"Come in."
Arlecchino's voice carried out from inside the room, cool and commanding.
The next moment, Lyney pushed the doors open.
Arlecchino had changed back into her old clothes. Ye Xi felt a twinge of regret. "Why are you wearing that again? There isn't a shred of femininity to it."
"Ahem…" Arlecchino gave a dry cough and glanced at Lyney. "You two, leave us."
"Yes, Father."
The twins withdrew from the study and stood in the corridor, staring at each other.
"What exactly is the relationship between Mister Ye Xi and Father? He speaks to her like that, and Father doesn't even get angry."
Lyney shook his head. "No idea. But it's definitely not an ordinary one."
As children Arlecchino had taken in, the two of them privately agreed with what Ye Xi had said.
Arlecchino's usual attire carried far too much weight behind it. No one dared meet her eyes when she wore it. Dressed like that, even a simple conversation with her felt suffocating.
Yesterday, when Arlecchino came home, she had been wearing — for once — an ordinary woman's dress.
In that outfit, even the two of them, who had spent years at her side, thought she looked beautiful. They had assumed Father was finally lightening up. Instead, within minutes of returning she had changed back into that overbearing get-up.
Inside the room.
"In front of the children, leave me a little dignity."
Arlecchino's expression had softened somewhat compared to a moment ago.
So that was it, Ye Xi thought — the famous reserve. In front of the children she wanted to maintain the authority of "Father," so they would feel both fear and respect.
A textbook tsundere.
"How are things at the Fortress of Meropide? I heard the Primordial Sea water has started churning. Nothing's gone wrong, has it?"
The Primordial Sea water was what concerned Ye Xi most.
He had heard that the instant a Fontainian touched water like that, they dissolved on the spot. For the people of Fontaine, that was a catastrophe beyond recovery.
Arlecchino motioned for him to sit, then poured him a cup of black tea with her own hands. "Nothing serious. Word is the Court of Fontaine's Chief Justice intervened and suppressed the eruption point of the Primordial Sea water."
"This Neuvillette — I have no idea what power he used, but he managed to suppress the sea water and seal it away besides."
Clearly, Arlecchino had no idea what Neuvillette truly was.
Since they were allies in protecting Fontaine, Ye Xi shared what he knew without holding anything back.
"According to Rex Lapis, that old geezer, this Neuvillette is Fontaine's Hydro Dragon Sovereign."
"The Hydro Dragon Sovereign?!"
Something flickered in Arlecchino's eyes, and the spoon stirring her tea began to move faster.
A thin trace of a smile surfaced at the corner of her mouth. "So that's how it is. That explains everything."
"Furina is so fragile because she has the Chief Justice shielding her. And the burden of standing against Fontaine's catastrophe must have been lifted off her shoulders by Neuvillette as well."
"That's why Furina knows nothing at all."
She understood now. She should never have made Furina her target. Neuvillette was the one to focus on — he was the one who truly called the shots.
Ye Xi nodded. "That's right. Apparently the Dragon Sovereigns don't acknowledge the authority of The Seven Archons of the Mortal World at all. They're a dragon race that stands opposed to The Heavenly Principles."
"What the Hydro Archon Furina could possibly have done to make the Hydro Dragon Sovereign help her guard Fontaine, I can't begin to guess."
Arlecchino set down her teacup and rose. "It seems we should go and speak with the Chief Justice as soon as possible."
She already had a plan taking shape.
The Fatui's reputation in Fontaine remained poor. The House of the Hearth was under regular watch by the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol.
Clearly, Neuvillette was wary of the House of the Hearth having established itself here.
Securing an audience with him would require some maneuvering.
Ye Xi raised no objection. "Going to see Neuvillette now is fine. But I'm more curious about Furina. I'd really like to meet her."
"Oh?" Arlecchino's face filled with scorn. "You mean you want to drag her back to your Serenitea Pot."
"Cough, cough…"
Ye Xi's face went red. He hadn't expected Arlecchino to say his own thoughts out loud for him.
In truth, he was simply curious what the Hydro Archon looked like.
Though, admittedly, Arlecchino wasn't wrong either.
As one of the Seven Archons in Genshin Impact, Furina was without question a character miHoYo had poured its heart into designing.
Faced with a God like that, how could he not have a few private notions?
"Let's go. I'll take you to Palais Mermonia."
Arlecchino opened the door and gave Lyney and the others their instructions.
As the Fatui's diplomat, calling upon the Court of Fontaine's Chief Justice naturally demanded a certain amount of ceremony. Arriving alone would look far too informal.
Lyney worked quickly. Before long, the Fatui under Arlecchino's command had gathered and formed themselves into a squad.
Ye Xi fell in with them, and together they set out for Palais Mermonia.
Palais Mermonia sat at the highest point of the city of Fontaine, overlooking the entire city and the distant line of the sea.
Its architecture was grand and elegant, built wholly of pure white marble, the stone surfaces carved with fine, delicate patterns — waves and clouds woven together — declaring Fontaine's character as the Nation of Water while breathing solemnity and sanctity.
The palace roof was laid with deep blue glazed tiles that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, answering the sea in the distance until the two seemed to become one.
Before the main gate lay a broad plaza paved with smooth stone slabs, and at its center rose a tall fountain.
