Under Lumine's and Paimon's watchful gaze, Neuvillette's expressionless face revealed unmistakable hurt in his elongated dragon eyes.
Now this was awkward. Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, neither daring to speak.
"Ahem, um... Did Themis just return? She'll probably visit you after seeing Furina, right?"
"Think about it—Themis is such a kind person. She wouldn't ignore you. There must be some other reason keeping her busy."
Seeing Neuvillette's distress deepen as raindrops began falling outside the window, Paimon hurried to comfort him.
Neither me nor the Traveler brought umbrellas, she fretted. Unlike Neuvillette, we can't stay out in the rain forever!
If we catch cold and get fevers, it'll disrupt Lumine's ability to earn money to support me!
With this thought, little Paimon felt even more determined to stop Neuvillette from wallowing in sadness.
Lumine stood to the side, somewhat puzzled by Paimon's sudden concern for Neuvillette.
Well, I guess I misjudged her after all!
Lumine's small cat-like face fell as she planted her hands on her hips and glared at Paimon.
Under Lumine's intense gaze, Paimon chuckled awkwardly, her goofy expression leaving Lumine at a loss for words.
Through Paimon's persistent efforts, Neuvillette managed to regain some composure. The raindrops outside the window soon vanished as well.
"Um, shall we discuss that quest we mentioned earlier?" Paimon suggested.
As her words hung in the air, the door to Neuvillette's office creaked open.
Though the sound was faint, all three occupants heard it clearly.
They turned to see two figures entering the room.
"Quest? What quest?"
The pure white silhouette materialized, and the storm clouds above Fontaine City dissipated instantly. Sunlight flooded the streets, bringing relief to those without umbrellas.
Neuvillette's eyelashes fluttered as his throat tightened. His eyes remained fixed on Themis' figure.
His heart raced faster than normal. Under Themis' questioning gaze, Neuvillette pressed his lips together and proceeded to explain the quest he'd intended to entrust to the Traveler in greater detail.
Furina, following behind Themis, held her hand and nodded in greeting to the Traveler and Paimon.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
Lumine's gaze swept over Furina's body. After persistent searching, she finally spotted a faint pink mark on the side of her neck.
Lumine's lips curled into a smirk, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
Of course, if Furina explained it was just a mosquito bite, Lumine would have accepted that explanation. But then again, if Furina offered that excuse, Lumine might find even more pink marks on her neck.
Since arriving in Fontaine, Lumine was no longer the same innocent girl she used to be!
After being exposed to Fontaine's wild rumors, her purity had vanished, replaced by a mind as vivid as her hair!
There was no escaping it - Fontaine's gossip culture was too deeply ingrained.
No matter how one looked at it, their recent conversation in the office hadn't been entirely innocent.
Lumine's golden eyes reflected the two individuals who had just engaged in some... extracurricular activities.
Furina, however, remained oblivious to the thoughts swirling in Lumine's mind, and completely missed the fact that her single faint pink mark had been spotted by the sharp-eyed Lumine.
It was just strange being examined by Lumine's eyes as they scanned up and down.
As Neuvillette explained the threat letter incident involving the Melusines, Themis noticed the Traveler's gaze.
Blinking, she discreetly made a hushing gesture.
Lumine immediately understood, responding with an "I get it" hand signal.
Neuvillette was turning to retrieve the threat letter, with Furina following behind Themis. The latter's height blocked Furina's view, so neither noticed the exchange between the Traveler and Themis.
When Neuvillette turned back, both Lumine and Themis maintained their composure, showing no signs of disturbance.
Handing over the threat letter, Neuvillette watched as Themis carefully read it.
"A threat to the Melusines... It's been so long since we last saw such things."
Furina rested her head on Themis' arm, reading the threatening words. Though such letters should be tense and serious, she couldn't help but think:
"What a dull and clumsy imitation."
Themis rubbed Furina's head in exasperation. "Now, now. Neuvillette is very worried. Show some consideration."
Neuvillette blinked, looking at Themis with hope for a quick solution.
