Rory had only been teasing him.

Now that Yuel had given her an easy way out, she took it without hesitation.

Smiling, she nodded and left the room with him.

The moment Rory stepped into the lounge, she realized everyone was gathered there.

After Vangar had sent that message in the group chat, they had all guessed she would probably come out soon.

As a result, they had abandoned the dining hall and relocated to the lounge.

Xarion was sprawled across a sofa, expressionless as he manipulated a ball of icy energy in his hands.

Rory could not quite make out what he was sculpting.

The moment it took shape, however, he seemed dissatisfied and crushed it immediately.

Nearby, Nix sat beside Vincent looking utterly defeated.

He muttered continuously under his breath, sounding like he was filing endless complaints against fate itself.

Vincent, meanwhile, leisurely sipped his water.

The faint curve of his lips suggested he was in an excellent mood.

Rory had no idea what they had been discussing, but one thing was obvious.

Nix had suffered a complete and overwhelming defeat.

Aren looked strangely unwell.

Seated in a chair, his complexion carried a faint greenish tint.

Beside him sat Lian.

The two of them, along with Jasper, appeared to be discussing something amusing, smiles lingering on both of their faces.

Wen continued polishing the beautiful seashell in his hands.

Paros stood by the observation window with a furrowed brow, staring into the endless star-filled void outside.

Something about his posture immediately reminded Rory of the first time she had met him.

Her brows drew together.

Had Paros recovered?

The moment Rory appeared, every pair of eyes in the room turned toward her.

"Rory, you’re out."

Nix was the first to jump to his feet.

"What would you like to eat? I’ll go get it for you."

"Maybe some fruit."

Rory smiled.

"I’ll wash it for you."

"I have fruit too. I’ll come with you."

Aren immediately stood as well.

He had only recently returned, and he was determined to make a good impression in front of the Female Master.

Watching Aren and Nix disappear into the kitchen together, Rory shifted her attention toward Paros.

"Paros?"

Paros clearly hadn’t expected her to call him first.

His eyes immediately lifted to meet hers.

"Did you need something, Sister?"

His gaze was clear and pitifully innocent, looking no different from before.

Perhaps she had imagined it earlier.

Rory walked over and studied him carefully.

Paros didn’t avoid her gaze.

Instead, he looked directly back at her with complete sincerity.

She searched his eyes for several moments.

Nothing seemed unusual.

Maybe it really had been her imagination.

Smiling, Rory said, "I’ll perform a soothing session for you later."

Paros nodded immediately.

"Okay."

After speaking, Rory glanced around the lounge.

Then she frowned slightly.

"Where’s Vangar?"

Everyone else was present.

He was the only one missing.

"Rory, I’m here."

Vangar’s voice sounded from behind her.

He emerged from his room just then.

He had only gone back briefly to use the restroom and hadn’t expected Rory to come out while he was gone.

Rory raised an eyebrow when she saw him.

This man really did have two completely different faces.

In the group chat he constantly called her "little female master."

Face to face, however, she was always "Rory."

Vangar strode quickly to her side.

"Did you need something?"

Rory nodded.

"Yuel told me that you can authorize the starship to reach the Central District faster."

Vangar did indeed possess that authority.

"That’s right."

He nodded without hesitation.

"I’ll make the arrangements immediately."

In reality, Yuel had never told her that.

Rory had discovered it while secretly reading through their group chat records.

Vangar, however, didn’t question her for a second.

Not far away, Yuel looked at Rory and couldn’t help smiling.

Vincent, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes slightly.

Something felt off.

He was increasingly convinced that Yuel was hiding something.

Lian continued chatting casually with Jasper.

Even so, nothing escaped his notice.

He was fully aware of what everyone in the room was doing.

Earlier, nobody else had been able to hear the conversation between Vincent and Nix.

Lian had heard every word.

The memory of Nix looking furious but too intimidated to protest made him inwardly amused.

As the thought crossed his mind, Lian turned his gaze toward Yuel.

Almost as if he had anticipated it, Yuel looked over at that exact moment.

Their eyes met across the room.

Then Yuel slowly curved his lips into a knowing smile.

Lian’s eyes narrowed immediately.

Yuel was smiling far too happily.

Whatever was going through his mind, it certainly couldn’t be anything innocent.

