Chapter Text
The Court of Fontaine is going through a period of great change.
Liath was one of the first Melusines to come to live among the humans; she had worked here for hundreds of years, watching the city grow and change alongside its people. Through all of the tensions and turmoil, through periods of celebration and of fear, through busy days and carefree vacations… Liath had lived them all, and while there was still much she had to learn about humans and their curiosities, she knew the Court of Fontaine and its people’s ways better than most of her Melusine sisters.
Even still, it was surprising to see how… little the people and their routines changed, despite how much was changing around them.
For one, Monsieur Neuvillette was more powerful than ever before, now the official and sole head of Fontaine! And he was implementing many useful changes to the nation, ones that Melusines and humans alike were celebrating. While Liath always had enjoyed Lady Furina’s energy and silly antics, it was undeniable that she was happier and healthier as an opera performer and director than as a ruler. Monsieur Neuvillette reclaimed his Hydro authority and took to his new power like a fish to water.
Or perhaps a Hydro Dragon to water would be more accurate? Hmm. Liath’s still working on her human synonyms.
Regardless, the power structures that made up the legal system have fundamentally shifted. While this may not affect the day-to-day lives of the individuals living within the walls of the Court very much, the newly evolving structure of the legal system, the switch to Pneumousia as the primary energy source for the nation, and the new opportunities for rebuilding and restructuring the nation after the great flood from the prophecy together have resulted in new waves of change across Fontaine.
For immortal creatures like Melusines, this change, perhaps, was much more unique and different as compared to the smaller, less structural changes humans were used to adapting and changing to. Melusines were used to slow changes, like how it took time and effort for them to come to coexist with humans, or the training it took to join the ranks of the Marechaussee Phantom.
Perhaps this was why Liath had so much fun living with humans- they were such fascinating creatures, always growing and changing so quickly.
Liath considered this as she continued her usual patrol around the Palais Mermonia. The weather was lovely, a brisk, overcast morning that kept her cool even in the wool uniform and thick boots she wore.
Just as she began humming a tune, Sedene burst out from the Palais, running towards her.
“Is that you, Liath?!” Sedene called, waving an arm above her head.
Liath runs toward her sister as well, meeting her halfway. “Yes, it’s me! What happened?”
“We need to send news back to Merusea Village,” Sedene says quickly, leaning on Liath’s shoulder as she catches her breath. “I don’t have enough time to step away from work and send something right now, but I was wondering if you could-”
“What news?” Liath interrupts. “What do we need to send word of?”
Sedene tilts her head up to look into Liath’s eyes, and she has the biggest, happiest grin on her face, brighter than any Liath has seen on her in years.
“Monsieur Neuvillette will be joining us for Homecoming!”
~
“Homecoming,” as the Melusines called it, went by many names; the humans of Fontaine tended to instead call it the Melusine Return to Elynas, the Merusea Festival, or some variation of that depending on who you asked. It was an official holiday created a few years after the arrival of Melusines to the Court of Fontaine.
The reason it was created was to resolve one primary issue: the Melusines did not have any holidays they celebrated before they came into the Court, and thus had challenges coordinating vacations to see all of their sisters and catch up. Especially in the early years of working together with humans, many Melusines wanted to talk together with their sisters and be able to teach each other more about how human society functioned; being able to have one big family gathering wouldn’t just be fun, but would also help all of them socially and in their careers.
When they brought this concern up to Monsieur Neuvillette after various problems arose, he and Furina had discussed and declared a specific weekend once a year a national holiday, during which all Melusines would all be able to return home to Merusea Village together while the various businesses and institutions they worked for would all be able to plan and prepare for their absence. Monsieur Neuvillette arranged a large Waverider all of the Melusines working in the Court would be able to ride to Elynas, and thus, a new tradition was born.
Today, the short weekend has been expanded to four days of celebration and feasting in Merusea Village. Many city shops sell gifts and trinkets targeting Melusines homebound for Homecoming for them to gift as souvenirs to their sisters (although whether they are successful is debatable), and it was an understood part of the year all of the nation scheduled around without question.
The festivities in the village itself are welcome to non-Melusines, as well, if they were interested in Melusine culture or simply wanted to celebrate with them, but the grand Family Meeting on the evening of the third night was limited to only Melusines. This was for all Melusines to catch up with each other on everything that happened in the past year, as well as discussing important topics of interest and goals they had as a community.
