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Everything was blurry. The walls moved like waves and the artificial light felt like acid on his eyes. He could hardly feel his body, or discipher himself which parts hurt in particular and which already went numb. He could hear people around him, but it was nothing more than just syrupy voices, muffled as if he was still submerged completely in sea water. He left his eyelids get heavy and decided it was best to close them for now. Though, he thought he could hear some of those voices calling his name.
“Instead of going big,” Wriothesley said, “I’m going… home…”
When Wriothesley woke up again, it was easier to see. The light was dim and it felt good for his throbbing head. Less stimulus the better.
“Sige… winne…” Wriothesley called, his voice raspy. His throat felt like sandpaper.
A gentle hand was placed on his forehead in an instant, keeping him in place. It was too large to have been Sigewinne’s.
“Don’t move,” a woman’s voice commanded despite sounding as though she was also in pain.
“Clorinde?” Wriothesley guessed. “Are you okay?”
Clorinde let out a huff, her own way of laughing. “You almost drown and you ask if I’m okay?”
Wriothesley smirked. “Well, you saved me, didn’t you?”
“It was actually a team effort.” Clorinde corrected.
Wriothesley rose his eyebrows, feeling Clorinde’s hand move to brush at the sweat on his head. It felt nice. “Hm. Who else helped?”
“Well, for starters, it was Freminet who noticed you first. Had he not gone diving in the area and you would’ve been swept away.”
Wriothesley moved Clorinde’s hand off his face and started messing with it, cracking her fingers for her. More an exercise to see if his hands were still too numb to move. “Oh? And… what happened? How did I get swept away?”
Clorinde didn’t seem to mind, even pausing Wriothesley for a second so she could switch hands. “You were out in the water trying to gage the leakage of Primodial Sea Water, to see if enough of it had gone into the Fontaine seas enough to warrant any immediate danger to civilians. Unfortunately, you got too close to the contaminated area and a water current, so you were bombarded by the pressure of the sea water and consumed an impressive amount of the Primodial Sea Water.”
When Wriothesley was done cracking her knuckles for her, he started trying to scoot up so he could sit. However, Clorinde insisted quietly that he stay laying— and he quickly found out why. A sharp pain stabbed his body all over like thorns growing inside his veins. He instinctively hit the bed, which made it ache all over again. “Continue,” Wriothesley said once he settled back into a comfortable laying position.
“Freminet noticed you drowning and, after his own experience, raced back into the Fortress to find me before I left. I dove in after you, consuming some water myself. While I went, Freminet, Lyney, and Lynette were rushing back to the Opera House from the Guillotine Entrance. Neuvillette had to be the one to fish us out, and Sigewinne had plenty of time to prepare for us.”
“Did I dissolve?” Wriothesley asked, trying to be funny. The look on Clorinde’s face told him he should just drop that one. “Where’s Sigewinne now?”
“The poor thing’s exhausted. I was able to stabilize fairly quickly, but it seemed like every hour you’d make a turn for the worst.” Clorinde explained. “When she finally got you stable, Neuvillette ordered her to join him and Furina at the Palais Mermonia for some much needed rest and relaxation. The Overworld’s best healers, both human and Melusine, have been checking on you in the mean time. They’re under strict orders by Sigewinne to keep her updated on everything happening to you in case she needs to rush back for an emergency.”
Wriothesley winced at the news. “I’ll have to brew her a good cup of tea when she gets back. Maybe I’ll even give a pity sip of her milkshake.”
Clorinde gently flicked his forehead. “We’re aiming to get you better, Wriothesley, not kill you faster.”
Wriothesley could hear when people came and went. After the life he had, he was a very light sleeper. He often greeted the healers when they came in and thanked his guards for bringing him his paperwork while he recovered. It was hell being bound to the bed, but after a week he finally managed to sit up.
So, when he heard three pairs of feet clomping around the infirmary, he already knew who it would be and decided to wait. He could hear the whispers of the siblings as they bickered over how to set… something… up? A tinge of worry for Sigewinne’s workspace crawled up Wriothesley’s back and he pretended to wake up.
“Oh!” Freminet was the first to notice him, and despite his shyness he approached Wriothesley first.
“Hi, Penguin,” Wriothesley faked his yawn. “What do I owe the pleasure?”
Freminet’s eyes sparked with anxiety. He hasn’t thought about being addressed so directly. This poor boy would get eaten alive without those twins…
Lynette appeared next to Freminet suddenly, gently moving her brother aside to speak with Wriothesley. “Good morning. We wanted to come and check on you, see how you were after that harrowing experience, and maybe provide entertainment.”
Wriothesley’s eyes brightened and he carefully sat up. “You mean to say you and Lyney are going to preform for me? A private magic show?”
Lyney cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. He was stood at the edge of the bed, and clearly conflicted with his emotions right now. “Yes. We… figured laying here would be a drag, and when we heard you’d be laying here doing paperwork, we thought we should try and combat the drag with some magic. All small acts, of course.”
Behind Lyney was a crudely made sign clearly made from material they found or bought down here. Had they been here the whole time? The sign had a few fake flowers on it and spelled out LYNEY LYNETTE & FREMINET’S MAGIC SHOW.
“Freminet?” Wriothesley smiled. “You’re performing too?”
Freminet nodded meekly. “I… I wanted to do more to help you that day, but… I was scared I wouldn’t be able to make it up with you in my arms. I couldn’t even carry myself… so, I wanna do this to help you not be bored.”
