Chapter Text
It has been a number of days since you have arrived in Fontaine and it felt like a completely different world, the clothes, the food, the social scene, it felt like so much. The Court of Fontaine felt so overwhelming, an environment you had to navigate but could not figure your way around whatsoever, so for your first few days you opted to stay at your brother’s home, a very beautiful townhouse in the Court of Fontaine. You told him you can help pay for your own expenses but he insisted on taking care of you since he had more than enough mora to spare. Due to his number of years working in Fontaine’s court, so after all this time he had more mora than he knew what to do with.
The first of these expenses he paid for was a trip to one of Fontiane’s many high end boutiques, so you could have more of a wardrobe rather than your few sets of clothes you had gotten for travel before you had left Liyue Harbor in the chaos. The boutique itself felt like something out of a story book. You saw gowns of scarlet and lace being made on mannequins in the shop. There was a fitting room with drawn up curtains and a mirror framed in gold that a young lady would see herself in, wearing a beautiful dress. There was a waiting area with plush seats and tea and sweets being served to the customers who arrived early to their appointments or if they were running a bit behind. The whole shop carried an elegance to it, just like the rest of Fontaine.
The woman who welcomed you to the shop seemed to already know who your brother was, calling him by the title of lord, well now that you thought about it almost all of Fontaine knew your brother, he is the one who keeps track of the decisions or orders that the Iudex makes during court and also keeps the court's schedule, keeping the wheel that was Fontaine’s court moving. He was known as a member of the government of Fontaine, working in the court closely with the Chief Justice and often seen with the Hydro Archon. This also made you think about Fontaine's view on things, while your brother seems very serious in his work as it involves finding the truth itself, his domain, you heard others use words like plot twist, boring, and climax, to refer to trials. You did not know what to make of this, watching trials like you used to watch the members of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe perform at the Heyu Tea House in Liyue Harbor. It made part of you feel so uncomfortable, to hear someone talk about another’s life like that.
“Do take care of my sister.” Your brother spoke to the seamstress as you stood up from your seat in the waiting area and he remained. He then glanced at you with a smile. “Let me know if you need anything, (Name). Price is no issue, after all everything, you deserve something nice.”
“Mhm.” You could only nod as the seamstress led you back into one of the many dressing rooms and had you stand in front of the mirror. She told her assistant who was waiting there for you to start taking your measurements while she looked through potential fabrics. You could only stand there in silence when you were measured by the assistant and the seamstress came back to hold different fabrics up to your skin to see how they would look on you.
“Is that too tight, my lady?” You heard the Yaksha, Menogias ask you as he held tight on a bit of access fabric for the dress he was sewing for you, per your husband’s request. You shook your head no and the Yaksha hummed before you heard the sound of him cutting through the extra fabric. “This color is very nice on you, my lady.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“I know my lord prefers you in his own colors but I think this shade is quite lovely on you.” Menogias said, a small smile coming across his face as he took a needle from the nearby table with his sewing equipment and began to stitch up the back of the dress. Your husband would always have you dressed in golds and whites when you sat by his side in meetings, in front of the Adepti and even in front of the people of Liyue. “Along with that, the pale blues match the glaze lilies-“
“Well agreed, Menogias.” A voice cut off the Yaksha. You both glanced around to look over your shoulders to see your husband standing there, carrying a small bundle of glaze lilies with him. He walked into the room, coming to walk around you, looking at the dress that was being made for you. A small smile came across his face as he took one of the glaze lilies out of the string that tied the flowers together. He gestured to you to lean forward towards him with his fingers, which you did so carefully enough that you would not ruin Menogias’ stitches in the dress. The Lord of Geo reached over and tucked your hair behind your ear and the flower as well. You kept your head lowered for a longer moment before you heard your husband chuckle and felt his hand reach down, running across your cheek and bringing up your face to meet his own. His golden eyes before your own, only inches away. He leaned forward, his lips giving the gentlest kiss on his own, almost a forget about the dragon that he really is. His lips parted from your own and you felt his thumb come up to run against your lower lip. “…so beautiful.”
