Bank Street, Ragunna.
A fine rain pattered down, tapping against the eaves and raising a hazy mist.
Ray pushed open the door to a café.
This café was one of the Montelli family's properties, often offering discounts to family members and company employees.
Of course, even if you weren't part of the family or the company, you could still come in. After all, the Montelli name was still quite effective advertising.
"Hello, what can I get for you?"
The server approached, but upon recognizing who had come in, their movements noticeably paused, and their voice even dropped a little.
By now, the relationship between Ray and Carlotta was hardly a secret.
There was plenty of gossip floating around the family and the company.
Tch, sometimes, eating well was a skill in itself.
Ray smiled and said, "Two orange-infused espressos, please."
"Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment."
Why two?
Not for Anby, of course.
The little guy had no love for coffee in fact, you could say it had a bit of a psychological scar.
Probably from the time Ray had played a prank, forcing it to down a shot of pure black espresso, no sugar.
Ever since then, Anby ran the other way at the mere scent of coffee.
Ray turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window.
The rain was like a veil, the street shrouded in a hazy mist. The pattering rain drummed on the pavement and scattered his thoughts.
He couldn't help but think back to last night with Phoebe.
Nothing really happened.
He'd just quietly rested his head on the young woman's lap, feeling that soft, unique sensation, more comfortable than any expensive pillow, letting him relax involuntarily.
"If Mr. Ray likes it, you can come to me anytime."
Those were Phoebe's parting words before he saw her back to the Order.
Seems she had no objections at all to the lap pillow thing anymore.
So, next...
Maybe try the face-down lap pillow?
Okay, joking.
Ray wasn't that much of a letch.
Though...
with Phoebe's innocent nature, if he made up some excuse, she might actually believe there was such a thing as a "face-down lap pillow" in the world.
Putting aside those wild thoughts, something else was on his mind Cantarella's invitation.
As the head of the Fisalia family, she had personally come to ask for his help.
But the question was...
what kind of help?
The Fisalia family had centuries of history, even deeper roots than the Montelli family.
What matter could possibly require him specifically?
Could it be related to the Dark Tide?
He didn't know.
But anyway, Cantarella had helped him before. It was only right to offer his help in return.
'Provided that this absolutely, positively must not be discovered by the Second Young Miss!'
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an engine approaching.
A sleek black sedan drove through the wet streets and came to a smooth stop in front of the café.
The door opened. Carlotta stepped out and looked directly at Ray through the window, a graceful curve touching her lips.
"Have you been waiting long?" She walked over to the seat across from him and sat down gracefully.
"I just got here myself."
"Seems you still remember what I like."
Carlotta lifted the orange-infused espresso and took a small sip. As that unique citrus aroma bloomed on her tongue, the weariness in her heart gradually eased.
She set down the cup, propped her cheek on one hand, and turned to look out at the gray, overcast sky with a soft sigh.
"Too bad this is the only time I can steal a moment of leisure today. Soon... I'll have to go back to dealing with that endless work."
"Need any help?" Ray asked.
Carlotta shook her head, a mix of helplessness and resignation in her tone. "No need. It's all those old, messy accounts from the family that I have to deal with personally. And my uncle is busy with the Vulcan Mining collaboration, so I need to manage that too."
Ray seized the opportunity to ask, "So that means... the Second Young Miss won't have any free time for a while?"
"You could say that."
Hearing this answer, Ray relaxed a little.
That meant he could go to his appointment openly.
But this fleeting moment of relief didn't escape Carlotta's notice.
She frowned slightly, her gaze turning scrutinizing. "Why do I get the feeling... you're actually happy to hear I'm busy?"
As she spoke, her eyes instantly became alert. She stood up, leaning forward a little, getting closer to him. "You... you wouldn't be secretly meeting other girls behind my back, would you?"
Ray's expression didn't change. His tone was as firm as if he were taking an oath. "How could that be? I've always been devoted to the Second Young Miss."
Even though, just twelve hours ago, he'd had a "date" with Phoebe.
"You'd better mean that."
Carlotta squinted, her gaze lingering on his face for a good long while before she slowly leaned back in her chair.
Ray quickly changed the subject. "Oh, by the way, Second Young Miss. Do you still remember that person named 'Cartethyia'?"
