Archive of Our Own ^beta

Contrary to popular belief, Neuvillette actually liked to write letters.

Although not always simple, they were certainly effective in transmitting what he had trouble saying and in reaching even those who lived thousands of miles away or even under the sea. His handwriting was neat and polished, yet simple, with a few twirls here and there, reserved for more personal affairs or for days that made him feel hopeful for humanity and the Melusines in Fontaine. He marveled at the feeling of the refreshing smell of an empty sheet of paper, the deep color of a bottle of black ink, and the texture of a swan’s quill dancing between his fingers. The press of the Court of Fontaine’s wax seal at the end was akin to being handed the verdict from the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, satisfying as it had reached the end, yet nauseating from the fear of having to deal with another situation similar to the Fatui’s.

However, there was one thing Neuvillette hated, not only in letters but also in general communication.

Words.

Neuvillette, though he had shown a lot of improvement, still struggled to express himself properly. He had the needed vocabulary and knew the correct grammar rules, even more so than most people in Fontaine, knowledge from many years of living and many nights spent awake reading about Teyvat and its costumes, governments and laws. Yet, transforming thoughts into actual words could be a stressful process. He knew what he wanted to say, the message he wanted to convey, but how to ensure people understood his words without sounding like a complete heartless bastard was a challenge Neuvillette faced every single day.

In that way, letters had proven to be a better choice of communication; hence his silent adoration for them. Written words had no intonation, though Lady Furina had already complained a couple of times saying he seemed terribly cold on his notes and replies. Writing gave Neuvillette time to ponder if he needed to salute a familiar face like Wriothesley with his full title or simply address him by his name, or time to think about how a relatively close person, maybe Lady Furina or the Traveler, would answer a particularly tricky question.

The main issue with words was that not always they meant what Neuvillette thought they did. Often, Lady Furina would barge into his office and begin complaining about the trials, saying she had had enough of them and no longer wished to be the Archon, to which Neuvillette had always answered with seriousness and honesty, only to be laughed or screamed at by Lady Furina, who would then say she just needed someone to hear her while she got things out of her system. Or, whenever Duke Wriothesley paid a visit and was at his worst sarcastic mood, filled with jokes and secret meanings behind his words.

Individually, letters were easy to comprehend, but humans made them too enigmatic. In both senses of the word.

Neuvillette’s day had been so far peaceful. In the morning, a quick trial had taken place with no further issues. It involved a man accused of robbery, but he had no evidence to prove his innocence. He had returned to his office at the Palais Mermonia right afterwards, as the pile of paperwork on top of his desk had only increased in volume, files about upcoming trials, reports from the Court and a letter from Duke Wriothesley, which he had immediately placed inside a drawer along with many others.

He was about to pick up his quill to answer an inquiry from the Gardes when the deafening sound of his door being slammed open startled him and blew away the words from his mind.

“Neuvillette, we need to order many flower arrangements right now! Rainbow roses, lots of them!”

Neuvillette sighed softly at the sight of Lady Furina and her obnoxious tone. “May I ask what’s the occasion for such urgency on those arrangements, Lady Furina?”

Lady Furina approached the desk in rushed steps, placing both of her hands on top of it and leaning close to Neuvillette with a big smile on her face. “My dear Neuvillette, we are about to have a wedding!”

Although Neuvillette wasn’t human, he had learned about their mating rituals before, so the word didn’t cause him any strangeness. It was curious, to say the least, how they chose to bond themselves to one another, through a simple ceremony and a golden ring, with no everlasting markings whatsoever. Certainly different from his own vision of a mating ritual yet just as meaningful to them, earning Neuvillette’s deep respect.

“I see,” Neuvillette said, feeling his past annoyance flow away through the waters of their Hydro resonance. “And who are the lucky people?”

Lady Furina made a weird sound, breathing out a puff of air and sitting on Neuvillette’s desk. From Neuvillette’s personal experience, she seemed slightly distressed. “That information has not been revealed yet, but.” She raised her voice and pointed a finger at Neuvillette. “I know it’s happening at the Fortress of Meropide! Romance has blossomed between two inmates! Isn’t that beautiful, Neuvillette?”

Deeply furrowing his brow, Neuvillette’s first thought was if the Duke was aware of such occurrences happening inside his own jurisdiction. Did he have a rule established for that? Could it be that his latest letter had been sent to inform Neuvillette of the Fortress’ upcoming festivity? Neuvillette’s fingers itched to reach for the sealed envelope, but he would rather do so in private. There was nothing to hide from Lady Furina or any other person at the Palais, it was simply a chosen preference to avoid unnecessary gossip, a habit he knew the Duke also had from their previous conversations.

“Indeed. Such moments must be celebrated accordingly.” With his quill in hands, Neuvillette started to write down the request, listening quietly to Lady Furina’s shrieks.

“Should we have a party too? We could have a big cake and some music, maybe even a ball. Wouldn’t that be fun?” She giggled.

“Lady Furina, I must remind you that we have no control over the Fortress. Such matters must be discussed with the Duke for his approval. We had agreed to-”

“To not interfere with whatever happens at the Fortress,” Lady Furina finished the sentence, voice filled with mockery. “I know, I know. I doubt the Duke will ever agree to that, though. But you’re close to him, aren’t you? Can’t you ask him nicely about having a small celebration? It’s a very important moment in the lives of such an adventurous couple, one that will be held in their memory forever.”

“I will speak with the Duke about this. However, I will not insist on the subject or impose any decision coming from you, Lady Furina,” Neuvillette agreed, even if a bit against his will.

Lady Furina raised both arms and moved her dangling legs in celebration. “Thank you, thank you, Neuvillette! I’m sure he won’t say no if it’s you who’s asking.”

Once again, Neuvillette's frown appeared, showing his confusion. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”

“Oh, you know. The Duke is all about Chief Justice this, Neuvillette that. And Sedene also told me that on the rare times he comes to the surface, he always looks very eager to see you. It’s his first stop.” Lady Furina waved her hands dismissively.

Maybe Neuvillette needed to have a talk with Sedene afterwards. In private. “I wasn’t aware of the Duke’s reaction, but I’m flattered to know that’s how he feels.” Realizing that Wriothesley felt something akin to happiness or excitement during his visits to the Palais or the Opera Epiclese, particularly toward seeing Neuvillette himself, caused the water particles surrounding Neuvillette to become slightly warmer.

The twitch on the corners of his lips didn’t go unnoticed by the ever so attentive Lady Furina, who smiled mischievously at him. “Oh, is that a smile I’m seeing!? Is my dear Chief Justice so happy to know His Grace gets his tail wagging when he sees you?”

Neuvillette had a hard time picturing Duke Wriothesley as an animal considering his very human form, but by no means he thought of asking Lady Furina how and why she had reached such conclusions about the man.

Certainly another thing to be added to his list of personal issues against words and how humans decided to use them so carelessly.

“I am simply pleased to know that Duke Wriothesley doesn’t think of his visits with aversion, even though they rarely occur. I understand it is quite troublesome to leave the Fortress as the Administrator, and it can be an exhausting travel.” Neuvillette signed off Lady Furina’s request and carefully sealed it with the Court’s symbol before placing it next to where the Archon was still sitting on his desk. “Here it is. Hopefully half a dozen arrangements will suffice. I shall write to Duke Wriothesley and ask his opinion on the matter.”

Lady Furina crossed her arms and looked at Neuvillette with the eyes of someone who was on jury duty, analyzing the deepest corners of Neuvillette’s face and making him slightly uncomfortable. Then, she tilted her head to the side and smiled, softly this time, as if Neuvillette had surprised her with a bottle of fresh water after a tiring trial. “Thank you, Monsieur Neuvillette! Instead of writing to the Duke, you must invite him over for a cup of tea, that’s an order from your Archon. I’m sure both of you will find that much more satisfying.” Lady Furina picked up the request and waved it at Neuvillette as she climbed off his desk and walked out of his office.

An interesting person she was, Lady Furina. Many considered her too childish and theatrical, but there was still a reason why she had been bestowed with a Gnosis. People were used to wearing masks to hide their authentic self in an effort to gain greater social acceptance, and Lady Furina was no different. Layer after layer, she hid herself inside walls she had built in order to protect herself and gain the trust of an entire Nation. Under rare circumstances, however, those disguises slipped from her grasp and she showed her real, thoughtful self. By no means did Neuvillette agree with that type of attitude, especially as a person whose job was to judge others based on the truth, but after many years of being in the presence of Lady Furina, he came to understand the necessity of her actions and chose not to pass judgment. Slowly, he had become the face of justice, Fontaine’s symbol of wisdom, while Lady Furina took her place as their fateful Archon, the one who would save them all from the despicable prophecy that stuck to Fontaine like a shadow, or maybe simply a curse.

It didn’t bother Neuvillette. They were both fulfilling their duties and playing their part in this society they were born into. Lady Furina had plans, although she refused to share any information about them, and Neuvillette trusted her nonetheless.

Just as much as he trusted Duke Wriothesley to tell him the truth about what had been happening at the Fortress as of lately.

As soon as Lady Furina left his office, Neuvillette reached for the Duke’s latest letter, still kept inside Neuvillette’s personal drawer. He unfolded it delicately to not rip the paper to pieces when breaking the Fortress’ seal and scanned the words quickly to see if his guess had been correct. However, the more his eyes traveled through the Duke’s rough handwriting, the more crestfallen Neuvillette became. The contents of that letter were nothing out of the ordinary; thoughts shared about the most recent inmates and a status of how well they were adjusting to the Fortress’ system, an expanse report from the previous week, and a special note on Wriothesley’s most recent fights on the Pankration Ring.

There were absolutely no words about a wedding.

Perhaps the Duke wasn’t comfortable about sharing such frivolous situations with someone like Neuvillette, but he hadn’t been secretive on such matters for a while now. 