Themis's calm demeanor gave Neuvillette the impression that this was a simple matter.
"Don't worry, Neuvillette. I'll handle this."
After reassuring the anxious Neuvillette about the Melusine situation, Themis turned to the Traveler. "However, we may need your assistance again this time."
"After all, none of us—whether it's you, me, or Furina—can directly involve ourselves in this matter."
Lumine never refused a quest from Themis, and Paimon's eyes sparkled with anticipation, wondering what generous compensation Themis would offer this time.
Can't be helped. The Traveler has to make a living too. There's nothing wrong with wanting Mora—it's what she earns through her labor! Nothing to be ashamed of! Loving money is always the right choice!
With Themis taking charge of the situation, Neuvillette could temporarily focus on processing documents. However, he found himself puzzled as to why documents from Furina's area were being sent to him.
Lumine, Paimon, and even Furina had been pulled away by Themis, all recruited as her assistants.
The vast office stood empty except for Neuvillette, who sat alone inside. For some reason, he felt like a young dragon in an empty nest, needing comfort.
Neuvillette flipped through the documents, his heart growing colder with each passing moment as he processed the papers.
He couldn't understand why this was happening, but it made him deeply uncomfortable, as if he'd been deliberately excluded from something.
As time passed, the stack of documents dwindled. An orange candy nestled between the pages slipped out and landed on Neuvillette's desk.
The page unfolded to reveal a message in Themis's handwriting:
[For Neuvillette:]
[A candy from another world. It's delicious. I want you to try it.]
[I want to know if it's to your taste. Remember to tell me what you think after you've eaten it.]
[Don't worry, there's plenty more. Come ask me if you want more.]
[Also, if you're tired, go rest. I'll come back to handle the remaining documents.]
[Don't push yourself too hard. I'll worry.]
—Themis
[And me. Later, Themis and I will take you to the best cake shop in all of Fontaine. They released a new flavor yesterday. It should be right up your alley.]
—Furina
The front held Themis's message, while the back carried Furina's addition.
Neuvillette clutched the thin paper, the orange candy on his desk catching his eye. Though the words were simple and the candy ordinary, they filled his purple eyes—once brimming with sorrow and grievance—with joy.
Neuvillette held the candy wrapped in thin transparent material in his hand.
For the first time in ages, Neuvillette felt such lightness and joy. He tore open the candy's packaging, curious about the taste of this supposedly delicious foreign-world candy Themis had mentioned.
The candy's sweetness blossomed on his tongue - a refreshing, pure sweetness that carried a sense of happiness and contentment.
Overcome with the joy of being cared for, Neuvillette looked toward the window. He pushed open the headboard, letting bright, warm sunlight spill in.
In that moment, Neuvillette's mood was like sunlight-dappled sea water, sparkling with life.
The staff member who had come to deliver documents gazed at Neuvillette's gentle features and smiling eyes, feeling somewhat bewildered.
What happened? Why is the Chief Justice so happy today?
Could it be that Lady Furina and Lady Themis finally confessed their feelings to each other and set a wedding date?!
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, his mind racing with wild fantasies.
If Lady Themis and Lady Furina were to marry, what an unforgettable day Fontaine City would see! We'd probably even need to establish a new holiday to celebrate!
After all, this would be a God's wedding - the only one in all of Teyvat!
His eyes sparkled with excitement as he couldn't resist sharing his thoughts with others.
Before long, the entire office was abuzz with speculation, turning the workplace into a cacophony of voices.
Neuvillette's face turned blank, completely lost as to what they were discussing behind his back.
"They're just talking about when Lady Themis will marry Lady Furina," Sedene explained.
Hearing this, Neuvillette's expression flickered with complex emotions for a moment.
Furina marrying? Does that mean Focalors won't get to marry?!
He appeared before the group, his serious demeanor making the Fontainians in the office feel a bit uneasy.
"Please forgive my frankness..." Neuvillette said earnestly, his gaze steady as he addressed the shifting eyes of the crowd. "Themis should marry the Hydro Archon, not just Furina alone!"