Of course, the first few Family Meetings discussed the various troubles and successes Melusines had faced with entering human society. Through sharing what they had learned through experience, they could better piece together how human culture and customs worked through their shared perspective as Melusines, then return to the Court better prepared.
Another major topic the Melusines were united under was Monsieur Neuvillette. Discussing how they could help and support him (as well as making early preparations for his birthday celebration) was important to them; as his familiars, they were guardians to his important secret identity and duties to the region of Fontaine and thus were uniquely equipped to be able to support him in ways humans could not.
And thus, the Melusines researched vishaps and elemental dragons- their behaviors, their biology, everything they could find- and they worked together to prepare to be able to help him in any way they can in the future, just as Monsieur Neuvillette had done for them.
~
Monsieur Neuvillette, joining them for Homecoming!
Blathine had been enjoying her day off in the cafe eating breakfast when Liath had skipped over to her and passed her a letter, asking for her to take it to Merusea Village in her stead. Since Blathine wasn’t scheduled to be back on duty until two days from now, she easily agreed, but when she heard what the letter was about? She had practically run to the shore and dived into the waters.
It had been hundreds of years since Monsieur Neuvillette last visited Merusea Village; his duties as both the Chief Justice of Fontaine and the leader of the Marechaussee Phantom kept him busy year-round, with little time to take an extended trip away from his job. While Sedene, as someone working closely with him in the Palais Mermonia, could keep an eye on his health to ensure that he was not overworking himself, it seemed that his nature as an elemental dragon allowed him to work even longer hours on even less food and sleep than the Melusines. When the Melusines would pester him to take time off, he would insist that he enjoyed keeping himself busy, then turning the conversation around to instead pester them about their health, the hypocrite that he was.
But that Monsieur Neuvillette was planning to spend Homecoming with them in Merusea Village!
Homecoming was still a few weeks away, but there were preparations to be made. First, Blathine needed to find Serene, who was the best at coordinating their individual responsibilities towards Homecoming preparations, and then Lutine, so she could get to crafting tasty dishes for Monsieur Neuvillette’s tastes, and…
So distracted by her thoughts, Blathine swam straight into another Melusine as she swam forward.
“Oww!” Blathine cries, rubbing at her rhinophores.
“Urgh…” The other Melusine rubs at her side, wincing, before looking up to meet Blathine’s stare. “Oh! Blathine! Are you headed home to the village too?”
“Oh, Muirne! It’s great to see you!” Blathine swims forward to embrace her sister. Then she pauses, gently pushing Muirne’s shoulders away. “Wait, where are you coming from? I just came from the Court…”
“I was visiting Sigewinne in the Fortress of Meropide,” Muirne explained happily. “We both had this week off, right? You should have come along! I learned a lot of fun things from our sisters there…”
“Ah, you know me,” Blathine sighed, waving her arm. “I like my down time on my breaks.” She had spent most of the past two days sitting and relaxing at the cafe; as much as she loved playing with her sisters, big gatherings of Melusines at the Fortress tended to get a little wild and draining for her tastes.
Muirne giggles. “That’s our Blathine! Well, I’ll invite you again next time, so think about it, okay?” Then her eyes widened. “Wait, then why are you headed to the village? You usually stay in the Court for your breaks…”
Blathine gives her sister a mischievous smile. “Well, you see, I have this…” She holds up the envelope in her hand. “It’s an express delivery, in regards to Monsieur Neuvillette!”
“Oh? What a funny coincidence.” Muirne holds up her hand, as well, revealing a letter of her own. “I have a delivery from Sigewinne, in regards to the Duke…”
Blathine and Muirne stare at each other’s hands for a moment. There’s a strange itch in Blathine’s mind- her detective’s instinct, perhaps- that tells her that this might be more than just a coincidence. Merusea Village hardly ever gets letters carrying important news, much less two important ones from two very different locations at once…
“Let’s hurry home,” Blathine tells her sister. Muirne nods, taking Blathine’s empty hand, and they swim faster towards the village.
~
As the unofficial “big sister” of the Melusines, Serene’s duty was to maintain order in Merusea Village, caring for and leading her sisters when the time called for it.