Although their relationship had followed professionalism at the start, they had crossed the line towards something similar to a healthy friendship a few years ago. The Duke was someone Neuvillette trusted with his eyes closed shut, and he was aware of just how mutual was that amount of respect. Jokes and sarcasm aside, the Duke had always been at his disposal even at the worst times, and had proven to be a valuable confident as well, considering how he had never once mentioned about Neuvillette’s true nature to others, although he had made his knowledge very clear a handful of times when he found himself alone with Neuvillette, the truth imbedded among his precise words.

Wriothesley had offered Neuvillette something he wasn’t even aware was needed, and Neuvillette often wondered if the Duke had been just as starved as him for someone who could fit into the role of a friend.

Friendship was a concept Neuvillette had trouble fully understanding. Melusines didn’t have friends, they had a family. Dragons, although lonesome creatures, also had their mates. By definition, a friend is neither a family member nor a lover, but someone who you know well, who gives assistance and is attached to another by feelings of personal regard. Neuvillette admired the Duke, not only for who he had become but for the person he was in the past and the issues he had overcome. He was brave and loyal to his cause, to his people, exercising the kind of justice Neuvillette wasn’t allowed to by the law and his position as a judge. The man was simply witty, a sight to see whenever he sat next to Neuvillette to discuss an upcoming trial or past ones, and the only one who dared to question Neuvillette’s opinion when in close quarters. 

So yes, Lady Furina hadn’t been completely wrong when she called out Neuvillette’s happiness and associated it with Duke Wriothesley. He had noticed the sinuous path his mood took whenever the Duke arrived and left back to the Fortress. 

It was truly refreshing to be able to share a cup of tea with someone as gracious as the Duke.

But the tea’s sweet flavor, latched onto his memory, had become bitter when Neuvillette re-read the Duke’s letter and realized the Duke’s transparency - or lack of it - had affected him more than it normally would.

Under cloudy weather, Neuvillette wrote back to the Duke, suggesting a date for him to come to the surface and saying they had certain matters to discuss.

As if those previously stated issues hadn’t been enough, words had the terrible habit of traveling fast. Two days after Lady Furina’s announcement to Neuvillette, and the entire Palais Mermonia had suddenly become aware of the upcoming marriage. It was all people spoke about on the hallways, all the Gardes whispered to each other on their breaks, thinking no one else would notice them, and all the Melusines expressed excitement for.

Although Neuvillette’s hearing was better than a normal human’s, there was still a mystery to be solved, the missing puzzle piece to which people would pay a fortune for. 

Who were the people getting married at the Fortress of Meropide.

Duke Wriothesley’s answer arrived a day after Neuvillette’s inquiry, but he would only be able to make it to their meeting five days later because of a recent issue with the machines in the Production Zone.

Neuvillette, usually stoic and impartial to most emotions, couldn’t deny the hint of curiosity that prickled his mind. A marriage was not a common occurrence in the Fortress, after all, and the fact that Duke Wriothesley had apparently hidden this from him only made him even more thirsty for a sip of truth.

But a glass of Mondstat’s fresh waters would have to suffice by now.

A knock on Neuvillette’s door forced him to swallow the cool liquid. Sedene’s muffled voice reached through Neuvillette’s ears. “Monsieur Neuvillette, can I come in? I have the files for tomorrow’s trial.”

“Of course, my dear,” Neuvillette replied, soon seeing the familiar Melusine skipping happily towards him.

“There you go, Monsieur Neuvillette. Are you in need of anything else?” She stood on her tiptoes and started to push the paperwork over Neuvillette’s desk, who met her halfway and prevented her from overdoing it.

Neuvillette checked if the door was closed with a quick glance and paused with a hand under his chin. Sedene surely had heard the recent rumors and could offer her knowledge on the matter.

“Actually, Sedene. It has come to my attention that we will be having a wedding in the Fortress of Meropide, Lady Furina seemed pretty excited for it as well. Therefore, I would like to ask you, and please consider this a matter of mere curiosity, if you perhaps have any information on who is involved in this ceremony,” Neuvillette tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, though he knew no Melusine would ever question his motives.

Sedene’s antennas perked up upon Neuvillette’s words, eyes widening briefly. “Oh! I didn’t know you were interested in the subject, Monsieur Neuvillette. I’d have reported to you before if I had known,” she saddened for a second, almost making Neuvillette regret his choice of words.

“Please, my dear, this is no serious matter. As I stated previously, I’m simply curious to know more about it.” Neuvillette softened his gaze and extended a hand over his desk, encouraging Sedene to come closer, which seemed to brighten her mood a little bit.

“Well, everybody’s been talking about it, so it’s only fair if Monsieur Neuvillette wants to learn more,” she said, meeting Neuvillette’s hand with her own. “I’m afraid I don’t know much, but I heard the Duke is one of the people involved.”

Neuvillette choked on thin air, hiding it with a small huff. “It is clearly expected of the Fortress’ Administrator to be involved. What I meant to ask is who is directly involved in the ceremony. Do you happen to know it?”

Sedene tilted her head to the side, placing her free hand in front of her mouth, deep in confusion. “I’m sorry, Monsieur Neuvillette, I don’t understand what you mean. The Duke is the one participating in the ceremony, that’s all I know.”

Although Neuvillette’s expression was neutral, he felt the time stopping, the water particles static, floating in the air around him. Of all the people in the Fortress of Meropide, Wriothesley was the one he least expected to get married. Not because of lack of charm or gentleness, but simply because the Duke had never suggested interest in someone else, never brought up a name to their almost weekly conversations. He had shared parts of his personal life before, about his adoptive parents and his dark childhood, even mentioning when female inmates invited him for a meal at the Cafeteria or for a private cup of tea - to which he always politely refused.

Weren’t they friends? The Duke had admitted so himself once. Friends confided in one another. Neuvillette trusted Wriothesley to keep his true identity a secret, so what kept the Duke from trusting Neuvillette with his own thoughts and desires? Hadn’t Neuvillette proven to be a good friend? He had studied the requirements, memorized the definitions and learned about that type of relationship. Brewing the Duke’s favorite tea, playing along with his jokes and making him company through the night wasn’t enough to be considered a friend? The Duke once said Neuvillette was no longer an outsider, but an essential part of Fontaine, so why couldn’t he have the same importance to the Duke as well?

His taste buds felt numb, the traces of water in his mouth becoming more and more bland as the thoughts kept running through Neuvillette’s mind. A strange sensation started to spread through his chest and traveled down to his stomach, sitting there uncomfortably like an acute episode of nausea. He placed a hand over where his heart was beating unusually fast. Should he send a letter to Sigewinne requesting a check up on his health?

More important than that. Should he send a letter to the Duke asking about the man’s own marriage?

“Monsieur Neuvillette, are you feeling alright? Do you need another glass of water?”

Neuvillette’s eyes shot upwards, barely even noticing how his head was tilted down towards his collarbone. “I…” He reached for the nearest glass, drinking whatever was left of water and hoping it would be enough to clear his throat. A hand was placed in front of his mouth to prevent any droplets or a choked-up gasp from falling from his lips as he swallowed. “I am fine, Sedene. Thank you for your concern.” Neuvillette could barely recognize his trembling voice, yet thankfully Sedene didn’t seem to notice such sudden changes.

“You are very welcome, Monsieur Neuvillette. I should be taking my leave now, but let me know if you need anything else from me. Have a great afternoon!” She waved her chubby hands and skipped her way back to the door, closing it in a light click.

Neuvillette’s eyes fell shut and he sighed tiredly. It was not like him to lose his composure because of a simple piece of information. Truth be told, rare were the times Neuvillette openly expressed anything else other than apathy; a smile once in a while was the furthest he would go. Impartiality had become his identity, a necessity as the Court’s Judge to perform his function according to the wishes of the one who gave him his human body. 

But he had changed, undoubtedly, over the years he had spent beside people, after every trial and every interaction. Neuvillette was no longer the same from four hundred years ago, and it showed. It was clear from the way he started to comprehend Lady Furina’s intentions, from how he replied to Duke Wriothesley’s sarcasm, and from how he could easily capture Lady Clorinde’s superficial indifference.

Yet, apparently all those efforts had no purpose after all, not when he felt so betrayed by possibly his closest friend.

Neuvillette caught a glimpse of an empty teacup in the corner of his eyes and slowly traced its brim with his fingertips, as if he could feel Wriothesley’s presence through the smooth porcelain. The weather was getting colder as minutes passed by, making Neuvillette wish for that cup to be filled with something warmer. He turned his head to stare at the thin rain falling from the sky through his large windows with a somber expression, twisted eyebrows and downcasted eyelids.

“It seems like we have much to talk about, Duke Wriothesley.” After one last glance at the abandoned teacup, Neuvillette gathered a pile of trial files under his arm and stood up from his seat, heading out of his office and into the pouring rain, hoping it would wash away his inconvenient thoughts and help him focus once again.

The next five days were drowned in water. They passed by quickly, as fast as the large droplets that kept falling on an uneven rhythm; at times fast and harsh, others slow and relaxing. The prolonged bad weather brought worries to the Melusines as they could resonate with the rain and feel their Father’s frustrations, but Neuvillette, when questioned, always assured they had nothing to worry about.

There were less and less people on the streets, many choosing to stay home either by fear of the unfamous prophecy or due to a simple precaution. Yet that didn’t stop the words from traveling and rumors to start spreading about the marriage in the Fortress. People were excited for the ceremony, wondering if there would be any celebration and attendees at all or if it would be a quick thing on the Duke’s patterns. The Steambird workers were anxious to get a word from those in the underworld, using all the tricks up their sleeves to get an interview with the Duke.