After all, both Furina and Focalors were the Hydro Archon, and both loved Themis equally.
Wouldn't it be unfair to let only one of them marry?!
As the most impartial Judge of Fontaine, Neuvillette had made his decision.
His words left the crowd momentarily bewildered.
But after a brief moment of confusion, their eyes began to shine with understanding.
So that's how it is!
So that's how it is—they've finally figured it out!
Three people, one wedding—each must be one of them!
With this realization, their thoughts cleared. Refreshed and clear-headed, the crowd couldn't suppress their radiant smiles.
After Neuvillette left, some individuals wore mysterious smiles, as if fantasizing about certain scenes.
This good news should be announced to all the people of Fontaine!
-
"Let's leave everything to the Traveler and her trusty companion. After all, we've sufficiently compensated them—they ought to get to work."
Narrowing her eyes, Themis mentally assigned Fontaine's tasks to Lumine, arranging every detail flawlessly.
But then again, hadn't Themis only returned late last night? How could she already be working for Fontaine again today, having barely spent time with Furina?
How frightening! Is this the magnetic pull cats exert on humans?!
In her arms, Furina played with the snow-white hair cascading down Themis' chest. The strands coiled around Furina's fingers before settling in her palm.
Against the contrast of black gloves, the snow-white hair shone even more vividly.
"Phew~ Finally, I don't have to deal with those documents anymore!"
Furina's face wore an unmasked expression of relief, her words carrying a note of joy.
"I thought I'd be stuck in the office all day."
"Thank goodness Neuvillette helped!"
"Neuvillette truly lives up to being Fontaine's most reliable Judge."
Furina smiled as Themis stood beside her, gently ruffling the enthusiastic cat's head.
The blue-white feline puffed out her chest in triumph, showing no trace of the tearful eyes it had displayed moments earlier during its emotional reunion with Themis.
What mischief could a little kitten possibly have? Furina thought, I just didn't want paperwork ruining my precious time with Themis today!
Sorry, Neuvillette. I'll apologize properly with Themis later.
Furina stuck out her tongue in thought.
"What? Furina, weren't you here to help with the Melusine's threatening letter?!"
Paimon stared at Furina in shock. Under Paimon's intense gaze, Furina coughed twice, quickly suppressing her joy and excitement.
"Don't be so harsh. I really did want to help."
"As they say, many hands make light work. With me here, we can avoid a lot of trouble, right?"
Lumine narrowed her eyes, teasing, "You just want to spend more time with Themis, don't you?"
As she spoke, Lumine's face took on a knowing expression as she teased Furina. Though there was nothing embarrassing about the desire to spend more time with someone, having her innermost thoughts exposed to her crush still made Furina's ears flush slightly beneath her pale hair.
"Don't be so blunt about it. You're making Furina blush."
Paimon's remark made Themis chuckle. "Little Paimon, your words are equally direct."
Had she not noticed how Furina's gaze kept drifting behind her?
This was clearly the moment to change the subject.
"Let's discuss the details of this quest first," Themis suggested.
"Neuvillette already explained the specifics," Lumine replied.
"Just in case, is there anything you didn't understand? Do you need me to clarify?"
Lumine and Paimon shook their heads. Neuvillette had repeated himself twice, and they had no desire to hear it again.
Besides, when accepting quests from Themis, all they needed to do was fight. She would serve as their external brain, granting them the bliss of not having to think for themselves.
"If that's settled, I'll outline the solution directly."
Furina was stunned. "A solution so quickly?!"
"Is there something particularly challenging about this matter?" Themis tilted her head in confusion, her matter-of-fact demeanor making the three others question their own understanding of the situation.
"The threatened Melusine is Kiara."
"Considering you may not know Kiara, I'll briefly outline her circumstances."
Through Themis's concise description, Kiara emerged as just another Melusine - equally warm and kind-hearted, with no history of conflict with others.
"Although personally stepping forward to declare my return could make the perpetrator cease their actions and resolve the matter swiftly, we still need to identify the mastermind for Neuvillette to truly feel at ease."
