I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 75: 75:Random visit.

The room was small, simply practical. The kind of room a contractor rented when every point mattered. The Contractor Hotel had hundreds of similar rooms.

Yet Ravenna found herself looking around it with mixed feelings. Because for all its flaws, this little room had been her first real home since arriving in Delta-3.

She stood beside the bed. Several bags lay neatly packed; extra clothes, weapons, rations, and medical supplies. These were few personal belongings she had. Everything she owned could fit into three bags.

The realization should have been depressing, but instead it felt strangely freeing. Since she had no attachments, chains, or reason to stay. She could go to the academy without the need for nostalgia most experienced when leaving home.

For the first time in years, she was moving toward something instead of merely surviving.

Mallory sat nearby folding clothes. She glanced toward the bags then toward Ravenna and smiled.

"I can’t believe we’re leaving again."

Ravenna nodded as her thoughts started to wander.

"But this time, we have a concrete destination in place and a bright future."

Mallory chuckled before she sniffed as she held her tears back.

"I thought we would be leaving alone when we first came here, but it’s good that you finally found someone you can at least depend on."

"I know."

"Still, you should be careful young lady. You can’t fully place your trust in him," Mallory decided to be the voice of reason.

"Don’t worry, I’m strong enough to withstand another heartbreak," she responded lightly.

"I hope it never comes to that."

"Don’t worry about it. It won’t, I can just feel it. Silver...," she was quiet for a moment," he’s a good person."

Ravenna looked away after that. Mallory smiled.

"I trust your judgment more than anything," she said," don’t let anything get between the two of you, especially now that you’ll be going to a high-pressure environment."

Ravenna nodded." Don’t worry, I won’t."

They both chuckled as though it were an inside joke. Mallory folded another shirt then casually spoke.

"Have you two... You know?" Mallory changed the subject.

Ravenna nearly dropped the knife she was cleaning.

"No."

The answer came far too quickly. Mallory’s smile widened dangerously.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Nothing at all?"

"...This is the end of that."

Mallory nodded as though she had just confirmed something important.

Ravenna regretted answering immediately but a knock interrupted them before she could defend herself.

Both women looked toward the door. Mallory stood first. Several moments later she returned, looking very confused.

"Young Lady."

Ravenna looked up.

"What?"

The maid hesitated. Then spoke carefully.

"Someone is asking for you."

Ravenna frowned.

"Who?"

Mallory’s expression became stranger.

"Do you know a woman called Cruella. She says she knows young master Silver."

Silence filled the room. Ravenna’s eyes widened, and she placed the dress she was folding down.

"Did you say Cruella?"

Mallory nodded.

"Do you know her?"

How could she not, but the visit was both expected and unexpected. Ravenna slowly stood. Her first thought wasn’t excitement but suspicion.

She already knew people like that rarely visited for no reason, especially not personally.

.

.

.

Several minutes later. At the hotel lobby.

The evening crowd moved through the building as contractors returned from hunts, workers finished their shifts and travelers were eating dinner. The atmosphere remained lively.

Near one of the waiting areas stood Cruella; beautiful, elegant, and perfectly dressed in white as always. Exactly the image people expected. Several young men nearby had already noticed her.

Ravenna wasn’t impressed. The moment she approached, Cruella smiled, a gentle and friendly smile.

Ravenna immediately recognized it. That was the smile people used when they wanted something, which her own sister had used on her until she became immune to it.

"Miss Ravenna."

Ravenna stopped.

"You know my name?"

Cruella laughed softly.

"Of course, I do."

That wasn’t an answer and Ravenna noticed. Cruella clearly noticed Ravenna noticing.

Ravenna glanced at everyone looking at them. She didn’t like this kind of attention but it seems she was there for the attention.

"Can we take a seat?" Cruella said.

"Sure."

Ravenna led her to a slightly more secluded part of the hotel lobby but the attention never left them.

