"Phew, that's better."
When Ray returned to the hotel lobby after finishing up in the restroom, he noticed Carlotta looked a bit troubled.
So, he went over and asked, "Second Young Miss, what's wrong?"
Carlotta slightly furrowed her lovely brows as she looked at him. "This hotel... only has one room left."
Ray was taken aback for a moment.
'Wait, a hotel this large, and only one room left?
Could it be peak tourist season in Septimont right now?
Where did all these people come from, filling up the whole hotel?'
"How is there only one room left again?" Ray asked in surprise, turning his head to mutter quietly, "It was the same with Phoebe that time. Is it really such a coincidence?"
Even though he kept his voice very low, every word still drifted clearly into Carlotta's ears.
The corner of the young lady's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
'What does he mean, 'same with Phoebe that time'?
Does that mean when he was with Phoebe in the Riccioli Islands, they stayed together?
So... I've fallen behind again?
No wonder their feelings developed so quickly.
They were living together all along?!
I'm the one who's supposed to be your nominal girlfriend, you blockhead!'
A storm raged within Carlotta's heart, but she maintained her outward composure, pretending not to have heard his whispered comment.
What's past is past.
But now as the Second Young Miss of the Montelli family, well-educated and adept at reading situations, she was determined to make up for all the lost progress. Tonight!
"So, what do we do, Second Young Miss?" Ray looked at Carlotta with resignation. "Should we try somewhere else?"
"Forget it, I'm a bit tired." Carlotta shook her head gently. "We'll just make do here for tonight." As she said this, the young lady leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice meaningfully. "What's the matter? Don't want to stay with me? Or... are there other concerns?"
"Of course not." Ray's tone was casual and light. "It's mainly up to you to decide."
After all, for him, sharing a room with a beautiful young woman like Carlotta hardly seemed like a bad deal.
"Is that so?" Carlotta replied with calm composure, her ethereal voice so light it seemed impossible for anyone to decipher her inscrutable thoughts. "So, as long as I agree, you won't object?"
The young lady gently tucked a strand of her silver hair behind her ear. Her expression was serene and composed, yet held a hint of elusive smugness and confidence.
"Mm. If you trust me, Second Young Miss."
From beginning to end, Ray didn't dare harbor any unrealistic fantasies.
....Alright, maybe he had a tiny sliver.
After all, he was ultimately a normal man.
Especially since he was constantly surrounded by beautiful young women like Phoebe and Carlotta. To claim his heart remained completely still and unaffected would be a lie.
He wasn't the type to be controlled by baser instincts.
....Dreams didn't count.
"Then it's settled." Carlotta turned back to the front desk and offered the staff a soft, graceful smile. "One room it is. Thank you for your trouble."
"Y-Yes, miss. Right away, I'll get your check-in sorted."
The staff member carefully accepted the black card, her smile slightly strained.
She had worked at this hotel for years and seen all sorts of guests, but a situation like today was a first.
Were they a couple?
But if they were a couple, why the indirect approach?
She couldn't guess, and she didn't dare try.
The emblem engraved on that black card belonged to the Montelli family.
Though not a local noble house of Septimont, the Montelli had interests here and maintained close ties with many of the local nobility.
For the sake of her own prospects, even her safety, some things were better left unknown.
"Here are your key cards. The room is on the top floor."
The check-in process was completed swiftly.
Carlotta took the key card from the staff with a quiet "thank you," then turned to Ray behind her. "Let's go, time to rest."
Ray nodded and followed silently.
Just as they stepped into the elevator and the doors were about to close, a figure hurriedly slipped in, a young woman with wolf ears, her hair shimmering with a soft pink hue.
"Sorry, please hold the door!"
Hearing her voice, Ray quickly pressed the open button, letting the young woman in just in time.
"Phew... that was close." The animal-eared young woman patted her chest, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her chest rose and fell with her light panting.
Ray's gaze inadvertently swept over that soft rise and fall before he instinctively glanced at the Second Young Miss beside him.
