Chapter Text
"So, you were the one that sent that note,” Chiori looked from her letter towards the shop entrance where her most recent client stood. The same letter that she had mysteriously received several days prior, outlining a specific request.
Her new secretive client didn’t want her to make a new ensemble but rather they requested that she redesign their current outfit to make it more suitable… whatever that may mean. Altering garments was a relatively straightforward task for someone of her caliber, but she would have preferred to have seen the outfit beforehand in order to have an understanding of the scope of the project.
Under normal circumstances, Chiori would’ve dismissed such ridiculous requests but she had to admit the oddity of the situation had her intrigued. The envelope even contained a deposit for the services requested. While she wasn’t one to care about money, it was nonetheless bold of them to send her payment before meeting her in person as she could very well pocket the cash and burned said letter.
“If you agree to my requests, I shall meet you face to face this day at 7 o’clock in the evening. I apologize for the inconvenience caused by the late hour but it is imperative that there are as few onlookers around as possible.”
It was just request after request with this person, hmph. She thought after seeing the client ask that she stay 3 hours past the time her shop normally ended. Yet, as the hour hand of the clock reached five, then six, and finally the anticipated time of seven, it became apparent that she had reluctantly accepted this request.
The entire situation became clear when she finally took in the familiar appearance of her mysterious client.
“Yes, and I am sorry for any inconvenience I might have caused,” her guest spoke. “But as you can see, I am not someone who is at liberty to do what they please.” He seemed exactly like the man she had always seen, not that she was a good judge of this topic, their occupations were worlds apart. But she had heard him speak on more than one occasion and could tell that this voice was not quite the same.
Chiori flicked the letter off to the side and stood, her heels clicking as she came to stand right before him. “There’s no need to explain since I’m still here past my usual hours. Now then, how do you want me to modify your outfit?” She asked, taking in the many intricate layers and ornaments sewn on the sides. This was going to be a headache.
“Truly?” He asked, head cocking to the side. “And what of the dye work that I had likewise requested?”
She remembered that he had specifically requested that she prepare a red shade in the letter. Her stock of henna berries, which she used to make red dye, was running low, but she should still have sufficient for whatever he wished to do.
“Feasible. We should get that done first, it will need time to dry.”
"I am surprised that you are so composed after discovering my identity," he questioned. "Are you not curious as to why I am doing such a thing?"
“Perhaps, but I’m a seamstress, not a gossipmonger. I’m unqualified for such a task.” Chiori responded, knowing that she would eventually hear the full story from Chevreuse.
And what a story that would be.
Neuvillette closes his eyes as he places aside the final document of the stack. He breathes in deeply before releasing a troubled sigh, stemming from months of forced emotional shutdown. Had he been a human, he likely would've been hospitalized by now.
He thought it would be easy. As the sole Chief Justice of Fontaine and having assumed the responsibilities of the Oratrice after its destruction, Neuvillette thought that he could simply drown himself in work ignoring all other matters in the process. However, he had committed a grave error, underestimating the efficiency of the Fontainians and Mekas. Even the regions most severely affected by the flood swiftly revived within a matter of weeks. As his workload diminished, the emotions he had attempted to suppress relentlessly resurfaced.
Neuvillette's primitive instincts flourished amid this turn of events, tormenting him by incessantly thrusting the image of a particular individual to the forefront of his thoughts. When he closed his eyes, he would envision her tired sulking around his office after a taxing trial. When he took a break to sample from his water collection, he would hear the sweet echoes of her laughter. He was having hallucinations he knew, and Neuvillette had tried desperately to outrun them but even he had become a prisoner to his feelings. So much so that even now as he hears the familiar knock on his office door, he visualizes her opening the door seconds later, not waiting for his approval, as she always has done over the centuries.
In light of these circumstances, Neuvillette opted not to respond to the knock, keeping silent in the hope that his secret wish would be fulfilled. Regrettably, the individual who walked through the door was not the former Archon that he had so desired but Sedene, his secretary. Instantly, a wave of regret struck him, leading him to question whether his situation had deteriorated to the point where he harbored resentment even toward his beloved Melusines.
“Monsieur Neuvillette?”
He heard her speak to him but Neuvillette hardly noticed, heavy emotions were bubbling up from inside him. He could see the dark clouds forming outside.
