"If the attack was so localized, shouldn't it be easy to find the murderer?" Furina asked, nodding after hearing the guards' report.
Immediately, the same peculiar expressions appeared on the faces of the crowd as on the guards. For a moment, no one seemed to understand.
"...Lady Furina, you're absolutely right. We'll find the murderer as quickly as possible."
"We need to inform the Duke immediately, so we'll take our leave now."
"Mm-hmm, hurry along."
After Furina's response, the guards practically fled the scene.
Watching their hasty retreat, Furina couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Why are they acting so strangely?" Furina murmured to herself.
Just then, Furina noticed movement beside her. The crowd that had been watching the spectacle was beginning to disperse, one by one. As they left, she noticed the odd expressions on their faces, leaving her even more bewildered.
"What's wrong with everyone?"
"Lady Furina..."
Charlotte's expression was also peculiar. Though she tried to maintain her composure, it was clear she was far from calm.
"To my knowledge, there are currently only two individuals within the Fortress of Meropide capable of such a feat—both powerful Hydro Elemental Power users."
"One is Monsieur Tartaglia, who fought Miss Emily earlier and is currently unconscious, resting in the infirmary."
"The other... is you, Lady Furina."
Furina froze, dumbfounded by Charlotte's explanation.
"Wait—does this mean I'm a prime suspect?!"
The onlookers couldn't help but mentally retort: Aren't you the murderer?!
Out of deference to Furina's status as the Hydro Archon, no one dared voice their thoughts aloud. Yet Furina could sense their suspicion in their eyes, and she vehemently protested, feeling utterly wronged.
"I'm not the murderer!"
Seeing the skeptical expressions on everyone's faces, Furina raised her voice slightly.
"I truly am not the murderer!"
"I'm the Hydro Archon! Why would I harm ordinary people?"
"Lady Furina, please calm down. I believe you couldn't possibly be the murderer," a young woman said softly, offering Furina a reassuring smile.
"Let's go back for now. We should allow the guards to thoroughly investigate the scene again. I'm sure Duke Wriothesley will clear Lady Furina's name."
Hearing these words, Furina looked at the young woman with gratitude, feeling a warmth in her heart. At a time like this, she was the only one who believed Furina hadn't done such a thing.
"Lady Furina, I also believe you wouldn't do such a thing!" Charlotte chimed in, finally helping Furina regain her composure.
"Thank you both for your trust," Furina replied.
"As for those foolish people who doubt me, a god, when the truth emerges, they will repent for their blindness and ignorance!"
"Let's go."
Furina threw down these words and stormed off, seething. The young woman offered the crowd an apologetic smile before following Furina.
The crowd watched the departing pair with scornful eyes. Within the Fortress of Meropide, most people already disliked Furina, viewing her actions as the epitome of daring to act but refusing to take responsibility.
Who else could the murderer be but you, Hydro Archon? they seemed to sneer. Tartaglia is still bedridden—do you take us for fools?!
Seeing this, Charlotte cast a worried glance at the departing figures.
All the incriminating evidence pointed to the Hydro Archon Furina, yet having interacted with her several times, Charlotte refused to suspect Furina of being the murderer.
"Alright, then I'll find the real culprit!" she declared.
"Great Detective Charlotte is on the case!"
Refusing to accept Furina's guilt, Charlotte resolved to explore alternative explanations.
Full of confidence, she marched toward the crime scene, only to be promptly driven away by the guards stationed there. Despite her earnest pleas, they remained unmoved, denying her entry to investigate. Crestfallen, Charlotte retreated.
Her fledgling career as a "Great Detective," barely minutes old, had suffered a crushing setback.
Undeterred, Charlotte resolved not to give up so easily. Instead, she decided to first seek Wriothesley's permission, then return to investigate the case properly.
-
"Emily, this is utterly outrageous! Someone is deliberately framing me!" Furina exclaimed indignantly after returning to her dormitory.
"This person has gone too far! I am the Hydro Archon of Fontaine—how dare they?!"
"Lady Furina, please calm down," the girl said, pouring Furina a cup of warm black tea. "The final investigation results haven't been released yet. This case is still in the suspicion stage."
