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Chapter Text

When Furina received the news that she was getting the role of Focalors in her favorite play, she was beyond excited. Masquerade of the guilty had been her most favorite play, having grown up watching it. It was a classic that she never got tired of seeing. And even better! She was going to play as Focalors, the devious and cunning villainess who had been her favorite character in the entire story. So naturally the art of playing her came easily to her. 

The day of the audition, she had given her all, channeling her theatrical heart to its fullest. The judges had been so thoroughly amazed by Furina’s ability to play Focalors that they had immediately given her the role. Her cast-mates threw her a celebration party, knowing just how much she loved the play. And she had the best time. Even her upcoming exams couldn't tamper her good mood. Though she had to juggle her law degree with her theatre acting, Furina found a good balance of both; she'd study in the morning, giving her all, and then at night, she'd sing and dance and act. 

Of course it wasn't easy. Furina had a bad habit of neglecting her own health when she got too determined to complete her work, whether it be her studying or her acting. She had spent an entire month, having overworked herself to the point of exhaustion just to prepare for the play. Her sleep deprivation couldn't stop her excitement, however. As she arrived in the theatre, the rush of people overwhelmed her. 

“Hey! Furina! Over here,” her cast mates called her, bringing her attention to them. Some were preparing the stage while the others handled the clothing. Masquerade of the guilty was set in the 1800's and as such, the clothing was elaborate and every little detail needed to be perfect. 

“How's everything? I got stuck in traffic for too long, I hope I didn't take too long,” Furina asked. 

“No worries, we're still waiting for the rest of the props to come by,” Aimery, one of the actors, said. “Better start getting dressed now. All the actors are going to get ready in a moment's notice.” 

“Is everyone present then? No one's missing, are they?” 

“No one but you, our lead villainess.” Aimery said. She was going to play the part of Clorinde, a secondary side character. Meanwhile Giselle, who was going to play as Navia, the play’s heroine, could be seen getting her hair ready. Luc, the lead hero, was making rounds across the theatre, probably getting the last minute errands. There were many more, both actors and behind-the-stage members, but she couldn't see them in the haste. There was only less than an hour remaining. 

Furina let out a breath of relief. Pressing a hand to her chest, she said, “Oh, good. I hope there's no issue for the rest of the night. We all have been working on this for very long. I don't want anything to go wrong!”

“Don't worry, everyone's going to do their best! You just focus on your part.” 

She nodded, grabbing the outfit for the first act, an intricately designed blue gown, and rushed to the changing rooms. The hairdo would have to wait since shuffling around with the clothing would surely ruin her hair. She dressed quickly, unable to marvel at the craftsmanship of the dress which looked quite beautiful. Since she was on the shorter end of the average height, she had to wear absurdly high heels that a normal person would stumble on. But Furina was a theatre girl ever since she was young, this was nothing for her to handle. Next was her hair which was practically a nightmare. Her shoulder length white hair wasn't enough for the elaborate hairstyles that Focalors wore throughout the play. For that, she needed to wear hair extensions. Furina took her time curling and styling her hair, and then her character's signature eyelashes. By the time she was done, she was transformed into Focalors, a divine and cunning empress blessed by the gods. And not the law student/theatre fanatic Furina.

Pursing her lips at her reflection, she made faces of ridicule and vanity, embodying the part of a villain. She had often asked herself how a villain would act. The best acting wasn't always boisterous nor was it always quiet. The best actor will decide for themselves what method suits the character. For Furina, it was obvious that to play the part of Focalors, she would need to be truly something evil and capricious, someone vile enough to subjugate her people and keep them under her iron fist. A shrewd and devious woman who entertained herself through the sufferings of others. Furina would be her, then. She knew she had what it takes. She smirked at her reflection, giving a maniacal laughter. 

“I am Lord Focalors, the Regina of all waters, kindreds, laws and people,” she said, practicing her lines. “Hmm…it doesn't sound as regal as I wanted. Let me try again.” 

Clearing her throat, Furina tried again. ‘I am the divine empress of Fontaine, the most magnanimous ruler you will ever witness in your life! Yes, that was perfect. I need to channel more regality and elegance into my speech.” 

She continued practicing, nailing each dialogue line until she had it perfect. She lost track of time entirely, forgetting about the play. Furina panicked, fixing wrinkles in her clothes before she rushed out. 

“Is everything ready?” She asked the fellow members, noticing that the audience was already starting to take their seats. The play was going to start in just a few minutes.

“Furina, why did you take so long? Everyone was asking about you. The actors are already on the stage, waiting for you. Go hurry.” 

Furina didn't need to be told twice, she hiked up her massive dress and scurried to the stage where the curtain hadn't been pulled yet. She had a harder time to navigate herself in the darkness with her high heels but she managed to get to her spot. Her heart was clamoring in her chest, like a wild bird desperate to flee. She took in a deep breath, reminding herself to forget everything else, everything but her role. She closed her eyes. Now she was not Furina, she was Focalors. It was imperative to hold on to that line of thinking, because even before the audience looked at you, you became that character. 

Through the thin separation of the curtain, she heard the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of the crowd, patiently waiting for the play to start. The hushed murmurs became amplified and she could feel that sound through her. The murmurs became noises, turning into a cacophony, humming through the stage. A lot of people must have come here then, the noises were never this loud. But that was a good thing that so many people came to see her favorite play. They'd leave entertained, that was guaranteed. 

The sound engineers were supposed to start with the music but for some reason, the only thing Furina could hear was the thrum of her erratic heartbeat and the cacophony of the crowd. She had yet to open her eyes, waiting for the curtain to be lifted before she began with her act. 

Seriously, what is up with the engineers? Shouldn't they start the music yet? 

And then, half an eternity later, the curtain lifted. There was only silence, the crowd turning eerily quiet. Even her fellow members were silent. Furina resisted the urge to scowl. Did they really mess up their big night? She didn't spend so many nights practicing her part so effortlessly only for them to ruin everything at the last second.

Frustrated, she opened her eyes, only to gasp softly. In front of her, the stage was no longer the one she practiced on religiously. The familiar wooden floor was polished tiles, the size having tripled in length and width and…Furina stared aghast at her own spot. Gone was the prop throne, now replaced with a real one, made of gold and the plushest cushion for her to sit on. She whirled to see the audience only to find a motley of well-dressed people, sitting in their stead. How…what the…

The crowd stared back at her, and she could feel the wrongness. They did not look like the usual audience nor did she recognize anyone from her theatre. They began murmuring between themselves, giving her strange looks. 

“What is wrong with her?”

“She was supposed to give an important speech, wasn't she?” 

“Why hasn't the court proceedings begun?”

Furina stared at her surroundings with wide eyes, shocked and befuddled. This was not where she was moments ago. The entire stage had changed, shifted, moulded in a different place. And she…

“Your Majesty, why have you stopped speaking all of a sudden?” Furina flinched at the sound, turning her head to the side. Next to her right, sitting in a similar but less magnificent throne, was Prince Neuvillette. But instead of her friend, Luc, he was a stranger. His eyes, a silvery purple, looked down at her with cold impassion and disdain.

Her throat turned dry, unable to muster a word. Who in the world was he? Where was Luc? Now that she noticed it, no one present here looked familiar to her. Every single person was a stranger. She turned to see Aimery but found a stranger in her stead, a tall woman with dark hair. She felt true horror settling in her bones. 

“Your Majesty?” the unknown man, dressed in the clothes of Neuvillette, spoke again, startling her. When she turned her gaze back to him, she was uncomfortable with the sharp look in his eyes. It was…scary. 

“Huh–?” she managed to speak finally, her heart jumping out of her chest. “The…the play…” 

The crowd's murmur turned louder until she was utterly overwhelmed with the noise. What were they saying? And what was going on? She was supposed to act for tonight's play. Where were the other actors and behind-the-stage members? Why were they strangers here?

“Your Majesty, I implore you to speak. Since you brought us all here impromptu, I deduct it is something important then.” The stranger—or Neuvillette, she should call him, responded. 

It then triggered in her, the adrenaline rush from being ambushed by strangers and petrification from being in an unknown, unfamiliar place had made her totally forget about her lines. Wait, wasn't there a line like this Neuvillette said to her? According to the play script, Focalors began the act one by throwing a party, causing the whole story to happen. The pieces fit in her mind instantly. But could it really happen? For this to play out exactly like the story she was rehearsing for? What were the odds?

Realizing that Furina had been silent for well over a minute, she had to do something. And so she improvised. She threw her head back, laughing all the while the crowd and the members of the gentry looked at each other in confusion. 

“My dear citizens,” she started, her chest nearly jumping out of her ribcage, though she tried to show none of that. “It is time for me to announce that the annual grand ball will be happening and just like always, it will be grander than the last one.” 

Next to her, she could feel Neuvillette's questioning gaze, probing over her. 

Furina continued anyways, saying her dialogues as if everything was fine and she wasn't in some strange place. “As your benevolent empress, it is my duty and honor to promise every one of you that it will be magnificent. The wine shall flow endlessly and so will the entertainment. So let us enjoy this year's ball.” 

Though the crowd looked confused, she hoped that they'd at least be convinced that everything was fine, that she was fine and not a doppelganger. C'mon, everyone, I am your empress, believe in me. 

“Your Majesty, were you pretending to be shocked then?” One member of the gentry asked, the people around him clearly thinking the same question.

Furina wracked her brain, wondering what the hell she was supposed to say or do. She rehearsed to play the part of Focalors but could she really act as her when she didn't have the script to help her? She laughed again, hiding her nervousness. “Of course, my dear, I was simply acting to surprise everyone. Weren't you all shocked and confused?” 

It was a good thing Furina had spent an entire month perfecting the speech of Focalors, down to the cadence and drawl of her voice. Her explanation must have been enough for them because the crowd started whispering among themselves, confused but not suspecting anything was wrong. 

Satisfied, she leaned on her throne, wanting to comfort herself but didn't want to let her nervousness show. Nonchalant. You must be nonchalant, Furina. 

But if she thought she got away with her blunder scot-free, she was mistaken. Because the man beside her who was quiet through the entirety of her speech, now turned his whole attention to her. “What was that?” 

Furina jumped, turning over her shoulder to meet his face. His expression was icy and unreadable. If this man wasn't played by Luc, then she had to assume that it was…the real Neuvillette. Shivers went down her spine. Though she wasn't completely sure that everyone here was replaced by the actors (somehow excluding her), the way he looked at her told her a lot of things. For starters…he must hate me. 

It was obvious in the way he looked at her, peering down at her like interacting with her bothered him greatly. That and the way he spoke to her. 

If this truly was the real Neuvillette and she found herself in the actual story, then she was in so much danger. The real Neuvillette loathed Focalors for…well, everything. He was the one who took initiative to overthrow her reign and worse, he had been the one to kill her. And if this wasn't him, if this man in front of her wasn't the lead hero of the play, even that wouldn't change the quiet, cold anger brewing within him.

“Focalors?” He inquired again, his tone stoic. To get out of this mess, she needed to get his attention away from her.

“What? What was what? You'll have to be more specific than that.” Furina tested the waters, internally debating what the hell she did to deserve to be in this dilemma. 

Neuvillette drew closer, until his face was inches away from hers, his voice practically a hiss. “Is this another one of your pathetic games?”

What was she supposed to take from that? Furina pondered about any context clues from the script that might help her. Neuvillette came from a country that was taken over by Fontaine's rule, leaving the crown prince without a crown nor a land to rule. It was Focalors who asked him to marry her, signifying the peace between the two. But of course there was no peace between two powers that were unequal. Which was exactly the criticism the play was trying to do. They were not equals and everything reflected their power imbalance. No wonder he hated her then…

She looked at the man, taking her time inspecting him. Tall, imposing and stoic, he was someone you could not look away from. His long silvery white hair was meticulously tied behind neatly, his clothes a deep blue and black. A truly enigmatic and impressive man.

Her eyes landed on his gloved hand where a ring sat. Aha, so as she guessed. This too matched with the script. Focalors and Neuvillette were engaged by this point of the story. But that also meant Furina was engaged to him now.

“You've been acting very strange this evening. What is wrong with you?” Neuvillette questioned, his handsome features sharpening with suspicion.

“But my games are at least entertaining, no?” She made herself say, leaning towards him flirtatiously. But only she knew just how terrified she was. Everything she was saying could jeopardize her. She might be ruining herself with every word that comes out of her mouth. But silence would only make her look suspicious. Neuvillette was already suspicious of her, an inkling of something wrong. Who knew just how little it would take for it to grow?

“Tch,” he made a noise of distaste, turning away, ending the conversation. Furina let out a breath of relief. Interacting with this man could give her an aneurysm. Dear gods, she needed to get out of this room. 

She stood up, drawing everyone's attention to her. “Please, excuse me.” 

Mumbling, she rushed out of the hall, unaware of where she even was going. All she knew was she must get away. Furina paid no mind to the voices rising at her escape from the court, she just hurried until there was some quietness. She found her sanctuary in an empty room beside boxes and carts. Dust motes swirled in the air, nothing but furniture laying around uselessly. Furina immediately slumped as soon as she shut the door. 

She buried her face in her hands, wanting to cry. “Where have I landed now? What is this place? I have no idea who these people are…” 

It terrified her when she opened her eyes to see a crowd of strangers. How was it possible that she was here, probably in the world of the play she was going to act in? What were the chances? But somehow she was here, still playing as Focalors. Did that mean she swapped places with the character? Had she…replaced Focalors in this world? 

In the middle of her breakdown, Furina didn't notice when the mirror in the room began to shift. There was no warning for the voice that echoed through the small room.

“Furina…” 

Her neck snapped, eyes wide with surprise and fear. That was her real name. She turned to the origin of the voice and gasped. The mirror…how did it change…

“Come here, Furina…” the voice, or rather the figure in the reflection, called out to her. In a trance, she made her way to the mirror, shocked. There in the reflection, stood a different person. A woman. 

Focalors.

The realization befuddled her mind; how in the world was Focalors here? But it had to be her. She dressed similarly to Furina, except her outfit was simpler. But Furina could still tell that the person in the reflection had to be her. Because she was dressed as her. 

Focalors turned her complete and undivided attention to her, a figure in white and blue. “It's nice to meet you.”

“You…you must be Focalors,” she mumbled with uncertainty. 

“Indeed. And you are Furina, aren't you?” 

Her throat turned dry. Why and how did she know her name? Her real name. No one had addressed her as ‘Furina’, only as ‘Focalors’. And that made sense since the story featured Focalors and not her. Then how could Focalors know her?

“How did you know my name?” she asked, hesitant.

“I have my ways,” Focalors responded airily. “But what's more important is the current problem.”

“Wait! But can you explain everything? Why am I here? What is this place? How did I get here? And are all of you actually the real characters in this story?” Furina questioned. 

The other woman went silent. At first, Furina assumed that she said the wrong thing. But then, Focalors said, “The world's a stage and we are all characters, are we not? We all play a part and keep doing so until the very end.”

“That…doesn't explain anything. I was supposed to be Focalors in a play but I found myself here, in the actual story. What is the reason behind this?” Furina placed a hand on her chest, on the verge of tears. 

Focalors eyed her without showing any emotion, leaving her to wonder what the other woman was thinking. “You are here in this world because I need you.” 

“You need me?” she repeated unsurely. “But why?”

In the reflection, Focalors began to pace around, her steps betraying her nonchalance. “Because what I must do requires a second person and you, my doppelganger, will be the perfect for that role.” She stopped pacing, drawing closer to the mirror. “Furina, you are my final piece.”

Furina couldn't help but back away, uncomfortable with the look in her eyes. She reminded herself of the fact that despite Focalors being her favorite character, she still was a villain. An usurper, an empress who ruled with an iron fist. Throughout the story, Focalors made many cruel and callous decisions that inevitably led her to her death. Any sort of plans made by her must be sinister. “What do you need me to do?” 

“Let me bring you up to date with everything. There's been a prophecy that involves me. A prophecy that tells of my nation's doom. Everyone will die when the primordial sea comes to kill everyone.” Focalors said, her voice somber. 

“A prophecy? But this wasn't in the story.”

“Sometimes there are changes in a story to make it more entertaining. But I assure you, every danger is as real as I say it is. So do not take this as half-heartedly.” 

Furina turned silent, pondering about everything. A prophecy that spelled doom for not just the empress but for everyone. And what did she mean by ‘changes in a story’? Who was the author of the story, capable of adding changes as they saw fit? If everything was as real as it felt, then didn't that mean the story was real too? Focalors insisted that the dangers were real but how much? And why was the story real to begin with? Was the story a living, breathing thing then?

“You said the prophecy involves you. What does it mean?” She asked instead.

Focalors sighed. “What I mean is, this prophecy is supposed to predict my fate. My nation, my people, nothing will remain. This is my punishment for my sin. But that's not important. You, my dear, need to help me avert this crisis.”

“Me? But why? I'm no one.”

“You can pretend to be me. You said so yourself, you were going to play as me. Then do so. Pretend to be me and I will ensure the safety of my empire.”

Furina stared at her, concerned. This sounded too good to be true. Just pretend? How long and why? Was Focalors not aware of her reputation as a cunning and evil woman? How was Furina supposed to keep up the pretense without potentially getting murdered in the name of revenge? 

“You want to ensure the safety of everyone? But I thought you were…” she trailed off. A villain. 

“You must be referencing my reputation, then. I'm aware of how much I am considered a shrewd and devious woman, cruel and capricious.” Focalors said, not sounding bothered with being called either. 

“Are you not?” She couldn't help but ask in a meek voice.

“Does it bother you? Me being known for that?” 

Furina clasped her hands into fists. “It does. You are not someone who means well, that much I'm sure of. How do I know if you aren't just lying to me about everything?” 

“Huh, that's a good question. What if I am lying to you? But I'm not. And that's all you need to know. Because in the entire empire, I am the only one who can save everyone from the prophecy. Because it involves me. No one else has a fail-safe for it. So if you refuse to comply with me, then I assure you that you and the rest of the empire will die. And if you still believe that you can handle it on your own, then it will do you some good to remember that you're now playing as me. My reputation and my foes are now yours.” 

Furina gritted her teeth. There really was no end of this dilemma, was there? What was she going to do? Focalors wasn't to be trusted but what if there really was no one else that could stop the prophecy? What if by not agreeing with her plans, Furina doomed everyone? 

The fight left her and she hung her head, tired of everything. “What do I do then?”

“Do you want to save everyone, Furina?”

“Yes, I want to. What should I do?” 

“You need to play as me and fool the people of Fontaine.” Focalors replied, and she must've been hallucinating because Focalors sounded gentler. 

“Why do I need to fool them?” She asked.

“Because that is how I plan to avert the prophesied doom. You need to distract everyone while I handle the prophecy.” She told Furina.

“And how long am I supposed to keep the facade?” 

Focalors was silent, showing her discomfort. Did she not have much faith in her own plan? “I don't know how long it will take.”

Furina was losing faith in her plan as well. Dejected, she asked. “When does this story end?”

“I don't know. All I know is that this story must reach its end. One day it will all end, reaching a brilliant finale. Until then, my dear, you must keep going.”

She sighed, looking down at her feet. Her fists tightened but she understood that it needed to be done. And somehow in the most tragic turn of events, it had to be Furina. She needed to suffer. For a brief moment, she wanted to refute the idea, wanted to say that she didn't want to suffer. But for the sake of others…

“I get it. It's for the people's safety. If me pretending to be you will help you stop the prophecy, then I will do my best.” Furina said. “But please, can you promise me that you actually meant what you said? About saving everyone?” 

Focalors held out her hand in the reflection. “I knew you were the right one. Your heart is truly the purest, my darling. I'll give you my word if that will make you believe me more.” 

“Then I will hold on to my part of the deal,” she replied. “Wait, if I need to pretend to be you, what happens to the rest of the chara–I mean, people?” 

“You can't let anyone know about this, Furina. This has to be a secret. Between you and me.”

Furina nodded. “I understand. And…are you sure that you're okay?”

“With what?”

“That I'm replacing you,”

Focalors laughed. “I may be vain but I understand that in order to save everyone, this is necessary. I don't hold any resentment towards you for this necessary evil. Besides, you're more than I could ever ask for, my darling.” 

She turned around, clasping her hands behind her back. 

“So it is decided. In order to turn the tides of fate, you will replace me and deceive everyone. But even if no one else knows, from now on, it will be you who rules Fontaine. So in a way, it is not Focalors who is the empress any longer, it shall be you, Furina. I'm leaving this in your hand now.”

Before Furina could speak, Focalors disappeared in the mirror, leaving her alone in the room. She stared at the mirror that only showed her in the reflection, and not the evil empress. So many thoughts swirled in her head, confusing her. When she ran away from the court, this wasn't what she expected. But no matter what, she couldn't run away from this duty now. She needed to keep up this farce for gods know how long. The thought of it tired her.

Well, she needed to return to the court. She was sure that people were getting worried about her. Furina was going to open the door when someone else did it for her.

“Huh—?” 

A tall woman stood on the other side of the door. If the hat fashioned on her head didn't tell her who this person was supposed to be, then the manner she carried herself would.  

“Your Majesty, why are you hiding here?” Clorinde, the champion duelist of the court of Fontaine, narrowed her eyes, glowing radioactively in the darkness.

Chapter Text

Clorinde grasped her hand, not letting her get away from the small room. Furina's eyes widened in shock as the taller woman dragged her away. 

“Hey!” She raised her voice in indignation, trying to pull her hand back but Clorinde’s grip was too tight. 

“You have no idea how much you scared other people. What were you even doing here?” Clorinde asked, shaking her head. “You left the court without any warning and didn't return even after an hour passed.” 

Furina parted her lips. An hour? She had no idea how time had passed so quickly when she was talking to Focalors. Evidently everyone must have been concerned about her. But she couldn't tell anyone about what happened in these four walls. From now on, I have two secrets that I must keep at all costs. 

“Um…” she trailed off, unsure of what to say. Her eyes averted from Clorinde's gaze. She couldn't come up with any explanation. Clorinde’s expression was unreadable at her feeble attempt. “I was…” 

The other woman sighed, still holding her wrist. “Focalors, what are you up to?” 

Furina was surprised to hear that. She, the empress, was the most powerful authority in Fontaine. Meanwhile Clorinde was only a champion duelist and her royal guard. To address her directly as Focalors…there was a history behind it. One that Furina wasn't aware of. In the script for the play, Clorinde was the right hand of Focalors, carrying out justice on her behalf. But some things were for more than justice, some were acts of cruelty that Clorinde was forced to do. Which led Clorinde to be a conflicted person who hated her duty but still clung to the past. Of course in the end, she joined forces with Neuvillette and Navia to punish her. Going against Focalors’ orders at the crucial moment, she went against her own moral code. Of the cast of characters, Clorinde was one of the more ambiguous characters, having a history of violence that was hidden behind glory. 

Both confused and curious, Furina wondered what happened behind the story. Obviously she didn't agree with Focalors’ decisions, being a cruel and vicious villainess she was. But Clorinde had always seemed…distant. She obeyed the orders each time, never once uttering an objection. Even when…Focalors gave her the order to kill Navia’s father, Callas in a misguided duel of glory, which led the protagonist of the story, Navia to lose her one and only parent. It then triggered a series of events that pushed the otherwise sweet and lovely girl to go against the empire and its wicked empress. 

This story and Furina’s part in it seemed to have started from the very beginning. Meaning that Clorinde had yet to kill Navia's father. The champion duelist was still her right hand. She had yet to betray her. And if Furina ensured that she never pushed her guard to the dark side, then perhaps all the tragedy wouldn't have to happen. 

Realizing that she had to speak, she did what she prepared for. She tilted her head in a show of arrogance. “I can do whatever I want to do.”

“And that includes hiding here? From everyone?” 

“I wasn't hiding,” Furina insisted, pouting. “I had…I had something to do. And let go of my hand.”

Like hot coals, Clorinde dropped her hand, staring at her, inscrutable. “I see.”

Furina flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Now, what do you want? I hope you do know that you interrupted me in the middle of something.”

“Yes, something you were doing in this room. Care to explain, your Majesty?” the dark haired woman asked, crossing her arms. 

“I was…” she trailed off, coming up with ideas for what she was going to say. “There was a cat here.” 

Clorinde blinked. “A cat? In the Opera Epiclese?”

“Yes! There was. I was going to get refreshed when I saw it. So I followed it here.” Furina laughed nervously. “Um, that's what I was doing here.” 

“Mind if I check the inside of the room then?” 

“Wait!” She grabbed Clorinde's arm, blocking her path from the entrance. Should she enter the room, she'd immediately realize that there was no cat inside. It would reveal all her lies and she couldn't allow that. 

Clorinde peered down at her, her expression perplexed. 

“It's not there anymore. I mean, the cat. It ran away after I pet it.” Furina continued, her voice meek. “So if you go inside, you won't find it.” 

The look in Clorinde's eyes told her that she didn't believe her but the other woman didn't put up a fight, shrugging in response. “Then let's return? Everyone has been waiting for you.”

“Oh, yes,” Furina blinked, suddenly yawning. The events of the day caught up with her, leaving her with such exhaustion that she found herself too tired to entertain thoughts of changing the fate of an entire empire. 

“You're tired,” came Clorinde's quiet answer in the darkness. 

“I just feel really sleepy right now,” she responded. “Is it alright if I just go straight to bed?” 

Clorinde pursed her lips before nodding. “Actually, Prince Neuvillette requested your presence but since you're tired…Very well, your Majesty. I shall escort you to your chambers, then.” 

Furina put up no fight, letting her guard lead the way to her chambers which were, of course, in the Palais Mermonia, a long way from the Opera Epiclese. She wanted to ask if she could just stay at the residential rooms in the Opera but that would seem too unbecoming of someone of her caliber. She promised herself that come tomorrow she would decide on what her next actions would be to save Fontaine from the prophecy.

As Clorinde took the empress Focalors to the Palais, many tumultuous thoughts stormed in her mind. The first and obstructing one was–she's uncharacteristically sweet tonight. Having served Focalors for so long, she was very familiar with the empress’ personality. Which meant that Clorinde was completely disarmed by the unfamiliar behavior at the court. 

“Of course, my dear, I was simply acting to surprise everyone.” 

Clorinde had hidden her surprise very well but even she was slightly stirred from the sudden change. The first few moments, Clorinde could've sworn that she saw genuine fear in Focalors' eyes. She had been able to hide it from most of the members of the court and the gentry but Clorinde wasn't fooled.The Focalors she knew wouldn't play such a silly harmless prank. Nor would she spend an hour in some abandoned part of the opera to play with a cat. Come to think of it, did she ever like animals? How…concerning.

Prince Neuvillette had been unnerved by this change as well. The second Focalors had practically dashed out of the courtroom, he had a frown on his face. As the heir to the Leviathan bloodline, he should have been the one on the throne, the rightful ruler of Fontaine. However, through a bloody war, it was Egeria, the first empress of the waters, the predecessor of Focalors, who inherited the throne. The very few living members of the Leviathan bloodline had all but scattered across Teyvat, not willing to have a repeat of the past again. Not Neuvillette, though. 

From what Clorinde had picked up from her duty, she could mostly piece together what happened. Focalors, the empress of Fontaine, decided to bring him into her empire, letting him cling to the title of a prince so long as he married her. A most surprising and confusing decision made by the empress who wished to control everything in the empire. 

But after meeting Neuvillette, his agreement also confused her. Prince Neuvillette was a man of very few words. On the rare occasion you got to see him outside of work. And even then he refused to interact with people. Many noble families didn't bother to hide their disappointment, evidently many wanted their children to marry the empress. But it didn't matter because it couldn't have been any more obvious that Neuvillette didn't care about the opinions of the Fontainians. Even more so, he seemed to barely tolerate the presence of his fiancee, the usurper empress. Any social interactions between them was strictly business and perhaps the entire empire was aware of the non-existent love in their arrangements.

So imagine Clorinde's surprise when the prince himself requested for Focalors’ presence. 

“Where is she? I must speak with her,” he startled the silence with his low voice. As always, his features remained stoic and reserved, revealing none of his emotions. And so Clorinde set out to find Focalors. 

But upon finding her and getting to witness her strange behavior closely must have confused Clorinde even more so than she expected. Which was why she led Focalors to her bed chambers instead of obeying prince Neuvillette’s order. 

Well, it wasn't like Clorinde responded to Neuvillette directly. Her loyalty was utmost to only Focalors…even if she didn't agree with her ruler’s decisions half the time. 

“Your Majesty, we're here,” she said, breaking the silence. It was like Focalors snapped out of a daze. Confused, she stared at her own chambers like she had never seen them before. 

“Oh,” the short woman slumped her shoulders. Clorinde wished to inquire about her sudden change but alas, she was but a duelist and the personal guard of the empress, not someone who could openly ask questions to the ruler. So she held her tongue, letting Focalors take her shoes off.

It was when Clorinde hadn't moved from her spot by the door that the empress turned around. 

“You're…still here,”

Crossing her arms, Clorinde said, “My duty is to guard you. I can only do that if I am close to you.”

How strange to be surprised by that. It was her who had ordered for such a high level of protection. The empress of Fontaine had many enemies, foes who would love to attack her when the moment called for it. She was, in fact, engaged to one pseudo-enemy. Surely such protection wasn't surprising.

However Focalors blushed. It was hard to see in the dim lighting of her chambers. The servants hadn't lit all the sconces, seeing how it was nighttime. But her keen eyes could easily notice the flush on her cheeks. “Um…that is…where will you be the whole night? Won't you sleep?” 

Clorinde's hand reached her rapier, a show of assurance. “I won't be sleeping until the next shift. You can sleep peacefully.”

She visibly relaxed. 

“But I assume this is something you already know, given how you were the one who gave me this order.”

Focalors pursed her lips, looking adorably flustered. Was this strange…for Clorinde to consider any of her expressions cute? “I know, I'm just…startled, is all. I'm too tired to function properly.”

“Well, then, you should get to sleep. I believe Prince Neuvillette has a lot to say to you.” With that, Focalors rushed off to her bathroom, to change out of her outfit. By the time she returned, wearing her sleepwear, she looked on the verge of falling asleep. 

“Goodnight, Clorinde,” Focalors mumbled before she tucked herself in her bed. Meanwhile Clorinde blinked, taken aback. In these many years of serving her, this was the first time she had said goodnight to her. She couldn't help but scratch her forehead. Was something going on that she wasn't aware of? 

Furina hadn't realized that her bedroom was massive. Living as a sleep-deprived law student doing theatre on the side meant that she had to make do with what little she had. Her previous apartment wasn't small by any means, but an empress’ room would outshine everything else. She woke up groggily, rubbing her face. Light strewn through the spacious windows, allowing her to finally examine the inside of the room. Beautiful didn't even come close to describing it. Her mouth was agape, staring at the luxurious room.

It was then she noticed the lack of a presence. Clorinde wasn't there in the room. Nor was anyone else. Didn't she tell Furina that her job was to protect her and that meant even staying in her bedroom? Furina couldn't help but flush at the memory again. Focalors was surely something. How could she sleep at night with someone watching over her so intently? Furina would have to see if she could change that. Something about a person watching her sleep was too uncomfortable. 

Furina also noticed that someone had entered her room without waking her up, pulling the curtains away. She frowned at that, disliking the fact that people could come and go into her room without her knowing. Considering that later in the story, there would be an uprising, it would be a better idea if she ensured that no one could enter her rooms without her permission. 

Last night's memories rushed to her, giving her a headache. Focalors’ promise…the prophecy…defying fate…and Furina replacing her. All of them overwhelmed her. Though she agreed for the sake of everyone, now she found herself doubting whether she could pull this off. 

“I'm just one person. Can I really help save Fontaine?” She asked quietly. Not only did she need to save herself from the story's ending where she gets executed by Neuvillette, but she also needed to stop this prophecy. To think of it…did she even know what this prophecy was? Focalors hadn't told what it was, aside from it involving her and that it was her punishment.

It seemed her first step would be to learn more about this prophecy and what it really was. Only then she would be able to make plans. Deciding that, she got up, preparing herself for another day. Right then, there was a knock on her door. 

On autopilot, Furina said, “You may enter,”

A short woman appeared, two strange ears sprouting from her head. Furina couldn't help but blink in surprise. The newcomer didn't look like a human, now that she was looking at her closely. This woman even had a short snout! 

“Umm…” Furina didn't know what to say. She couldn't remember who this person was meant to be. Was there a non-human character in the play? She scrunched her forehead, giving it a hard thought. And then it came to her mind. Ah! This must be a Melusine.

“Good morning, your Majesty,” the Melusine greeted her. “Your clothing has been ironed and prepared for the day. I also have your schedule for the day. Would you like to see it?” 

“Sure,” she nodded. With that, the Melusine handed her a clipboard. Furina's schedule was filled with court trials, important meetings, and her daily entertainment. All of this was known to Furina, having spent a month rehearsing to play as Focalors. Perhaps her practice would come to be of great use, after all. 

Furina asked, “By the way, you wouldn't know where Clorinde is, would you?” She had promised her to be in the same room as her to keep her safe, and yet she was nowhere to be seen. It unsettled Furina to think of how easy it was for Clorinde to come and go as she pleased. Perhaps she should tell her to stop doing that and also learn to sleep without being a heavy-sleeper.

“Miss Clorinde had ended her shift several hours ago and is either in the reception room or in the training grounds.” 

That put a frown on Furina's face. How could Clorinde just return to training or doing anything without sleeping? Surely, she was tired. Instead of voicing any of that, Furina said. “Oh, I see. Well, I better get ready then. Did you have anything else to say?” 

“No, your Majesty,” the melusine bowed her head, before silently taking her leave. 

Alone in her room, Furina let out a sigh. She went to the bathroom connected to her bedroom to get refreshed. It was just as magnificent as the rest of her room. A massive bathtub, chandelier hanging above, luxurious perfumes and soaps. It left her amazed and surprised at the luxury that Focalors had. But then again, Focalors was the empress of an empire. She was wealthy beyond her understanding.

It didn't take long for her to get dressed, what with her practice of getting into costumes all on her own, though it felt tiring to have to wear a costume all the time. This is what it's going to be like from now on, she mused. To have to keep pretending until the end. 

As she returned to her chambers, a pair of maids waited for her near the mirror and the settee bench. Ah, they must be there to help with her hair. Furina sat down on the bench, awkwardly letting them handle her hair. She wondered if they would suspect anything because of her hair extensions. Focalors had long, luscious hair that held the slightest curl to them. Meanwhile Furina had short hair that she had to style for it to be wavy.

However to her surprise, the maids said nothing, showed no reaction to her hair and continued doing her hair. Once they were finished, they started applying rouge on her lips and styled her eyelashes in the signature Focalors way. Furina couldn't help but think that she looked more like Focalors now. Her previous costume looked good in its own way but it had nothing on the real deal. 

She lightly grazed her curls, marveling at her own reflection. Furina recalled seeing Focalors in the mirror and she felt as though they were truly similar. Hmm, come to think of it…didn't the judges tell her how she looked similar to her? 

Or was she making up memories at this point? Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts out of her head as she rose to her feet. Well, she had a lot to do today. Best she got started on that. 

Furina opened the door, sucking in a deep breath as she prepared herself for today when she bumped into someone. She stepped back, looking up at none other than Prince Neuvillette. 

“Oh! Neuvillette! You startled me…” the rest of her sentence trailed off as she stared into his impassive face. What was he doing here? The last time she saw him, it was during her stupid blunder during the court trial. He had been both intolerant of her and frustrated at her. Right now, his expression was icy and unreadable. Whatever thoughts were flowing through his head…she had no idea. For both her and the empire's sake, she hoped it wasn't any thoughts of uprising or murdering her.

“Your Majesty,” he spoke in a tempered voice, acknowledging her. He was accompanied by no one but Furina knew that this was natural for him. Neuvillette might've been a crown prince of a different nation but he greatly disliked having servants and entourage follow his every step. “I apologize for startling you. I see you have dressed for the day.” 

She didn't know what to say here. What would Focalors say here? Perhaps something cruel and mocking. But she wasn't Focalors, was she? And besides, Focalors herself told her that from now on, it was Furina who was on the throne and so in its own way, from now on, Furina would be the one who would make the decisions. So instead of questioning what Focalors would do, she needed to ask herself what she would do. 

And Furina couldn't be a cruel and callous person. She couldn't continue doing that and so there needed to be a change. “Neuvillette, I must have a word with you!” 

Neuvillette raised his eyebrows, finally showing some emotions in his expression. “Is that so? Coincidentally I came here for the exact same reason. Shall we go to the reception room then?” 

Surprised to see him cooperate so easily, Furina nodded, letting him lead the way. 

Now that he was in front of her without members of the gentry interrupting them, she could take in the finer details. For one, his height. Surely that was too tall, even for a man like him. She had to tilt her head quite a lot to stare at him. But it added to his princely aura. That and his crisp black and blue uniform with elaborate details. He cut a dashing and powerful figure. Even his mannerisms struck fear and insecurity in her, making her worry if she was too ungraceful next to him.

“Here, the servants have already brought your breakfast,” Neuvillette interrupted her thoughts, gesturing towards the table that had a feast sprawled across; crepes, croissants, pudding, biscuits, omelettes and chocolate. Immediately her stomach let out a grumble at the sight of the delectable food. She realized that she hadn't eaten anything before the play; something about acting after eating did not feel good so she decided to skip her lunch. 

