Ray agreed in the end.
He sat alone at the table, staring at the steaming bowl of tomato beef stewed noodles before him, but made no move for a long time.
And Anby?
As usual, it was happily devouring its meal from its own bowl.
The seat across from him was already empty.
Cantarella had left.
"Then I shall await your arrival at Porto-Veno."
"I'm very much looking forward to this, this one-of-a-kind rendezvous between us."
These were the whispers Cantarella left in his ear before departing.
"...I actually agreed." Ray covered his face, took a deep breath, and sighed softly. "As the Second Young Miss's boyfriend, am I being too casual about this?"
But the question was...
Didn't I have no choice?
After all, Cantarella had helped me before, and now she needed my assistance. How could I just stand by?
If the Second Young Miss learned the whole story...
maybe, perhaps, hopefully... she'd forgive me?
"Who was that pretty lady just now?" Anby asked between mouthfuls, its words muffled.
"Cantarella, the head of the Fisalia family."
"That name sounds familiar... I think Miss Carlotta mentioned her before." Anby tilted its little head, thinking. "Said she was a particularly vicious woman, said a lot of nasty things. But meeting her today... doesn't seem that bad. I couldn't read what she was thinking, but I feel... she's not as evil as described. She's even kind of gentle."
"The Second Young Miss actually talked to you about her?" Ray was surprised. "Why would she tell you all that?"
Anby shook its head, looking clueless. "I don't know either. Miss Carlotta bought me a ton of snacks that day. I was too busy being happy to remember anything else."
"..."
'I have a feeling the Second Young Miss was trying to bribe Anby into keeping an eye on me.
Good thing Anby forgot.'
"Ahem" Ray cleared his throat and lowered his voice to Anby. "Hey, Anby... when you see the Second Young Miss later, don't tell her about what happened today."
"Why?" Anby tilted its head, confused.
"Don't ask so many questions." Ray reached out and rubbed its little head. "Just keep it to yourself! As a reward, I'll take you out for a feast tomorrow!"
"Really?" Anby's eyes instantly lit up.
"Of course!"
Anby turned around, propped its little chin on its paws, thought for a moment, then turned back and nodded firmly. "Okay! I promise I won't tell Miss Carlotta about meeting that pretty lady!"
"Good partner!"
...
...
A few wisps of twilight still clung to the sky.
Ray leaned against the railing at the pier, listening to the rhythm of the tide and wind interweaving. He took one last deep breath of the salty sea air, then turned and walked toward the city of Ragunna.
Next up, his date with Phoebe.
Well, not really a date.
Just an ordinary dinner.
As a priest of the Order, Phoebe mostly only ate pizza once a month.
Though the Order of the Deep rules didn't explicitly forbid it, the devout young woman always believed moderation was a virtue.
So, despite her particular fondness for pizza, she remained disciplined, allowing herself to enjoy it only once a month.
Margherita's restaurant wasn't far from the pier.
The pizza pre-ordered yesterday should be ready by now.
He had to take the pizza with Phoebe to another place to eat, Ray didn't know the exact location yet; it was Phoebe's choice.
"Ah, Mr. Ray! Over here, over here!"
As soon as he reached the restaurant entrance, he spotted the golden-haired young woman waving at him.
Beside her, three Echoes were cheerfully hopping and running toward him.
These were Phoebe's companions of many years.
Though the Order of the Deep strictly forbade clergy from getting too close to Echoes.
Phoebe's devotion to the Sentinel was undoubtedly unwavering. But she was also a person with deep feelings.
Facing these partners who had accompanied her for years, how could she truly bear to sever ties?
So, this devout young woman had been quietly bending the rules, carefully maintaining these tender bonds between her faith and her emotions.
"So fragrant! I can't wait~" Anby flew lightly over to Phoebe, circled the pizza boxes twice, and then, as if following a familiar path, landed on the young woman's shoulder.
For some reason, aside from Ray, Anby was closest to Phoebe.
Whenever it was near her, it felt an indescribable sense of relaxation, as if gently wrapped in a warm ray of sunshine.
"Anby's here too?" Phoebe smiled and extended her little fist, gently bumping it against Anby's paw.
She naturally adored Anby as well, after all, she had always felt affection for Echoes, especially a cute little one like Anby.
"Phoebe, where are we heading next?"
Ray walked over to the young woman and took the initiative to carry most of the pizza boxes.
The remaining few boxes were cheerfully lifted by Lappy, Beni, and Bamboo.
"The place we're going to..." Phoebe smiled softly. "Well, it's a secret for now. Mr. Ray will see it with his own eyes soon."
Looking at her mysterious yet adorable expression, Ray couldn't help but chuckle and stopped pressing. "Alright, then today I'll let Phoebe lead the way."
Talking and laughing, the two walked toward the outskirts of Ragunna, the Breezy Waterside.
"Oh, Mr. Ray." Phoebe suddenly remembered something important. "About the name you asked me to look into yesterday, Cartethyia. I carefully went through the Order of the Deep's archives after returning, and I did find relevant records. It's just that..."
The young woman's expression suddenly became a bit strange, her voice trailing off.
"It's just what?" Sensing her hesitation, Ray pressed.
"Cartethyia..." Phoebe murmured softly. "This name belongs to the Saintess Fleurdelys from twenty years ago, it was her name before she became the Saintess."
Ray's footsteps halted mid-air, pausing for a long moment before slowly coming down.
How could this be?
Saintess Fleurdelys...
Hadn't she sacrificed herself twenty years ago to resist the Dark Tide's invasion?
How could she still be alive?
Furthermore, even if she were still alive, after twenty years, how could she still look as young as Phoebe?
Could it be that I had traveled back in time twenty years and met the younger Cartethyia?
No...
If that were true, how could she have forgotten so much?
Why didn't she just tell me she was the Saintess?
"Why does Mr. Ray know this name?" Phoebe asked softly.
Ray was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If I told you... that I met that so-called Saintess not long ago... would you believe me, Phoebe?"
Phoebe's pupils trembled slightly, but soon, the ripples in her eyes calmed.
She nodded, her tone gentle yet firm. "If Mr. Ray says so... I believe it."
This answer surprised Ray. "Why... do you believe so easily? Don't you doubt me?"
Phoebe tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curving her lips. "Because I always believe in Mr. Ray."
The young woman gently clasped her hands in front of her chest, speaking softly as if in prayer.
"Though I wasn't yet in this world twenty years ago... the story of the Saintess has been deeply etched in my heart through years of hearing it."
"I've always believed that the Saintess... actually lives in the heart of every Ragunnan."
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