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"I have explained to you many times, Monsieur Picard, the map that was passed down to me from my father - and from his father before him - has always been like this. Yet here you come, claiming that your family's property crosses over ours by one inch. Not only that, you’ve also taken matters into your own hands and built a fence on it, just to separate your territory from mine. This is unacceptable."
"Unacceptable? Monsieur Legrand, this property was given to me as inheritance from my father as well. In the documents, it is clearly stated that that one inch of land is part of my family's inheritance. So of course I took matters into my own hands and surrounded my own terrain with a fence, so you don't dare steal or even walk on it."
The Picards and Legrands have been in dispute over this patch of land for generations. The whole nation remembers well the day these two families started to fight for a few inches of soil just outside of the Court of Fontaine. It's a fertile patch, where bulle fruit, apple and sunsettia trees grow, creating a rich orchard. Most of the fresh fruits that are found in the market stalls come from this land, making the two families some of the richest in Fontaine.
However, vast sums of their hard earned money was spent on attorneys and lawsuits for many generations now - culminating with the two heads of the families, pleading their cases in front of the Chief Justice, Neuvillette.
The two men had been arguing for nearly two hours, each one trying to express arguments that would assert their cause the best.
The loud voices and deafening arguments that fill the Opera Epiclese's courtroom make Neuvillette feel a little bit lightheaded. He closes his eyes, hoping for the uncomfortable sensation to pass. For the past few months, his work occupied most of his time. Many sunrises found the judge at his desk writing reports, reading and signing important documents. Neuvillette barely had a few hours to relax and take his mind off of work each week. He dearly misses his beloved Wriothesley and would do anything to have a few moments alone with his lover. But cases upon cases were stacked in his office, on his desk that needed to be reviewed. Some required his utmost attention - others were petty squabbles that were unable to be settled in the small claims court, such as today's hearing.
The lightheadedness turns into a low and constant pressure that starts at his forehead. Neuvillette's heart starts beating fast in his chest, bringing with it a strange weakness in his legs.
As the voices get louder and louder, so too does the pressure start to increase. Small droplets of sweat start to form on his temples as Neuvillette begins to feel nauseous all of a sudden. He needs to take a break soon.
"Enough!" Neuvillette's baritone voice fills the courtroom, making the two men stop their arguments. The Iudex comes up with a quick solution for this whole ordeal, as he wants to rest a little before the next hearing, until the headache and nausea will pass.
"For many generations there have been disputes over this patch of land. And since neither party has reached a final resolve for this problem, there may only be one solution. The land should be shared between the families. For one year, it will be under the Picards' care, and the next year it will be under the Legrands. This way, both families will equally benefit from the harvest that each season will bring." Neuvillette prays that the men will accept his proposition, as the pressure in his forehead turns into a sharp headache.
Weighing the words of the judge, the two parties agree to the suggestion, thus finally bringing a conclusion to this long dispute between the Picards and Legrands. Neuvillette dismisses the court, and he hurries to his office in the Opera Epiclese.
His gait is weaker with each step he gets. The nausea is getting stronger and his head throbs with pain. Neuvillette enters the room, but as soon as he closes the door, he takes a few steps inside and his vision suddenly fades to black as his legs give up under his weight. The stress and sleepless nights have finally left their mark on the judge.
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A painful hiss escapes from Wriothesley's lips as Sigewinne sews a deep wound on the Duke's forearm. Just earlier, a fight broke out between some inmates, that Wriothesley quickly resolved. But not without injury.
"Are you sure you don't need a little bit of anesthesia, Your Grace?"
"From what I see, the wound is almost stitched up, so I don't need it. Besides, don't they say that if you feel the pain it means you’re still alive?" Wriothesley chuckles at his words, trying to lighten up the mood, but Sigewinne lets out an exasperated sigh.
Once the wound is bandaged, the Duke thanks the head nurse for her help. Just as he is about to leave the infirmary, one of the melusine officers comes rushing in, worry written across her face and tears threatening to spill from her lavender eyes.
"Sigewinne! Sigewinne!"
"I'm here, Aeife. What happened?" Sigewinne takes the paws of her sister in the warmth of her own, trying to calm the melusine. Curious what this is about, Wriothesley moves next to the two.
"Whatever it is, we are here to help. Now, take a few deep breaths to calm down a little and tell me what happened," continues the head nurse. Wriothesley crouches down next to Aeife and wraps an arm around the melusine in a comforting manner.
