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"Uh… Who are you?" Paimon eyes the blonde woman standing at the doorway of the place they believe to be Furina's residence.
A pair of pink eyes scan the Traveler and her floating companion. For some reason, there appears to be a glint of hostility in those beautiful eyes. Or perhaps… was it just Lumine's imagination?
"I should be the one asking you that." The blonde woman retorts, arms folded in front of her chest. "But I would be dumb not to know the two of you. After all, you're kind of celebrities here in Fontaine." Her voice is harsh, almost grating.
And Lumine wonders just what did she and Paimon do to this woman to earn her glaring disapproval? They did help save Fontaine from the flood after all… right?
"Escoffier?" A familiar voice comes from inside the house. "Who's at the door?"
Then seconds later, the person whom Lumine and Paimon are looking for appears beside this blonde stranger.
"Ah! Why if it isn't the Traveler and Paimon," Furina beams, sounding surprisingly chipper.
But it's not just her tone that catches Lumine's attention.
Her gold eyes dip to the space—or rather, lack thereof—between Furina and the blonde.
Just who exactly is this person with Furina?!
"Furina!" Paimon chirps as she flits towards Furina.
"Hey there, Furina," Lumine waves, trying to ignore the obvious glare coming from the blonde. "Is this a bad time?"
"Oh, not at all," Furina answers, and a flicker of dismay crosses the blonde's face. "I was just making macaroni. Perhaps you'd be interested in trying some?"
"Maraconi?" Paimon tilts her head.
Furina nods her head. "Ever since I started living on my own, I've been cooking macaroni for myself," she says proudly.
"Don't you get sick of macaroni?" Lumine asks.
"Not at all! As long as you have different kinds of sauces in, you can have macaroni and tomato sauce one week, macaroni and bolognese the next..."
Paimon sniggers. "Oh, sounds like you're struggling to cope."
To which Lumine adds, "Is it because you have to do all your cooking now?"
"How ru—" Furina is about to exclaim until the blonde beside her cuts her off—
"How rude!" She fumes, her voice louder and harsher than Furina's. "The audacity to question Lady Furina's cooking skills!" Her hands clench into fists as the embers in her eyes grow like flames. "If you must know, Lady Furina can cook other meals other than macaroni! And despite having little to no experience in the kitchen, she's a fast learner and a decent cook!"
Furina's mouth parts to let out a wry smile. She places her hands on the blonde's shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.
"N-Now, now, Escoffier," she croons; "There is no need to get worked up on my behalf. Lumine and Paimon are friends…" She shoots them a doubtful glance. "... sort of."
"Uh, who is this person anyway?!" Paimon demands, stomping her feet in the air. "And why is she so… so… defensive?"
"Ah, right. I almost forgot to introduce you. This is Escoffier, my Patissiere Supreme… or maybe it's more accurate to say 'was' my Patissiere Supreme—"
"No!" Escoffier whirls to Furina. "No matter what happened, Lady Furina, I'll always be your Patissiere Supreme!" She takes Furina's hands in hers and stares into her eyes.
"But Escoffier," Furina replies, "I can't afford you anymore—"
Escoffier shakes her head. "I don't care about the Mora! I would be more than willing to cook for you always. Without compensation!"
"Wow, she sounds kinda intense," Paimon whispers to Lumine.
"I know Furina has a lot of die-hard fans, but she's on a different level," Lumine whispers back.
"That's awfully kind of you, Escoffier, but I don't intend to take advantage of you," Furina says, completely ignoring the Traveler and her companion standing outside her home. "I want to learn to cook on my own."
"And I know you can do it!" Escoffier gently squeezes her hands.
Furina nods. "For now, I'd like to perfect my macaroni dishes."
"And you will!"
"Then, maybe you can teach me how to make other dishes."
Escoffier zealously nods her head. "Of course! Anything—just name it and I'll teach you."
Furina lets out a bright smile, touched by Escoffier's support.
"Ahem!" Paimon clears her throat. "Hey! Don't forget about—"
"Let's go back to the kitchen," Escoffier says, her eyes on Furina. Her hand dips to Furina's waist, gently guides her inside the house while her other hand is on the door.
"Don't you dare," Paimon shrieks; "close that door on us—"
And Escoffier does exactly that—slams the door shut in front of Lumine and Paimon's face.
"Wait, Escoffier—"
"Ignore them, Lady Furina. Those two clearly don't deserve your time." She clenches her hands again. "Especially not after what they did to you at that trial! Hmph! I don't even want to look at them!"
Outside Furina's house, Lumine and Paimon stand quietly, wondering if Furina will ever come back to them.
But judging from the noise and aroma coming from the kitchen inside, it seems that Furina has forgotten about them. That, or she simply decided not to see the Traveler for some reason.
"Uh, Furina?" Paimon knocks on the door, only to be answered with silence.
The inside of the house has gotten quiet. "Maybe they're eating," Lumine offers.
"Without us?!"
Lumine shrugs her shoulders. "I guess that's what we get for questioning Furina's cooking skills."
"Ugh, what are we going to tell Lauwick now?!"
"I guess we'll have to come back later."
"Paimon hopes that Escoffier won't be here later when we do come back."
And when they return much later, Lumine and Paimon find Escoffier answering the door. Again.
"You two? Again?" Escoffier growls at them. "Can't you tell Lady Furina's busy and doesn't want to see any visitors?"
"Ugh! W-What about you?! You've been with her since we came this morning!" Paimon stomps her feet in the air. "Just who exactly are you and why are you still here?"
A smirk flashes on Escoffier's lips.
But before she could answer, Furina pops in and says—
"She's living with me!"
"WHAT?!"
Escoffier wraps her arm around Furina's waist. "That's right! I am Lady Furina's live-in chef and girlfriend," she proudly announces. "Now, you two—scram! You're bothering us."
"Wait, wait, wait—"
And again, Escoffier slams the door in their faces.