Did this lead to situations where a lot of responsibility was placed on her shoulders? Certainly. But it made her pleased and proud that her sisters viewed her so highly and relied on her so much. It’s not like she did everything alone, either; all of them worked together to accomplish their goals. That was their strength as a sisterhood, and that was the community Serene was proud to be a part of. If her sisters required her to organize and direct, that would be what she would do.
It did also lead to her needing to be rational and level-headed even in moments like this.
Blathine and Muirne burst into the village at the same time, thrusting two different letters into Serene’s hands. They both insisted their letter was more pressing- which was rare, for easygoing Muirne- so Serene had to get them both to calm down before first taking Blathine’s letter, to Muirne’s indignation and Blathine’s smug pride. Mainly because Blathine had shouted first that her letter was from Monsieur Neuvillette, and Serene deemed it fair to prioritize the letter from him first.
Serene peels open the waterproof envelope, gently unfolding the paper within to reveal Monsieur Neuvillette’s elegant script. As she reads, Blathine, Muirne, and some of her other sisters that had gathered over with the ruckus leaned in to try and read along.
In the letter, Monsieur Neuvillette does not begin with his usual greetings and reminders for the Melusines to be taking care of themselves. Instead, he begins with an apology for the late notice, and that if it wouldn’t be a bother for herself and the other Melusines, he would like to… Wait… Hm…?
Serene’s eyes widen into saucers. “Monsieur Neuvillette is-”
“MONSIEUR NEUVILLETTE IS JOINING US FOR HOMECOMING!” Laume screams from where she was reading over Serene’s shoulder, jumping up and down with joy.
“For Homecoming!?”
“He’s never done so before! How wonderful!”
“Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve seen him!”
More and more Melusines gather around Serene, beckoned in by Laume’s announcement, and there are joyous cheers and celebrations all around.
“Wait, Serene! Read my letter, too! From Sigewinne!” Muirne insists, placing her own envelope in Serene’s hands over Monsieur Neuvillette’s letter. Still reeling a bit in surprise, Serene opens up this letter, as well, scanning over it quickly.
Sigewinne’s letters are always cheerful and conversational, usually carrying with them new gossip or fun stories from her days working at the Fortress. This time, though, her words carry with them an urgency and an excitement hand in hand. She describes how Monsieur Neuvillette has been visiting more frequently recently, to come to see her and the other Melusines that work in the Fortress of course, but more often (and more curiously) to see Duke Wriothesley.
There’s been an imbalance in the Hydro energy around the Fortress of Meropide recently - which was somewhat expected, considering how deeply it was affected by the Primordial Sea, as well as the leakages from all of the damage it went through during the flood. Because of this, Sigewinne had initially overlooked an odd Hydro elemental signature she could sense from the Duke. That is, until today, when she got closer to him and noticed that…
That… It was an elemental sigil… Placed by Monsieur Neuvillette.
Serene’s mind is spinning. Laume is reading the entire letter in a dramatic voice next to her head, to the great enthusiasm of the Melusines further from the center of the huddle they’re forming, but she forces herself to focus. She’s still ahead of them at the pace she’s reading, and she’s not sure she’ll be able to form a comprehensive thought once they all start screaming. She’s starting to put the pieces together, and her heart is starting to race with excitement.
Sigewinne then points out that this form of elemental marking was a symbol of possession or ownership (oh, goodness!), and that early records they had found from their research hundreds of years ago suggested that claiming an individual in this way (oh, my!) was a declaration that they were courting them (oh, purest waters!) and that they were their chosen mate (Serene feels faint).
Serene can see why Sigewinne needed a letter rushed back, too. This was huge news and a topic of utmost priority that would need to be discussed at the Family Meeting during Homecoming, one that they needed to start preparing for immediately.
But even more so, this was joyous, wonderful news, for what Melusine wouldn’t feel great excitement that their beloved Monsieur Neuvillette had found his chosen mate? What Melusine wouldn’t be relieved that their ever stoic and solitary Hydro Dragon had a partner he wanted by his side forever?
It seems the others have finally caught up to Serene’s scanning of the letter, because Laume squeals over the huddle once again. “MONSIEUR NEUVILLETTE TOOK DUKE WRIOTHESLEY OF THE FORTRESS OF MEROPIDE AS HIS CHOSEN MATE!!”