"I believe the truth will eventually clear Lady Furina's name," she continued. "Besides, I'm still here, aren't I? No matter what happens, I will never believe Lady Furina could be responsible for such a thing."
The girl paused, then smiled warmly. "I know how much Lady Furina cherishes the people of Fontaine."
"Emily!"
Furina's eyes welled up at the girl's words, her cheeks growing warm. She turned away, unwilling to let the girl see her emotional state. After a moment, she faced her again, grasped her hands earnestly, and said, "Emily, it's my greatest fortune to have met you!"
"Before, I don't know why, but I always seemed to have terrible luck. Not only was I intimidated and deceived by those with ulterior motives, but I was even..."
"In the end, I was falsely accused and forced to enter the Fortress of Meropide to atone for crimes I didn't commit."
"But then I met you. Perhaps all those past hardships were just paving the way for our meeting!"
Furina blushed slightly as she said this.
These words didn't quite suit the dignity of a Hydro Archon, but after spending so much time with her companion, she felt less restrained.
Most importantly, why did these words sound so cheesy?
Furina quickly shook her head, banishing the strange thought from her mind.
Determined not to stop now, she knew she might not have the courage to say these things a second time.
Recalling their past interactions, though her companion sometimes seemed to manipulate her, she had always shown meticulous care and genuine concern, understanding the depths of her inner suffering.
Furina felt that if she retreated now, she might never find another friend who understood her so deeply.
Furina recalled the moment when, faced with the crowd's strange stares, the young woman had stood firmly behind her, declaring her unwavering belief.
Suddenly, Furina felt filled with courage.
"Emily, will you promise me something?"
"After this is all over, come back to the surface with me."
"You know I can't stay in the Fortress of Meropide for too long as the Hydro Archon, even though I adore it here."
"Eventually, I have to return to the public eye, but I truly don't want to leave you behind."
"I need you so much, Emily. Please, come with me when the time comes!"
After blurting out these words in one breath, Furina's heart began to pound with anxiety. She was terrified the young woman would refuse, but after experiencing the paradise-like life in the Fortress of Meropide, she no longer knew if she had the courage to return to that false stage.
At least, with Emily by her side, she believed she could still face that endless charade with equanimity.
"Honestly, Lady Furina, how can I possibly refuse when you say such things?"
A helpless smile spread across the young woman's face as she shook her head gently.
"Lady Furina, you're being a bit unfair, aren't you? I'm sure most people would find it hard to refuse after hearing you speak so earnestly."
"And I suspect you're secretly addicted to my homemade cakes, aren't you?"
"Hehe... maybe a little of both?"
Furina blushed and scratched her head, embarrassed by the girl's teasing.
"Both?"
"N-no, no! Emily, you're far more important!"
"Hehehe..."
The girl chuckled softly at Furina's flustered reply.
Furina, however, didn't seem to mind. Her eyes grew brighter as she analyzed the girl's tone and the implications of her words.
"Emily, does this mean you're agreeing to my request?"
Emily opened her mouth to answer, but just as she was about to speak, a knock sounded on the door.
Helpless, Furina could only watch as Emily swallowed back her words and softly called out, "Come in."
As soon as she spoke, the door swung open, revealing two guards standing outside.
"Miss Emily, the Duke requests your presence in his office. He wishes to discuss an urgent matter with you."
"Alright, I understand. I'll be there shortly."
"Miss Emily, this matter is urgent. Please come with us immediately."
"Alright."
The young woman nodded to the two guards, then glanced apologetically at Furina.
"I'm sorry, Lady Furina. Let's talk when I get back."
Though reluctant, Furina didn't want the young woman to suffer consequences for her own impulsiveness. She reluctantly bid the young woman a temporary farewell.
"...Alright, Emily. Go quickly and return soon."
"Mm."
Emily smiled and nodded at Furina before leaving the room with the two guards.
Furina watched Emily's retreating figure until it vanished. Then, she threw herself onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow, and pounded the pillow with both fists.
"Damn it! Why now of all times? Why couldn't they have come earlier or later?!"
"When I leave the Fortress of Meropide, I'm going to tell Wriothesley to make you two clean the toilets for a whole week!"