"It's Monsieur Neuvillette. Trow, the melusine who works at Opera Epiclese, went to bring him a glass of water. And when she entered his office, she found him laying motionless, on the ground. She was scared and asked me to come and find you," By the time the melusine officer finished telling them what had happened, tears were falling from her eyes.
Wriothesley's heart clenches at the words he hears. Worry engulfed his being as the Duke itches to run to the overworld and care for his dove. He should have taken care of Neuvillette, even if the judge told him, on their last date, that he didn't need Wriothesley to worry about him. But deep down, the warden loves to tend to his lover and make sure his Neuvillette is well rested.
His thoughts are pulled back to the present by the head nurse's words..
"Oh no…I’ve told Monsieur Neuvillette many times to rest and to let others help him with his work. What am I going to do with him?" Sigewinne sighs. "I'll grab the medical kit and come with you."
"I'll come with. I'm pretty sure someone needs to stay with him for a while until he recovers. And since I have some spare time on my hands, I would like to help," says Wriothesley. His voice trembles with concern.
"Very well, Your Grace." Sigewinne stands ready with her medical kit. "Shall we go?"
The three of them leave the Fortress in a hurry, rushing to the Opera Epiclese. Once inside the building, Aeife leads Wriothesely and Sigewinne to Neuvillette's office. When they enter, they find the judge sitting on the floor with his back resting against the sofa, nursing a glass of water. Another melusine, Trow, is sitting next to him.
A small wave of relief washes upon Wriothesley when he sees Neuvillette awake. But a large part of him still worries after his lover.
"Monsieur Neuvillette! Are you hurt? What happened?" The head nurse rushes to Iudex's side.
"I'm fine, my dear Sigewinne. It's just a mild headache. Nothing to be concerned about." Neuvillette tries to be dismissive about his condition, but he gets interrupted by Wriothesley, who moves to sit down next to him.
"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have fainted, darling. You overworked yourself again, am I right?"
Guilt eats away at Neuvillette as he lowers his gaze, away from those piercing blue eyes.
"I-I'm sorry, Wriothesley. I’ve been caught up with my work for the past few weeks and I neglected you, beloved." A tinge of sadness comes from the words Neuvillette spoke. He missed his lover dearly. He missed that sweet voice that would talk to him about anything. He missed those calloused hands that would gently caress him and soothe his woes. He missed that radiant presence of Wriothesley's.
"Please don't worry, my love. Our professions can be stressful sometimes. Now, be a good dragon and let Sigewinne examine you." Wriothesely takes one of Neuvillette's hands and brings it to his lips, placing a sweet and reassuring kiss on the soft skin.
The Duke doesn't move from Neuvillette's side as the latter is looked over by the head nurse. After a few minutes of checking his vitals and noting down his symptoms, Sigewinne concludes that the fatigue and stress accumulated in the past few weeks led to Neuvillette's headache and fainting episode earlier.
"And, I advise you to take at least one week off from work, Monsieur. If you keep putting this much strain on yourself, these events will happen again. Even the Hydro Sovereign Dragon can't be exempt from ailments."
"Thank you, Sigewinne. I will take your advice and take some free time to recover." Neuvillette thanks the melusine as a small smile appears on his face. "I need to inform the others of my abrupt absen-"
"We will inform the personnel from Palais Mermonia and Opera Epiclese right away." Trow announces as she and Aeife leave the office. Before closing the door, the two melusines wish Neuvillette a speedy recovery.
"I’ll take care of Neuvillette for the upcoming week. There isn't much work to do at the moment. In case new documents need to be signed or looked over, send them to me. And in the meantime, Estienne will take the administrative role in my absence," says Wriothesley as he presses a tender kiss to Neuvillette's temple, making the judge nestle against his lover's chest. The Duke envelopes Neuvillette with his strong and gentle arms, pulling him into a warm hug.
Sigewinne hums with contentment at the words that Wriothesley spoke. She doesn't linger for too long, and she takes her leave soon after, leaving the two men alone.
They both sit in silence, Wriothesley carding his fingers through Neuvillette's silky hair in a soothing manner, earning him a weak purr from his dragon lover.
The silence of the room is broken by Neuvillette's tired voice. "Wriothesley?"
"Yes, my dove?"
"My head is still hurting a little from the headache I had before. Could you please use some of your cryo powers to alleviate it? Neuvillette asks as he turns a little to look at his beloved.
