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A cloudy night with the beginnings of rain, thunder echoed throughout Ragunna, where a young Montelli heiress, Carlotta Montelli, watched through the window of her room, sighing in silence until her time alone was interrupted by a Montelli servant.
-"My young lady, it is time for the auction. Would you like the servants to help you dress? The carriages are ready and waiting for you," the servant spoke in a tone of loyalty and service while bowing.
-"Oh, thank you for reminding me about the auction. This one is particularly important for me and my family. But I can dress myself; you may leave."
Carlotta was fascinated by fine art, which is why she frequently attended auctions—not only to witness remarkable pieces but also to carry out a few "tasks" on behalf of the Montellis.
-"As you wish, young lady."
Carlotta walked toward her wardrobe while she still heard the servant's footsteps leaving her room. It wasn’t until she heard the door closing that she swung her wardrobe doors wide open. She had no great secret to hide, but tonight she had a very important "task" to carry out, so she needed to look presentable for it.
She chose a black and pink gala dress, adorned with vine-like embroidery that had beautiful diamonds embedded in them, sparkling like stars in the dark sky. A shimmering black cape extended from her shoulders down to her expensive carpet. She paired the dress with black gloves that reached just past her forearms and transparent crystal heels.
Upon leaving her room, Carlotta headed outside the mansion, where the carriages awaited her. The auction was set to start at 8:00 PM, and it was already 7:30 PM. Being late to events was not to her liking, so she politely asked the driver to go faster.
-"Excuse me, could you go a bit faster?"
-"Of course, Lady Carlotta. At your service."
***
Luckily, she arrived early—just five minutes before the auction began. As she stepped down from the carriage, she put on her finely crafted Carnavale mask. After all, wearing a mask was a strict requirement for attending these types of auctions, regardless of one’s status. The masks ensured the anonymity of the guests, preventing any scandals that could damage the reputation of the participants.
Upon entering, she noticed the presence of many distinguished families from Ragunna, but none of them were her target tonight. She was looking for a man who owed her family millions of shell credits. He had promised to pay them back in two years, but three years had passed, and he hadn't even bothered to explain. It was time for the debt to be repaid with more than just money and empty promises.
She took her reserved seat on the upper balcony, a place that gave her a privileged view of all the guests. She carefully scanned the room, searching for her dear debtor, until the auctioneer emerged from behind the curtains and the lights dimmed.
-"Good evening, my dear guests! I hope you're all excited because tonight is a special night!"
The auctioneer bowed to the audience, and behind him appeared masked men carrying what seemed to be a massive painting, covered with an elegant red cloth.
-"Tonight, we bring you an exceptional piece of art, brought from Jinzhou, created by its greatest artist, Zhezhi! This painting is valued at over 100 million shell credits, so tell me—who will be the lucky one to take this masterpiece home and have the honor of gazing upon it every day?"
Murmurs filled the auditorium. Many whispered that it was the most beautiful piece of art they had ever seen, but its price exceeded their families' entire fortunes.
Among all the guests, only two raised their hands—one was a young woman with silvery-white hair, and the other had sky-blue hair. The entire auditorium turned to stare at them, questioning their true identities, as they were among the few who could afford such an extravagant purchase.
-"I see two hands raised. Interesting. It seems we have a bidding competition! The highest offer takes the painting!"
-"I offer 110 million." the silver-haired woman said with elegance and grace as a spotlight illuminated her.
-"How about 140 million?" The lavender-and-blue-haired woman said in a playful tone, giggling as another spotlight focused on her.
-"Oh ho! Things are getting interesting! I wonder who will emerge victorious?!"
-"200 MILLION."
The words echoed throughout the auditorium, coming from none other than the young lady standing on the upper balcony.
-"Wow! A tough price to compete with. But let’s see if the other lady wishes to continue bidding?"
-"I withdraw,"** the Lavender-haired woman replied, still maintaining her elegance and a faint smile despite her loss.
-"Then... it seems we have a winner! Sold to the young lady with the beautiful silvery-white hair!"
After the spectacle, the auction continued, though whispers about what had happened lingered in the air.
***
Once again, victory was on her side. Carlotta Montelli stood triumphant. She would never let such a stunning piece of art slip through her fingers, no matter the cost. Perhaps she had gone a bit overboard, but she knew she wouldn’t regret her decision.
However, she wondered—who was that mysterious lavender-and-blue-haired woman? How could she even compete with her? More importantly, how had she managed to push Carlotta into bidding more than she had initially intended? No one had ever made her do that in an auction before.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the auctioneer and assistants guiding the guests toward the post-auction party.