Lumine nodded, grasping Themis's reluctance to personally intervene. She promptly took initiative to assign tasks.
"So, what should we do?"
"Follow Kiara around for a while. No need to mention the threatening letters."
Themis explained to the bewildered Paimon and Lumine, "After all, you two are public figures now. And considering you'll be approaching Kiara after meeting me... well, Fontaine's intelligence organizations... you know the drill, right? Given the influence of those books over the years, the Fontainians' investigative capabilities... have always been... quite impressive?"
So it's all just wild rumors, huh? Lumine understood.
Indeed, Fontainians were obsessed with secretly observing Themis and Furina's daily lives. This obsession had honed many young people's intelligence-gathering skills, each developing their own networks of informants.
Once that threat letter became public, it would take less than fifteen minutes for all of Fontaine to learn that Kiara had received a threatening message.
However, Furina, standing beside them, grew distracted upon hearing about the book.
She covered her face as old memories assailed her.
Ahhh, why did Focalors insist on sending this thing out in the first place? And why keep publishing it for five hundred years?!
Though their memories had merged during their fusion, shared memories didn't mean shared emotions remained constant.
Furina fiddled with the ribbon at the back of Themis' dress, her mind wandering.
Truth be told, she couldn't focus on what Themis and Lumine were discussing.
By the time she fully returned to reality, Lumine was already patting her chest with a confident declaration: "Leave this to me! We'll handle it!"
"Don't worry, Themis. Wait for our good news!"
"Leave this to us! We'll handle it perfectly!"
Paimon waved her short arms as she and Lumine headed toward Kiara's location.
Watching Lumine and Paimon disappear into the distance, Themis turned to poke Furina, who appeared lost in thought.
"What's on your mind, Furina?"
Furina shook her head, hastily covering herself. "N-nothing! Nothing at all!"
"Ha ha ha, well then... Lumine and Paimon are helping. What should we do?" Furina quickly changed the subject, feeling nervous under Themis' gaze.
She couldn't possibly reveal she'd been daydreaming about wild fantasies - and even thinking about all the things Themis had done in her dreams. That would completely destroy the Hydro Archon's dignity.
Since Furina refused to talk about it, Themis decided not to pry further.
But when she saw Furina's flushed, innocent face, Themis seized the moment to steal a kiss.
"Yah—"
The blue-white kitten exploded in shock, nearly leaping into the air.
"Alright, let's go." Themis took Furina's hand, the dazed girl looking utterly adorable - in this state, it felt like one could easily coax her into bed multiple times.
However, such thoughts could only remain unspoken.
After all, Themis might actually enjoy carrying Furina to bed, and Furina might even welcome it.
Sleeping with the Hydro Archon—this was a privilege reserved solely for her.
"Where to?"
The recently kissed Cat, still blushing, allowed Themis to lead her by the hand as she followed in small steps.
"Of course, to help out~"
Themis' golden eyes sparkled with amusement, making Furina feel both flustered and slightly resentful.
It was as if she were being treated like a child.
Focalors had done this before—why was Themis doing it now?
Furina straightened her collar, cheeks puffing as she walked beside Themis.
"I sent Lumine to find Kiara earlier, so she could experience a Melusine's daily life."
"Since the Melusines have been in Fontaine for so long, if she feels any difficulties or discomfort in Fontaine City, this is a perfect opportunity for the Traveler to gather feedback."
Themis watched a Melusine bouncing past, a wistful expression crossing her face.
Furina crossed her arms. "You were the first to encounter the Melusine's kind."
"Though born from Elynas' body, they share his innate gentleness, kindness, and purity."
Themis nodded. The Melusines innocence and charm had been authenticated by Neuvillette himself—there was no need to doubt their sincerity or warmth.
However, Elynas' very nature proved his downfall. Even arriving in Fontaine with no malice, he couldn't escape his fate.
As a creation of Rhinedottir, Elynas—like Durin—carried an uncontrollable, instinctive poison that radiated from his being.
