Rulan stepped out of his room, his footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floor. His gaze landed on Melina, who stood by the doorway, her posture calm yet commanding. For a moment, her beauty stunned him—the soft glow of her features under the dim light made his cheeks flush, and he quickly averted his eyes, not daring to linger.
"Can I... ask for your name?" Rulan managed, his voice hesitant but filled with curiosity.
"I'm Melina," she replied, her tone steady yet gentle. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she added, "And you?"
"I'm Rulan," he said, his lips curling into a shy smile.
As he spoke, Melina studied him briefly, her thoughts wandering. 'While he's here, I suppose I should let him keep this room,' she mused silently, casting a quick glance at the door behind him. 'And perhaps I should prepare more rooms for others. This place could use some extra space.' She nodded to herself before speaking again.