She couldn't exactly hold a serious conversation on an empty stomach now, could she? So Furina gladly sat down, biting into her food. After several bites, she noticed that Neuvillette hadn't picked up his meal. He sat across from her, staring at her with that same impassive and unreadable look. Uncomfortable with his stare, she couldn't swallow her food.

“Won't you eat?” Furina asked in a small voice. 

“I don't feel hungry right now,” he responded coolly, his silver and purple gaze eyeing her intently. “Once you are finished with your meal, we can talk freely.”

“Um…sure,” she nervously continued eating, despite how uncomfortable she was. After not too long, she pushed the empty plates away from her, taking in a deep breath before addressing him directly. “Prince Neuvillette, I have something to ask of you.”

“Oh? I did not expect that.” He didn't look too convinced, though he was at least willing to listen to her. “You may continue.”

“This engagement between us…” she trailed off, unsure of what term would be the best. While the real reason behind the sham marriage between Focalors and Neuvillette was to keep him under her watch and ensure that there would be no sudden attacks, the play did not go as such. In the beginning of the story, Focalors had trapped him in an unwanted marriage and expectantly, he had grown to hate her deeply. She was the successor of the one who colonized his people. Such hatred would need to be healed and the only way to deal with that would be to…

“I think we should cancel the marriage!” Furina ended her sentence breathless and flustered. 

Silence followed in the bright, spacious room. Though servants loitered around, they dared not interrupt the two of them. Neuvillette's expression hadn't changed, however. He looked still the impassive and stoic prince and as the silence stretched, she began to worry that she said something wrong. Don't tell me that I messed up already.

“What brought this up, your Majesty?” He asked in a low voice, eyebrows slashing downwards. Such an intense gaze left her unsettled.

Furina fiddled with her fingers, unable to maintain eye contact with him anymore. “I have been thinking about it for a while…I think it will be the best course of action.”

Yes, she should let him off the engagement, let him not hate her anymore than he did already and free him. Without the engagement, Neuvillette would be free to do as he pleased and whether that involved falling in love with Navia, daughter of a noble family and the heroine of the story, Furina would be happy for him. After all, she wanted the best for everyone.

“In what manner do you think it will be the best course of action?” He startled her, pursing his lips. 

Furina blinked, surprised by his response. “Huh?” 

“I have no idea what has happened to your memory but in that case, I'll remind you of the reason why I agreed to your proposal.” Neuvillette bulldozed over her, his eyes holding a strange, otherworldly glow that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. “I didn't agree because of some mistaken sense of love. I agreed because I want to regain my throne and power back, not because of any pity.”

Her mouth opened but she couldn't speak. She…truly had no idea. According to the play, Neuvillette's reasons for agreeing to Focalors’ whims were left vague. Most were free to interpret it however they wanted. Furina had assumed it was due to him not having any choice in the decision. However his explanation made sense too. The seeds of revolution and uprising were long since sowed in him. Fear struck her then. How close was he to letting that bloodlust take over him? Was she truly safe in this room with him?

“Should you take your proposal back, the gentry and the court would surely question such a decision. It brings the question of why you would go back on your own words.” Neuvillette crossed his arms. 

“Uhhh…I mean…” Furina stuttered. Nothing. There was no explanation. She couldn't tell people that she wanted to cancel the engagement to ensure that she would be alive. “I was just making sure you were aware that you could back out of the engagement anytime you wanted. My proposal isn't written in ink, it can change.” She quickly said, putting on an air of ease.

“Now why would I change my mind? Do you, my empress, wish to change your mind?” 

She hesitated, realizing that he backed her into a corner. So she had no other option but to say, “...No, I haven't changed my mind.”

Darn it! She couldn't get out of this just yet! She would have to find another opportunity to cancel this engagement.

“Since you seem to be out of topics to ask, then I shall ask you my question.” Neuvillette went on, reaching over to grab a goblet, the first thing he was having. Though she could have sworn that it was a goblet of water and not wine. 

“You may go on…”

“What are your plans for the flood emergency?” 

“The what…” her eyes widened in shock. 

“Why do you look so surprised? Or are you perhaps surprised that I know you're being awfully obtuse about it?” 

“Uh…I mean…” 

“Don't tell me you have nothing to say about it.” For the first time in their conversation, Neuvillette looked angry. And she had no idea what he was talking about. Flood… emergency…? None of them triggered her memories. Could it be something new? Something she wasn't aware of before arriving in the story?

“I'm sorry. But I can't share it with you, Neuvillette.” Furina settled for that. When she learned about what he was actually talking about, she'd find an answer to give. 

“Hmmph,” he looked away, snorting at her. She wanted to comfort him, she really did. But there was nothing she could do for him until she understood the situation better. For now, she'd have to settle for this meager answer.

She couldn't explain her next action; she reached over the table and placed her hand on his own. He jolted, turning his face to her. 

“Neuvillette…you must care about the people then. I'm really glad to see that you're learning to open up.” Furina said, meaning everything she said. Despite having to live in a country that was rightfully his but stolen, despite having to deal with a cruel empress, he truly cared for the people even though he pretended he couldn't tolerate them. It was evident in the way he developed throughout the play, understanding that he needed to step up to his role as the crown prince and save the people of Fontaine from Focalors. 

Neuvillette's expression shifted from appalled to confused to finally his usual impassive look. His lips twitched, though he didn't take her hand off of him. Instead he said, “You're acting strange.”

Caught red-handed, Furina let go of his hand, flustered once more. “What? What do you mean by that?” 

Could he suspect that I wasn't the same Focalors? Oh no, I need to do something!

“There's nothing wrong with how I'm acting. Haven't you heard of theatrics, my dear? I'm simply acting.” She giggled nervously, looking to the side. “Now now, I have a lot to do today, I can't spend every moment with you, my darling. Toodles-!” 

And with that, she nearly ran out of the reception room, heading straight to her personal chambers. The second she was back in her solitude again, she let out a long tiring sigh. She had no idea what was going on. Neuvillette, in a twisted way, had given her a good place to start with. The flood. She had to find more information about it. As the empress, there must be information about everything happening in the empire. 

Yes, she should immediately find everything she could. 

Not long after Focalors rushed out of the room like he had personally set her skirts on fire, Neuvillette stared at the blank spot she was sitting in moments ago. It hadn't been easy, cornering her to speak in private. It was a good thing that she was alone, without her usual entourage following her. 

But then…for the first time, she had been shy. Neuvillette had seen Focalors be many things; loud, enigmatic, cruel, cunning and sadistic. But never had he seen her shy. Or flustered. But in the few moments of breakfast revealed sides to her that he had never even imagined. Her personality, her voice, her actions—sweet was the only word that he could describe it as. And that was strange because he had never expected to find anything Focalors did as sweet. 

Her mannerisms were exactly the same but it was like her personality had mellowed into something sweet and kind. Neuvillette was dumbfounded at that. What happened? Could this really be another scheme? What was her end goal? 

Neuvillette had reached out to her to pressure her into opening up about her plans for the emergency. The water levels were rising steadily for quite some time. And if they didn't take any actions, they would lose the many islands dotted across Fontaine. But despite such a pressing matter, Focalors had announced the grand ball. As if it was the right thing to do when disaster was nearing them. What ruler would celebrate when her people were suffering? So he requested her presence and when that didn't work, he had to personally find her outside of her own chambers. 

Even thinking about the conversation with her gave him a headache. Focalors had rested her hand on his, her mismatched eyes holding an ocean of emotions. Kindness, warmth, compassion. Emotions that he would never guess she could feel. But Neuvillette liked to think of someone who was good at determining emotions even if he struggled to understand the cause of them. 

“Neuvillette…you must care about the people then. I'm really glad to see that you're learning to open up.” 

That's what she said. There was kindness in her eyes that previously bore cruelty and sharpness. Did she want to comfort him? Why? Why would she, his usurper, wish to comfort him? He was the crown prince of a nation that had long since lost everything. A crown without power. He'd arrived at the court of Fontaine reluctantly, with the sole goal of regaining whatever little power he had. 

Neuvillette closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. It made no sense to him. He couldn't keep up with Focalors and her many masks, her facades and pretenses. Though every interaction with her left him tired and confused, this time was especially unsettling. On one hand, she refused to tell him about her plans. But then on the other hand, she told him she was glad to see him open up. Cruel but then kind. He might have to live with her for the rest of his life to figure out this strange woman. 

For now, he'd have to focus his attention on finding a plan for the people affected by the flood. And then he'd dissect all the different masks of Focalors.

Chapter Text

Furina hadn't taken a good look at her room when she woke up, only having noticed the luxuries. But when she rushed out of the reception room to escape Neuvillette’s accusations, it was then she took in everything. There was a reading area, desk and chair with piles of books. Documents strewn across carelessly. As she neared them, she went through them. Most were about politics and laws, which made sense since Focalors was the empress. But Furina didn't stop looking through the papers. If there was one thing you could count on a villain, it was that they would have information on everything. Focalors would definitely be that type of person to keep tabs on everything happening in the empire. She should then know about the flood emergency and have some kind of plans for that. 

This way I can prepare for the emergency, Furina thought as she eagerly flipped through them.

However she soon found that she couldn't find anything particularly villain-like in Focalors' belongings. Nothing that could alert that she was harboring dark secrets. More documents, court cases, laws, meetings with the gentry, foreign connections, city budgets and planning. There were even some diaries and she was excited to flip through them to learn more about the person that was Focalors, but unfortunately they were all blank. Seriously? Why keep blank diaries? 

Furina stepped back, exhaling. She should search somewhere else then. Moving on to her bedside table, she found a lot of jewelry and necklaces and rings. She even went through the bedsheets to see if there was something hidden there. Focalors must have some spies sending her letters, how else would she know everything happening in the empire?

Where the hell could Focalors keep her things? Perhaps the library? Shaking her head, she was about to head out of her room when her attention snagged on the fireplace. Furina neared the fireplace and crouched, inspecting it closely. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary, nothing to suspect that something could be here. Even she was about to be fooled but right then she noticed the pile of ash. Aha!

Furina could tell that someone burned something in the fireplace, and it must have been Focalors. In that case…

She immediately grabbed the blank diaries and began to tear the pages. One by one she brought them close to the fire, making sure to not catch them aflame. And just like she guessed, the blank pages began to show the hidden writing. Furina read the first page. 

“If I didn't know better, I'd say that everything looked under control. Aside from my spies and members of my circle, no one seems to doubt the seriousness of the prophecy. Good…I hope to keep it that way.” 

She blinked, taking in the words and their meaning. Focalors had spies, which meant she definitely knew a lot about the prophecy. This also explained why only Focalors had mentioned the prophecy, it seemed that no one else took it seriously. Could it also be why the play didn't have the prophecy? Because none of the other characters knew about it? Or was it because she ensured that the people wouldn't take it seriously? She should read everything in the diary. She would never get such a golden opportunity to learn about Focalors like this.

She put another page near the flames and another set of writing appeared, revealing the mind of Focalors.

“They weren't able to stop the flood. I really was hoping that they'd be able to do something, given how ingenious all of them were. Alas, there's not much to do. I will be funding for their funeral.”

Huh? Who was Focalors talking about? Stop the flood? Could it be that…the prophecy and the flood were one and the same? Come to think of it, Focalors had only mentioned the prophecy and not the flood? However she remembered that Focalors said something about the ‘primordial waters’. Could it be part of the flood?  

Yes, it could be that the two of them were the same. Or at least, connected in some way. Furina let out a sigh. At least this way she could work on them at the same time. 

For the rest of the day, she kept reading the hidden writing, discovering many secrets. She learned that there was a research institute reporting to her about the situation and that Focalors had been spending many, many years keeping an eye on the rising water levels. The fine details about the prophecy were still left vague, leaving Furina to wonder what it really was. All she could piece together was that the prophecy was something Focalors had inherited from her predecessor, Egeria, just like she inherited the throne and the power. But sadly Focalors’ entries didn't mention the origins of the prophecy. Only that it was a punishment of sorts. Perhaps for having usurped the nation from the Leviathan? And who was punishing her? The heavens?

Aside from that, Focalors had also used her spies to keep in touch with the members of her circle and they'd report back to her, telling her about the situation. She had also been the one to assure the people to not worry about the prophecy, letting them to believe it was simply a story. All to ensure that no one would look too deep. However the most surprising part of all of these was the confirmation that Focalors knew what to do to avert the crisis but she hadn't written it anywhere. Furina pored through each and every page, hoping to find this elusive plan but there was nothing. Why would she do this? She had entrusted Furina with the role to deceive fate itself  and solve this problem but hadn't even told her the bare minimum of her plans. 

Without knowing what Focalors had in mind, how was she supposed to help? 

“You need to divert the attention while I handle the prophecy,” Focalors said. But where was she to begin with? Was it really this simple? Let Focalors handle it while she keeps up the facade? How was deceiving people supposed to stop from the waters dissolving everyone?

The questions left Furina's head hurting. Everything she was learning only worsened the situation. She needed to save herself from the story while ensuring that she and the rest of the empire was safe from the wrath of the divine. How was she going to handle any of that? She was just a law student with a love for arts. She wasn't an evil empress who could rule an empire. Despite everything else, Furina found developing a twisted sense of admiration for the play's villainess for having been so extensive in everything. 

Having finished reading all the diary entries, Furina decided to burn all of them, just in case. She couldn't let anyone figure this out after all. By the time all of the pages were nothing but ashes, she sighed, feeling insecure about her plans again.

…Is it really alright for her to focus only on deceiving everyone? Should she do something more? But what? What should she do to help everyone? She had no idea about the prophecy and Focalors intentionally kept everything vague. If it truly was divine punishment, then did that mean Furina was deceiving the heavens as well? For a brief moment, panic struck her. If she were caught…she shook the thoughts away. It wouldn't do her any good to linger on these thoughts, not when she needed to keep up her part of her deal. 

Regardless of those matters, it alleviated some worries in Furina's heart. Unlike what Neuvillette had said, Focalors was well aware of the dangers and even more, she had a contingency plan to fix everything. The only downside of this said plan was that she hadn't mentioned any of this to Furina who was her doppelganger. At least now she had confirmation that Focalors had something planned for the flood and Neuvillette didn't have to worry about the empire being swallowed by the waters. Even if she couldn't tell him that. He just…needed to have faith in both of them. Meanwhile she was going to try finding everything she could about the prophecy.

Palais Mermonia held a massive library that exuded wealth and privilege like every other part of the palace. It was evident in the cream colored chairs and chandeliers and sconces illuminating the cozy area. Books of many different topics were lined up on the shelves, drawing her attention. She wasn't alone; several members of the gentry were present, idly reading in some corners. Furina's arrival hadn't stirred them from their engrossed reading, informing that Focalors had been frequently visiting the library. 

The librarian immediately stood up at the sight of her. “Your Majesty! Please, come with me. I've prepared your room for you.” 

Furina agreed to go with her. The librarian led her to a secluded room separated from the other part of the library. But she found that the room was already occupied. A man sat on the couch, lowering his book when she appeared. The librarian disappeared without further word, leaving her alone with him.

Before she could speak, the man rose to his feet, bowing deeply. “Greetings, your Majesty,” 

Furina nodded, sitting down. She didn't know who this man was. His appearance didn't ring any bells either. He was of average height and build with brown hair, his clothes unremarkable. Then it triggered her. With how unremarkable he was and the pages she read previously, Furina guessed that this must be one of Focalors’ spies. Was he waiting for her then? I really need to learn what's the schedule for them if I want to gain something from them.

“What do you have to tell me?” She started, picking up a cup of tea left for her on the table along with some pastries. Ooooh, these were filled with chocolate inside, her favorites!

Instead of speaking, he slid a slip of paper soundlessly. Ah, that's how spies worked then. She took it, her eyes moving over the paper. 

A small seaside village had been affected by the flood, injuring more than ten people. The village had been swallowed by the waters, leaving the residents without a place to stay.

Her heart tugged at that. So that's why Neuvillette had been worried. The flood really seemed to be inevitable and people were getting hurt left and right. 

“Send them resources to help them with food and housing.” Furina responded quietly, thinking about the plights of the people. Her people now that she had taken over Focalors. The realization made her heart ache for them. She must do everything to save them. “Anything else?”

The spy shook his head. 

Furina recalled those reports from the research institute. “Has the institute been able to find something? Any breakthrough?”

“I'm sorry, your Majesty. They haven't,” he said, his voice practically inaudible. “But they're trying to find whatever they can to prevent the prophecy.”

She fell silent, pondering about it. At least this proved that Focalors hadn't been lying; she was trying to figure out how to stop the prophecy. It made Furina believe in her words a little more. That meant that she could count on the research institute to help her discover the way to avert the crisis. At the end, all she could say was, “Thank you very much. Keep me informed about any and all changes.”

The spy didn't wait a moment, he curtly nodded and took his leave. Furina sighed, slumping her shoulders. Well, even if it didn't go the way she expected, she was at least assured that she would be informed about any breakthroughs in preventing the prophecy. Meanwhile she'd handle the resources to help people. 

With that taken care of, she could focus on the other part—the story. Namely Neuvillette. Aside from the prophecy, he was the second biggest issue for her. If left unchecked, he might end up spelling doom for her. She couldn't get killed by him, not just for her own sake but also for the empire. 

In order to deal with the story, Furina needed a plan. First she needed to jot down everything she remembered about the play. Immediately she started on it. She brought out a piece of paper to write down everything. Masquerade of the guilty was a play about a disgraced noble lady who fell in love with the prince who was already engaged to the empress. Their love story took place in the middle of political turmoil and conflict, separating the two. The empress who was a cruel, wicked ruler became the primary antagonistic force of the story. After several highs and lows, the prince decided to reclaim his land, going against the empress and finally executing her as judgement for her punishment. Later he took over his rightful throne and fixed the conflicts of the empire and then he married his love. It was meant to be both an exploration of the historical political turmoil as well as a love story, proving that love could triumph over everything. 

She loved Masquerade of the guilty for the themes it tackled. A good man taking his rightful throne and reclaiming his power and going against his usurper-queen. It truly was a magnificent—anyways, she was getting off-topic. 

The heroine of the story was Navia Caspar, daughter of Callas Caspar. Her father was the boss of the Spina di Rosula, an organization that handled everything from crimes to helping people. As such, the Caspar family had a good reputation. Until the start of the story where Mr. Callas was accused of murder, and put to a trial where he lost and died to a duel with none other than the champion duelist, Clorinde. Losing her father, Navia grew disillusioned to the false charms of Fontaine, realizing that the people suffered behind the wealth and privilege. She decided to go against the empress, showing rebellious thoughts. Using the Spina di Rosula, she was able to help the common people. She even challenged Neuvillette, gradually changing his mind about whether things should really continue. Through her influence, he was able to realize the necessity of change. 

Hmm…all of these were good things. For both the society and the people, such changes were absolutely necessary. Justice was turned into a mockery in the court of Fontaine, trials became sensationalized, crimes became dramas that the members of the gentry indulged in. Furina could absolutely agree with Navia’s decision. Navia also was a lovely, kind, bright and strong-willed woman. Someone who was rightfully the heroine. But sadly she had to lose her father in a duel, which was Focalors’ doing…which meant that it was now Furina's doing. Yikes! She couldn't let Navia's father die, no matter what! Mr. Callas’ death was the catalyst of change in Navia's heart. 

So Furina decided on her plan going onwards. Firstly, she needed to give back Neuvillette his throne and the crown, letting him reclaim his original authority without a bloody revolution or coup. This way she could get out of the engagement without much preamble. Neuvillette would have no reason to disagree with her; surely he would hate to spend a minute with her unless it was necessary. Secondly, she would have to prevent Navia's father's death. She'd fight tooth and nail for Callas' trial if she had to. It was the only way she could stop the story and Neuvillette from killing her.

Yes, this plan was good. Great, even! Now all she needed to figure out how to give Neuvillette his crown and throne back without anyone suspecting her intentions. The first person to suspect would surely be Neuvillette himself. He'd suspect that she was up to something and given her reputation, it would be definitely nefarious. How was she supposed to pull this off then? It had to be something that was slow and unnoticeable, so he wouldn't suspect anything. 

Furina spent the rest of the morning in the library, smoothing out everything in her awesome plan. By the time she was done, the sun was up high in the bright blue and sunny sky. She had forgotten practically everything else in pursuit of her knowledge, even her important duties. But to her surprise, no one had come to remind her. Perhaps that was the benefit of being an empress with the reputation of being cruel and wicked. Nobody wanted to cross her. Furina pursed her lips, both glad and disappointed in that realization.

But nevermind that. Furina had finally found her footing in this new world. She finally had a strong plan going onwards that was brilliant. While Focalors took care of the prophecy and the research institute took care of the flood, she would handle Neuvillette. She had a big smile on her face, finally confident. 

“Neuvillette! Prince Neuvillette!” Furina rushed towards him, her blue silk skirt with ruffles fluttering behind her. He stood at the massive doors of the Opera Epiclese, a dashing figure in the low light. His hair was tied again, the blue ribbons fluttering behind him. He wore dark blue robes, intricately and tastefully designed. He was finally escorted with his entourage, a gaggle of servants holding documents and legal codices. 

“Your Majesty,” he turned to face her, his lips pressing into a thin line at the sight of her. Eyeing her up and down. “Glad to see you are finally here. I wasn't expecting to see you, given how you have been held up in the library for the better half of the day. You missed out on many things.” 

“Neuvillette, I must tell you something!” Furina told him, grabbing his gloved hand in between hers. She didn't pay attention to his remark, understanding that she had better things to do than be offended by his words. His eyes widened at her action, but he didn't say anything in response. 

“If it's about the engagement, I don't wish to hear it, it is redundant and I am done with having that conversation.” Neuvillette said. “But if it's about the flood, then I shall hear you out.”

“It's about…a little bit of both of them.” She eyed the space around them. Too many people, too unpredictable. She had to take him somewhere isolated. “We…we should have this conversation somewhere else!”

She attempted to pull him but he was solidly stuck to his spot, unmoving. Neuvillette refused to move, solemnly shaking his head. He instead turned to the door, resting his hand on the doorknob. “The court begins in a few minutes, it will do us harm if we don't be punctual.” 

She couldn't help but frown. “But…”

A presence appeared beside her, soundlessly. Clorinde had materialized out of thin air, almost part-liquid, part-shadow. “Your Majesty, let us honour his highness’s wish to maintain the order.”

“But I had something to say…” she gave them looks but they refused to wait and listen, so she couldn't do anything but sigh dejectedly.

There was nothing she could do but to comply with them. So Furina followed Neuvillette and Clorinde into the Opera Epiclese. Just like the first time she appeared here, the court was filled to the brim with the members of the gentry, all of whom looked excited for whatever trial would take place today. Members of the gentry were dressed to the nines, elaborate outfits and fashionable hairdos and painted faces. It was one of those things she was bothered with, the way trials were dramatized and sensationalized like some kind of twisted entertainment. In the play, it was something you weren't meant to agree with, but now that she was physically in the story, it was something that she now had to deal with.

Furina took her place on her throne and so did Neuvillette, the court turning silent in their presence. The court proceedings began as expected and not after too long, she found herself yawning, growing tired of paying attention. All of the matters were dull and unimportant, the defendants and the prosecutors  dramatizing everything and blowing things out of proportion. Oftentimes they'd change tactics, turning to the jury or her to lick their wounds. One of the stupid trials was about a merchant being swindled by a noble man. The two were off in their own world, arguing with each other endlessly, politeness and court etiquette be damned.

After several agonizing moments, she decided she had enough of this and raised her voice, the sound sharply interjecting whatever objections either side had to say. “Boring! What a dull way to spend my time. If none of you have anything important to say, then get out of here and stop wasting my time.” 

Everyone fell silent. The court had been as quiet as it could be, all eyes landing on her. For a brief moment, Furina felt self-conscious; it was hard sometimes to separate her stage persona with her real self. Sometimes the illusion of the story dissipated like mist, leaving her shy and uncomfortable, a loner in the middle of strangers. But such moments were far and few and whenever she felt self-conscious, a second mask was ready to be worn. Just like now. 

“Y-your Majesty, we apologize for upsetting you,” the prosecutor began, looking nervous. 

Furina scoffed, staring down at her nails. She didn't say anything else to the man. Instead it was Neuvillette who spoke, his eyes capable of terrifying anyone. “Be silent.” 

Under his glare, the prosecutor couldn't mumble out an answer. And thus the court proceedings went on like nothing had changed. But the other trials were just as annoying and boring as the previous one. One by one, her subjects approached her about stupid things. Furina couldn't keep her attention on the matters, instead staring at some other place. She wondered about her cast-mates, her apartment, her exam she never got around to do. Her old life was paused, stilled, it would not continue as before. Just by thinking about it, her heart hurt, her eyes getting misty. 

“What is bothering you?” Neuvillette said, startling her. Furina jumped, placing her hand on her chest, her heart racing. 

She blinked, discreetly trying to hide her now teary eyes. “Um…nothing.”

“I've noticed a change in your behavior since yesterday.” His words were calm and levelheaded, though his eyebrows were scrunched, showing the tiniest frustration that he tried to hide. 

“Well, yes, actually…” Furina let out a breath before softly saying, “I've had a change of heart, to put it simply.”

His eyes widened for a fraction, betraying his previous level headed personality. “A change of heart? Pray tell, what could this be? And how did it happen?”

She quietened at that. “A while ago, with the people affected by the flood…it scared me. The people who lost everything, it hurt me to think of their fates. They are my people, my subjects. And should we keep losing more and more people…” a broken sigh escaped her as she clutched her chest. She hadn't had to pretend to feel this way. She already did. Furina's eyes were getting teary again at the thought, but she turned her head to hide that vulnerability and emotion. 

“Hmm, so you do care for them,” came his cryptic answer. Furina lifted her eyes to meet his silver gaze. 

“Yes, I do.” She held his eyes, showing her determination. “You must think of me as some horrible, shrewd woman. A cruel empress who doesn't care about her people.” 

“I haven't thought of anything that you didn't give me reason to, your Majesty,” Neuvillette looked away, letting her admire his handsome side profile. “What made you care about my opinion of you?”

Furina fiddled with her fingers awkwardly. Despite her attempt to sound convinced, her voice came out meek. “You're to be my husband someday, the king consort. I'd like to have a cordial relationship with you.”

He harrumphed, still not facing her. “If you're suddenly interested in fixing my opinion of you, there are several things you could do. Starting with, reassuring the people that you've prepared for the flood.” 

“I have, I've prepared for the emergency,” she insisted, holding his hand. Neuvillette finally turned to her, looking finally curious. 

“What?” 

Furina fell silent. She couldn't tell him that she was counting on Focalors and her spies to keep everything under control, or that it was Focalors who had the emergency plan. Furina had no idea herself, so how was she going to explain to him? 

Neuvillette's expression changed into disappointment. “As always, you can't tell me what you have planned. And you dare say that you wish to maintain a cordial relationship between us?” 

“I'm sorry, Neuvillette. I really am. I just can't…tell you.” She responded, nearly pleading. 

“Then this conversation is over,” he waved his hand. “If you can't even answer such a simple question, then it leaves me to doubt your credibility, your Majesty.”

“Just…just have faith in me!” Furina couldn't help but raise her voice at the end, surprising herself. She understood that she gave him no reason to believe her but she still needed him to trust her. It was a complicated situation.

“You can't ask me to simply have faith in you, not when you have refused to give me any reason.” Neuvillette said. She understood his dilemma but that didn't stop her heart from getting stomped in rejection. 

“I know.” She lowered her head, hugging herself. “I wish I could tell you but…I'm sorry.”

But there had to be something she could tell him, something that wouldn't harm the plan, right? Furina tried to think back to everything she figured out today, with Focalors' spies, the prophecy and the flood, the research institute reporting to her. She needed to compromise with her secrets, otherwise Neuvillette would never trust her. She needed to win his trust, no matter what. 

She took a deep breath and stood up instead. Neuvillette looked at her, confused. She grabbed his hand and said, “If you want to see proof of my plans…then come with me.”

“Why are we in your personal chambers?” He asked her, sheepishly standing in the middle of her room. Furina glanced at him before searching through the many reports Focalors kept from the Fontaine Kinetic Energy Researching Institute. These were as much of a proof she could give him without jeopardizing Focalors' plans. Such things could be shared with him, it wouldn't ruin the plan. 

You must deceive them. Focalors had told her. But couldn't she also be honest with him, just a little bit, to earn his trust? If he believed her words, then maybe he would grow to understand that she wasn't so bad and that he didn't need to kill her. Furina was certain that Focalors would appreciate that she didn't get herself killed, given that she was crucial to whatever the plan was. 

Yes, this was the correct thing to do. Reveal the cards she had and make him believe her. Even if she was keeping the complete truth hidden, he'd appreciate being aware of everything that was happening. 

Furina carried all the reports she found in Focalors' room and walked towards him, handing them to him. “Read these reports the Fontaine Kinetic Energy Researching Institute has been sending me all these years. The dates reach back to the very first year I inherited the throne from the late empress, Egeria. You'll see that ever since I became the empress of Fontaine, I have been watching over the situation. So you don't have anything to fear.”

Neuvillette flipped through the reports, reading each page intently. She couldn't read his face, couldn't tell what he felt about everything he was reading, couldn't be sure that this was helping her. She waited, staring at his expression, wondering what he was going to say about this. For a moment, Furina feared that she messed up by mentioning these to him, that she changed the track of fate too much and that the repercussions would lead to Focalors failing to save Fontaine from the prophecy. Would this backfire on her? Would this even change what he thought of her?

“This…” he began speaking, his expression astonished and surprised. He met her eyes, looking at her with a strange emotion she couldn't put a finger on. Was it hope? Trust? Or was it doubtful? “Why are you showing me these, your Majesty?”

“You told me that you didn't trust me. As your empress, it's my responsibility to ensure that there are no misunderstandings between us.” Furina told him. “Does this ease your worries then, my dear? Do you still think I am cruel and wicked?” 

He instead stared at her, quiet and still. She hesitated, wondering if she laid it too thick. She didn't mean to address him as ‘my dear’, it was something that she heard Focalors using and she also was used to being theatrical. 

“Thank you for sharing these with me.” Neuvillette responded finally, looking away. “I…didn't think you'd actually open up to me, but for the empire's sake, I had to ask you.”

Furina let out a nervous giggle. “Of course, you can ask me anything. After all, I am your benevolent and darling empress.” 

A muscle ticked in his jaw and he tightened his grip on the reports, he was still looking away. “If that's all, I should return to my chambers.” 

“Oh,” she just realized that time had gone by so quickly since she dragged him to her room. It was evening already and dinner would be served soon. “I have been intruding on your personal time, I am so terribly sorry.”

He nodded, though he still looked conflicted and confused. “I shall take my leave then, your Majesty.” 

Neuvillette placed the reports on the table before he left her room. The second he was gone, Furina deflated and let out a breath. Why was it so hard to deal with everyone in this world?

Returning to his room, Neuvillette couldn't help but pinch his forehead, feeling a headache develop. His chambers were already prepared for the evening, candles and sconces lit. Despite being a prince, he rarely felt like one. This crown he wore was ceremonial and pretentious and vestigial. It didn't show his actual worth and power. 

“You're to be my husband someday, the king consort. I'd like to have a cordial relationship with you.”

Hah, what a humble way to put it. The truth was that marriage wouldn't give him any power. It was yet another scheme but it didn't matter to him when he could at least have some meaning in his life. When he does get married to her, he would be only a consort, another ceremonial aspect in the court. But he was bothered with the last part. Focalors wished to have a cordial relationship with him. She wanted him to believe her. Trust her. 

What a joke. But Neuvillette couldn't help but feel conflicted. It wasn't just that she demanded trust in her, she had also given him proof. She had something planned to save everyone. She actually meant it when she said she was prepared. The realization befuddled him. It sat heavy in his chest, an elephant in the room he couldn't avoid.

Instead of resting, Neuvillette paced around his chambers, trying to piece together everything. So he was right in his observation; Focalors was behaving strangely, kinder, softer, genuine and just different. And now that she had even shown him what must've been a secret, he had to admit that she had changed. Why? What could be the reason? What had changed the callous and wicked empress’ heart into being soft? 

And moreover, why did he like it? His chest had fluttered when she called him ‘dear’. It wasn't something he was unused to, Focalors had been the type of person to use endearing names even when her intentions were less than endearing. 

Neuvillette shook his head, choosing to sit down. None of that mattered. Focalors’ change of heart didn't matter, not when he wasn't equal to her. He didn't care about it. Realizing that he spent too much in his chambers instead of going downstairs for dinner, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. 

Right then, a knock sounded on his door, along with a familiar voice saying, “Your Highness, pardon me for the intrusion.”

Ah, Clorinde. Focalors' guard, the champion duelist and Marechaussee Hunter. Truthfully, he tried his best to not interact with her, given how strong her loyalty was to the empress. Clorinde wasn't as bad as some particular members of the gentry and the nobles of the court, she was strict, dutiful and never busied herself with nonsense. It was only a shame that she served Focalors first, and then him. He often felt as though he couldn't trust her too much, which was why he kept his distance from her. 

“You may enter,” Neuvillette answered. 

Clorinde stepped through the door, looking as poised as she did hours ago in the Opera Epiclese, not even a single strand of hair strayed. With her dark outfit, she blended in the dark too well, the silver of her rapier glinting. She gave him a curt bow, though she was never really obligated to do so. Being Focalors’ right hand, she had enough power in the court to not bow to the prince. But she still did, perhaps she was too dutiful to not follow that part of her etiquette. “Your presence is requested in the dinner banquet, your highness.”

Neuvillette nodded. Ah, yes, the dinner. He was getting ready to go there on his own. But at least Clorinde came to remind him. “Thank you. I will be there soon.” 

He walked out of the chamber and she followed after him, ever so silent. His thoughts went back to his conversation with Focalors. It was confusing him too much, he couldn't help but overthink everything she had told him. He had no idea how he was supposed to deal with that. After having a tumultuous time in the court, Neuvillette struggled to find his footing here. He felt like he couldn't let his guard down around Focalors. But everything that happened in the past two days confused him beyond his limit. 

“Prince Neuvillette…can I ask you something?” Clorinde broke the silence, bringing him out of his stupor. He looked behind, pausing.

“Yes, you may ask me. What is it?” 

She stopped walking as well, looking at him with her piercing purple eyes. “Have you noticed that her Majesty Focalors has been behaving differently?”

“I have. I even asked her about this sudden change.”

“Oh,” she blinks, momentarily surprised. “What did she say to that?”

“She said that she had a change of heart. And I've seen it with my own eyes, the proof of her change.” Neuvillette didn't mention the reports he read, keeping it hidden for some reason. He just didn't want to tell Clorinde and he lied to himself that it was because she might report back to Focalors. 

Clorinde relaxed, and he noticed that the duelist was tense the entire time through the walk. “Well, that's good. Good to hear that,” she said, something in her eyes changing. “And what does that make you feel?”

Neuvillette hesitated. He wondered how much he knew that himself— he was too confused by Focalors' sudden kindness and flirting that felt too sweet—and how much he could get away with sharing his emotions to her, Focalors’ right hand. In the end, he responded with, “I find myself confused. I don't know what her goal is.”

“Hmm, that is something only her Majesty can answer.” Clorinde looked deep in thought. “I feel the same way as you. Makes me wonder if this is all a long-winded prank…” 

Her voice turned into a murmur at the end. 

For some reason, he felt possessed to say, “No, I don't think this is a prank. Something else. I haven't seen her be like this ever and something tells me that this is not a prank.” 

She had looked so kind when she told him that she was glad to see him care for the Fontainians. Or when she smiled at him. Her distress and worry. Kindness, compassion, sweetness and this felt real to him. He couldn't explain it. But he had watched Focalors, had a firsthand experience with her and he could tell that when Focalors had held his hand, he didn't see the cruel usurper empress, he saw someone else. A kinder, softer, sweeter, more compassionate and genuine person. 

Clorinde's eyes slightly widened, surprised to hear him of all people say that. It must've been quite strange for Neuvillette to come to Focalors' support when he had hated her staunchly. It surprised him too. He hadn't expected to change his mind about her and not so quickly, not even a couple months into their engagement. But he considered himself to be a good judge of personality, even when he didn't understand them. He had seen the truth reflected in her light and dark eyes, holding so much emotion in those heterochromic eyes. Which was what befuddled him the most. 

“I trust your judgement, your highness,” Clorinde said, surprising him yet again.

“You do?” He asked her, incredulous.

The dark haired woman nodded, crossing her arms. “You have a good read on others and should you think this is genuine, then I can trust you to think she's not deceiving us.”

Neuvillette couldn't help but sigh, his gaze landing on the windows with the curtains pulled. “This still doesn't stop me from feeling confused. What she gains from doing this…I don't know.”

“You said so yourself. She has a change of heart, perhaps she's doing this to fix everything.” Though she said it, she didn't look entirely convinced of it. For the umpteenth time, he wondered what the champion duelist’s relationship with Focalors was, why she was ready to kill in the name of her empress and yet still feel conflicted. It didn't matter, really. Whatever went between them was strictly their business.