Though Elynas was a gentle soul, fate's cruelty knew no bounds.
"The Melusine's birth came from a battle between the Narzissenkreuz Ordo and the Marechaussee Hunter within Elynas' body."
"Huh?" Furina blinked in surprise. "I thought Elynas had conceived her naturally."
"So it was actually an accident?"
"Still, what a beautiful accident," Furina mused.
Themis nodded in agreement.
"Where are we heading now?"
Following Themis, they ventured further from Fontaine's city center until they reached the outskirts.
"We don't have a specific destination."
Furina echoed, "Then... where are we going?"
"I just had a sudden whim to bring you out and see Fontaine's scenery."
At this, Themis' tone lightened. "Though I've been away for only a short time, for some reason, returning to Fontaine fills me with a sense of nostalgia for everything here."
"Especially you, Furina."
"When I was in that strange world, only your image kept appearing in my mind, bringing me warmth."
Furina, overwhelmed by Themis' heartfelt words, lowered her head in bashful embarrassment.
A delicate pink blush bloomed across her fair cheeks as she clasped Themis' hand. "Actually, Focalors and I have been thinking of you too."
"Regardless of everything, it's truly wonderful that you're back."
Furina's heterochromatic eyes—clear as crystalline water—reflected Themis' figure within their depths.
Returning the embrace, Themis felt immense joy at being cherished by such a pure deity. Overcome with happiness, she hugged Furina tightly, nuzzling her blue-white cat.
Her heart raced with fervor, its rhythm quickening noticeably.
"Will you come to my room tonight, Furina?" Themis invited.
"Ah...?" Furina responded, caught off guard.
"I want to hold you more."
"Is that not allowed?"
Eyes sparkling with anticipation, Furina found herself utterly unable to refuse this vulnerable version of Themis.
The adorable Furina couldn't resist being picked up by Themis, eliciting a surprised exclamation from her.
Yet once cradled in Themis's arms, Furina didn't resist. She simply adjusted to a comfortable position and leaned against Themis's chest.
How wonderful, just like before.
Now that the burden of her performance had been set aside, Furina found herself in the mood to enjoy the scenery as they walked.
"...?" The surroundings remained frozen at the entrance to Merusea Village. Furina felt puzzled. "Aren't we here to help? What exactly are we doing in Merusea Village?"
"Didn't I explain? We're helping, but specifically for the Melusine."
"Some of these Melusine have lived in Merusea Village all their lives. Fontaine City can't directly care for them."
"That's why we need to come personally, ask what they need, and see how we can help."
"But I thought the help you mentioned was about investigating the threatening letters!" Furina protested.
Her expectations had been completely different - this was simply about understanding the Melusine's needs and resolving their problems.
"It's just a small matter, Furina."
Themis gave Furina's head a slightly forceful pat. The kitten's docility vanished, replaced by a feline glare.
While Themis was taking Furina to Merusea Village, Lumine and Paimon found Kiara.
They began experiencing a day in the life of Melusine's work.
Regarding the threatening letter, Lumine and Paimon didn't dare mention a single word, instead silently noting down Kiara's daily social interactions.
However, Kiara was very popular, genuinely kind to others, and always enthusiastic.
Thinking about it, apart from the criminals arrested by Kiara, the sender of the threatening letter had virtually no other options.
"Lumine, look."
Paimon patted Lumine's shoulder, and she followed Paimon's pointing finger.
She saw the familiar pink-haired Charlotte in the alley, making exaggerated facial expressions and waving at them.
"Charlotte, does she need us for something urgent?"
"I don't know, but it's definitely about big news." Lumine crossed her arms, looking earnestly at Paimon, and said with conviction.
"When she asks us, we'll just say we were curious about a Melusine's life. As the Regent, Themis is particularly concerned about whether the Melusine's current needs in Fontaine City are reasonable."
Paimon nodded. "Good. If Charlotte asks, we'll say that."
After confirming they wouldn't slip up, the two walked over.
"Hey! Traveler, Paimon, long time no see!"
Charlotte eagerly approached the pair.