“Are you alright, Mademoiselle?” You heard the seamstress ask as she brought up another shade of fabric right up to your face. You snapped yourself out of your thoughts and you nodded.
“I am alright, I just caught myself in my thoughts.” The seamstress nodded to your answer before she set that sample of fabric aside. They continued to work and talk while you stood there, listening in silence. Then you heard the door to the shop open, followed by a few words exchanged, probably another customer. You did not pay much attention to it until you heard footsteps walking to the other fitting area next to you.
You glance over at the woman who stands at the mirror next to you. She was a beautiful blond woman, fair skin, and blue eyes. She was dressed in blacks, yellows, and a bit of blue in her jewelry that matches her eyes. You glanced back at the waiting area and you saw two men dressed in suits, were those her escorts or guards? You had to remind yourself that staring was rude, so you looked back at the mirror and the women who were working on your dresses in the making.
“Judging by the look of you, you’re not from Fontaine.” The blond woman next to you said, almost the moment you looked away. You shot her a confused glance at her sudden comment. She also looked at you, with a smile, a genuine smile. “Those earrings you’re wearing, cor lapis, right? That’s found in Liyue if I remember correctly.”
“Y-yes, that is correct.” You responded, shocked by her observation. You did wear earrings made of cor lapis and gold, a gift from your husband for your one thousand nine hundred ninety marriage anniversary. Now that you remembered that you still had them, perhaps you should sell them, they were the last physical reminder of your marriage since you gave Lumine your wedding ring and she did not return it by the time you left Liyue. “I recently moved here to Fontaine from Liyue, I am staying with my brother at the moment.”
“Your brother?” At her question you gestured to the waiting area where you brother sat, alongside her attendants. Your brother looked a bit awkward sitting next to the serious looking men. The woman looked back at you with a tad bit of shock, but remained calm. She spoke to you in somewhat of a whisper, just quiet enough for your brother not to hear. “Your brother is the clerk to the Iudex?”
“I… I suppose. I have been a bit isolated from my family for a while.” You answered with a sigh, thinking back to your isolation from your family thanks to your husband. You shook away those thoughts and looked back at the woman beside you. “That aside, I have not introduced myself. My name is (Name), it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise Mademoiselle (Name), you can call me Navia, I am the renowned president of Spina di Rosula.” The woman now known as Navia responded to your introduction. You tilted your head in confusion at the mention of the Spina di Rosula which Navia picked up on. “You don’t know of the Spina di Rosula”
“No, I am afraid I do not, my apologies.”
“Oh don’t worry about it, my dear. You have nothing to apologize for.” She said at your apology. She seemed like a kind woman, more kind than you were used to these days. “From mediating disputes and providing protection, to solving conundrums, you name it, Spina di Rosula does it.”
“Oh wow, that is quite the feat.” You responded, and she nodded at your statement.
“You know since you are new to Fontaine, I could show you around if you’d like.” Navia offered, but sadly your brother had taken time off for a few days to show you around the city, but you had yet to visit the Opera Epiclese and in total honestly you were not sure if you wanted to with the nation's view of the court as a form of entertainment. “I know the best tea shop.”
“Oh I am afraid my brother has already shown me around the city but I would be more than happy to see a few more sights.” You responded and a bit of a sad expression came across her face.
“Mademoiselle.” You heard the seamstress call out to you, politely interrupting your conversation. “We have all your measurements, we’ll be having those orders ready in the next few days.”
“Oh thank you.” You said as you stepped away from the mirror. You looked over at Navia with a smile. “It was lovely to meet you, Navia. I do hope we can meet up together in the future.”
“Oh most definitely, I will have either of my attendances, Melus or Silver, reach out on my behalf.” Navia gestured to the two men sitting alongside with your brother in the waiting area. “I hope we can become good friends, Mademoiselle (Name).”
“Yes, I do as well.”