Once inside the ballroom, she focused her gaze on any man who resembled her debtor, but he seemed to be nowhere in sight—until she spotted a black-haired man entering a room. In his hands, he carried a brooch used by members of the debtor’s criminal organization.
Slipping through the crowd, she made her way toward the room, but just as she was about to enter, she collided with a taller woman—with sky-blue hair.
Looking closer, she noticed the woman was wearing an elegant lavender, white, and sky-blue gown that covered her chest while leaving her shoulders bare. She also wore black gloves that only covered her hands, exposing the rest of her arms.
-"Pardon me, I didn’t see you. Are you all right?"
Now that she was seeing her up close, Carlotta found her figure strangely familiar. Had they met before...?
-"Oh, darling, don’t worry. I’m perfectly fine." The woman said with her characteristic playful giggle.
Suddenly, the lights in the ballroom went out, leaving only a single spotlight shining on them. A traditional Ragunnesi melody began playing softly in the background as the auctioneer spoke.
-"You!!! You are the chosen ones to be the stars of tonight’s dance! Show us your best moves, ladies!"
Carlotta didn’t know who she hated more—her debtor's organization or this auctioneer. Perhaps the auctioneer was winning that battle…
Her thoughts were forcefully interrupted when she felt a hand on her waist and another grasping hers. Carlotta was in shock—she had expected the other woman to refuse and leave as soon as the auctioneer explained what was happening.
But to her surprise, the woman remained in front of her and even took the initiative to lead the dance. Rejecting her would be impolite, and besides… perhaps by dancing with her, she would reveal her true identity—or at least give some hint about who she was. Carlotta was very curious.
-"It will be a pleasure to be your dance partner, my lady," Carlotta said, placing her right arm on the woman’s shoulders while holding her hand with the left.
They began to dance in sync with the music, their bodies brushing against each other. Carlotta could feel the warmth of the other woman's skin, and hear her slightly uneven breathing. It was the first time dancing had felt like a courtship. She wasn’t sure if she felt this way because her partner was truly attractive, to the point that she thought the woman she was dancing with had been sculpted by the sentinels of Solaris-3 themselves. It was as if they were both flames of fire, igniting every time they made eye contact or physical contact.
Then, the woman leaned in and whispered into her ear.
-"Do you enjoy dancing with me, Lady Montelli? Because I certainly do. You've become quite beautiful since the last time we met."
Her playful tone returned, accompanied by a sly smile.
-"Huh… what?"
Carlotta had no idea who this woman was, and that worried her. But at the same time, the warmth of her arms and the scent of her perfume were… intoxicating.
Wait…
Lavender and blue hair. A dazzling figure. And she could compete with the Montellis...?
Shit.
-"Cantarella Fisalia."
Damn it. Of all the people in Ragunna, did it have to be her?
And the worst part? She's attracted to the leader of the family the Montellis despise the most—the Fisalias.
-"Wow, why do you make that face and say my name in such a bittersweet way? I thought you enjoyed being with me."
Her voice retained its usual playful tone, but this time, there was a hint of sadness.
-"Well, who wouldn’t be disappointed to find out that the person they just had the best dance of their life with is the leader of their family’s sworn enemy?"
-"That doesn’t have to be the case between us, Carlotta."
Suddenly, Carlotta feels Cantarella’s hands sinking into her skin, pulling her closer. She can feel those hands grazing over her tacit mark, making her shudder every time they touch. Cantarella's grip is so firm that all of Carlotta's attempts to break free—without causing a public scandal—fail.
Their bodies move to the rhythm of the music, eyes locked onto each other, unable to see anything else in the grand hall. Their steps are flawless, and synchronized, as if they were one. All eyes in the room are on them, yet the moment seems to come to an abrupt end when armed men storm into the hall, causing an uproar of screams. But Carlotta and Cantarella remain frozen, their gazes still locked.
-"It seems we’ll have to continue another day, my dear Montelli heiress."
-"Hahaha, it seems so, Cantarella Fisalia. I almost forgot why I came to the auction, thanks to our 'dance'."
Before they can say anything else, the armed men point their guns at both of them. Carlotta studies them and quickly notices the emblem of the criminal organization she was targeting tonight. Without hesitation, she uses her resonance ability, giving them the beating of their lives. But when she turns back to look at Cantarella—she's gone. As if she had vanished into thin air.
The only thing left for Carlotta to do now is finish the job she came here for.
-"Where is your boss? Answer me, or you’ll learn what true living hell feels like."