Columns of water surged from a ring of exquisitely carved statues, the spray refracting the sunlight into rainbow hues, like a soundless feast of light. Flowers of every color grew thick around the fountain, their fragrance drifting through the air on the mist, easing the heart of anyone who breathed it.
The palace entrance was an enormous arched gate, and above the arch was set a great stone plaque bearing three large golden characters — Palais Mermonia — the script archaic and dignified, as though recounting the palace's long history.
Two tall stone pillars flanked the doors, carved with waves and shoals of fish so lifelike that at any moment the fish might swim off the stone and into the sea.
Stepping inside, the first thing that met the eye was a magnificent hall.
The ceiling soared out of sight, its vault painted with a vast mural depicting the myths and legends of Fontaine, brilliant in color and sweeping in scale. The floor was laid in alternating black and white marble, with a red carpet running down the center. At the carpet's end stood a high throne of solid gold, its back inlaid with countless gemstones that blazed with dazzling light.
Corridors branched off both sides of the hall, their walls hung with portraits of Fontaine's rulers across the ages, each so lifelike that they seemed to watch every visitor who passed.
At the end of each corridor stood tall floor-to-ceiling windows, and beyond them lay the whole panorama of the city, the far-off sea joining the sky in a single line — a view both magnificent and vast.
Every detail of Palais Mermonia proclaimed Fontaine's prosperity and splendor. It was at once a witness to history and a temple of art — not merely the symbol of Fontaine's sovereign power, but the very soul of the city.
Neuvillette's intelligence was in no way lacking.
Before Arlecchino even reached the palace gate, a long line of Melusines had already formed up, ready to receive them.
Ye Xi had glimpsed these strange little creatures earlier; seeing them again caught him off guard.
He had assumed that the creatures called Melusines were pets kept by the people of Fontaine.
[Author's Note: …Requesting flowers…]
He would never have guessed that Melusines would be the ones to receive Snezhnaya's diplomatic envoy.
Didn't that mean their standing here was extremely high?
Of course, he was only curious. Nothing more.
He wasn't so twisted as to want to scoop up a few Melusines and carry them home.
Fluffy and adorable as the little things were, he still preferred the wives waiting for him at home.
And besides, it wasn't as though he lacked a fluffy wife of his own.
Yae Miko's tail was first-rate in both texture and softness.
Arlecchino seemed to notice where his gaze had wandered and gave a soft snort. "Don't get any ideas about these little ones. They are among Fontaine's guardians. Their standing is very high indeed."
"That's not what I meant." Ye Xi waved his hands hurriedly. "I just think they're cute, that's all."
The Melusines arranged themselves into a neat column, the one at the head advancing with an elegant gait as it led Arlecchino and Ye Xi into Palais Mermonia. Their movements were light and perfectly ordered, like a carefully choreographed dance.
As they went deeper into the palace, the air around them grew steadily more solemn and mysterious.
The murals along both walls of the corridor depicted not only Fontaine's history but scenes of the Hydro element and nature living in harmony. Every step seemed to carry the echo of ages past, until one could only marvel at the depth of culture this palace held.
At last, at the end of a long corridor, a huge golden door appeared. Fine gemstones were set into its surface, glowing with a soft light, as though welcoming the arrival of honored guests.
"Lord Neuvillette is already waiting inside," the lead Melusine said softly, her voice clear and pleasant.
Arlecchino nodded and signaled for Ye Xi to follow. She pushed the doors open and stepped into a broad, brightly lit hall. At its center stood a splendid long table ringed with finely crafted chairs. At the far end of that table sat a figure in a deep blue robe.
"Welcome to Palais Mermonia."
Neuvillette's voice was as clear as running water, carrying a trace of authority impossible to pin down. His face was calm and noble, his eyes lit with profound wisdom. Though he sat perfectly still, being near him felt like standing in the middle of a boundless ocean.
"Lord Chief Justice. It has been a long time." Arlecchino let her own presence unfurl once more.
A mere diplomat, and yet before the man who truly held power in the Court of Fontaine she remained neither servile nor arrogant, entirely at ease.
"There is no need for such formality." Neuvillette waved a hand lightly. "Please, be seated."
Arlecchino and Ye Xi each took a chair, while the Melusines withdrew quietly to one side, holding themselves in a watchful posture.
"We have come to learn the current state of the Primordial Sea water," Arlecchino said, going straight to the point.
"Oh? The Fatui take an interest in this matter as well?" Neuvillette had assumed the Fatui had come with some scheme in hand; he had not expected their purpose to be the crisis of the Primordial Sea water.
"Since we've come this far, there's no reason to keep you guessing. The House of the Hearth's aim is to help Fontaine survive the prophesied catastrophe."
Had time not been so pressing, Arlecchino would never have laid out her purpose so bluntly.
But Ye Xi had told her a great deal, and there was no longer any need to test the waters. Coming straight out with it would simply be faster.
Neuvillette gave a slight nod. "Very well. The recent fluctuations of the Primordial Sea water have caused considerable disturbance. However, I have already taken measures and sealed it away for the time being. It poses no threat to Fontaine."
"That is good to hear." Arlecchino let out a breath. "But we would still like to know — what caused this anomaly in the first place?"
Neuvillette was silent in thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to Ye Xi. "And this gentleman is…?"
End
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