"All right."
Aglaea murmured to Yan Huan beside her:
"Please close your eyes. Place your left hand on the table, raise your forearm, turn your palm forward, and spread your fingers slightly..."
"That's it. Very good."
In the darkness, Yan Huan suddenly felt someone lace their fingers through his.
"?"
He cracked his eyes open and saw that Aglaea had reached out and clasped his hand tightly. Warmth spread through it.
"Please keep your eyes closed."
"Fine."
Yan Huan obediently shut his eyes.
Golden threads wound around their fingers and wrists, giving off a faint glow.
"Yes. Please don't move."
Aglaea spoke softly:
"Let me give you the introduction I should have given earlier. I'm Aglaea, the Goldweaver, a tailor in Okhema and one of Amphoreus's Chrysos Heirs."
"With the trust of my companions, I'm overseeing the Chrysos Heirs' efforts for now."
"Though my work is making fine clothes, this bathhouse is my favorite place to spend my free time."
"Ultimately, clothes are a barrier. They conceal our bodies and what's in our hearts..."
"But here, we can set aside our disguises. The water brings us closer together."
"You may open your eyes now."
Yan Huan slowly opened his eyes. Aglaea still held his hand, golden threads wrapped around it.
"What's this for?"
"When you said clothes were a barrier, I thought you were going to confiscate my things under the pretext of stripping me."
"Of course not. I told you, this is a 12+ game."
Aglaea was so close that Yan Huan could feel her breath and catch her scent.
"Think of it as a ritual for communication."
"Moneta's golden threads bind us together. They can detect the slightest hesitation."
"This way, neither of us can lie to the other."
"Really?" Yan Huan asked. "How old are you?"
"Forgive