In the end, he said, “Let us not waste any more time. I'm sure Her Majesty is getting bored with us delaying.” 

Furina sat in the plush chair, next to the members of the gentry, waiting for Prince Neuvillette to arrive. Her stomach grumbled at the sight of the mouthwatering Coq au Vin, Moules Marinières, Creamy Lobster Bisque and Pommes Aligot. That was only the entrees and appetizers. The dessert had eclairs, macarons, clafoutis, crepes and custard, all of which she wanted to dig into immediately. Unfortunately as the empress, it was inappropriate to do so. So Furina had to sit patiently and listen to the idle chatter of the gentry. Noble houses and important members of the court were present at the dinner banquet. Come to think of it, the first time she had found herself in the world of Masquerade of the Guilty, she hadn't been able to enjoy the delicious food here. This would be the first time she got to eat like a true empress.

Right then, Neuvillette appeared followed by none other than Clorinde. She had met him some time ago, after revealing that she had been keeping tabs on the flood in order to earn his trust. From his expression, she couldn't tell whether he was still doubtful of her intentions or if he began to trust her already. But there wasn't enough time to get into that, not when the dinner banquet started. 

With everyone taking their seats, servants fluttered around, serving everyone their meal. Furina didn't waste a second and dove right into her food. Wine and Champagne were served along with hot chocolate. It was the best meal she ever had in her life. In her previous life, theatre acting didn't pay her enough to live this lavishly. She hadn't been poor, but she wasn't rich enough either. 

The dinner went on very uneventfully, given how Neuvillette was not one for idle chatter. Even the noble members minded their own businesses, eating in peace. Furina chewed her food, lost in thought. She had just recalled something she didn't get to act on before. She lowered her cutlery and cleared her throat. All eyes were on her. 

“I suddenly remembered something I wanted to inform all of you,” she said. From the periphery, she could notice Neuvillette shifting in his seat, staring at her. “It is high time for change. In the empire, in the court…and your empress as well.” 

“Your Majesty, what are you suggesting?” One member asked her.

She took a deep breath. What had Focalors said? So in a way, it is not Focalors who is the empress any longer, it shall be you, Furina. Yes, Furina ruled Fontaine now. And it was time they addressed her as such. 

“From now on, everyone shall call me Furina de Fontaine, not as Focalors.” She told everyone, not leaving any room for argument. As expected, everyone began talking amidst themselves, loudly sharing their opinions of such change. To stop them, she slammed a hand on the table, the delicate glassware clanking. “There will be no further discussion about this decision, nor do I wish to hear any argument.”

“But Your Majesty, why change your name all of a sudden? Focalors is a perfectly beautiful name, fit for a blessed empress as you.” 

“Sometimes there are changes in a story to make it more entertaining.” Furina explained, repeating Focalors' words. “And Fontaine's story is going to be a magnificent one!” 

She could hear Clorinde's murmur behind her, something along the lines of “what are you doing?” but she didn't pay her any attention, instead focusing on the rear of the people.

“Besides Furina is a beautiful name and I've taken a liking to it, so I will be called such. If anyone has any problems, let your dearest empress know.” She crossed her arms smugly. “I shall give you a piece of my mind.” 

“Well…Your Majesty, your every word is our duty to obey. A change of name is nothing in the grand scheme of things. We will inform everyone in the empire of your preferred name.” A man from one of the noble houses said, the rest following his agreement.

She smiled, sighing in faux arrogance. Simpering, she picked up a glass of Champagne. “Good. Very good.”

“Why do you want to change your name?” A voice beside her asked. She paused between sips of her Champagne, turning to Neuvillette who had barely touched his food. Furina regretted taking a big sip of alcohol because it immediately had effects on her, namely loosening her tongue. 

“The world's a stage and we are all characters.” She couldn't help but remember Focalors telling her this. In a way, she was correct. “And sometimes a character needs a little change.”

He eyed her, curious and confused. His silver eyes were stormy, hiding the true extent of his emotions. She wondered what he was thinking. “So this is you changing your part in the story? In both name and heart?”

Furina laughed sheepishly, averting her eyes from his imploring glaze. He couldn't read minds but she couldn't be certain. “Yes, exactly.”

Neuvillette hummed, drinking water from a goblet. She thought that it was the end of the conversation when he surprised her by saying, “I hope you don't disappoint me then.” 

She tightened her fists on her lap in determination. She would stop the prophecy and save everyone including herself. She would play the most magnificent part, and not as the villainess. Furina met his gaze and didn't shy away. “You won't. After all, when have I not been a magnificent actress?”

To her incredible surprise, his lips tugged just a little bit into the faintest hint of a smile. It was the first time she had seen him smile and it was the first time she realized that he was…very handsome, more than she thought previously. He had a classically handsome face, the kind that never went out to style. But given his stoic expression most of the time, it gave him a cold look. But as he smiled the tiniest smile, just a bare hint, it turned him from coldly handsome to breathtakingly beautiful. 

“We shall see. I look forward to it.” 

Chapter Text

Time had passed very quickly after that dinner banquet where Furina changed her name from Focalors to Furina. She hadn't realized that it had already been three days since then. It went by in a blur of trials, petty arguments and parties. And a lot of planning on her part. In the meantime, she had received three reports from the institute about the prophecy, but none of them had anything substantial. But Furina remained persistent and hopeful nevertheless that they'd find something. 

Aside from preparing for the prophecy, Furina had begun preparing for the trial as well. Considering that there was a lack of evidence to support Callas Caspar, it would do a lot of good if she started planning from now. She didn't want to get Callas killed, nor did she want Navia, the heroine of the play, to begin hating her or the empire. But the problem was that she couldn't start readying for a case that hadn't even happened yet. Most she could go off of was the knowledge that the murder was related to the underground criminal organization that had existed in Fontaine for a very long time. The only thing she could do right now was to order the Maison Gardiennage to keep an eye on the crimes. Whether that could be helpful or not, was left to be learned later.

According to the play script, after Focalors had announced the grand annual ball, it was Callas' trial. It should happen in about a week, meaning Furina had about four days remaining to make sure he didn't get wrongfully accused of murder. The murder was of one of his friends and associates, and no one could prove Callas' innocence, even worse he himself refused to go through the standard process of the trial, going straight to a duel instead. In the play, the one to duel him would be…Clorinde. So in a way, Clorinde would be the one who killed Callas. This had many repercussions in the story, firstly it worsened the relationship between Clorinde and Navia, the heroine, secondly it was the kickstart to Clorinde's arc to doom. After having killed her childhood friend's father at the behest of Focalors, she slowly turned to the dark side. Clorinde's end would then be her leaving the mantle of the Marechaussee Hunter. 

…Either way it didn't bode well for them. But worry not, Furina had a plan for that as well! 

“Clorinde!” 

The champion duelist turned around, giving her a strange look. The dark haired woman was polishing her weaponry. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

Furina stepped closer, eyebrows slashing downwards into a determined expression. Clorinde's eyes widened slightly at her proximity, putting her silver pistol away. “What do you think of your job?” 

She paused, deeply pondering about her answer. And then she said, “It's a risky but honorable duty. I hope to uphold the values and morals of the Marechaussee Hunter.” 

“And what do you think about your duels?”

“Just another part of the duty,” Clorinde responded easily, not showing much reaction to her feelings. No, no, no, this wouldn't do! 

Furina pressed the matter. “But how do you feel about it? What do you think about initiating a duel in court?” 

Clorinde gave her a look, her expression confused and oblivious. “What brought this on, Your Majesty? Have I disappointed you in any way?” 

“No!” She exclaimed. “You've been perfect. Really, I mean it. You've been the best guard I could ever ask for!” Furina rested a hand on her chest, emphasizing her words. 

She nodded, averting her eyes for some reason. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm grateful to know you think of me like this.” 

Furina smiled brightly, putting her hands on her hips. “Of course, I don't lie about my compliments. But on a serious note, I really do want to know what you think of it.” 

Sighing, Clorinde put away her pistol. “It's a necessary evil, one that I don't particularly enjoy doing but I have to. For protecting the peace of Fontaine. When criminals agree to a duel, they know very well that their chances of winning are slim. I make sure of that. It doesn't feel good…but I must do it.” 

She faltered at that, wondering what Clorinde meant by that. Did she mean that she wished she would rather be a duelist if she had the chance? 

“What does that mean? Do you wish to be something other than a duelist?” Furina asked, unable to stop her curiosity, her eyes gleaming. Should Clorinde change her mind about being a duelist that would at least ease her mind about the trial. Clorinde could change her profession and it would fix so many of Furina's problems. If Clorinde wasn't the one to fight Callas, then she could ensure that he wouldn't die, nor would there be any reason to worry about Navia. 

“Your Majesty, do you perhaps not need me in the court anymore?” 

“Huh-?” She was surprised at the quiet and dejected tone in Clorinde's voice. The dark haired woman stared at her with wistful eyes. “Of course not! I do need you in the court. Who else would guard me?”

“As long as you need me, Your Majesty, I don't need anything else,” Clorinde said, eliciting a soft blush from Furina. 

This sounds too much like a dialogue from a romance, doesn't it? What do I say to that?

She smiled sheepishly, cheeks warming at the lovely compliment. “Ah, you're too sweet, Clorinde. But what of your desires? You must have something else too!” 

Clorinde placed a hand under her chin in a thoughtful expression. “My…desires? It doesn't matter, Your Majesty. You are my duty.” 

…That's no better! 

“If protecting me wasn't your duty, what would you do? Surely there has to be something else. Didn't you have a friend named Navia?” Furina asked, observing Clorinde's face. As expected, her expression shuttered, a brief flash of an unknown emotion flashing through her piercing purple eyes. But it was gone too soon and Clorinde looked just as poised and level headed as before.

“Yes, I do have a friend.” Clorinde scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Did I introduce you to her yet?” 

Did she introduce Navia to Furina? She wracked her brain but she couldn't recall any instances where Clorinde had mentioned the heroine to the empress, whether in the play or in reality. Though the two grew up together, after becoming the royal guard of Focalors, they had a rift between them. Furina also remembered that Navia had begun to resent Clorinde after she killed her father. Right now since the trial and Callas' death hadn't happened yet, their relationship could still be salvaged. And sending her to meet Navia had a secondary purpose as well. Furina was counting on Clorinde to keep an eye on Callas and when the dreaded murder happened, maybe the champion duelist would be a good eye witness to support him. Maybe she would also be able to collect enough evidence.

“I have my ways,” Furina said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Anyways this friend of yours…how about you take a break to spend some time with her? It's been a long time since you've gotten a break, I'm sure.” 

“But the annual ball is going to happen this month. I can't take a break now.”

She frowned. No, this wouldn't do. She wanted to at least eliminate one obstacle in her path before the dreaded trial. If Clorinde refused to step down or take a break to spend time with Navia and her father, then Furina needed to find another way. Sighing, she accepted her defeat. “Ah, that's terrible.” 

“Why are you suddenly preoccupied with me taking a break?” 

“I just thought that my dearest guard should take some time for herself. Really, you're looking like a wilted flower these days, hardly any time spent after yourself. As your empress, I think you should be more lenient with rest and leisure.” 

“Well, Your Majesty, if this is an order, I shall have no choice but to obey it.” 

“W-wait, that's not what I meant!” Furina exclaimed. “I'm only concerned for you. I'd prefer if you listen to me not as your empress and ruler, but…” 

Clorinde cocked her head to the side. “As…?”

In the end she couldn't find any words to describe herself in a pleasant way. Not only was she the empress of Fontaine, but she also was Clorinde's employer. She undoubtedly had power over her, just because it wasn't as pronounced in the play didn't mean it didn't exist. Realizing this put a frown on Furina's face. 

“You may listen to me as a friend,” she said, for a lack of a better word.

“You'd like to be a friend?” Clorinde asked, surprised and incredulous. 

“Is…is there anything wrong with that?” Furina asked in a quiet and hushed voice, trying not to offend her. “I understand that you may have trouble viewing me as a friend, considering…well, everything that's happened. I don't want to force you or anything…”

Clorinde sighed and touched her forehead, though Furina couldn't understand the reaction. “Your Majesty, this is…such a surprise."

“If that's so…then, I promise I will do better from now on, Clorinde. I do not wish to be a tyrant nor do I want to push my subjects away,” she said, determination coursing through her. “You said I was your duty but everyone in Fontaine is my duty too. I have responsibilities for them too. And that means I should be better and do better.” 

For a moment, Clorinde didn't speak. She stared at her unblinking, confusing her. Had she said something wrong? She only wanted to make sure that if Clorinde became friends with her, it would be because she felt like she could. Not because she was the empress. 

Then, Clorinde said, “I wouldn't mind being your friend, Your Majesty. Though I don't think it will be appropriate.”

She let out a sigh of relief, breaking into a smile. “Well, who would be in their right mind to criticize what, I, the empress wish to do? But I am so happy! I haven't had much experience with friends and I don't know what I should do. Please let me know if I do anything wrong.” 

Clorinde looked grateful, eyes going wide with surprise. “I…don't know what to say. I'm not sure either. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that you are asking me to be your friend.” 

Furina understood what she was trying to mean. That Focalors would never have done this and it must've shocked everyone to see such change. No wonder everyone struggled to open up to the change. Furina said, “I understand. Given how I used to be before, you all must be wary of me. I really can't blame you.”

The Focalors these characters knew was cruel and no matter how good of an actress Furina was, she couldn't truly be the same. And that was noticed by pretty much everyone. In these three days, every single thing she had done only surprised the people in the Palais Mermonia and the Opera Epiclese. A butler had accidentally knocked a delicate teacup and he had gone completely still. She was so upset and hurt when she realized that it was because he expected her to shout at him. Furina had gently picked up the cup and handed it back to him, telling him to be more careful and not to worry. 

He had rushed out the door like she set him on fire. Furina had sighed, pressing the bridge of her nose in her exhaustion. It was terribly upsetting for everyone to walk on eggshells in fear of causing her ire. Worse, Neuvillette had witnessed that embarrassing incident, a legal codex in his hand. She immediately flushed, grabbing her tea and drinking it to avoid his gaze. Though he hadn't said anything, she could feel the doubt and suspicion taking root in him. She had wanted to avoid such interactions but to her avail, they only kept happening. Servants gave her a wide berth, keeping out of her way and whenever she had any interaction with them, they were confused, perplexed and shocked.

“Since you seem very determined to change yourself,” Clorinde's voice startled her out of her reverie, bringing her back to the ivory and cream colored walls and elegantly decorated settees and sofas. “I think it's only fair that I respond in kind. I agree to be your friend, Your Majesty.”

Furina extended a hand towards her, making herself smile brightly. “Great! Let's shake hands in celebration!” 

The dark haired woman awkwardly shook hands with her, Furina grinning all the while. 

“Now that's decided, you must allow me to let you take a break. As a friend, I get to ask this of you.” 

Clorinde sighed. “Very well. You won this time. Strangely you're persistent on this matter.”

“It's because I care about you,” was Furina's answer. Clorinde's eyes widened and she looked to her side, the dark of her hair and her hat hiding her gaze from her. 

“... I see. I'm happy to hear that, Your Majesty,” she turned her back to Furina. In response, the white haired woman smiled once more.

Despite the upsetting behavior of the servants, the person who actually surprised and befuddled her the most had been none other than Neuvillette. Neuvillette with his anti-social personality had barely interacted with the endless parties and performances Focalors enjoyed, preferring his solitude and independence. His independence manifested in his reluctance to get along with anyone. During the court trials and proceedings, he stayed out of the legal battles, not bothering to care about the Fontainians.

Well, that is, that was what Furina had expected given the script she was given. In the script, it had taken several conflicts to spur him into taking actions in his hands. Callas' trial, the uptick of crime, Focalors' cruelty, all of these were the catalyst to his change, so was Navia. With all this in mind, she had expected several things to happen. For one, she'd have to drag him to social interactions and parties, practically forcing him out of his shell. Secondly, she had prepared for the explanation she'd give him if he asked any questions. Thirdly, she had made a long, detailed plan to train him to be a good ruler, trying to teach him how to care for his subjects. She had planned so much and she was feeling incredibly proud of herself for thinking that far ahead.

But to her surprise, she saw him one day after a trial. Neuvillette interacting with the audience. 

She was busy with the prophecy, finding a way to prove Callas' innocence, and how to best prepare Neuvillette as the successor of her throne, and as such had barely spent time with him to witness the change that had definitely occurred. 

She blinked, unable to believe what she was witnessing. Neuvillette asking the defendant of the case if he was doing well. It was an old man, a merchant who had been greatly successful in his prime but now he couldn't run his business as before. His own sons tricked him and stole the money he had so carefully earned. It hadn't been an easy task to do, getting his sons the rightful punishment and in the end, the only peace the old merchant received was keeping his business.

“Don’t put yourself through unnecessary stress. When you find the strength to continue, then you should focus on your business.” He was saying to the defendant, his mannerisms awkward but still careful. “Please take care.”

The old man nodded, his eyes grateful and appreciative. “Th-thank you, Your Highness.” 

Neuvillette nodded solemnly and the old man took his leave. Furina stared at the prince, unable to believe what she'd seen with her own eyes. And as if that wasn't enough, a guard appeared beside him, telling him something that she couldn't hear but Furina had enough experience with how he behaved around the guards or the servants, avoiding them as much as he could. To her surprise, Neuvillette didn't send the guard away and instead told her something. The guard nodded, thanking him profusely, before she set off as well.

She tried remembering Neuvillette in the story, how he started off as a cold and impartial man who didn't care for anything, let alone the people. She also had a firsthand experience with that side of him, having experienced his cold and stoic gaze landing on her. And she had been slightly terrified of him in the beginning when she first arrived in the court out of nowhere. Now he was…

“Is there any reason why you are eavesdropping on my conversation?” Neuvillette said and she jumped, her heart racing after being startled by his sudden appearance next to him.

“H-huh? Eavesdropping? I'm not eavesdropping at all! I was in the middle of doing something.” She huffed, busying herself with organizing the documents piling on the desk. After a pause, she asked, “But I do have a question. That guard…what did you tell her?”

“So you were eavesdropping then?” Neuvillette crossed his arms. 

Her cheeks warmed until she was sure that her ears were red as well. She paused her organizing the documents, they were too heavy for her to handle anyway. “I wasn't! I just looked up and saw that.”

He surprised her again by picking up the pile of documents from her hands, taking the weight off her. “I gave her a raise. I heard that she was working here for a very long time, so I thought I should help her.” 

Her mouth parted but she couldn't find the words. She only stared at him in befuddlement, blinking in surprise. Had he…had he really confessed about helping the servants? This was truly something she hadn't anticipated! He really was getting better and growing compassionate towards the people. Such improvement would take a long way to happen in the story. But he was already improving and the trial of Callas hadn't even happened to change his viewpoint. Despite the divergence from the story, Furina couldn't help but feel hopeful for her plans. 

She shook out of her thoughts and smiled at him. “Neuvillette! This is beautiful!”

Neuvillette furrowed his brows, looking confused. “What is?” 

“You're already learning how to treat your subjects. I'm so happy to see this. I knew you would be a great king.” 

“A king consort, actually.” He shook his head. “But I'm surprised by your enthusiasm.” 

“Of course!” She said excitedly. “I am glad that you're getting along with the people. The Fontainians must know what their Prince and their future king consort is like. This actually reminds me of something. I have a tea party tomorrow and I'd like you to join me.”

Neuvillette was already shaking his head before she was finished. “I apologize, Your Majesty. I cannot join you. I'm fairly certain that my presence would be quite surprising.” 

“No, no, you can't say no. You must accompany me. I'd feel lonely otherwise.” Furina begged him, not willing to back down from her request. It had been one of her plans; inviting him to social interactions and helping him get acquainted with everyone. She thought it would get him out of his shell and allow him to understand how to navigate the social ladder. Perhaps if she prioritized him in front of the gentry and noble families, they'd begin to see him as a capable and strong ruler. 

He pressed his lips into a flat line, turning his cheek away. For a second, Furina thought he was going to refuse again but then he let out a sigh. “Very well, Your Majesty. But if I may ask, why are you so adamant about this?” 

“Hardly anyone in the court knows you. I think it's crucial they get to know the prince better,” she said. “And to think of it…you haven't called me Furina yet.” 

“That’s because it's disrespectful to call you by just your name.” And then he added, disrespectfully, “Your Majesty.” 

She frowned. “But I hate when everyone refers to me as such. No one calls me by my name. What is the point of changing my name when no one actually uses it?” 

He sighed. “Ask your guard since you two are so close with each other.” 

That gave her pause. What did he mean? To her knowledge, the relationship between Focalors and Clorinde had been strictly business. Though Clorinde was extremely loyal, they didn't have anything else going on. So what was he talking about? Furina tilted her head to the side, surprised. “Clorinde? What about her?” 

Neuvillette stared at her flatly. “You know what I mean. I may not be well-acquainted with the court politics but even I know she carries out your orders without any further word.”

Ah, so he meant that Focalors often gave orders for Clorinde and the champion duelist carried out every order. In the story, these orders were obviously evil and cruel, and Clorinde had to be the one who carried the guilt for them. But aside from that…Furina still couldn't understand why he'd bring that up. 

“Clorinde is just very loyal to her job. I don't know what you mean by that,” she said. “That's all there is to it.” 

Nevermind that the first time she met Clorinde, the dark haired woman had called her by her name and not the title she was obligated to use. Back then she had been quite confused by that, given how the script never had any lines like that. But after everything else, she had forgotten about it altogether. Clorinde hadn't referred to her as Focalors or Furina after that one incident, leaving her to wonder what that meant. Clorinde also had stopped guarding her in her room, listening to her discomfort with having someone in the same room as she slept. What could he be referencing?

Instead of answering her, Neuvillette sighed again, shaking his head. “Nevermind.” 

“Hey! Don't think I didn't see you changing the topic. You must come with me, Neuvillette.” 

“Fine, since you seem very determined to take me with you. I can't promise that you will find my company enjoyable.” 

“Yes! Thank you!” Furina clapped cheerfully, grinning as she hugged his arm. She couldn't help but feel giddy. Yay, she was able to complete one step at least. “Great. Make sure you're ready tomorrow morning. We should wear matching colors! That way it'll send a strong message.” 

“What do you mean by that?” 

She faltered for a second. She hadn't realized that she'd said the last part aloud. Hesitating, she wracked her head for an explanation. “Uh…that we get along really well. And you're a wonderful prince.” 

Neuvillette fell silent. 

“Um, Neuvillette? What's wrong?” 

He shook his head. It was a shame how tall he was, she couldn't see his expression very well, hiding his true emotions again. He finally said, “Is that what you truly think? Of me?” 

“Yes, I do think you're a good prince, just a little rusty with your public speaking. Once you learn the way around the social mannerisms and court politics, you'll undoubtedly be a great king. Which is why I am being benevolent by helping you learn.” She placed a hand on her chest, proud. 

“How kind of you,” he said dryly. But Furina didn't hear a no from him.

“I'm sure the people are excited to see you,” she dragged the prince, not an easy task since he was so awfully tall. She only managed to pull him just a little bit before he decided to cooperate with her shenanigans. Neuvillette was muttering something under his breath, but he didn't look too upset or anything so Furina paid that no mind. The tea party was held outside the palace grounds. The decorations were beautiful but minimal and delicate, perfect for a morning tea party. She wore a blue silk gown with ruffles and lace, her white hair curled to perfection and styled neatly into an elegant hairdo along with a fashionable hat. Neuvillette sported a similar style with a blue elegant suit and waistcoat, the golden buttons glinting in the sunlight.

The clothing was her favorite part each morning when she got ready for the day. As an actress who had quite the fondness for period dramas and historical fiction, the different clothes were so perfect! The gowns and skirts and corsets and bonnets and hats were the best. She particularly enjoyed picking different fashionable hats for herself, being able to feel so beautiful. As such, Furina had a bright smile on her face as she clung to Neuvillette's arm. 

“This is such a beautiful day, right, Neuvillette? To think you were going to stay inside the whole time,” she sighed. “What a shame that would've been.” 

“Hmmph,” was his only response. Nevertheless she couldn't lie that having a handsome man like him accompanying her didn't feel good. The second she entered the perimeters of the palace grounds, all eyes were on her, servants and nobility alike. Furina only raised a hand and waved at them flirtatiously.

The first group to intercept them was a Marquis family. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, pleased to finally meet you,” The Marquis said.

She laughed airily. “Of course, of course, my dear lord. I see you are here with your family. The Palais Mermonia is such a beautiful and marvelous place. Please enjoy yourself in this pleasant day.”

One by one, more nobility approached them, and the more her hold on Neuvillette's arm tightened. The prince looked like he would rather be anywhere else. After interacting with everyone, she pulled him to a quieter spot. Furina whispered, “What's wrong, Neuvillette?” 

“Don't you see I stick out like a sore thumb?” 

She frowned. “Why would you think that?” 

He shook his head. “I might be a prince, but we all know that it's just a title. It means nothing.” 

That was her fault. She had brought him to the Court of Fontaine to be her husband. And that was the extent of his power. Though it was Focalors who did that, Furina now felt responsibility for that. 

Her eyes lowered and she fiddled with her fingers. “I see…”

“No one in their right mind would consider me as the prince. They only address me as such to appease you.” 

“Then…it's only fair that I remind them of your power. Come on, Neuvillette, we're going to have a word!” Furina pulled him to the cluster of the nobility. “Greetings, everyone! Glad to see everyone having fun.” 

Some of them paled at the sight of her, stuttering out an appropriate greeting. But she didn't mind them, instead she wrapped around Neuvillette's arm, showing off. The prince stiffened but he didn't push her away so he must've not hated it too much. 

“I, for one, am enjoying this day very much. My darling Neuvillette was kind enough to join me today. Isn't that right?” Furina turned to him, her eyes pleading with him to go on with her charade. His jaw tightened, the look in his eyes conflicted. 

But then he said, “I couldn't refuse your demand.” 

Only she knew that this was him telling her that he didn't like what she was trying to do but that he'd follow regardless. In response, she could only giggle. “Oh, you jest. My poor heart is wounded.” 

But her idea had worked. It was the first time Neuvillette joined her in parties and social interactions. The nobility around them looked at him, finally aware. But that wasn't enough. Furina needed to ensure that everyone knew that Neuvillette was not just a prince through the title he was given, but also through power. 

So she said, “But I decided to bring him here because I learned that my sweetheart wasn't invited to any events and meetings and parties. He's a bit shy but I'd like him to get along with the people. After all, he is my future husband and king consort.” 

Hearing this, the nobility had gotten it through their heads that Neuvillette had power too. In a twisted way, he was the fiance of the empress and now with her acting, they believed that he was her favorite. They'd definitely not cross him. Furina had a smug smile on her face as they started interacting with him, putting some respect to his name. If she kept up her acting, at some point they would treat him like a ruler as well. 

Neuvillette looked awkward with the attention on him. He turned to her, now pleading with her to rescue him from the nobility. Furina offered him a thumbs up, cheering him on. His lips pressed in a flat line, showing his disgruntlement. The tea party carried on as usual. Well, as usual as it could with Neuvillette around. After the conversation with the guests, she was hungry and so she took him with her to the food stalls. She picked the most delectable macarons and cakes, while Neuvillette shook his head disapprovingly. 

“Too much sugar is unhealthy for you,”

“S’alright,” Furina mumbled through her chewing. “Desserts make you happy so they're good for you.” 

He in turn didn't eat anything, something about how unhealthy and dry everything was and only sipped on water for the rest of the party. Regardless she considered today to be a success. Not only did she get him to interact with everyone, but she also ensured that from now on, the people would respect him. And of course, desserts were nice to have as well!

“I don't see the duke here. Did he not visit?” Neuvillette asked after a while. Furina was in the middle of eating her chocolate. 

“The duke?” She hastily wiped the bits of chocolate at the edge of her lips. 

Who was that again? Ah, right, she remembered. Wriothesley, the duke who ruled over the Fortress of Meropide. The reason why she had nearly forgotten about his existence was because he wasn't important in the story yet. After the trial, Navia and Neuvillette decide to work together and they discover that many criminals have been acting out in the Fleuve Cendre. In order to gather evidence, they had to investigate in the Fortress of Meropide, where criminals were sent to prison. As such, Furina never had a strong reason to prepare for the duke, she likely would never meet him. 

“Maybe he was too busy with his work. Who knows?” She shrugged. 

“Did you send him an invitation?” 

Furina paused at that. She had only sent invitations to those Focalors invited previously. She didn't bother to check which guests showed up. But if Focalors didn't think to invite the duke, then really what was there to do? “Uh…not that I can recall. Must've slipped my mind. I shall invite him some other time then.”

Neuvillette nodded. “I was wondering if he would show up. I've heard he's quite busy.” 

If that was the case, she wondered if it was because of the criminals. It might be a good idea to check that but Furina didn't have enough time to visit the Fortress herself, so maybe she should send some spies instead. 

“Nevertheless, I am sure that you will no longer struggle in the court of Fontaine. I've made sure to warn anyone who would dare to go against you. You're the prince, Neuvillette. It is high time they behaved appropriately. You will let me know if anyone tries anything funny with you. My ire shall know no bounds.”

Neuvillette stared at her, as if puzzling her out. Then after a long stretch of silence, he asked, “What is the point of doing this?” 

“I meant it when I said I wanted to change everything.” 

“Why?” His voice came out in a strangled whisper. “Why would you help me?” 

Furina's eyes softened. She took in his handsome face, his strong jaw and nose, his piercing eyes, his silvery white hair. She told him, “Because that's what you deserve. You deserve to be treated like the prince you are, instead of something ceremonial.” 

Conflict swirled through his gaze. She could understand his reason for not believing her so easily. She was the face of the nation that stole everything from him. To him, she embodied everything that was wrong with his life. For her to suddenly help him…anyone sane would struggle to believe her words. 

She grasped his hands, trying to emphasize her words. “It's fine if you don't believe in me. That's why I am taking steps to show you. You can take your time. Just…let me help you regain your power, Neuvillette. These parties and events are just another way for me to show that they must treat you respectfully. So, I ask that you let me bring you to these events.” 

He nodded, averting his gaze. “Very well, Your Majesty. I understand your idea now. Though I wish that you'd have asked me before dragging me here unprepared.” 

Furina smiled. “Now what's what I like to hear!”

When Clorinde arrived in Poisson, she let out a breath of relief, the exhaustion leaving her body after a very long time. Only here did she let her guard down. Perhaps Focalors–no, Furina was right. Taking a break from time to time was good. Especially with how strenuous and hard her particular job was. 

“Clorinde!” 

A yellow blur tackled her into a hug, squealing. Clorinde balanced herself, hugging her back. She couldn't hear what the blond young woman was squealing about but she waited for her to let go of her. 

“Nice to meet you too,” she said, lips tugging up into a smile. 

Navia stepped back, grinning, her blue eyes shining. “I missed you! I wasn't expecting to find you at all. I thought your duty took up all your free time.” 

“Yeah, about that…I actually took a break.” 

Navia blinked at that. “Oh? A break? It must be something special then. Your empress doesn't usually let you off.” 

Despite her neutral expression, her voice was clipped. Clorinde could only sigh. 

“No, this time she forced my hand into taking a break. But forget that. How's Mr. Callas?” 

The blonde placed her hands on her hips, lips pressed flatly. “You can ask him that question personally since he seems so evasive these days. I have been trying to grab a hold of him but he's just avoiding me.”

“Is everything okay?” 

“I have no idea.” Navia sighed, her disappointment evident despite her best attempt to look cheery. “He's been acting strange these days. With how reckless he is, I worry about him.” 

“I will look into it then. Mr. Callas can't evade me that easily.” 

Navia turned to her, her eyes brightening. “You will?” 

“Sure. I really have nothing much to do here. I was counting on you to decide what to do since I'm here.” 

“Well, now that you said it, I do have something in mind.” She grinned. “We haven't had pastries in a long time! I know just where to go.” 

Clorinde nodded. She couldn't help but reminisce about the days where she didn't have the duties of the champion duelist and Marechaussee Hunter and also the personal guard of the empress. Back then she spent her time training and enjoying time together with Navia. Ever since she began working for Furina, she couldn't get enough time to meet up with her. Though Navia had never said anything about the growing distance, her eyes held frustration and hurt. But Clorinde could never open up about the secrets, not when she was duty-bound to Furina. No matter what Furina asked of her, she would carry them out without any hesitation. 

Navia grabbed her wrist without warning, dragging her to wherever she was going. “Let's go!”

Clorinde nodded, following her. It wasn't the first time she felt her heart squeeze in Navia's presence. Her carefree, bright, lovely and fierce personality triggered something deep in her, something that she never wanted. 

Her expression shuttered, the smile leaving her face.

Because she could never get to be with Navia  as long as she served the empress. As long as the empress remained, holding a part of her heart, there would be no chance. 

Chapter Text

“So tell me, what have you been up to?” Navia asked, eating her sorbet. They were both in a rooftop restaurant, under the shade of a sunny day. Right after she showed up in Poisson, Navia dragged her to various places to hang out. In her own words, it was to ‘check up on each other’. Clorinde didn't mind that. Her days were, after all, a blur of trials and training and accompanying Furina in her meetings. She hardly had time to herself. 

“Not much. Just some boring trials. I assure you that you had a more exciting time than me,” Clorinde shook her head, wincing as the cold sorbet touched her mouth. 

“Hmm, so you say but I really don't believe that,” Navia smiled, her cadence jolly and playful. “Oh, I do have something to show you.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out something. It was a handkerchief, frayed at the edges. She offered it to her and Clorinde accepted it. A rose was embroidered on the fabric. When she looked back at Navia, she looked pleased.

“I dug this out of my father's belongings. He was out for a business trip and I was snooping through his stuff. That's my mother's handkerchief, I know that because he used to tell me about her a lot.” She sighed, staring into nothing. She smiled, then, almost like she was coaxing herself to be more cheery. “That man…he really would've hidden it from me unless I took matters into my own hands.”

“Your mother,” Clorinde began, unsure of what to say, “was a lovely woman.” 

“She really was. Sometimes I wonder if her leaving made us so dysfunctional.” Navia shook her head. “That's enough melodrama for today. You still haven't finished your sorbet.” 

She looked pointedly at the cup in Clorinde's hand. To which Clorinde responded, “It's nowhere as good as your cooking.” 

She looked pleased at the compliment, which was why Clorinde said that. It was true. Navia was great at cooking and baking, she'd often cook for her and Mr. Callas, as well as the entirety of the Spina di Rosula if she was allowed to.

“Now that's what I like to hear!” Navia beamed. “You know, I am going to make something special for you since you're actually here.” 

“It's not like I can refuse your offer,” Clorinde said dryly. In response, she received a kick from Navia under the table. 

“You better show up.” Navia threatened.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “That's why I am here, aren't I?” 

“By the way, what have you been up to? I've heard several…interesting things about Her Majesty.” The blond woman traced circles on the table, her expression curious. Now it was Clorinde's turn to sigh. Where to begin?

“I'm guessing that you're referring to our empress' change in personality. That…yeah, there really is not much to say.” 

“Is it true?” Navia leaned closer, her bright blue eyes wide. Her luscious blonde hair was spilling over her shoulder. Clorinde's gaze unknowingly trailed up her hair to her face. Clorinde nodded, unable to trust herself to speak.

“Fascinating. I thought they were all lies. For our empress to turn in a new leaf…what's she like then?” 

Clorinde hesitated. It wasn't the first time Navia asked her about the empress. Very early on, she knew to keep her mouth shut when it came to the gritty details about her job. Navia, despite her optimistic and resilient heart, was otherwise a sweetheart who didn't deserve to hear the gruesome events that a champion like Clorinde had to go through. It was futile to try and keep her ignorant of the darker topics in life, given her father was the head of the Spina di Rosula. Sooner than later, Navia would come to learn everything that would break the perfect illusion of her idyllic and lovely life. But it didn't stop Clorinde from trying to maintain that illusion.

“She is…” she started in an unsure tone, trying to find a way to explain it. Furina was…what words to even use? “She's been kinder these days.”

“Kinder…?” Navia echoed. Something passed through her eyes. “How come?” 

Clorinde sighed, pressing two fingers against the bridge of her nose. “It's hard to put it into words. The whole palace is stirred up from her personality shift. I don't know how to say it other than she feels like a completely different person now.”

“It's because I care about you.” A pair of blue eyes stared at her, one so light and glittering, and the other dark and mesmerizing. She smiled at her, wide and lovely and so beautiful. It was the first time she looked at her in this manner.

“You may listen to me as a friend.” 

Even now those words she had uttered to her echoed in her mind, burrowing deeply. It was odd how much she occupied Clorinde's mind. Friend…Furina, her empress who she was loyal and obedient to, wished to be her friend. As if they were of equal footing. For her to share such wishes, it was absurd. And yet it stirred up her heart until she couldn't help but feel something. Clorinde felt like she was shaken up, like a storm rankled her greatly, undoing her anchor and leaving her bereft on the empty sea. The gratefulness she felt towards her empress was unquestionable, and yet she had never felt like she deserved to stand by Furina's side. But now whenever she looked at her, Furina viewed her like an equal.

“Hmm, doesn't that sound rather strange?” Navia's voice cut through her reverie. Clorinde glanced up to see the other woman place her chin on her hand, looking very thoughtful. 