They sat opposite one another, a small table separating them. For a few moments neither spoke.

Cruella eventually broke the silence.

"I wanted to talk."

Ravenna nodded.

"I figured."

Cruella smiled again, a little sadly this time.

"I’ve been worried."

Ravenna almost laughed.

’Worried? About me... sure’

Cruella continued.

"I heard you’ve been spending time with Silver."

’Silver was really right on the money’

Ravenna leaned back. Now, things made more sense. Cruella folded her hands, looking almost uncomfortable.

"I don’t want you to misunderstand."

Ravenna waited patiently for her to say her grievances. Cruella sighed.

"Silver is a good person."

’Wow, perfect opening’

Ravenna remained silent prompting Cruella to continue.

"But he has been hurt."

There it was, the setup and foundation of her approach. Ravenna had dealt with women like this before, one of them was her own sister. She could recognise one from a mile away.

Their kind never attacked directly. Everything sounded kind, reasonable, and concerned; right until the knife appeared.

Cruella looked down briefly, then back up with her eyes clouded slightly.

"I just don’t want you getting hurt."

Ravenna almost smiled.

"What do you mean?"

Cruella hesitated at the perfect moment.

"As you know..." her voice softened, "Silver cared about me for a very long time."

Ravenna nodded. She already knew that, everyone and their mothers knew that.

Cruella looked guilty or appeared guilty.

"He changed so suddenly."

Ravenna continued waiting for the play without interrupting.

"I just thought..."

Cruella lowered her gaze.

"...maybe he’s trying to move on too quickly."

’There it is, finally.’

Ravenna could practically see the trap and the indirect implication.

Silver wasn’t interested in you. You were merely convenient, available, and a replacement.

Cruella spoke softly.

"Sometimes people look for someone else because they’re trying to forget."

The final knife was delivered politely, wrapped in concern, and presented as advice. A masterclass.

Honestly, Ravenna almost respected the technique. Then she remembered who the target was.

Her.

Cruella clearly assumed she would be insecure, that she would doubt herself, that she would compare herself; that she would retreat.

Instead, Ravenna laughed.

Cruella actually froze, because that wasn’t the expected reaction. Ravenna continued laughing not mockingly but genuinely amused.

"Oh."

Cruella blinked.

"...What?"

Ravenna wiped away an imaginary tear. freewebnøvel.com

"I’m sorry. You just reminded me of something."

Cruella looked confused.

"What?" freёwebnovel.com

Ravenna smiled.

"A merchant."

"A merchant?"

Ravenna nodded.

"Back home."

Cruella clearly had no idea where this was going, nor did the nearby eavesdroppers.

Ravenna leaned forward.

"He kept trying to sell me fake jewelry."

Cruella frowned.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Ravenna smiled sweetly.

"Every time he lied, he used the same expression you’re using right now."

Beautiful silence filled the whole lobby. Cruella’s smile slightly twitched but Ravenna saw it; the first crack and genuine emotion.

Ravenna continued pleasantly.

"You’re very good at it though."

Another twitch. Cruella’s fingers tightened beneath the table.

Ravenna comfortably leaned back again, fully relaxed and completely unconcerned.

Then she spoke and this time her voice became serious.

"You know what I find interesting?"

Cruella said nothing. Ravenna didn’t need permission.

"You came all the way here."

Cruella remained silent.

"Not to talk to Silver. Not to warn Silver. Or even apologize to Silver."

Ravenna’s grey eyes sharpened.

"You came to warn me."

Cruella’s expression became increasingly stiff.

Ravenna smiled.

"Why?"

No answer came. Because there wasn’t a good one.

Ravenna continued.

"If he’s really moving on and doesn’t care anymore... If I’m really just a replacement."

Then her smile widened.

"Why are you worried?"

For only a second, Cruella finally lost her rhythm. But Ravenna saw it and that was enough. The satisfaction felt absolutely wonderful.