After the performance ended.
Phrolova left the theater alone.
Just as she had arrived, she remained alone.
She never cared what colors her music painted in others' hearts, nor did she heed any praise or critique.
Her reason for standing on the stage was solely to fulfill an old obsession.
Yet for some reason, that obsession had only grown deeper.
"This isn't like your style. Attending a concert performance without reason, even forgetting your primary duties?"
Phrolova's steps faltered. She turned expressionlessly.
A man holding a script stood behind her, as if he'd appeared out of nowhere.
Cristoforo.
The Overseer of the Fractsidus. Her colleague.
His tone was flippant, a subtle smirk playing on his lips as his gaze appraised her from head to toe.
"None of your concern. It's my private affair."
"Private affair?" Cristoforo closed his script, slowly moving closer. "Is it because of him? Although we can't be certain... if he's the one we think he is. After all, according to Jué's prophecy, he awoke in Jinzhou this time, not Ragunna."
He lowered his voice slightly, speaking with a knowing smile. "But keeping an extra eye on him might... yield some unexpected rewards. Or perhaps have you forgotten what you're truly supposed to be doing?"
Phrolova's brow furrowed. Hecate manifested abruptly behind her, swirling with faint light. "I said, it's none of your concern."
"Don't get so worked up." Cristoforo raised a hand, his tone softening. "I merely heard about him from others and came to confirm. No need for such hostility, is there? At least for now, we're still on the same side. Allies, aren't we?"
"Hmph." Phrolova gave a cold snort, turned, and walked away without looking back.
Cristoforo watched her receding figure, unable to help but shake his head with a light chuckle.
"You're truly an interesting one. The Society arranged accommodations for you, yet you insist on holing up alone in that cave, lonely enough to talk to the gondolas..."
...
...
After the concert ended.
Giacomo had invited numerous socialites to the evening's banquet.
Carlotta and Ray were, naturally, on the guest list.
Carlotta had already handed the data retrieved from Giacomo's private terminal to a completely trusted person for deeper investigation.
Once anything was found, she would be notified immediately.
Until then, she didn't mind attending this, what would be the final banquet for the Fasciaspina family.
"Miss Carlotta, your eye for talent is truly remarkable." At the banquet, Giacomo greeted her with a beaming smile.
Today's concert had earned him substantial gains, not just money, but also connections and prestige.
"To discover such an exceptional musician in Ragunna is truly rare... It's just a shame that Miss Phrolova left without a word immediately after the performance. Many guests still wished to express their admiration in person."
Carlotta offered a light smile. "Musicians tend to have somewhat reclusive temperaments. I hope Mr. Giacomo won't take offense."
"How could I possibly take offense? If not for Miss Carlotta, how would my theater have shone so brilliantly today?"
Just then, an attendant hurried over to Giacomo, leaning in to whisper a few words in his ear.
Instantly, the smile vanished from Giacomo's face, replaced by a shadow of gloom.
"Apologies, Miss Carlotta. I'm afraid I must excuse myself momentarily."
"Is something the matter?" Carlotta feigned ignorance.
"The Collection has been burglarized." Giacomo nearly spat the words through clenched teeth. "Some despicable thief managed to bypass the security system! Several of my treasured pieces... have been stolen!"
"The Collection?"
Carlotta started slightly, instinctively looking toward Ray beside her. The other party still wore an expression of utter calm, completely composed.
"I see. Then you must go and handle it promptly."
Giacomo immediately departed in a hurry with his entourage. Carlotta watched his frantic retreating figure, then gently nudged Ray's side with her elbow, whispering.
"The Collection theft, what's that about? Someone's little hands aren't very clean, it seems."
A soft, melodic piece of music began to play.
The dance was about to start.
Carlotta took Ray's hand and led him toward the center of the dance floor.
"I don't dance, Second Young Miss."
Ray was slightly taken aback, but before he could even refuse, she had already gently taken his hand, guiding it to rest on her waist.
Carlotta leaned close to his ear, her voice soft as down.
"Social dance is very simple. Here, just like this, hold my waist, and steady my shoulder."
Her steps began to move lightly with the rhythm.
"Just follow the beat of the music, take it slowly."
Despite her words, Ray's steps remained somewhat stiff and restrained.
This was his first time dancing with Carlotta, no, it should be his first time being this close to any woman.
'The Second Young Miss's body... is so soft.
And she smells so good...'
"So, what really happened with the Collection theft?" Carlotta asked softly, her gaze never leaving his eyes.
Ray, while trying hard to keep up with her rhythm, explained in a low voice. "As I reported earlier, there were some unexpected incidents along the way. If Giacomo realized the data was stolen, he might become desperate and do something extreme."
"So, to divert his attention..."
"I 'borrowed' a few things from his collection."
Their palms pressed together as they swirled gracefully within the flowing music.
"Quite considerate planning." Approval tinged Carlotta's tone. "You continue to impress me more and more."
"Oh? Then, Second Young Miss... should you consider giving me a raise?"
"Does your ambition stop at a salary increase?" she chuckled. "Don't you have... grander dreams?"
"Then could the Second Young Miss tell me, besides evidence of the Fasciaspina family's betrayal of the Montelli, is there something even more important hidden within that data?" Ray asked curiously.
"I don't mind telling you," Carlotta said. "Due to Ettore's sudden passing, some of the core data and critical information from his private terminal were lost."
"But more importantly, before his accident, he had discovered a painting from a hundred years ago, it's said that painting holds the greatest secret of Rinascita."
"Legend says Rinascita actually had two deities, and only one was the true Sentinel. The Order has always concealed this truth."
"But with his death, the whereabouts of that painting became unknown. There are reports that just before the accident, he consigned a batch of artworks to an auction house in Ragunna for sale, that painting is very likely among them."
Hearing this, Ray grew even more puzzled. "Then why didn't Ettore give the painting to the family? I mean, to you, Second Young Miss?"
"There's a mole within the family." Carlotta's reply was direct. "Moreover, not long after I learned of this news, Ettore met with misfortune. I think... to protect the painting, he deliberately mixed it among numerous artworks, using the auction house as a means to eventually deliver it into my hands."
"Would the Order allow such a thing to exist? Wouldn't they interfere covertly?"
Carlotta shook her head. "Of course they wouldn't allow it. That's precisely why I suspect the entire affair was manipulated by the Fisalia family and the Order from behind the scenes."
"As for destroying the painting, they'd undoubtedly welcome the chance. But the auction is jointly hosted by various factions within Ragunna. Even with the immense power of the Order and the Fisalia family, they wouldn't break their own established rules by storming the auction to destroy a painting."
"They must have learned of the painting's existence by now. What's needed next is simply to rightfully win it at the auction, then proceed with its destruction."
The music piece came to an end.
Carlotta's terminal also received a message.
She glanced down at the screen, a slight curve lifting the corner of her mouth. "It seems our luck isn't bad. Giacomo didn't completely delete the data. The codename for the painting is, 'The Supper.'"
Ray looked at her. "So, what do we do next..."
"We attend the auction." Carlotta turned and walked toward the exit of the banquet hall, with Ray following closely behind. "But before that, the Fasciaspina family... must pay the price for their betrayal."
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