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A few days later after your visit at the boutique your dresses had arrived. They were all so beautiful, lace, silk, velvet, blues, purples, golds, and the list went on. Your older siblings had always been ones to spoil you, even if you insisted against it. Speaking of your brother, he had just left for work. With his absence, you were left alone for the day beside the house staff that consisted of a maid, a butler, a cook, and the gardener, but they were tending to their own duties. So you were left to own devices, so you opted to try on the dresses that were made for you. You tried on each dress, excited to see what each one looked like on you. Some were nicer like a lilac gown made of silk and tulle with specs of gold sewn into the fabric. Others were less formal, like a white and gold tea dress with puff sleeves and a shorter skirt with a built-in petticoat. None of the outfits were exactly casual, but not many in Fontaine dressed casual.
As you were trying on another dress you heard a knock on the door followed by the maid’s voice, a worry seeping into her voice. “My lady, can I come in? I am afraid it is urgent.”
“Oh yes, of course.” With your quick reply the door opened to reveal the house’s maid, carrying a tan folder along with a worried expression,
“I believe Monsieur Vepar left this.” She spoke, handing the file to you. “It is for today’s trial I am afraid. The other staff, including myself, have a lot of other things to tend to, so if it would not be too much for you could you deliver it?”
“Of course, the Opera House, correct?” The maid nodded and you grabbed your bag, that was also a gift, and tucked the file inside. “Alright, I will take care of that- Oh and if it is not too much, if someone named Melus or Silver comes by, let them know I am out.”
“Of course my lady, let me get your coat.”
You set out into the city, heading towards the aquabus station. Like always you hear the gossip of the Court of Fontaine, who was being tried today, past trials, upcoming trials, trials, trials, trials. Honestly the more you walked through the city and heard this talk of the people of Fontaine, the more sick you felt. It felt horrible that they treated trials like entertainment, you knew your brother treated them with much seriousness and had the same view of Fontaine’s trails as the Iudex which is why they worked so closely. Apparently even the Archon watched trials, living for the thrill of the court. Your brother was not a fan of her despite him basically working for her. You asked him one time when you first arrived what he thought of her, and given him being the god of truth, he had to tell you the full truth…
You sat in the drawing room of your brother’s home, having afternoon tea with him that also served as lunch for the two of you. There were an assortment of snacks and food before you, sandwiches, macarons, meringues, and so on. Your brother had just poured the tea for the two of you and just as he was going to take a sip of his tea you got the courage to ask…
“Vepar, what do you think of the current Hydro Archon?”
The moment you asked that question, he slammed down his tea cup into the saucer. There was a clear agitated look on his face as he came up to rub his temples, clearly he did not like the current Archon.
“Do not get me started on her, she is self absorbed, impatient, and she is beyond childish. She adores the spotlight, but the moment something starts to go south, most likely because of her own actions, she will try to save face but then in private she throws a fit. Honestly I do not know how Monsieur Neuvillette deals with her, honestly if I was left alone to deal with her I would jump off of the roof of the Palais Mermonia. Then there is when…”
He went on and on about the Hydro Archon, clearly having much distaste for her. Despite all that at the end of his rant, he sighed and gazed off, his eyes almost glazing over as he spoke his thoughts.
“Despite all of that, I do think she cares for the people of Fontaine, but I do think she has a long way to go before she can be called a proper leader.”
You hummed in thought as you stepped off the aquabus at the Marcotte Station, thinking back on what Vepar said on Hydro Archon. You walked along the road, leading to the Opera Epiclese. There were other people walking along the road with you, only they were going to watch the trial for entertainment most likely. You could hear the gossip and talk of the people about the trial which you tried to drown out. Soon enough you found yourself in front of the massive building known as the Opera Epiclese and you stood before the fountain that lays in front of the building.