“As in?”

“Her Majesty is behaving strangely. Surely that is a little worrying. I mean, if my father changed his attitude in a day, I'd be suspicious. I mean, I'd appreciate it if he opened up but still, how strange.” 

Clorinde nodded. “You're right. It is strange. However I looked through several things already ever since her change. And so far I don't think she's been poisoned, replaced or something else. For now, all we are assuming is that she is just acting strangely.”

“My father's been the same,” Navia admitted in a quiet tone. “He's been ever more tight-lipped about everything. By the way, I wanted to ask you for a while. Do you know anything about Sinthe ?” 

The champion duelist narrowed her eyes. “I'm aware of it.”

Sinthe was a drug that took over Fontaine overnight. It was a highly addictive drug that spread through the streets and the effects it had on the people were extremely dangerous. For that matter, several gardes were monitoring the Fleuve Cendre and other areas with high crime rates. 

“That puts me at ease then.” She let out a sigh. “I guess I can share this with you. A while ago…I overheard my father talking with his men. You know how he is, always coddling me and keeping me out of the loop. He has been tracking down a criminal, someone very dangerous.”

Ignoring the pang of guilt she felt for thinking of how many times Clorinde had lied to her, she immediately understood what Navia was trying to tell her. She looked around their surroundings, quickly noticing if they were safe to have this conversation. Clorinde lowered her voice. “You mean to say…Mr. Callas is tracking down the person behind Sinthe ?”

Navia sighed, shaking her head. “I'm sorry but I can't be sure. All I know is that papa is doing something very dangerous. Clorinde, can you promise me something?” 

The blonde extended a hand to her. Clorinde looked down at it, feeling her heart flutter. She accepted her hand, nodding. “What is it?”

“I know my father won't tell me anything. He thinks I'm too soft to know the truth. But you can take care of him. Please make sure he is fine.” Navia tightened her grip on Clorinde's hand, closing her eyes. When she opened her eyes, her blue eyes were watery. She always cried easily. But she carried her heart on her sleeve, always an open book for everyone to see. For Clorinde, it was both a blessing and a curse; it hurt her to lie to her and do the same thing as her father did, but on the other hand, it was a badge of honor to be allowed to witness her kind heart.

Clorinde nodded, solemn. “I can do that.” 

Navia exhaled and looked grateful. “Thank you so much, Clorinde.” 

“That's what friends do. So, where is Mr. Callas?” 

“Still off to work. Though, not to worry. The Spina di Rosula is going to host a banquet along with the Confrerie. With the festivities around, I think we can get him to lower his guard.” 

She crossed her arms, a small smile appearing on her face. “You've been working with your papa’s members too much. You sound like an investigator.”

Navia grinned, all mischievous. “Well, I'm not my father's daughter for no reason. Anyways the banquet takes place tomorrow. Aside from that, I don't see a better plan to get the answers from him. So we need to come up with a plan to weasel the information out of him.”

“Leave that to me.” Clorinde stood up from her chair. She wasn't the champion of the empress for no reason either. She was great at cornering her prey and finding what she needed. 

Navia followed her too, getting to her feet. “Great!” She smiled brightly. “I'm coming with you.”

Sighing, Clorinde shook her head. “You can't come with me. It'll be too dangerous.”

Her sunny smile faded. “Don't do the same thing as him. I'm not a little girl anymore. I deserve to know everything.” 

“Navia—”

“Don't patronize me.” She folded her arms over her chest, a furious expression marring her face. “You wouldn't even have gotten this intel without my help. In exchange, I am going with you.”

“So you think. I would've learned of this sooner or later.” Clorinde said, pressing her lips in a thin line. But it was good that she knew this beforehand. Information also needed to come at the right time. Realizing that Navia wasn't going to budge, she had to put her foot down. 

…The things she did for her.

She sighed, turning around. “Fine. Come with me then.”

Furina had invited Neuvillette to so many parties that after a certain while, she didn't need to introduce him to people, they were just able to recognize him. He of course tried to interact with them as best as he could. She only wished that he would speak more than in monosyllabic responses. At best, he'd open his mouth and trip over his own words, causing misunderstandings left and right. Furina's presence soothed any conflict that would've arisen from his awkwardness. If she hadn't been there…she shuddered at the thought. 

…Nevertheless he was trying. The fruition of his efforts appeared in the form of him taking a more important role in the court. Furina had her hands busy with the prophecy and the fate of Fontaine and as such, she couldn't pay attention to the court matters. Neuvillette was observant and now that he was trying hard to involve himself in the matters of the empire, she believed him to be good enough to take after the role of Iudex. As the Iudex, he would take after the judicial power and status, both giving him the power and also assuring her that the empire would be in safe hands. 

In order to celebrate, Furina prepared his favorite meals and cheered for him. Neuvillette didn't really show much emotion but she could still feel his gratitude and appreciation. 

“You're going to be a great Iudex, mark my words.” She placed her hands on her hips proudly. The best part was that she didn't have to pretend to say that. He was righteous and just, despite his stern appearance and reluctant to get along with people, he showed an eye for upholding justice and it didn't hurt that he was kind deep down. “And a great ruler someday too.” 

“With how often you like to praise me and mention that I would be a great ruler, I would think you are handing your throne to me.” He shook his head, but she could tell that he was pleased as well. Given how often they were spending time together, Furina began to develop something of a sixth sense; one that allowed her to guess his emotions. It wasn't that easy and she still struggled but she knew he couldn't have been that disappointed in spending time with her. Otherwise he really wouldn't have tolerated her. Even right now, Neuvillette could have simply chosen to leave the room and not interact with her. But he still did. 

She flustered at that. That was exactly her idea. But she couldn't tell him that, or else he would doubt her intentions. “W-well, I don't think there's any harm in thinking so. After all, you're taught by none other than the greatest empress. That is, when you're not lecturing me on healthy food.”

“That's because you only enjoy eating extremely unhealthy foods that are harmful for you.” 

“Ah-ah-ah, we're not going to have this conversation right now.” Furina tutted, waving a finger at him. “What's more important is that you take this opportunity to get along with people. As the Iudex, you have more chances of getting involved in people's lives. Learn their lives, their mannerisms, their history.” 

Neuvillette exhaled, looking away with a faraway expression. “Why am I doing this again?” 

“To understand them.” She answered shortly. The more he interacted with people, the more he'd grow to have compassion for them. This land, this empire, all of this was his. But he still needed to learn to be a kind ruler. Thankfully he was being taught by none other than the gracious and perfect Furina. 

His silver and purple eyes met her, strong and sincere. “And what about you?” 

“Me?” 

“I don't know you that well. Shouldn't I learn to understand you?” 

A blush reached her face without her permission. She fiddled with her fingers awkwardly, trying to hide her shyness. “Ah, my dear, if you wish to know me, all you had to do was ask. Am I not benevolent?”

“I've known you for months, Furina, and for the last few weeks, you've been completely different. I don't understand you at all.” Neuvillette didn't take his eyes off her, his gaze snaring her. Her breath snagged on her throat at the sound of him calling her by her real name, her heart racing against her ribcage. “Every time I think I got you figured, you do something surprising and change my view.” 

She couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. It hadn't been easy to numb her thoughts. Her performance was one that took a great toll on her. Even now in the brightly lit atrium with no audience but him, she felt the overwhelming weight of her role. But she couldn't exactly tell him anything. No, she had to burden it herself.

Smiling, she picked up a small pastry on the tea table. “Well, I am a woman with many facets. Who knows, maybe you will get to see them all.” 

He shook his head, clearly not amused by her changing the topic. “Then in that case, I'll not take up your important time. You have an appointment due at nine, don't you?”

“Oh, drat!” Furina stood up in a rush. She had totally forgotten about her appointments. The truth was, they were hardly of any diplomatic purpose. As the empress, she simply spent time with whoever wanted to meet her. Many, many people fought over the precious time of her day. She really couldn't say no to them. For one, it would make the people suspicious of something wrong. And secondly, she would be able to keep up the facade. For these reasons, Furina allowed nobles to bicker over her time, allowing them to meet her. 

“Am I to assume you hadn't prepared for that at all?”

She rolled her eyes. “Har har, don't tell me you can read minds now.”

Neuvillette muttered something under his breath but it was too low for her to pick up what he'd said. 

“What did you just say?” Furina asked, placing a hand on her hip, rolling her lips into a frown.

He rose to his full height. “Nothing. Allow me to escort you to the lounge at least.”

“Oh, how nice. My lessons have been helpful then,” she smiled, accepting his offer, pleased. The previous Neuvillette would never have offered to do that. He would have instead sighed in relief at the idea of not interacting with her for a second longer. To think he's already gotten the etiquettes and manners…Perhaps she was able to teach him after all. 

As they walked together, she fell into yet another train of thought. She had sent Clorinde to Poisson, to keep an eye on Navia and Callas. She really wished to know what was going on in her side but writing a letter would be too suspicious. Clorinde might wonder what her motive was and might doubt her. She really had to depend on herself alone, seeing how little she could risk trusting. She only hoped that everything was going well. 

“What are you thinking so deeply?” Neuvillette startled her out of her reverie. She looked to her side at his tall and imposing frame, his long stuffy robes only making him appear restrained. 

Furina shook her head, unable to hide her legs shaking a little. “Just a little tired.” 

She had, after all, not slept last night. She was reading every document sent by the research institute, sure that there would be something that would fix everything. So far there wasn't much. Even the spies weren't able to give her much information. It was all leading to a wall. And she wondered what Focalors was planning to do. 

“Did you not rest yesterday?” A frown showed on his handsome face. 

“Yes, I did.” She lied, sighing at the exhaustion the reminder brought. And now she was going to have to lie and pretend again. The entire day, actually. She was going to talk to the Fontainians and smile and nod, deceiving everyone. When she had agreed to this plan, she didn't realize just how taxing the ordeal was. How much it chipped away her peace of mind to lie so much. Pretending to be someone for gods know how long. 

Realizing that they reached the lounge, Furina turned to him. Unfortunately, she couldn't muster a smile. “Well, that's for now. Don't miss me too much.” 

She was about to wave but he caught her wrist. An intense emotion swimmed beneath his gaze. “Wait…”

She waited, expecting him to explain himself. He barely initiated any physical touch, for him to touch her on his own…it must be something important. 

“You…you don't seem well-rested.” 

Blinking, she averted her eyes from his distracting face. Had it been so obvious that he figured her out so quickly? Furina waved his concern away, saying a little too breathlessly. “Oh, come on, I always take great care of myself.” 

In the time she stayed here, she had already mastered the art of lying. Perhaps she should instead be a liar, given how talented she was at deceiving people. 

Neuvillette's expression remained calm. “You  have dark circles under your eyes.” 

She paused. Wait…really? She spent quite some time getting ready in the morning. Was she so preoccupied that she never noticed? Before she realized it, she was reaching to touch her face, as if she could tell by feeling them. 

In the end, she couldn't help but turn away. “Ah…must have slipped my mind,”

“Would you have just continued as if you didn't lie to me?” 

Her shoulders stiffened. He really had no idea, did he? Furina whirled around, meeting his eyes again. When she spoke, even she didn't know if she believed what she was saying. “It's a harmless lie. You really don't need to know, I promise it's nothing important.” 

His lips turned into a thin line, his eyes stormy. “It can't be something unimportant if it makes you restless at night.” 

She sighed. He was right on the mark again. Seriously…Furina didn't know what to say to get him to drop this matter. So she had to admit the truth just in a different way. “You're right. I was worried about the sea levels rising.” 

He looked surprised by her words. Almost like he never expected to hear her admit that. “Oh. And what do—”

“Your Majesty!” A loud voice startled both of them, interrupting their very important conversation. The empress and the prince turned to face whoever made the great mistake of cutting them off. Furina's eyebrows furrowed in frustration. 

It was an immaculately dressed woman, her pleated skirts and embroidered blouse clearly showing her wealth. Her lips were painted red, lips that were wide open in a big smile. And then Furina realized that this woman must've been the person who made the appointment. Her frustration lessened just a bit, not enough to make her forget about her previous conversation. 

“You are finally in the flesh! I was waiting for you.” The noble lady said excitedly, her eyes shining. 

Furina cleared her throat, dejectedly offering her attention. “Greetings, it is I, your benevolent and beautiful empress, Focalors. But I prefer to go by Furina.”

“Yes! I heard everything. Personally I think it suits you perfectly, even better than the original name. My name is Clementine Moreau.” The noble lady introduced herself. 

She nodded. “I apologize for being late. As you can see, my beloved prince here was taking up my time. I hope you can forgive that.” 

Clementine's gaze finally found Neuvillette, as if she finally noticed him. However instead of giving him the same level of excitement and curiosity, she eyed him with a surgically cold expression. “Greetings, Your Highness,” 

Neuvillette only offered a nod, looking awkward. He turned to Furina. “I shall be on my way then,” 

He made to leave but Furina grabbed his sleeve, not willing to let go of him just yet. “Hey, wait! How about you join me in today's appointment? I'm sure Lady Clementine wouldn't mind. Would you?” 

Clementine blinked, her eyes traveling between Neuvillette and Furina. She couldn't exactly say that she was opposing the empress’ wish, not to her face. She instead resorted to a grim nod. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Neuvillette hesitated but after a stern look from Furina, he sighed and followed her. The two of them took their seats on the sofa, facing Clementine. Furina was sure that both were confused but there was a purpose of bringing him here and it was more than just to keep her company. 

Picking up a cup of tea, she began the conversation. “So, you must have something to say. Your gracious empress will listen to your woes for today.” 

Nodding, Clementine said, “Yes, Your Majesty, I sought you out because I wish to ask you about something.” The noble lady's eyes shone with mirth. 

Furina gestured to her to continue, expecting to hear something important. However she was quickly disappointed as Clementine started speaking. 

“My father, Bastien Moreau, is a lord overseeing a humble town. He's terribly sick these days and I'm afraid he won't live to see my marriage.” Clementine sniffled, bringing out a handkerchief to her face. 

“Oh?” Furina said, for lack of something to say. She inadvertently shared a look with Neuvillette who looked miserable, but somehow still present for the appointment. “I am sorry to hear the news of your father's health.” 

“You are too kind, Your Majesty,” she dropped her handkerchief, revealing that she actually hadn't cried and her face was still the same, painted to perfection. Clementine's voice lowered to a conspiratory murmur. “But my father doesn't approve of my marriage. He says that I deserve to be someone better. But my beloved is the perfect one for me. My father just doesn't see it! I'm sure you would be upset too if you were discouraged from being with your fiance.”

Furina stiffened, not turning to Neuvillette this time. Oh, if only you knew…

Clementine continued. “I had an argument with him just this week. He told me that if I didn't divorce my husband, he'd remove me from his inheritance.” 

Silence followed in the room. Furina blinked, unsure of what to say. This situation was…truly complicated. But this was exactly what the Fontainians looked up to her for. This was also part of her duty. “I…” she averted her eyes, stalling the time. “Well…why did your father disapprove of your husband?” 

“Huh…why? It's because Russell, my husband, isn't of the same noble blood as us. He's a commoner. But I love him all the same!” 

Ah, so it only got more complicated. Well, Furina was the empress, the highest authority in Fontaine. If she said something, her words were practically law. Even the aging, sick rather would be unable to do much. But still, she found it hard to just ignore the father altogether. So she said, “Maybe you should explain this to your father. I know you had an argument with him but he's sick, as you said. You don't want to push him away at his final moment.” 

“What? No. I didn't come here to reconcile with my father.” Clementine surprised them. “I came to you, Your Majesty, to ask for your help to get my inheritance from him. Surely you can do that, can't you?”

Furina couldn't believe it. How could she simply ask that? But the noble lady looked sincere in her request, her eyes pleading with her. 

“Please, Your Majesty, I don't wish to live as a commoner for the rest of my days.”

Furina sighed, placing her teacup on the table. “But I thought you didn't mind being together with a commoner.”

Clementine shook her head. “I don't. But I can't just…I can't just live like that. Please help me.”

“Fine,” she said, unable to keep the frustration out of her voice. “So what would you like me to do for you?” 

Clementine clasped her hands together in a show of devotion. “Please just let me keep my inheritance. I will forever be grateful to you.” 

This time, she turned to Neuvillette but surprisingly he was looking at the noble lady. Even more surprisingly, he opened his mouth for the very first time. “Do you actually love this man then?” 

Clementine looked up, blinking at him, just as surprised. “Huh? Yes, yes, I do. I love him so much.”

“Then why do you care about your inheritance? Do you love your wealth more than your husband?” He said, his words brutal. But he kept going. “You say your father disapproved of him and yet you continue to cling to his inheritance.” 

The noble lady's face reddened in humiliation. The tips of her ears were also red. She looked like she could start steaming any second. “How…how could you ask that?” Clementine cried out in indignation. 

Neuvillette crossed his arms, but he managed to get the last word. “Your outrage doesn't explain anything. You come to the crown for such matters?”

“Neuvillette…” Furina warned in a sing-song voice. She then laughed airily, trying to lighten the mood. “Let's have some cake! Oooh, this one is from…hmm, oh yes, it's actually from the Duke of Meropide.”

Clementine's hands shook. For a while, she was quiet and Furina assumed that it would be the end of it. But then she said, “I love Russell. He may be a commoner but he is my husband now. I won't allow my father to intervene between us.”

Huh. So she actually did love him. That at least explained some things. 

Humming, Furina thought of a plan. “Well, if you actually love him, then I might be able to help you. Worry not, your empress will help you.” 

Clementine smiled widely. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you so much, Your Majesty!” 

“I will send word to the lord and see if he has any objections to my request.”

“Oh, I'm sure that he won't be able to refuse if it's you putting in a good word for me.” The noble lady wiped her dry eyes, standing up in wobbly legs. She bowed her head. “Thank you so much again. Your Majesty is the most benevolent, the kindest and the loveliest. May your reign continue for centuries.” 

And then Clementine took her leave, Furina letting out a sigh of relief at the woman's absence. She pressed two fingers on the bridge of her nose. Interacting with the Fontainians was no less aggravating and tiring for her than it was for him. She just hid it well. 

“I never expected you to be so tongue-tied,” Neuvillette said. Furina turned to him, only being able to muster a small smile. 

“I can't be perfect after all.” It was a terrible attempt at a joke and even she knew it. Still she had nothing else to tell him. How was she going to explain that it was tiring to keep up with the masks she wore? 

“It makes no sense,” he shook his head. 

“What?” 

When he spoke, his eyes were on the empty spot Clementine was occupying previously. “I don't understand. If you love someone, how can you beg to keep your wealth?” 

She hummed. “I think it's strange too.”

“I doubt she actually loved her husband.”

“Don't say that,” Furina chastised him. “Even though I don't agree with her—”

“I could tell. It was something that I just knew instinctively.” Neuvillette had a strange expression on his face, as if he was surprised at himself. “I…I could feel that she was being dishonest.”

She gasped, nearing him. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she asked, “You could read her emotions?” 

He drew in a breath, surprised by her proximity. His eyes were adorably wide, his flustered expression betraying his stoicism. “No, not quite. I am just…I don't know. I've been rather attuned to people's emotions but this is perhaps the first time I felt it with clarity.”

“Oh, Neuvillette!” Furina exclaimed, shaking him by his shoulders. “This is excellent news!” 

“You think so?” He raised an eyebrow. 

She nodded excitedly. “We should look into this matter very soon.” Though not before the dreaded trial. She'd have to look around Focalors’ notes again to see if there was something she missed in there. Such an important detail. Focalors must've known about this. 

“Do you…do you know what this means?”

She blinked, her eyes widening. “I…” she stammered, having no clue what to say. The truth was that she had no idea what this sudden change meant. Nowhere in the story was a strange power developing in Neuvillette and as such, she wasn't prepared at all. If her memories served her well, then this was outside of the story. So…another divergence, the first one being her. What this meant for the prophecy and her, she didn't know. 

Panic clutched her in its icy grips. If this power developed any further, could it mean that Neuvillette would one day be able to figure out that she was deceiving everyone? What if it led to him discovering the truth? No. No no no. 

Furina took a deep breath, pushing away all those thoughts deep into her mind. She needed to pretend. And that entailed her being aware of everything. Focalors would've known of this. 

“Yes…” she started, her tone somber. “I guessed this would happen. I just didn't expect this to happen so soon.” 

“What? What is this?” 

“This is the birthright of your bloodline.” She looked away, trying to get away from his curious gaze. She had no idea what she was saying. All she could do was hope that he wouldn't notice that she was ad-libbing everything. 

“Hmm…my birthright,” he murmured. Shaking his head, he stared into his hands. “So is this why you were so adamant to make me interact with people? Because you wanted to awaken this dormant power in me?” 

Neuvillette swiveled his head to her, his eyes so sharp and magnificent that she found herself unable to pry away from his gaze. An emotion that was too similar to appreciation glinted in those silvery eyes.  Huh, what? She blinked, mouth parting in surprise. She…she didn't even realize it! But now that he voiced it, she would be a fool to not utilize it. 

Nodding, she said, giving a pleased smile, “Yes, that was one of the reasons behind my plans. Aren't you surprised by my genius?” 

“I would have appreciated it if you had told me the truth.” He let out a sigh. “But it is a good thing. I have you to thank for this.”

She chuckled, taking a bite of the cake lying on the table. Poor Clementine, she hadn't even taken a bite. “You are welcome, my love. Oooh, have a slice of cake. This one is absolutely delectable!”

Reluctantly he picked up a slice as well. He gingerly took a bite, making a face. “Mm…it's too sweet.”

“Well, that's because cakes are meant to be sweet. If you'd like, I can get you a less sweet cake.”

“No need.” Neuvillette shook his head. He took a second bite, giving her a look as if looking to her for guidance. 

Furina clapped, grinning brightly. “Great job! Well, this has been an interesting day. But alas, I have other matters to deal with. I'm sure you have a busy schedule as well, so I will leave you up to it.” 

She rose to her feet, adjusting her sleeves before giving him a little wave as she took her leave. The only thing circling around her mind, however, was the terrifying realization of Neuvillette's newfound ability.

The cake was too sweet. It left a cloyingly and nauseating aftertaste and Neuvillette had to gulp down water. But still he wanted to try it out. Especially since Furina was so enthusiastic about it. He felt like he should have tried it, if only to make her happy. And that only confused him greatly.

It wasn't an easy task trying to separate his complicated and conflicted feelings from his experience with her. Everything was so strange he couldn't explain it. He couldn't even open up to anyone about this. There was no person in this empire he trusted to listen to his conflict with the empress. But he was naturally so awkward with interaction with others that he struggled to understand the nuances and subtexts in the conversation. 

Which was what confused him about Furina. Furina, who was a mess of contradictions and fallacies and secrets, had been the only person who interacted with him and made him interact with others. She was the first person he dealt with the most and she was already so confusing. At first, cruel and capricious. And then, sweet and playful. 

His chest fluttered at the reminders. Even just moments ago, just the sound of her laughter was so…lovely to his ears. Did he remember her to laugh like this? Why did it sound so beautiful then? This wasn't how he felt around her. He used to be annoyed and uninterested whenever she requested his presence; now, he didn't mind that much. 

It must have been because she was much kinder than before. That's why he didn't hate it that much to walk her to places she needed to go, to ask her questions about different things when previously he would shut his mouth. 

Yes, that must be why. That must be why it was easier to be with her.

Neuvillette closed his eyes, exhaling harshly. When he opened his eyes again, he focused on his glass of water, trying to repel the thoughts of Furina and how confused the secretive and flirtatious woman made him feel.

The water in his glass moved on its own, drawing his attention. He furrowed his brows, staring at it intently. And then it morphed, taking shape. All of sudden, the glass shattered, water spraying everywhere. Neuvillette blinked, covering his face. Servants rushed into the room, asking him if he was okay or not. He was in a daze, wondering what happened. 

“I…I'm okay.” He took a deep breath, addressing the servants. He stood up, realizing that he'd have to change his clothes. He had several cases to go through and many appointments for the day. And yet his head swayed, a buzz in his ears that he could feel through his entire body.

The night of the banquet, Clorinde felt frazzled. Even the cool air wasn't enough to soothe her as soft rain drizzled outside. She had reluctantly agreed to let Navia in her investigation which had its benefits as well as disadvantages. Navia was highly attentive to her surroundings, allowing them to gather as much information as possible. They learned that Callas Caspar was trying to find a particular criminal but what was more surprising was that it already had been several weeks since his investigation. It was strange that he hadn't been able to find this criminal yet. Given the president of the Spina, Callas should've handled it. The fact that he still hadn't meant that this criminal must have been extremely cautious. 

And this being part of the drug Sinthe only made it dangerous. 

The banquet was planned by the sister organization of Spina di Rosula, the Confrerie. As expected, Callas was busy. Clorinde barely got to see a glimpse of him. Navia too was worried, looking around the area. Clorinde walked towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

“Is everything okay?” She asked, her trained eyes roving around their surroundings. As the champion duelist, Clorinde had practice navigating matters like these. She knew she needed to keep an eye on everything, no detail should go unnoticed. 

Nodding, the blond said, “Yeah.” 

“Is he still at the banquet? I haven't seen him yet.” Though it was hardly a strange thing, it left a bad taste in her mouth. Where was Mr. Callas? Could he be doing something dangerous right now? 

Navia pursed her lips, drawing Clorinde's traitorous attention to her pretty mouth. “I don't know either. Why don't we split up and search for him?”

She was already shaking her head before Navia was done speaking. “I really don't think that's a good idea.”

“We will cover more grounds this way. Now, go on. Let's go.” She hiked up her skirts and started walking away, leaving Clorinde in the hall. She let out a breath before she decided to search for Callas too.

Right then, a gunshot cut through the silence. 

Chapter Text

Before she knew it, panic settled through the crowd, the cacophony of their voices distracting her. Clorinde didn't waste a second; she ran into the direction she heard the gunshot from which was the balcony. Rain peppered her as she pushed past everyone to get outside. Her training from the Marechaussee Phantom came to help her greatly as Clorinde knew instantly how to react. 

Briefly she worried about Navia, worried that she would be caught up in danger or worse…

She shook the thoughts out of her head, knowing that she needed to get a grip on herself before she spiraled into a mess. She pushed aside her dark hair from her forehead, looking around the balcony. Rain was picking up speed, becoming a disadvantage for her inquiry. She reached for her pistol, cautious. 

She saw the blood first. It was hard to see because of the onslaught of rain and darkness of the night. But she was trained and knew how to notice blood even in the darkness. Her heart raced as her eyes met with an unmoving body lying in the pool of blood. And then Clorinde looked up at none other than Mr. Callas holding a gun in his hands. 

Time slowed to a crawling hold. Callas looked haunted, his hands shaking. When he turned to his side, his blue eyes were wide with the franticness of a prey caught in a trap. She couldn't help but breathe, staring at him incredulously. It wasn't the first time she saw him carry out a death, far from it. As the president of the Spina, Callas had done many things that would make him less than a noble man. She had discovered them on her own and she held no judgement for them, knowing that he did the necessary evil. Anything to keep Poisson and Navia safe. And Clorinde would never go against a decision to keep Navia safe and sound. 

And yet…

The gun slipped from his grip, landing on the ground. Callas didn't pick it up. Instead his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Clorinde hesitated. She didn't want to get near him, unsure if he would attack her too. 

“Mr. Callas…?” She called him, firmly gripping her pistol, ready to immobilize him at any moment. “What happened?” 

What was worse was that she couldn't recognize this man he killed. At first she thought it was the person behind Sinthe but that couldn't be the case. Why would they be present in a banquet organized by the Confrerie? No, the more Clorinde thought about it, the more she came to the realization that it was something else. 

“Callas? Tell me what happened. Who is this man?” She hated to do it but she aimed her pistol at his chest, giving him the illusion of threatening him. Murders in his line of work weren't surprising; what surprised her was the time and location. To take someone's life at a banquet party...what could've happened?

The rain turned almost needle-like, washing away the blood. Right then the Maison Gardiennage poured in, along with Navia in the front. Her face paled at the sight of her father on his knees, a dead body lying in front of him. Her eyes went wide. “Papa?” Her voice was hollow.

Callas didn't move, didn't respond even as the gardes grabbed him forcefully, taking him away from the crime scene. Navia rushed in, clawing at her father to intervene. 

“No! No! You can't take him!” she cried out.

“Mademoiselle, please step back. We're only doing our job.” The Garde shook his head, barricading her. Clorinde went to Navia, gripping her shoulder to pull her back.

“Navia, let them go.”

“Let them go?” She echoed, looking disarmed and shocked. “What do you mean, ‘let them go’? That is my father, the Spina di Rosula’s president. They can't just manhandle him like that.”

“I know. I'll handle this situation. But first I need your help. Can you recognize the man's identity?” Clorinde held her tightly, drawing closer to her. Navia trembled but she nodded nevertheless. She crouched, not listening to the Gardes. Her lips were turning white, perhaps from the shock. 

“I think I know him…” she mumbled, looking up at Clorinde. “This is…oh no, this is Mr. Jacques, my papa's business associate. I know him!” 

Tears spilled down her face, mixing with the rain. 

“Jacques?” Clorinde pursed her lips before turning to the members of the Maison Gardiennage. “Lock up everyone in here. Make sure no one gets out until the situation is under control.” 

“Will you be taking custody of this case?” 

Clorinde paused, hesitating. She didn't want to abandon Navia and Callas. But if she took control of this case, then she would have to deal with the formalities and rules. And that meant that she would have to be honoring justice over everything else. Even if the evidence went against Mr. Callas. 

After a long pause, she answered, “I am. We've also identified the dead body. His name is Jacques and he was one of the associates of Mr Callas.” 

The garde nodded, writing down everything in his notes. “Thank you very much, Miss Clorinde. We'll get into it immediately.”

The dark haired woman let out a sigh. This night was going to be a long one. She turned to Navia who looked ready to fight anyone if they came in the way of her. 

She balled up her fists, clenching her jaw tightly. “Are you done? I need to talk to him right now.” 

“Unfortunately, no.” Clorinde shook her head. “We can't talk to him yet. He's going to be taken to the Court tomorrow to be put on trial.”

“But we don't even know if he is guilty or not! We can't just wait for the trial, we have to go rescue him now!” 

“I saw him holding the weapon of murder, Navia.” 

“But that doesn't mean he did it. He could've been trying to defend himself, we don't know anything.” 

Clorinde stared at her, feeling pity for her refusal to believe her father was capable of killing someone. She didn't know what to tell her. No matter what she said, Navia would be stubborn, refusing to listen to her. And it broke her heart that she couldn't protect Navia from this grief. Clorinde grabbed her arms, shaking her vigorously to snap her out of her rambling.

“Navia, listen to me. I know you want to think the best of him but right now all the cards are against him. I will do my best to get to the bottom of this. But…” she trailed off, unsure of how to say it.

But Navia understood it immediately. Her expression darkened. “So you're saying that you are going to take my father to Court? You're going to interrogate him and–and put him in prison? Is that what it is?” 

“No, that's not…” 

The blonde pushed her away, a fierce scowl appearing on her face. Navia glared at her, hurt and betrayal and anger on her face. “I can't believe you. I thought you'd be on my side. On my papa's side.”

“I am. But you have to acknowledge the evidence stacked against him. I was here first and I hate to say it as much as you but I have to be truthful and dutiful. Everything points to him as the murderer,” Clorinde said, laying down all the points in a matter-of-fact and calm manner, though she felt anything but. “If we want to clear his name, we need to find out the truth before the Court gives the verdict.” 

Navia remained silent, seething. But she didn't refuse her either. Nodding, she brusquely walked away, where two bodyguards were standing. Melus and Silver, Clorinde recalled. They were Mr. Callas' men, accompanying him everywhere. The fact that they weren't with him was only damning proof that Callas had a hand in whatever happened here. One of the bodyguards offered an umbrella to Navia but she didn't accept it. 

“I'm fine. We need to gather evidence for my father. Silver, Melus, where were you two when this happened?”

Clorinde moved away, deciding to leave them while she handled the other matters. She stared at the sky as the rain finally came to a stop. But the worst had already happened. It washed away the remnants of the death.

A knock sounded on her bedroom door, stirring her from her sleep. Furina was up without a complaint. Sleep was already rare for her, leaving her restless most nights. She put on a coat over her sleeping robe, slowly walking towards the door. Who could it be at this hour?

“Who is it?” She asked, stifling a yawn. 

“Your Majesty, I have a message for you.” A quiet voice responded. Furina immediately jolted, opening the door and allowing the spy to enter. It was a man dressed in the uniform of the Maison Gardiennage, with auburn hair. 

“What is it? What happened?” She whispered, frantic and nervous. Nothing was good when her spies came to her outside of the schedule. 

“Lord Callas Caspar has been charged for murder and taken away to be put on trial tomorrow.” 

“What?” She exclaimed. It…it really happened! For a while, she was worried that the trial wouldn't happen at all. She was so preoccupied with other matters that she had completely forgotten the passage of time. Then she winced at her loud voice. Quietened, she asked, “When? How?”

“I couldn't see most of it. It was raining too heavily. But I saw with my own eyes that Lord Callas shot the man.” 

Placing a hand under her chin, she pursed her lips. Hmm, so it was true. Callas did kill someone. But confirming that still didn't make things understandable to her. Was he so rankled by this crime that he decided to take his own life via the duel?

“Who was it that he killed?”

“The dead body belonged to Jacques, a business associate of Lord Callas.” 

“Anything else?” 

The spy shook his head. “No, your Majesty.”

“Very well. Where is he right now?” 

“He should be detained at the Maison Gardiennage headquarters.” 

“Thank you for informing me in such a short time.” Furina offered him a small pouch of Mora as compensation. “Keep an eye on the murder scene. I want to know everything before the gardes. That's all. Goodbye.” 

The second he was out of her room, she hurriedly opened her wardrobe and grabbed the least fancy and noticeable outfit. A dark blue cloak that would undoubtedly hide her identity. She threw it over her sleeping robe.

She did feel hesitant as she opened the balcony door, cool air with the scent of petrichor greeting her. The drop would be two stories tall. Could she even make it? But she reminded herself that getting a chance to talk to Callas like this would never return. She needed to try before the trial started. She worried that if she waited too long, she wouldn't get to talk to him properly with all the formalities and etiquette. No, she had to do this now!

Furina inhaled deeply before jumping off her balcony. Pain struck her legs, jarring her bones. She landed awkwardly, groaning. She wasn't physically fit enough to pull this off. 

Focalors, you better have a plan for everything if I'm doing all this!

After a long time, she regained the ability to stand up. She looked up at the balcony and briefly wondered what the gardes and Melusines would do once they found her chambers empty. Would it cause an uproar? She sighed, it was too late to think about all that. She shook her, threw on her hood before rushing out of the Palais Mermonia. 

The Maison Gardiennage headquarters…it had to be in the Court of Fontaine but where? She was going to navigate the area herself in the most dangerous way. 

Furina moved slowly, hiding from the gardemeks standing by. It took too long before she was successfully out of the palace grounds. The streets were empty, sending chills down her spine. For her to be in the city without a guard, without a weapon…anyone could attack her right now and she wouldn't be able to do much. And if the empress of Fontaine died, then everything Focalors was planning would be futile. 

The thought terrified her and she began to run faster. By the time she reached the Maison Gardiennage headquarters, she was out of breath, panting against the wall. In her previous life, Furina spent most of her time acting, dancing, singing and eating unhealthy foods. Not a life spent doing extensive hard work and physical labor. 

“I have to get a hold of myself,” she told herself, placing a hand on her chest. She already did the hard work. Now all that was necessary was to enter the building and get to talk to Callas. 

The garde looked alarmed at the sight of her, raising his sword. “Stop right there. Who are you and what are you doing in the middle of the night?” 

Furina walked towards him and lifted her hood, revealing her white curls. His expression turned from wary to fearful. He immediately bowed to her, lowering his weapon. 

“Y-your Majesty! What brings you here?” he stammered.

“Shh!” She hissed at him. “Be quiet. Do not reveal my name yet. A person named Callas Caspar was brought here. Is that true?”

He nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, he was.”

“Good. Now, I'll pay you handsomely if you let me in and never tell a soul about this. How about that?” 

The garde clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Of course! Of course. How could I refuse your Majesty? Please come in.”

He opened the door, allowing her to enter without any drawbacks. Furina put her hood on again, wanting to go unnoticed. The garde pointed to the house on the second floor where Callas was being held. She continued onwards, feeling her heart thump against her chest. She had no idea what she was going to deal with. She didn't know what Callas was going to be like. Even though her spies frequently told her about him, she still didn't know him. 

Furina shook those thoughts out of her head. Right then, an officer noticed her. It was an older woman, her hair pulled back in a tight bun. 

“What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here?” She asked, striding towards her. 

She raised her hand, indicating the officer to stop. She then lifted her hood and just as she expected, the woman looked alarmed by the sight of the empress in the flesh. Before she could utter her name and inform everyone her identity here, Furina responded, “I am here to speak to Callas Caspar.”

The officer swallowed, stepping by to let her in. “Is there anything I can do for you, Your Majesty?” 

“No need. Just let me talk to him.”

“Yes, of course.” She opened the door and Furina could finally see him sitting in a chair. 

“Leave us be.”