“Hello? Earth to Monsieur?” Sedene asked, waving a hand to grab his attention. It worked as Neuvillette shook himself out of his stupor to fixate on the box she held. “ I knocked but didn’t hear a reply so I decided to come in. Are you well?”
“Thank you for your concern Sedene,” he breathed, exhaustion evident in his voice. “However, I find myself at an impasse. I am physically fine but I’ve lately been feeling more fatigued and unable to focus.”
Sedene sighed and shook her head. “That is because you are missing Lady Furina.” She was aware of his affection for their beloved retired Archon. While the Chief Justice may have been somewhat slow to comprehend the extent of his affection, it was nonetheless apparent to all. Absence made the heart grow fonder.
Lady Furina’s departure from Palais Mermonia was dearly felt by all but it was no secret that one particular individual took her leave the hardest. Monsieur Neuvillette was a diligent worker but the telltale signs of overworking to avoid dealing with such feelings didn’t escape from Sedene’s sharp eyes. She had hoped that he would improve upon reconnecting with Lady Furina just before she had starred in “The Little Oceanid.” Still, sadly for her instead of a steady, in-person correspondence, Monsieur Neuvillette had instead opted for sporadic communication through letters and gifts to show his appreciation.
He would arrange for her to send Melusines to check up on Furina every week or so, bearing gifts and desserts at his expense. While Sedene found the gesture sweet, she believed it to be ultimately futile in addressing his worsening state of yearning.
“That may be true,” Neuvillette muttered in a subdued tone, as he stared outside watching the rain now beginning to fall from the clouds. “But what Lady Furina needs the most is space, I cannot intrude upon her until she has fully recovered from the ordeal.”
“I believe she has sir!” She insisted. “The last time I saw her she seemed happy and much more relaxed.” Sedene held up the box that she had been holding. “Why don’t you personally deliver this cake you ordered for her? I’m sure Lady Furina would be pleased to see you.”
Cake? He blinked. Ah, yes cake. He remembered he had placed an order for one of Hotel Debord’s famous cakes. Furina would always have a slice each Friday as a weekly reward. Furina would appreciate this gesture . He thought when he had placed that order yesterday.
“Wonderful. Please arrange for it to be delivered to Lady Furina’s house as soon as possible.”
“You won’t be delivering this yourself?” She questioned, a frown forming on her face.
Neuvillette shook his head. Sweet Sedene, so caring and thoughtful. He couldn’t tell her, she didn’t understand that he refused to visit Furina personally for her own good.
“If you insist sir.” Sedene relented at seeing his firm answer, another failure added to her growing pile. “But I must say, if you keep avoiding her like this it will eventually become too late, and someone else will swoop in and snatch her away like a fresh slice of cake on a busy morning.”
“Hmm?” He hummed as he turned to look at her inquisitively. Now that had gotten his attention. “And what do you mean by that?”
Sedene perked up, eager to try her hand at getting Monsier Neuvillette back to his senses. For better or for worse, Sedene had recently taken to reading light novels imported from Inazuma. It wasn’t something that she had intended to get into but after Lady Furina departed the Palais, Sedene’s workload reduced drastically as she no longer had to assist with handling her appointments. Thus, Sedene needed something productive to do instead of twiddling her little thumbs around all day; Melsuines are a species that thrive when given a duty to uphold.
These novels always followed the same basic storyline, but Sedene found herself intrigued nonetheless. A particularly vexing but popular trope she had discovered within these novels was the concept of love triangles. Oh, how she hated them! They were so tiring, the characters were so indecisive, why did they have to pine so much when they could just take a chance? Many times her preferred pairing wouldn’t end up coming to fruition much to her disappointment.
As much as she respected Monsieur Neuvillette, she could see that he was falling into the same trap as those she had read in the novels. She told him as much and expressed her concern that Lady Furina, being as popular as she is, may not always be the free bird that she is now.
Neuvillette’s expression softened. She truly was an angel.
“There is no need to be so concerned Sedene,” he chuckled, seeking to ease her fears. “Once I believe that Lady Furina would be happy to see me, I will most certainly go and visit personally. There is no need for any third person to get involved in this story.”