So how privileged Neuvillette was when he had the said Duke sitting right in front of him, inside his office at the Palais Mermonia. He arrived shortly after the sun had set, actually wearing his fur coat instead of having it thrown over his shoulders, and covering his head with a dark black hood made out of a thin cloth. Neuvillette attempted to make a joke or two on his foolish disguise, which earned him a constricted chuckle in reply, an odd one coming from the Duke, he noted. But that initial sensation didn’t last long since, as soon as a cup of tea had been handed to Wriothesley, he started to act like his usual self again, relieving a part of Neuvillette’s worries.

“So, Sigewinne’s been complaining a lot about the weather lately. Funny how she knows that even though she spends all of her time underwater.” Wriothesley icy-blue eyes silently questioned Neuvillette from the teacup’s rim.

“The Melusines are sensitive to the weather changes, especially when I’m the one who has caused them. Therefore, I apologize for causing her so much distress, it wasn’t my intention to do so.” Neuvillette closed his eyes and lowered his head a little, acknowledging his guilt. When he lifted his gaze, Wriothesley’s eyes had softened.

“I’m not blaming you, but you know how it goes. Her concern makes me worry about you as well. And since I’m conveniently here, feel free to get it out of your chest if you wish so to. I’m a very good listener.” Wriothesley placed the now empty teacup back on its saucer and loosely wrapped his arms around his chest, giving Neuvillette a reassuring smile.

Averting his gaze, Neuvillette pressed his lips tightly before speaking. “Since that’s the case, may I be bold enough to ask you a question?”

“Wasn’t that a question already?” Wriothesley huffed out a laugh at Neuvillette’s snort. “Anything for our dearest Chief Justice. Go ahead, I’m all ears.”

“Would you consider the current state of our relationship something comparable to a friendship?” Neuvillette laced his fingers on his lap, hoping Wriothesley wouldn’t notice how they were slightly shaking.

“What kind of question is that, Neuvillette?” Wriothesley was holding back a smile as he replied. “You know we are friends, at least I like to think that we are. Did that by some unknown reason change?”

Part of Neuvillette felt relieved, knowing he had been a good enough company for Wriothesley to consider him a friend. Yet he was also hurt by those same words because of their implication.

“I see,” Neuvillette said slowly. “Therefore, considering we are indeed friends and friends are supposed to tell each other about meaningful events in their lives, wouldn’t you say I should have heard from you about the marriage that will occur at the Fortress of Meropide instead of learning about it from deceptive rumors?” He might have spoken too harshly, if the astonishment on Wriothesley’s face was any indication of that. “I’m sorry if my tone was out of limits, this whole situation is making me feel quite overwhelmed to be completely honest,” he tried to justify.

Wriothesley sighed and rested his forehead on both closed fists, elbows resting on his thighs. “You, as most of the time, are correct,” he blurted out, lifting his head to stare at Neuvillette with a painful expression, which made Neuvillette terribly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry for not telling you and making you think we were no longer friends. I didn’t want to waste your time with such frivolous matters when you have the weight of an entire Nation on your shoulders. It seemed simply ridiculous next to other things like the prophecy and the Primordial Sea.”

“Wriothesley…” Neuvillette mumbled, but before he could think of anything to say, he was interrupted.

“No excuses, I know. I feel like a complete asshole right now.” Wriothesley shook one of his hands and placed it on Neuvillette’s desk. “Let me try to do this right. Neuvillette, I want to tell you about the wedding between-”

Neuvillette carefully covered Wriothesley’s hand with one of his own, putting a stop to his desperate speech. “Please, you don’t have to mention it, I already know everything there is to know about this wedding.” 

Each time Neuvillette heard someone mentioning the wedding, a new needle-prick pain crossed through his clothes and reached his chest. It wasn’t even close to being compared to true physical pain, still it made itself present, like the constant buzzing of a swarm of bees in the middle of Spring. Neuvillette had no idea of why this kept occurring, maybe it had something to do with the thoughts of no longer being friends with the Duke and now hopefully it would all disappear.

Stings left scars, however, and Neuvillette wasn’t free of those.

“Alright. Well, now you know.” Wriothesley didn’t move his hand from under Neuvillette’s, a warming surprise would it be if it didn’t make Neuvillette feel self-conscious about touching a man who didn’t belong to him.

Neuvillette removed his hand right away, as if a burning reaction had just been triggered between their Visions.

“I believe congratulations are in order. Sedene mentioned earlier this week that you will be a fundamental part of the ceremony.” Neuvillette rubbed his fingers together, instantly missing the warmth from Wriothesley’s hand. He reached for his glass of water to distract himself, taking a large gulp.

“Thank you? I’m just playing my part, I couldn't say no when I was asked so nicely.”

Neuvillette gasped as liquid invaded his lungs, coughing against his hand. Right after Wriothesley had gotten up to help him, Neuvillette sent him a glare, silently saying there was no need for such a ruckus. He recovered soon enough, dabbing at the corners of his mouth with an embroidered handkerchief offered by Wriothesley.

“How bold to make such a proposal to the Fortress’ Administrator.”

Wriothesley only spoke again after checking if everything was ok with Neuvillette, twice. “It was only natural after the issue with the Beret Society,” he explained.

“An interesting occasion to meet someone. Still, that happened almost a year ago, if my memory is not playing tricks on me. Some would say it’s a short period of time to make such a life-changing decision.” Neuvillette had learned about that incident from Wriothesley, not even batting an eyelash when Wriothesley explained his future plans for that filthy schemer. The Fortress of Meropide was under the Duke’s rules, after all.

A chill ran through Neuvillette’s spine from the intensity of Wriothesley’s gaze at him. “It’s like they say, Neuvillette. It’s useless to keep track of time and ask yourself if a person is the one for you. When you meet that person, when you know that person. you’ll just know.”

Neuvillette could feel the tip of his pointy ears getting warmer, forcing him to look away from Wriothesley’s serious expression. How fortunate was the person Wriothesley would be soon married to having such a kind, loyal and romantic partner. Again, the needle pricks returned, a little stronger this time, making Neuvillette frown in displeasure.

“Don’t you agree with me, Monsieur? Maybe I can brew us some more tea and we can go over this,” Wriothesley suggested.

“I fear I’m not able to agree or disagree with you on this matter, Wriothesley, as I have never experienced a similar feeling myself,” Neuvillette confessed. “But I do accept another cup of tea, your choice today has been quite lovely.”

With most of his past memory wiped away, Neuvillette couldn’t rely on them to determine if he had had any knowledge on love. He had read about it and even identified signs of affection into his own personality and on the way he treated the Melusines and Lady Furina, although they were truly more like a family he never had. Romance, however, was like threading through a dark and unknown sea, a type of water that didn’t resonate with his Hydro affinity at all. It proved that sometimes, pure knowledge simply wasn’t enough.

Wriothesley walked around his office like he belonged there, earning a smile from Neuvillette. The smell of freshly brewed tea soon invaded his nostrils and forced his body to relax against his chair.

“Have you never thought about settling down? Finding yourself a mate?” Wriothesley brought the cup to his lips and sipped loudly.

The idea of having a mate was utopian, an unattainable concept for the Iudex. He had a job to fulfill and would not let anything or anyone ever come across his judgment. Furthermore, what good would it do for him to enjoy a couple of years with someone who would perish right in front of his eyes, leaving him with those memories for an indefinite amount of time? To have a taste of the sweetest of waters only to never experience the same again was simply torture, worse than any kind ever applied by Wriothesley in the Fortress.

“As Fontaine’s Chief Justice and the Hydro Sovereign, I must say I haven’t.”

Wriothesley hummed thoughtfully. “And what about Neuvillette?”

The teacup stopped halfway through its path to Neuvillette’s mouth, almost falling to the ground due to the suddenness of the question. Neuvillette managed to contain his surprise, closing his eyes to further enjoy the tea’s spiciness.

“There are fractures of Neuvillette in the Chief Justice and in the Hydro Sovereign as well, so I’m afraid my answer still remains.”

Wriothesley, clearly dissatisfied with the reply, groaned in frustration. “Alright, I’ll let you off the hook this time, Monsieur. I’ll get you next time, though.”

“And I’ll be waiting for it, Duke Wriothesley,” Neuvillette said with a shy smirk before picking up his notebook. “Now, I’m afraid we have some matters to discuss regarding the wedding. You see, Lady Furina asked me to…”

It was past two in the morning when Neuvillette and Wriothesley finally reached an agreement on the upcoming ceremony. Wriothesley was a practical man, wanting a quick and simple one. Ten guests would be allowed to come down to the Fortress - no journalists in between - and Wriothesley would make the arrangements to transform the Pankration Ring into a fitting place for the celebration with the right resources from the Court. Sigewinne and Wolsey would take care of the food and no alcohol would be allowed. The formalities would last no more than an hour, but Wriothesley agreed to one of Lady Furina’s wishes, and offered an extra hour for a small party afterwards. 

Wriothesley insisted on walking Neuvillette back to his home even knowing Neuvillette was more than capable of taking care of himself because of his powers. A cold thin drizzle poured between them, yet it wasn’t enough to leave any of their clothes soaked, just a sprinkle of water to remind Neuvillette of the troublesome sensation in his chest.

Upon arriving at Neuvillette’s doorstep, Wriothesley gazed at the sky, his expression suddenly turning somber. He took two small steps, nearly pressing Neuvillette against the door, then reached for a stray lock of silvery white hair that had fallen from his bow, bringing it to his lips and kissing it tenderly.

“I saw you smiling a couple of times today, so I thought I had managed to brighten your mood even if only a little, yet the rain is still falling,” Wriothesley whispered with his eyes closed, opening them after his words to look at Neuvillette, who struggled to keep his surprise from emerging. “What’s been torturing this complex mind of yours? It really pains me to see you like this, Neuvillette.”

