The unique azure cherry blossoms bloomed outside the house.
By the light of the Magic Stone lamp, Bell could see the fox girl inside the room. Her golden hair, smooth and soft like silk, framed her delicate face. Her emerald eyes, deep and green like boundless grasslands, held a quiet intensity. She sat stiffly in the corner, her body dressed in a vibrant, beautiful red kimono.
Bell frowned as his gaze landed on the black object around her neck. It didn't look like a decorative neckband but rather a collar that seemed to bind her freedom.
The fox girl noticed Bell's gaze.
Her face, delicate and flower-like, blossomed with a dreamlike smile as her cherry lips parted. Unlike the alluring smiles of the other women, hers held something different. It was as though she longed for the youth beyond the window, as if she envied the freedom that lay outside.
To Bell, that smile felt tinged with sorrow, despair, and helplessness.
His thoughts swirled. Bell had planned to spend the night here, so he walked straight into the corridor lined with azure cherry blossoms.
The brothel's interior was astonishingly vast, with intricately arranged corridors that connected grand pavilions. Bell passed through the central courtyard, ignoring the exquisite pond, and headed toward the room he had visited earlier.
The fox girl remained alone in the corner, seemingly deferring to the other courtesans.
"Which lady has caught your eye, sir?" an Amazoness asked, her smile warm and inviting.
Bell casually tossed a delicate gemstone into the air and pointed toward the fox girl.
"This one... This is premium merchandise! Haruhime, escort the guest to the room immediately!"
The Amazoness's eyes gleamed as she looked at the crystalline gem. She turned to the fox girl and gave the order.
The girl named Haruhime nodded and rose respectfully.
"Master, this way, please."
Haruhime led Bell out of the room, through the corridor, and toward the innermost chamber. Just then, Bell felt a sharp, penetrating gaze. It was as if a battle-hardened beast was sizing him up.
He glanced toward the source of the stare and saw a scantily clad Amazoness leaning against the wall, silently observing him. She wasn't from Apollo Familia—Bell suspected she had some connection to the fox girl.
As Bell passed her, he caught a glimpse of amusement in her eyes.
"Seems... he has some spirit," she murmured softly.
Before Bell could make sense of the words, he followed Haruhime into the room.
The modest-sized chamber had no windows, only a small ventilation opening. Without the circulation of cool air, the room was thick with an alluring fragrance that lingered heavily in the air.
Haruhime approached the neatly laid futon and turned to Bell.
"Tonight, this servant shall attend to your needs."
Unlike the other courtesans, she wore no heavy makeup. Her plain, unadorned face radiated an innocent, pure beauty that stirred both pity and affection.
"Wait."
Just as Bell was about to inform her that he had no such intentions, a flurry of hurried voices erupted outside the door.
"That guest?! Stop him!"
"Someone saw the white-haired boy run in here! Is he hiding inside?!"
"Sorry, but we must keep guest information confidential."
"Tsk!"
"You... You're Hyakinthos of the Apollo Familia?!"
"We'll just take a quick look. Any damage caused will be covered by Apollo Familia."
"Well... If you put it that way..."
The footsteps grew louder as they approached. Just as Apollo Familia pushed open the door, the scene inside the room came into view.
There, on the futon, was the fox girl with the guest pinned beneath her. The once-neat kimono and white undergarments lay discarded haphazardly on the floor, and a quilt covered the fox girl's body.
The Apollo Familia members could only glimpse her golden hair and profile. Judging by the scene before them, the guest must have been in a great hurry.
The moment he entered the room, Bell stripped the girl's clothes off and buried his face in her chest.
"—Yaaah!"
Haruhime seemed startled by the sudden intruder, pressing herself tightly against the guest.
"I told you... there was no suspicious person..."
The Amazoness who had accepted the gem spoke up.
"Tsk."
Hyakinthos slammed the door shut and stormed off.
The youth had wanted to leave this street from the very beginning. Besides, he was still on the run—certainly not in the mood for such nonsense.
It seemed Bell Cranel had already escaped.
"The Apollo Familia will compensate us, won't they? A night of pleasure is fleeting. Disrupting our honored guest's enjoyment is a significant loss for us."
The Amazoness flashed a merchant's greedy smile.
Hyakinthos' face darkened further.
"Naturally, I have other business. We'll discuss compensation later."
The Apollo Familia had initiated the wrongdoing. If left unchecked, this could easily escalate into a conflict between familias.
Hyakinthos hadn't anticipated that his attempt to cause trouble for the Hestia Familia would not only result in losing his money but also draw the wrath of the Ishtar Familia.
He shot a glance at the Amazoness warrior leaning against the wall and stormed off in anger.
...
Time rewound to before the door opened.
Bell sensed the relentless pursuit of the Apollo Familia and frowned.
"Master, are people chasing you outside?"
Haruhime noticed the youth's predicament and asked.
Bell nodded. With no windows in the room, escape was utterly impossible.
"Leave it to me."
Haruhime lifted the quilt, draping it over herself, and signaled the boy to act with her eyes.
Bell understood the girl's intent and quickly lay down beneath it.
Haruhime pressed her lips together, gazing at the boy beneath her, as if wrestling with a decision.
The next moment, she slipped off her top, undid her sash, and tossed her vivid red kimono carelessly onto the floor.
Her stunningly beautiful figure was laid bare.
Finally, Haruhime removed the last barrier, collapsing directly onto the youth's face.
To avoid exposing the white hair, this was the safest method.
Haruhime thought this as she used the youth's head to fill the deep, dark valley.
...
Bell understood that removing their clothes was indeed the safest way to avoid arousing suspicion from their pursuers. After all, he hadn't even exposed his hair. If both were fully clothed, anyone would see it was a deliberate ploy to evade pursuit.
The fox girl surely understood this, which was why she left her kimono and undergarments on the ground to dispel any doubts.
Yet even grasping the full reason, shame still gnawed at both their hearts.
Though she was a beautiful girl he'd just met, Bell buried his face into her defenseless chest.
A cool, soft sensation spread, like melted taffy, clinging tightly amidst the refreshing, sweet fragrance.
As the door swung open, Haruhime let out a shriek, her entire body collapsing onto the boy.
Her face transmitted warmth to the skin soft as water, and amidst the rising and falling heartbeats, warm beads of sweat formed.
Compared to Bell, Haruhime seemed even more bashful. Her heart pounded wildly, the warm breath on her chest igniting the fuse of her shyness. Each rise and fall sent her into a flustered panic.
Only after Apollo Familia departed and the door closed did Haruhime hastily rise, covering her chest with both hands.
"Forgive me, Master... I've been improper..."
"..."
Bell gazed at the blushing, pure-figured fox girl. He sensed something.