Sedene huffed in resignation and nodded before leaving his office to make the arrangements for the cake to be delivered. She couldn’t help but think a most troubling result would eventually spring from such continued avoidance.
When the door to his office closed, once again leaving him alone in the spacious room, Neuvillette’s thoughts drifted back to Sedene’s story.
His response had been tempered. He didn't wish to be inconsiderate in front of his dear secretary but what he wanted to do upon hearing of Sedene’s story was laugh at the nonsensical belief that there would ever be a “third-person”. There had never been a “third-person” in the last 5 centuries and there would never be one now or ever.
Neuvillette knew that he reeked of overconfidence, but Furina’s happiness came above all else. If she had wanted to see other people he would have grudgingly let go of this invisible hope, but she didn’t. She hadn’t verbalized it to him directly, but he simply observed the way she interacted with potential suitors, dismissing each and every one who had attempted to court her. Logically, he concluded that she was simply still recovering and unconsciously waiting for her one true soulmate: himself .
On the outside, Neuvillette was the perfect definition of a gentleman. Recognized for his reliability and trustworthiness to his colleagues. On the inside, however, he was a raging tempest of desire. He hungered for Furina, yearning for her with an intensity that bordered on starvation, he wished to devour her whole. An overwhelming urge surged within him to abandon his responsibilities and devote himself solely to her, to protect—to guard her like the selfish dragon he always knew he was.
But he couldn’t, for he was also the Chief Justice of the nation she safeguarded with her entire being for five centuries. The nation's leadership and well-being had been entrusted to him. She deserved him at his best and Neuvillette understood that indulging in his longing for Furina would be premature until he had transformed into the man she truly deserved.
At least he could take solace in the fact that there wouldn't be any interlopers between him and Furina's potential future.
“I’m telling you the truth, I promise. He ordered coffee, yes coffee, with milk and sugar as well. I heard him ask for it with my very own ears, I made the drink for him exactly as he wished.”
Roailte listened quietly as Arouet retold his bizarre encounter with his boss. Though Arouet may have been a dear friend, it didn’t exactly mean that everything he had to say was of sound mind especially if it was gossip regarding his boss. After all, he worked under Monsier Neuvillete daily, a mysterious man he may be but Roailte thought he at least had a good grasp on the man's quirks and preferences.
Under normal circumstances, he would’ve taken Arouet’s statements as hogwash, but as he reflected upon his own recent encounters with Monsier Neuvillette, he also began to see some unusual behavior.
“And, as I made his coffee, he made small talk with me. Asking me things like what I enjoy doing in my free time, shop recommendations, restaurants, and the like.” He shook his head. “Whenever this gentleman visits my caf é, he would always order water. Now all of a sudden he asks for coffee and engages in conversation. You can’t expect me to not believe that he has—”
“Been replaced by an exact lookalike? Reborn as a different person?” Roailte answered.
“Yes! It’s like he’s become a different person.”
Roailte sighed and closed his eyes trying to think of a proper explanation. There was none, of course, and he couldn’t exactly say that Arouet was wrong in his observations, however… “The problem is that he seems completely normal if just a little more gloomy back at the Palais.”
Arouet laughed out loud. “Conspiracy theories aside, the explanation is simple really.” Seeing his friend slant his head questioningly, he continued. “A few days ago I spotted him conversing amiably with Lady Furina. I cannot claim to have lived long enough on this Earth but I dare say I have never seen Monsieur Neuvillette—or both of them for that matter, so jovial. Both of us can concur that this odd change has only been witnessed outside of the Palais, so it’s likely that he simply allows himself to relax when he’s off the clock. Just like the rest of us.”
“Can it truly be that simple?” Roailte asked. It was a reasonable assumption but somehow it felt unfitting for one as strange as his superior.
“Why not?” Arouet countered. “We all have our theories on what he truly is but he looks like a human and acts like a human, albeit with some oddities, so who’s to say he can’t have the same troubles as us? Much more believable than saying it’s a clone or that he’s been replaced by a long-lost twin brother.”
Roailte nodded slowly. “I suppose you have a point…”
The two men continued their talks of the enigmatic Monsier Neuvillette and his puzzling behavior. They did not fear the consequences (for there are none) and gossiping about Fontaine’s rulers was something that had been ingrained within the culture since the time of gentle Egeria and even after the resignation of the celebrated, Lady Furina.
