Phoebe stood outside the door, feeling a little nervous.
It couldn't be helped.
It was late at night, and she was a priestess of the Order, yet here she was, standing in front of a man's room.
If it were anyone else, it might have been fine, but this was Ray of all people.
A young woman who had long harbored feelings for him, feelings that went beyond mere fondness, how could she not let her thoughts wander?
'It's so late already. I wonder if I can make it back in time for curfew.
If I can't, could Mr. Ray possibly let me stay here for the night?'
The night breeze swept through the silent world, its cool, fragrant breath brushing her cheeks, only making the blush on her face deepen.
When she realized what bold scenarios she was imagining, the young woman quickly covered her flushed face with her cool hands, shaking her head as if to dispel those romantic thoughts.
'What's wrong with me?
Why have I been having such strange thoughts lately!
Mr. Ray is just Mr. Ray! How can I think about him inappropriately?'
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, only to realize that the flutter had already taken root in the softest corner of her heart.
Just then, the door before her opened.
"Phoebe, what brings you here?"
Phoebe looked up at the sound of his voice and noticed that Ray's smile carried a trace of unnatural stiffness.
"This." She held out the wallet, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his palm. "You left it at the restaurant. Miss Margherita found it and asked me to bring it to you."
"Wallet?" Ray instinctively patted his empty pocket and couldn't help but smile wryly.
Ah, right.
He hadn't even noticed he'd lost his wallet.
That had never happened before.
Well, no helping it.
The events of the day had been so overwhelming that he'd had no time to think of anything else.
"Thank you for your trouble, Phoebe." He took the wallet, apologetic. "I'm sorry you had to make a special trip."
"It's no trouble." Phoebe lowered her head, her smile reserved. "Mr. Ray is always so kind to me. This is the least I could do."
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll just—"
Ray tried to maintain a friendly tone and expression, but the two gazes boring into him from the living room made him incredibly uncomfortable.
"W-Wait!" Phoebe suddenly called out to him, her slender fingers clutching the hem of her clothes, her cheeks flushing. "Actually, I…"
Her hesitant words lingered on her lips, unable to form a complete sentence.
Seeing her like this, Ray softened his voice. "What's wrong?"
"W-Well—" The young woman bit her lower lip, her blush deepening.
Her violet eyes seemed veiled in a thin mist, shimmering with rippling light in the night.
"I… um… the Order of the Deep's curfew…"
"Right now… I… might not make it back in time, so…"
"Mr. Ray, could… could I… stay here… for the night…"
Just a few words, yet they exhausted all her courage.
She didn't understand why she had made such a bold request, perhaps the night was too dark, perhaps it was that inexplicable flutter in her heart, or perhaps…
something even more indescribable.
The night breeze swept through the corridor, scattering the young woman's unfinished words into the cool darkness.
Ray's expression shifted from gentle to startled, then to bewildered, finally freezing into something almost panicked. "Huh? Ph-Phoebe, you want to stay here too?"
"Too?"
The word landed softly, but it made Phoebe's eyes widen.
What did he mean by "too"?
Was there someone else, besides her, who also wanted to stay here?
"Oh my, I never thought a priestess of the Order of the Deep would make such a request late at night."
Just as Phoebe was lost in confusion, an elegant voice came from inside the door.
She looked up and instinctively stepped back half a pace. "M-Miss Carlotta? What are you doing here?"
Carlotta elegantly crossed her arms, leaning against Ray's side. "Is it so strange for me to be staying at my boyfriend's place?"
"B-Boyfriend?!" Phoebe's violet eyes widened slightly, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes. "I-I'm sorry, I suddenly remembered something. I have to go…"
With that, Phoebe turned to leave, but Carlotta gently pressed a hand on her shoulder.
The young woman's body trembled slightly, then she timidly turned her head to look at Carlotta. "U-um, Miss Carlotta, is there… something else?"
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Phoebe." Carlotta smiled. "I just heard you say…"
"H-Heard me say?" Phoebe's voice trembled.
"I heard you say that you couldn't make it back in time for the Order of the Deep's curfew, so you'd have to stay here for the night, isn't that right?"
"N-No… that was… I… I…"
"Since you're here, come on in and sit down." Carlotta's smile deepened. "We're all sisters here. Why be so formal?"
Phoebe stammered, her head lowered, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
Why was Miss Carlotta here?
And...
most importantly, why had she said something like that?
Phoebe didn't know. She had just been bewitched, caught up in the moment, and the words had come out naturally.
But now...
the young woman regretted it.
One moment of extroversion had bought her a lifetime of introversion.
'Ah, I wish I hadn't said those things!
What's been wrong with me lately? I've become so strange...
Sentinel above, please forgive my foolishness.'
"I-I'd better not trouble you, Miss Carlotta." Phoebe hurriedly waved her hands, forcing an awkward smile. "If I run fast enough, I… I should still make it back in time for curfew."
"Why put yourself through all that trouble?" Carlotta gently took the young woman's slender wrist, her fingertips cool to the touch. "Wouldn't it be better to rest here for a while?"
"I…" Phoebe was like a frightened rabbit, gradually losing the courage to resist under Carlotta's meaningful gaze.
"Besides..." Carlotta suddenly leaned closer, looking into her eyes. "There are some things I'd like to talk to you about."
"Gulp" Phoebe swallowed involuntarily, her heart pounding like a drum.
"Surely you wouldn't want the Order of the Deep to find out…" Carlotta's voice was soft as velvet, yet carried an irresistible pressure. "…about your private contact with echoes, would you?"
"How could you…" The young woman's pupils trembled slightly. Finally, she resignedly lowered her gaze. "A-Alright, then."
"That's better." Carlotta smiled appropriately, leading Phoebe inside. "Let's have a good talk. About you and Ray."