Wriothesley smiled, “Thank you, Freminet.”
Lyney started shuffling his card before flicking one out. It held the image of a teacup, and Lynette walked over and reached behind the card. She pulled, and Wriothesley watched as the teacup was dragged into reality, full of piping hot tea.
Lynette handed it off to Wriothesley and he accepted it graciously.
“Now, allow me to introduce our Magic Show! I’m Lyney and these are my assistants, Lynette and Freminet! Enjoy your cup of tea, and let’s get this show on the road!”
The second week was when Sigewinne had finally returned home. She raced into the infirmary just as Wriothesley was getting up to practice balance. She refrained from jumping at him, but when Wriothesley sat back down she didn’t hesitate to hug him.
“I missed you too, Sigewinne.” Wriothesley smiled.
“Don’t do something stupid like that again!” Sigewinne sniffed.
From the entrance, Wriothesley could feel Neuvillette’s cold stare. He could also tell by the draft of anxiety that Furina was with him.
“You two are welcome to join us,” Wriothesley invited.
Furina was the first to appear, rushing to his side and checking him over without touching him. “You’re not to injured, are you? I brought you a cake, you better enjoy it because I really like this cake! Oh, but the cake can wait, how are you? Any lingering effects?”
“Good to see you too, Lady Furina.” Wriothesley chuckled.
“Lady Furina, it is impolite to smother him.” Neuvillette insisted.
Furina groaned, but she did show him the boxed caked she brought him. Chocolate, one that he and Neuvillette knew worked very well with tea. Not to choclately but still sweet enough to need a tea to pair.
Wriothesley turned his head to Neuvillette, who still refrained from actually approaching him.
“Monsieur?” Furina snapped, nodding very obviously at Wriothesley.
“I am glad you’re recovering well, Wriothesley,” Neuvillette finally said. “For a while, I thought we were going to lose you.”
Sigewinne nodded, “It’s been raining all week.”
Neuvillette casted her a glance but didn’t refute her words.
Wriothesley waved Neuvillette closer, and he obeyed. Wriothesley reached up and gently cupped Neuvillette’s face. He pulled him down and touched Neuvillette’s forehead to his own. Then, Wriothesely removed his hand from Neuvillette’s cheek and took one of the Iudex’s hands, placing it on Wriothesley’s chest and over his still beating heart.
They stayed like this for a long time, relaxing into the comfort that Wriothesley was very much alive. By the time Neuvillette removed himself from Wriothesley’s embrace, Sigewinne had fallen asleep in Furina’s lap while the archon herself held her like a teddy bear and curled into her. Furina had closed her eyes as well, but she didn’t seem to be asleep.
“I should let you rest.” Neuvillette stated. “Lady Furina and I also have a trial soon. We’ll visit again.”
Furina opened her eyes and gently stirred Sigewinne awake. Carefully, the Archon passed Sigewinne from her own lap into Wriothesley’s, and then she left to join the Iudex.
Letters after letters had been sent by Navia, the poor girl seeming worried sick. Wriothesley was having trouble keeping up with both them and his own paperwork, so eventually he just had Clorinde write the letters for him while he did the paperwork.
“Ready?” Clorinde asked.
“Listening.” Wriothesley nodded, scanning his document with unwavering precision.
“Dear Your Grace, I’m sorry if addressing you as Your Grace is what is causing a delay in replies, or perhaps I am just too impatient and send these whenever I think of you. I just can’t simply imagine the terror you must’ve felt, almost drowning in the waters that surround your Fortress. Clorinde had told me you’re doing much better which is wonderful news. I wish I could come visit you. I don’t understand why you keep me at such a distance. I hope we can eventually bridge this gap in our relationship. I don’t mean business, I find all our transactions fair, but I mean our personal one. I must go, there’s another case I need to get back to. I hope you are well, Navia.”
“She’s so sweet.” Wriothesley laughed to himself.
“She truly is. Very much like how Callas was like.”
“Yeah, I agree. Though, I think she’s nicer about it.”
Clorinde shrugged. “You haven’t seen her angry. I thought she would press charges on me for stalking.”
“Did you stalk her?”
“I suppose so, but I did it for Callas. And for her, of course.”
Wriothesley took a long sip of his tea.
“Duke.”
“Okay, okay. Here’s what I’ll reply: Dear Demoiselle. I am so honored to hear how concerned you’ve become with my health. I can assure you that everything related to my injuries that Clorinde has told you is all valid. I am recovering very well and I am hoping once I fully recover I can take a couple of days rest to put my mind at ease. Please, if you have the time, join me for a tea party and picnic in the Overworld. You are free to invite Melus and Silver if you wish, or anyone else you have in mind. I hope you don’t mind that I will be inviting Monsieur Neuvillette and Miss Clorinde as well. Sincerely, Wriothesley.”
It was a sunny day on the surface. Lyney and Lynette were showing off sleight of hand magic tricks for Navia and Clorinde while Sigewinne kept trying to pass out some milkshakes she made for everyone. They ending up with Freminet, however, who just couldn’t refuse the Melusine. Though, Furina had come over from time to time to help Freminet ‘tastefully discharge’ the abomination. Neuvillette and Wriothesley themselves were off to the side, basking in the sunlight with their teacups in hand.
“I am glad you have fully recovered,” Neuvillette said. “This was a good idea.”
“Thanks.” Wriothesley smiled. “I mean, I said it myself when I was going in and out: I’m going home.”