“Surely you don't want to be alone in a room with a murderer, Your Majesty. How could we allow this?” 

Furina placed a hand on her hip. “I'm very capable of handling this.”

“Of course! I didn't mean to imply that. But it will be a horrible transgression if we allow you unprotected and vulnerable. Miss Clorinde would never let us go unpunished.” 

Sighing, she lowered her head. “I said it will be fine. Hand me your weapon then, if you're so worried.”

Reluctantly the officer gave her the sword. Furina gripped it tightly, marveling at the feel of a real sword in her hand. It was even better than the prop weapons she was working with. Then she stepped into the room, the door closing behind them, leaving her and Callas alone. 

He didn't move from his spot, staring at his hands with a haunted look in his eyes. He was a tall and fit man with blond hair and fair skin. So this was Callas Caspar, the father of the heroine of the play. Truly their genes were blessed for the two of them to be beautiful. But what was more worrying was how even though he heard the entire conversation, he didn't stir at all. 

Clearing her throat, Furina began, “Mr. Callas, I believe this is the first time we are talking. As you know, I am Furina de Fontaine.”

“I know who you are.” He lifted his head, his eyes pinning on her. She swallowed her nerves, bringing out her theatrics that always helped her in situations like this.

“Great.” She nodded, pleased. “That saves me some time. I have something to talk to you about.” 

He shook his head. “Why would Her Majesty, the second empress, wish to speak to me at the dead of the night?”

“You already know why.”

“That makes no sense. I'm one of the many noble lords serving you, Your Majesty. Unless you are aware of everything.”

Huh, so she had to once again pretend to know everything, didn't she? Stifling her sigh, Furina said, “Nothing escapes my eyes, Mr. Callas. I, the empress, the Regina of the waters, watch over everything. There's nothing that you can hide from me.”

“Then you should know that I don't regret what I did.”

She stared at him. “You killed your friend.” 

“That I did.” He nodded. Calm, collected and nonchalant. She had never been unaware of the people who could commit horrible acts, but this was the first time someone had agreed to murder in a calm tone. Perhaps he already managed to stomach his own guilt. “I guess you are going to ask me why I did that. But I don't have anything to say.”

“And why is that? Don't tell me you're going to just let this go on.” Furina stepped closer, trying to make him understand. “I know you are trying to hide something but as the empress, I can guarantee you that nothing will come to harm you. That is my promise.”

“Your Majesty, what do you want?” 

Realizing that he wasn't going to be cooperating, she had to change tactics. She propped her hands on her hips and said, “You don't want anyone to get to the bottom of this case, do you? You will refuse to go through the standard protocol of the trial and instead insist on a duel. Am I right?” 

His jaw slacked in surprise before he composed himself. “... you've been keeping tabs on me.”

No, I simply know what your next course of action is going to be. Instead of voicing her inner thoughts, she started pacing around the room, unable to stop her frenetic energy. “I am very knowledgeable about these things. Mr. Callas, you don't want to live, do you?”

Callas looked away. She knew then that she managed to hit a sore spot. So she continued.

“You plan on keeping everything that happened a secret. Dying through the duel is the easiest option for you. But I won't let that happen.” 

“Why? Why are you suddenly so interested in this?”

Furina calmed her expression. “Because I won't let an innocent man die. Nor would I allow the truth to be buried. It goes against my idea of justice.”

“What justice do you speak of, Your Majesty?” Callas rose to his feet. “I killed a man with my very own hands. I'm thereby guilty.”

“But why did you do it? Jacques was your friend, wasn't he? What propelled you to take his life? During a party no less?”

“My motivation doesn't matter. I still did it.” He shook his head, looking so lost in his mind. It felt like he was telling this to himself. Furina couldn't help but feel pity for his sake. She tentatively placed a hand on his arm, hoping to comfort him.

“I can tell you're shaken from this too. Don't act as if you aren't affected by this,” she asked him. “I can help you. You don't have to be afraid. I'll protect you.”

“I don't understand…” he stepped back, covering his face with his hands. “I don't understand at all.”

“Mr. Callas, do you think I, Focalors, would be swayed by anyone? Whoever you're afraid of is no match for me. So please, don't hide the truth from me. That's the only way I can do anything for you.”

Callas breathed heavily, looking like he was going to tell her something. But in the end, he remained silent, conflicted and wary. He said, “It doesn't matter. By the decree of the law, I'm guilty.”

“That doesn't change the fact that you didn't want to do this!” Furina insisted. But her time was out. The door opened and the officer appeared.

“Your Majesty, I don't have anything to tell you.” He told her and that was the end of the conversation. Absurd! This man was ready to die even after she offered him a chance. Was he really so insistent on dying that he wouldn't even open up? What secret could be worth dying for?

Realizing that she couldn't get any further, Furina gave up. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. It wasn't going to work out. He was too stubborn to let go of his secrets. Furina would have to find a different way to reach them. She dejectedly walked out of the room. Though, not before she told him, “I won't let you die either, Mr. Callas.” 

Navia hadn't listened to Clorinde at all. She couldn't have let the gardes take her father away. Nor could she let stupid formalities stop her from saving her father. Her stupid, stubborn and secretive father who had killed someone. His friend, too. She wasn't an idiot. She knew that he was hiding many things from her. The dark side of the world. She wasn't a little girl anymore that needed her father to keep her in the dark. 

Which meant that she was very well aware that her father did many things that would be considered heinous and evil. Murders weren't unknown to the Caspar family. But what really shocked her was that he hadn't even explained anything to her. She still remembered him being taken away by the Maison Gardiennage, how he refused to meet her gaze. 

Her own father.

She wasn't naive enough to think that her father couldn't kill someone. No, she had no doubts about that. But that didn't mean that she was going to let him go to prison without an explanation. She had to know why he did it. Why would he do this? 

Hence why she was standing outside the Maison Gardiennage headquarters, fists clenched on either side. She had to talk to him. He had to tell her the truth. 

“Let me in! I demand to speak to my father.” Navia asked the gardes.

“I'm sorry but you can't talk to the suspect. You can only talk to him during the trial.”

“But that's in the morning! I can't wait that long.” By then, he would be swamped with everything else. How would she talk to him then? 

“That is the protocol, miss. Please respect the laws.”

“Oh, I will respect your—” she cut off as Melus, dragged her away. 

“Mademoiselle, let's not argue here.”

“But he's stopping me from meeting my papa. How can I let that slide?” Navia turned to him, eyes still watery. “It's like everyone has forgotten about me.” she added in a dejected tone, lowering her head. It had only been one night—no less than a night—and already she felt like there was a huge rift between her and her father. 

“I understand your feelings, but it still isn't the right thing to do. You have to maintain your energy for the trial tomorrow.” Melus patted her shoulder in a comforting manner. She couldn't hold it then. She started crying silently again. Wiping her face, she tried to keep it together. What will happen tomorrow? Will the Court charge him with murder? Will her papa go to prison? Will she end up alone?

“Melus, what do I do?” She slumped against him, unable to keep herself composed. 

“Keep your chin up, mademoiselle. Things aren't set in stone yet.” 

Navia nodded, shaking her head. She refused to be overpowered by this dilemma. She wasn't her father's daughter for no reason. She still had time before the Court gave its verdict. She could still save him, save everything. “You're right. I…I have to be strong! For his sake.”

“That's more like it.” 

“I'm going to get some fresh air. Please keep an eye here and inform me immediately if anything happens.” Navia stepped back, her gaze determined and steely. For now, she needed to be patient. Clorinde would soon return after dealing with the Marechausee Phantom and the Maison Gardiennage. Then they would try and speak to her father. She left the building, walking to the side where the night sky and the bloom of Rainbow Roses greeted her.

As Navia stood in silence, her thoughts turned into a jumbled mess. How had things changed so drastically? She had thought that she and Clorinde were going to find out the secret her father was keeping. Nothing went the way she expected it to. 

Taking a deep breath scented by the roses, she tried to calm herself, telling herself that she would try to talk to him tomorrow and get the answers she was looking for. She wouldn't allow anything to happen to him. 

A sudden crunch alerted her. She immediately stepped back, cautious and alarmed. She was the only one here. Who could it be? 

Navia stilled, eyes tracking her surroundings, looking for the intruder. “Who is it? Come out now!”

Another crunch of leaves and then quieter, a muffled cry of pain. Navia's suspicions increased. She slowly walked towards the noise, trying to not make a sound. What she came across, however, was surprising. A cloaked figure lying on the ground. The intruder noticed her immediately, stiffening. Navia couldn't tell if it was a woman or a man, the cloak hid most of the figure, making them androgynous. 

Navia asked again, “Who are you? What are you doing here?” 

The person remained quiet, not wanting to get recognized properly. They had a hood over their face, only revealing the barest hint of a jaw. 

“I'm going to ask you one more time and if you don't respond, I will resort to much more violent actions.” 

She waited but they still didn't speak. So she had to pull out her shotgun and aim at them. The intruder let out a noise of panic and fear, raising two hands in surrender.

“So you do have a sense of self-preservation. Now, start talking. Have you been eavesdropping on me?” she cocked her head to the side, wondering who this could be. Was it a spy from her father's enemies? She was sure that he had lots of enemies in his work. 

“I…” the figure started, the voice distinctly sweet and feminine. “I'm sorry, no, I didn't.”

Navia blinked, surprised by that. “Then what are you doing here? Are you a spy? Who sent you here?”

“No one! I promise!” The intruder shook her head. 

Navia didn't know what surprised her. The fact that she found a stranger here or that she wasn't feeling half as bothered as she should be. Perhaps it was that she was trying to distract herself from her father's impending trial, or that she never expected to find an incompetent spy. If she even was a spy to begin with. Navia surprised herself by crouching, lowering herself to the girl's eye level. 

The intruder moved her head to the side, trying to hide her face. She had pale skin, Navia noted, and pale hair too. Not that she could recognize someone with such features, but she kept those details in mind, hoping to find her later. 

The intruder didn't speak. She wanted to lift her hood to see the face of the stranger, to see the face of the person who dared to eavesdrop on her. 

Navia couldn't explain her own actions; before she knew it, the front of the shotgun was pulling up the hood of the girl. The girl squeaked, pulling it down immediately but Navia saw what she had to. A pale face with heterochromia blue eyes, one the color of the sky and the other the dark and turbulent seas of Fontaine. 

“Why don't you take the hood off, if you're not doing anything wrong?” 

“I am…” the girl started speaking in an unsure voice, almost like she was measuring every word. “Yes! I'm from Steambird!”

Navia sighed, lowering her shotgun. Ah, the Steambird. To be honest, she never had any issue with the column; they offered to give the Spina popularity and in return, the Spina helped them get insider information about many things. It didn't surprise that the news of her father reached Steambird and many others. In Fontaine, trials were nothing more than just petty drama. There was no real love for justice, only a mockery of it. And at the center, was none other than the empress, Focalors. 

“Then listen,” she said to the girl, “my father did nothing wrong. He's being wrongfully accused of a crime that hasn't even been investigated properly. So go tell the journalists, better yet, tell the people that my father is still innocent!”

For a moment, Navia regretted her outburst. To a stranger, no less. But she was out of people to vent to. This felt like consoling herself. If she could tell this to everyone, maybe she would feel at peace with herself.

“I know.” 

Her head whirled to the girl, taken aback by the conviction in her words. How sure she sounded…

“Do you?” Navia asked quietly.

The stranger nodded. “I believe Mr. Callas. And I wholeheartedly believe that he would be proven innocent on his trial.”

Tears sprang to her eyes, the umpteenth time tonight. She let them well up, staring at the girl unflinchingly. 

“There may not be much evidence but I believe he's innocent,” the girl continued, hands waving around. “He's a hardworking and righteous man, I'm sure he's wrongfully being framed.”

The tension in her shoulders lessened. “Thank you…” Navia said, her heart swelling with gratitude for this stranger. The whole ride to the Court of Fontaine, she had to tolerate the mumbles and the whispers of people accusing her father and her family, the very same people the Caspar family worked to help. They were excited for the trial, ready to be given fine entertainment when a good man's reputation and life was in line.

So to not only hear someone be on her side but also reassure that they believed in his innocence touched her heart immensely. She said, “I really needed to hear that. I thought I was going mad. I mean, how can people just badmouth him as if they weren't praising him a day ago?”Navia shook her head, getting upset just by the thought of it. “This nation…no, this empire and its false justice. I'm sick of it.” 

And then she realized that she was voicing all these thoughts to a stranger. Truly, she was tired of hiding her honest thoughts. Couldn't keep her honest thoughts and pretend as though she didn't hate how things were going.

“No, I…I agree,” the girl responded quietly, meek as a mouse. “The way things work in the Court…it's not a good system.”

Propping a hand on her hip, Navia said, “Oh? That's quite the surprise. I don't typically see people from Steambird who are so staunchly different from everyone else.”

Silence continued between them, it wasn't an unpleasant one. Far from it, in fact Navia felt like she was getting back to her original self as she spoke to the stranger. She could be more upfront and candid, allowed to speak her mind without being told she was too strange. Even better, this stranger agreed with her worldview. Even her papa didn't see eye-to-eye with her.

“Then…what do you think it should be like?” 

Her eyes widened, not expecting such a question. No one had asked her that. But Navia always put her heart on her sleeve. So she answered truthfully, “The trials should never be turned into entertainment. That goes against everything about justice and peace.”

“You're right. It dehumanizes the fate of the people.” 

“Yes, just like now with my father,” Navia said, closing her eyes for a brief second. She knew that the one person capable of changing the fate of her father was the empress. But pleasing her was like trying to calm the ocean; it could be calm only if it wanted to. There was no telling if it would work. “If only one could appease Her Majesty…

The stranger visibly stiffened. “... what's your opinion on her?”

“Who? Her Majesty?” A small smile appeared on her face. “Please don't tell me this is a sneaky way to get a free interview from me. But you're lucky I have nothing much to do so I will oblige. I think the empress is someone who isn't to be trifled with. She's the highest authority in Fontaine, ruling over everyone. She's a force of nature.”

“Oh…well, does that mean you fear her?” The girl fiddled with the long sleeves of her cloak. Doubt rose in the back of her mind. It was suspicious how much she was asking about the empress. Could it be that she was a spy from the Marechaussee Phantom instead, looking to find the traitors who had anything terrible to say about their empress? 

“I'd be an idiot to not fear her wrath.” Navia shook her head. 

“I see…” the stranger echoed, but her voice held an unreadable emotion, leaving Navia to wonder why she was here to begin with. 

“You're not actually from the Steambird, are you?” Navia asked, cocking her head to the side. “I won't hold it against you if you aren't.”

“I…” she started but right then Melus called out for Navia. Navia hesitated, wondering what she should do. 

“Wait, I'm coming back!” She yelled back, turning her back for only the slightest moment. But the stranger in the closet had already disappeared into the night by the time she looked back. Shaking her head, she decided to return to Melus. Hopefully he had good news for her.

The second Navia took her eyes off her, Furina dashed like she was on fire, only stopping until the headquarters of the Maison Gardiennage were far away from her. She leaned against a pillar, catching her breath. Her heart thumped against her chest loud enough that she worried that the nearby gardemeks would hear it and rush to find their empress masquerading as a suspicious person. Still, miraculously, no one ran after her and she was unfound. After several minutes, having relaxed her nerves enough to start making her way back to the Palais, Furina sighed.

Just my luck to get caught by the heroine of all people, she mused, shaking her head. Her hands were still shaking after that conversation, her mind reeling from it. I can't believe I was seen by Navia!

One second she was running away from the officers, landing on the grass and hoping to make her escape, and the next she was found by the blond noble lady. Her heart nearly stopped, terrified at the thought of being caught. But more than that, Furina was worried that Navia would look at her with contempt and hatred. She knew that even before the story officially started, Navia didn't have a great opinion of Focalors. Though it wasn't the spiteful ire in the later acts of the story, Furina still couldn't wait for the inevitable to happen. The last thing she wanted was to be disliked by Mr. Callas and Navia. She wanted to avoid that at all costs!

…That was only half of the reasons why she chose to stay in the bushes, holding an awkward conversation with her. She was…curious. It was hard to explain but Furina had been quite excited to know the characters she loved in person, even if they disliked her greatly. Navia was no different. In the play, she was a strong-willed, determined, go-getter and kind and lovely woman. Maybe it was because originally her friendly cast-mate, Giselle, was going to play as Navia and the two of them spent quite a lot of time together. Regardless, Furina was spellbound by Navia. 

“This nation and its false justice, I'm sick of it!” The words she spoke still echoed in Furina's mind, reminding her of the very reason she loved Masquerade of the Guilty. It criticized the justice system and the existing noble families for turning a blind eye to victims. She, being an outsider and an actress, knew the story's theme. But she hadn't quite expected Navia to be so vividly progressive. Obviously Furina agreed with her and tried to make her feel like someone else stood by her side. She knew that if she failed to save Callas, Navia would grow disillusioned with the charms of Fontaine and become more and more rebellious, challenging the principles of the empire. 

But Furina didn't want her to develop in such a harsh manner. She was quite lovely. Furina hoped that she'd grow and learn without needing to become an orphan. All she could do for now was offer Navia support, even though it came in the form of a stranger. But she couldn't reveal her identity, could she? Had she lifted her hood and showed her face, Navia wouldn't have continued talking to her so freely. Would she have been so open if she knew that she spoke to the empress? 

No, certainly not. Critiquing the very face of the empire would not be forgotten so easily. Not only that, Furina didn't want Navia to look at her with hatred. If only for a short time, she wished that at least one character viewed her like she was a normal person and not the villainess. So Furina remained hidden, offering her small support and telling Navia that she believed in her father. She hoped that her support would comfort her in the nearing trial. 

Shaking her head, she thought, I promised her that I would save her father. Now I must do it!

So caught in her own thoughts, she hadn't realized that someone had crept up behind her. She only felt the presence when a hand landed on her shoulder. Furina swiveled around, almost screaming at the sight of a person. She only managed to smother her scream when she realized that it was one of her spies.

She took a deep breath, panting heavily. “What in the world are you doing? I nearly had a heart attack!”

“Apologies, Your Majesty,” the spy, now dressed as an average Fontainian, whispered. “I rushed here to tell you what I discovered.”

Her ire forgotten, she calmed, quickly focusing on the matter at hand. “Let's hear it then. What is it?”

“At the murder scene, I wasn't able to find anything. Everything was taken by the Marechaussee agents. There really wasn't anyone else who could've been there aside from Lord Callas. That I'm sure of.”

Furina placed a hand under her chin. “I already know this. In that case, I suppose it's back to square one. Anything about the banquet-goers? Did you find anything?”

The spy shook his head. “No, Your Majesty, I couldn't find anything.”

Sighing, Furina dropped her head. What was the point of this then? Callas refused to explain anything, there was no additional information or evidence unlike the play. Did that mean that she would be unable to save Callas? Was this a sign that she couldn't break the patterns of the story? 

She was about to dismiss the spy and dejectedly return to the palace when she suddenly remembered something. Stiff as a rod, Furina swiveled her head to him. “Wait a second. What about the victim? Have you looked into his backstory yet?”

In the hubbub of the murder, all eyes were on Callas, the prime suspect. But things had to be more complicated than they seemed. She couldn't remember there being an in-depth investigation into the murder victim. Aha! There it was. A breakthrough that hadn't happened in the story before. Could this mean that she was heading the correct way? Only one way to find out.

Chapter Text

Like every other trial held in the Opera Epiclese, this one started the same. The audience—members of the gentry—waited with bated breath. Because tonight they would witness the trial of Callas Caspar, the head of the Spina di Rosula, the noble lord overseeing the region of Poisson. Even those who once respected him were now eagerly waiting to see him being tried. As always, the empress of Fontaine, Focalors was present on the highest podium, overlooking the trial as well as the audience, the actress and performer who held everyone's attention. Along with her, the prince was seated, the one to excise the order throughout the trial.

Navia, who had only watched a handful of trials, knew all this very much. When she was young, her father used to bring her to the Opera Epiclese to witness the magnificent performance. Back then it was the first empress, Egeria, who ruled Fontaine. But Egeria and Focalors shared the same flair for dramatics, as the rumors went. So she expected nothing short of an incredible performance; one that would both be humiliating and a mockery of everything justice stood for. 

As she entered the large courtroom, she held her breath, her gaze snagging on the throne above them all. The empress. Navia couldn't see her from that high, only a figure in immaculate blue. Murmurs rose until they turned into a cacophony, gossiping and bad mouthing about Callas. She dug her nails into her palms, trying to remember that her father was innocent and that she believed in him. She refused to let these ignorant people change her mind. But the noises grew and grew, until she felt as though she was trapped in a nightmare.

“Order! Order!” A voice cut through the cacophony, along with the strike of a mallet, reminding her that she had been holding her breath. Navia let go of her breath, looking up at none other than the prince Neuvillette. His voice was powerful and low, allowing no one to disrupt the law. This was the first time she had seen him and she agreed with the rumors about him.

The lone heir of the Leviathan bloodline. Prince Neuvillette, betrothed to the empress, Focalors. He was just as cold and stoic as the gossip went. His hair was long and flowing, like silver spilling down his back. His face, even from far away, was impossibly handsome, aristocratic and classically beautiful. The face of a prince. Navia didn't fathom her heartbeat rising at the sight of him. Fear, she thought. No, she hoped. Fear and anticipation. They said the prince was the mediator of the cases while their empress witnessed the drama. 

She took her seat on the front row, as the daughter of the suspect, with Melus and Silver beside her. The two of them offered her silent support, letting her know that she wasn't alone tonight. The truth would come out no matter what. The only question was when it would be revealed. 

Navia's eyes wandered around the courtroom and the pews above where the empress was seated. Only then did she notice a secondary presence near her. Clorinde. The dark haired woman had all but disappeared into the night after the gunshot, promising to handle the case. After that, Navia didn't see a glimpse of her. So this was where the duelist was, next to the empress. Navia tried to shake her thoughts out of her head, feeling stupid for the twinge of envy. Clorinde had a duty to uphold and the empress was far more important than her, the daughter of a lord. 

So what Clorinde had left her in Poisson? It didn't matter. None of that mattered right now.

A voice startled her out of her reverie. “Greetings, my beloved audience. Tonight we are present here to witness the case of Callas Caspar. Let us begin with the trial.” It was none other than her Majesty Focalors, the empress of Fontaine. Or Furina de Fontaine as she liked to go by now.

The audience cheered, emboldened. It made Navia curious too; she lifted her eyes and saw her, a woman with curled white hair in a brilliant blue ensemble. The empress grinned, all boyish charms and flamboyance befitting that of a peacock. No wonder that everyone said that she captured the attention of people the second they saw her. She had that confidence, that charisma and power, turning heads and stealing hearts.

She even stole Navia's attention as she started pacing, her steps carrying an enigmatic air. Mysterious, captivating, charming. Her words certainly calmed the crowd faster than the prince could have, everyone only had eyes on her. Navia was also one of them, unable to take her eyes off of the empress. 

“The empress is curious about tonight's proceedings…how surprising…”

“...she barely focuses on most cases, I wonder why she's so interested…”

The murmurs of the audience reached her and Navia's lips thinned. She didn't know whether she should feel relieved or worried that Furina de Fontaine personally was invested in her father's trial. Whether that meant that she would stretch this case into a drama or that she would cut through the lies instantly and reveal the truth. Navia tightened her fists on her lap, anticipating what would unfurl later.

“Hush, now, my dear audience.” Furina tutted, waving a finger at everyone in a faux chiding manner. Her laughter rang across the courtroom. “Now, now, let us begin with the case.”

The prosecutor attorney and the defendant attorney took their place in their respective stands. And then along with the gardes, her father walked in. Navia had to be restrained by Melus, as she battled the urge to run towards him. This was the first time she saw him after the murder scene and he looked so disheveled and messy, a complete contrast to his typical dressing style. Her vision blurred as she stared at him, wondering what he would do. Would he admit to being the murderer? Would he be able to fix his reputation? Or would tonight be his defamation?

She waited, holding her breath in fear. The second everyone was seated, the trial began. 

Prince Neuvillette started to speak. “The prosecutor will now make their opening statement.” 

The prosecutor was one of her father's associates, however after the incident, most if not all of his associates refused to speak of him in a positive view. It didn't surprise her that his acquaintances and associates would go against him in court. 

“Your honor, it is my pleasure to serve as a prosecutor on this very important case. Last night, the defendant in this matter, Callas Caspar, shot an innocent man during a dinner banquet. At the conclusion of the case and after you have heard all the evidence, we are confident that you will return a verdict of guilty.” The prosecutor continued. “Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about a man who brutally betrayed his business partner and associate in a fit of anger. During a peaceful banquet, away from the crowd, Lord Callas brought Mr Jacques out of the hall room and had an altercation with him. He then shot him in the chest, fatally ending his life.” 

Navia gritted her teeth, clenching her jaw tightly at the lies he was telling the court. Her father was not a violent man. He would resort to violence only when it was the last option available. Even when he carried out the work of the Spina di Rosula, he maintained a civility and never allowed his people to fight between themselves. Melus, noticing her angry expression, placed a hand on her shoulder, signaling her to not do anything harsh. 

“But—”

“Not now, demoiselle,” he pleaded. She knew he was only trying to help her. Rushing into the case wouldn't be helpful for her father. But it still rankled her pride that someone could get away with slandering her father publicly. She supposed that it was inevitable. Many people, despite praising her father upfront, had a loathing for him and to some, a chance to kick him down was heaven-sent. Navia only resented not having enough proof to shut them up. Even after collecting some members of the Spina to search, she was unable to find anything that could help. In the end, she had to dejectedly take her seat in the Opera Epiclese, waiting for the hour of judgement.

The prosecutor kept talking. “Members of the jury, we will call two witnesses in this trial. We will call the banquet-goers who were present during the time of the murder who can testify that only Lord Callas was with Jacque.”

“That doesn't mean anything. He could have done it in self-defense,” Navia said in a low voice. 

“Yes, but the court won't accept that as proof of his innocence, mademoiselle.” Melus looked worried. 

She clicked her tongue, feeling frustrated and stuffy in this courtroom. This ordeal was too painful. She couldn't remain in here and hear them slander her father. 

“The second witness is the champion duelist and personal guard of Her Majesty, and a fellow member of the Marechaussee Phantom, Clorinde who will testify that she was the first person to see Lord Callas and the dead Jacques on the crime scene. She admits that there was no one other than him present in the murder scene. She also testified that he was holding the murder weapon.” 

A gasp escaped her as her eyes flitted to Clorinde. Confusion, hurt and finally, anger boiled through her as she realized that her friend would be speaking against her father. I will try to get to the bottom of this. That's what Clorinde had told her last night and naively she believed it. Her stomach churned at the betrayal. She glared at the champion with all the hatred she could muster. 

Clorinde seemingly couldn't make eye contact with her, suddenly a coward. 

“After you have heard all the evidence, we would ask that you find the defendant guilty as charged on all counts. Thank you very much.”

“Now the defendant will make their opening statement,” prince Neuvillette said in his composed and tempered voice, his expression revealing nothing to her. 

Navia whirled her head to her father who stared down at the ground. He didn't open his mouth, remaining silent and stoic as if his reputation and life weren't on the line. 

“C'mon, papa, why aren't you saying anything?” She thought aloud, unable to believe what she was witnessing. There was no way he chose to stay silent instead of proving his innocence. Navia turned to Melus, shaking his arm. “Why isn't he saying anything? Melus, why is he silent?”

“Mademoiselle…” the older man looked at her and then her father, confused as well. It was easy to understand what her father was doing. He wasn't going to answer. He would rather be quiet. But Navia couldn't allow that; she jumped to her feet, noble manners and etiquette be damned, and raised her voice. 

“Papa, why aren't you saying anything?” 

“Be quiet. The audience is not allowed to speak during the trial.” The prince gave her a look, but she didn't wither under his glare either, challenging him. It was only when Melus pulled her down that she succumbed to her defeat. What was worse was her father who still hadn't spoken at all. What made him hesitate? They all knew that the evidence was against him. He was the only one present in the crime scene and there was no one else who could've killed Jacques, leaving only him as the prime suspect. But that didn't mean he was guilty. There had to be something they hadn't figured out yet. If only he said something…

“I refuse to go through the trial,” Callas said finally, causing everyone to gasp collectively. Heads swiveled to his direction. The audience and even the jury looked surprised by him. To refuse to go through the trial meant…

“You want to engage in a duel then?” The prince asked, incredulous. 

“No!” Navia rose to her feet again, pushing away Melus as he tried to restrain her. “You can't do that!” 

“Silence.” Neuvillette struck his mallet but even that wasn't enough to stop her. 

Because she knew what it meant. When criminals refuse to go through the standard trial process, they have one last resort; dueling to save their reputation and life. But everyone knew that winning in the duel was almost impossible. Only very few people have been able to do it. Meaning that if her father chose to go through the duel, his chances of survival were limited. 

Her heart turned frantic at the thought. Before she was worried that her only living parent would leave her to go to prison. But now his death was looming over their heads. No, she couldn't let this happen. She couldn't let him go through the duel. 

“No, you can't do that! You can't go through the duel!” Navia cried out. But to no avail. He still didn't look her way, like he was ignoring her. Instead he looked up at the empress who still hadn't spoken, his gaze steely and cold. 

“I agree to the duel, Your Honor,” her father said, looking at the prince without even a glance at her. 

“Champion duelist, Clorinde, will you take the duty of fighting him in a duel then?” 

Navia's heart dropped. It was like she found herself in a nightmare, where her papa killed a man and her friend was going to fight him. Potentially kill him too. Her face drained of blood, shock locking her knees until she trembled. She could only mutter to herself, “No…this can't be happening…”

For a second, she hoped wildly that Clorinde would come to her senses and refuse. After all, her father took care of her too. How could she raise a hand against the very man who loved her? But then that hope too was squashed as the dark haired woman nodded grimly.

The audience gasped, mumbling among themselves at the new fascinating development in the case. They were excited at the prospect of an interesting duel to spice up their night. And Navia could only stare at the situation, her mouth agape in shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend how things had turned out. 

How could Clorinde just stand there and get ready to fight him in a duel? He had not only given her a place to stay but also took care of her after Clorinde's teacher, Petronilla, went missing. To think that she could betray both of them like this…Navia's disbelief gave way to hot, scalding fury. She wanted to shout and scream at her friend. But she couldn't—she was trapped in the society's messed up system, one that she couldn't bend and break—all she could do was watch, seething and frustrated. 

The sharp sound of giggling surprised everyone in the court, snapping the suspensive air in the courtroom. It was none other than Her Majesty, the empress, Furina who looked like she wasn't in the courtroom, overseeing a trial of life and death, justice and truth. She looked more like an ecstatic viewer perusing through a comedy show. The white haired woman theatrically got up to her feet, the audience visibly shifting in response. Both Clorinde and her father halted, looking at the empress. 

“Oh, this is a fascinating development. Even I have to admit that was a twist I didn't see coming. Brilliant! Absolutely spectacular!” Furina clapped her hands merrily, her eyes never leaving Callas. Her smile was a double-edged sword and Navia couldn't fathom why the empress was doing this. “You did what most are unable to do in this court; keeping my attention. That is quite the achievement, Lord Callas.”

“I…what do you mean by that?” Callas hesitated under her watch. 

“Yes, that is precisely my question too,” the prince joined, his gaze sharp. “Your Majesty. What is it you wish to say?”

“Only that our dear, Callas, here is a most interesting individual. I'm sure with the haste of this case, not many people will notice that the investigation is incomplete. And that any dutiful and hardworking lawyer will see to everything taken care of. Except every piece of evidence and the witnesses chosen to represent the case is done so…” Furina paused dramatically, holding everyone's attention. “Haphazardly. It's almost as if someone here doesn't want to let the truth be known.”

The audience murmured, asking questions among themselves. At first Navia was debating whether the empress was stretching out the drama to entertain herself but she waited and thought about Furina's words carefully. 

“Being an intelligent and sophisticated lady that I am, I obviously noticed that the case, as it is, is currently unfit to continue. There isn't much evidence to support either side and it would be a travesty to jump in carelessly.” Furina shook her head, choosing to sit down on her throne now that she was done being theatrical. “My darling audience, when I promised you justice, I did not say it airily. But given the lack of evidence and care, I cannot stand here and listen to a faulty judgement.”

Everyone turned silent, the gears shifting in their minds. What the empress was saying made sense. The trial was done in a haste, and even the investigation wasn't enough. It would be going against the very basis of justice to render judgement on her father. 

“I simply refuse to let such a mockery of justice continue!” Furina's tone was like a whip, making Navia flinch. These words…she remembered saying them herself. But how was it possible to…?

“If our empress says so then it must mean that it is wrong to rush with the case…”

“Yes, our empress Furina is righteous and fair. She is only saying what is correct…”

“She is right…”

Navia stared at the audience who were quick to agree with the empress. Was it fear that made them change their minds? Or was it the influence of Furina that was so effective? In a second, everyone was clamoring to speak their minds, sharing their disappointment with a duel. But Navia couldn't complain. Not when this was exactly what was necessary to stop the duel. 

“My prince, you seem conflicted. What is it?” 

Navia turned to see the empress address the prince. His brows were furrowed and his gaze confused and bothered. The prince responded, “It seems…unfair to go through the case now that you mention it. There isn't much evidence.”

The empress giggled softly. “Of course, I am always correct.” 

Though the blonde girl had much to say about Furina's arrogance dripping from her melodic voice, her attention was quickly snagged on her father. Clenched jaw and angered expression. It terrified her to see her own father look so angry and worse, his anger seemed to be targeted at none other than the empress. 

“No…you can't do this. I agreed to the duel, you cannot persuade me to change my mind.” He shouted. Furina stared down at him, her gaze unreadable. Then she changed. From a giggling, spoiled diva, she turned into a menacing and capricious empress.

Throwing her head back into fitful laughter like it was the most hilarious thing ever, she looked like a mad queen. “Oh, how amusing.”

Neuvillette pressed his lips into a thin line, displeased by her actions though like everyone in the empire, he could not do anything. “Let us not waste our precious time—”

Then, to the surprise of everyone present in the courtroom, the white haired empress pointed an accusatory finger at Callas. “Mr Callas here is hiding something from us. That is why he's reluctant to go through the standard trial.”

“Accusations must be based on evidence, Your Majesty,” the prince reminded her softly, his expression changing into a thoughtful one. “Do you have any proof of what you're saying?”

Furina laughed again. Navia blinked at that, taken aback by the empress' behavior. However the crowd was enjoying this. They were basking in Furina's words, listening to her whims. Her emotions were like the waves of the oceans, tugging everyone wherever she wanted. Even Navia, begrudgingly, could feel affected by the empress' words.

“Of course, you should have more faith in me, my prince.” Furina said in a simpering tone before she snapped a finger and two gardes appeared, accompanying a woman. Navia stared at the newcomer, feeling as though she knew her. But from where…?

The woman shied away from the attention of the audience, shirking back to the shadows but the gardes didn't let her, keeping her in the spot. Prince Neuvillette looked concerned all of a sudden. “What—?”

“This is the wife of the deceased Jacques. She currently lives in a village next to Poisson.” Furina introduced the woman. 

Upon hearing this, Navia was on the edge of her seat. Jacques’ wife? That must be why she found the woman familiar. But why would the empress bring her to the court? 

“Now, miss, would you be so kind as to step onto the podium and share what you spoke with me?” The white haired woman requested in a sweet and melodic voice, a contrast to the obvious order implied in her authority. The woman nodded fearfully and took her place on the podium. 

The audience started to murmur, questioning their empress' decisions. It was a clear divergence from the typical court cases. Navia's eyes were glued to the empress, unable to take her gaze off of her. She wondered what the purpose of this was. What did the empress gain from this? What could be her intentions? 

The woman began, “I…my husband is Jacques. He used to work with the president of the Spina.” Grief took over her form and she had tears well up in her eyes. It didn't escape Navia how she didn't meet Callas' gaze. 

Furina's tone softened. “Can you tell us what happened at the banquet?” 

“…” the woman hesitated, clasping her hands over her stomach. “Jacques told me about a special case that he was working on. About the…the investigation of Sinthe.”

The members of the audience gasped. Meanwhile Navia tried to connect the dots. She turned to Melus and asked him, “Did you know about this? That he was investigating the Sinthe case?”

“Yes, mademoiselle, he was. But…even I didn't know that Jacques was going to try and kill him.” Melus shook his head. Navia could only wonder what was going on in her father's head when he was trying to take all these secrets to his grave. How could you do this, papa?

“What was he doing?” Furina asked, leading her to the question everyone was thinking of.

Jacques' wife stayed silent before taking a deep exhale. “During the banquet, he was tasked with murdering Lord Callas.”

On the other side, Navia's father was shaking his head, his fists clenched tightly. “No…no, she is lying!” 

“You mean to say that his own wife would be lying? For what? What good reason could there be, Callas?” Furina argued. She pointed an accusatory finger at him. “And you have quite the gall to hide this from the court. The fact that you knew that Jacques was attempting to kill you.”

Callas had nothing to say about it.

The crowd went wild. The otherwise civilized members were shouting while the others were marveling at the twists and turns of the story. Navia could only gape at her father who didn't look her way. She didn't know all the details, but the second she heard the woman confess, it only proved her correct. She jumped to her feet, exclaiming. “See! He was innocent! He is not guilty. He did it in self defense.”

