Chapter 185: Under the Umbrella
When the dust finally settled, it was already past midnight.
Ray and Carlotta walked side by side under a single black umbrella, stepping slowly out of the Capollo estate.
The torrential rain showed no sign of letting up. Silver threads of water shimmered in the amber glow of the street lamps, draping the entire city in a veil of misty vapor.
In the small, sheltered world beneath the umbrella, their fingers intertwined in silence.
They strolled through the puddles, the only sounds around them the crisp patter of raindrops striking the umbrella and the pavement, as if the whole world had surrendered to the rain's solitary concerto.
Had he truly been savoring this quiet moment, Ray wouldn't have felt so restless, like sitting on a bed of needles.
It was all because of Francesco's parting words, those deeply suggestive remarks. No, to be more precise, it was the barrage of "reminders" that had kept Carlotta's lips pressed tightly together ever since. Even the warmth traveling through her fingertips carried a hint of a young lady's displeasure.
"Young Miss," Ray finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "Isn't it about time you made good on your promise?"
"Promise?" Carlotta shot him a listless glance. After a brief moment of confusion, it dawned on her what he meant.
A flush of crimson spread rapidly from the tips of her ears to her cheeks, strikingly vivid under the rainy night's lamplight.
"L-let's save it for next time…" She averted her gaze, stammering. "My legs are really sore after running around all day. Besides…"
"Besides?"
"I didn't get a chance to change my socks… they're, well… not clean…"
Hearing this, Ray immediately countered with righteous indignation, "Unclean, unbothered, won't get sick. That's an age-old saying passed down through generations in Huanglong. I find it particularly wise."
Carlotta turned her face away in embarrassment and murmured, "…You're such a pervert. Anyway, there's no negotiating today."
"Really no?"
"No!"
"What if I just stay on the outside and, you know, just rub a little? Surely that's fine, right?"
"…"
Carlotta bit her lip gently and glared at the young man beside her, equal parts flustered and furious. "More importantly, I'd like to know why you went looking for that jellyfish woman again today. Don't tell me yesterday still wasn't enough for you?"
The more she thought about it, the more it infuriated her, how long had she even been away from him?
Not even half a day!
And yet the moment she was gone, he'd turned right around and sneaked off to find that jellyfish-like woman again.
What if she were gone for a whole day? What then?
"Uh…" Ray scratched his head, mulling over how best to explain things to Carlotta. "How should I put this? The truth is, Cantarella… is a truly wonderful woman."
"You're still defending her?"
"I'm just stating facts, Young Miss." Ray hastened to explain. "Actually, Cantarella had long since discovered Capollo's scheme through the Order's intelligence network."
"She specifically reached out to me and told me everything in detail. I was just on my way to discuss it with you when I happened to run into the old man. He not only laid out the whole situation but also entrusted me with the family crest."
"As for what happened after that… I don't think I need to spell it out, do I?"
Carlotta listened to his explanation, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
It did sound like a perfectly pure motive, on the surface.
However, if her past experience was anything to go by, this guy had definitely glossed over a great many details of his time with Cantarella!
Though she had no proof.
"Is that so?" Carlotta's gaze drifted across to the opposite side of the street, her tone carrying a subtle edge. "So by your account, I should be thanking that jellyfish, shouldn't I?"
"Well, about that…" Ray scratched his cheek and brought up Francesco. "Didn't the old man say it just now? He hopes the two great families can join hands against the Threnodian. Young Miss, for the sake of Ragunna's future… I think perhaps you two should try to coexist peacefully."
Of course they had to learn to get along.
If the harem caught fire every other day, what was he supposed to do?
Especially Carlotta and Cantarella. Those two were practically fated rivals, in nearly every sense imaginable.
Carlotta nodded gently. "I'm well aware of that." A look of hesitation crossed her face, and she paused for a moment. "But I do think the Order won't just sit back and let the two families reconcile so easily. They'll inevitably try every means to obstruct it. So this matter… requires a gradual approach."
"If things move too fast, they might backfire instead."
Carlotta was not someone ruled by blind infatuation. If it could bring a brighter future to Ragunna, she was willing to set aside her prejudices against the Fisalia family for the time being and enter into a temporary cooperation with the other side.
But clearly…
Given the tense, near-hostile relations between the two families, this road to reconciliation was destined to be long and arduous.
"In any case, for your sake…" She let out a soft sigh and turned her face away. "I will try to coexist peacefully with that jellyfish."
Of course, that came with one important condition
As long as that jellyfish didn't provoke her first.
…
…
"Qiushui, lend me your boat. I'll return it as soon as I'm back."
"Oh, for goodness' sake, young lady! This is my baby, I scrimped and saved an entire year's wages just to scrape together the down payment. I don't even dare go full throttle when I take her out fishing. Please, just… handle her with care, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just a boat, isn't it?"
"Just a boat?! I'll say it again—this is something I spent—"
The morning mist over the Black Shores had yet to fully disperse. Camellya stood on the dock, her gaze sweeping past the still-grumbling Qiushui and settling on the sleek white vessel before her.
The sea breeze brushed the stray hairs from her forehead, and a radiant smile suddenly bloomed at the corner of the girl's lips.
She touched her cheek without thinking. Qiushui's rambling about engine maintenance and hull paint protection had long since faded into a blur of background noise.
She was going to find him.
The thought was like light breaking through the dawn, instantly illuminating her entire world.
She was going to find him. Now. Right this instant. Immediately!
As for who he was?
Camellya could no longer quite remember.
Whenever she tried to delve deeper into the thought, a dull, searing pain in her head stopped her.
And so, she simply stopped trying.
Even if she couldn't remember, she still believed—believed that she could find him, that she could find her own seed of destiny.
Camellya didn't know how to describe this overwhelming feeling.
Searching for that person seemed to have become an instinct for her.
Just as one drinks when thirsty and eats when hungry, if he was not by her side, she had to seek him out.
No reason.
Perhaps there was a reason, and she had simply forgotten it.
But that didn't matter. What mattered was that she would never forget this instinct, just as she would never forget how to breathe.
Where could he be?
What was he doing right now?
Everything, everything about him, the girl was desperately curious to know.
She gazed out at the boundless horizon, a light burning in her eyes brighter than the stars.
"Seed of Destiny…"
The girl looked out over the sea and whispered softly to herself.
"Hehe, my seed of destiny."