Screams and clamoring erupts among the Melusines. Some girls push into the circle to try and see the letter and Sigewinne’s words with their own eyes. Some break into excited dancing, joining hands to spin in circles or jump up and down. Questions spread through the group, passed around as they consider their answers.
“Oh goodness! When will the wedding be?”
“This means that they will have baby dragons, right? Or hatchlings?”
“Can someone tell me more about the Duke? I’ve never met him…”
“Wait, does that mean we’ll be big sisters!?”
“Is the Duke a suitable mate for Monsieur Neuvillette?”
“Wait, mates and human marriages are a little different. Will Monsieur Neuvillette even want a wedding?”
“Should we start preparing incubation and nursery spots?”
“Maybe we can start practicing looking after babies some more; some of the humans in the Court are surely looking for babysitters…”
“Did we save any of the research on vishaps and dragons?”
One question, though, rippled through the group without an answer to be found:
“And this is happening at the same time Monsieur Neuvillette decides to join us for Homecoming?”
Serene, too, is stuck on the implications of that last question. But patience is a virtue, one Serene has come to value greatly. What she must focus on is the actions she can take right now- writing back to Monsieur Neuvillette welcoming him to their village and asking about any further details he’d like to share, as well as beginning arrangements for accommodations and welcoming celebrations for him.
Serene loves her sisters, the region of Elynas, and Monsieur Neuvillette more than anything. It is her pride and joy to have the honor of welcoming Monsieur Neuvillette into their village to celebrate this new, exciting chapter in his life.
~
News spreads fast through the streets of Fontaine, but even faster between the Melusines.
It’s later in the day after she sent out Monsieur Neuvillette’s letter that Sedene receives word back from Merusea Village, an excited energy about Liath as she slides an envelope in front of her. “This is for Monsieur Neuvillette, from Serene,” she says softly, so as to not be heard over the clacking keys and low rumble of discussion in the hall, “But I have news for you, as well. Would you be able to spend your dinner break with me?”
With the seniority both hold in their positions, it is quick for the two Melusines to arrange a shared early dinner at Café Lutece.
The thing about Café Lutece is that it is a popular spot for Melusines to visit. Menthe, who often patrols around that area, trails over when she sees Sedene and Liath taking a seat at a table, and so does Mela, and Siora, too. As Liath explains what she heard from Blathine and Sedene gives more details about what she’s seen from Monsieur Neuvillete lately, it’s a struggle for all of them to conceal their surprise and excitement. To keep their volume down, they all lean over the table, keeping their heads close and voices down to whispers; some of the humans around them shoot them strange looks as they walk by, but if they can’t hear what they’re discussing, it hardly matters.
Around the same time, Blathine is sharing her news directly with others of her Melusine sisters, and so is Muirne. Trow, who was visiting Merusea Village when the letter arrived, was now spreading the news to her sisters around the Opera Epiclese. Everallin, who had heard the information from Leuca who had come to visit her in Romaritime Harbor, was now spreading it to all of the other Melusines stationed there, as well.
By sundown, all of the Melusines in every corner of the nation of Hydro had heard about Neuvillette joining them for Homecoming and him claiming Duke Wriothesley as his mate.
~
Having the Hydro authority that was rightfully his returned to him filled Neuvillette with… complicated feelings.
This was in part due to his complicated relationship with Focalors; with Furina. Learning of Focalors’s plan to escape the prophesied future of Fontaine, as well as how this involved returning Neuvillette’s Hydro authority while also causing Furina hundreds of years of suffering in silence, left him with a strange mix of feelings. It was odd, reflecting on it, how they had both been each other’s sole companion in their solitude, and how intimately they knew each other in some ways while never actually getting to know each other on a deeper level.
He hopes they will be able to resolve this in the future, now that she is free from the chains of divinity.
Another factor was the way his new powers affected him.
While he has always been a Hydro-aligned being, now he had strength beyond what he could have ever imagined. He could feel it coursing through his veins in every moment, and controlling this greater volume of Hydro both in larger and smaller amounts took some time and practice to become acquainted with.
Furthermore, returned with his Hydro authority was his true form as the Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
Neuvillette had come into this world in a human form and had always been a dragon bound to human flesh, Celestia having denied his true form as a fully fledged creature of the elements. Now, though, he could transform into the Hydro dragon he was meant to be.