Fontaine’s laws were liberal regarding the discussion of political figures so long as there is no direct defamation or attempts to pass off rumors as fact, people are free to do as they please. Critics claim that such a stance is too lenient and that Gods and figures of authority should be respected, others claim that a little bit of gossip isn’t going to hurt anyone let alone a God.
Regardless of the correct answer, for one on a mission such as Clorinde, the chatty nature of Fontainians made her job easier. She reached for the handle of her coffee cup, bringing it up for a sip.
Monsieur Neuvillette. The name of the Chief Justice is a name all Fontainians knew of, none more so than herself as the strongest fighter among the Champion Duelists. As her boss, she knew him as a dependable and consistent individual, if only a little apathetic towards Fontainians as a whole. His eyes trailed them like a predator, observing their behaviors and manners rather than choosing to mingle among them. Having spent many years under the employment of Palais Mermonia, Clorinde was certain of her judgment of his character.
Until recently…
“Monsieur Neuvillette, he’s been acting peculiar lately.” She told Wriothesley on one of her latest visits to the Fortress, taking care not to alert Sigewinne lest she got worried.
The Warden had looked at her skeptically as if she had lost her mind. “I cannot agree or disagree with your observation. The last time he had visited the prison was months ago to check on repairs and he seemed normal enough. Have you tried asking someone who has more frequent contact with him?”
Clorinde had tried reaching out to Navia, but sadly, she had been busy with Poisson and likewise hadn’t been in contact with Neuvillette. Chevreusue was away on patrol and the Traveler was visiting friends in the Eastern nations. Which left Clorinde with only…Lady Furina—or Furina as she had insisted. Despite knowing that Furina would likely be able to give her some insight, she knew better than to bring up such a topic with her former Archon, everyone deserves privacy Archon or not.
“So you’re basically on your own then? Sounds to me like you have to resort to a little espionage.” It was now her turn to give him a skeptical stare.
“What? Do they not train Champion Duelists on undercover intelligence gathering?”
“That is the job of the Marechausee Phantom. We, duelists, prefer a more direct way of resolving conflict.”
Wriothsley shrugged. “Time to be indirect then.”
Easy said than done, she huffed. How does one even start?
On the following day, Clorinde found herself hiding behind a stack of wooden crates that stood near the Newsstand Shop. It wasn’t the best place to hide, but it was in the perfect position to allow her to see the people walking up and out of the Newsstand without making her visible to them.
She had overheard from the two men from the café that Neuvillette mentioned that he would be stopping by the Newsstand. That was all Clorinde needed to make a decision. If she got any more evidence of him behaving strangely, then she would confront him. If she couldn’t, then she would erase the entire ordeal from her mind and act as if nothing had happened.
And so she waited… And waited… And waited…
Clorinde was unable to obtain any information on when Neuvillette would arrive, but using common sense, she assumed that he would most likely show up in the morning when people visited the newsstand to get their daily news and purchase newly released novels. Despite the uncertainty, Clorinde was persistent and willing to wait as long as it took for Neuvillette to appear. She was pleasantly surprised when she found herself approached by a few familiar faces.
“Clorinde!” Shouted Paimon, with Lumine, and Navia in tow. “What are you doing crouching behind the Newsstand like this?
Navia laughed. “It almost seems like you’re trying to spy on someone.”
Clorinde looked at them dead in the eyes. “That’s because I am,” she replied much to their surprise. “I’m waiting for Monsier Neuvillette to show up.”
“Uh, huh,” Lumine added with uncertainty. “And may we ask why you are spying on the Chief Justice of all people?” Perhaps she had stayed away from Fontaine for too long…
Clorinde’s eyes narrowed as the figure in question approached. “You will see for yourselves, now quickly, get behind these crates with me before he sees you.”
The three of them looked at each other quizzically before complying, squeezing into the tight space with the Duelist. Passersby who paid just a smidgen more attention to their surroundings would’ve found a comical sight of three women and a pixie huddling and peeking out behind a tower of wooden crates. Thankfully for the group, it was a rather miserable day, so people moved out and about quickly, not wanting to stay in one place for too long lest they get caught in a sudden downpour.