Without a word, a cryo infused hand is placed gently on Neuvillette's forehead, making the latter sigh with relief at the sensation. The cold is slowly lulling the pain away, breaking the tension. They sit on the floor for some time, bathing in the warm rays of the afternoon sun that shine through the glass windows of Neuvillette's office.
"I think we can go home now. I feel a little bit better than before."
"Are you sure? We can stay as long as you want, dove. Besides, it will be a while until we get to your home in the Court. I don't want to exhaust you or let you faint again." Worry is etched in Wriothesley's voice once again.
"We won't be staying in the court for my recovery. I have another house near the Opera Epiclese. One that is more secluded and away from prying eyes." Neuvillette reassures Wriothesley, as a beautiful pink dusted blush appears on the Iudex's cheeks.
The Duke visibly relaxes when he hears that their journey back home won't put too much pressure on the judge.
Neuvillette slowly gets up from the floor, leaving behind the warm embrace of his beloved. He places the now empty glass on his mahogany desk, lingering for a moment next to the furniture. Neuvillette can hear Wriothesley getting up from his place and making his way to him. A hand is pressed gently on the small of his back. Neuvillette looks at this lover and nods his head, signaling that he is ready to go.
Wriothesley, the fine gentleman that he is, offers Neuvillette his arm, which the judge gladly accepts. They leave the Opera Epiclese, making sure no reporter sees them together, as their relationship is still kept a secret from the public.
The paved path soon turns into an old country road that leads them into a small forest. The shade of the trees is welcomed by the two men as they follow the path. As they get closer, the breeze from the sea rustles the branches, spreading the sweet aroma of conifer flowers. Soon, the two reach a small gulf that shelters a cozy house.
Once inside, Wriothesley helps Neuvillette undress and urges him to sit on the plush sofa in the living room. And Neuvillette easily lets himself be guided by his lover. A soft blanket is then draped onto the judge as soon as he sits down.
"I'll go fetch you water and something to eat."
The Iudex wants to protest, but Wriothesley has already disappeared into the kitchen. Neuvillette chuckles softly. No one has ever cared this much for him, aside from his melusine daughters. Most people find the judge a difficult person, and yet Wriothesley reads him like an open book. Their work relationship turned into friendship. And the friendship soon bloomed into a beautiful relationship between the two.
Neuvillette loves how dotting his lover is. It's a face that Wriothesley only shows when they are together, behind closed doors.
Neuvillette is pulled back from his thoughts when he sees his beloved entering the living room with a tray in his hands. Wriothesley carefully places it on the coffee table, right in front of the couch. He places a tender kiss on Neuvillette's forehead as he hands the judge a glass of water.
"It's from Mondstadt. I know you like to drink it after a long day at work. And I found some butter cookies." The Duke takes a seat next to his lover. They stay like this, in a comfortable silence, as Neuvillette slowly drinks the water, enjoying the flavor and crisp aftertaste. Between sips, the Iudex occasionally takes small bites of the cookies, savoring the soft texture of the food.
The vibrant orange sky of the evening soon makes way for the dark veil of the night. Small shimmering stars gleam on the obsidian canvas A full moon rises from the tranquil waters, as her soft silver glow illuminates the world beneath. Wriothesley and Neuvillette just finished their dinner and now are ready for their night-time routine. After a relaxing bath, the two lovers retire to the bedroom, but sleep doesn’t find Neuvillette. He tosses and turns between the soft sheets, a sigh of frustration escaping his lips.
"Trouble sleeping, dove?"
"It seems so," comes a sheepish answer from Neuvillette.
"Then come here," Wriothesley motions to his lover to lay on his chest. Without hesitation, Neuvillette rests his head against the Duke's chest. A calloused hand gently strokes through pearl white hair, drawing soft purrs from the Iudex.
"You know, I've heard that a good bedtime story will help you sleep better."
"Beloved," Neuvillette chides softly "I'm not a baby to be lulled to sleep by a story." Amusement is etched in his tone.
"But you are my baby. And I love taking care of you, dove." An adorable pout is plastered across Wriothesley's face, and Neuvillette could swear that his beloved’s eyes look like those of a puppy who wants his owner's attention.
Finding it impossible to say no, Neuvillette agrees. He snuggles comfortably on Wriothesley's soft chest, basking in his warmth, as the Duke wraps his arms around the judge's lithe body.