"I saw you exiting Palais Mermonia earlier and then working with Kiara. Did you receive a new official quest from the palace?"
"Can you tell us about it? Of course, if it's confidential, we can discuss something else!"
Stars sparkled in Charlotte's eyes as her professional instincts as a journalist kicked in. She had a strong hunch that Lumine and Paimon were sitting on a major scoop!
"Paimon..." Under Charlotte's intense gaze, Lumine gave her companion a meaningful look. Paimon immediately understood.
Relieved to play the role of a mute, Lumine secretly reveled in these moments. Being unable to speak had its advantages after all.
Paimon's eyes darted about as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. She then delivered the prearranged explanation to Charlotte.
"Oh, I see! So the Regent has awakened!" Charlotte's eyes lit up with excitement. "This is major news!"
"The severely injured Regent, still recovering from her coma, has thrown herself back into work for Fontaine's sake."
"Though it might make it seem like Furina is exploiting a wounded official, we can focus on Themis's sense of responsibility instead."
"While everyone still thinks Lady Themis is asleep, we should get our story out first. It'll be the talk of the town!"
Lumine's face twisted in amusement. "Is that really what you're focused on?"
"Of course," Paimon continued. "I thought you'd be more concerned about the Melusine's situation."
Charlotte blinked. "Why would I? Melusine's are important, but I think people would rather hear about the Regent."
"After all, for everyone in Fontaine City, Lady Themis and Lady Furina are like... the biggest stars in their hearts."
"The kind that shine so brightly, you know?"
"But unlike Lady Furina, who represents everyone's childhood and youth..."
"Before Lady Themis, everyone feels like a child again."
Paimon's face twisted in confusion. "So you're saying Themis is like a parent to them?"
"Exactly!" Charlotte chuckled. "She's been reliable for five hundred years, so to people, she's like a strict but distant family elder."
"Oh, so Furina is like a childhood playmate?"
Lumine scratched her head, feeling uncertain even after hearing Paimon's words.
"Not exactly a playmate," Charlotte said. "More like a younger version of myself, carefree and without worries."
"Think about it," Charlotte continued. "Lady Furina has always been cherished by Lady Themis. Though she can be a bit willful at times, she remains pure and innocent."
A smile tugged at Lumine's lips as she gave Charlotte a thumbs-up. "I agree! She's absolutely adorable!"
As expected of Themis' beloved wife - she looked utterly charming.
Like a fluffy kitten, soft and delicate, sometimes even a bit silly.
But now that Furina was living with Themis and they'd established their relationship...
Lumine couldn't help but think that given Furina's lack of experience in certain areas, Themis might end up taking advantage of her.
"Speaking of Melusine, I do have some information on them," Charlotte said, capturing Lumine and Paimon's attention.
Seeing their keen interest, Charlotte wasted no time in beating around the bush. She organized her thoughts and began her account.
"Long, long ago - about four hundred years past."
"Back then, the Melusine hadn't yet appeared in Fontaine City."
"Although Lady Themis had only recently assumed her position when she added the Melusine race to Fontaine City's residents,"
"the early Melusine had lived isolated in Merusea Village, with their main interaction being the occasional delivery of necessary supplies."
"As a result, the humans and Melusine of Fontaine coexisted peacefully for a time."
"Until Lord Neuvillette brought the Melusine to Fontaine City."
Paimon: "What happened then? You look troubled, Charlotte."
Charlotte: "It's ancient history now, but no matter how much time passes, the memory still weighs heavily on me."
"When the Melusine first entered human cities, some might have been curious about their arrival, but most were hostile."
"After all, they were born from Elynas' body. Elynas was the Abyssal monster that invaded Fontaine, causing great destruction and claiming many lives before it was finally slain."
Lumine: "I think I understand now why the Melusine were rejected."
Paimon: "Me too."
After all, Elynas was a monster that brought disaster. As a race born from Elynas, it was only natural for the Melusine to be rejected by everyone.
"However, the rejection came only from a small part."