Ah, well... let's just say the future is promising.
Carlotta didn't notice Ray's rather discreet glance, but she felt a faint ripple of unease.
'Somehow, I feel a bit bothered. Is it just my imagination?'
"Thanks so much for holding the door." The wolf-eared woman beamed at Ray. Her smile was bright and untainted. "Judging by your attire, you're from out of town, right?"
Ray responded politely with a nod. "Yes, we're from Ragunna."
"Ragunna? No wonder the vibe feels different." The woman extended a friendly hand, her wolf ears giving a slight twitch. "I'm Lupa, a gladiator of Septimont."
"Lupa?"
Ray repeated the name softly, feeling it was somehow familiar.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, wasn't this the rising gladiator star the passersby were discussing earlier? The top favorite to win this year's Grand Tournament!
"You're that star gladiator, Lupa?"
"Hehe, you've heard of me?" Lupa smiled shyly. "I'm not that amazing, really. Just got lucky winning a few matches."
"A championship isn't won on luck alone." Ray shook her hand. Her palm was warm, her body temperature seemingly a bit higher than average. "I'm Ray. This is the Second Young Miss of the Montelli family."
"Montelli?" Lupa blinked, her eyes widening slightly. "The Montelli family from Ragunna?"
Carlotta gave an elegant nod, a perfectly measured smile gracing her lips. "Hello, I'm Carlotta Montelli. Back in Ragunna, I often heard people talk of your achievements. I didn't expect to meet you here today."
"Hello." Lupa's smile brightened further. "Are you two here for sightseeing?"
"Though it's for some family business... calling it a leisure trip wouldn't be wrong either." Carlotta replied noncommittally.
Ray felt a flicker of confusion at her words, didn't she say earlier this was a business trip?
"That's perfect!" Lupa's eyes lit up. "Tomorrow afternoon there's a gladiatorial exhibition match at Cliff Harbor. Would you be interested in watching?"
"Exhibition match?"
"Yeah, it's a kind of showcase event," Lupa explained patiently. "Different from professional tournaments, regular tourists can sign up to participate. The organizers' idea is to let visitors personally experience the customs of Septimont, so the rules are relaxed and the intensity isn't too high. It's mainly for fun."
She paused briefly, her tone growing lighter. "But the rewards are nothing to scoff at! This time, the winner gets a ten-day complimentary stay in a luxury suite at the Leonidas Hotel, that's the top hotel in Septimont. The usual rates are staggeringly high, something most people wouldn't even dare dream of."
Ray asked curiously, "Are you competing for that reward?"
"Of course not." Lupa quickly shook her head. "Professional gladiators can't participate in these amateur matches; otherwise, the rewards would be scooped up by local fighters long ago. I'm here as an invited guest for the organizers." She turned to the two of them with an enthusiastic suggestion. "Since you're here to have fun, why not seize the opportunity to experience it?"
Participate in a gladiatorial match?
Though Ray found the tournaments interesting, he wasn't particularly interested in actually competing.
He wasn't a battle maniac. If something could be settled by talking, there was no need to fight.
Unless he simply couldn't be bothered to reason with certain people. They weren't worth listening to.
Meanwhile, Carlotta beside him was gently stroking her chin, her lips lightly pursed, a contemplative gleam in her eyes.
Win the exhibition match, and you get ten full days in a luxury suite at the Leonidas.
Financially, she could easily afford not just ten days, but a lifetime there.
Moreover, the Montelli Bank had already arranged dedicated accommodations for them.
But in that case, what reason would she have to continue sharing a roof with Ray?
If she could win this championship, she could rightfully spend ten entire days, morning and night, with Cat's Eye!
'And in ten days, even the densest blockhead should understand my feelings!'
Carlotta knew she had to act fast.
Otherwise, this nominal boyfriend might really become someone else's real boyfriend.
Take Cantarella, for instance that cunning Fisalia woman was already acting intimate with Ray at their first meeting.
And the woman from Huanglong beside her, outwardly reserved and dignified, yet her gaze toward him held unmistakable, indescribable affection.