As Neuvillette approached the stand, Clorinde motioned for the rest to stay silent and observe.
“M-Monsieur Neuvillette!” Hubel stuttered. He’d only seen the Ludex occasionally from time to time, never could he have imagined that the Justice himself would be standing in front of him. “Can I get you anything?”
“Good morning,” Neuvillette replied with a nod and a small smile. Hubel nearly fainted. “I’m looking for some particular novels… I believe the genre they fall under is named ‘Self-Help’.”
Self-help? Why would a man like him need any help? “Yes, of course,” he nodded gesturing to the section. “We have plenty from all authors around Teyvat and in every category imaginable.”
“Hm…”
Neuvillette slowly pursued the selection of various novels. Much like the four individuals watching him intensely, the sight of the elusive Iudex standing around doing mundane activities like shopping from the Newsstand caught the eye of many, and thus did a sizeable crowd began to form.
Hubel’s eyes widened as he saw the book that Monsieur Neuvillette had picked up.
How to flirt like a pro, for dummies.
“Monsieur Neuvillette, pardon me for asking but do you perhaps have someone in your heart?” Hubel regretted the words the moment they left this mouth.
Spectators around them gasped and awaited with bated breaths, eager to see how the Iudex would respond.
“Yes, I do,” Neuvillette replied boldly seemingly unaffected by the large crowd growing around him. “I’ve had her in my heart for as long as I could remember. Circumstances have made it difficult for me to pursue my feelings but I can finally act upon them, this opportunity won’t slip from me any longer.”
The crowd cooed at his sudden display of honesty.
“All this time, I never knew Monsieur Neuvillette was having love troubles.”
“To think that he’d go so far as to use a guidebook on romance. Isn’t that a bit cringe?”
“No, you moron, it’s a sweet gesture. Idiots like you are why chivalry is dead.”
“I wish I could be the woman in his heart. She’s so lucky to have such a handsome and caring man like him.”
The mutterings of the observers were not inconspicuous as they should be, but the man of the hour paid them no heed. As far as Neuvillette was concerned, it was as if they were never there, to begin with as he continued his perusal of the various books the stand had to offer.
Hubel began, "I'm rather surprised, sir. I didn't expect someone as distinguished and elegant as you to have love troubles. Such news does not bode well for the rest of us common folk."
“Is that so?” Neuvillette replied with a chuckle. “I fear there are some misconceptions about me. Though I take great pride and honor in being the Chief Justice presiding Fontaine, it does not make me infallible. We as a society would be much better off once we realize that all species share the same troubles.”
Neuvillette spent some more time around the stand before saying goodbye to Hubel with a bag full of books that he was eager to read. As he left, the onlookers stared in disbelief, wondering if the Monsieur Neuvillette they had just seen was real.
“Now that you have all witnessed that exchange. What do you think? Doesn’t this Neuvillette seem rather strange?” Clorinde asked.
“Well… He certainly seems more chatty,” answered Lumine.
“That’s right! And Paimon thinks he’s acting a bit strange. He has so many books in his office already, I wonder why he feels the need to buy more?”
“Another curious matter I noticed, was how easily he revealed that he is harboring affection for someone. Not that he isn’t allowed to have feelings!” Navia interjected. “But back when my father was around, he would always tell me all the gossip surrounding him. How no one knew anything about the Iudex, where he was from, and how he was chosen. The Steambird had conducted interviews from time to time, but he had still never once revealed anything personal.”
Clorinde nodded with a sigh. “You are all correct. I’m lost as to the reason for this sudden change.”
“How long has he been like this?”
“A few weeks? I’m not sure of the exact timeframe but he has been seen outside of the Palais surprisingly often and other eyewitnesses have reported the same never-before-seen behavior.”
Lumine hummed, deep in thought. She had only been away for a few weeks and didn’t think that she would return to Fontaine only to be dragged into the middle of an investigation on Neuvillette of all people. A sudden thought hit her. “Have you asked Furina about this?” After everything, she’s still the one who knows him best.
Clorinde sighed. “I haven’t… I don’t want to bother her if it turns out that she isn’t involved in all this. But after this latest episode at the Newsstand, we might have to ask her.”