“Silence! Do not shout during the court proceedings, miss.” The prince gave her a glare. But his warning didn't work on the rest of the audience who all looked excited at this.

“Does that mean Callas bravely saved himself from a friend-turned-traitor?” 

“Oh, how galant! How heroic!”

“Curse Jacques. How dare he go against his employer?” 

The prince's warning was unheard as the members continued gossiping among themselves. 

“Be quiet!” A sharp voice cut through the cacophony and everyone, even the stoic prince, turned to Furina. The empress composed herself and addressed the audience. “My beloved audience, do not raise your voice during the court. We must follow the etiquette of justice and justice demands the truth be told. Now that we know the deceased in this trial was given the task of killing Callas, we can easily piece together the case. During the banquet, Lord Callas discusses his investigation with his associate, Jacques, when all of a sudden Jacques tries to attack him. Given no choice, Callas is forced to use his gun, leading to the murder. Hearing the gunshot, my very own trustworthy guard rushes to the scene and finds Callas next to the dead body. Thus it proves Callas was not guilty.”

The empress turned her head sharply towards her father whose eyes were widened in shock and disbelief. “Am I correct, Callas? Is it not how the night went?” 

He gritted his teeth but kept his head lowered. Almost as if he had no rebuttal. Furina had cornered him in a battle of wits and even her father who was strong and determined was no match for the devious and wicked ruler. 

“It…makes sense, actually,” Navia heard someone behind her murmur. The people around her slowly wrapped their heads around the series of events Furina explained. For Navia, it worked. She could give her testimony and admit that her father was in fact investigating the Sinthe case. And since Jacques’ own wife admitted to Jacques being hired to kill her father, there weren't any holes in Furina's logic. 

Meaning that her father was not guilty. For the umpteenth time, tears welled up in her eyes and she couldn't hide her relief at the words. 

“Due to the lack of any objections, the court will proceed with the information we have currently. The court will give Callas Caspar an innocent verdict.” The prince said to the disappointment of her father. Relief and happiness washed over Navia as she slumped in her chair. Tonight had been such a twist that she found herself tired and exhausted already. Melus gave her a one armed hug, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. 

She really saved him, Navia thought, shaking her head. It made no sense for the empress herself to take a personal interest in her father's trial but she did. Not only that but she did an investigation of her own and managed to clear his name. Something that Navia thought was impossible given her father's stubbornness to be truthful. But none of that mattered. He would tell her the truth and she'd wring it out of him if she had to. 

“Though the trial of Callas Caspar is handled, the ongoing investigation of Sinthe will be looked into further more,” the prince said, his voice level headed. “As per Her Majesty’s personal order, the Maison Ordalie will be carrying out an in-depth search of both the Spina di Rosula stronghold as well as expecting the cooperation of the members of the Spina di Rosula as the case is still ongoing.” 

The prince shook his head, like he was surprised by everything himself. He aimed a glance at her father. “Callas, you will be under surveillance of the Maison Ordalie and will be expected to give your complete cooperation.” 

The fight left her father as he lowered his head. Though, was it guilt or humiliation that caused him to look down? Navia couldn't tell. He was obviously upset but how could someone be upset at an innocent verdict? Tonight's trial, thanks to Her Majesty, was able to clear some of the doubts of the people. Even if the investigation would continue, she could rest assured that she would handle everything with her father. Not in absence of. In the end, she sighed in relief, her eyes trailing upwards to find the empress. However the theatrical empress’ throne was empty.

“Papa!” Navia rushed towards her father and tackled him. He embraced her back, and even though she promised herself that she would give him a piece of her mind, she couldn't stop crying in his hold. 

“I'm sorry, Navia,” he said, cradling her head. When she moved away from his embrace, she remembered her anger and glared at him. He seemed unbothered by her wrath, only holding on to her.

“How dare you! You were ready to die! How could you accept the duel instead of telling the truth!” She shook him violently and he let her, a deep sigh escaping him. 

“I…it's a long story.”

“Tell me everything! You won't hide a single thing from me. You hear me? I won't allow it.” Navia scowled fiercely, practically trembling with waves of agony and anger. She had to be harsh, had to let him know that what he did tonight was horrible. Because it was only a small miracle that he didn't go through the duel. Only through the empress’ wicked ways.

Sighing, he patted the seat next to him. “I suppose there's no other way. Since Her Majesty has been pulling secrets out of her sleeves, I don't think I can keep this a secret any longer.”

Navia obliged, taking a seat. Her eyes widened at his words. “What do you mean?”

“Let me start from the beginning then…” 

He told her about how everything came to be, how he was looking into the Sinthe case and discovered the people who were involved in it. Navia listened raptly about how he was given an ultimatum for what he discovered, how he was threatened to keep his secret unless he wanted his daughter in danger. Apparently the Sinthe case was also interlocked with another issue of the disappearance of women. The latter was something Navia had only heard in passing. But it was shocking to hear that her father was keeping these secrets for her sake.

“You were hiding the truth for me?” Navia mumbled, deep in thoughts. 

“I couldn't let them take you. I didn't want you to be one of the victims, Navia.”

“But you couldn't have trusted me to let me know?” She couldn't help but explode in anger. She always wore her heart on her sleeve and especially so with her father. “If you had just told me, none of this would have to happen. This is all your fault!”

His eyes softened but she hated to see him look at her with pity. Like she was still a ten year old, naive and incompetent, needing him to help her. “I couldn't—”

“I don't want to hear your excuses. And Jacques? You mean to tell me that he wanted to kill you? Why didn't you do anything about it? Why weren't you telling everyone that he tried hurting you first?”

Callas quietened, lost. 

Then it struck her. His desperation to fight in the duel, his stubbornness to keep everything a secret…

Navia's expression changed into a sad one. “Papa…you almost died to protect me.”

“You can cuss at me all you want, but I don't regret my decision.” He shook his head. Her sadness quickly gave way to anger again. Her fists tightened on either side of her.

“How could you say that?” She shouted, uncaring that several gardes stopped in their way to glance at the father-daughter duo arguing relentlessly. Perhaps they expected a more somber reunion but unfortunately, the Caspar family was not one for simplicity. “What would have happened if Furina hadn't stepped in? You would've continued with the duel and…and…” 

She didn't finish her sentence. I would've lost you. 

“You could at least have some shame. Or did you want to leave me too?” 

Hurt flashed in his blue eyes. Navia realized that she went too far. It wasn't his fault completely. He sighed, looking away. 

“I am truly sorry, Navia. That wasn't my intention.” 

She wrapped her arms around him, unable to stop herself from crying. “I know, but don't you dare ever think about doing anything like this. Or I'll…I will give you hell.”

He patted her comfortingly and she allowed herself to calm down. When her tears dried, she hurriedly wiped them. 

“By the way, how come the empress knew so much? I tried looking into your stuff and couldn't find anything.” She asked curiously. Now that the imminent crisis was over, she was able to think about other matters such as the empress and her strangeness. 

Hearing the empress’ name caused her father to sigh, like he was expecting that. “To be honest, I don't know either. She is a devious one.”

Navia shook her head, indignant on Furina's behalf which was strange. “You are only standing here because of her.”

“Right, I suppose. It is still strange.”

“What is?”

“How she personally handled this case. She even showed up to meet me in person and tried to persuade me to change my mind.”

Navia gasped. “The empress came to see you herself! When?”

“Last night. I was taken to the Maison Gardiennage headquarters and there she was, questioning me. I had no other choice but to reject her very kind offer.” His words were startlingly different from the diva Navia met in the courtroom. “In fact, it was baffling to imagine that my mere case would be something she'd be interested in. I believe she's been keeping an eye on me for a very long time.”

“What could be the reason for that?” Navia wondered. For Furina to be interested in her father's case and to keep tabs on him…what could be the purpose? Her father was one of the many noble families serving her and yet she personally handled justice to him. Her theatrics may have diverted everyone's attention but after hearing her father, it was clear to Navia that Furina had helped them greatly. Though she wasn't sure why the white haired empress needed to be so discreet about it. Couldn't she have simply chosen to say everything she knew instead of resorting to dramatics?

“I don't know. Even I am quite shocked by her. The way she behaved in court was a complete contrast to when I met her last night. She was far more quiet and composed. She even promised to save me.” 

Almost as if she was putting on a mask during court, pretending to be a petty and arrogant person who only cared about herself. Or she was wearing a mask when she met him first. Regardless, it was obvious that Empress Furina wasn't a simple woman. 

Shaking her head, Navia admitted honestly, “Even though the case isn't over, I still want to thank her. After all, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be able to stand here and talk to you.”

And collect my thoughts, she mused internally. 

Callas nodded grimly. “It is. I would like to thank her too. Perhaps under the highest authority, the case would get the priority it needs and everything will turn out well.” 

Navia bid farewell to her father who was surrounded by gardes and made her way to meet the empress, if only to piece together the puzzle that was Her Majesty Furina. However when she was given the directions to the waiting room where she might get to see her, she instead found herself in an awkward situation.

“...have no right to speak to me in such a manner. Need I remind you that I, Focalors, am the ruler of Fontaine.” Furina was saying, her voice indignant. She slapped a hand on the coffee table, shaking the fine teacups. She was arguing with none other than the prince, Neuvillette. The prince was a complete contrast to his composed self, now his expression tightened. 

“Apologies if my tone wasn't pleasant for you, Your Majesty, but as the chief justice, it is also my duty to enact judgement and I cannot do that if you, not only, inconvenience me and then also keep secrets from me.” 

Almost like a magic trick, she fell into her seat like a wilted flower, all her indignation gone in an instant. “Can we not have this conversation right now? Look on the bright side! It was a happy ending and nobody needed to die. Let's leave it at that.”

Neuvillette pressed his lips. “Die? You mean to tell me that he wanted to die? Is this something you knew ‘on your own’? Or is it another secret you wish to keep?”

“I am sorry for derailing the court proceedings, Neuvillette. However, sometimes it is more important to listen to the people and soothe their worries. I couldn’t stand there and watch him try to take his own life.” The emotion in her tone was evident, surprising Navia. She sounded so dejected and hurt.

He averted his eyes, though his jaw was clenched. “I see.”

“I handled everything, didn't I? You needn't worry.” The empress tried cheering him up, forcing a smile that didn't meet her bright eyes. She reached for him, patting his arm. He didn't look convinced but didn't twitch at her either. Perhaps the rumors were wrong, and the prince didn't dislike the empress that much. He certainly didn't seem like he loathed her. Not when he didn't step away from her touch.

“I appreciate you trying to comfort me, but that wasn't my intention. I only wanted to inquire about your…less than normal methods of investigating the case.”

Furina laughed, but it was more for his sake than a genuine reason. “None of that matters anymore, my dear. Leave this to me.”

“I—” 

Finally they seemed to register her presence. Navia shirked away from their attention, wanting to return and leave them to their conversation. However, whatever the prince wanted to say died in his mouth and he shook his head. “I shall not take your time, then. Allow me to take my leave, Your Majesty.”

And then he left, barely nodding in response to Navia. 

“Ohoho, is it the Navia Caspar? I have heard many things about you,” Furina turned her full attention to her. Now that they were standing face to face, the height difference was more clear now. She only came up to Navia's shoulder, a petite woman befitting a delicate beauty. Navia could never have imagined that the empress would be so non-intimidating and in fact…quite adorable. She looked like one of those porcelain dolls that Navia saw in shops sometimes.

“Likewise, Your Majesty,” she bent into a curtsy. 

She waved a hand, laughing airily. “You must be here to thank me. There will be no need for that since I only did what was the right thing to do.”

“I…yes, I wanted to thank you in person. What you did for me and my father…I don't have enough words to describe my gratitude. If it weren't for you, I don't know where we would be right now.” Navia ended her speech in a whisper, not wanting to cry in front of her of all people. 

Furina's eyes—the most magnificent and brilliant blue of two tones, she belatedly realized—widened, shock and awkwardness replacing her confident appearance. She shyly scratched her cheek. “Um…you don't need to be so humble. I am simply happy to help my subjects…”

Taken aback by the empress' sudden shyness, Navia blinked. “Oh.”

“I'm just glad that I was able to save someone. Had he gone through the trial…” she shook her head slightly, her white curls bouncing. “We would have lost a great man and a father. Lady Navia, you are a wonderful daughter, he may not tell you that personally but he loves you a lot. That is the reason why he chose to do this. I saw you during the trial. You looked upset at him. But he was only trying to protect you. Don't let this incident drive a wall between you two.”

“Your Majesty…” Navia was at a loss for words. She could only gape at her open-mouthed, shocked by the real care and kindness in her words. “...thank you for your kindness.”

“What kind of an empress would I be if my subjects lived in worry?” Furina let out a small giggle. Then, shaking her head, she asked, “Um…are you feeling okay? It must've been quite a shock to you.”

It was then that Navia lost it. She blinked, overwhelmed with emotion. It was like the floor disappeared beneath her, leaving her with no footing. Hot tears dripped down her face and she touched them gingerly. “I…I was terrified of losing my father.”

Furina's eyes softened, the baby blue and navy eyes bejeweled in her teary gaze. “I am very sorry. He's your only living parent, isn't he?” 

Nodding, she wiped her tears. It was bad manners to cry in front of the empress, even if it was in gratitude. But Furina had not pointed that out, instead she looked at her worryingly. Come to think of it, she even looked embarrassed, which made no sense since she was the empress, cruel and wicked. How could she…

“Yes, my mother sadly passed away during childbirth. I never knew her well. All I have is my father even though we don't see eye-to-eye with most things.” Navia shook her head, trying to compose herself. Guilt and gratitude swelled in her chest. She had thought so little of the empress. But here she was, listening to her ramble about her family with kind eyes. Perhaps everyone had been wrong about her. 

“I'm sure your mother was just as lovely as you,” Furina smiled softly. “But you don't have to worry about your father. I, empress Furina, give you my word that he will be unharmed and the criminals guilty of hurting his reputation will be punished justly. And that I will leave no stones unturned when it comes to enacting justice to each and every criminal.”

She extended a gloved hand in front of Navia. The golden haired woman kept staring at the hand offered to her, marveling and surprised.

“Trust me.”

The empress she knew of was cruel and vindictive, arrogant and selfish. She certainly appeared that way in the trial, being dramatic and theatrical. But outside, she couldn't be any different. The very same woman apparently tried convincing her father to be honest and promised to save him. And then promised her that she would solve everything, asking her to trust her. Navia couldn't reconcile the two sides of Furina. Was she kind or was she cruel? Was she petty or thoughtful? Such duality in a singular person…it was strange and oddly, Navia was only more curious. She wanted to know her, know all the details and facets of her. Curiosity and something else made her accept her hand and grasp it firmly. 

She looked up at Furina, her eyes wide and entranced as a light dusting of pink washed over her. “O-of course, Your Majesty!” 

The smile that graced Furina’s face was the most magnificent thing she had ever seen, her delicate beauty enhanced until Navia couldn't see anything that wasn't the white haired empress. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach, fluttering like never before as a warm feeling took over her. There was a sense of deja vu she couldn't explain, like she knew this before. Navia found herself so tongue-tied that she couldn't muster a word in response, only gazing at her. 

Furina laughed at her, lifting a hand to cover her smile before she said, “Now, now, I cannot spend all time conversing with you even though I wish this could continue. I have an empire to rule.” 

Navia nodded eagerly, lowering into a curtsy again, feeling excited all of a sudden. “Good evening, Your Majesty.” 

“See you in the next trial. Until then, toodles!” Her merry giggles filled the room as she waved at her flippantly. The empress rushed out of the room, her white curls fluttering. It was then Navia realized her previous feeling of deja vu, where she recalled this exact scene. 

Her mouth parted in awe and surprise. The night before…with that stranger in a cloak…the girl who told her that her father was innocent.

Navia distinctly remembered a pair of heterochromia eyes, and felt immediately stupid for not having figured it out yet. When the realization slammed into her, her knees almost buckled. How could she not have noticed it before? Those eyes…they were the most magnificent and unique pair of eyes she had ever had the luxury of looking into. No one else had those glittering heterochromia eyes. That meant it was the empress she complained to. It was none other than the empress that Navia said all sorts of things, criticizing the empire's justice and system.

“Oh, no, what have I done?” Navia covered her face with her hands, groaning into her palms. 

Chapter Text

Things moved smoothly after the trial, leaving Furina ample time to deal with the new reports from the Fontaine Research Institute. They weren't anything substantial but she could at least breathe in relief knowing that she still had everything under control. And thus a peaceful week passed. 

It then came to her mind how she had forgotten a very important part; right after the trial, Navia developed an immense hatred and spite for both the judicial system as well as the prince who declared her father guilty. In the play, she became wrought with grief and anger, and she took out her emotions with being more active in societal problems. However, since Furina's intervention was enough to not only save Callas, but also maintain his reputation, it left her to wonder what would happen onwards. Navia should have no reason to wallow in her loss, which was of course a good thing. But Furina couldn't help but wonder how the heroine of the play would change because of it. Would it cause her to not be as righteous and fair now that she didn't go through such a heartbreaking incident? Or would fate keep going in its track like nothing had changed?

Such thoughts weighed on her mind as she enjoyed her afternoon slice of cake. The palace chefs always indulged her with delicacies and finely brewed tea, and she often had to restrain herself otherwise her lovely figure wouldn't stay the same. She was accompanied by Prince Neuvillette, the hero of the story, who typically wouldn't indulge her with his presence but somehow he learned to be amicable enough to tolerate her more than necessary. In fact, he had been hanging out with her more than necessary, leading her to wonder what made the cold-hearted prince change his mind. 

“What has you ignoring your pastry?” He asked, lifting his eyes from the case file he was reading. 

Giving a smile, she shook her head. “Just the upcoming annual ball. I still haven't received the three ball gowns from the seamstresses yet.”

That wasn't a lie, for once. The grand annual ball happened just after the trial of Callas, meaning the wound was quite fresh in Navia's mind. It was during the ball that Neuvillette and Navia had a scathing argument which would catapult them into having a tumultuous relationship. Navia even insulted him in front of everyone and to add to the injury, Focalors found it hilarious, further humiliating Neuvillette. However Furina didn't want such to happen in this case. She wanted things to go in a smoother way. Some things were enjoyable when they were fiction, and she found that she disliked the idea of Navia and Neuvillette hating each other. She'd like it for them to go along peacefully. 

“That reminds me,” Furina's eyes glittered with curiosity as she examined him. “You need an outfit for the ball too.” 

“I already have one that is presentable,”

“Pssh, you need more than presentable, you have to be the most handsome man in there!” 

Neuvillette opened his mouth but he shut it immediately. His silence wasn't unusual from him but Furina could sense his hesitation. After a brief pause, he said tentatively, “You think I am handsome?” 

“Huh?” Where did that come from? Did he not know how absolutely beautiful he was? With those silky long hair, he could make any woman jealous. His eyes were so sharp and magnificent, hiding an ocean of secrets. Everything about him was perfect. Furina even had a tiny crush on Luc, the actor for Neuvillette. But perhaps this question was revealing the more insecure and gentle side of him. Perhaps he was unsure of his own charms. 

She leaned forward and batted her eyelashes at him. “You're something out of a fairytale, you know.” She burst into giggles, enjoying his shocked expression. For someone so stoic, he sure was endearing when he looked confused. 

Neuvillette's jaw twitched and he turned away, averting his gaze. “...in that case, I shall also have another outfit tailored for the ball.” 

“Excellent! We should have matching outfits. But can they even make something in two days?” The seamstresses never denied her orders. But it would certainly be a worry if they failed to finish in time.

“Since it's the empress asking, I'm sure they would be able to make anything to satisfy you.” Cheeks still pink, he regarded her with a nod. It was still a wonder how he managed to tolerate her presence. The Neuvillette in the story would definitely not spend so much time with her but as Furina was discovering, he was turning out quite different than the character in the play. For starters, here he was, listening to her ramble even though he had plenty of work to do. Once she'd asked him if she should let him work in peace, he replied that as the prince, it was his duty to take care of her. Oddly, Furina never heard such a dialogue from the play. Huh, that's strange.

Neuvillette further surprised her by saying, “Should I take some time off to accompany you to the seamstresses?” 

“Surely I can't waste your time with such small work,” Furina shook her head, her voice insecure. After all, she hardly did enough work to keep the empire going; it was Neuvillette who managed most of it. He'd been handling more than what happened in the play, courtesy of Furina wanting to give him more authority to train him to be a good sovereign later on. To her pleased surprise, he accepted the duty and authority, thankful. Though he made sure to add something like ‘I hope to stay here for as long as possible’ but he'd denied it when she asked him.

“I don't consider it a waste of time to help you,” he answered honestly. 

“There's no need to go with me. I'll require your measurements. That should be enough.” She amended, bashful. She already took too much of his time, clinging to him because she was too lonely in the Palais Mermonia. She didn't want to force him out of his precious work for a trivial matter. 

“Very well. I'll take your word for it.”

“Oh, that reminds me of something—” Furina started, trying to sound calm. “The lady Navia…what do you think of her?” 

“Who?” Neuvillette blinked. “You mean the daughter of Callas Caspar?” 

“The very same.” She rested her chin under her palms, staring at him. Internally she wondered what the lead hero thought of the heroine. “So what do you think of her?” 

Did he feel that sense of curiosity towards Navia, just like in the story? Was he confused by her actions? She was quite different from most people he interacted with; she was spunky, bright, confident, charming and kind, putting her heart on her sleeve. Everyone else in his life lied and pretended to him and the confident honesty both confused and charmed him. Navia made him see the joy and beauty of life that he otherwise failed to see, cloistered in the lonely halls of the palace. There was one part where Neuvillette saw her standing in front of her father's grave in the rain and when they both talked to each other, he felt remorse for her father. And he felt like he failed her, making him want to mend everything between them. 

As such, Furina expected some sort of response from him that would indicate his confusion and curiosity towards her. Perhaps he would say that she was a very interesting person. However…

“I don't have any opinion on her,” Neuvillette responded out of nowhere, breaking her bubble. Furina blinked, surprised by his nonchalance. Did he…did he really not have any opinion on her? Or was he hiding his true feelings in front of her? 

“Wait, really?” She stammered, her mismatching eyes going wide. “Nothing? Not even a small assumption?” 

He shook his head. “I am afraid the answer will be a no.”

Frowning, she gave an upset look at him even though he probably wouldn't understand why she was disappointed. “That's…that's not a good thing at all! I must rectify this.”

“What do you mean?” He tilted his head. 

“I must introduce you to her! Lady Navia is a wonderful woman. She is quite an awesome person.” She waved her hands animatedly. The better impression they had on each, the easier it would be for her. Come to think of it, maybe she should simply force them into a dance during the ball. That way they could learn more about each other.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I don't understand why you would wish to do that. What is your intention to have me acquainted with Lady Navia?” Neuvillette stated bluntly. 

“Well…” Furina started before she realized that she really had no explanation. She couldn't exactly tell him that she knew that he was going to fall in love with Navia later. If she told him that, he'd be alarmed and probably question her sanity. 

Chuckling awkwardly, she scratched her cheek. “...she's a lovely woman? Someone like her is quite valuable, you know.” 

“To be honest, she was very disrespectful, breaking the rules of the court. That aside, I don't have any particular opinion on her.” 

“She was under duress! Think of it, her father, her only living parent, would be put on trial and then charged with the duel. She would of course be worried. So it makes perfect sense for her to disregard the rules. I ask that you don't hold that against her.” 

Neuvillette rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “Ah…when you put it this way, I can understand what you're saying.” 

Furina smiled brightly. “Of course! You see, she's not so bad. In fact, given how adamant she was during the trial, she's loyal and righteous, isn't she?” 

“I…I guess so.” 

“Then, wouldn't you say that someone like her, so honest, loyal and righteous, is someone to befriend?” 

“I—” She interrupted him with a finger.

“She's exactly what you would like!” 

Silence filled the office room. So eerily silent that she could hear the noises from the other parts of the palace. Neuvillette hadn't spoken at all, instead he stared at her. After a long stretch of quietness, she asked in a small voice, “Neuvillette?” 

“Why would you think that?” He questioned, eyes narrowed. 

“Huh? Why not? I thought you might get along with her quite well.” That's the whole reason why he and Navia were the protagonists of the story. Masquerade of the Guilty wasn't just a social commentary, it also had a love story to prove that justice and life were interwoven. The two of them grew to love each other because of their desire for justice and peace. 

Instead of making sense, Neuvillette sighed and covered his eyes with his hand. Was he displeased? Wait, why would he be displeased or disappointed? He looked like he was fighting an internal battle and when he returned her gaze, he told her, “Allow me to make it clear when I say that I do not wish to befriend or get along with Lady Navia. Please disperse these thoughts out of your head. I have no idea how you even come to this conclusion…” 

“But wait! That makes no sense—I thought–” she said hurriedly, taken aback by the usually stoic and aloof prince. 

“Pray tell, what did you think?” He inquired in a calm, composed tone though she felt the undercurrent of something else in his voice. 

Defeated, she muttered, “I suppose not…” 

Satisfied with her response, Neuvillette gave a curt nod and resumed his perusal of the files. Furina imagined that since she was the empress and more so engaged to him, he felt reluctant to open up about his feelings. Perhaps he himself struggled to understand his own feelings. After all, didn't he battle his own affection for Navia until the very end? For someone like him, it must be quite hard and complicated to be open. He must've been trying to save his face! 

Aha, she figured him out perfectly. Neuvillette's reason to marry Focalors had been to find a footing and gather his power. Admitting to Focalors that he was attracted to some other woman would surely ruin his plans. 

“I apologize for bringing this up with you. I realize now that it wasn't appropriate to mention it.” Furina touched his arm tentatively. I'm not the right person to ask this. Had I been someone else, surely you'd confide me in. “Forgive me, my dear prince.” 

“You don't need to apologize to me, Your Majesty,” his cheeks turned the slightest pink, his amethyst eyes endearingly soft. 

“You’re the sweetest thing,” she cooed at him, truly surprised how far the stoic prince had come. How polite and gentle he was with her. “Given our engagement, I can hardly ask you about such matters.”

“What do you mean?” 

“However, please know that should you ever find yourself in love with someone else, I shall never hold you back. In pursuit of love, everything is fair.” 

Immediately Neuvillette's soft and tender expression soured, his eyes hardening. She couldn't fathom his reaction. She had hoped that he would at least be relieved to hear that. 

“...I see. You don't have to concern yourself with that, Your Majesty. I don't plan to grow attached to anyone. My duty is to you.” 

“I'm just giving you my blessings! And life is so much more than just doing work.” Furina insisted.

“It is the most important thing for me,” he responded bluntly and casually before returning to sipping on his goblet. Furina stared at him, pouting at his words. How could he just say that? Oh, well, then, there was plenty of time for him to come to terms with his feelings. Even if he couldn't share them with her, she'd just have to eavesdrop and observe him. And when that happened, Furina would ensure that she helped him court Navia properly.

“Hah, in no time you'd be changing your tune,” she reminded him, getting to her feet. She pointed a finger at him. Furina exited his office, rushing to get ready to go to the seamstresses. 

Unbeknownst to her, the prince sat in his chair, blinking at the tsunami of the woman leaving his office. Bereft at her absence, he tried to make sense of her. She was the most confusing person he had ever seen. Trying to get him interested in someone else…surely she was only pulling a prank on him. 

Furina's plan to bring Neuvillette and Navia together had changed. Ever since she realized that she was the wrong person to ask him about his feelings, she had to come up with a different way to navigate matters of heart. For this, she didn't have to think too hard. The original play’s plot would surely come to help her. As such, she made an ingenious plan. 

During the grand annual ball, she'd have Navia and Neuvillette dance together where they'd have a heart to heart. She'd also make sure to get herself busy with other matters to ensure that neither of them would get interrupted. But her romantic heart couldn't just be happy with this arrangement. So she even had the genius idea to write a letter to Navia, but penning as anonymous, leading her to believe that it was Neuvillette who sent her this. This came to her mind because she too wanted the romantics of being sent an anonymous letter from an admirer. Oh, how nice it would be if someone would give her such a letter, promising her sweet nothings. 

Furina channeled her inner romantic poetry as she wrote a letter, speaking high praises of Lady Navia and how charming and kind she was, how her sunshine hair was just as bright as her heart. She made sure to focus on Navia's personality more than her looks, knowing that she might not like to hear that. As she wrote the love letter, she started to realize that she was adding parts that she discovered the night before the trial, where she met Navia in a disguise. How determined and brave she was to save her father. How she could speak her mind without fear, how honorable and good she was at heart. 

Lady Navia would attend the grand annual ball as she was of noble blood. Along with the invitation, she'd also receive this anonymous love letter, and she would obviously question who could send her this. When she would arrive at the Palais Mermonia, she'd search for the person who wrote her such a lovely letter and would end up getting into a long dance with Neuvillette. They'd have a conversation then, making them realize their attraction towards each other. And then when they'd inevitably fall in love, Furina, the ever gracious and kind empress, would give them her blessing instead of separating them. 

Of course, she realized that Neuvillette would question this. He might blurt out that it wasn't him who wrote her a love letter. But Furina was counting on him not understanding what was going on. 

This was far more from the heartwarming love story Furina wanted but she was the villainess, wasn't she? She would have to use her villain-like ways to get the two protagonists to fall for each other. This just would be another addition to the ever-growing lies. 

Dearest Navia,

To you who have captured my heart and soul. You are the sun and moon in my life, bringing light to the darkness and the companion in my solitude. When I see you, I can't keep myself calm, I feel my heart bursting out of my chest. So I hide away from you. Ever since I saw you, I can't help but be enamored with how strong and kind you are. Your determination and loyalty, your protectiveness, your bright and beautiful soul, how brave you are, I find myself falling for you more and more each day. You challenge everything for your loved ones, you are not afraid of anything.

Perhaps you don't know who I am. That's because I feel too shy to tell you who I am. Would you be reluctant to accept my affection if you knew me, the real me? I hope you allow me to admire you, even if unrequited. As long as you continue to be yourself, I want to bask in your loveliness. Just for once, I'd like to see you up close. Meet me at the Palais Mermonia for the grand annual ball.

Yours, 

Anonymous 

Navia's heart was lodged in her throat as her eyes roved over the letter that arrived with the invitation. She had perhaps read it ten times already, unable to tear her eyes off of it. How could she when it was the most magnificent letter she had ever gotten? No one had ever spoken of her in this manner. 

As the daughter of the noble lord, she had plenty of admirers, even received many such letters from people who wanted her hand in marriage. But they always spoke of her beauty, her appearance and face because that happened to be the only thing they could focus on. They had never paid attention to her attributes, her personality and beliefs. Even her own father considered her as a stubborn and hard-headed girl who was too naive. 

To have someone speak of her as someone who was capable and strong, it nearly made her tear up a little. She then wondered who could send her this. Did she even know someone who secretly liked her? Nobody came to mind. Navia at first wanted to dismiss the letter and move on with her day, but she then noticed the details she hadn't noticed yet. 

The letter came with the invitation which was sent out by the Palais Mermonia, meaning it couldn't have been someone from Poisson. It had to be someone who could intercept the message. But who? Navia knew of some people who worked for the Maison Gardiennage on behalf of the Spina, but she didn't think it could be them. 

Pondering who it could be, she roamed around her room. Her wardrobe was emptied out on her bed, dresses and petticoats and stockings strewn across every inch of it. She had to get ready for the ball but something more important occupied her mind. Who could have sent her a letter? Who could this mystery admirer be? And did she know them? They must have been quite close to her to be able to know her well but clearly not enough that Navia didn't know. 

She sat down on her bed, lips pursing into a thoughtful frown. On one hand…this could be someone's attempt at a marriage proposal. Navia was of age to get married but she had always believed that she'd marry for love, not some political benefits. Even her father couldn't sway her; in fact, he was very protective of her, not accepting any proposal from the other noble families. 

It was then she connected the dots. The letter came from the palace. A deeply cherished memory of a beautiful young woman with white hair came to mind. Instinctively Navia flushed bright red. Furina de Fontaine, the empress of Fontaine had taken up a big space in her heart seemingly out of nowhere. She couldn't escape the thoughts of Furina, no matter what she was busy with, the kind and gentle words from the white haired woman flashed in her head. It was hard to forget such a woman, so sweet and kind. Navia struggled to understand the two sides of her, the soft-spoken young woman and the dramatic diva. But regardless of her confusion, one thing Navia had to admit was that if it weren't for Furina, she'd be an orphan today. For that, she was eternally grateful and thankful.

However her gratefulness wasn't the only reason why Navia couldn't stop thinking of her. She couldn't help but wonder about the enigma that was Furina. Curiosity and intrigue made her want to know her more. Why did the rumors make her out to be a cruel woman, when she bothered herself to save a man just because he was innocent? Despite her pretence during the court, Navia knew in her heart that Furina was a person who cared for people. And someone like that was truly admirable.

Her cheeks grew warm once again at the thought and she shook her head, telling herself that she was getting ahead of herself. There was no way it could be the empress who would send her a love letter. She was already engaged to someone. That cold-hearted, heartless prince who cared more for the rules than people. Someone like him didn't deserve to be with a kind soul as Empress Furina. 

With a sigh, Navia laid back on the bed, feeling some strange and twisted concoction of disappointment and envy. She opened the letter and read it again, somehow the content in it both calmed her and excited her. She imagined that it was Furina who wrote her this letter. After meeting her that night when the empress was in a cloak, Furina was intrigued by her, by her honesty when she shared how much she loathed the society. Perhaps the empress felt understood by her words and…

“Ugh!” Navia groaned, feeling foolish. She was being too naive to think the empress would take an interest in her. Though she considered herself to be a charming and great person, she was only the daughter of a lord, whereas the empress had all the wealth in the world. She could have anyone. And yet imagining herself to be admired by her made butterflies flutter in her belly. 

Ever since I saw you, I can't help but be enamored with how strong and kind you are. The lines repeated in her head and she had to admit that the chances of it being the empress were high. After all, who else knew her to be strong and determined and brave but the empress when she saw Navia deciding that she would not let her father suffer? After all, who else would know that? 

Her eyes were glued to the letter as she read her favorite lines aloud. “Would you be reluctant to accept my affection if you knew me, the real me? Who could you be if not her? Maybe I'm letting my ego think for me but it has to be her.” 

No one would imagine the usually flamboyant empress to be shy but Navia knew it. She witnessed it with her own eyes. There was a softer and more shy side to her. And that line could only prove her correct. 

Her heart fluttered wildly as she hugged the letter to her chest. She couldn't put a name to what she was feeling. She didn't know what she felt for Furina. Love was too early to say. But it was more than an interest. It was more than simple curiosity. 

Just for once, I'd like to see you up close. Meet me at the Palais Mermonia for the grand annual ball.

Very well. Navia too would like to see her again. There were so many questions she wanted to ask her. The ball would be the perfect time. 

The Palais Mermonia was glittering tonight with chandeliers, candelabras and arches draped with golden fabrics. The floor was carpeted with red rugs. The typically busy palace was even busier tonight, servants and Melusines running about everywhere. Furina only got to see a glimpse of the hall but from what she saw, it was magnificent. She had never seen luxury this much. The prop stages she had to work with were not even comparable to the real deal. Excited, she let the maids prepare her for the grand annual ball. She was dressed in a blue gown with embroidered and decorated corset, the silk fabric flowing down her legs like waterfall. Her neckline was seductively cut low, revealing the upper halves of her breasts. Her hair was pulled into a bun with curls spilling down the sides of her face. Two teardrop earrings decorated her ears, making her look like the finest gem. 

As she admired herself in the mirror, her heart was jumping recklessly. Her lips were bright red, drawing her attention to them before she got enamored with her heterochromia eyes. They were lined with dark eyeliner, emphasizing the lashes. She had never looked so beautiful. So beautiful that she was getting giddy. 

Furina twirled around, enjoying the skirt flutter around her legs. She laughed, her mind a lot peaceful than before. Of course she was beautiful, she was the empress after all. It was a good idea of her to have this lovely gown prepared for her. Most things in her wardrobe ended up being too villain-like for her liking. She didn't want to look like a villainess tonight. In the end, she looked like a fairytale princess. 

A knock was at her door. Furina called out, “You may enter.”

Clorinde appeared through the door, surprising her with the sudden change. The duelist was dressed in a deep purple gown that was nearly black, her long hair let loose for the first time. Furina was so surprised by her that her mouth fell open, she couldn't even compliment her properly. Clorinde looked like a queen. 

It was then her personal guard looked at her and the surprise in her purple eyes was mutual. 

“You look…” Clorinde began. “Very beautiful.” 

Flushing, she ducked her head, feeling bashful. “Thank you. You are clearly more beautiful.” 

Clorinde shook her head. “Nonsense. You rival the beauty of the moon and the stars.” 

Now Furina was blushing even more. She pouted at the dark haired woman. “I'm being serious. And since when did you start waxing poetic all of a sudden?” 

“I do not wax poetic. I'm merely stating the truth. Anyways, that's enough chitchatting. The ball is about to start. Let us join the party.” 

“Already? I want to be fashionably late.” 

“This is fashionably late enough, I assure you.” Clorinde extended a hand to her and she accepted it. “You don't want to keep the people waiting.”