Phoebe went without saying; she might as well have "I like you" carved on her forehead.
As for Phrolova?
An eyesore on the roadside, no one pays any mind.
After the concert ended, Ray and she probably had no further contact, right?
How many is that already?
Admittedly, the only significant threat right now is Phoebe.
But fortunately, all those troublesome women are back in Ragunna, unable to interfere with her for the time being.
So, right now, the stage belongs to me alone!
Then the role of his lady is undoubtedly mine!
"Alright, we'll participate."
In the end, Carlotta's clear voice settled the matter.
Ray, who had been about to politely decline, was left standing there in bewilderment, staring at her.
'Wait, what's going on?
Why would the Second Young Miss want to participate in this gladiator match?
Given her personality, she generally preferred not to engage in physical confrontations unless absolutely necessary. Why the sudden change of heart today?'
Ray couldn't figure it out.
His mind was full of questions, but he saw Carlotta's calm demeanor, as if her decision was the most natural thing in the world.
"Really?" Lupa's eyes instantly sparkled with excitement. "The Second Young Miss of the Montelli family herself participating! If this news gets out, Cliff Harbor will be packed to the brim!"
"About that," Carlotta smoothly interjected, "I was just about to ask a favor. Lupa, could you please keep my identity confidential for now? I... prefer a more low-key setting."
"Got it!" Lupa understood immediately, confidently patting her chest. "Don't worry, Miss Carlotta. If you don't want it publicized, I won't say a word."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing!" Lupa said, then suddenly slapped her forehead as if remembering something. "Ah, right! The registration deadline is in less than an hour. If you want to sign up, you better hurry."
"Registration?" Carlotta summoned her terminal's holographic interface. "Will this work?"
Lupa nodded, pulling out her own terminal to add them as contacts and quickly sending a link. "This website here. Just follow the process to fill it out."
Carlotta opened the link and carefully entered the information. When she reached the "Team Name" field, she hesitated for a moment before turning to Ray. "What do you think we should call it?"
Ray gave a light shrug. "Anything's fine. You decide, Second Young Miss."
"Then let's call it 'Brilliant'," Carlotta said, tapping her fingertip to input the name. "Our codenames will be 'Opal' and 'Cat's Eye'. As for other details..."
Seeing the unusually spirited Carlotta, Ray was still somewhat puzzled by her sudden enthusiasm for the competition.
He turned to Lupa and asked curiously, "Come to think of it, are gladiatorial matches two versus two?"
"Mm-hmm." Lupa nodded. "Ever since the current Governor reformed the tournament system, duo battles became the mainstream. Of course, our Echo partners fight alongside us too! The Echo is both the companion of the people of Septimont and proof of our mastery over power. Hunting it, conquering it, coexisting with it, that's the first lesson for anyone here."
"Speaking of which, the two of you must have Echo partners too, right?"
Echo partners?
As the Second Young Miss of the Montelli family, Carlotta's terminal naturally stored data on various Echoes.
As for Ray...
He lowered his head, looking at the Tacet Mark on the back of his hand.
It was time for Anby to show its stuff.
"Yes, I do."
"That's good then."
A moment later, the elevator reached the top floor. Lupa was staying on the same floor, her room even right next to theirs.
"Wow, what a coincidence! With so many empty rooms, we ended up as neighbors." Lupa was pleasantly surprised. "But this is good too; it'll be much easier to keep in touch."
"Empty rooms?" Ray caught the phrase, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. "But the front desk said... the hotel was fully booked."
Hearing this, Lupa instinctively covered her mouth in surprise. "Ah? Already full? When I came this morning, there were still lots of vacant rooms."
Carlotta's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She hurriedly interjected, "P-Perhaps it's the sudden start of the tourist season! Anyway, it's late today. We should get some rest!"
She quickly swiped open the room door, shoved Ray inside, leaving Lupa alone in the corridor, tilting her head in thought.
"Tourist season? Isn't that still half a month away...?"