"So, Miss Cantarella, is it really safe to drink this medicine...?"
Ray gently swirled the cup in his hand, which held a pale purple liquid, his gaze flickering with a hint of uncertainty. He brought the cup to his nose and sniffed lightly.
The liquid gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance. Though he couldn't identify the scent, it strangely made him feel at ease.
"Are you doubting the Fisalia family's legacy?" Cantarella sat elegantly beside him, the corner of her mouth lifting in a subtle, unreadable smile.
"Don't worry. This medicine has no harmful effects on the body. It merely induces the most peaceful sleep, like being wrapped in a soft cloud and sinking into a sweet dream."
"It's not that I doubt it..."
Ray frowned slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
He certainly wasn't questioning the Fisalia family's legacy, but he was concerned that after drinking this medicine, his baser instincts might take over, leading him to lose control and have an intimate encounter with Cantarella.
After all, given her recent behavior, he had reason to be wary.
"Are you suggesting I might slip you an aphrodisiac and take advantage of you?" Cantarella's brow furrowed, a hint of delicate reproach in her voice.
"Oh dear, such suspicion is truly hurtful. Do you really see me as such a despicable woman? Remember, as the head of the Fisalia family, I have my pride and dignity. I would never stoop to such vile methods."
"Though I do have some feelings for you, they are based on mutual affection, I want you to genuinely fall for me, not through such underhanded means."
"Besides, wasn't this your idea? To sleep beside me and see if we could resonate with the tablet and enter the sealed Sonora realm."
"Sigh, good intentions taken as ill will. Fine then, we'll have to find another way."
With that, Cantarella sighed softly and slowly reached out her slender hand to take back the medicine.
Seeing this, Ray felt a twinge of remorse. What was he thinking, suspecting Cantarella? She was the true Saintess, silently guarding the faint flame of hope for Ragunna's future.
She bore an unimaginable burden, enduring endless torment and pressure. How could he so easily doubt her resolve and character?
"I'm sorry, Miss Cantarella. I was overthinking it."
Seeing her so hurt and dejected, Ray steeled himself, raised the cup, and downed the medicine in one gulp, as if proving his trust and resolve through his actions.
"That's more like it." Cantarella smiled with satisfaction as she watched him empty the cup.
Then, she gently patted her soft, full thigh. "Come, lie down. The lap of the Fisalia family's head isn't something just anyone gets to enjoy, you are a unique exception."
After what had just happened, Ray had completely let down his guard. Without a moment's hesitation, he lay down comfortably on her warm, soft thighs.
Before long, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, gradually pulling him under.
The medicine must be taking effect.
"Suddenly so sleepy..." Ray yawned, his voice growing softer. "Miss Cantarella, I leave the rest to you."
"Sleep well. I'll stay by your side the whole time." Cantarella gently stroked his smooth, dark hair, her pale purple eyes shimmering with a faint, mysterious light.
She lightly brushed a strand of hair from her ear, and just as Ray was about to fall completely asleep, she slowly lowered her head, leaned close to his ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Let me tell you a secret: I was lying to you just now."
"I never shy away from those so-called 'vile' methods."
"So, from now on, you can look forward to what's about to happen."
Ray's eyes widened slightly for a moment, trying to grasp the last shred of consciousness in the sinking darkness. But in the end, he couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness. His eyelids slowly drooped, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.
"Already asleep?" Cantarella blinked, looking at the sleeping Ray, a gentle smile gradually spreading across her lips.
She opened her mouth to say something, but was abruptly interrupted by the sudden ringing of Ray's terminal on the table.
"Oh my?" Cantarella raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "It's Carlotta again. How does she always manage to call precisely when he's alone with me?"
She looked at Carlotta's incoming call on the screen and was about to decline it when a mischievous thought suddenly popped into her mind.
"What a rare opportunity." The curve of Cantarella's smile grew more pronounced, a hint of naughtiness creeping into it. "Why not make this game a little more interesting?"
With that, she reached for Ray's terminal, deftly opened the camera, and pointed the lens at the sleeping Ray resting on her lap, along with her own full bosom that accidentally took up half the frame. She pressed the shutter, freezing the moment.
Then, with a few taps of her finger, she sent the photo to Carlotta, along with a message.
[It's nap time right now. Would the Second Young Miss please not disturb us?]
There done.
Having done all this, Cantarella calmly placed the terminal back in its original spot.
So, what would happen next?
She was looking forward to it.
Though...
this might be a bit rude to Ray.
But what could she do? Reality was cruel.
For the future of the Fisalia family, and for the future of Ragunna, she wouldn't let any opportunity slip by.
Besides...
"Who asked you to be so exceptional?"
Cantarella lowered her head, gently poking Ray's handsome, sleeping cheek with her slender index finger, her voice soft.
"I'm not just going to hand you over to someone else. You already have so many female admirers not just in Ragunna, but quite a few in the Septimont as well."
"So why not let me join this interesting 'game' too?"