While Neuvillette could control his emotions, his heart had a life of its own, producing thundering beats that he could only hope were not loud enough for Wriothesley to hear. From this small distance, Neuvillette could see the flickers in those icy blue eyes, could count his few eyelashes and see the texture of the scarred skin beneath his right eye. All the rough details of his edges that were so characteristic of him and so easily misunderstood by those who only caught a glance of his exterior.

“I…” Neuvillette was at a loss for words, he had been rendered speechless by the sheer honesty in Wriothesley’s eyes.

“I’d turn all these rainy days into the most beautiful rainbows if I could.” The hair strand slipped from Wriothesley’s fingers as he took a step back. Neuvillette’s hands itched to bring him back to where he was, but he refrained from doing so. “I’ll see you at the wedding, right? Two weeks from now, don’t forget it. I’ll be waiting for you anxiously.” Wriothesley pointed at Neuvillette briefly before waving him goodbye. “Have a good night, Neuvillette.”

“As if I could ever forget about it,” Neuvillette mumbled to the rain that was empowered by the constricting feeling in his lungs.

Neuvillette couldn’t tell how long he spent at that same place on his doorstep, staring at the emptiness in front of him and holding that lock of hair tightly between his fingers while all the rest of him got completely drenched by the water. He needed a bath to clear his head and a glass of water to soothe his heart. Perhaps it was indeed time for a check-up with Sigewinne because Neuvillette couldn’t remember a time in his life when he had felt so terribly confused.

His ever so concise thoughts were nothing but a mess of words, and the twisted reflection staring back at him from a nearby pool of water showed the cracks on his stoic face. Wriothesley’s effect on him was anything but temporary, latching onto parts of his skin like a desperate lumitoile seeking for support. His heart was still racing by the time he peeled off the dozens of layers of clothes, folding them neatly and leaving them on the bathroom’s white countertop. The gentle press of Wriothesley’s hand against his still lingered as the bathtub was filled with hot water. The swirling emotions in those bright blue eyes still haunted him as he leaned his head back against the bathroom wall. The smooth baritone of Wriothesley’s sweet words still hummed in his ears as he allowed the bath water to consume him entirely.

Soon, steam filled the room and enveloped Neuvillette’s body in a gentle and warm hug, one different from that induced by Wriothesley; it prickled the surface of his skin and not his chest, it came from the outside instead of the inside. Neuvillette couldn’t tell the reason why they felt so distinct when in the end it all resumed to an increase in his body temperature, but he knew they were.

Truth be told, many things were different when it concerned Wriothesley, even Lady Furina had not so subtly pointed out before, how peculiar was Neuvillette’s behavior near the Duke. Even the slightest mention of Wriothesley’s name was enough to force a change in Neuvillette’s posture and attention. Neuvillette had always associated that with their friendship, but after today’s circumstances he wasn’t so sure of that anymore.

However, Neuvillette didn’t have the right to dwell on Wriothesley’s words and their meaning, not when the man was about to get married to someone else.

And as Fontaine’s Iudex, all he could offer were well wishes and a prayer for Wriothesley’s happiness while Neuvillette wrapped an anchor to those new surging emotions then let them sink to the bottom of the deepest sea so that they could never be found again.

“Neuvillette!” A gust of cold air rushed inside Neuvillette’s office as Lady Furina opened both doors with enthusiasm.

Unconsciously, a sigh left Neuvillette’s mouth. “Lady Furina, please remember my office is not a saloon or a stage for such an extravagant entrance.”

She stopped in the middle of the room with a childish pout, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “You have been extremely moody lately, Monsieur. And I, as the enchanting Hydro Archon, have taken it upon myself to dispel your darkest thoughts.” Behind Lady Furina, at the office’s entrance, Sedene’s small figure showed up briefly, waving shyly at Neuvillette and closing the door to give them privacy.

Neuvillette took a mental note to bring her some components before speaking.

“As you said so yourself, Lady Furina, I am not feeling very inclined to indulge in your mischievous schemes. Furthermore, there is a trial about to begin in two hours, so if you wouldn’t mind, I would appreciate some time alone to study the case.” Neuvillette lowered his gaze and turned his attention back to the file on his desk.

“You need not concern yourself with the trial anymore, Neuvillette, as I have postponed it.” Lady Furina had a smug look on her face.

“Excuse me?” Neuvillette dropped his pen and felt the crease between his eyebrows deepening. He cleared his throat at the surprise on Lady Furina’s face. “I apologize for my tone, it wasn’t my intention to sound rude. Still, I would like to know what has brought our esteemed Archon to make such a decision.”

Lady Furina’s shoulders dropped, seemingly exhausted. “Would you care for some water? Or maybe a cup of tea?” She offered, already choosing from Neuvillette’s tea collection. “I felt obliged to do so as the Goddess of this Nation, because our Chief Justice hasn’t been feeling like himself lately. And while our trials remain unaffected, I don't wish to prolong his suffering any further.”

“My reasoning is as impartial as always, I assure you, Lady Furina. However, out of respect for your position as Fontaine’s Archon, I will not argue with your final decision.”

The room fell silent and the mood felt tense, comforted only by the drizzle that hasn’t died down since a week ago. What impressed Neuvillette the most was not his mood shift. No, he was well aware that since Wriothesley’s last visit he had been having trouble sleeping and even thinking about anything else other than the Duke and his upcoming wedding. What did make him stop and stare blankly at the words scrambled over that flimsy piece of paper on his desk was how transparent he had been regarding those emotions.

Neuvillette had always been known for his mystery, the undecipherable lavender eyes and the lack of facial expression; some would ever dare to go as far as to say the Iudex had a deficiency in humanity, as though it could be compared to vitamins required by the human body in order to function properly. So, the outbreak of his feelings came as an unexpected surprise, especially if it reached the eyes of Lady Furina.

It made Neuvillette question the true fairness of his decisions in his role as the Chief Justice.

His chain of thoughts started to spiral down quickly, interrupted by a clink of a teacup right in front of his eyes. “Worry not, my dear Iudex, as no one else seemed to have noticed your changes. As a caretaker for my people, I have been closely observing your behavior lately, which is why I demand that you tell me what's been troubling you. The time has finally come for you to appreciate how good of a listener I am.”

Neuvillette blinked at the peculiar colorful teacup in front of him, then at Lady Furina. Defeated and aware of how insistent Fontaine’s Archon could be, he took a sip of the tea. It wasn’t as good as Wriothesley’s, but still enjoyable.

“I never doubted your listening skills, Lady Furina,” he said with his eyes closed, feeling the warmth provided by the liquid spreading through his body in gentle waves. “And, if you must truly know, I’ve been simply worried about the wedding we will be having in the following week.”

A sudden sparkle intensified Lady Furina’s heterochromia. “The wedding, yes! How magnificent. I’ve received the report of your last meeting with the Duke and I must say I was impressed by his flexibility, but not at all surprised considering it was a request from no other than me.” She lowered the teacup in her hands, only to reveal another pompous smile.

“The Duke is a very humble and straight-forward person, my Lady. And although he did make a few demands as the Fortress’ Administrator, it is his most genuine desire to please your wishes and those from his people.” And maybe his partner’s as well.

Lady Furina curiously hummed out loud. “Seems like the Duke is quite a catch, wouldn’t you say so, my dear Iudex?” She tapped a finger to her lips on the same wavelength of her bouncy leg.
Neuvillette knew that scheming expression well. He had seen it over and over again during many trials when Lady Furina believed she had the upper hand and tried to lure the defendants into her trap, intimidating them until the right words fell from their mouths.

However, Neuvillette would not be a victim of her tricks. “It is extremely rude to comment on a person’s appearance with such crude manners right before their wedding, Lady Furina. Duke Wriothesley has admirable qualities, I agree, and I am sure those will be tremendously treasured by his partner.”

Lady Furina blinked twice, eyebrows slowly furrowing. “The Duke’s marriage?”

“Is there another marriage of which I should be aware?” Neuvillette blurted out and reached for the teacup once again, hoping it would distract Lady Furina from his abrupt flare-up. He watched her curiously, though, the quick shift in her features and the start of a bubbling giggle that culminated in a full-blown laugh.

With her head thrown back, arms wrapped around her belly, shoulders shaking uncontrollably and eyes welled up with tears, Lady Furina continued to have the time of her life, which only further aggravated Neuvillette’s distress. Whether she was laughing about Neuvillette or Wriothesley and his wedding, her disrespectful reaction awakened Neuvillette’s ire.

Seconds later, Neuvillette had had enough of her childish attitude.

“Enough.”

Lady Furina placed both hands in front of her mouth, fighting to suppress either a smile or another wheeze. She certainly recognized the tone Neuvillette had just used, one reserved to establish order in the court, judging by the mortified look on her face. Quietly, Neuvillette offered her a handkerchief from his inner pockets to dry her tears and took a deep breath before speaking, trying his best to sound as neutral as possible.

“Now, would you care to tell me what triggered such an epiphany?”

The loud sound of Lady Furina clearing her throat caught Neuvillette’s attention. “I, the absolute Hydro Archon, have unsolved the mystery behind your irritable mood.” She pointed an accusatory finger at Neuvillette. “You, Monsieur Neuvillette, cannot accept the fact that the Duke is about to get married,” her words were proudly spoken.

“Lady Furina, I assure you, I'm truly delighted to hear such good news. My concerns originated from a misunderstanding between the Duke and me regarding the state of our friendly relationship. Now that we have settled our differences, I am simply ensuring that everything will occur fluently during the ceremony,” Neuvillette told the truth, but the unsettledness in his chest had returned just as strongly as before, as if trying to remind him of the last night he shared with Wriothesley and all the emotions previously sitting at the bottom of the ocean and now resurfacing.

