"Lady Furina, what are your thoughts on the battle against the Fatui Harbinger Tartaglia in a few days?"
"Is that even a question? Of course, I'll win effortlessly! Do you really think I, as the Hydro Archon, would lose to a mere mortal?"
"Lady Furina, how long do you believe it will take you to secure victory? By the way, Monsieur Neuvillette's current projection is 0.36 seconds."
"What?! Neuvillette can do it that fast?!"
"Yes, Lady Furina. According to eyewitness accounts from the audience, Monsieur Neuvillette ended the battle in exactly that time—from start to finish."
"Well! It seems that Tartaglia, the Harbinger, is quite weak. I could definitely defeat him in less than zero point one seconds!"
"However, since the battle will be broadcast nationwide, if I defeat him so easily, the audience will be quite disappointed."
"Well, there's no helping it. For the sake of my people, I'll only use one ten-thousandth of my true strength this time, just to make the battle last a little longer."
"Lady Furina, your consideration for us truly moves me!"
"Don't be surprised or overwhelmed. As citizens of Hydro Archon Focalors, every one of you deserves to witness my battle prowess in full glory."
"Then, Lady Furina, my final question."
"Do you have any message for Monsieur Tartaglia?"
"Hah! You dare challenge me, a god, you puny Harbinger, you little Tartaglia!"
"I admire your courage, but regrettably, you're about to suffer the most humiliating defeat in history!"
"Just try not to cry about it afterward!"
"Excellent! What a spirited declaration of war!"
Charlotte pumped her fist excitedly, then gestured to Furina with her camera.
"Lady Furina, please strike a pose over here! I'm about to take the photo!"
"Ah, as expected of Lady Furina! Even in a casual pose, the divine radiance emanating from you is unmistakable!"
"I'll report our previous interview accurately through The Steam Bird. I'm confident it will soon attract even more people to witness your elegant combat prowess!"
"It's been an immense honor to interview you again!"
"I won't disturb you any further, Lady Furina. I hope I'll have the opportunity to interview you again someday!"
-
As Charlotte's figure receded into the distance until she disappeared completely, the smile on Furina's face finally crumbled. She braced her hands against the table, beads of sweat the size of peas rolling down her forehead.
"I'm done for! Absolutely ruined!"
"I'm going to die this time, for sure!"
"How could I have said something like that?!"
"After saying something like that, even if I tried to bribe that Harbinger now, it probably wouldn't work!"
At that moment, Furina felt her fate hanging by a thread, like a candle flickering in the wind.
"Lady Furina, the cake is ready."
"Is the interview over already?"
"Perfect timing! This cake is absolutely delicious. Come and eat it while it's still warm."
As the girl entered the room carrying a plate of cake, Furina hastily wiped the sweat from her forehead, but remained sprawled on the table, abandoning any pretense of maintaining her Hydro Archon persona in front of the girl.
After all, the girl had already seen through most of her act over the past few weeks.
Aside from her most crucial secret, Furina had revealed almost everything to the girl.
"Emily, now isn't the time for cake..."
Furina's sentence trailed off as the aroma of the cake filled the air.
Five minutes later, Furina placed the plate—now licked clean to the point of needing no washing—back on the table, then slumped her head down again, resuming her lazy posture.
"What's wrong, Lady Furina? Are you still worried about your battle with Tartaglia in a few days?"
The girl smiled brightly as she temporarily cleared the tableware aside. Then, she rested her head on the table, meeting Furina's gaze.
"Or is Lady Furina concerned about how to end the fight in the most dashing way possible?"
Furina was instantly speechless at the girl's words. Gazing at the girl's delicate face, her composure nearly shattered.
That Domain... isn't something I can reach!
It's far more practical to focus on escaping!
Even though it would severely damage my reputation, explaining to the people afterward that I had to handle an urgent matter should minimize the fallout.
Aside from that, Furina couldn't think of a better solution.
At that moment, Furina deeply regretted following the girl to meddle in this mess.
Of course, she refused to blame the girl, instead placing all responsibility on that battle-obsessed Harbinger, Tartaglia.
It's all his fault! Why did he have to come to the Fortress of Meropide in the first place?!
You're a Fatui Harbinger, for goodness' sake! How did you even end up imprisoned in Fontaine Prison?!
Declaring war the moment we meet? Is your brain filled with nothing but combat?!
Great. First, Arlecchino tried to assassinate me, and now I have to face Tartaglia's challenge. All I wanted was to play my role as the Hydro Archon properly! What did I ever do to deserve this?!
Furina later learned that Tartaglia had even dared to challenge Neuvillette to a duel right in front of him.