But with this came… complications. First was that he needed more time and space to practice transforming than he currently had; while he can adjust his size as a dragon to a certain extent, it is currently easiest to transform into his true, full size, which there is no space for in the Palais Mermonia or in the Opera Epiclese. Rebuilding and restructuring Fontaine in the wake of the flood, as well as the legal system since the destruction of the Oratrice Mechanique d’Analyse Cardinale, was consuming much of his time, and it was to the point that he had little time to eat and sleep, much less step away from his work to experiment with his form.
This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if he didn’t want to transform, though. The issue is that he desperately wants to.
It seems that with becoming a fully fledged dragon also came newfound instincts he did not previously have. Neuvillette keeps getting distracted by a strange itching sensation under his skin, a discomfort that only grows with time. And something in him knows that it’s his scales that are bothering him- that they are all wrong right now, that he needs to transform into his full form and move around, that he needs a warm and safe space to loosen up the buildup and drying scales to be fully clean and right again-
It’s with that thought that he realizes that he’s molting. That, as a dragon, he has molting seasons now.
While he hates to leave his duties to the nation of Fontaine on hold for any reason, Neuvillette can also recognize that one of such duties is ensuring that he is always in optimal shape to fulfill his responsibilities. If he must listen to his instincts and take a short leave to focus all of his attention on his duties once again, then that is what he will do.
Fortunately, the Melusines’ Return to Merusea Village is just under a month away, and the idea of swimming in the safe, warm pools in and around the home of the Melusines has something deep in his chest rumbling in satisfaction. He has been invited many times to join them in their festivities; perhaps this year is the perfect time for him to take the Melusines up on their offer.
Earlier today, he penned a letter addressed to the entire village, then called Sedene into his office, telling her that he would like to join them on their upcoming return to Elynas. When he handed her the envelope, her eyes were sparkling, and she swiftly excused herself to dash out of his office.
Neuvillette found himself smiling as he recalled her excitement. Perhaps he had waited too long to join them on their holiday; he was already looking forward to the joy on all of their faces.
Neuvillette had spent his afternoon in the Opera Epiclese, overseeing a very strong case against a woman accused of severely injuring a coworker after she claimed he had stolen her clients away from her. He has been using cases like these to begin implementing a new legal system; in the absence of the Oratrice Mechanique d’Analyse Cardinale, Neuvillette was now the sole body calling verdicts on all legal cases, a system he believed should still be improved upon regardless of his passion for impartiality and justice. Through training and introducing a team of junior justices of humans and Melusines alike, Neuvillette aimed to create an improved court of law for the entire nation; more straightforward cases like these were the perfect opportunity to train these junior justices and introduce them to the public sphere.
Now that the trial was over, the defendant sentenced to twenty years of exile in the Fortress of Meropide, he and today’s junior justice walked down to watch the woman be guided to the lift down to the Fortress. Junior Justice Celeste’s shoulders were tense, her arms hardly swaying as they walked side by side, but her expression and gaze were held strong in front of her. Neuvillette understood how hard being the center of attention by the press could be, especially on a single human, but Junior Justice Celeste was doing admirably well. He was just about to attempt to reassure her of this when Granna runs up to the both of them.
“Monsieur Neuvillette! Junior Justice Celeste!” Granna greets the both of them with a salute. “Congratulations on a smooth trial!”
“Trainee Officer Granna,” Neuvillette greets with a nod. He begins walking again, with Junior Justice Celeste and Granna in step with him. “I’m glad to see you doing well. Have you been stationed here for the day?”
“Yes, Monsieur!” Granna replies brightly. “Senior Officer Enghiene and I have been assisting with security today! It has been an honor being under her guidance!”
Junior Justice Celeste hasn’t said a word, but something in her expression softens with Granna’s cheerful presence. Neuvillette feels some relief; he has never been the greatest with words of reassurance.
Instead, he returns his attention to Granna. “I’m pleased to see the progress you’ve made with your training. With Officer Enghiene’s strictness regarding drills, I had expected a few more months before you began your field training.”
Granna preened under Neuvillette’s praise. “You are too kind, Monsieur! It’s also thanks to Thirona’s help that I-”
Then Granna’s eyes lock onto something before them, and she freezes in her tracks. Neuvillette pauses as well, looking up to see what caught Granna’s attention.