"Hold on now," Navia spoke up, catching the attention of the three people who looked at her questioningly. "We should consider Furina as our last resort. Lumine and I are now free, so we can help you gather more evidence. Since each of us has had different experiences with Monsieur Neuvillette, it would be beneficial to observe him individually before turning to Lady Furina."
“Paimon thinks that’s a good plan.” Followed by sounds of agreement from Clorinde and Lumine.
“Alright then, I declare that Operation Neuvillette shall now commence!”
“The outfit you requested is complete. Please try it on so I can see if it needs any more adjustments.” Chiori revealed the finalized outfit that her client requested. She was quite proud of her work, the outfit had many ornaments and details that needed to be carefully sewn on. Not to mention the various shades of red she needed to create with what little dyes and berries she had left to use.
“A perfect fit,” Her client replied as they adjusted the sleeve cuffs to their liking. “I sincerely thank you for doing such a wonderful job on such short notice. I have placed the rest of the payment on your desk.”
Chiori gave a nonchalant shrug, but truthfully she was quite proud of the compliments on her work from such a notable individual.
“Thanks to you I can finally pursue my dreams.”
"Excuse me, Sedene. Have you placed the order for the special cake at Hotel Debord as I had requested?" Neuvillette stood to the side of his office, gazing out of the window at the cloudless blue sky. The warm rays of the sun shone through the tiles and onto his desk, illuminating the pile of paperwork that he had yet to attend to.
“Yes I have sir, would you like it to be delivered to Lady Furina as usual?”
“There’s no need,” He answered much to Sedene’s surprise. “I plan on leaving the office early today to deliver it to her myself.”
Sedene smiled and clapped her hands in excitement. “That’s wonderful sir! Oh, I’m certain she would be delighted to see you!”
Neuvillette hoped that would be the case. He didn’t fully understand where this sudden urge to see her had come from, especially not after his previously held resolution to exercise patience until Furina was fully settled and happy in her new life.
But then the dam he had carefully erected within himself collapsed, unleashing a torrent of emotions that he could no longer suppress. Consequently, he experienced an overwhelming desire to see her.
What would her reaction be? Did she yearn to see him with the same intensity that he yearned for her? He wondered as he walked through the doors of Hotel Debord.
“Good afternoon, Monsieur Neuvillette. The cake you requested for Lady Furina has been prepared, allow me to fetch that for you.”
“Thank you, I will personally be delivering the cake to Lady Furina today, so there’s no need to send for a courier.”
Leone furrowed her brows in confusion. “Don’t you always deliver the cake to her?”
“I beg your pardon; I’m not quite sure I understand.”
“N-Nothing! Apologies I was thinking of something else.” Leone shut her mouth and handed over the cake. She had many, many questions but she was also a humble hotel receptionist, and some things were better left unanswered.
“Alright team, I called for this meeting here today to discuss our results regarding Operation Neuvillette. Who would like to begin?” Navia sat at the head of the table her two new bodyguards flanking her.
“I’m surprised,” Clorinde released a rare chuckle. “I didn’t think you’d be so into this whole ordeal yet here you are piloting the investigation as if you were here from the beginning.”
“Oho, that is because the Spinda di Rosula does a bit of everything. One of those is being quite adept in intelligence gathering. So when I saw that you needed assistance in such a field I couldn’t help but lend a hand.”
“I appreciate it as I’m very much out of my element in a case like this. As for my results…” Clorinde signed. “I don’t have much to offer. I observed him during my shift at the Palais and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
“I see, and what about you two Traveler and Paimon? Anything interesting to share?” Navia asked.
Paimon nodded in response. “Traveler and I spotted Neuvillette recently in a new outfit.”
“A new outfit?”
“It was red,” Lumine added. “It was pretty similar to the outfit he currently wears but less extravagant. Like, a casual version but red.”
“I’ve never seen him in anything else other than the blue uniform he currently wears. And it was red? I thought he disliked that color.” Clorinde speculated.
Lumine and Paimon gave them a shrug. The two had nothing further to share apart from a curious detail about how the Neuvillette they saw seemed rather hurried. They had discreetly followed him as he departed from the Court of Fontaine for the Northern Provinces. All was well until he took an unexpected route and dove into the waters. That was when the two understood their pursuit had reached its conclusion, as they could not match his pace underwater.
