Lavinia's Downfall (Continued)

"Things haven't been peaceful in Siracusa lately. The annual rainy season is approaching... and it'll last a long time, so it's not a good season to visit friends."

Father Agniel, wearing a strange eye patch, continued speaking.

But as he finished speaking, he chuckled to himself.

"However... this might not be a problem for you."

"Although my position isn't quite right, on Agniel's personal behalf, I hope you can spend more time enjoying your time in Siracusa; it's truly a comfortable place."

The old man spoke slowly, his words seemingly concealing something.

This made Maria instinctively realize that the situation in Siracusa might be about to change.

But...

What does this have to do with me?

Since learning about the history of the Gray Hall from that drunken Sankta girl not long ago, Maria is pretty sure that the Gray Hall as it is today was founded by that Madam Sicily.

Maria always had faith in her friends.

"I don't really like making a fuss..."

Maria nodded, expressing her opinion to the old man.

She doesn't like noisy environments, and even if there are problems, she won't say much unless it's something she can't stand.

What these people want to do is their own business, and I won't meddle.

Have a good time, ma'am.

After hearing Maria say this, the old man bowed slightly.

Although his hair was already gray, he still looked energetic.

He had the air of an old gentleman.

Of course, all of this is on the premise that you have to ignore his eye patch, which looks so funny that it makes you want to laugh.

After the exchange concluded, Father Agniel did not linger and turned to leave.

After all, his status in Siracusa is quite special.

Staying in one place for too long might cause some problems.

Everything else is fine.

But... if some foolish person were to anger the being before them...

He didn't know what to do.

Besides, Maria had already told him almost everything he wanted to know, asked, and asked.

There's no need for me to keep asking questions.

Watching the old man's receding figure in the moonlight, Maria paused for a moment, then turned and went back to the little girl's room.

The room lights were still off, and the utterly drunken Angels lay sprawled on the bed, fast asleep.

The little girl next to her was lying face down on the table.

She was still wearing the coat that Maria had given her earlier.

In this situation, Maria remained silent for a moment before getting up, walking step by step to the girl's side, and gently picking her up.

After tidying up the Angels who was sleeping in a disheveled position, Maria placed the girl in the empty space on the bed.

She herself turned around and looked for a place to rest.

Time... just slips away, little by little.

The moonlight outside the window swayed slightly, and after a long hesitation, a sliver of moonlight finally pierced the room.

Maria sat alone on the chair, her eyes closed, breathing softly.

The moonlight, as if possessing its own consciousness, gently draped Maria in its tender silken robe...

After a while, Maria suddenly heard a rustling sound in her ear.

But it's not very big.

A few moments later, a small aura also spread to his side...

Is that the little girl?

Maria was deep in thought, but her body remained motionless.

The other person seemed to be thinking about something. After standing beside Maria for a while, they hesitantly walked over, draped a coat over Maria's shoulders, and slowly but firmly climbed onto Maria's body, carefully curling up to breathe in the warmth.

Maria... she's truly an amazing person.

Although the girl has barely met Maria, she still feels a deep trust in Maria.

This was thanks to Maria's status and her gentle manner of speaking.

Of course, what we can't forget is his powerful entrance during the day, which was like a god descending to earth.

To be honest, after being cornered by the other party, the girl had already thought about her own fate.

She wasn't a member of the Bellone Family at all. If she were caught and recognized by the people behind the other party, her utter worthlessness would be exposed.

The other party might even blame themselves for the failed kidnapping.

I know I won't survive.

But it was at that moment that Maria saved herself.

That composed demeanor, that immense strength, and that gentle speech he had given on the platform earlier.

Maria is like a perfect character from a fairy tale...

It was because of these layers of goodwill that, after much hesitation, she allowed this person, whom she had only known for less than a day, to come to her room.

That's why she wanted to draw from him the sense of security and happiness that would make her feel good...

It's like... sleeping in a flowerbed...

Before long, the girl's breathing gradually calmed down.

The gentle hand was stroking her back, pushing her sleepiness away.

How gentle she is...

She thought to herself, and unconsciously nuzzled against Maria's chest again.

Feeling those cool fingers slide down her chin, she instinctively tilted her head back, making a gurgling sound in her throat...

Getting tickled is... indeed a rather uncommon occurrence...

Not quite...

Common...

Um?!

As the girl was thinking, her body suddenly stiffened.

She stiffly tilted her head back.

Right in front of her, the gentle woman gazed at her quietly, her fingers twitching slightly.

Did I wake you up?

Maria spoke, her voice very soft and gentle, as if she were whispering in the girl's ear.

The sweet, cloying scent of incense made her breathing quicken instantly.

She even forgot that she should get up and leave at that moment.

He could only stare blankly at the woman in front of him, who seemed to be the embodiment of moonlight.

She only came to her senses and propped herself up after Maria's fingers began to wander gently again.

"That... no... actually it's... me..."

The girl's voice became extremely awkward, and her words were stammered and difficult to understand.

Such noise disturbed the drunken Angels nearby, who frowned and showed a pained expression.

"Ooh~"

"Um!"

Seeing that she was about to wake the Angels beside her, the girl quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

After confirming that the other person was breathing quietly again, she let out a long breath, sat on Maria's lap, and looked at her.

"Sorry..."

Her face was flushed, and the girl gritted her teeth, trying to move her stiff body to get off Maria.

But Maria shook her head, reached out, and gently hooked her arm around the girl's waist, pulling her directly onto her body.

Maria wasn't particularly sensitive... but she was very observant.

She may not understand other people's emotional changes, but that doesn't mean she can't see them.

The girl's posture just now clearly showed that she had completely let her guard down...

Will you feel comfortable?

Maria asked softly.

To avoid embarrassing the girl, she tilted her head back and looked away from the girl, instead gazing at the blue moon hanging high in the sky outside the window.

"... Yes."

The girl's face was now red all the way down to her earlobes.

Faced with Maria's question, she hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she nodded slightly.

Maria's question was really difficult to answer.

She had no idea whether to say she felt comfortable or uncomfortable.

Both answers seemed rather strange, no matter how you looked at them.

But in the end, she couldn't go against her conscience and spoke her truest thoughts.

It really is... very comfortable.

"I feel at ease..."

"Then lie here."

Maria did not ask why, but quietly provided proof of permission.

Her gentle words contrasted sharply with her sharp demeanor during the day.

This left the little girl hesitant yet unable to contain her curiosity.

"Are you alright?"

"... It makes no difference to me."

At Maria's level, sleep is merely a value that can be manipulated at will.

She can sleep as long as she wants, or not sleep at all if she doesn't want to; it makes absolutely no sense to her.

"... Thanks."

The girl was finally relieved to receive Maria's answer.

She hesitated, then carefully nestled into Maria's arms, letting Maria's hands support her waist.

The gentle, slightly fiery incense seemed to envelop her tightly, as if possessed by a tangible force.

A sense of security welled up inside me.

Why are you so kind to me?

Feeling the drowsiness continuing to rise in her heart, the girl struggled to ask the last question that had been lingering in her mind.

Although Maria gave her a good feeling,... she still felt a little strange.

Why?

"It was just that I remembered a child."