Chapter 14: Fontaine (Part 4)
As for why Furina was not afraid of Dottore, the answer lay in the night, when Furina sat alone on her bed.
"Furina... Furina...?" A gentle female voice echoed from the mirror.
"Is that you? The me in the mirror?"
"It is."
"You've come to see me now—has something gone wrong with the [Prophecy]?"
"Not at all. I simply wanted to have a few words with you."
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
"Didn't I say before that Fontaine has just lost its Hydro Archon, and I need you to play the part of the deity people imagine? I also mentioned that it would take a long time, which is somewhat unfair to you."
"It's fine. As I said before, if there were a pair of scales with the life and death of all the people of Fontaine on one side, and my own suffering on the other, I would choose my own suffering—even though my very first thought was: *Why does it have to be me enduring this torment?*"
"But didn't you meet a rather peculiar person from Sumeru today?"
*I didn't see anyone from Sumeru today, did I?*
"Wait—it couldn't be him, could it? The Fatui Harbinger?"
"Indeed. I could sense that he is connected to the Cryo Archon, and he possesses more than enough longevity."
"That's impossible. According to the intelligence I received from the Oceanids, he carried out all sorts of forbidden experiments while he was in Sumeru."
"And tonight, he even tried to take me away alone." Furina looked somewhat agitated.
"Yet you agreed, didn't you?"
"Th-that—that was just a slip of the tongue! What if he finds out I'm not the real Hydro Archon, but just a human playing a role? And what if he actually hurts me?"
"Furina, if he had wanted to harm you, he could have done so long ago. With combat strength comparable to a God, ambushing the Hydro Archon and escaping afterward would hardly be difficult. Should my plan fail, that Fatui Harbinger will be able to preserve the lives of the people of Fontaine when the [Prophecy] arrives."
"Even your plan could fail?" Furina asked, feeling somewhat disheartened. A sudden thought struck her: "If your plan fails, what will happen to you?"
"I will die..." Focalors, too, wore a look of despondency.
*(Even if the plan succeeds, Focalors will still die.)*
"Furina... if you don't want to, you don't have to force yourself." Focalors smoothed away her look of despair and offered reassurance.
"No, I'll go. Compared to the lives of all the people of Fontaine, the value of my single life is obvious at a glance, isn't it, my mirror self?"
Focalors offered a smile laden with apology.
*Thank you, Furina.*
…………
After speaking with Furina for a while longer, Focalors vanished from the mirror.
*"I hope my judgment isn't wrong regarding the Fatui Harbinger. If we can pull him onto our side, the people of Fontaine should be much safer, and Furina perhaps won't be so lonely anymore."*
…………
*"Does the me in the mirror trust him that much? Then I shall try to make contact with him once more, but I must be prepared."* She stepped out of her room.
…………
Neuvillette, who had just accepted Dottore's words, was preparing to resume his casework.
"Neuvillette!" Furina burst straight in.
Neuvillette: ......
"Lady Furina, is there something you need?"
"I need you to help me investigate the whereabouts of the Second Fatui Harbinger. Once you find him, accompany me to go see him."
*Weeping Dragon: Do I even have the right to refuse?*
…………
After speaking with Neuvillette, Furina went out on her own. In the dead of night, she walked alone through the streets of the Court of Fontaine.
*Meow~ Meow~ Meow~*
"Oh, a kitty!" She scooped the kitten up into her arms and nuzzled it.
*Dottore: Seriously? What on earth is silly Furina doing out here this late?*
Dottore tapped Furina on the shoulder. Furina gave a start, and the kitten leaped out of her arms.
"What is Lady Hydro Archon doing wandering around out here so late at night?" He stood by, ready to quietly watch Furina's performance.
Recalling what Focalors had told her, Furina immediately steadied herself. "This is Fontaine, my nation. What business of yours is it if I walk the streets of my own realm, Fatui Harbinger?"
*Why is silly Furina so composed? Just a few hours ago she was scared out of her wits—even after signing the contract, she was terrified out of her mind. Did something happen?*
*What do I do? What do I do?! There's no contract now, and Neuvillette is busy with cases—is he going to attack me?!* Although she was panicking on the inside, Furina forced herself to maintain a calm facade on the outside.
Dottore reached a hand out toward Furina.
*What do I do? What do I do?! He's going to attack! I'm dead, I'm dead! ╥﹏╥*
Hoisting Furina up and casually grabbing the cat as well, he headed toward the Palais Mermonia. To preserve the dignity of her Hydro Archon status, he deliberately chose secluded alleyways.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the Palais Mermonia, he set Furina down and placed the cat back in her arms.
*(Furina is shocked)*
*He really didn't lay a hand on me! o(*≧▽≦)ツ┏━┓*
"My dear Hydro Archon, walking alone at night is quite unsafe."
"Thank you, Fatui Harbinger. Although this little stunt of yours was utterly meaningless, the great Hydro Archon shall remember this gesture."
Dottore: ......
Speechless, he turned and walked away.
…………
"Wait! Tomorrow, I am hosting a tea party at the Palais Mermonia. I—the Hydro Archon, Focalors—grandly invite you to attend."
Dottore: ???
…………
The next day, seeing Furina bring Dottore straight into the Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette's brain short-circuited on the spot.
*Didn't she just ask me to investigate him yesterday?! I haven't even started investigating yet! How did she manage to lead him right in in less than a day?*
"Lady Furina, why is this Fatui Harbinger here?"
"I invited him to my tea party."
*Weeping Dragon: ???*
*Lady Furina, I understand every single word you're saying, but when you put them together, the meaning completely eludes me.*
*No, Lady Furina must have her own reasons.*
…………
A short while later, another Fatui Harbinger arrived. Neuvillette had just hurried over when he learned from the Palais Mermonia staff that Furina had already invited the newcomer inside as well.
As Neuvillette approached the tea party venue and reached for the door, he heard: "Oh, you poor Water Dragon, brought to Fontaine to do manual labor at such a young age."
Neuvillette: ......
Later, upon learning from the Special Patrol that Furina had not only been completely safe while strolling around the Court of Fontaine with the Fatui Harbinger, but had even been chatting and laughing with him, Neuvillette fell silent yet again. He then prepared to return to his office to handle his cases.
Before he could, Dottore intercepted him and initiated a conversation.
"You should be familiar with my name and my Fatui codename by now. So, what have you decided, Chief Justice?"
Neuvillette: "Yes, Mr. Dottore."
"Then let's cooperate."
………… (The author doesn't know how to write this part; anyway, the Fontaine nobility problem was eventually resolved, and Dottore conned Arlecchino. At the same time, he stuffed Arlecchino back into a trash can once more.)
Dottore: Refreshed and invigorated.