-"P-Please, spare us! Our leader is in the main room on the third f-floor!"
Carlotta makes her way up to the third floor, taking down anyone who dares stand in her way with the elegant precision of a Montelli, using her crystalline weapons. When she finally reaches the top, the debt-ridden man she was after is waiting for her—surrounded by his lackeys.
-"You know nothing in this world can save you from what’s coming, right? So, why not make it easier on yourself? Just lower your head and accept your fate when I put my gun to it."
-"Ha! Try it if you can, Carlotta. ATTACK HER!"
Four men, twice her size, charge at her all at once—but they are nothing she can’t handle. She dodges their attacks effortlessly as if reading an open book, and when she strikes back, every shot is precise and clean. The battle rages on until they reach the rooftop, where all the men have fallen, leaving only their leader standing.
-"Last words?"** Carlotta asks before pulling the trigger of her crystal pistol.
-"NO! CARLOTTA!!!"
-BANG!
The sound of a gunshot echoes across the rooftop, blending with the midnight rain.
-"In the name of the Montellis."
***
Montelli servants clean up the mess left behind on the rooftop while Carlotta stands by a window on the second floor, watching the moon through the rain. A nearly inaudible noise alerts her. Turning around, she sees a female figure emerge from the shadows.
-"Cantarella. You disappeared—I thought you had already left."
-"Let’s just say I wanted to stay and watch the show from the front row. And confirm if the reports about how beautiful your resonance ability is were true. Even your hair looks like fine crystal—truly stunning."
The young Montelli blushes at Cantarella’s compliments, subtly turning away to hide her face. Cantarella makes her feel strange—she doesn’t understand why, but oddly, she doesn’t mind it.
-"Pfft, it’s not like you didn’t already know that about me."
-"I never saw it up close."
Right after saying those words, Cantarella slowly walks toward Carlotta, who still has her back turned to her, and gently runs her fingers through the crystalline strands of her hair.
-"Hey, what are you—" Carlotta says, startled by the sudden touch.
-"I just wanted to know how it feels to touch it, hehe."
-"You’re seriously crazy, woman. If you keep this up, you’ll make me want to..."
-"Hmm?"
Carlotta turns to see Cantarella’s playful smile. Their eyes meet, and the fiery spark from their dance ignites once more. The young Montelli can no longer resist the allure of the Fisalia leader, and she finally surrenders to her desires.
Their lips meet in a passionate kiss that starts slow and tender but quickly becomes more desperate and deep. Carlotta’s hands rest on Cantarella’s shoulders while Cantarella’s grip tightens around Carlotta’s waist, pulling her closer. Their tongues soon join in a heated dance, soft gasps escaping between their lips.
The intense moment is interrupted when the taller woman pulls away, leaving Carlotta momentarily confused—until she feels Cantarella’s lips trailing down her neck. Slowly, Cantarella kisses her way down, leaving gentle bites along her skin, marking her. Carlotta knows these marks will be a problem later, but right now, she doesn’t care.
Between breathless gasps, the young Montelli manages to whisper:
-"Ah… w-what if we save this for another day, my lady? I-I’m in a bit of a hurry right now, ngh!"
-"Why? I’m enjoying this quite a lot."
-"M-My guards are waiting outside."
A sudden knock at the door startles them both.
-"Lady Opal? We’ve finished cleaning up the scene. We’ll be waiting outside to escort you back to the Montelli estate."
Gathering all her strength, Carlotta steadies her voice, trying to sound as composed as possible.
-"Understood. I’ll be out soon. Wait a moment."
She pushes Cantarella away, quickly fixing her disheveled hair and dress while Cantarella watches her with an amused smirk.
-"What a shame our fun had to end so soon. Don’t you think, Montelli?"
-"No one can ever find out about this, Fisalia. You know that better than I do."
-"Of course. I can only imagine the scandal if people found out that the head of the Fisalia family and the Montelli heiress have a secret relationship."
-"But… that doesn’t mean we can’t keep seeing each other, Carlotta. You know we both want this. Especially after what just happened."
Carlotta can’t deny it—she knows it’s true. But this can’t happen. Their families hate each other. Yet, her desire for this woman is stronger than her hatred for the Fisalia name.
May Imperator forgive her for what she’s about to say…
-"What if we meet again—somewhere more private, where we can be alone?"
Cantarella’s smile widens.
-"A Montelli offering something to a Fisalia? I gladly accept your invitation."
-"Let's meet tomorrow, I'll write the address down on paper for you."