“While I don’t doubt you, my foolproof intuition is telling me there’s another reason for you to be feeling like this, Monsieur Neuvillette.” Lady Furina playfully waved the handkerchief she had received in front of Neuvillette’s face until he recognized the red needlework on the borders along with a small sewn image of a wolf. It belonged to Wriothesley, made by Neuvillette himself and given as a birthday gift to the Duke a year ago. The same handkerchief Wriothesley had offered Neuvillette on his last visit and Neuvillette had kept it close to himself ever since, like a memory he was afraid of losing.

Reaching for it, Neuvillette’s fingers brushed against the soft cloth, and he checked for any dirt spots before carefully folding it and tucking it back inside his robes. “He must have forgotten it. I will make sure to deliver it back to him when we see each other again,” Neuvillette reasoned.

Lady Furina rose from her seat and paused with a hand under her chin. “Still, it doesn’t explain why you kept it with you for all this time. So let me ask you this, Monsieur. Does the handkerchief make you happy? Keeping this piece of cloth close to you makes you feel better?”

Neuvillette was unsure of the point Lady Furina was trying to make, so he responded with complete honesty. “Yes, I would say it does.” In certain ways and thought not officially, Neuvillette did consider the memento a symbol of Wriothesley’s presence, granting pleasant memories at the smell of the pungent scent attached to it.

“And if you ever end up losing that handkerchief, or if someone else took it from you, how would it make you feel? Sad?” Lady Furina paced around the room calmly, with both arms behind her back.

“Clearly,” Neuvillete stated. “It holds a significant importance to me and to the person whom this belongs to, therefore I would be deeply disappointed if something ever happened to it.” Neuvillette’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of that specific scenario.

“Good!” A loud clap echoed through the office’s walls. “That’s exactly what I expected to hear, and now I can present to you the court’s conclusion. To put it shortly, that handkerchief represents the Duke to you, Monsieur.”

“I’m afraid your analogy doesn’t feel very convincing to me, Lady Furina,” Neuvillette replied slowly, the gears turning inside his head as he tried to decipher Lady Furina’s message. But, despite the explanation, her words had proven to be, once again, too complicated to interpret.

“I can’t believe I’ll have to say this out loud,” Lady Furina mumbled. She stomped her way into Neuvillette’s direction, getting around his desk and staring at him from above, right in front of his chair. “The Duke makes you happy, so you like to have the Duke close to you, correct?” Neuvillette nodded and she continued. “And now that the idea of the Duke being with someone else has come up, you are no longer happy because...?”

Neuvillette tilted his head to the side, features twisted in confusion. “I do not think ‘losing’ is the most appropriate word in this case as it implies Wriothesley being taken away from me. However, I have neither ownership nor possession over the Duke, much less he is within my care, therefore I am not entitled to lose him.“

“Would you like that, Monsieur Neuvillette? To have him under your care? To have him all for yourself?” Lady Furina’s grin grew larger as Neuvillette’s face became warmer.

“I have his friendship, which is already much more than I expected to ever have from someone like him. And to me, that is enough.” Neuvillette averted his gaze, staring aimlessly at the forgotten teacup on top of his desk, afraid that his eyes would contradict his words against his will.

“Is it, though? Are you sure of that?” Lady Furina gave Neuvillette some time, but he had no arguments left. “If that’s the case, then why are you still so bitter about the wedding? Didn’t the Duke explain himself to you? Aren’t you two on good terms? Shouldn’t you be feeling better by now or is there something else troubling you, Monsieur?” The more Lady Furina pressured Neuvillette, the more his hands trembled over his lap. He tried to hide them, lacing his fingers together as if his own emotions were hanging by a thread and his only choice was to hold on tightly.

The situation was becoming too cumbersome, more so than the words Neuvillette tried to connect in a decent explanation for Lady Furina’s inquiries. Her questions had foundation and were all feasible, aligned with Neuvillette’s emotions. Still, he found it extremely difficult to formulate an answer, simply because he wasn’t capable of naming the mixture of sensations meddling with his composure.

His heart felt like it might burst from his chest, if that were even possible. The handkerchief on the inside pocket of his robe felt heavier than it should, matching the rapid rhythm of his heartbeats. His hands yearned to touch something warm and solid at the same intensity on which his mouth pleaded for a drop of fresh water. All focus had been long gone from his eyes and shattered mind, letters coming together only to spell Wriothesley’s name and nothing more, leaving the Iudex seemingly incapable of coherent thought. It was messy and sudden, hitting Neuvillette like a tidal wave affected by the light of a full moon, crashing onto him and dragging him back to the depths where he had thrown those feelings into.

Neuvillette felt as if he had lost his sense of taste and, consequently, all waters now tasted the same even though he knew there was a clear difference between them. 

Those feelings were unlike any others he had ever felt over his four hundred years of living, yet they shared a common source.

Wriothesley.

He was the one who made his heart come alive and brightened most of his days. The one his hands searched for when pressed against the handkerchief or tracing the rim of one of his empty teacups. The one who freed his mind from the trial’s upsetting thoughts and made him laugh with his incorrigible sense of humor. The one who showed up in his dreams, sharing smiles and a cup of tea, and perhaps even something more. The one whose name had been in Neuvillette's thoughts since that fateful trial that led to his exile in the Fortress of Meropide.

The one who made Neuvillette wish for something he thought he would never have, something reserved for those who deserved it, and Neuvillette was not among them.

Lost at sea, pondering about Lady Furina’s questions, Neuvillette no longer knew if those feelings could be attributed to a humble friendship.

“I…I’m afraid I am incapable of explaining myself any further, Lady Furina,” Neuvillette confessed in a large sigh. “Apologies, my feelings are conflicted and I am very lost about their meaning.”

Lady Furina giggled and her expression softened considerably. “You are not lost, my dear Iudex. You are just in love.” She patted Neuvillette’s head twice before placing both hands on her waist.

Although Neuvillette knew the concept of love, his personal experience, or the lack of it, proved there was yet much to learn. Love was supposed to be beautiful, like a bouquet of rainbow flowers, a scene of two swans in a lake or the chipper of birds in the morning. Love should feel like the warmth of the morning sun, the preciousness of a claw’s pearl. It should be as light as a quill's feather and as colorful as a rainbow.

In truth, those were the exact same words Neuvillette would use to describe Wriothesley, proving once again that their relationship had long been much more than a friendship to Neuvillette. Unconsciously, his feelings had developed, almost as if Neuvillette had been destined to love Wriothesley from the beginning.

Love was considered a blessing by many humans, the culmination of the purest emotions. To Neuvillette, however, love was a curse he couldn’t get rid of, an emotion that couldn’t belong to him at all.

If love was supposed to be good, then why did it hurt this much?

“That is unacceptable,” Neuvillette whispered, shocked by the realization. He couldn’t, shouldn’t be in love with Wriothesley, for reasons that went far beyond the man’s upcoming wedding. “I must maintain my impartiality as the Chief Justice, I have to-” Lady Furina stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“You are not limited by your duties, Neuvillette. Consider this an order from your Archon, and give yourself a chance to live and experience the things you never had the chance to.” As if realizing she was acting too far off her usual, Lady Furina quickly cleared her throat and puffed out her chest. “I, as the Goddess of Justice, give you and the Duke my personal blessing.”

Neuvillette's gaze briefly flickered to Lady Furina's hand before returning to her face. “Lady Furina, the Duke whom we are speaking about, will be married in a week. I cannot allow these feelings to grow any further than they already have, they must be cut.”

“There shall be no cutting. It seems like this will be a thrilling wedding, after all. Isn’t that exciting!?” Neuvillette was perplexed by Lady Furina’s reaction, but before he could express his indignity, the Archon spoke once again. “Don’t dwell on it too much, my dear Neuvillette. Who knows? Maybe at the ceremony you will see that such feelings are not as one-sided as you originally thought.”

“I cannot go to this wedding, Lady Furina. I will send my apologies to the Duke and his partner.”

Lady Furina walked around the desk, slowly trailing her way towards the door when she turned. “I’m sure you don’t want to disappoint our dear Duke, do you? Imagine his crestfallen face once he realizes the Chief Justice won’t be there for the wedding. Poor of his inmates who will have to suffer the consequences of his sour mood,” she dramatized, placing the back of a hand on her forehead.

Neuvillette knew she was using persuasive tactics to get through to him, but as she had mentioned before, it seemed like Wriothesley was truly one of his main weaknesses.

“I cannot promise to stay for the entire ceremony in my current state.”

Lady Furina grinned victoriously. “We are off to a great start, I’d say. I assure you there will be many reasons to stay if you give it a chance, Monsieur Neuvillette.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped loudly. “Dear Celestia, is it this late already? I have a meeting in five minutes. Oh, how wonderful it is to be blessed with such a position in Fontaine’s hierarchy.”

Neuvillette stood from his chair and offered a polite bow at Lady Furina’s departure. “My apologies for taking this much of your time, Lady Furina. Please, don’t let me keep you from your duties.”

“I’ll be seeing you next week, Monsieur!” Lady Furina bid her goodbyes and once the door fell shut, Neuvillette’s shoulders dropped at once, alongside the rain heavily falling outside.

With a teacup in hand, Neuvillette stared blankly at the wet scenery on the outside through his tall windows. There wasn’t much to be seen, the continuous and large droplets of water acting like a veil and hiding the view from his eyes. The sound added to the buzz of Neuvillette’s mind, which had been running wildly since the beginning of his conversation with Lady Furina, and made him feel slightly overwhelmed.

In the solitude of his office, Neuvillette allowed his composure to crumble. One by one, the pieces of his poised mask started to fall, giving space for Neuvillette to feel for maybe the first time in many years. He could no longer ignore the verdict of his feelings, not with the way his heart hammered into his rib cage at the thought of Wriothesley. However, Neuvillette couldn’t bear the idea of ruining a day of such importance with his foolish desires.

