The longer Veronika looked at Grey, the more she liked him. Handsome, decisive, brave. A pity he was crippled, otherwise he would have been even more interesting.
Deep down, she had already agreed to give him a chance. But there was no reason for him to know that. She would not be herself if she did not cling to every chance to spice up her dull daily life with something amusing and new.
"You're already my servant, little Alex," she drawled, playing with her unruly black strands. Mockery lingered in her voice, lazy anticipation in her eyes. "Isn't that what you promised me in your letter when you begged me to buy you from Harmon? So why should I agree to any extra conditions?"
"With all due respect, madam. I promised to be your subordinate, not your servant," Grey clarified, unwilling to lose ground in the conversation.
The only thing of value he could offer the lady in exchange for her silent help was himself. As humiliating and bitter as it was, Grey understood his position perfectly well, and he had no intention of selling himself cheap.
Veronika laughed softly, quietly, like wind brushing across the surface of water.
"It's all the same," she waved him off. "Now then, tell me why I should let you do whatever you want?"
She studied the boy with interest as he tried to keep his back straight. He reminded her of a small beast bargaining for the right to live in a better cage.
Grey lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet her eyes. He chose his words carefully, as if walking across thin ice.
"Because my plan will bring you more than just profit... It will bring you a stream of rumors and gossip from noble lords. Their secrets will flow straight into your hands on their own. You'll know everything happening in the kingdom firsthand. And all of it without ever leaving your cozy little nest."
Veronika gave an exaggerated yawn, but Grey caught the spark of curiosity flashing through her sakura-colored eyes.
"What ambitious goals. I like it. Still, let's clarify what I'll get if you fail to keep this grand promise of yours?" she narrowed her eyes like a cat that had spotted a mouse move.
"Then I will belong entirely to you," Grey promised firmly, feeling himself burn every bridge behind him with each word.
"I'll become your real servant. Your errand boy. Your slave. I'll carry out every one of your wishes, no matter how strange or dangerous they are. If you want, send me to fight a monster three levels above me. If you want, make me dance naked for you. I won't refuse."
She laughed as she slowly rose from the couch. That kind of determination was exactly what she liked.
Her dress flowed across the floor as if alive, revealing the graceful curves of her legs. Every movement Veronika made was light and elegant. Her hips swayed noticeably, as though inviting his gaze. She approached him slowly on purpose, lingering with each step so he would have time to notice every motion.
"Ahahaha, you're a bold little boy. And quite handsome too," she whispered into his ear as her slender fingers lifted his chin.
Grey froze. He stayed completely silent and still, like a deer caught in headlights.
He could feel his body reacting to her every gesture, but the slightest hesitation or sign of losing control could ruin everything he had achieved.
"Alright," the lady finally stepped back, satisfied with his performance. "You've caught my interest, little schemer. But don't think this will be easy."
She tilted her head slightly, considering what to do next.
"I won't give you any extra rooms. Your little protégés will stay in your room... or in your little girlfriends' room. And you are not to cut expenses either. Do whatever you want, I don't care, but don't bother my girls." She waved her hand dismissively, brushing aside the boring details. "Don't disappoint my expectations. I'll be watching."
With those words, Veronika settled back onto the couch, gracefully crossing her legs, then dismissed him with a casual flick of her wrist.
"Thank you, madam," Grey bowed respectfully, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
Because he had lowered his head, his gaze lingered a moment too long on her smooth thighs. The boy heard another swallow inside his subconscious, but quickly shook his head, brushing away the inappropriate thoughts.
From the outside, the lady's behavior might have seemed careless or even cold, but in truth, it was not.
He was neither a close relative, nor a friend, nor even a trusted subordinate to her. Yet she had already done more for him than he had any right to ask. She bought him from Harmon, allowed him to live under her roof, and even gave him protection. In this world, that could already be considered the peak of generosity.
He was the one who had crossed every line by carrying out his secret schemes beneath her roof. More than that, he had brought in other children without even asking permission. No matter how one looked at it, that was incredibly brazen. Yet she still accepted it. Without unnecessary questions. That kind of trust could not help but please Grey.
He smirked to himself as he headed for the door.
"And yet, Lily is going to eat me alive when she finds out someone else got moved into her room."
Just as he was about to reach the exit, he suddenly slowed his steps and turned back again.
"Excuse me, madam..." he began carefully. "May I ask one more question?"
Without opening her eyes, Veronika lazily waved her hand. "Speak."
"Where can I find a secluded place? Somewhere far from prying eyes," Grey asked calmly, as though it were something insignificant. "You know the city better than I do. I'd be grateful for a small hint."
She opened one eye, studying him with faint amusement.
"A secluded place? And what do you need it for, little schemer?"
Grey had already prepared an answer, but the lady suddenly raised her hand to stop him.
"Don't answer," a faint, lazy smile played across her lips. "Leave me a few mysteries. It's more interesting that way."
Veronika thought for a moment.
