Seeing Durandal seemingly lost in thought over her proposal, Elysia's lips curled into a playful smirk.
Taking advantage of the height difference from her seat on the other girl's lap, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss to the furrow of Durandal's brow.
"Alright, alright. Since I'm such a cute and understanding girl, I'll give you another option besides 'Goose,'" she giggled. "How about I just call you Bianka?"
"Bianka?"
The name certainly rolled off the tongue more naturally than Durandal. At most, if anyone else looked confused, she could just explain it away as a nickname.
"Fine. From now on, I'll call you Ellie, and you call me Bianka."
Durandal finally relaxed her brow. She reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Elysia's ear, revealing a glimpse of her fair neck and delicate ear—a sight Durandal felt she could never grow tired of, no matter how many times she saw it.
"Bianka~♪"
Having secured her permission, Elysia couldn't wait to test it out, her voice practically singing the name.
"Mm-hmm."
Durandal looked at the stunning girl before her, who acted as if she had just been handed her favorite toy. After a soft acknowledgment, Durandal gave Elysia's cute nose a playful pinch. "Ellie, Eden could be back at any moment. So... don't play with fire for now."
Elysia didn't look the least bit embarrassed at having her intentions read so easily. Instead, a mischievous smile spread across her face. "I won't play with fire, but is it really so wrong to collect a little interest?"
"Interest?" Durandal looked genuinely puzzled. "Do I owe you something?"
"Bianka, you're the one stopping me from 'playing.' Shouldn't I be compensated for the emotional distress caused to my fragile, wounded heart?" Elysia pouted, looking for all the world like she might burst into tears if Durandal dared to argue.
Durandal didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Picking up the phone she had set aside earlier, she composed a quick message to Eden. She explained that she and Elysia were heading out for a stroll and probably wouldn't be back at the hotel until after dinner.
She suggested Eden stay at the sanatorium for the time being, and they would pick her up later that evening to head back and rest.
Once the message was sent, Durandal held the screen up for Elysia to see.
After scanning the text, Elysia took the opportunity to push Durandal back onto the bed. "So, that means I can collect everything—principal and interest—right now, doesn't it? Bianka~♪"
Elysia leaned over her, her voice dropping into a sultry, captivating lilt.
"Yes."
Durandal's response was, as always, short and to the point. With a swift, fluid roll, she reversed their positions in a single motion, pinning Elysia beneath her.
--+--
While Durandal and Elysia were "settling their debts" back at the hotel, Eden received Durandal's message.
She had actually just finished her work and was about to say her goodbyes to Aponia so she could reunite with the pair at the hotel. Now, however, she had no choice but to drop those plans and stay at the sanatorium a while longer.
As for whether Durandal and Elysia were actually out for a stroll... well, that didn't really matter.
"Aponia..."
"Ow! Good grief!"
Eden was just about to say something when a sharp cry of pain rang out from the courtyard outside the office.
Eden paused, curious.
The scene felt strangely familiar. It reminded her of a story Connie once told her about Vill-V's dramatic entrances. Apparently, Vill-V had once tried to hop the wall and ended up landing flat on her backside, leaving Durandal to help her inside.
Eden looked at Aponia with a questioning glance, but Aponia only offered a helpless expression in return. "It seems the neighbor's cat noticed the commotion and decided to come investigate."
"A cat?" Eden asked skeptically. That voice had sounded distinctly human.
Aponia didn't quite know how to explain it. "You'll understand when you see her," she said, standing up to lead the way outside.
Eden followed closely behind. When they reached the source of the noise, she immediately spotted a girl sprawled out on the ground in a rather ungraceful heap.
Even by summer standards, her outfit was incredibly "breezy." She had light brown, shoulder-length hair with two thin braids framing her face, and wore black, nearly knee-high boots.
With Eden's natural eye for fashion, her first thought was that the girl looked like a dancer with Middle Eastern or North African flair; her second thought was that she looked like a thief.
Furthermore, seeing the way she lay on the ground, only to reflexively curl up like a startled animal when she noticed them approaching, Eden realized why Aponia had used the word "cat." The description was spot on.
"In through the wall again, I see..."
Though Aponia and the girl were neighbors, they weren't exactly close. Still, Aponia knew the girl often hopped the fence to play with the children at the sanatorium. Sometimes, extra supplies would mysteriously appear at the facility, usually thanks to her.
Of course, small, inconsequential trinkets would occasionally go missing too—also likely her handiwork.
Given the massive stir at the sanatorium today, Aponia knew that while others might stay away out of fear of her, this girl was certainly not among them. She would inevitably sneak in to see what was going on.
As for why a girl so familiar with the route would trip in broad daylight and make such a racket...
Aponia glanced at the wall where the supplies were stacked. Knowing the girl always jumped over at that spot, Aponia usually kept the area clear so she wouldn't get hurt. She hadn't expected Durandal and the others to use that exact patch of empty ground for the supply drop.
The girl's fall was one of those classic accidents—like when you're walking down the stairs and think there's one more step when you've already hit the floor, leading to a clumsy, jarring stumble. She had vaulted over the wall with practiced ease, not realizing the landing zone was now piled high with crates.
Aponia sighed and leaned down, helping the dazed girl to her feet. "Try the front door next time. Stop climbing the walls."
The girl scratched the back of her head sheepishly, though one look at her face made it clear she'd probably do it again tomorrow.
"Oh, come on! I'll be careful next time, I promise. This was just a fluke!" the girl chirped, waving off the concern with a nonchalant grin.
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL