must have things exactly how I like them, exactly how I'm most satisfied!"
"Sounds a bit willful."
"Only realizing that now?" Iuno gave a light humph. "I told you, I'm very willful. But you can't back out now! Otherwise, I'll complain to Carlotta! Have your Second Young Miss dock your bonus hard!"
"Yes, yes, Miss Iuno." Ray couldn't help but chuckle.
Somehow it felt...
Compared to Carlotta, Iuno seemed more like the archetypal spoiled young lady from a prestigious family, a touch of worldly innocence and a naturally ingrained capriciousness.
But that didn't seem bad either.
A girl who's a little cunning, a little willful that makes her even cuter.
The two stepped into the hotel's glittering lobby.
Ray's fingertips unconsciously rubbed the brand-new pass. He already had a plan, Iuno could stay in that suite. He himself wasn't picky about environment; clean and tidy was enough. He'd just book an ordinary room later.
"Good evening. Are you two checking in?" A staff member approached promptly, wearing a professional, apologetic smile. "My sincerest apologies, but all our suites are currently fully booked. The only remaining Champion Suite has also been reserved..."
He added tactfully, "Perhaps... you might consider trying other hotels?"
"Huh? Rooms full? You must be joking?" Iuno's eyes widened slightly, her tone tinged with disbelief. "A hotel this big, just full like that?"
"I truly apologize, miss." The staff member maintained the apologetic smile. "Earlier today, a guest reserved all remaining rooms. Currently, only the suite reserved for the exhibition match champion remains unoccupied."
"You must be joking!" Iuno persisted, clear dissatisfaction in her voice. "One person booking all the hotel's rooms? That's blatantly disrupting market order! How could your manager agree to such an unreasonable request? I want to complain! File a complaint!"
"I truly apologize. The specifics are unclear to us as well." The staff member maintained a professional smile, explaining helplessly. "But that guest... she simply offered far too much. So, I'm very sorry."
"...How can that be?" Iuno instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, lowering her head dejectedly, her tone dropping several notches.
...
Standing to the side, the corner of Ray's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
'What's going on? Why is the hotel full again?
How many times is this now?
Is heaven intentionally messing with me? Every time I go to book a room, the hotel is full.
It was like that with Phoebe, then with the Second Young Miss, and now, this time too...'
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt." Ray interjected timely, steering the conversation back on track. "You mentioned earlier that there's still one vacant suite, correct?"
The staff member nodded in confirmation. "Yes, sir. That's a special prize prepared by our partners for the exhibition match champion. It requires the experience pass for check-in."
"The experience pass you mentioned, is it this?" Ray said, smoothly sliding the pass he'd been holding between his fingers in front of the other person.
The staff member was visibly taken aback, accepting the uniquely textured pass with both hands. He examined it carefully for a moment before summoning a colleague. Using a terminal, he scanned the QR code on the pass, cross-referencing it with the database.
"'Opal' and 'Cat's Eye', correct?" The staff member looked up, confirming cautiously.
"That's right."
Ray handed over his own terminal.
After another meticulous round of information verification, the staff member finally relaxed into a smile, placing his right hand over his chest in a respectful gesture. "Hail to you. Mr. Ray, are you requesting to check in now?"
"Of course."
"Please follow me."
Witnessing this sudden little episode, Iuno beside them was stunned for a good moment before quickening her steps to catch up to his side, whispering a question.
"How do you have this pass?"
Ray whispered back equally softly. "Thanks to the Second Young Miss. If she hadn't participated in that exhibition match, we'd really have to find somewhere else to stay today."
"Is that so? Then I'll have to properly thank Carlotta later!"
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Ray turned to Iuno and said, "Oh, right, Miss Iuno. After the formalities are done, you can stay in that suite alone. As for me, I'll go find somewhere else."
Iuno was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a faint blush coloring her fair cheeks.
She hadn't considered this issue at all until Ray brought it up, men and women should maintain boundaries. Unless they were in an intimate relationship, how could they casually share a roof?
Especially since...
They had just met.
And precisely because they'd just met, Iuno felt a pang of guilt.
She was willful, yes, but she also knew her limits.
The reason she could stay in this hotel today was entirely due to Ray's honor.
For her to grandly move in, forcing out the rightful owner... No, no, she couldn't do that!
Thus, the young woman made a decision.
"Hmph, is that so?" Iuno crossed her arms, feigning composure with a light humph. "Actually, this Oracle Maiden isn't that petty a person. As long as you behave yourself, sharing a roof with you... isn't that big a deal."
"Huh?" Ray tilted his head, looking at her with some surprise.
The young woman's tone gradually betrayed a hint of fluster, yet she still clung to that casual demeanor, though the slight tremor in her voice had long since exposed the shyness and disarray in her heart.
"D-Don't misunderstand! I... I'm just worried it's so late, what if you can't find a place to stay?"
Her voice grew softer as she spoke, yet she persisted to the end.
"Th-This Oracle Maiden... would never let her friend fall into a predicament!"
Seeing the young woman's flustered, bashful expression, Ray couldn't help but smile gently.
She's actually quite cute.
"If it's the Oracle Maiden's request, then I'll comply."
...
...
"—Achoo!"
Meanwhile, in another place.
Carlotta rubbed her slightly itchy nose, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her heart. Was it just her imagination?