“Of course! Of course.” Furina let out a nervous giggle. Internally she debated how everything was going to unfurl tonight. She couldn't unfortunately get any confirmation that Navia received the letter but she hoped it actually did because she had no other option but to think positively. Once Navia arrives, Furina will make some kind of drama to leave the ball so Neuvillette and Navia could dance together. And Furina was excellent at causing drama. 

They both descended down the stairs which led them to the main hall, the crowd already mingling with everyone. Her eyes widened in excitement as she glanced around the room. 

“Your Majesty,” a voice spoke behind her. Furina turned around and met Neuvillette. He was–oh, he looked so beautiful. The elaborate robes he wore tonight brought attention to his broad shoulders. He was obviously beautiful but now he was truly something else entirely. He gazed at her with his handsome face, his strong features softened by the silver hair framing his forehead. 

“Oh, look at you!” Furina exclaimed, reaching out to touch his face and he let her. “You will break a lot of people's hearts tonight.”

“What do you mean?” he questioned.

Giggling, she replied, “Nothing. I'm so glad that your outfit is perfect! You look perfect, my handsome prince.” 

“You are the most beautiful person tonight,” Neuvillette smiled at her—a rare occurrence. He then noticed Clorinde beside her and gave her a nod. “As do you, Miss Clorinde.” 

“You flatter me, prince.” The champion duelist had a glint of mischief in her eyes. 

He offered Furina a hand. “Let us greet the guests.” 

Furina was about to place her hand over his but she realized last second that this was the part where she needed to cause some kind of drama to leave. Hesitating, she glanced around, trying to find an excuse. “Um…how about I go on my own? You should stick to the party.”

He frowned. “You want to go alone? But why?” 

“I will handle it myself.” She gave him a push, smiling at him. “I'll see you later!”

Neuvillette reluctantly stepped back, though his expression revealed how confused he was about this. Still he listened to her and returned to the party. 

“What are you up to?” Clorinde asked, standing too close to her. Furina had almost forgotten about her in her haste to get rid of Neuvillette. She turned to the duelist and grinned awkwardly. 

“Nothing!”

“Oh? And sending the prince away is for nothing?” 

“That's…” Furina hesitated. “That's because I didn't want him to stick with me too much. Tonight's ball is more than just tradition. I want him to have fun and he'd never let himself enjoy being around me. He's too uptight and reserved. I want him to be free for once, able to interact with anyone he wants.”

Clorinde let out a sigh, shaking her head. “I don't think someone like him would suddenly let go of his reservations.”

“That's why I made sure to plan something for him,” Furina said excitedly. 

“What? What are you going to do?” 

She snickered. “Well, only time will tell. For now, I must get this party starting. Let's go.”

Furina lifted her long train of skirt and made her way to the throng of people. Everyone gave her a curtsy when they noticed her, quietening immediately at her presence. Furina raised her head high as she addressed everyone. “Greetings, my beloved subjects! Tonight is the grand annual ball. For centuries, Fontaine has celebrated this ball and it will be no different tonight. Let us raise our chalices and enjoy!”

The crowd cheered. Music filled the ballroom and everyone started to clasp their hands to dance. Furina glanced around the room, trying to look for Navia. She should be here by now. She was sent the invitation, no? In the midst of everyone, Furina couldn't catch a glimpse of the bright blond head.

Noticing her anxious expression, Clorinde asked, “Is everything alright?” 

“Huh? Nothing. Are you not going to dance?” 

“I couldn't possibly leave my post and go dancing. I must stay by your side.” 

“Oh, don't be silly. There are already too many gardes here, I will be fine. I couldn't keep you here, bored while everyone is having fun.” Furina was confident that she could handle being alone for the ball. Clorinde didn't need to stick around her. 

But the champion duelist insisted, “I am never bored around you, Your Majesty. Every moment with you is a moment I cherish.” 

A blush reddened her face. “You really mean it?” 

“Yes, I am quite content with being around you. So please allow me to stay with you.” 

Furina fiddled with her fingers, averting her eyes from the duelist’s stare. It was really sweet of her to say that. Had anyone said that to her before? She couldn't recall. The ordinary Furina would never have someone say that to her. Focalors, even more so. Focalors’ reputation had made her loathed by many people, in fact the people who were the closest to her hated her the most. Even Clorinde who opted to help the wicked empress due to her infallible loyalty, would end up learning her ways. Still, Furina had to admit that she was very happy to hear Clorinde say that.

“You're too loyal, Clorinde.” She mustered the courage to look the duelist in the eye. 

“On the contrary, I find that it's because I respect and care about you. I'm dutiful but not to this extent. It is only because of you.” 

The breath whooshed out of her chest. Furina let out a soft gasp at Clorinde's words. Wait, this wasn't what happened in the play. Clorinde wasn't supposed to become more loyal to her as the story progressed; it was the opposite! 

Furina asked in a meek voice, “You mean to say that you care about me? More than as the empress?” 

“I care about you as a person. As Furina, as Focalors.” Clorinde's eyes shimmered and under the glittering chandeliers, the purple of them were a magnificent shade that amazed Furina. “You asked me if I could see you as a friend. I have.”

Despite the divergence from the play, hearing those words brought a big smile on her face. Furina grinned widely, unable to contain her cheerful expression. “I'm so honored to hear that! You're my friend too. I was worried that I might have been too pushy when I asked you to consider me your friend. It really lifts a lot of weight off my shoulders.” 

Clorinde smiled in response, small but visible. For the unsmiling champion, this was a big deal. “I'm pleased to hear that.” 

Now that she was truly her friend, Furina could count on her. When and if her plans go haywire, she could depend on Clorinde to protect her. Perhaps this time Clorinde wouldn't turn on her.

And then, she surprised her more by offering Furina a hand. “Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?” 

Chapter Text

“Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?” Clorinde asked her, her eyes soft and mesmerizing. Furina ended up staring at her, marveling at her beautiful face framed by silky black hair. Furina was aware of her beauty but it wasn't until she was staring at her directly that she felt that realization. 

Furina's lips curved into a gentle and shy smile as she accepted Clorinde's hand. “Of course!” 

She was swept away in the arms of the champion, hair fluttering and skirt blowing as they twirled and turned into the pull of the music. The orchestra continued its performance, Furina giggling as Clorinde led the dance. Though Furina was skilled in ballet, dancing, singing and acting, it was certainly fun to allow someone else to take the lead. Mid-dance, she glanced at Clorinde and realized that she had been staring at her the whole time. 

She spun Furina once, twice, thrice before she collided into the champion duelist's arms, laughing to herself. 

“Oh, this was so nice! I had so much fun!” Furina didn't step away from her, still smiling. 

“I'm glad you enjoyed it.” Clorinde said, keeping an arm around her waist, bringing her close. 

“Of course I did. I love to dance.” She couldn't help but brag. But the way Clorinde was looking at her told her that the dark haired woman was besotted. “And you weren't a terrible partner,” she reminded her, poking the champion on the nose. She had no idea that Clorinde was skilled in dancing but she was certainly captivating in her movement, able to enchant her. 

“That is true. You always did have a penchant for drama and entertainment. Good to see that still hasn't changed.”

Something about her tone didn't sit right with her. Furina stilled at that, lifting her gaze up to meet Clorinde's sharp eyes. “Whatever do you mean by that?”

“I'm talking about your behavior, Your Majesty. Did you think I, your most loyal and obedient servant, wouldn't be suspecting anything?” Clorinde kept speaking in a calm tone, like nothing had changed at all and they were still dancing. “Did you think I don't know your closest spies and members?” 

A chill went down her spine. She tried pushing the champion away but her hold on her waist was tight. Clorinde wouldn't let go of her and to Furina's surprise, the dark haired woman had taken her to a more secluded part of the ballroom, meaning that no one could eavesdrop on them. Fear gripped her heart like a vise and she could only stammer in indignation. “You…you…how dare you snoop through my stuff?”

“I'm very certain that it was you who gave me permission to access your personal chambers for security purposes. Are you saying you somehow don't remember that?” 

She tried to push the taller woman away from her. “What is this, an investigation? I should be punishing you right now for daring to a-accuse me of—”

“Lying? Cheating? Betraying? I'd like to hear whatever you're thinking of. It will at least make it clear what you're up to.” 

Furina gaped at Clorinde who was calm and collected. She had never expected her own guard to doubt her. She knew that something like this would happen one way or another, but she just never thought it was going to be the champion duelist, the right hand of the empress. She gritted her teeth, clenching her jaw. “I have no idea what you're trying to prove. You have one chance before I renege my benevolence and punish you.”

Clorinde finally let go of her, straightening to her full height. “To begin with, your strange behavior is most concerning. At first I went along with it thinking that maybe you actually became a different person. But then you intentionally kept me out of matters that I as your champion should know. You not only hid things from me but also have been up to something.”

Falling silent, she felt like the ground was unstable. Furina had thought she was cunning enough to hide everything but Clorinde had apparently noticed it all. She had even gone as far as to bring her far away from everyone else so she would be forced to give a response. And what was more worrying was how the champion was going to respond to this. 

“So?” She tilted her head up haughtily. “I am your superior, I don't have to tell you things. Perhaps I've been too kind to you if you start acting like you deserve to know my secrets.”

She was breathless, her heart racing like a hummingbird against her ribs. Internally she was panicking. This was as close to a bad end for her and the reality that this could mean death had her shaking.

“You've been sending spies to the Fontaine Research Institute,” Clorinde continued, unaware that Furina paled or perhaps she didn't care. “I've found reports lying in your drawers.”

“You are no longer allowed to enter my room without my permission,” Furina snapped. It was a blessing that Clorinde had only discovered the reports from the institute and not her diary. Thankfully each entry was burned every night, taking her secrets to the grave.

The champion duelist stared at her, her purple eyes revealing none of her emotions. “Are you not going to be honest? Even now?” 

“I don't have anything to tell you.” She crossed her arms, a frown marring her face. All thoughts of festivities were instead replaced with dread. She had to find a way to keep the champion out of her tracks. “I'm frankly disappointed in you. To think that you of all people…”

“Yes, me of all,” Clorinde briskly walked towards her until she was cornered. “Don't you know why? I have never once denied you, I have never disobeyed you, never have I given you anything less than my utmost loyalty.”

“Then why?” She asked in a whisper, fear and anticipation gripping her. 

“Perhaps you have forgotten, but you told me that I was your sword and shield. Your protector and your killer. And yet here I am, abandoned by you. You send your inner circle into missions without me and you ask why?”

Suddenly everything fell into place. Clorinde had been Focalors’ most loyal henchman, carrying out each order without a complaint. She had obeyed every order and every task because she felt extreme loyalty to the evil empress. The empress was the first person to hone her skills as a hunter and a warrior, making her feel special and important. In order to make Focalors proud, Clorinde had done many things that had stained her hands. 

Furina's face fell, her eyebrows furrowing in anguish for the champion duelist. “You feel like you are not important anymore…I am sorry.”

“There's no need for apologies,” 

“No!” Furina insisted, this time for Clorinde's sake. She reached out to touch her face gently, surprising the champion. Clorinde's eyes widened slightly. “I…I had no idea you felt this way. I'm genuinely sorry that you had to go through this, Clorinde. It was never my intention to hurt you.*

“There must be something I did that made you disappointed in me,” Clorinde shook her head, distressed. 

“Nothing! You have done nothing! In fact you haven't disappointed me at all. My reason for keeping secrets from you is completely different than what you're imagining. Please don't think so little of me and yourself.” 

Clorinde remained silent. Though she was glad that her secret remained hidden, Furina didn't want her friend to feel like she had failed her duty. She didn't want Clorinde to be like the character in the play who committed evil for her sake. But Clorinde didn't understand that yet. She thought it was a punishment, and not a blessing. 

“I just want you to rely on me. Is that so strange?” The champion duelist muttered in the quietness. “I want to be important to you.”

Furina parted her lips, her face warming. “You are important to me, Clorinde.”

“No, I'm not. Not anymore. Not in the way I used to be. Don't lie to me.” 

Furina shook her head. She had to get it through her head. “That is not true at all. You are important to me even when you aren't doing something for me. Friends don't need to be useful to each other to be important. I'll still consider you a friend even if you don't serve me.”

Clorinde's eyes were wide, confusion murking the usually sharp purple eyes. “You…mean it?”

“You will always be important to me. If you don't believe anything else I said, then believe this.” Furina said with severity, using her royal tone. It'd forever pain her if Clorinde went on believing that she was used and thrown away by her. She couldn't allow that. Clorinde deserved to know that she was an amazing and incredible woman who was more than just a hunter. “I'm more than your empress.”

A faint blush appeared on Clorinde's face. There was a look of amazement in her eyes, making Furina feel like the most precious thing, like no matter what happened, Clorinde's gaze wouldn't stray from her. 

Instead of responding, the champion duelist wrapped her strong arms around Furina, pulling her into a tight hug. Giggling, Furina patted her back affectionately, tired from the emotional rollercoaster that was tonight. She had never expected to get interrogated by Clorinde but at least the matter was dealt with now. 

“Your Majesty, it makes me eternally grateful to hear that.”

“Of course, now that you are aware, I shall not tolerate any pessimistic or negative thoughts from you. You are more than just my champion and right hand. You're my friend, which is arguably better.” Furina giggled, trying to inject lightness in the mood. 

“I apologize for accusing you, Your Majesty. That was not right of me.” 

“I forgive you,” she told her. “Now cheer up! I can't have you be gloomy and distressed.”

To her immense surprise and pleasure, Clorinde cracked a smile, adding to her beauty. “I am honored to be your friend. That is my highest achievement.”

Furina blushed, once again flustered by her smooth words. She was slightly disappointed in her inability to get used to Clorinde's words. “Surely you jest.”

“From now on, I will never leave your side as your guard and your friend. I promise you that.” Clorinde bent to one knee and held her gaze with fiery determination, grasping her hand. 

Again, this was never supposed to happen in the play. Clorinde wouldn't be emboldened to be more loyal to the empress and yet here she was, pledging her utmost loyalty to her. Furina could only stare at the champion duelist with a shocked expression, wondering why Clorinde was more loyal than before. Perhaps it was the fact that Furina had stopped her from ending Callas' life during the trial or the fact that she had instead chosen to befriend Clorinde. 

Despite the divergence, Furina found herself smiling delicately at her. She would never mind having a friend and especially someone as capable and strong as Clorinde. “I'm glad to hear that. You're an incredible friend too. Now please get back to your feet. This is not a coronation or a knighting ceremony. I just want to enjoy this party and you're my friend so no need for the formalities.” 

Clorinde stood up and nodded. “Understood. I'll drop the formalities then.” 

She smiled brightly in response before she remembered something important. “Oh. Um, by the way, you didn't do anything with the reports, did you?”

“I kept them the way I found them,” answered Clorinde. “I do want to ask you about them but you don't have to.

Uncomfortable, Furina averted her eyes. “I don't want to talk about it now.”

“Alright. I won't mention it again.” Clorinde nodded easily, alleviating her anxiety. “And what about the prince?”

“Him? What about him?”

“I've noticed that he gets along with you now.” 

“Yes, I think I've managed to befriend the icy prince. Now he doesn't grumble when I drag him to social events or parties.” Furina giggled at the memory. Truly Neuvillette had changed a lot. 

“Oh, you've done more than just befriend him…” the duelist muttered under her breath.

“What do you mean?” Furina asked innocently.

“Nothing. It just came to my attention that he's been spending more time with you.”

“Indeed. I'm happy that he's choosing to be more social with others. I think my hard work paid off.”

“...I'm done trying,” Clorinde responded in a deadpan expression. But Furina couldn't understand why. “Nevermind, then. I think we should return to the ballroom. Everyone must be wondering where the empress is.”

All of a sudden Furina recalled her original plan before it got derailed, thanks to Clorinde. She had all but forgotten about Navia and Neuvillette. Were they already dancing? Did she miss the big incident? She didn't want to show her face just yet, concerned that her appearance would tamper the love story ready to bloom. Neuvillette would not dare to indulge another woman in front of her. No, no, no, she still had to wait.

To Clorinde, she responded, “I still have other things to do. Why don't you go and enjoy yourself?”

“Where are you going?” The champion asked.

“I just need some fresh air. I'll go to the gardens.” Furina lied quickly. 

“I could join you—”

“I'd like to be alone for a while,” Furina added and Clorinde finally rescinded, nodding.

“Then I'll leave you be. Please be careful.”

“I will.” She promised her and the champion left. Furina let out a breath of relief, pressing her hand to her chest. Only she knew that she averted a major crisis. 

Navia descended the aquabus like a princess. Her long blond hair fluttered in the night breeze, ruffling her skirt. She knew she was late to the ball but she had to prepare to meet the empress. The ball was in full swing, music thrumming through the palace. This would be the first time she entered the Palais Mermonia and the anticipation of meeting Furina had her giddy. 

The large gates opened, allowing her to enter the busy ballroom, filled to the brim with royals and nobles dressed up to the nines. Navia stared at the beautifully decorated ballroom, marveling at the chandeliers and candelabra turning the floor practically transparent. 

Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the white haired empress, her heart thumping wildly against her chest. She had to meet her tonight and ask her about the letter. What did she mean by it? Why did she do it? 

The questions weighed heavy on her mind as Navia looked around. A brief glint of white hair caught her attention and a sense of overwhelming joy washed over her. However her guess was wrong and it wasn't the empress she noticed; it was actually the prince. Prince Neuvillette was surrounded by a gaggle of young noble women, looking irritated and bothered. 

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” one of them said. “I have heard many things about you. They say you're an honest and competent person.”

“Indeed. You look so handsome, dear prince.” Another young lady replied. “You're very intelligent and calm when you're handling the cases.”

“Would you like a glass of wine? Here, you can take mine.”

Before she could realize what happened, Navia saw the prince get cornered by them, a frustrated expression appearing on his face. Was this how it was for the prince? Having people annoyingly cling to him? It seemed like he was unable to get the ladies off him. Navia had an idea to go up to him and ask where the empress was. Surely as her fiance, he should know her whereabouts. 

Clearing her throat, she walked up to him. “I see you are already here, Your Highness.”

Prince Neuvillette always had an air of aloofness to him, as if he thought he was above mingling with others. From what little she had observed, he never spoke to others and had the reputation of being a stoic man who rarely added his input. True to her observation, when he turned to look at her, Neuvillette had a confused look in his violet eyes, as if he didn't even recognize her. “Ah, you're…”

“Navia Caspar, the daughter of Callas Caspar,” she gave a curtsy. Upon hearing her name, the prince straightened, giving her his complete attention. “I believe we've met already. Remember during the trial in court?”

“Yes, I recall now.” 

The other ladies gave Navia looks for managing to grab his attention, but she wasn't here to woo him. She just wanted to know where the empress was. 

“Would you like to dance with me, Your Highness?” One of them clamored, trying to have his attention. 

“I would—” Neuvillette looked like he wanted to refuse but he was too polite to do so. That was why Navia stepped up to his rescue. She turned to him with a look, silently urging him. He caught on to her gaze quickly and answered bluntly, “I apologize for refusing, but I already had promised Lady Navia a dance.”

He took her hand and ushered her out of the crowd, surprising her. Navia's eyes went wide with shock at his actions. The prince only stopped when they were successfully away from the ladies. 

"Hold on!” Navia told him. “What was that? Why did you do that?”

He let go of her hand. “I'm sorry. I had to use you as an excuse in order to get away from them.”

She harrumphed, crossing her arms. “Alright. I can forgive that. But you shouldn't have to make an excuse, you could've just told them no.”

“It's not…that easy. A lot of young women try to garner my attention, they see my title as a source of power. However, I can't just refuse them as that would be rude,” the prince awkwardly explained. “Maintaining cordial relationships is very important.” 

Navia had to admit that he was correct. There were many times her father had to teach her how to follow noble etiquettes and how they were obligated to follow them regardless of how they felt. Perhaps a prince had to go through the same. She softened her tone as she said, “I suppose that makes sense.” 

“I must thank you for helping me. I don't think I'd be able to leave without your intervention," Prince Neuvillette told her, looking grateful. Surprised by his warm demeanor, she stared at him, questioning where this man came from. Didn't he have a reputation of being icy? 

“It is my pleasure,” Navia said. She noticed that they were noticed by the other guests. After all, she was only a lady conversing with the prince. 

“Perhaps it'd be better if we actually danced,” the prince suggested. She opened her mouth to refuse; she really didn't want to waste her time here. But he had a point. They could avert the attention of everyone this way.

So she nodded. The prince stepped into her space and put his hand on her shoulder, she did the same. At first they were only holding on to each other instead of dancing but as they felt more comfortable, they began to dance. 

Navia had never seen him this close. He looked something out of a dream. His eyes, though sharp, weren't as icy as she thought. He wasn't as rude as she assumed either. Throughout their dance, he didn't speak but his silence didn't feel terrible either. 

Their dance ended and he offered her a nod, stepping away from her. “Thank you for the dance, Lady Navia. You've helped me and I'm grateful for that.”

He was about to leave but Navia held on to his sleeves. “Wait! I need to ask you something.”

“Yes? How may I help you?” 

“Where is the empress? I need to find her.” 

The prince looked confused by her question. He tilted his head at her. “Why'd you want to know that?” 

Fiddling with her skirt, Navia couldn't help but feel bashful. “There’s something I have to ask Her Majesty. Can you please help me reach her?” 

His face twisted into a dark expression. “I see. What business do you have with her?” His tone was clipped. It aggravated her incredibly. Did he think she was going to do something harmful to the empress?

“It is between me and her. Whatever I have to say, I shall only say to her.” Navia stood her ground. Who was he to question her? He might be the prince consort to Her Majesty, but everyone knew that the engagement was a sham, not one borne of true love. Everyone knew that which was why most people weren't satisfied with the engagement. 

“As I am the prince, it is my duty to ensure her safety. If you truly have nothing incriminating, then why can't you share it with me?” He crossed his arms, his previous demeanor gone altogether. There was the icy and rude prince from the rumors. 

“You do not have any right to know that. You're simply the prince consort,” Navia reminded him. 

“Be that as it may, that doesn't negate that I have all the reasons to look out for her. She is my empress.” 

Annoyed that he was protective of the empress all of a sudden, Navia could only glare at him, unable to have a comeback for that. “Ugh! You…you…”

“Your Highness, what is going on?” A voice appeared behind them and both Navia and Neuvillette turned to see Clorinde approach them. Navia's glare only hardened at the sight of the dark haired woman, her traitor of a friend. “Oh…Navia. You're here.”

She couldn't muster a response to Clorinde, only glaring at her ferociously. Clorinde at least had the shame of looking uncomfortable meeting her eyes. 

“Miss Clorinde, you're not with Furina?” The prince asked. It was only then Navia noticed that the empress was nowhere to be seen next to Clorinde who was her personal guard. 

“Her Majesty has requested for some alone time. She will return to the party soon.” 

Navia's eyes grew wide. Finally! This was her chance. She asked, “Where is she? I'd like to speak to her.” 

“I'd like to speak to her too.” The prince cut in unhelpfully. She stifled the urge to snap at him, realizing that it would be too rude to do so. 

Clorinde's eyes traveled from her to the prince, looking confused. “Uh, she said she was going to the gardens.” 

“Very well, I'll go there—”

“I am going there!” 

Navia and Prince Neuvillette turned to each other, their gazes competitive. Noticing their vitriolic behavior, Clorinde said, “Shall I accompany you two then?” 

“Absolutely not.” It was Navia who responded first. She simply didn't want Clorinde to be there when she was talking to the empress. 

“Unfortunately I have to agree with her. It'd be better if you remained here, should any issues appear. With the empress absent, someone should handle the matters. I…am not well-versed in dealing with social interaction.” The prince looked awkward. 

Clorinde sighed. “I'll stay here then. Please take care of yourself.”

The prince nodded before leaving the ballroom. Navia had to run after him, internally cursing his long legs. As they emerged from the ballroom, the gardens came into view. 

The gardens were beautifully decorated with rows of chrysanthemums, violets, rainbow roses, lakelight lilies and magnolias. The cool breeze was calming against her skin, compared to the stuffy ballroom. However there were no signs of Furina, leaving them both confused. 

“Where is she? It doesn't seem like she's here anymore,” Navia commented, looking around the surroundings. Only flowers greeted her. As she stared into the gardens, she placed a hand on her heart, recalling the letter she got. She had prepared all the things she wanted to ask Furina, even made a speech she was going to say. 

Is it true? Do you like me? 

The thoughts had persisted, taking root in her heart until that was the only thing she could focus on. So deep in thoughts she hadn't noticed the danger lurking in the shadows.

Navia only had a second before she was tackled to the ground, the prince pushing her down.

The breath knocked out of her as she groaned in pain. Irritation flared inside her at his audacity to shove her. She might be only a noble lady but that didn't mean he could do whatever he wanted to. Navia shot him an icy glare. “How dare—”

She was interrupted as an arrow pierced through the air and landed less than inches away from them. She gasped, her ire forgotten in a moment of panic. The prince gripped her arm, blocking her view from whoever it was attacking them. Then a gardemek appeared, the mechanical noises whirring deep inside its metal body.

She stilled, panic overtaking her previous anger. Where did this gardemek come from? Navia quietened, deciding to cooperate with him all of a sudden. The prince had changed too. In an instant, he transformed into a calm and terrifying man who didn't reveal anything. When he turned to her, he gave her a non-verbal request. Keep herself safe. She nodded in response, sucking in a breath.

She rushed to her feet, eyes scanning the approaching gardemek cautiously, her heart beating fast. All gardemeks registered under the use of Maison Gardiennage wouldn't be walking towards them menacingly. Meaning that it was a hostile gardemek. 

Who in the world would dare to attack them? In the palace grounds, no less. Did the attacker act intentionally because the prince was here? Or was it targeted at her? Navia's eyes became sharp at the thought. As the daughter of the president of the Spina di Rosula, she knew danger and knew how to handle it. Oftentimes her papa’s work would have physical repercussions on her. Right after the successful trial, he took a break from managing the Spina di Rosula and temporarily allowed her to take over; things had been normal. But right now, after almost losing her life, Navia could only think that it must be related to her father's trial. 

“This gardemek isn't peaceful,” she warned the prince even though he already likely knew that. 

“Lady Navia, please return to the ballroom immediately and alert everyone. I will handle the rogue gardemek myself,” the prince whispered urgently. 

“No, I am not running away. Let's handle this right now.” Navia clenched her fists, shaking her head. “I won't let whoever did this get away.”

The prince gave her a look that made it clear that he thought that was a terrible idea, but her mind was set and she wouldn't budge.

Navia didn't pay attention to the prince and instead grabbed her shotgun that she never left her room without. Prince Neuvillette looked alarmed at the sight of it, his eyes widening.

“What are you doing?” 

“Unless you're aimed, Your Highness, take cover.” 

The gardemek charged at her with a frantic energy, its long blade nearly slicing her hand but she swerved to the side. Aiming her shotgun, she hit the mek, damaging its arm socket. Navia had severely underestimated the speed of the machine because she hadn't even realized that it was throwing her to the ground. She winced, her torso aching from the impact. Navia saw the gardemek running to slice her but she was too late to block the attack, she held her breath and closed her eyes in fear for her life. 

No! It can't be!

However the attack never landed on her. She blinked open her eyes and could only gape open-mouthed at the prince standing in front of her. A ribbon of water rippled around the prince and he lifted the gardemek like it weighed nothing and chucked it to the ground. The mek fell silent, losing its internal power. And then the water dissipated, leaving no proof of what she saw. 

“Lady Navia, you should run to safety.” Prince Neuvillette turned to meet her gaze, perfectly calm. As if he didn't create water out of nowhere and single handedly broke the machine. 

Navia grabbed her shotgun. “No, there is still the person who used an arrow against us. I'm not going down without a fight.” 

Unfortunately for her, the gardes appeared, having heard the commotion. They looked alarmed at the sight of the prince and her standing in front of a disabled gardemek. The prince immediately began ordering them.

“There is an assailant who tried to harm us. Search the palace grounds and inside. Make sure no one leaves until this is handled. Leave no stones unturned.” Prince Neuvillette's stony expression affected the gardes who looked terrified. However, Navia was not intimidated by the cold and harsh undertone in his voice. He told them, “Get Miss Clorinde here right now.” 

“Of course, Your Highness.” 

It didn't take long for Clorinde to show up. She had her pistol and rapier ready, her eyes sharp and fiery. “Prince Neuvillette, Navia…are you both okay?” 

“Thankfully none of us got hurt,” Navia started, grateful that their encounter with the gardemek didn't lead to any injury. 

Clorinde's jaw tightened. “I…I'm sorry, I should've increased the security. It's my fault that it happened.”

Navia rolled her eyes. “Oh, will you just shut it? Is everything your fault? There's no way no one, not even you, could have predicted this. And a gardemek was the perfect plan. Maison Gardiennage uses many gardemeks for security, nobody would have guessed that one of them would be rogue.”

“I have to say, I agree with Lady Navia here.” The prince nodded solemnly. “Do not blame yourself.”

Clorinde looked like she disagreed with them but she didn't say anything, instead her eyes turned stormy like the sky before a thunderstorm. Despite the anger she held for her friend, Navia mellowed at the sight of Clorinde looking so down. 

It was a brief moment of silence until Clorinde raised her head and asked. “Wait a second. Where is Furina?”

Navia and Neuvillette both had a similarly astonished look on their faces. “She isn't with you?” Navia cried out in shock.

“No…no, I thought she was in the gardens.” 

“We looked for her, she is not here,” Neuvillette's already pale skin turned white with panic. Fear flickered through his eyes. It was truly the first time Navia had seen the stoic prince look so alarmed. “Don't tell me she's been hurt.”

Clorinde was standing with them one second and the next, she was gone, rushing into the gardens to look for the empress as if she couldn't bear to stay there for another moment. 

Navia too felt her heart drop to her stomach. Thinking about Furina getting in an altercation with the assailant sent her blood boiling. If she was even touched, Navia was going to break him limb by limb. The prince looked like he was thinking something similar to her; his eyes were so cold, revealing that icy heart she heard so much about. Except this time she could understand him. After all, she too wouldn't let anyone get away unpunished for harming Furina.

But then her attention snagged on the now disabled gardemek. She walked towards it and bent low to observe it. Each gardemek had a registration number that could be used to find its exact owner and use; the Maison Gardiennage had hundreds and thousands at their disposal. However this one didn't have any registration number. It was scrubbed clean.

“Prince Neuvillette! Come see this.” Navia called him. He approached the gardemek, looking at it intently. For a second, she remembered the way he broke it in an instant. How someone couldn't possibly do that, no matter how strong they were. She let her eyes roam around his body, knowing that he was muscled without a bulky figure. And yet those muscles couldn't be enough to explain what he had done. 

“There's no registration number,” he said absentmindedly, catching on quickly. “We can't even know if it's under the Maison Gardiennage or Marechaussee Phantom or anyone else.”

Navia scowled. “That is precisely why they must've used it. Darn it!”

“Furina must be in so much danger,” his voice quivered in panic, unrestrained. “I will not let them go unpunished.”

“We will find Her Majesty soon. The Spina di Rosula will be scouting every country in Fontaine if necessary.” Navia shook her head, berating herself for getting carried away. She promised herself that she wouldn't let anything happen to the empress. 

The prince turned to her, giving her a look of approval and surprise. “You have my utmost gratitude, Lady Navia.”

“I'm not doing this for your gratitude. I'm doing this for Her Majesty,” she snapped at him. The last thing she wanted was for him to misunderstand her cooperation to impress him. He nodded seriously, like he understood that.

“Your Highness!” One of the gardes showed up. “We found a suspicious man in the palace grounds. And…Her Majesty, she's…”

The prince approached the garde, practically interrogating her as he said, “What happened to her? Where is she?”

“Her Majesty is the one who apprehended him personally.”

The three of them could only gape at the garde, shocked by the turn of events. It at least helped quell the fear in her heart that nothing happened to the empress. But…personally apprehended? 

“Is she fine? Did she get hurt?” Clorinde asked. “Where is she?” 

“She's not hurt, is she?” Navia pressed her hand to her chest, concerned. 

“She seems mostly unharmed. She's waiting in the office,” the garde responded.

Everyone took a deep breath in relief. It was only then Navia realized just how stressed everyone was and how it was the first time they could relax. Clorinde said, “Take us to her right now. And have the criminal detained by the Marechaussee Phantoms immediately.” 

“As you wish, Miss Clorinde.” Nodding, the garde left. 

“We have to check on Her Majesty. The interrogation can wait,” the prince said the same thing everyone else was thinking. Navia nodded in agreement.

“Let's find her!” Navia urged, desperately wanting to see the empress. Only then she would be able to calm her restless heart.

Furina was standing inside the office, a smug and pleased look on her face. At the sight of their arrival, she waved at them. “Hey! You guys have been missing out on a lot!” 

Neuvillette had all but charged towards her and crushed her in an embrace. She squeaked in response but allowed him to find comfort in her presence. He had practically lost his mind when he heard that she was missing. Hundreds of thoughts had overwhelmed him and he could only focus on how much he missed her witty quips and flirtatious banter and how he once dismissed it. How close he came to losing it. He never thought he'd miss her dramatics or her bratty behavior, but here he was. 

Neuvillette breathed in relief before he stepped back. Furina patted his back comfortingly. “Haha, you missed me, didn't you?”

“Your Majesty! You're not hurt, are you?” Clorinde rushed to her side and began inspecting her protectively. Only her elbow was slightly hurt from the altercation. Furina's hairdo was down, wispy white hair spilling down her shoulders. 

“Of course, I am perfectly fine. The criminal didn't even get to land a hit on me. I took him down all by myself.” She bragged. But it still reassured him that she wasn't harmed. 

“I am so happy to see you safe!” Lady Navia exclaimed, her blue eyes full of joy.

“But how did this happen? How did you capture him?” Clorinde asked, still holding on to her arm, eyes murky with concern.

Furina sat down on his chair with a sigh and started to recount her side of the story. “I was about to go to the gardens when I noticed a garde behaving quite suspiciously. I tailed him and realized that he was trying to spike someone's drink. I didn't want to catch him right away and instead had followed him to see who he was working with. When he was leaving the ballroom altogether, that's when I jumped on him and captured him.”

She finished the story with a satisfied expression on her face. 

“That's a very risky thing to do, Your Majesty. He could have hurt you or tried to kidnap you. Why didn't you have me apprehend him?” Clorinde looked stern. 

It made sense since Clorinde was extremely loyal to Her Majesty, she would be distraught. Neuvillette always had an inkling that the dark haired champion duelist held more than loyalty for Furina, it was evident in the careful, attentive and protective way she would look at her with. No mere guard would be that caring for their master. At first, Neuvillette didn't care about whatever happened between them but now it often bothered him how Clorinde would be so close to Furina. At times like these, though, Neuvillette felt relief at having someone like the champion, assured that she would use her sword and pistol to defend the empress, even ready to give her life for her sake.  

“I didn't want him to get away by the time I called for you. I had to do it myself.” Furina responded with an air of confidence. “I also heard what happened in the gardens. I'm sorry you were attacked, Navia. Were you hurt?” 

The blond noble lady looked grateful to be addressed by the empress. “It was a surprise for everyone involved. I'm just glad that we managed to handle it quickly.”

“Lady Navia was incredibly competent,” Neuvillette interjected. He was really surprised to see her attack the gardemek without a fear in her heart. Did she really have a habit of fighting rogue gardemeks?

Furina smiled, pleased. “Good to hear, good to hear. And you, Neuvillette? Nothing happened to you?”

The image of him hoisting the gardemek easily flashed through his mind. He had intentionally kept silent about it, praying that Lady Navia wouldn't blabber about it either. He shot her a look and she stayed quiet, thankfully keeping his secret. He assured the empress, “I'm fine. I was more worried about you.”

“I'm fine, nothing happened to me. What happened to you is more concerning. Now, now, enough chit chatting. I want to interrogate the man and put an end to this. How dare he ruin my precious ball? I put so much effort into planning everything and I didn't even get to see my plans come to fruition. I didn't get to see you dance—ahem, I meant that I never got to enjoy the party properly.” Furina seethed, eyebrows slashing downwards in her ire.

Since she had already decided, everyone else quickly agreed to interrogating the criminal. The Maison Gardiennage dragged the assailant to him. To his surprise, it was a man in the blue uniform of the gardes. 

“I have no shame of what I've done! I'll proudly do it again!” The criminal babbled maniacally. 

Furina cleared her throat. “You have quite the gall to ruin the festive mood. I'm not feeling very merciful tonight. So you better start talking or I will throw you to the Fortress of Meropide with the highest sentence.” 

Even with the threat of the Fortress, the man kept babbling incoherently until Clorinde gripped his hair and wrenched his head backwards. “Unless you'd like to get tortured before your trip to the prison, I suggest you start talking.”

“We don't want such a disgusting ruler on our throne. What has she even done for us? She sits on her throne all the while us commoners have to watch our homes get washed under the ocean. But we'll all die at the end of it. We will all die. You'll all realize it soon.” 

Furina's face twisted with frustration. “We? Who is this ‘we’ you speak of?” 

The criminal started to laugh, tears streaming down his face, surprising everyone in the office. “You will never find those girls. You will never be able to stop us.”