He had learned his lesson, however, no more burying his emotions five inches deep into the sand. The only option left was to uphold his title as Chief Justice, a challenge he had to face in order to maintain whatever relationship he had with Wriothesley. He would settle with a friendship, if that was all he could have, and be content with it. 

For the sake of his own sanity.

Finally, after many years, Neuvillette understood the greediness embedded in human nature. For as much as he tried to convince himself of his happiness, the pouring rain revealed his selfish wishes to the world. He should be satisfied with Wriothesley’s presence in his life, but he couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to have more, to have his all, as Lady Furina had said so during their previous conversation.

Calmly, Neuvillette recollected his thoughts and turned his attention to the files and letters that still required his review.

If there was one thing Neuvillette was sure of, was that there were long nights ahead waiting for him.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to rent a suit at the Chioriya Boutique, Monsieur Neuvillette?” Sedene asked while she brushed Neuvillette’s hair with the help of two other Melusines.

“I'm certain, my dear. My clothing has become something of a personal trademark by now. Besides, I wouldn't want to draw too much attention at the Duke's ceremony,” Neuvillette explained with both eyes closed, basking in the feeling of gentle hands threading through his hair.

Being at the Fortress of Meropide was always a peculiar experience. Some would snarl at Neuvillette’s presence while others would bow, two sides of the same coin, he supposed. Neuvillette never even looked in their direction, silently greeting only those whose kind eyes locked with his own. Moreover, rare were the times when Neuvillette strolled alone through the Fortress, usually accompanied either by the Duke himself or a trustworthy inmate of his. It was a decision taken by Wriothesley and, although Neuvillette tried to argue against it, Wriothesley’s resolution was absolute, leaving no room for further discussions.

Sometimes, however, when Neuvillette appeared uninvited, he was able to see the direct result of Wriolthesley’s administration. The improved structure, with only a few leaking pipes still in view, matched the overall mood of the place. People worked happily, a content smile on their faces as they retrieved their meals at the Coupon Cafeteria or while engaging in a fight at the Pankration Ring. Wriothesley made their life enjoyable, giving them a purpose to continue their journey on the world of living, probably in a similar way Neuvillette had done after banishing the Duke to the depths as a result of his crime.

Now, the sight of each of the Fortress’ corners decorated with flowers and the smell of their sweet aroma made Neuvillette immensely pleased. The rainbow roses gave life to the often dull hallways, a strike of pink amidst the usual black and white, with their long leaves wrapped around the pipes and composing a bright contrast picture with the darker spots of moss. Strings with triangular white little flags had been attached to the Fortress’ structure, creating a path that led each guest to the place where the ceremony would take place. A low, classical piece could be heard coming from a gramophone, possibly the same one found in Wriothesley’s office, from which Neuvillette had listened to many delightful songs.

The effort made by the underworld people was nitid, and Neuvillette smiled proudly, thinking highly of the man for whom he had fought tooth and nail for.

A man who undoubtedly deserved the title of Duke.

And the man who stole Neuvillette’s breath away when he showed up dressed in a three-piece suit. 

Wriothesley wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, as he typically did. He had left a few top buttons undone, and the same half-assed tie with its characteristic silver pin completed his attire. A pair of tight black dress pants hugged his legs in all the right places and made the tips of Neuvillette’s ears slightly warmer. The poshness, however, came from Wriothesley’s burgundy vest and the matching suit jacket, which was being held over his shoulders by one of his hands, those still wrapped with the usual black bandages.

“Monsieur Neuvillette,” Clorinde, who had been speaking with Wriothesley shortly before his arrival, greeted him politely at the Pankration Ring’s entrance. She had arrived earlier along Lady Furina, who insisted on being the first to congratulate the newlyweds.

Wriothesley’s head turned almost immediately at Neuvillette, a smile blooming in his face. His hair had been styled to the left, probably making use of some kind of product to keep the strands together and away from his face. He looked dashing, younger even, and Neuvillette couldn’t stop his heart from skipping a beat or two at the sight of him.

“Chief Justice.” Wriothesley bowed his head shyly. “I’m glad you were able to come.”

Clorinde huffed out loud, smirking at Wriothesley. “What he meant to say is that he has been very anxious to see you, Monsieur.”

“As I told you before, Clorinde, there is nothing wrong with wanting to see a dear friend of mine,” Wriothesley chuckled, glancing sideways at Clorinde while still giving Neuvillette most of his attention. “A shame that you aren’t wearing a suit, I must say. I’m sure you would look even more handsome.”

Wriothesley had always been an incorrigible flirt, although Neuvillette wished he would save those compliments for his partner instead of throwing them out in the open. 

It would certainly make this less painful than it truly was.

“Apologies, I was not aware of the required dress code, else I would have dressed accordingly.”

“That was a joke, by the way. Not about you possibly looking gorgeous in a suit, because you certainly would, but regarding the dress code. Can’t you see our dear Clorinde here wearing her usual clothes? It’s just a simple ceremony, please don’t worry too much about that,” Wriothesley said with a soft, reassuring smile.

“I see,” Neuvillette hummed. “You seem to have taken this ‘simple ceremony’ quite seriously, though. However, I guess it is only fair considering your role.”

“This?” Wriothesley pointed at himself. “Believe me when I say I wanted to wear my day to day clothes, but Sigewinne wouldn’t stop saying it wasn’t appropriate. Then she somehow brought the Traveler and Paimon over to play dress up with me,” he pinched the bridge of his nose while exhaling slowly, apparently displeased with the whole situation.

“Well, I think they did a formidable job. You are looking quite charming today.”

Wriothesley raised both eyebrows in surprise as he tried to contain a laugh by pressing his lips together. “Hm, if the Chief Justice says so, then I guess I’m glad for their efforts.”

“As you should,” Neuvillette agreed and averted his eyes from those pearly white teeth. “Did they help decorate the place as well? It is all looking lovely.”

“A little, but they had to attend an urgent commission from the Adventurer's Guild, so they couldn’t stay long. A shame, I must say, since the teas Lady Furina brought are the finest I’ve ever tasted.”

Neuvillette cleared his throat when realizing Lady Clorinde was no longer among them. He spotted her whispering into Lady Navia’s ears, something that made her blush in a pretty shade of pink.

“Forgive me for my manners, Duke Wriothesley. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the ceremony? I believe this must be a very important day for you.” Neuvillette couldn’t look at him, not while his heart was pleading for him to say something in order to stop that wedding from ever happening.

“It’s not every day we have a wedding, especially at the Fortress, is it?” Wriothesley took a step forward, standing now too close for comfort. Neuvillette could feel his warm breath on his neck, bringing shivers down his spine. “Once the ceremony ends, will you give me the honor of a dance? Just one, that’s all I ask, but I’ll understand if you’d rather leave.”

Neuvillette’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion for Wriothesley’s boldness. Shouldn’t he be asking his partner for a dance? With that in mind and ignoring his emotions telling him otherwise, Neuvillette pressed a hand on Wriothesley’s chest and pushed him away. “I do not think it will be appropriate for you to dance with me, Duke Wriothesley. Furthermore, if you must know, I am not a very skilled dancer.”

Wriothesley’s expression was indecipherable, yet he respected the distance between them. “Alright, I will accept your decision, but I won’t forget about maybe teaching you a thing or two about waltz the next time we meet,” he said playfully. “Now, if you'll excuse me, there are some things I need to take care of before the ceremony starts. I know this isn’t the Palais Mermonia or the Opera Epiclese, but please make yourself comfortable.” With a polite bow, Wriothesley walked away slowly, the sound of his polished shoes clicking against the metallic floor fading as he moved.

Neuvillette placed a hand over where his heart was beating loudly and silently asked himself if he would be able to survive until the end of the ceremony without feeling the sting of a thousand paper cuts.

The inside of the Pankration Ring was just as beautiful as the outside, with an increased number of flowers and delicate decorations. Wooden benches had been placed within the ring, along with a tiny platform reserved for the Duke and his partner. There was a central table on the left with a towering cake and a variety of pastries, and one on the right with numerous teacups ready to be filled with the most exquisite blends of tea.

Lady Furina called for Neuvillette as soon as she saw him, saying she had saved him a special spot next to her on the first row. A man was occupying the leftmost seat of Neuvillette’s designated spot, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. When he spotted Neuvillette coming his way, he bolted out of his seat and bowed deeply.

“T-Thank you so much for coming, Monsieur Chief Justice,” he spoke with a trembling voice.

“There is no need for such formalities, young man. I am here as a guest of the Duke, nothing else.” Neuvillette waved a hand dismissively.

“Still, I always think that if it wasn’t for your verdict, I wouldn’t be able to meet the love of my life. Therefore, it is an honor to have you here.”

Couldn’t it be that he was…

“Stand straight and tell me your name, young man,” Neuvillette ordered, tapping his cane on the ground once to get the man’s attention.

“I-It’s Faissolle, Monsieur!” He stammered, his arms glued to the sides of his body.

Neuvillette scrutinized his slim form from head to toe. He wore a simple black suit with a crooked tie. His hair looked rather greasy and his frame too fragile. No striking features for a human, and yet he managed to capture the Duke’s heart. Maybe there was something captivating deep inside that Neuvillette couldn’t really see, something reserved for the eyes of a true admirer.

“I have one single thing to ask of you, Monsieur Faissolle. Promise me you will treat this special person with respect and give all of you in this relationship.”

“I promise! I’ll spend the rest of my life honoring that, Your Honor,” Faissolle said with conviction shimmering through his gray eyes.

It was convincing enough for Neuvillette, who slowly relaxed his posture. “Good.” He placed a hand on Faissolle’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “That is all I wish for. Also, congratulations, you are a very lucky man.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. Your presence means a lot to both of us,” Faissolle expressed his gratitude.