"Most Fontainians, under Lady Themis's guarantee, maintained an accepting attitude toward Melusine."
"Moreover, Melusine were originally a pure and kind race, so over time people gradually accepted their living in Fontaine City alongside humans."
"But just like in stories, there must always be villains."
"Huh? Villains?!" Paimon looked at Charlotte, her mind struggling to keep up.
"Yes, because Melusine were brought to Fontaine by Lord Neuvillette and guaranteed by Lady Themis."
"At that time, Fontaine was undergoing reform. The nobility who lost their interests during the reform gnashed their teeth at Lady Themis and Lord Neuvillette. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they hated them to the bone."
"They created a murder case, deliberately killing many Fontaine citizens, then led a Melusine named Carole to the crime scene."
"They tried to smear Carole's reputation by making it seem like the Melusine posed a threat to the people. Their goal was to force the two lords to abandon their reforms and damage their standing with the public."
Lumine and Paimon both felt their palms grow sweaty as they listened. "So what happened in the end? What about Themis, Neuvillette, and the Melusine?"
"Of course, everything turned out fine in the end~ After all, Lady Themis has always been incredibly strong."
Charlotte's laughter lightened the heavy atmosphere. The serious expressions on Paimon and Lumine's faces made it clear that a mood change was needed.
"Even in a tragic story, with Lady Themis present, justice always triumphs over evil, leading to a perfect and happy ending."
"Lady Themis didn't take their slander seriously at all. She simply presented the truth to the people of Fontaine."
"O people of Fontaine! As followers of the God of Justice, you have the right to know the truth!"
"No matter what, the law is the strongest support of a just nation, and Fontaine's only standard for judgment."
"Power should never override the law, for power is granted by the law and must bear responsibility!"
"Under Lady Themis's teachings, nobles who murdered innocent civilians ignited public resentment. Fontaine witnessed its first popular uprising against the aristocracy."
"Responding to the people's will, Fontaine underwent a comprehensive reform."
"Perhaps out of guilt or some other reason, after the reform, Fontaine's citizens and Lady Themis together enacted the Melusine Protection Act."
"Over generations of coexistence, the divide between Fontainians and the Melusine completely vanished."
"Even now, at regular intervals, Lady Themis provides the Melusine with lawful assistance tailored to their needs."
"The residents of Fontaine City also show great concern for the Melusine's safety."
"To put it dramatically, if someone maliciously harmed a Melusine in Fontaine City, they might face the severest judgment at the Opera House. They could even be beaten up by the crowd at the Fortress of Meropide."
When Charlotte spoke those words, she was utterly serious.
Lumine initially thought she might have detected something, but when Charlotte continued asking numerous questions about Themis's awakening afterward, Lumine concluded she was merely sharing historical anecdotes about Fontaine and Melusine on a whim.
After bidding farewell to Charlotte, Lumine stood with Paimon, silently mourning for the person who had sent the threatening letter.
Paimon asked, "Does the sender truly understand the consequences of being caught?"
"Even if Themis and Neuvillette maintain their impartiality, after getting beaten up by crowds all over Fontaine, they'd likely turn a blind eye too."
Lumine countered, "What are you talking about, Paimon? He tripped himself, ending up with a bruised and swollen face. That's hardly a 'mob attack'."
Her beaming smile made Paimon scratch her head in exasperation. She hadn't realized Lumine had become so scheming even in Fontaine.
She was starting to resemble Themis—that same innocent expression Themis wore when hatching mischievous plans!
Having learned about the Melusine's history from Charlotte, and observing the warm camaraderie between Kiara and the others, Lumine couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Yet the Melusine's tragic one-day work experience was far from over.
Lumine, who had been running around all day, let out a long sigh of relief as she finally saw Themis and Furina before dinner.
"How was life with a Melusine?" Themis asked, looking at the exhausted Lumine and Paimon.
"Exhausting?" Themis seemed surprised. "I didn't expect it to be so tiring for you."