"On the northeastern outskirts of the city, where the Thorny Groves begin, there's an abandoned estate. It's been empty for several years already. Use it if you want. Assuming the beasts don't eat you first."
Grey bowed. "Thank you, madam."
This time, he truly left, silent and light, with quiet triumph burning inside him.
=========
The bathhouse in the backyard of "Venus' Embrace" resembled a natural pool carefully lined with smooth stones. Light wooden shutters and translucent curtains hid the people inside from prying eyes, creating a feeling of privacy and relaxation.
The water remained clean and warm thanks to the white stone at the bottom, known as Earth's Tears. It maintained a comfortable temperature and purified the water from impurities, which was why it was so highly valued.
Even by the standards of capital nobles, such a stone would have been considered a luxury. The reason was simple — its primary use was far more serious: it strengthened the mana channels and improved control over mana.
The fact that it was being used to build a bathhouse in a brothel felt almost like a joke.
And yet nobody knew about it. Even Grey and Lily, who had been taught to recognize magical resources and judge their potential, had paid no attention to it.
Sheryl, Lily, and the chestnut-haired girl soaked lazily in the water, resting against comfortable stone seats. The depth reached the waist of an adult, leaving only their heads above the surface. Swirling steam concealed faces filled with bliss.
Sheryl and Lily quietly chatted about the day's events, barely paying attention to the third girl they had promised to watch over. Not because they had forgotten her, but because she remained distant and withdrawn.
They were not ignoring her — on the contrary, they allowed her to be alone with herself, to dissolve into the warmth of the water and sink into the atmosphere of peace.
And it worked.
When the girl felt true safety for the first time in a long while, all strength left her body. The splashing water washed away her stress and anxiety, and with every passing minute her mind grew emptier.
Her eyelids became heavier and heavier.
She was already on the verge of falling asleep when Lily broke the silence:
"I never thought a simple hot bath could feel this luxurious…" she lazily drawled, sinking deeper into the water. "Want me to tell you a few stories about your benefactor?" she added with a faint grin, glancing at the sleepy girl.
The girls had returned a little earlier than Grey after deciding to walk around the streets a bit longer. The nameless girl remained silent, but Sheryl and Lily stayed close to her, gently leading her along.
There were several reasons for that. First, they did not want their walk through the city they had seen with their own eyes for the first time to end so quickly. Second, they hoped to distract their new acquaintance from the shock she had experienced.
Jokes, meaningless chatter, and new impressions became their main weapon against silence. They did not allow the girl to drown in dark thoughts.
The method may have seemed naive and primitive, but it was working.
Lily constantly monitored the girl's emotions, and right now the anxiety was fading away, slowly giving room to exhaustion.
Without waiting for permission, Lily continued her story:
"I met Grey when they threw him into our cage. He looked like a complete ragamuffin. Torn up, bruised all over. So skinny it looked like he hadn't eaten in a month. I swear, even the skinniest people in the slave camp looked healthier than him. Back then, I thought he was just another street brat who sold himself searching for a better life."
Sheryl frowned slightly, disagreeing with Lily's opinion, but after noticing the genuine interest with which the girl was listening, decided to stay silent.
"He only looks calm and emotionless on the outside, like some block of stone. But deep inside hides a real lunatic who loves talking to himself," Lily tapped her temple for emphasis. "Always thinking about something, always plotting something. That's our Alex Greyrot…"
Sheryl could not take it anymore. Her relaxed face turned displeased as she splashed water at Lily to make her shut up.
"Don't listen to Lily!" she exclaimed, shaking droplets from her hair. "Lily exaggerates everything on purpose! Grey is actually very caring. He never abandoned Sheryl and Lily when we were in trouble, always found a way to help us, always protected us."
Sincere gratitude and admiration could clearly be heard in the rabbit girl's voice — the memories of everything they had gone through in the slave camp were still fresh. It was Grey who comforted and encouraged her while they worked on the tunnel. She would not allow her friend to tarnish his good name.
Sheryl became so emotional that her long ears started twitching one after another.
The nameless girl, who had remained silent until now, could not help glancing at her with interest. Such an exaggerated reaction from timid Sheryl was hard to ignore.
Lily smirked and lightly nudged her friend with an elbow. "Whoa, looks like our little rabbit finally got interested in the opposite sex! Maybe I should start calling her 'Lady Greyrot'?"
Sheryl's face turned red, whether from Lily's words or the hot water was hard to tell.
"I-It's not like that! Sh-Sheryl only hugged Gr..." she faltered and cut herself off after realizing she had said too much.
In a burst of panic, she looked at Lily, whose expression slowly shifted from surprise, to realization, then into a wicked grin.
She knew that if she did not change the subject right now, her friend would tease her to death. So she turned to the only person who could save her, the nameless girl:
"By the way, Sheryl and Lily still don't know your name..."
The girl stayed silent for several seconds, but she could not endure Sheryl's pitiful gaze that looked more like a homeless kitten than a rabbit's.
"M-My name is Hope."