He was instantly defeated, but that was Neuvillette! Not me! If I fought Tartaglia, he'd absolutely crush me in 365 different ways!
If I'd known this beforehand, I would have avoided Tartaglia at all costs and taken detours whenever he was nearby.
Damn it! I'm going to put up a sign at the Fontaine-Snezhnaya border: "Tartaglia and dogs not allowed!"
Just as Furina was about to deliver the carefully crafted excuse she had prepared, her gaze met Emily's amused eyes. Suddenly, it occurred to her: she could actually ask Emily for help!
Emily's so clever! She must know some way to handle this crisis.
Of course, Furina wouldn't reveal the full truth. After a moment's thought, she straightened up and addressed Emily:
"Emily, there's something I haven't fully explained to you."
"You already know, don't you? To take responsibility, I completely suppressed my Archon's Power when I entered the Fortress of Meropide, living entirely like a mortal."
"Yes, Lady Furina already told me that. I deeply admire your commitment."
The girl sat up and spoke slowly.
"But there's something I've been hiding from you, Emily."
"I didn't just refrain from using that power—I sealed it away completely."
"I was afraid I might accidentally use my Archon's Power and break my resolve. So I sealed it with a barrier even I can't break, set to automatically unseal after a month."
"The battle is in just a few days, and my power will still be sealed then! How am I supposed to fight the Fatui Harbinger like this, Emily?"
"Emily, what should I do?"
Furina nervously revealed her excuse, a pang of guilt stabbing her heart.
She hated deceiving the girl, but she saw no other way out.
I wonder if she'll believe me this time...
Just as Furina was thinking this, the girl suddenly gripped her hands tightly.
"Emily?"
"Lady Furina, I'm so deeply moved!"
"I never imagined you would go to such lengths! Despite being an Archon, you haven't shirked your responsibilities for a moment. Instead, you've led by example, upholding fairness and justice in Fontaine!"
"And to seal away your Archon's Power... Lady Furina, you must be incredibly vulnerable this past month, right?"
"I can't believe you would disregard your own safety to redeem yourself like an ordinary person. Only Lady Furina could possess such resolve!"
"Don't worry, Lady Furina. I'll protect you while you're without your Archon's Power!"
Seeing the girl's emotions visibly stirring, Furina let out a long, silent sigh of relief.
She believes me! Emily believes me!
Thank goodness!
"Emily, I'm so glad you trust me."
Furina's guilt intensified.
"You're right. Without my Archon's Power, I'm extremely vulnerable now. This must never be revealed to those with ill intentions."
"That's precisely why I had to publicly accept the challenge from the Fatui Harbinger Tartaglia—to conceal this weakness."
"Emily, you're the person I trust most here, which is why I'm telling you this."
"What should I do now? Do you have any good ideas?"
Furina looked at the girl with expectant eyes.
"Don't worry, Lady Furina! I have a plan!"
"I'll fight Monsieur Tartaglia first on your behalf."
"If I just say that Monsieur Tartaglia can't even defeat me, then he has no right to challenge you, Lady Furina. That way, if I win, you won't have to worry about your secret being exposed."
Furina's eyes lit up at the girl's suggestion. It was indeed a good plan.
But then Furina grew worried again.
"Emily, I've heard Monsieur Tartaglia is incredibly strong. Are you sure you'll be alright fighting him? You won't get hurt, will you? I'd be so worried if you were injured."
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Furina, but please don't worry about me."
"After all, you are the Hydro Archon of Fontaine!"
"You must have done so much and sacrificed so much in places we couldn't see!"
The girl's words struck Furina's heart like a blow. Painful memories from the past flooded her mind, yet today, the usual ache in her chest felt strangely muted, as if something had filled the emptiness within.
"Though everyone says Lady Furina neglects Fontaine's governance and cares only for the Judgments, I don't believe that."
"Lady Furina's past attendance at every Judgment proves her commitment to justice and fairness. I'm certain she has also sacrificed much for Fontaine in ways we cannot know."
"I refuse to believe that a Lady Furina who willingly sealed away her Archon's Power and chose to atone for her responsibilities as an ordinary person could truly be indifferent to Fontaine's fate."
Seeing the girl's unwavering sincerity, Furina's resolve wavered even further.
Yes, she thought. For everyone's sake, despite being just a mortal, I played the role of the Hydro Archon for five hundred years.
Every day, Furina had to face the people of Fontaine with a flamboyant persona she utterly despised, wearing a false mask and frequently appearing in public view—all to convince everyone that she was the true Hydro Archon.
All this to avert the disaster foretold in the Prophecy.