Neuvillette furrowed his brows, concerned and surprised. Girls? When he turned to Furina, she was staring at the man in the garde uniform. 

“What do you mean?” He asked, trying to maintain his composure. He had one too many incidents happening tonight and he was afraid that he would end up snapping. 

Instead of answering anything, the criminal writhed, trying to pull away from the agent holding him down. “He is never going to get caught. Good luck trying to stop the prophecy. We all know you don't care to save anyone. And I will not share anything else, I would rather die than tell you anything.” 

To the shock of everyone, he took out a vial and drank it in an instant. And then he dissolved like foam off the shores of Fontaine, leaving only a pool of water behind. Nothing was left of the criminal, not even a proof of his existence. It was like he ceased to exist, or never had existed in the first place. Furina jolted back in shock, turning white. He noticed that her knuckles were whitened, her face drained of blood. Before he could try to comfort her, a Marechaussee Phantom entered the office room. 

“Your Highness, we found this set of clothes in the servants’ chambers. This belongs to the criminal.” The Melusine’s eyes fell on the puddle of water. “Where is he?” 

“He's…gone.” The empress’ voice was hollow. “He's really gone…” 

“Is there any way to identify him?” Clorinde asked, trying to divert the attention. “Any name or a personal belonging?”

Nodding, the Phantom responded, “We found this vial along with the clothes. And this letter.” She handed everything to Clorinde who inspected each item like a hawk.

“This vial…it's the one he had on hand,” Navia muttered in shock. 

All the while Furina remained silent and unmoving on her chair.

“One for his work and the other for keeping his secrets,” Neuvillette added. He gestured for Clorinde to give him the vial and she obliged. The liquid inside was normal however it possessed unique attributes that he had never heard of. Any liquid capable of dissolving a person was unheard of. Such a dangerous and strange thing. He could only wonder what it was meant for. 

“If it dissolved him, it means the other vial was meant to dissolve another person.” Clorinde deducted quickly.

A wave of emotions crashed against him, reminding him of that intense emotion he felt after that appointment. When he felt the water move in response to him. In his palm, the vial responded to him. It was something ancient and treacherous and wicked. He didn't want to hold onto this for too long. So he set it down on his table. “Send a message to Sigewinne and have her examine this properly. And give me the letter.” 

The Phantom handed him the letter and he quickly started to read it. His frown deepened at the content of the letter.

“Target: Caspar's daughter.” Neuvillette read it aloud. 

“Me?” The blond noble lady asked incredulously. “They were targeting me?”

“I think it makes sense,” he said, recalling the incident. “The gardemek had been going after you. And the arrow was meant for you.” 

Navia took a deep breath. He half expected her to turn pale with fear. But she didn't–instead, she stiffened her shoulders and stared at him head-on. “I think I know why that is. My father has a lot of enemies. After he won the case, they were not happy. They could be trying to target me in revenge.” Navia sounded sure of herself, not worried about being targeted. 

“Even so, that doesn't explain how they have this strange liquid that is capable of dissolving someone. They wanted to dissolve you?” Neuvillette couldn't wrap his head around that idea at all. It sounded ridiculous. But he saw it happen with his own eyes. 

“Perhaps…” 

“He mentioned girls wouldn't be found,” the champion duelist added in a quiet tone. “What does that mean? What girls?” 

Navia said, “Could it be that he was talking about the disappearance of women?” 

There had been a few disconnected cases of women going missing without a trace. Every one of them were unrelated and without much evidence, the cases closed soon. By now, at least three women had gone missing. 

They turned to the unmoving empress with a glassy look in her heterochromia eyes. Noticing their gazes, Furina lifted her head. “Wh-why are you looking at me?” 

“Your Majesty, surely you should have a clue about what he was talking about.” Clorinde asked her, crossing her arms. 

“I'm the empress, not an omniscient god!” Furina loudly proclaimed. “I don't know everything.”

That made Neuvillette frown. Didn't he hear her brag that she was aware of everything going on in Fontaine? Why would she suddenly backtrack? 

“Still, it is concerning what we just discovered. If Lady Navia is correct and it's her father's enemies doing everything, we must swiftly take action against this,” Neuvillette said. “The open-and-shut cases of the disappearance of women shall also be redone.” 

“If you have a target on your back, it would be extremely dangerous to be in public without any protection,” Furina advised to Navia. “We don't know what their motive or end goal is. Please be careful from now on. You should stay at the Palais Mermonia for tonight.” 

Navia nodded eagerly. “Of course, I will do as you request. Your safety is more important. Are you sure you are okay?” Concern laced her voice.

“Ah, I'm perfectly fine. I must apologize that you were attacked in my palace under my jurisdiction. I'm very ashamed that this happened during the ball.” Furina sighed. “This is the last thing I wanted to happen.”

"Your Majesty, you can't possibly blame yourself for this! It's not your fault. Besides, you were in danger too.” 

Neuvillette nodded. “Indeed. You were still in danger no matter how capable you were in handling it. In fact, I should be the one who is at fault; I should've been there with you.”

“Please, you have to be kidding me. How was this your fault?” Furina threw her arms in frustration. “You were attacked, too!”

“With all due respect, if there's anyone who's to blame, it's me,” Clorinde interjected. “I was supposed to handle the security but considering how Her Majesty had to personally handle a criminal on her own, and Navia and the prince were attacked by a gardemek, clearly the fault lies with me. I should've been more careful.”

“No!” Navia and Furina both shouted at the same time. 

“You will not blame yourself. What have I told you? You do your very best every day. You can't predict everything.”

“Precisely!” Navia nodded. “That's what I was telling you. You better not get self-deprecating because I will not have it.”

Furina also agreed with the blond. “She is right. If Lady Navia and I both know this, how can you still criticize yourself?”

Even Neuvillette had to join in the conversation. He said, “This was out of the blue. Even you couldn't have known this. The best thing is that Her Majesty is safe and protected.”

Under the scrutiny of everyone, Clorinde couldn't refute. “...I will refrain from thinking that, then.”

They were silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Neuvillette was worried about what happened in the gardens. Meanwhile the champion duelist looked troubled. So did Furina, her eyes hiding many secrets. Navia, he realized, was staring at him. He would have to talk to her very soon before she revealed everything to others, worse Furina. 

Furina let out a yawn out of nowhere, surprising them. “I'm very tired. Let's end this impromptu meeting.” 

Nodding, he said, “You should take your rest. We will talk tomorrow.” 

“Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty,” Navia chimed in.  

Clorinde stepped up to the task, however. “I will take you to your chambers, Your Majesty. And…Navia, I can show you a guest room for you to stay in. As Her Majesty said, it will be a better option for you to be here than to return to Poisson.”

Neuvillette interrupted by saying, “Before that, I would like to have a moment with Lady Navia. Is that alright?”

The blond lady blinked, surprised. But she quickly understood his meaning, her expression changing. She nodded without a word, looking solemn. Neuvillette noticed that the empress was watching their interaction with wide, curious eyes. 

He averted his eyes, not wanting to let her know what happened. His abnormalities…would she hate him for that? Would she hate him for that? He couldn't let that happen at all. Now that he got used to spending his free time with her, it was a luxury he didn't want to get rid of. 

Clorinde wordlessly escorted Furina out of his office, leaving the two of them. 

Neuvillette sighed and crossed his arms as he regarded her. “We need to talk.”

Her face was blank, devoid of any discernible emotion even though she was quite animated around Furina just a while ago. Navia crossed her arms over her chest. “I'm guessing that you want to talk about what happened to you in the gardens, right?” 

He hesitated, remembering the intense emotion that took over him in that moment. “...Yes. Before that, please take a seat.”

She sat down in one of the chairs, her blue eyes never leaving him. “Will you now explain what I saw?” 

“What happened back there…it was not in my control. I'm not…some kind of beast, you know. There's just this strange power through my veins.” He shook his head, feeling vulnerable. At that moment, he had acted in impulse, barely registering what he had done. The power had taken him over, and before he knew it, the gardemek was laying down on the ground, silent. He was thankful it was not a human or a Melusine he used his power on. The picture of Furina appeared in his mind, twisting his guts in panic. If he had hurt her, would she ever look at him with her kind and caring eyes? Would she hate him?

Navia, on the other hand, looked calm. She placed her hands on her lap politely and said. “What is it?” 

“I have no idea. The empress told me that it was my birthright but beyond that, I don't know anything else.” 

“Does she know?” She asked quietly. 

“No.” Neuvillette choked out. “She doesn't know about what happened tonight. I would rather no one knows this but you discovered the secret already. Please don't tell anyone about this. And definitely not Her Majesty.”

“Why not?” 

He blinked. Lifting his head, he shot her a glare. “Isn't it obvious? I don't want her to be afraid of me. I don't want her to hate me.” His voice quivered at the end and he hated how vulnerable he sounded.

Navia furrowed her brows in confusion, perceptive enough to notice his fear. “You…you don't want her to hate you? But I thought you didn't like her to begin with.”

That was the most confusing thing he had ever heard. He hated Furina? That was what the public believed? But then he realized that was precisely because of him. Neuvillette had denied being out in public with the empress, always acting standoffish around the members of the gentry whenever he was with her. No wonder people were unaware of his actual feelings. Even though he had changed his mind about her, he still had yet to show that in front of people. 

“I don't hate her.” 

The office was quiet and he couldn't bear to look at her, still stewing over his thoughts. 

“Well, do you like her then?” Navia shattered the silence with her question. 

Neuvillette hesitated to answer that question. Did he like her? Was that even able to encapsulate the way he felt about the empress? She was confusing and complicated, giving him mixed signals. One second she would flirt with her and the next she would have him meet another woman. 

“I'm not sure exactly,” he answered honestly for some reason. He was grateful to her, his lonely days were much more pleasant with her around. “But one thing I do know is that I don't want her to hate me. So please keep this a secret.” 

Really, he would rather have no one know his secret but if it was Navia, at least it was reassuring to have her promise to keep his secret.

She nodded. “Alright. I will keep it a secret. But only for Her Majesty's sake.” 

“You have my thanks.” He told her and meant it.  

But then she added, “But you can't be engaged to her.” 

Neuvillette straightened his shoulders, his features tightening at the words. “Excuse me?” 

“You heard me,” Navia repeated. She truly was dauntless, unafraid to say whatever she wanted. “The empress is in an engagement that is not of her choosing. She deserves to be with someone she loves. If you don't love her, then simply leave her.”

“How could you possibly even dare to say this?” He gritted out, his voice quiet but thunderous. “She is the one who chose to marry me. She made me the Iudex.”

Navia's expression changed into a heartfelt one. “But what if she loves someone else? What then?”

He couldn't answer that. The very idea of that made his stomach twist. He glowered at her for even saying that. “She is not in love with anyone.” Furina was flirtatious to everyone, even the old servants of the palace. She liked to say seductive and sensual things for the sake of it. She hardly meant it. 

But the blond looked like he had shattered her hopes and dreams. “No, that can't be the case. I…I thought…” 

“Her Majesty is naturally very attractive and charming, it's no surprise that she has many admirers.” Neuvillette couldn't believe he had to say this. “Though she acts flirtatious with everyone, it doesn't mean anything.”

Anguish and pain was evident on her face. Lady Navia looked hurt from hearing this, though he couldn't fathom why. “I…I thought she…No, I'm very certain she sent me a letter.” 

Saying this, Navia fished out a piece of paper from her pocket. She held it up righteously, her face flushed. “This is from her. And I know she likes me.”

Neuvillette could only stare at her, shocked and aghast. It was like the ground beneath him had disappeared. He had all but stopped listening to the rest of her words after that. “What do you mean by that?” 

“Her Majesty likes me. She said she wants to meet me.” A blush warmed her cheeks as a blissful expression appeared on her face. Neuvillette snatched the letter from her hand and read it himself. The content of the letter was a punch to his chest. Before he realized it, he was gripping the paper tight enough to tear it.

“Nonsense. This doesn't have her signature. It could be anyone's.” He leveled a cold look at her. “Be warned that I can have you thrown into the Fortress for behaving inappropriately to the empress.”

“It is from her!” Navia insisted, scowling. “Maybe you don't know her well enough to tell.”

He strode towards her. “And you know her? I'm her fiance. And you have no proof that it comes from her. You may be infatuated with her after she saved your father from the trial but she is still the empress.”

She didn't have a rebuttal for that, she could only glare at him. “I will then go and ask her! She will be able to tell us what the reality is.”

Neuvillette crossed his arms. “Very well, then. We shall ask her tomorrow.” 

“And if I'm correct, which I am, you will cancel your engagement with her and leave her be. You are already the Iudex, you don't need to be the consort to Her Majesty.”

He raised his eyebrow. “I will not be agreeing to any condition. As it stands, I'm the prince. You are beneath my role and you better behave respectfully.” 

Navia scowled, folding her arms over her chest. “Hmmph, you truly are just as cold-hearted as they said.” 

And then very disrespectfully, she stomped out of his office, not even leaving with a polite curtsy or a goodbye. Neuvillette huffed to himself, rendered speechless by her. That woman was a hurricane. She could give Furina a run for her money. But the reminder only disappointed him as he realized what Navia was saying. He really didn't want to think about it but what if she was right? Didn't Furina praise her highly in front of him? Granted, he could tell Furina's intention was to make the two of them meet each other. But still, what if Furina liked Navia? What would he do then?

He felt an ugly emotion take root in him when he thought about the letter. The very thought of Furina liking Navia and writing a letter had made him want to not get out of the engagement. Neuvillette's original plan was to marry her to regain his former power. But currently, he didn't want to let go of her, not in the slightest. She was entertaining and endearing, even though he wouldn't say it to her face. His days were brightened by her presence and he'd never want to leave her. Who did this noble woman think herself to be? Showing up out of nowhere and trying to steal his empress? He would never let her meddle.

Neuvillette stood in his empty office, a tired sigh escaping him. He was worried that Navia would reveal his secret to Furina. So much had happened in the span of a night. And with the addition of the vial that could dissolve a person within seconds, he only felt worry and concern. He made sure to send a message to the head nurse of the Fortress of Meropide, Sigewinne. Surely she would have something that would help him. That and perhaps she could figure out what was going on with him.

Chapter Text

The very next day, Furina had woken up with a massive headache. She pretended to not be that bothered with what the criminal said, but she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it ever since then. 

She sits on her throne all the while us commoners have to watch our homes get washed under the ocean. But we'll all die at the end of it. We will all die. 

Her mind hadn't been able to stop overthinking the lines. The flood, the prophecy, they were one and the same. While Neuvillette, Clorinde and Navia were occupied with other things, she had been worried about the prophecy. It was a good thing neither had seen her panic. 

Worse, that vial containing the liquid capable of dissolving someone had terrified her greatly. The man turning into water in front of her flashed through her head, bringing another wave of fear. She didn't want to imagine where that came from and what it was being used for. Apparently some women had gone missing without her even knowing, or perhaps it had happened before Furina appeared in this world. Somehow these two horrifying problems were related. 

Furina could only imagine how much she didn't know about this world. How many things were different from the play she acted in? At first she thought to ignore them, believing that it wasn't as important. But now with everything else happening, she couldn't help but worry that she was unaware of a lot of things. Was it even the same story anymore? How useful were her attempts to deceive everyone if things were evolving out of control?

Fate was a capricious thing, truly. For a brief moment, she dared to think of what would happen if she didn't obey Focalors' plan. Would the prophecy come to claim everything? Or would it even happen in the first place? But Furina couldn't do that. She couldn't betray the Fontainians who unknowingly depended on her for their survival. She had to keep going. 

The only good thing that happened last night was her attempt to get Neuvillette and Navia together. She has heard gossip of the two of them dancing before leaving to the gardens together. Though a rogue gardemek showed up to ruin the date, they managed to take it down together. All things considered, it was a successful plan. Apparently Neuvillette had also rescued Navia from an attack. If that didn't convince Furina that there was something going on between them, the stares they would cast at each other surely did.

During the interrogation, Furina saw Neuvillette staring at Navia in deep thought. Not only that, he also asked her to stay in the office with him! She was certain that there was a budding love growing between them. Why else would he ask Navia to stay behind to speak to her? 

As she was escorted to her chambers last night, Furina couldn't help but imagine them talking about their feelings. The only thing that was a little odd was the three of them prioritizing her safety over everything else. Sure, she was the empress but with the way they had jumped on her and worried for her surprised her. 

Still, she was positive that her plans came to fruition, though she was unable to celebrate it now. 

She dressed in her fancy attire for the breakfast she would be having with Navia. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies in anticipation. Neuvillette would not share his feelings with her, let alone his affection for Navia; so she had to ask Navia instead. Surely the heroine wouldn't mind revealing her heart to Furina. With her expectations soaring high, she left her room. 

When she reached the dining room, she noticed that the number of gardes had increased. Overnight, Clorinde had upped the security, practically locking up the Palais Mermonia. She had mentioned something like that when she was taking Furina to her room safely. Furina, however, had zoned out, thinking instead about the man and the strange liquid. It was a good thing that no one else had to get dissolved. In the middle of a party, anyone could've accidentally drunk the liquid and an accident could've happened any second. She was just relieved that none of the sorts had happened.

Her depressed thoughts vanished at the sight of Navia. She was seated on the chair already, wearing a simple but beautiful white gown with gold accents. She immediately perked up at the sight of Furina and stood up. “Your Majesty! Good morning!”

Warmed by Navia's cheerful greeting, she smiled brightly. “Good morning to you too, Lady Navia. I hope you were able to sleep properly. Nightmares didn't bother you, did they?” 

The blond shook her head, still cheery. The bubbly heroine always seemed to shine bright regardless of her situation. That kind of optimism was something Furina wished she could have. “Not at all,” Navia replied before her expression turned into a look of concern. “What about you? Have you rested properly?” 

“I am…just a little under the weather,” Furina admitted awkwardly. “The stress of everything has been weighing down on me. I can't fathom how last night's incident happened.”

She didn't have to specify what she was describing. Navia understood that she was referring to the man dissolving in front of their eyes. Not only that, the remarks he made about her had been bothering her a lot. 

Navia's face softened. “I can understand that. To be honest, I am unsettled by everything too. I've never seen something like that in my life. To think that someone could simply…disappear in front of us without a trace is terrifying.”

“It is.” Furina nodded, losing herself in her thoughts once more. That man had mentioned the prophecy. He was also part of a group, as far as she could deduce from his cryptic words. Didn't the prophecy Focalors mentioned also have something to do with people dissolving? In that case, perhaps there were a lot of things she didn't know. Focalors hadn't explained everything before leaving. Come to think of it, where was Focalors? Why had she disappeared and why did Furina take her place? At least if there was physical proof of Focalors, she could be rest assured that everything was fine. But unfortunately Furina had nothing to assure herself, the cryptic villainess had given no help but demanded trust from her.

So deep in her doubts and questions, Furina had all but stopped paying attention to Navia. She only snapped out of her reverie when a hand tentatively grazed her palm. Furina jolted in her seat, her heart hammering in her chest as she looked up to see Navia stare at her, worry and concern evident in her blue eyes. 

“Your Majesty, are you alright?” Navia asked.

“Uh…um, I was just thinking about something.” Furina looked away. Unfortunately she could hardly confide in the heroine about the things bothering her. This was something she would have to handle on her own, just like everything else. Then, to divert the topic, she said, “Please try the chocolate cake, Lady Navia. It is simply delectable.”

Navia acquiesced, picking up a fork to take a bite of the cake. “Oh!” Her features alit with joy at the taste. “This is so good!”

Furina chuckled. “Glad to hear that. I have personally asked the chefs to make it my way.” 

“Send my compliments to the chefs. It is truly delicious. I love to bake things myself but I've never had something like this.”

“Of course it is because it's my recipe,” she couldn't help but brag. Though singing and acting was her true calling, she liked to bake from time to time. She was certain that her recipes were nothing short of spectacular.

Navia's eyes were bright. “Really? You like to bake too?” 

“Yes. I don't get the time to bake but I'm certain that I am the best.” Furina bragged. It was true that being an empress meant she hardly got the time to do fun stuff. 

“Then we should make something together!” Navia announced joyfully. She looked positively excited at the idea which surprised Furina. She wanted to spend more time with me? 

“It's decided then, we should get together to bake together. Ooh, I know when we should do it—one of my favorite books is going to get an adaptation. We should celebrate it with a cake party!” The very idea excited her greatly. Oh, she loved anything with sugar and chocolate and frosting. “Of course, I am quite confident in my baking skills to say that no one compares to me.”

Navia giggled, not feeling slighted by Furina. “Well, you're the empress after all. Everything you do is amazing. I am beyond happy to be able to spend time with you, Your Majesty.” 

Furina smiled in response, though she was confused by what she meant. Shouldn't she be glad to spend more time with Neuvillette than the empress? Certainly so, after all, Furina saw with her own two eyes that there was a budding love blooming between the stoic prince and the bubbly heroine. Perhaps it was a good-natured way to get along with her? Yes, that had to be the case.

Propping her chin up on her palm, she gave a look at Navia. “Now, now, I'm very curious, I have to ask—what do you think of the prince?” Furina went for the attack, leaning towards the heroine. Navia blinked in surprise, looking confused.

“The prince? Why do you ask?” The blond sputtered, looking surprised. Internally Furina snickered to herself, so it had already begun! The spunky and bubbly heroine had already started to catch feelings for the prince. Perhaps the letter worked out greatly. The time they spent together during the grand annual ball certainly helped as well. 

“No, nothing in particular.” Furina returned to the present, offering Navia a knowing look. “I just thought to ask since he so graciously asked you to stay behind. Prince Neuvillette hardly grants such things to other people, so for him to give you that luxury is quite the achievement.”

“...” Navia glanced away guiltily, adding to Furina's glee. “He was only being polite, Your Majesty.”

“Oh~! How amusing! I simply must say that it is an interesting development. I never thought such a thing would happen.” She ended up laughing in the villainous way, her training for the rehearsal helping her. To her surprise, Navia looked unhappy, her features darkening. 

“I-I am afraid I don't understand what you mean, Your Majesty.”

Furina gave a smile, composing her expression to be calm and pleasant. “Do not fret, dear. I'm not trying to be condescending. I think it's rather cute. You two seem quite the match.”

Navia opened her mouth, eyes widening. “What? I don't—”

“Good morning, Your Majesty. I was waiting for you to show up to the office.” They turned around in their seats to find Neuvillette making his way to them. His usually calm appearance briefly flickered at the sight of Navia, but he quickly smothered it. Now Furina was very certain that there was more development than she expected. 

Chuckling, she waved him over. “Oh, I was having too much fun chatting with Lady Navia over here. I totally forgot the time.” 

Furina noticed them glance at each other, sharing a wealth of information she wasn't able to decipher just yet. Neuvillette tore his gaze from Navia and finally turned to her. Oh, he finally noticed her, since he was so busy staring at Navia. “Ah, I understand. Perhaps we can reschedule our meeting at a later time since you are occupied now.”

“Oh, pssh! Sit here. We were talking about you by the way,” she insisted, giving them a look. 

His eyes went wide. “What?” 

Furina poked him on the cheek, laughing. “Nothing terrible about you, don't worry. Though I was admitting how little you get out of your way to interact with people.”

“Oh?”

“Indeed. That's why I'm quite happy to see you get along with Lady Navia,” she admitted, letting out a sigh.

Neuvillette's face paled, which was surprising since he was already so pale. His silver eyes trailed to Navia once again. They seemed to be communicating something in silence. Furina was excited to see her favorite couple fall in love in front of her eyes. She couldn't help but feel giddy. Now of course she wouldn't be able to witness everything but she'd have to be satisfied with what little she got to see. Right now, it seemed the two of them were attracted to each other and if she played her cards right, Furina would be able to avoid the major conflicts between them. 

“You look so shocked. Is it so surprising to hear me say that?” Furina asked, pointing out his expression. 

“I'm just…taken aback by your words, I suppose,” Neuvillette said thoughtfully.

“Well, I'm not saying anything false! I for one don't mind you making more friends. You're too aloof. It is good to get along with others. Lady Navia is a lovely lady. You two have so much in common!” Furina let out a laugh.

“But Your Majesty,” Navia decided to chime in after a while, looking distressed, her blue eyes wide. “I feel like you have misunderstood the situation. I am only an acquaintance of the prince. He and I barely know each other.” 

Hmm, in that case…Furina should rectify this. Rubbing her chin, she gave it a long thought. After a while, she found a plan. “Ah, well, it's all good. Lady Navia, I want to get to know you. I really meant what I said after the trial. Someone like you is a person of great importance to the empress.”

Navia parted her lips in shock and awe, a blush blooming across her cheeks. “I…I would love to know you too!” 

Giggling, she responded cheerfully, “I'm glad we agreed on this. This way, we all can get along!”

For some reason, Neuvillette didn't look so pleased, frowning like a grumpy cat. Furina turned to him and reminded him, “And you can't bail out of this. You will be joining us.”

The reason being that getting Neuvillette and Navia together was her main priority. Being the empress meant that she got away with using her authority to get what she wanted. It was a good thing that Focalors had a reputation for being demanding. 

Sighing, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I suppose I can't make you change your mind. Very well. But whatever you have in mind must wait for the important thing.” 

Furina parted her lips as she realized the implications of his words. “Wait, what do you mean?” 

“The head nurse of the Fortress of Meropide has sent her findings on the vial of liquid.” Neuvillette's eyebrows were pinched in displeasure. Whatever he received wasn't good news. 

She waved her hand dismissively, concerned. “Well, what is it?”

Neuvillette's silver and purple eyes once again trailed to Navia. Hesitating, he said, “Let's hold this conversation in my office.” 

The blond furrowed her brows, indignant. “I was there at the scene of the incident! If there's any advancement, then it is something I should be aware of.”

Furina nodded. “She's right. After all, she was targeted at the ball. Let's take this to your office, Neuvillette.”

He agreed and five minutes later, they were seated in the plush chairs of his office. The last time everyone was here, that man killed himself in front of them. That was something that would forever scar her. However none of the signs of yesterday's incident could be seen, the servants having scrubbed the place clean overnight. Furina casted a glance at Navia who was fiddling with her hands, her expression concerned and worried. 

Neuvillette then started to recount the news the head nurse sent him. “The vial of liquid that we confiscated is something called the Primordial Seawater. Sigewinne confirmed it once she checked the sources. Somehow this Primordial Seawater is mixing with the lakes and seas of Fontaine.”

Navia let out a gasp. “So this liquid that can dissolve people is leaking into the water? Isn't that dangerous? It will kill everyone!”

Furina fell silent at the words, stirring her mind. She could clearly remember what Focalors said to her when she first came to this world.

“Let me bring you up to date with everything. There's been a prophecy that involves me. A prophecy that tells of my nation's doom. Everyone will die when the primordial sea comes to kill everyone.” Focalors said, her voice somber. 

The Primordial Seawater…the prophecy…they were one and the same. As soon as she realized it, the room was tilting under her feet. Furina absentmindedly clutched at her heart, panic overtaking her nerves. The memory of that man dissolving in front of her eyes was vivid. That was the fate Focalors was trying to prevent. And so was she. She had understood the gravity of the situation but it had never hit her with such clarity before. Realizing the margin of failure was so much larger than she expected, Furina's heart was lodged in her throat.

She didn't notice the concerned looks Navia and Neuvillette were giving her, so deep in her panic that she jumped when Navia approached her.

“Your Majesty! Are you alright?”

Furina blinked, finding herself back to reality. It was a struggle to appear confident. “Huh? Yes, everything is fine.”

“You were so quiet all of a sudden. Are you certain that you are feeling good?” Neuvillette asked her. She was quite literally being mother-henned by them both. 

“Of course! Why wouldn't I be fine? It wasn't me who was injured last night. I was just wondering how that man got his hands on the Primordial Seawater. Something so dangerous shouldn't be found so easily.” 

“You're right.” He nodded, though he was still concerned. “That is something we should look into. It doesn't bode well that the Primordial Seawater is in the hands of criminals.”

“Could this be the reason behind the missing women?” Navia piped in, narrowing her eyes. “If someone were to use this Seawater on a person, it will dissolve them, leaving nothing of them. Such a method would be very advantageous.”

“That is a good point. With such a method, it would be quite easy to kidnap people without leaving a trace. But the real question is, what is the purpose of dissolving them?” Neuvillette responded calmly, looking thoughtful. 

“I don't know.” Navia slumped her shoulders in defeat. “But it is too dangerous to let this carry on as is. Who knows how many more victims there could be?” 

“Given that you were one of them, I'm sure you are personally interested in carrying out justice.” There was a tone of approval in Neuvillette's voice.

However Furina didn't get to appreciate their bonding as her head was swimming with all the new information she received. The prophecy was inching closer and there was yet to be a sign of Focalors and out of nowhere, there was a group of people who were using the Primordial Seawater for their benefits. So much had happened in such a short time that she couldn't focus on anything else. 

Why hadn't the Fontaine Research Institute ever told her about this? Or was it that they had expected her to already know this before? With such a dangerous power against her, could she be able to stop the prophecy? Or would she fail? 

No, that can't be! She didn't come this far to fail just yet.

Furina snapped out of her reverie when they both turned to her.

“You seem lost in thought. Your Majesty, are you feeling well?” Neuvillette asked again. 

She blinked, turning to them. Plastering a weak smile, she replied. “Ah, I was just thinking about the group of people he mentioned. Lady Navia, you said that you believe it has something to do with your father's business. Why do you think that?”

“My father has a lot of enemies, people who'd love to take him down. This isn't new for him. As the president of the Spina, he's had to deal with a lot of foes. A couple days before his trial, he was busy with handling a top secret business that he was hiding from me. I obviously didn't heed his words and looked through his stuff and it turned out that he was investigating the Sinthe case. I'm not sure about the details but from what I gathered, he had angered the drug dealers,” Navia said quietly, her expression mellowed and thoughtful. “He even told me that he tried to die that night to keep me safe from his enemies. So it's not farfetched to connect the dots.”

Furina pursed her lips, carefully analyzing what Navia said. In the play, Callas had been going back and forth with the criminals behind the Sinthe drug. Though it wasn't explained in detail about the series of events that followed, Furina could at least piece together the puzzle. 

“So you mean to say that this is related to the Sinthe case?” She asked, crossing her arms. 

“I have a guess. But ultimately it is my father who could answer that. I don't think that both of the incidents are simply coincidence but we also don't have any ideas.” 

“Then we need to have Callas answer the questions. If he does know what this is all about, we can stop the kidnapping. If what you're saying is correct, that your father's enemies and the people using the Primordial Seawater are connected, then it gives us an advantage.”

Navia enthusiastically nodded. “That is my goal as well. Your Majesty, I promise you that I and my father will be repaying the kindness you have shown us. The Spina di Rosula will be sending out spies and gathering intel to every country in Fontaine and getting to the bottom of this. This is my vow to you.” 

To emphasize her words, the blond extended a hand, her blue eyes shining with determination and courage. As the sunlight cascaded through the windows of the office, her sunshine hair glowed almost like she had a halo. Her fearless attitude and her compassion was one of the many virtues that made her such a strong person. Furina could stare in awe and surprise as this incredible woman vowed to her. Such passionate words were in character for Navia and Furina had heard similar things from Giselle, the actress who was supposed to be Navia. However it suddenly clicked in her mind that Navia was never meant to make a promise to the empress. 

Navia was a strong and capable leader and after her father's death, she continued to help the people around her. She had promised to enact justice after seeing the reality behind the glamour of Fontaine and she even had made a promise to the people of Poisson. However she had never promised anything to the empress. In fact, Navia held a strong distaste for the empress who only cared for her entertainment. So for the heroine to promise something so important was startling.

Furina gaped at her, her eyes wide. “You're making a vow to me? Why?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Navia chuckled. “Because you've been a great help to me. You saved my father's life and you're the reason why I am not an orphan today. That tells me that you are kind and good. Since this is a problem that is affecting all of Fontaine, this must be ailing you. I want to be as helpful as possible.”

She couldn't help but blush. “Oh! Um, that's really…kind of you, Navia,” Furina said in a shy and meek tone, feeling her cheeks heat up. How had the heroine been able to make the wicked empress blush? Furina thought she should have been more capable of handling the characters since she had a firsthand experience with the other actors, but she found herself utterly surprised by them all the same. 

Seeing her blush made Navia laugh in a good-natured way. “Anyways, I think I know what I should do from here. I'll ask my father about the Sinthe case. He should know something about it. Of course I will personally see that the Spina investigates the mystery.

Furina clapped her hands, giggling. “Excellent! Oh, but…should you really be returning back to Poisson? It's too dangerous for you.”

The blond's expression turned serious. She was likely thinking the same as Furina. The piece of paper that was found on the criminal clearly targeted Navia. Knowing that the people trying to harm her had the ability to simply spike her with the Primordial Seawater sent chills down her spine. 

“I suppose you are right. They have set their sights on me. But I will be fine on my own. I can keep myself safe.” Navia shook her head and smiled reassuringly. But Furina wasn't convinced.

“No, no, no. I can't let you do that! The situation is very grave. The last thing I want is for you to be harmed. You should be here in the Court until the culprit is detained.” 

Neuvillette crossed his arms, nodding. “She has a point. No matter how capable you may be, it is reckless to put yourself in danger. I will send a message to Lord Callas instead.” 

Hearing their concerns, Navia fell into a contemplative silence. Sighing, she said, “Alright. I will listen to you. What's a few more days here?”

“I will have a luxurious room ready for you.” Furina told her. “As long as you stay here, you will have nothing to want.”

The blond cracked a smile. “I'm satisfied with just being able to see you.”

“Oh, you're too sweet,” she giggled, feeling her face warm with a blush. Remembering a crucial detail, Furina turned her attention to Neuvillette. “And before I forget, please ask Sigewinne to look into this Primordial Seawater.”

“Of course, I will do it right away.”

“Good.” Pleased, she put a hand under her chin. Now that everything was in order and decided, she could be rest assured that this crisis would be handled swiftly. Meaning she could focus on her original plan. “In the meantime, I know what to do to pass the time.” 

“Oh? What is it?” Neuvillette asked.

“Let us host a tea party tomorrow. All the gloom and doom gets boring after a while. And I didn't even get to enjoy my ball! It will be a lovely way to relax after what happened.”

He sighed, exasperated and fond. “Since you're so adamant, then who are we to deny you?” 

“I don't mind at all!” Navia said cheerfully. 

Furina put her hands on her hips confidently. “Well, then it's decided. I can't wait for it. I'll make sure to ask the chefs to prepare the most delicious food ever!” 

The silver-blond haired young man stepped into the dark room, hiding his nervousness with an effortless grin. All the while his heart pounded against his chest. 

“Father, I've returned with an important message. Her Majesty the Tsaritsa’s envoy is on his way. He's asked for accomodations in the meantime.” 

For a while, there came no response. Silence greeted him. Father could be thinking of many things, some were too classified for him and his siblings to know about. The young man had expected consequences for bringing this information. Harbingers of the Tsaritsa hardly got along, their relationships were rocky to put it nicely and explosive to put it realistically. 

“Hmm, I see,” came Father's response. “Hand me the message.”

Lyney, the young man, quietly and obediently handed her the letter that came from Snezhnaya. How Father was able to read it in such darkness was beyond him but he had grown used to Father's…eccentricities. 

She read it in an instant, folding it precisely. “Since Her Majesty has requested it, who am I to deny her wishes? Though Tartaglia is somewhat of a brute, I don't think he will be a nuisance while he's here.”

“Shall I deal with him?” He offered as it was the custom. He had many talents, which was why he was going to be the successor. He wasn't as physically strong as the Harbingers, but he was certain he could distract him from causing enough destruction. 

“No. That won't be necessary.” Father's tone was sharp, leaving no room for any negotiations. None could argue with her. The children who were too young to understand were too afraid of her and those who were aware knew their places. Lyney, too, knew his place.

“…Forgive my curiosity but may I ask why he even plans to come to Fontaine? I thought the House of the Hearth handled the diplomatic connections here.” But sometimes he played with fire. 

“That is true. But Tartaglia is not coming here for a diplomatic reason. He has his own personal reasons. Which I am not privy to. But as I will be responsible for what he does while he is in Fontaine, he must be kept in check.”

Nodding, he said, “Understandable.”

Once again, silence fell over the dark room. He thought he was going to get dismissed for the night. But then.

“Lyney,” Father said.

“Yes, Father?”

“See to it that you make an appearance in the Opera Epiclese. Preferably soon. Focalors has not been paying attention to the foreign diplomats. Her flippancy is not unusual but it is concerning.”

Lyney bowed. “Of course, Father. Shall I look through her papers?”

“No. You only need to get into her good grades. Leave the rest to me.” Saying that, Father rose to her full height. In the dark, Lyney could barely see what happened. 

“I will get into it very soon. Don't worry about it at all.” He promised her. In his training, he had to entertain many nobles and rich people. The empress was of a different status altogether but Lyney was convinced that he could charm her with his handsome face. Though…he did wonder what the purpose was. “Is there anything else I have to do?”

Footsteps clicked towards him. He restrained the urge to flinch. Father was peering down at him, her eyes the embers of a roaring flame. “Do not disappoint me.”

Lyney swallowed, hiding his fear. He nodded. 

“You are dismissed.”