The man in charge glanced at Ariana, giving her a subtle nod, silently urging her to speak up.

Embracing the puppy tightly, Ariana stepped forward and said, "I want to keep this puppy, but this man won't permit it. I thought I'd come to you directly. Can I please keep it?"

Bennett looked at the puppy and snorted. "You seem quite at ease, harboring a desire for a pet. Fear seems to have abandoned you, has it not?"

His mocking gaze continued as he added, “Weren't you counting on your lover to come to your rescue? What became of that expectation?"

Ariana pressed her lips together, locking her eyes defiantly with Bennett's for a fleeting moment before her gaze wavered. A tinge of sadness crept into her voice as she admitted, “If he were coming, he'd be here by now... It's been far too long."

She trailed off, her expression clouded with disappointment, unwilling to say anything more.

Bennett seemed pleased by her demeanor, his smile widening as he remarked, "You should have realized this sooner. It would have spared you a great deal of trouble!"

His attention then returned to the puppy. "You truly wish to keep this puppy, huh?"

Ariana nodded, gently caressing the puppy's head. “If I don't take it in, it'll only end up becoming prey for wild creatures.”

Bennett chuckled. "You're adapting quickly to the ways of this place."

Ariana yearned to conclude the conversation swiftly and posed her question directly. "So, may I keep it?"

“You may," Bennett replied with a grin. “But you know there's always a condition when dealing with me."

A knot formed in Ariana's stomach as she asked, "What's the condition?"

"Finish what you left off last night," Bennett said, chuckling as he recollected her previous defiance, his gaze fixated on her, clearly finding amusement in the situation.

Ariana remained silent for a considerable time, and Bennett patiently awaited her response.

Eventually, Ariana nodded and said, “Alright, but I'm quite bashful. I'll do it after everyone else leaves."

“Agreed!" Bennett swiftly consented, snapping his fingers. Everyone else quickly left under his instruction.

After that, Ariana still felt uneasy. Awkwardly turning to Bennett, she said, "I'm not adept at dancing. Could I perhaps sing instead?"

"Don't push your luck!" Bennett retorted, resting his head on his hand as he observed her. "But today, I'm in a generous mood. You don't need to take off your clothes, but you must dance!"

Ariana felt cornered and glanced at Bennett. She said, "Okay, I'll dance, but you have to let me keep this puppy.”