“Your Grace,” Neuvillette greets, nodding at Duke Wriothesley where he stands flanked by two Fortress guards. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”
“Your Honor,” the Duke responds with a crooked smile and a wave. “You could say I got a little lucky; all my paperwork cleared up just in time to come see this trial. I also caught wind that this was one of your apprentices’ first public trials; I’d have hated to miss that.”
Junior Justice Celeste’s jaw drops, and though she catches it, her face flushes bright. “A- Monsieur Neuvillette’s apprentice! I wouldn’t- I’m hardly-”
Duke Wriothesley brushes off her denial with another wave. “It was truly good work you did out there; I could see Monsieur Neuvillette’s teaching in you. I’m looking forward to working with you more in the future.”
Junior Justice Celeste sends a panicked look towards Neuvillette, but instead of denying the Duke’s word he nods at the both of them. “The Duke is not one to lie about such things,” he tells her. “Apologies for the delay in introducing the two of you; Junior Justice Celeste, this is Duke Wriothesley of the Fortress of Meropide.”
The Duke steps forward to shake Junior Justice Celeste’s hand. She takes it, her face still bright red.
After that exchange of greetings, Junior Justice Celeste swiftly and respectfully retreats away from the Duke while the Duke glances down toward Granna, who’s still frozen with her eyes wide and staring. “This is an unfamiliar face, as well,” the Duke notes. “Might I get your name, Officer?”
Granna frantically shakes her head to snap herself out of her stupor, quickly falling into a crisp salute. “Trainee Officer Granna, Your Grace!”
“Just a trainee?” The Duke leans down to exchange a handshake with Granna as well, once again flashing that mischievous smile. “With the way you carry yourself, I was sure you were already a senior officer.”
“You flatter me, Your Grace!” she responds strongly, despite the way her chest puffs again with pride. “I’m honored to be under the tutelage of Senior Officer Enghiene today. It will only be with her approval that I become a fully fledged officer!”
Duke Wriothesley’s grin grows wider. “So knowledgeable about formalities, too? We could use more guards with your attitude in the Fortress. Would you consider switching careers? I’d be willing to match your current salary, plus a raise…”
“Please refrain from stealing my employees in the middle of the workday, Your Grace,” Neuvillette cuts in smoothly, stepping in between the two. “Think of what will happen to the Marechaussee Phantom if you steal away all of our recruits.”
The Duke takes a step back, his hands raised up in teasing surrender. “I jest, Monsieur, I jest,” he laughs.
The guards standing behind him step off to the side, walking toward the back entrance to where the defendant was emerging in handcuffs from the trial. Junior Justice Celeste swiftly excuses herself as well, joining them in their walk over. When Neuvillette made to head over with her, the Duke held up a hand. “Just one second, Monsieur Neuvillette,” he adds. “I actually had another reason for coming up today.”
Neuvillette turns back toward him, nodding at him to continue.
“I’ve been getting word from Sigewinne and the visiting Melusines that you’ve been overworking yourself lately,” he says gently, his expression softening to something more sincere. “I know you have a lot more work on your plate lately, but we’re worried about you, y’know?”
Neuvillette’s shoulders tense defensively. “I’m perfectly able-”
“And we know that,” Duke Wriothesley interrupts smoothly, putting out a hand to let him continue. “You’ll always do your duties to the best of your ability, and the whole of Fontaine trusts you to be able to do so. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a meal break or two to rest and relax with the Melusines, or divide up some more of your work to your subordinates, yeah? If you ever need to get away for a bit, my office is always welcome to you, too; Sigewinne would be happy to have you for a visit.”
Granna is watching their exchange silently, her wide eyes darting between the two of them.
Neuvillette sighs. Sigewinne and the Duke both fret so much over him. He couldn’t deny that it gave him a settled, warm feeling in the depths of his chest, though; the Duke’s kindness never failed to soothe the ache he felt in his mind and deep in his bones after these long weeks of continuous work.
“I will keep your advice in mind,” Neuvillette tells him. “I appreciate your consideration. If it reassures you, I will be joining the Melusines for their Homecoming in a month’s time.”
Duke Wriothesley’s eyes widened. “O- oh! That’s great; I didn’t know you did that,” he says.
“It’s true!?” Granna exclaims from Neuvillette’s side, breaking out of her still silence. “I heard earlier that you were going to join us, but I wasn’t sure if it was true! Oh, how exciting!”