Xarion ignored the subtle undercurrents flowing between them and continued shaping tiny ice sculptures.

As for Wen, he had always been the quietest among them. Seeing that Rory didn’t need his attention at the moment, he simply returned to polishing his seashell.

On the surface, the atmosphere appeared peaceful.

Harmonious, even.

Rory, however, could easily tell that everyone was carrying their own thoughts.

She chose not to point it out.

Instead, she turned to Jasper.

"Jasper, I’d like some juice."

Jasper immediately straightened.

"I’ll make it for you."

Then Rory’s gaze shifted toward Wen, who was still carefully polishing the shell in his hands.

"Wen, are you in a hurry to finish that?"

Wen hadn’t expected Rory to call on him.

He immediately put the shell away and rose to his feet.

"Female Master, I’m not busy."

The shell was meant to become a gift for her once he finished polishing it.

He didn’t dare hope she would give him a special outfit like the others had received.

But he could still prepare gifts for her himself.

Rory walked over.

Right in front of everyone, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I’d really like sweet and spicy silverfish for dinner tonight."

She smiled warmly.

"Could you make it for me?"

Wen froze completely.

For several seconds, he simply stared at her.

His mind went blank.

"Female Master... I... I’ll go right now."

The unexpected kiss had completely overwhelmed him.

If he hadn’t been carefully maintaining control, his fish tail might have appeared on the spot.

Watching Wen stumble toward the kitchen with awkward, mismatched steps, Rory couldn’t help smiling.

Her attention soon shifted to Vincent.

"Vincent."

Before she could continue, Vincent was already on his feet.

He gently took her hand.

"What would you like me to do?"

"Nothing."

Rory squeezed his hand lightly.

"You should sit down and rest."

He still wasn’t feeling well.

There was no way she was going to make him work.

"Alright."

Vincent knew exactly why she was saying it.

The concern in her eyes warmed his heart.

Reluctantly, he continued holding her hand for another moment before speaking softly.

"Rory, I want to kiss you."

Before she could respond, he leaned down and quickly brushed a kiss across her cheek.

Rory blinked.

Vincent immediately pulled back.

A perfect example of taking advantage and retreating before anyone could complain.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed both Yuel and Lian quietly leaving the lounge.

"Rory."

His smile softened.

"I’m going to rest for a while."

"I’ll have dinner with you tonight."

"Okay."

Rory nodded.

"Get some rest."

After Vincent left, she walked over to Xarion.

By now, the miniature ice wolves and tiny Rory sculptures had disappeared.

The moment he saw her approaching, Xarion immediately sat up straighter.

"Female Master."

"What were you making earlier?"

Rory settled onto the sofa and tilted sideways, resting her head comfortably on his lap.

"A little ice wolf."

As he spoke, a stream of icy energy gathered in his palm.

A second later, a tiny transparent wolf appeared.

The delicate sculpture sparkled like crystal.

Xarion held it out toward her.

Rory reached for it.

He immediately pulled it back.

"It’s cold."

His voice was unusually gentle.

"Don’t touch it yet."

"When I make a better one, I’ll ask Vincent to add a little fire-element energy."

"Then you can play with it."

Rory studied the miniature wolf in fascination.

"Xarion."

She smiled.

"This wolf looks just like you."

He nodded.

"It is me."

"It’s modeled after my beast form."

His gaze softened slightly.

"I was going to make one of you too."

"But I haven’t gotten it right yet."

"When I can make it properly, I’ll show you."

"Deal."

Rory smiled and nodded.

Then she lifted a hand and crooked her finger toward him.

Xarion immediately leaned down.

Their faces drew close.

Rory pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

By now, everyone else had already left the lounge.

Only the two of them remained.

Xarion stared into her eyes.

The tiny ice wolf vanished from his hand.

Instead, his fingers slid between hers, intertwining them tightly.

"Female Master..."

His voice was low and rough.

Filled with emotions he could barely contain.

Meanwhile, in the observation lounge at the rear of the starship, Vincent stepped inside and found Yuel and Lian already waiting there.

He raised an eyebrow.

The enormous observation window framed a sea of drifting stars behind them.

"What is this?"

His gaze moved between the two men.

"What couldn’t be discussed in the lounge? Why drag the conversation all the way out here?"