Lady Furina waited for him to take his seat next to her before speaking. “So, are you excited for the ceremony, Monsieur Neuvillette?”

He wasn’t. Neuvillette wished he could be anywhere but inside the Pankration Ring at this moment. However, for the sake of everyone’s happiness, especially Wriothesley’s, he concealed that terrible, nauseating feeling behind an impartial mask.

“I am sure we will be witnessing a beautiful wedding, Lady Furina.”

The music change signaled the beginning of the ceremony. Faissolle moved to stand near the platform as the deep sound of horns, violins and flutes echoed through the room. The melody had a melancholic, and even tense, start, but soon shifted to a more uplifting and delicate pace. Two people passed by the aisle with baskets filled with rainbow roses’ petals, painting the floor with a dash of pink and congratulating Faissolle as they finished before taking a seat. 

When the pace of the song changed again, all eyes turned to the outstanding figure of the Fortress’ Duke strolling through the aisle. He looked devilishly handsome in that burgundy suit jacket and smiled politely at the people as he walked. The violins played harmoniously along with the flutes and harps, the high and low notes moved sinuously, like the ocean tide in a sunny afternoon, following the rhythm of Neuvillette’s heartbeats. Once Wriothesley reached the first row, his icy-blue eyes locked with Neuvillette and his smile widened. He bowed with his head to Lady Furina before patting Faissolle on the shoulder and moving to stand on his diagonal.

Neuvillette frowned, wasn’t it customary in human wedding ceremonies to have the couple getting married standing next to each other?

A collective gasp from the attendees drew Neuvillette’s attention to a blonde woman with striking blue eyes climbing up the stairs to the ring. She was wearing a simple white dress with marcottes adorning her medium-length hair. In her small hands rested a full bouquet of rainbow roses.

Neuvillette’s head snapped to Faissolle, who had already started to shed a few tears at the sight of the woman. From the corners of his eyes, he found Wriothesley staring straight at him. There was a hint of a smirk on his face, one that could turn into laughter with the snap of a finger. Neuvillette’s hands tightened their grip on his robes as he faced his lap with a twisted expression.

Had his deductions been wrong this entire time? Was Wriothesley not getting married after all?

As the song came to an end, Wriothesley cleared his throat and started his speech. Neuvillette’s mind, however, was too busy reviewing all the facts spread over his imaginary desk. 

When Sedene mentioned about the Duke being involved in the wedding, could it be that she meant he would be there as a priest and not as the groom? To be involved was to oblige to take part…or to engage as a participant. Afterwards, during his meeting with Wriothesley, could it be that he was trying to tell him the truth? Him saying he had been proposed after the Beret Society incident was a misinterpretation of how Faissolle and the woman reached to him to host the wedding? Lastly, could it be that Lady Furina’s despicable reaction to Neuvillette’s mention of the Duke’s wedding was because she knew the truth and indulged in Neuvillette’s misunderstanding to prove his feelings for Wriothesley?

“I, as the Fortress of Meropide Administrator, now declare you husband and wife. Faissolle, you may do the honors,” Wriothesley declared, and Neuvillette watched in shock as the newlyweds shared a gentle kiss.

People rose from their seats to clap and whistle, celebrating the end of the ceremony. Next to him, Lady Furina shouted happily, and upon noticing his gaze on her, looked at him with a playful smile. “See?” She bumped her shoulder on Neuvillette’s arm. “I told you, you’d have plenty of reasons for staying if you came.”

“Excuse me, Lady Furina. I might need some time alone to settle my thoughts. Please congratulate Faissolle and…”

“Avice. Her name is Avice, Neuvillette,” Lady Furina added.

“Avice, yes. Please give them my compliments for the beautiful wedding and my personal best wishes for their union.”

Neuvillette took advantage of the general distraction and hurriedly left the Pankration Ring. The air felt stiffening in the underworld now, the smell of roses was no longer pleasant when mixed with the general wet scent. Two of Neuvillette’s gloved fingers grazed his cravat and reached underneath it, hoping to relieve the pressure on his neck. Truth be told, all of his clothes felt too constricting now as Neuvillette’s stomach was filled with embarrassment. His main priority was to apologize to Wriothesley and to everyone else who got involved in this mess, but first he needed a moment to himself, to contemplate and accept his mistakes in order to not make the same ones again.

The sounds of steps echoed through the Fortress, people’s excitement over the wedding resulting in many distant whispers, which Neuvillette only paid half attention to. Self-absorbed in his own thoughts, Neuvillette didn’t register a presence next to him until something cold was pressed against his cheek. He turned abruptly, startled by the temperature shock, only to find Wriothesley trying to avoid water from spilling out of a tall glass.

“Careful there, those imported waters of yours are not very cheap, you know?” He offered him the glass. “Here, take it. I saw you leaving and thought you might be in need of a drink.”

Neuvillette accepted the gesture with kind eyes, chugging all the content at once and pressing the back of a hand against his mouth afterwards. “I appreciate your concern, Duke Wriothesley, although it was not my intention to move you from the ceremony.”

Wriothesley observed their surroundings for a second, then shrugged lightly. “It’s fine, Sigewinne is taking care of everything as she normally does when I’m away. Plus, I doubt anything will happen while our Champion Duelist is inside, you know how people feel about her presence.” He retrieved the empty glass from Neuvillette and placed it on a nearby shelf. “Say, Your Honor, would you like to head to a more private place? My office, maybe? I’m not a fan of parties and I'd rather enjoy the time I have talking with you. Unless you’d like to join the festivities inside, of course, then I’d gladly escort you.”

“Are you sure you won’t be missed?” Neuvillette tilted his head and pondered about it before asking.

“As if. They will probably feel more comfortable if I’m not around. It’s their party, so I want them to enjoy this as much as they can without worrying about me.”

“As courteous as always,” Neuvillette smiled briefly. “Alright, I shall accept your offer, then.”

They walked in silence towards Wriothesley’s office, appreciating the uncommon decorations and the faint sound of music coming from the Pankration Ring. The Duke’s presence was a double-edged sword, freeing Neuvillette of his initial apprehension while also giving him more to wonder considering the most recent realization of his own feelings. It would be the first time they were alone after the fateful conversation with Lady Furina, and the idea made Neuvillette feel surprisingly nervous around Wriothesley.

“Would you like some tea?” Wriothesley asked once they had climbed up the stairs and Neuvillette sat on the nearby sofa.

“Of course, although just a bit, please,” Neuvillette replied. “One would think you’d rather have a taste of the different blends Lady Furina brought.”

After moving a few things around, Wriothesley came back with a silver tray in hands and a smirk on his face. “Don’t you know me better by now, Neuvillette? If you think I haven’t got a few of those and brought them back to my office, we should probably reevaluate our relationship.” He sat down next to Neuvillette and poured boiling water into their cups, watching as the liquid slowly changed colors.

Neuvillette chuckled at the reply. “You are indeed a very witty man, Wriothesley. You never fail to amaze me.”

The tea tasted spectacular, yet it felt uncomfortable in the twist of Neuvillette’s emotions. He needed to get those words out of his chest, lift that weight from his already bruised shoulders to have a peaceful night of sleep. Gently, he placed the teacup back to the table and turned to Wriothesley, who was looking curiously at him with one arm crossed and his chin over his knuckles.

Neuvillette closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Wriothesley…” he tried to say, but by the time he opened his eyes, Wriothesley was no longer by his side. Instead, he was standing next to his gramophone, moving the needle and letting the initial scratches turn into music.

“Navia brought her own gramophone to the ceremony. Good thing I didn’t even have to ask them to not take mine” Wriothesley explained, as if sensing the confusion on Neuvillette’s face. “I haven’t forgotten about what you told me earlier today, our little chat regarding certain skills. Since we’re already here, would you give me the pleasure of dancing with me, Neuvillette?” Wriothesley extended a hand, palm upwards and facing Neuvillette in a silent invitation.

Neuvillette shook his head. “Now it is not the time for a dance, Wriothesley. Moreover, since you have such a good memory, you might remember my lack of dancing skills,” he exhaled awkwardly.

“All you have to do is follow my lead. It can’t be that difficult, can it? Tonight, that’s the only thing I’ll ask of you,” Wriothesley insisted with a charming smile, one that twirled Neuvillette’s heart.

No reply was given, not a verbal one, at least. Neuvillette placed his hand on top of Wriothesley’s and uncrossed his legs as he felt his body being pulled. Wriothesley carefully adjusted their hands, placing one of Neuvillette’s on his shoulder and one of his own on Neuvillette’s waist, while their opposite hands met in a gentle grip, with Wriothesley’s fingers wrapped around the gloved hand.

Neuvillette had seen couples waltzing gracefully across the stage at the Opera Epiclese, as if they were walking on thin air. But Neuvillette, even after hundreds of years of living, was still quite uncoordinated, sometimes sitting on his own hair or stepping on his robes as he walked. When added to the absence of a partner, dancing became a troublesome task to excel at, so Neuvillette decided that he would remain a quiet enthusiast of that particular form of art.

“Just follow the sound of my voice,” Wriothesley dragged him closer, resting his temple against Neuvillette’s. “You can look at my feet for the first few steps, alright? Shouldn’t be too hard, but we’ll stop if you end up not liking it,” he breathed out in a deep whisper.

It was hard at the beginning, to conciliate so many different rhythms. The most accelerated belonged to his heart, which pounded with the beat of a thousand drums, loud and unstable. In second came his footsteps. Although Wriothesley started off with a slow tempo, as Neuvillette adapted to the melody and the dance itself, he guided them faster and faster through the small office. The third and final one was the flow of Wriothesley’s voice as he counted out loud, repeating the same three numbers so that Neuvillette wouldn’t get lost. It was distracting, the warm puffs of air caressing Neuvillette's skin, and the deep, resonant timbre of Wriothesley's voice reverberating in his ears, making Neuvillette stumble a couple of times.

