How should one respond to such a sincere invitation from the young lady?
In all of Ragunna, there were probably few who could steel themselves to refuse an invitation from the second daughter of the Montelli family.
After all, countless people dreamed, even at great expense, of the precious opportunity to share a meal with Carlotta.
Whether drawn by her own unique charm, or wary of the immense influence wielded by her prestigious family, to the people of Ragunna, accepting Carlotta's invitation was akin to stepping onto a high-stakes gaming table.
And the chips wagered were one's own fate.
Thus, Ray's choice here would shape the course of his own future.
He had just demonstrated his capability right in front of his superior. Refusing her invitation now would seem downright ungrateful.
"No problem."
Therefore, without a moment's hesitation, Ray gave a crisp reply, nodding decisively.
Refuse? Are you kidding?!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with upper management, and this person before him might very well be the future head of the company itself. For the sake of his own career trajectory, Ray absolutely could not say no.
"Mhm, let's go then." A supremely elegant smile touched the corner of Carlotta's lips. She lightly swept back the waterfall of hair by her ear, her figure graceful as she turned and began to walk. "Margherita's place shouldn't be closed yet. Though, if we're too late, we might have to find somewhere else."
"Of course, Miss Carlotta."
Ray fell into step, following closely behind her.
...
Inside Trattoria Margherita, an atmosphere of quiet, almost desolate stillness hung in the air.
The tables and chairs were neatly arranged but empty. The lighting was soft but unshared. Everything felt exceptionally hushed, exactly as it had been when Ray left earlier.
His steps light, he followed Carlotta into the slightly cool shop.
His gaze instinctively swept toward the booth he had occupied before. It was empty now. The girl, Phoebe, who had been sitting there, was gone, leaving only a faint, lingering memory drifting in the cool air.
"Welcome- Oh! It's Miss Carlotta. This is a surprise." Margherita looked up, seeing Carlotta; her tone carried just the right amount of pleasant astonishment.
"A surprise? Don't I come here for afternoon tea often enough?" Carlotta raised a hand slightly, covering the corner of her mouth with slender fingers as she gave a light laugh.
"But Miss Carlotta, the last time you came for afternoon tea was over a month ago," Margherita pointed out, tilting her head slightly.
"Was it? I've been rather busy lately; I'd almost forgotten." Carlotta's voice was soft. "In that case, we'll have a traditional Ragunna pizza, the most authentic kind."
"All right, the kitchen fire's still going. It'll be right out for you two." Margherita replied with a smile.
As she spoke, Margherita's eyes incidentally swept over Ray standing beside Carlotta. She paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "You... weren't you just here? Hungry again already?"
Ray awkwardly turned his head. "Uh, I have a big appetite."
"Is that so?" Margherita was about to turn and head to the kitchen when she seemed to remember something important. She stopped, turning her gaze back to Ray.
"Oh, I nearly forgot. That girl from the Order who left earlier asked me to pass on a message. She said she's very grateful for your invitation."
"She also said, if you have the chance, she hopes you'll visit her at the Order. She would like to personally lead a prayer ceremony to the Year-Lord for you."
A girl? An invitation?
Carlotta elegantly crossed her arms, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips as she looked at Ray beside her, teasingly.
"Oh? As a member of the Montelli family, you're making moves on someone from the Order? You certainly have nerve."
"No, no, Miss Carlotta, it's not like that," Ray quickly waved his hands in explanation. "I just saw she was cute—I mean, she looked pitifully hungry, so I felt a bit sorry for her and invited her to share some pizza. That's all there was to it."
"No need to explain so much to me." Carlotta gave a soft, understanding laugh, her eyes holding a trace of indulgence. "Employees are entitled to their private time."
"Since you joined Averardo Bank, you must have some understanding of our Montelli family's principles. Even I wouldn't casually interfere with an employee's personal freedom."
"After all, matters of the heart... I understand. I truly do."
Ray: "..."
She had completely misunderstood.
But... dating Phoebe?
Hmm... well, it wouldn't be impossible.
After all, Phoebe was genuinely adorable.
....
They settled into a quiet booth by the window. In the lull while waiting for their late-night meal, conversation naturally began to flow.
"You handle yourself quite well. Did you study self-defense before?"
Carlotta lightly picked up her teacup. Her slender fingers gave it a slight swirl, sending the amber-colored liquid inside into a gentle, rippling dance.
"Oh, I almost forgot. You're not from Ragunna. Judging by your name... are you from Huanglong? If so, that would make sense. I've heard people from Huanglong are all quite formidable."
"Why's that?"
"Saw it in movies from Huanglong."
"..."
How does this stereotype exist even in another world?
"There's an old saying in Huanglong: 'A hero's origins are not to be questioned,'" Carlotta said. "Naturally, I won't pry into your past either. As I said, what the Montelli family values is never a person's bloodline or origins, but their tangible ability."
"By the way, I'm curious. What is your current role within the bank?"
"The Defense Department."
"No wonder." Carlotta gave a slight nod, a flash of understanding in her eyes. "Speaking of which, do you know Zani? She's also an employee in the Defense Department, and the recipient of the Best Employee award for several years running."
"She's my partner."
Hearing this, Carlotta's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composed, elegant demeanor. "What a coincidence. That's actually quite good. There's a task I was planning to ask Zani for help with later, but she's always been swamped with work. I didn't want to burden her with excessive overtime."
"Now, since you're her partner, you must have earned her trust. And your skills are solid."
She deliberately paused, letting the suspense build just right before taking a delicate sip of her black tea, allowing the aroma to linger.
"Mhm, you'll do perfectly."