It was raining again.
Ray stood quietly in front of the Montelli family's gates, holding a black umbrella.
Rather than gates, it was more like a boundary, the entrance separating two worlds.
He lifted his head, his gaze piercing through the fine curtain of rain, looking ahead.
The street was silent, solemn, permeated with an almost congealed atmosphere, starkly different from the bustle and vibrancy of other districts in Ragunna.
This was the territory of the Montelli family.
Only those connected by blood could step inside.
"Good day. Please follow me."
Moments later, a formally dressed butler appeared at the entrance, bowing slightly as he spoke to Ray, his tone respectful yet measured.
Ray nodded and silently followed the other's footsteps, stepping into the Montelli family's domain. One behind the other, they walked along a small cobblestone path washed bright by the rain, heading slowly toward the main building.
As they passed through the front hall corridor, several family members brushed past them.
Those people cast fleeting glances, their eyes appraising, but did not linger, moving on quickly as if he were merely a shadow passing under the corridor.
"Please wait a moment."
The butler led him to stop before a heavy, ornately carved wooden door and knocked three times.
After a brief moment, a steady voice came from inside—
"Enter."
Upon receiving permission, the butler stepped aside, slowly pushing open the heavy door and gesturing a "please" to Ray.
Ray hesitated slightly, unable to suppress a flutter of apprehension in his heart.
It wasn't so much due to the other's status after all, he had already met the head of the Fisalia family.
What made him nervous was that "relationship" between him and Carlotta.
Even though it was only a pretense, reaching the stage of meeting the family still gave him an unwarranted sense of almost-real awkwardness.
'Come to think of it, coming empty-handed for the first time meeting the 'father-in-law', doesn't that seem a bit inappropriate?
Ah, I should've really brought a fruit basket or something from the Gondola Water Market before coming.'
On second thought, a family like this probably wouldn't care for his meager offerings anyway.
Ray swallowed, took a deep breath, regained his composure, and walked into the room with a calm and collected demeanor.
The room wasn't spacious, but its arrangement exuded the classical charm of traditional Ragunna everywhere.
His gaze quickly swept the surroundings, and he was surprised to find that the room wasn't occupied solely by Carlotta's grandfather, Francesco Montelli.
An unfamiliar visitor stood before Francesco's desk, softly weeping.
Besides that, there was also a cat.
It lay quietly against Francesco's leg, enjoying his strokes, purring with contentment.
Though unclear about what was happening, Ray's expression remained unchanged. He walked composedly to Francesco's front, took off his hat, and bowed slightly.
"Family Head."
"You've arrived?" Francesco lifted his head, his gaze lingering briefly on Ray, scrutinizing him for a moment before looking away. "Have a seat first."
He then turned his attention back to the person before the desk, letting out a soft sigh and shaking his head. "I'm sorry. This matter is beyond my ability to help."
"I understand you made your fortune at Septimont, your business is thriving, your life is good."
"You have gladiators and governors to protect you; you don't need a friend like me."
"But now you come to me and say: 'Lord Francesco, please grant me justice.'"
"Yet you show me no respect at all. You don't treat me as a friend."
"You won't even address me as Family Head."
Hearing Francesco's words, the man persisted stubbornly. "I only beseech you to grant justice! I only want those bastards to suffer torment! For that, I am willing to pay any price!"
Francesco let out a long sigh. He slowly rose from his chair, gently placed the cat in Ray's hands, then slowly walked toward the man.
"My old friend..."
"What did I ever do to deserve such disrespect from you?"
He lightly patted the man's shoulder, his tone filled with helplessness and regret.
"If you had come to me as a friend, then the scum who harmed your daughter would suffer torment."
"Friend. Do you understand? Friend?"
"Not by insulting me with money, as if paying a street thug to do your bidding."
"I can hardly remember the last time you invited me to your home for coffee."
"Five years ago? Or ten?"
The man seemed to finally grasp the deeper meaning in Francesco's words. He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, respectfully lifted Francesco's hand, bowed his head to kiss the back of it, and spoke solemnly.
"My respected friend, I beg you to grant me justice."
"Good."
Francesco nodded, patted his shoulder once more, his tone carrying approval.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door again. Upon receiving permission, someone pushed the door open,
It was Coppola Montelli.
The moment he stepped into the room, his eyes met Ray's. A flicker of barely perceptible surprise passed through them, but it quickly vanished.
"Father."
Francesco turned to look at him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight. "Did you spend time with your family today?"
Coppola responded with ease. "Of course."
"Good. Because a man who doesn't make time for his family is not a real man." Francesco said slowly. "I'll leave this matter to you to handle. Don't let our old friend suffer any injustice."
Coppola nodded, offering no excuses or objections, and led the man out of the room.
The door closed softly, leaving only Ray and Francesco inside.
Francesco slowly sat back in his chair, his gaze falling upon Ray. "I've heard about you and Carlotta."
A note of approval entered his tone. "You both did well. Not only did you thwart the Order's scheme, but you also saved the family from incalculable losses."
Ray humbly lowered his head in response. "It was my duty. Moreover, I merely assisted Miss Carlotta from the sidelines."
"It seems Carlotta's choice in you wasn't without reason." Francesco broke into a hearty smile. "As for matters between young people, this old man doesn't wish to interfere too much. Carlotta... truly needs space of her own. A true Montelli shouldn't have the family as their entire world."
At this point, his brow furrowed slightly before quickly smoothing out.
"As a Montelli, Carlotta carries too much on her shoulders. She has never truly lived her own life. Even her convictions and ideals were shaped by my hand. The family is her everything now."
"Therefore, I hope even more that she can live in this world as 'Carlotta', defining her own rules."
"So, I entrust Carlotta to you."
"May your presence add a splash of vibrant color to her unchanging world."
"I look forward to the day you truly join the family."
At this point, the fact that his relationship with Carlotta was a pretense was impossible to voice.
With things having reached this stage, he couldn't very well ruin the mood.
In the end, he could only brace himself and assure Francesco, "I promise I will never let Miss Carlotta suffer any injustice."
"Mmm, good lad." Francesco nodded with satisfaction. "Go on. Carlotta is probably waiting for you."
.
.
.
.
Bonus Chapter Alert!
If we cross 100 powerstones, there will be a bonus chapter.
Read 40+ advance chapters on [email protected]/lost_moon