"...Yeah," he muttered, almost to himself, "that hit the spot."

Across from him, the silver-haired woman who had been watching earlier smirked, resting her chin lazily on her palm.

"Told you," she said, her tone laced with amusement, "first meal always gets you."

Roy glanced at her, a faint grin tugging at his lips now that the edge of his hunger had been dulled.

"If this is what you people eat every day, I might actually stick around," he replied.

"Oh?" she raised a brow, "just for the food?"

Roy shrugged slightly. "Food, roof, interesting company..."

His gaze flicked briefly across the room, lingering for just a second on a couple of passing sexy women before returning to her.

"...plenty of reasons."

She huffed a quiet laugh. "Careful, you’ll get yourself in trouble thinking like that."

"Wouldn’t be the first time."

Before she could respond, a heavy hand landed on Roy’s shoulder with enough weight to make him dip slightly in his seat.

"So?" Marta’s voice came from behind him, "good or not?"

Roy winced slightly at the impact, then looked up at her over his shoulder.

"Good," he said simply, then added with a bit more emphasis, "really good."

Marta grinned, clearly pleased.

"Of course it is," she said, crossing her arms proudly, "I don’t serve garbage here."

"Clearly," Roy replied, rolling his shoulder slightly where she had grabbed him.

She gave him one more firm pat, just shy of another full-on strike, before turning back toward the kitchen.

"Don’t be shy to tell me if you want more," she called out.

Roy glanced back at his empty bowl, then at her retreating figure.

"...I just might."

The silver-haired woman across from him leaned forward slightly.

"Careful," she repeated, though there was a teasing glint in her eyes, "she’ll start feeding you extra if she likes you."

Roy smirked. "That a bad thing?"

"For your waistline? Yeah."

He snorted softly, then pushed himself up from his seat, stretching his arms lightly as he rolled his neck, the tension in his body easing now that he was fed and no longer running on fumes.

"...Alright," he said, more to himself than anyone else, "that’s one problem solved."

"Got plans already?" the man sitting beside the silver-haired woman asked.

Roy shrugged. "Not really. Just... settling in, I guess."

The man nodded. "Fair enough. Try not to wander into the wrong rooms, though."

Roy paused mid-step, glancing back. "That sounds like it comes from experience."

"...Maybe," the man replied flatly, while the woman beside him snickered.

Roy chuckled under his breath and shook his head, stepping away from the table as he made his way toward the exit.

He barely made it a few steps.

"Leaving already?"

He paused and turned his head.

The silver-haired lady stood up and followed behind like she had been waiting for him. If he had to say, she was honestly striking, though not overwhelmingly so. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and her pale grey eyes were fixed on him with a small, knowing smile.

Roy turned fully toward her, hands slipping into his pockets.

"Was about to," he said.

She tilted her head slightly, looking him over without hiding it. "That’d be a waste."

"Oh?" he raised a brow, "and why’s that?"

She stepped closer, not too close, just enough to make it clear she was talking to him and not just passing by.

"Since you are new," she said, her voice calm, a little teasing, "you don’t know how things really work here yet."

"I’ll figure it out," Roy shrugged.

"Mhm," she hummed, clearly not convinced, "or you could let someone show you properly, you know, save a little time."

He smirked a little. "And who’s offering that?"

She smiled.

"Lysara," she said, "call me Lys."

"Roy."

There was a short pause.

Then she stepped just a bit closer again.

"If you want," she said, "I can show you the massage rooms properly, how we handle clients, what they expect..."

She held his gaze, "...what they really expect."

Roy watched her for a second, then smirked.

"And you’re doing this out of kindness?"

She laughed softly. "Partly. I’m also curious."

"About me?"

"Mhm."

He exhaled lightly through his nose.

"Dangerous."

She shrugged. "Only if you make it that way."

Another short pause.

Roy rolled his neck once, then nodded.

"Alright, I’ll take the tour."

Her smile widened just a little.

"Good."

She turned and started walking toward the exit, then glanced back at him.

"Try to keep up."

Roy stepped forward, falling in beside her.

"I think I’ll manage."

And just like that, the two of them left the room together.

Lys walked beside him at an easy pace, her steps unhurried as they moved through the corridor, the warm air brushing against them as the faint sound of water echoed somewhere deeper in the building, and after a few seconds of silence, she glanced at him from the side.

"So," she said casually, "where were you before you came here?"

Roy let out a dry laugh, scratching the back of his head.

"Uh... the streets."

She slowed slightly.

"What?" she turned her head properly this time, looking at him with clear surprise, "Are you serious?"

Roy shrugged lightly. "I have no reason to lie."

Well, it was only a half-truth; he was actually a fallen noble, but he couldn’t say that now, could he?

Lys studied him for a second longer, then let out a small breath, shaking her head with a faint smile.

"The world really is full of surprises, huh..."

"It sure is," Roy agreed.

They kept walking, their steps falling back into rhythm, and after a moment, Lys spoke again, her tone softer this time.

"Well," she said, glancing at him again, "I’m glad you found your way here."

There was a small pause before she added, "I’m looking forward to getting to know you."

She let out a light giggle after that, almost under her breath, and for a split second—

Roy swore he saw that brief flick of her tongue across her lips and that subtle, hungry look in her eyes.

He blinked once, then looked ahead again, his expression not changing, but his thoughts immediately kicking into motion.

’Is this happening right now?’

...Alright.

He could see where this might be going.

Maybe, or maybe not.

He wasn’t about to get ahead of himself just yet.

Maybe she really did just want to show him around.

...Yeah.

Right?

Roy almost snorted at his own thought.

No way.

’Relax,’ he told himself inwardly, his lips twitching just slightly, ’you’ve got the looks, you’ve got the charm... this was bound to happen sooner or later.’

For once, things were lining up.

His smile stayed subtle, but inside, he couldn’t help but thank whatever higher power was watching over him, because after everything, it felt like he had finally caught a break.

And if things went well...

He might not be sleeping alone tonight.