Neuvillette smiles down at her. “I see that news spreads just as fast through the Melusines as I remember.”
There’s a strange expression on the Duke’s face as he watches their exchange, which he shakes off and replaces with his usual grin. “Well, I’m glad you’ve made plans to take some time off! It’s well earned.” The Duke then rolls his shoulders and his neck. “Since I have good news to send back to Sigewinne now, I’ll be headed back to the Fortress. See you,” he adds before walking off with a wave.
While a little confused with Duke Wriothesley’s swift farewells and sudden departure, Neuvillette waves back before turning to head away himself. Before he begins walking, however, Granna shoots a wide smile up at him. “I like him, Monsieur!” she tells Neuvillette. “You chose well.”
“Thank you,” Neuvillette responds, not sure why a trainee officer like Granna would be commenting on how Duke Wriothesley was a good fit for leading the Fortress of Meropide. He considers that Enghiene might have told her about his predecessors in her training, so he chooses not to question it.
He exchanges goodbyes with Granna as well, and since Junior Officer Celeste will be visiting the Fortress to observe the transportation process for prisoners today, he departs for Marcotte Station alone.
When he gets to the station, Elphane is there aboard her Aquabus. She looks up at him with her cool, even gaze. “Monsieur Neuvillette,” she greets. “Back to the Court?”
Neuvillette nods at her, stepping aboard and taking a seat. A few more people join him right after, and they promptly depart for the Main Station.
Since this was Neuvillette’s primary commute, he was deeply familiar with the Navia Line and its operator; he knew Elphane was not one for small talk, which Neuvillette could respect. Instead of making conversation as many would do with Aeval or Talochard before the destruction of the Callas Line, frequent riders of the Navia Line were used to the primary entertainment being enjoying the grandeur of Fontaine’s landscape. The Aquabus today, too, fell into a peaceful silence as he and the other riders watched the scenery drift by.
Oddly, though, Elphane kept shooting glances toward Neuvillette out of the corner of her eye. Occasionally she opened her mouth, taking in a breath as though to begin speaking, only to close it again and let out a soft huff. Neuvillette observed this curious scene repeat a few times before it seemed like she finally got a hold of what she wanted to say.
“Is the Duke not joining you today, Monsieur?” Elphane asks.
Neuvillette blinked at her in surprise. Maybe Sigewinne had been pushing for the Duke to go with him for dinner so that he could make sure that Neuvillette took a meal break, and that was why he had to come speak with him today? Except he had been appeased that he would be taking time off later and decided not to extend his offer? That would explain why Elphane knew… “No, he had business back at the Fortress today,” he decides to respond.
Elphane seems troubled with that response, her brows knitting. “Oh. Well. It’s been a while. So…”
Ah, Neuvillette understands now. The Duke really was loved by the Melusines, wasn’t he? He hadn’t expected Elphane to have warmed up to him so much. It made him feel very pleased in a way he couldn’t quite describe. “I’ll be certain to invite him to the Palais for tea again soon,” Neuvillette reassures her.
Elphane seems relieved her point got across, returning back to her usual comfortable silence.
The rest of the ride goes by smoothly, and they arrive promptly at the Main Station within the walls of the Court of Fontaine. The rest of the passengers slip away first, and Neuvillette steps off of the Aquabus, nodding his farewell at Elphane. She nods back, with which Neuvillette sets off toward the Palais.
It was once he had settled into his desk chair that a swift knock rang from the door of his office. When he calls for them to enter, in walks Sedene, holding a new envelope. “For you, Monsieur,” Sedene tells him, sliding the letter onto Neuvillette’s desk. “It’s word back from Merusea Village, in regards to your letter this morning.”
Neuvillette glances down. Sure enough, the letter is addressed to him in the rounded script of Serene’s hand. “Thank you for sending my letter out so quickly,” Neuvillette says. “I wasn’t expecting word back so soon.”
“Of course!” Sedene responds enthusiastically. “We’re all very excited for you, Monsieur. Congratulations!”
Congratulations?
“Congratulations?” Neuvillette clarified aloud.
But Sedene was already halfway out of his office by the time he had voiced his confusion, hardly listening at this point. “Yes, congratulations! I’ll be returning to my work now; goodbye!” she called as she closed the door behind her.
And so Neuvillette was left alone in his office, still stuck on those parting words Sedene left him with.