Carlotta paused briefly, thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. You said you met her in the Sonora realm. Later, I had the family look into the name, but we never found any leads."
"I know who she is now." Ray continued.
"You know? How did you find out?"
"I asked Phoebe to help investigate." He said honestly. "She found clues in the Order of the Deep's archives, the Saintess Fleurdelys, who was martyred twenty years ago, was originally named Cartethyia before her coronation."
This answer made Carlotta's expression freeze slightly.
She lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her fair chin, murmuring softly, "The Saintess martyred twenty years ago? If that young woman named Cartethyia really is the Saintess... then doesn't that mean she might still be alive somewhere unknown?"
Ray shook his head. "Who knows? Maybe the disaster twenty years ago holds more unknown secrets."
"This is indeed an important clue." Carlotta lightly bit her lip, thinking for a moment. "The Order of the Deep must be deliberately hiding something. Besides that, any other discoveries?"
"Not for now." Ray replied. "Phoebe said that part of the Order of the Deep's records about the Saintess seems to have been deliberately erased."
"Is that so... Then the trail goes cold again." Carlotta sighed softly, her gaze sweeping over the clock on the wall. "It's about time. I need to go."
Just as she rose, Ray gently caught her wrist.
"Second Young Miss, aren't you... forgetting something?" Ray hinted.
Carlotta paused. "Forgetting something?"
Ray leaned in, whispering in her ear. "That selfie the Second Young Miss sent this morning has had me a bit restless all day. As my girlfriend... shouldn't you take some responsibility?"
The young lady's cheeks instantly flushed.
She had indeed sent him a photo this morning, but it was just an ordinary life picture, nothing meant by it.
"Stop it... really can't right now." Carlotta averted her gaze, the tips of her ears burning. "And this place isn't suitable either. Can you... hold on a little longer?"
Ray was resolute. "Can't hold on at all."
He lowered his voice, his hot breath brushing her ear. "This place isn't convenient, but...."
He leaned in and whispered a few more words.
Carlotta's eyes widened slightly, her blush deepening. "What?! In, in the car? I..." She bit her lip, finally relenting with a resigned sigh. "...Tch, fine, whatever you want. But make it quick. I don't have much time."
"Quick? Second Young Miss, you know that's practically a challenge to a man, right?"
....
The black sedan waited at the curb, tinted windows shielding them from the rain and prying eyes. The moment the door clicked shut, the world outside faded. The only sounds were the drumming rain and their heavy breathing.
Carlotta didn't hesitate. She pushed Ray back against the leather seat and straddled his thighs, her knees digging into the upholstery. "You really... can't wait even one more day?" she whispered, her voice thick with lust.
Ray gripped her waist, pulling her tight against him. "You've been teasing me with that photo this morning. Fair's fair."
She laughed shakily and crushed her mouth to his, kissing him hard and deep. Her tongue invaded his mouth, tasting of citrus and coffee, while her hands tore at his belt. The car was too small, forcing their bodies together, the heat between them rising fast.
She yanked his pants down just enough to free his hard cock. Carlotta stared at it for a second, her cheeks burning, then lowered her head. Her lips wrapped around the tip, soft and wet at first, sliding down slowly.
Ray groaned, his hand tangling in her silver hair to guide her. She took the hint, sucking him deeper into her mouth. Her tongue worked the shaft, swirling around the sensitive head with a hunger that belied her hesitation.
Saliva gathered at the corners of her mouth, dripping down to coat his balls as she bobbed her head faster. The car filled with the wet, rhythmic sounds of her sucking, the lewd noise echoing off the windows.
"Carlotta..." Ray groaned, his voice rough as he felt the pressure building.
She didn't stop. Instead, she forced her head down, taking his cock all the way to the back of her throat. She gagged as the head hit the back of her mouth but kept going, her throat constricting around him.
That tightness pushed him over the edge. His hips jerked, and he came hard, pumping thick ropes of cum directly into her mouth.
Carlotta held still, her throat working as she swallowed every drop, her lips locked tight around the base of his shaft until he finished.
She sat up, wiping a thick smear of cum from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, her chest heaving.
"Cough, cough—"
"Didn't I tell you to warn me if you couldn't hold it!"
Once her breathing slowed, she looked him dead in the eye, her expression serious.
"Anyway... since I've satisfied you, you're not allowed to touch any other girls, got it?"