"Once upon a time there was a knight roaming the land and lending his help to those in need," Wriothesley's soothing voice fills the quiet of the room as he begins his story.
"One day, he was stopped by a group of adorable creatures who lived both on land and sea. They tell him that for the past few months, their protector - the dragon of water - is in pain, and that it saddens them that every time rain falls down from the sky, it feels like his tears of distress.
Neuvillette chuckles, figuring that the little creatures in this story are his precious melusines.
The little creatures are worried for him, but they don't know what to do to make the dragon happy anymore.
Seeing their concerned little faces, the knight found it hard to refuse to help them. And so, the next day he goes to the lair of this dragon. It was located near the sea, in a cave hidden by magic. With the help of the creatures, the man could enter the abode.
The knight didn't know what to expect. Was this dragon cursed by some dark magic? Did he turn into a malevolent creature? The man drew his sword from its sheath and proceeded with caution, deeper into the lair.
With each step, instead of being engulfed by the veil of darkness, the rocky walls were adorned with glowing veins that emitted a soft blue shimmer, illuminating the way. The path leads the knight to a large opening, illuminated by glowing algae that hang like garlands from the ceiling of the grotto.
What surprised the knight the most was the floor of the cave. It was decorated like an ordinary human home. There was a bed with sheets on it. An armchair with a nightstand and a lamp on it sits next to a couple of bookshelves. There was even a table with four chairs sitting in one corner.
But the biggest surprise came when the man didn't find a huge dragon. Instead, his eyes landed on a figure sitting on the edge of a pool of water. The person in question had long silver hair, just like the moon that adorns the night sky. A pair of deep navy horns emerge from either side of his head. Shimmering cerulean scales travel down the spine, ending with a beautiful blue tail.
The knight takes a step forward, but the sound has the figure swiftly turn. Draconic eyes gaze into human ones.
"Who are you, human? Who gave you permission to enter my abode?" asks the dragon.
"It was the little creatures that led me here and lent their help to me to pass through the magic barrier. They came to me, asking me to help you."
Hearing those words, the dragon's eyes go wide with surprise. Then, he laughs.
"Those little fairies…" mirth filled his voice. "They are like my children. And they love to dote over me, and I do deeply care for them as well. Please, kind human, forgive them for troubling you. But I don't find myself in need of help at this moment."
"They said you would tell me something like this," the knight muses. "But your children are worried about your wellbeing. They said that they could feel your pain in the rain drops that fall from the skies during a storm. And it pains the little fairies that they don't know how to heal this kind of suffering on their own. So, that is why I am here, Dragon of Water. Whatever is ailing you, I am here to protect you from it."
The dragon, once again, is surprised by the words of this human. Could this man help him?
"I am afraid the kind of pain that has troubled me for this long is not of evil nature. As I do love the company of my dear daughters, I find myself longing for something else."
"And what could it be? Ask anything of me, and I shall help you with it," says the knight.
"The presence of another. Someone I could merely share my company with…A friend, as you humans call it."
"Oh," is all the knight could say.
A friend? Thinking about it, the knight didn't have friends either. He traveled alone, going from town to town lending his help to the ones in need. But as time went by, he found he wanted to settle down somewhere and build a home with the little wealth he has accumulated over the years.
Was this the sign that he was waiting for deep down?
"I understand this is an odd request. And that it may be hard to fulfill." the dragon says.
"Actually, I might be able to help you with that," came the prompt response of the knight.
The dragon perks up at that.
"But I do not wish to burden you with this childish plea. Surely you will - "
"You don't burden me with this wish, my lord. I am not getting any younger with the passage of years, and I wish to settle down somewhere. It seems I was just looking for a sign from fate. And here it is. It will be my pleasure to have you as my neighbor and acquaintance." A radiant smile adorns the man's face as he speaks with honesty.
"It will be my pleasure," replied the dragon with joy.
And so, the knight decides to build a humble home close to the dragon's lair. Each day they will visit each other and spend time together, making the dragon happy and content once more. Even the little fairies loved visiting the retired knight, bringing him little gifts they made for him."
Wriothesley looks down at his dove, who now sleeps soundly on his chest. Affection swells in his soul, looking at Neuvillette curled up next to him. It seems his little story had the effect the Duke wanted.
"Good night, Neuvillette. May your dreams be as sweet as my love for you is." Wriothesley whispers, placing a tender kiss on the dragon's forehead.