Cantarella takes the piece of paper with the address and, before leaving so the other girl can continue with her activities, she gives her a scarf she had in her bag.
-"Why the scarf?" Carlotta asks, confused.
-"Look at your neck, Montelli."* The smile on her face is impossible to see, but watching Carlotta like this is her greatest source of pleasure.
-"Ah... Thanks."* Her face turns as red as a tomato, and she can't help but try to hide it so Cantarella won’t look at her like that—though just moments ago, she had already seen that and much more of her. She takes the scarf and wraps it around her neck, covering all the marks left by her lustful outburst with Fisalia's leader.
The two women say their goodbyes. Carlotta steps outside to return home with her escorts, while Cantarella slips out through the window alone, bidding farewell to the girl with a kiss on the cheek.
***
The next day, Carlotta wakes up and looks at herself in the mirror, realizing that she still has those marks that the leader of Fisalia left on her last night. This confirms that what happened was real and not just a dream. She had wished it was merely a lustful fantasy, but it was real—and the worst part is that tonight, she has a date with Cantarella, one that she arranged in one of the Montelli family's houses at the Nimbus Sanctuary.
Carlotta chose that place because, near the house, there's a spot where they can ride a gondola over the beautiful river of clouds that surrounds Nimbus Sanctuary. Besides, her family rarely visits that house, so most of the time, it’s empty. Adding to that, it’s in a rather remote location, making it the perfect spot for a secret date.
Time passes faster than the young Montelli expected. She gets so caught up in her duties that when she looks at the clock, it's already 8:00 PM—almost time for her date. No one can find out that she will be away from the Montelli estate, so she disguises herself as a merchant traveling to Nimbus Sanctuary and rents a carriage to get there unnoticed.
Once inside the house, she changes into a different outfit, and soon after, Cantarella arrives, walking alone to her door.
-"Good evening, Carlotta. It took me a while to get here without anyone noticing."
-"Oh, don’t worry. You arrived just as I finished changing. Now, how about we go out? There's a small port nearby where we can take a gondola ride."
-"Hmm, a gondola ride? That sounds interesting, but I’d rather do something more like what we did last night, you know..."
The eyes of the woman in front of her lock onto hers, and as if Carlotta were a magnet, the other woman lunges at her to look deeply into her eyes while their lips gradually draw closer to each other. When their lips finally touch, a passionate kiss ensues. Montelli's hands wrap around Cantarella's neck, guiding her to the bedroom with their lips still crashing against each other.
Upon arriving in the room, Cantarella gently throws Carlotta onto the bed and begins to undress, removing her garments one by one in front of the girl's eyes on the bed, who attentively watched the spectacle. Once she has finished, Cantarella straddles and takes one of Carlotta's hands to kiss the palm, continuing with a whisper in her ear saying, "It's your turn." Carlotta is surprised, but she is right; it's only fair that both of them can see every inch of each other if they are going to do this. However, she was going to need help, as the dress she was wearing required maids to take it off.
Carlotta gets out of bed and turns around so the other woman can easily remove it, the dress falling to the floor, leaving an exposed back that Cantarella cannot resist and kisses every inch of skin until reaching the lumbar area where she carefully caresses and licks the tacit mark, tickling Carlotta, who was lost in the feeling of how stimulating and pleasurable it was. They spent the night making love until they were satisfied. The next morning, Carlotta woke up to see Cantarella in just a slightly open nightgown covering her, sitting by the window watching her sleep. She got up and put on a loose shirt she found in the closet, approached Cantarella, and sat on her lap, looking towards the dawn.
-"Cantarella Fisalia, I must admit that was the best night of my life. I admit I thought that after this night everything would return to normal, that it was just a fleeting adventure, but this made me want more...?" She says with a sad yet confused tone as if her feelings were a whirlwind.
-"I don't understand, you know this doesn't have to be like this. We both feel the same way about each other, why can't we be together?" Cantarella knows that Carlotta is going to say it's because of their families, but she doesn't care about the Fisalias or the Montellis, she just wants to be with the one she loves even if that means betrayal.
-"Our families are enemies… we can’t." Her voice wavered, the hesitation betraying her true feelings.
-"There is another way. Just like the other noble families of Ragunna, we can marry, Carlotta, to unite the Fisalia family and the Montellis and create a new era of peace between both families!"
-"It's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time."
-"Dear, I am the head of the Fisalia and you are the Montelli heir, together we have the power to change things."
Even if it didn't work out and their families were still enemies even after they got married, that didn't bother Carlotta or Cantarella at all because, for them, the mere idea of being together is their greatest desire and happiness.