"Not physically," Lumine replied. "It's more emotionally draining. Ahh, Melusine are so popular! Once people found out I had official permission from Palais Mermonia to experience their daily life, they swarmed me asking how to get that close to Melusine themselves."
Paimon hovered in the air, stamping her feet in frustration. "It wasn't just one or two people! The questions today were enough to exhaust me for days!"
Themis blinked in surprise, not having anticipated this reaction.
Furina, however, found it natural. "Melusine are adorable children. Of course everyone would love them!"
"Exactly," agreed Neuvillette, who had approached unnoticed. "The Melusine are Fontaine's pride and joy, beautiful creatures. It's only natural people would adore them."
Neuvillette turned to the Traveler. "What about the threatening letter incident?"
Lumine gasped, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Oh no! I completely forgot about that while experiencing their daily life!"
Lumine's pleading gaze turned to Themis, who nodded with a confident expression, easing Lumine's tension.
Themis began, "How should I put this? About the threatening letter..."
Furina interjected, "It's not a big deal—hardly an issue at all. You're the one who brought this upon yourself, Neuvillette."
Neuvillette's eyes widened in confusion, his bewilderment plain as he stared blankly.
The group then revealed the truth behind the incident to Neuvillette.
Neuvillette, Lumine, and Paimon stood stunned in unison.
"So the threat to Kiara was actually retaliation for an unfavorable judgment. They wanted to settle the score with the Melusine."
The great Hydro dragon fell silent. The motive wasn't entirely incomprehensible, but meddling with Melusine was clearly overstepping.
"Regardless," Themis concluded, "this is the truth. Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant."
"I've always trusted your words," Neuvillette said. "If you say it's resolved, then it must be fine."
"So, the matter is settled then?" Furina asked.
"Ugh, the Fortress of Meropide is such a stifling place. I'd rather never return there again."
"Truly," Furina continued, "they didn't even have a proper welcoming ceremony for the Hydro Archon."
Furina's complaints were just talk; her face wore a happy expression.
After all, she was with Themis. Lumine smiled, Ah, I finally understand the Fontainians' joy.
"So, to celebrate Themis' first day back, we solved a case. Shouldn't we go for a big meal?"
"Will Paimon and Lumine come? Neuvillette's definitely coming - even if he hasn't finished his paperwork, he's joining us!"
Furina turned to look at the three, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
Neuvillette: "I've finished my work and paperwork."
At this, Neuvillette's expression turned slightly awkward.
Themis smiled, pulling out a handful of candy from her pocket. "Here, let's share some."
They each got one piece. The delicious candy lifted everyone's mood.
Under the shocked gazes of Furina and the others, the Dragon even asked for extra pieces.
"Lady Furina, why are you all looking at me like that?"
Holding the candy Themis gave him, the Dragon looked puzzled, unsure what he'd done wrong.
"No, it's nothing. We just thought you, Neuvillette, didn't seem like someone who likes sweets."
Furina laughed awkwardly, managing a polite smile that still carried traces of embarrassment.
"Of course it's because Neuvillette missed me," Themis said. "Though I suppose the candy might be quite tasty too, don't you agree, Paimon?"
"Hm?" Paimon didn't quite understand why she'd been addressed, but with her mouth full of sweets, she simply replied, "It's certainly delicious."
"Themis, I want more candy too!" Paimon flew up to Themis, her eyes sparkling as she boldly extended her hand.
After receiving her desired amount of candy, she promptly gave half to Lumine.
Lumine: For some reason, I feel so touched.
"Then it's settled. Let's all have dinner together tonight."
"I'll go fetch Focalors too. We'll set out right away," Themis said. The group nodded without further thought.
-
In Furina's bedroom—
Focalors frowned. Her sore waist had miraculously healed, but now she faced a different dilemma.
Seated at the table, surrounded by five centuries of Unofficial history chronicles, Focalors rested her cheek on one hand while flipping through the pages. She couldn't help but worry about her waist's recovery.
With all these Unofficial history records written, could it mean every experiment must be tested on me?
-
Made a discord if anyone is interested
https://discord.gg/BFW77h7XyS