You found yourself staring at it for a long moment, watching the water flow through. You remember your brother telling you about this fountain, the Fountain of Lucine. He told you that it said that all water ultimately gathers at the fountain, which you found quite interesting based on your connection to the water. You stared at the water passing through the fountain and when you closed your eyes, you could almost recall the feeling of the water hitting your body as you played in the salt water sea at your home. You listened to the sound of water and for a moment you could have sworn you heard the sound of laughter for a brief moment.
“Are you alright, Mademoiselle?” It was a deep voice, slow and calm. You opened your eyes and looked beside you was a tall man, dressed in robes of harsh blues of all shades, golds, and whites. He had paler skin that went with his white hair along with blue streaks, but you were not quite sure of that. His violet eyes were fixed on your own. “Mademoiselle?”
“O-oh, yes I am fine, I was just caught in my own head for a moment.” You responded to his question but his eyes remained fixated on you.
“Are you alright? If you are lightheaded I would be able to help you find your seat.”
“Seat?” You ran that through your head, then you realized he probably thought you were here to watch the trial like most others here. You shook your head no to his question and gave a light laugh. As you spoke you took out the file for your brother from your bag. “Oh no, I am not here to watch any trial. I am actually here to drop off files for the trial that my brother, Monsieur Vepar, left at home by accident.”
“Ah you are Monsieur Vepar’s sister, I never knew he had one.” The man spoke with a hum in his deep voice. “I can take that off your hands if you would like.”
“I apologize Monsieur, but I do not know who you are. I would rather make sure this ends up in Vepar’s hands myself.”
“I suppose that is understandable, but please allow me to escort you.”
You nodded to his request and the two of you made your way into the opera house. As you walked, not a word was exchanged, besides you could not focus with all the stares and whispers you received from people as you walked by, all of their eyes fixed on you and the man beside you. They only faded once you entered the so-called backstage of the opera house and the man guided through the halls of the opera until you reached another hallway that must lead to the stage and there you spotted your brother, pacing back and forth, worrying. The man beside you cleared his throat, catching your brother’s attention. Your brother turned to the two of you and a look of relief came across his face once he saw the file in your hand. He rushed up to you and took the file before he hugged you, a bit too tightly.
“Oh thank you, ma très chère sœur. When I found that it was not in my bag I almost passed out, I have not forgotten a file in a number of years.” He let go of you and held the file tightly to his chest as if he was hugging it like he did with you. He glanced at the man beside you and gave him a nod with a smile. “Thank you for helping her find her way, Monsieur Neuvillette.”
“Neuvillette? As in-“
“Ah yes, I suppose I should introduce the two of you.” Your brother said with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “Monsieur Neuvillette, this is my youngest sister Madame (Name).”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” The man now known as Neuvillette said to you, giving a bow of the head to you. His purple eyes remained fixated on you, as if to keep eye contact with you.
“(Name), this is Monsieur Neuvillette, the Chief Justice, the Iudex of Fontaine.” Your brother introduced, gesturing to the man before you. He looked towards the judge with a smile on his face after he nearly had a panic attack after losing the files, and he gestures towards the stage. “Now shall we?”
“Yes.” Neuvillette looks back at you and gives you another small bow. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle (Name). I do hope we may meet again.”
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After you delivered the files you returned back to the townhouse in the Court of Fontaine. Upon entry the maid took your jacket and as she was going to hang it up, she leaned over to you and whispered a slight giggle in her voice. “There is someone here to see you, they are waiting in the drawing room.”
“Oh, thank you.” You watched as she took your coat to the closet and you peeled off your gloves as you walked into the drawing room. As you tucked your gloves into your pocket there was a slight giggle from whoever waited for you to look up. When you did so you spotted Navia sitting on the couch, Melus and Silver standing at her side.
“Melus stopped by earlier and your maid said you would be back soon. So I decided to come and wait for you myself.” Navia smiled as she stood up and dusted off her dress and walked over to you, coming to link her arm with your own. “May I suggest you get your coat?”
“Hm, what for?”
“I made us reservations at the best pâtisserie in the Court of Fontaine! My treat of course.”
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Vepar, the god truth and mist, the reader’s second eldest brother