Even when she occasionally showed glimpses of her true self to Neuvillette and Clorinde, it was only because her mental state was nearing its breaking point, and she desperately needed to relax.
Neuvillette, as Fontaine's Chief Justice for centuries, had worked alongside her for just as long. Even if her actions seemed somewhat unusual, he would hardly suspect her true identity.
Clorinde, on the other hand, served as her personal guard. Through their prolonged close contact, Furina gradually lowered her guard.
Yet neither Neuvillette nor Clorinde had ever noticed the silent sacrifices she had made behind the scenes. Only the girl before her truly believed in her arduous efforts for Fontaine, and only she had truly touched Furina's most vulnerable place.
For a fleeting moment, Furina felt an overwhelming urge to confide everything to the girl before her. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she snapped it shut.
No, she couldn't do it.
Even if there was only the slightest chance, she couldn't reveal the truth to anyone.
Because this heavy truth concerned the lives of everyone in Fontaine, and she dared not gamble with it.
The final moment hadn't yet arrived. Until then, she had to maintain her facade as the Hydro Archon, allowing no one to suspect a thing.
If her true identity were exposed, all the efforts she had poured in over the past five hundred years, all the suffering she had endured, would be rendered utterly meaningless.
So she couldn't speak!
"Lady Furina, you seem to be crying."
Hearing the girl's words, Furina hurriedly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"I'm not crying! How many times have I told you? This is just my Hydro Elemental Power being too abundant!"
"But Lady Furina, didn't you say your power was sealed?"
"Ahem, well... even though my power is sealed, my body still has an extraordinary affinity for the Hydro Element, you see!"
"Ah, I understand now!"
The girl nodded in dawning comprehension, and Furina breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Emily usually seemed incredibly sharp-witted, she was surprisingly easy to deceive when it came to matters concerning herself.
Does this mean Emily completely trusts me?
As this thought crossed her mind, Furina felt another wave of guilt wash over her.
If only I could tell her everything... She longed to confess the truth and stop deceiving Emily.
If only we could become the kind of friends who share secrets, confide in each other, and be truly close.
"Oh, right, Lady Furina," the girl suddenly said, remembering something. "Just to be safe, why don't you hide somewhere else on the day of the duel?"
"Though I'll fight with all my might for you, I can't guarantee victory. If I lose, I'll explain that you were called away on urgent business and postpone the duel. This way, your reputation will be preserved as much as possible."
Hearing the girl's words, Furina's eyes welled up again.
She's thinking of me in every way... and I'm manipulating her with lies to earn her trust.
How could I possibly deserve to be her friend?!
"Thank you, Emily," Furina whispered. "You're the best."
A sweet smile bloomed on the girl's face as she heard Furina's words.
"Alright! As a reward for Lady Furina's tireless dedication to Fontaine, I'll make an extra cake today!"
The mere mention of cake filled Furina's mind, leaving no room for anything else. Drool began to trickle from the corners of her mouth.
"Really, Emily?" she asked eagerly. "You're the best!"
"It's just a cake," Emily chuckled. "No need to get so dramatic."
After a moment, Emily continued, her tone turning more serious. "But Lady Furina, are you sure you should keep eating like this?"
"You seem to have gained a bit of weight lately."
At this, Furina reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" she exclaimed. "I'm an Archon! How could an Archon possibly gain weight?! You must be mistaken, Emily!"
Emily smiled at Furina's vehement denial. "But Lady Furina," she pointed out, "your clothes are noticeably tighter now. They're straining in several places."
"And when I held your hand earlier, it felt much plumper than when we first met..."
"Emily, stop it!"
"I'm just wearing a slightly smaller size today. I'm not fat at all!"
"I'm the Hydro Archon! You have to believe me!"
Furina's tears were on the verge of overflowing again, but fortunately, the girl didn't press further.
"Alright, alright, maybe I just misjudged."
"Exactly! That's it!"
Furina nodded vigorously, affirming the girl's words without hesitation, desperate to avoid this terrifying topic.
"So, Lady Furina, would you still like some cake?"
The girl smiled slightly, posing a question that instantly froze Furina's entire body.
A momentary struggle flickered in Furina's eyes before she succumbed to her inner cravings.
"Eat? Of course I'll eat!"
"Emily, your cakes are just too delicious! How could I possibly resist?!"
"Make sure to bake extra—I could eat as much as you make!"
If worse comes to worst, I'll just exercise more afterward to burn off all the calories!
But after the girl's reminder, Furina realized an even more pressing issue.
If she kept gaining weight, maintaining her Hydro Archon persona would become impossible!