“I knew you would be a quick learner.” Wriothesley’s smile could be felt within his words. “Now, a twirl.”

Neuvillette felt the world spinning, returning to the safety of Wriothesley’s arms a second after. Wriothesley’s forehead rested against his, and Neuvillette gasped softly from the lack of air in his lungs. Mesmerizing blue eyes stared at him, hypnotizing, luring Neuvillette in like the song of a mythical being. The distance between them was so small that Neuvillette could see the details of the scarred skin beneath Wriothesley’s right eye, the dark shade of the bags under his eyes and the soft aging lines adorning his face.

Words got stuck into Neuvillette’s throat. There was so much he wanted to tell Wriothesley, but he had no idea of the right way to do so. He had never been in that position before, it was deeply unsettling. Although he wanted to tell Wriothesley everything, about the misunderstanding and his feelings, no sounds left his mouth as he opened it repeatedly.

“Your brain seems busy with something, I can see the smoke coming out of your ears.” Wriothesley gave Neuvillette’s waist a gentle squeeze. “Care to tell me what’s got you feeling so rattled?”

One day Neuvillette would understand Wriothesley’s mystical powers. How did he manage with just a simple touch and small words of encouragement, to give Neuvillette the ability to see clearly and the strength to push forward.

“I thought you were the one getting married today, to Faissolle,” he added after a moment of silence.

“Wait a second,” Wriothesley huffed, features twisting and untwisting as if he was struggling to understand what Neuvillette had just said. “You thought I was getting married to Faissolle?” He asked rhetorically. “Please enlighten me on how you reached this absurd conclusion, Monsieur.”

“It was a misunderstanding of mine, and for that, I apologize,” Neuvillette started, eyes fixed on Wriothesley’s chest. “The entire situation feels very ridiculous, I have to admit so. When the news of the Fortress’ wedding arrived at the Palais, I got curious to know about the people involved and asked Sedene, who confirmed you were one of them. However, I simply assumed you were the groom without asking for further confirmation. From then onwards, it all became a terrible snowball which only grew in size, until realization finally came upon me during the ceremony.” The warmth on Neuvillette’s ears began to spread to his cheeks, making them flush under the scrutinizing gaze of the Duke.

They had stopped moving by now, and Wriothesley’s hands left Neuvillette’s and his waist to frame his face carefully, tilting his head until their eyes met once again. “I’m sorry for not telling you from the start. I feel like all this mess could have been avoided if I had written you a letter about it.” The pads of Wriothesley’s calloused thumbs brushed through Neuvillette’s face tenderly. “That does explain your surprise when Avice walked down the aisle, though. Yet the reason you looked so sullen before the ceremony remains a mystery.”

Neuvillette chased after that comforting warmth coming from Wriothesley’s hands and closed his eyes at the sensation. Unconsciously, he held one of Wriothesley's firm hands with his own, preventing him from leaving.

“You are not guilty of those charges, Duke Wriothesley. I am ready to accept those faults as my own, so there is nothing to be worried about.”

“Good thing you are already down here at the Fortress, then,” Wriothesley said playfully before clearing his throat awkwardly. “So, about the sullen thing, could it be that the Chief Justice was sad when thinking I was about to get married?”

Neuvillette tried to avoid the subject, hoping Wriothesley wouldn’t go back to it, but he had underestimated this warden of his. His hand fell from Wriothesley’s, missing its warmth terribly already as if he had been separated from a vital part of himself.

“I will understand if this all comes as a surprise to you. Quite honestly, it has been a shock to myself as well. And I will also hold no resentment towards you if you decide to not ever speak to me again and end the relationship we have established between us.” Neuvillette felt his eyes tingle at the corners as he spoke, and his words trembled even more as he continued. “The truth is that I can no longer hide my feelings towards you. I have reached the point of no return, it seems, and even the thought of you makes me distracted from my daily assignments. Therefore, answering your previous questions, yes, the thought of you marrying someone else made me strangely sad, and it was not until later that I realized the reason why.”

Wriothesley’s grip tightened, and Neuvillette could feel the vibration of his hands upon his skin. “Are you confessing to me? I don’t want this of all things to become a misunderstanding, so please answer me honestly, Neuvillette. Do you love me?”

“Yes, I do, my dear Wriothesley. I confess to my sins of wishing for more than just a simple friendship.”

“Neuvillette, please look at me,” Wriothesley mumbled in a hushed whisper.

Of all the emotions Neuvillette expected to find on Wriothesley's face, he didn't anticipate to see affection. His eyes gleamed with something Neuvillette could not recognize. It felt private, intense and tender at the same time. A mixture of words that could only be resumed in love and nothing else.

“Remember when I said a dance would be all I asked of you tonight? I lied,” Wriothesley confessed, bumping his nose against Neuvillette’s and letting their breaths mingle from both of their parted lips. “There are many things I would like to ask, but right now the thing I desire the most is a kiss. Can I kiss you, Neuvillette?”

Neuvillette’s reply came in the form of an impulse that sealed their lips together at last. His mind became foggy, inebriated by the gentle pressure of a chapped mouth against his own. Neuvillette felt shy at first, adjusting to the thousands of feelings washing over him all of a sudden. He drowned in Wriothesley slowly, until all he could think of was his name and all he could feel was his lips. There were traces of a distinct sweetness on Wrioithesley’s mouth, leftovers from the tea they had shared moments ago, and Neuvillette chased after them with his tongue, ears ringing with the sound of Wriothesley’s groan in response.

The noise awakened something dormant in Neuvillette, a part of his draconian nature that had yet to be discovered, a hunger for more that couldn’t be logically explained.

Desperate to feel, Neuvillette reached for Wriothesley’s face with both hands, dragging him impossibly closer and forcing them both to stumble their way backwards until Neuvillette felt the edge of Wriothesley’s desk poking his hips. Neuvillette embraced Wriothesley’s shoulders and wrapped his legs around his waist instinctively as he was picked up and placed on top of the desk, papers flying and rustling all over the office, but neither of them paid attention to that.

Fingers got tangled up in Neuvillette’s long silvery white hair and tilted his head to the side without breaking the seal of their lips, escalating the kiss to a more intimate one. Neuvillette moaned softly at the touch of Wriothesley’s tongue against his, as warm as the hand rubbing circles on his waist. It was overwhelming, almost too much to bear, yet it felt comfortable to be held so possessively. Neuvillette no longer knew if those feelings belonged to him or Wriothesley, there was only them, together in that moment. He fell apart under Wriothesley’s mouth, drowning a bit more after every bite and every caress of his lips and answering back with a few of his own despite his lack of experience.

Eventually, that initial frantic rhythm slowed down until all they shared were small pecks against each other’s swollen mouths.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do this,” Wriothesley sounded breathless as he spoke. His hands trailed back to Neuvillette’s face and he kissed him one more time. “I’ve never thought I would hear a confession from you outside my dreams.” His giddy smile suited him too well, making Neuvillette’s chest swell with affection.

“I apologize for not realizing my feelings sooner, then. I would have never guessed that your flirtatious words were truly meant for me after all.” Neuvillette was slightly surprised by the hoarseness of his voice.

“There’s no one else but you, Neuvillette, I assure you. There had never been and there will never be anyone else for me,” the confession was said in a whisper meant for Neuvillette’s ears only.

Neuvillette dropped his head to Wriothesley’s shoulder, nose pressing against the pulsing vein on his neck, covered by stripes of black bandages. “I am glad, though I must ask. You said there were many things you would like to ask of me besides the dance and the kiss. I wonder what the next one will be,” Neuvillette said in a questioning, mischievous tone.

Strong arms circled his middle as words were whispered in Neuvillette’s ear. “Some things I’ll tell you later, but for now all I ask is you. I want you in every possible way, for as long as you have me.”

Neuvillette’s body shuddered, teeth itching to leave a mark on that already marred skin. “I am all yours, my Duke.” 

For once, Neuvillette’s heart was at peace, like the calm, flowing waters of a river

Wriothesley hummed playfully, and Neuvillette smiled at the thought of his upcoming joke. “Should we go back and ask for another marriage to be arranged, then? That confession was worthy of a ceremony.”

Their eyes met and they both snorted at the ridiculous suggestion. “Why not keep this to ourselves for a little longer, hm? I am not ready to share the news with the world just yet.”

“Don’t you think they will be able to notice the change with the amount of rainbows they’ll be seeing tomorrow? I haven’t forgotten about my words to you, Monsieur.” Wriothesley grinned proudly, either of his memory or his promise.

“I’d turn all these rainy days into the most beautiful rainbows if I could.”

And how could Neuvillette forget those words? Although he had seen a lot, not once he had listened to such a meaningful sentence directed at him. Wriothesley made him feel as if he had just been reborn in this human form of his, starting his duty in Fontaine from scratch and experiencing all things he had been missing.

He basked in that warm sensation for a few seconds before tightening his hold onto Wriothesley and kissing him once more.

For now, there was nothing else that mattered except for the fact that Wriothesley was now his.

True to his words, a rainbow colored the sky when Neuvillette made his way to the Palais on the following day. Sedene greeted him cheerfully, as usual, and handed him the daily report from The Steambird, which the headline was about the wedding at the Fortress of Meropide.

“An Underwater Union Blessed by the Hydro Dragon?”

Neuvillette chuckled and left the newspaper untouched by his desk as he took his seat. Setting aside the many letters and documents, the first thing Neuvillette did was pick up a blank sheet of paper and his quill to write to Wriothesley about the accuracy of his guesses.

Yes, there were still many things left to be learned, and Neuvillette could only wish that Wriothesley would be the one to teach him about all of them.