With a sigh and a shake of her head, Navia expressed her exasperation. “Oh dear. It would seem that we have no choice but to pay a visit to Miss. Furina now don’t we?”
It was an unreasonably beautiful day when Furina finally awoke, half-past noon on a Friday. Being free from any pressing work commitments, she permitted herself the indulgence of staying up past her customary bedtime and immersing herself in the pleasure of reading her beloved light novels imported from Inazuma.
Sweeping away the stray locks around her face, Furina pushed herself out of bed, slipped into her cozy slippers, and strolled into her bathroom to ready herself for the day, or rather, what was left of it.
In truth, noon was not the latest hour Furina had been known to arise. Before establishing her current routine, she would often slumber well beyond noon and, on occasion, spend the entire day in the comfort of her bed. Being the efficient worker that she was, Furina encountered no difficulty in completing all her tasks by the end of the workweek, thus Fridays and the weekends that came after turned into her ‘lazy’ days.
But everything changed when someone started visiting her every Friday.
It all began some weeks ago.
Furina had been snacking on some Macarons, gifted to her by Navia, while looking over a few scripts received from various producers when she was startled by a sudden knock on her door.
Clad in her slumber attire, Furina leisurely approached the door as it was unusual for her to receive visitors on Fridays. She believed it to be a delivery person dropping off a package.
To her mortification, her surprise visitor was none other than Neuvillette. Sensing her distress, Neuvillette reassured her that he paid no heed to her appearance and had merely stopped by to inquire about her well-being.
Despite being nervous and embarrassed, Furina welcomed him inside her humble abode. A blush crept up her cheeks as she then realized her second mistake. Her apartment was in a state of disarray thanks to her preference for completing household chores on Sundays. Nevertheless, Neuvillette did not mind and the two had a cordial exchange expected of two longtime companions reconnecting after a period of separation. Furina was finally free to speak with him sincerely as ‘Furina’ unburdened by the weight of her long-kept secret. Neuvillette, in turn, was remarkably encouraging. Furina had never seen him quite as lively as he was while talking with her, even after the centuries they’ve known each other.
From then onwards, Neuvillette would visit each Friday without fail, bringing with him her favorite cake and stories from the Palais which delighted her greatly. Furina was very amused with the knowledge that Sedene had also fallen into the world of light novels.
It was for this reason that Furina would find herself getting ready, even on Fridays. She had just completed brushing her hair when the sound of thunder suddenly crackled outside. Alarm bells rang loudly through her mind, for she was certain that it had been a sunny, clear day when she had crawled out of bed. Such a drastic change in the weather in a mere thirty minutes was impossible unless—
She rushed towards the entrance of her home. As she swung open the doors, Furina was met with an unbelievable sight.
Traveler, Paimon, Navia, and Clorinde were huddled around her doorstep, clasping each other for support as if any of them could fall at a moment's notice. Upon hearing her arrival, they turned to face her with expressions of bewilderment. Furina stepped out into the streets and the four promptly moved away allowing her an unobstructed view of the spectacle she could only describe as a nightmare.
Two Neuvillettes stood facing one another in a fierce confrontation.
To the left stood the Neuvillette she had always known. The enduring symbol of impartial justice. His tall figure stood as serene as a lake on a windless day, as blue as the very element he held absolute authority over. A damaged cake box lay on the ground to his side, shattering his composed countenance.
To the right stood a very different Neuvillette that she was used to. His physical form was identical to Neuvillette, mirroring him in every conceivable aspect. His long, wavy locks of hair, the cascade of silver strands were tied by the very same ribbon she had gifted him centuries ago when he first assumed the position of the Chief Justice. But he was enveloped with a crimson hue and the searing emotions that radiated from him were keenly felt, Furina could feel herself wilting in the sweltering heat, withering like the Lumitoiles strewn upon the stone pathway where he stood.
Furina already had enough difficulty comprehending a single Neuvillette so upon seeing that there were now two Neuvillettes, her cognitive abilities decided to temporarily cease functionality. Deciding that it was healthier for her to simply shut her eyes and disengage from her surroundings. The last thing she remembered before blacking out, was the sensation of a familiar pair of sturdy arms catching her as she fell forward, accompanied by the concerned expressions of two blurred faces.