The explosion at the Fontaine Research Institute swept across the entire Court of Fontaine like a storm.
There was no way to cover up such news, two-thirds of the Institute vanished in an instant. The light from the blast was so brilliant that even citizens far away in the capital saw it on the horizon, and some even felt the ground tremble.
The researchers inside at the time either died or were gravely injured. According to rescue team members, when they arrived, the scene was nothing short of hell on earth.
Broken limbs, wails of agony, it was considered "fortunate" for those who at least survived.
As for the central laboratory and those working nearby, they didn't even have the chance to be rescued. In the very instant the explosion occurred, they were vaporized by the searing heat and shattered by the shockwave. To recover even a single intact personal belonging from the wreckage was considered lucky.
"Lady Furina, this is the complete list of casualties."
Richard's voice pulled Furina out of her daze. It was clear that witnessing the explosion firsthand had shaken her deeply.
Even after returning to her office at the Palais Mermonia, she still hadn't recovered her composure.
"S–so many…" Furina's voice trembled as she looked at the long list of names, enough to cover the entire desk when spread out.
Her fingertip brushed along the names on the paper. Each one represented a life lost. That unspoken weight struck her harder than the explosion itself.
"In fact, this is only part of the losses caused by the incident. There are many others that can't be quantified with numbers…" Richard sighed.
He was referring to the Institute's century-old reputation and network, which had been nearly wiped away. For the Institute, that was the deadliest blow.
Even Richard hadn't expected the experiment to be etched into history in such a way, or that a researcher like Edwin would act so recklessly.
He had run only a few small-scale simulations and then dared to send the Institute into the sky…
Of course, the blame did not fall on Edwin alone. The Institute's leadership and the officials who approved the project would also have to bear responsibility.
Once the aftermath was managed, the Palais Mermonia would hold them accountable. Those involved would all receive a "residency permit" to the Fortress of Meropide.
For now, however, Edwin had to serve as the scapegoat.
After all, with so many families affected, the public needed someone to vent their grief and anger on.
As the prime culprit, Edwin Eastinghouse was the most fitting, and the only, choice.
It was only just. He would atone for his sins this way.
"That Edwin… where is he now?" Furina finally remembered his name, though in such a cruel manner.
In a way, this validated his words before the experiment began: "Even if this experiment fails, it will carry absolute historical significance!"
And how. Not only historical, geographical.
Above the ruins of the old central laboratory now floated a massive, suspended gravity-defying water mass, born of the anomalous energy field. It would remain a landmark for a long time to come.
"He's been detained by the Court, housed in a private cell," Richard replied.
Without the Court's intervention, the man would've long been torn apart by furious Institute officials and grieving families.
Even during his transfer, Edwin had been attacked multiple times by enraged mobs, showered with rotten eggs, spoiled vegetables, and worse.
Thankfully, the Court had experience with such situations. They used a sealed carriage and mechanical guards to protect the convoy. Otherwise, even their staff might've been harmed.
The chaos had been overwhelming, Furina herself barely remembered how Richard got her safely back to the Palais.
"And Chief Justice Neuvillette, has he spoken? When will the trial be?" Furina asked.
For such a catastrophe, a trial at the Opera Epiclese was inevitable.
"It'll take some time. The Court's investigators are combing through the Institute, but the internal disorder and tangled factions will take effort to sort out."
"True. It also buys the public a cooling-off period. Right now, grief makes the families vulnerable to manipulation…" Furina had seen such unrest many times in her centuries, but never this severe.
She had been there, an eyewitness.
And that reminded her of Edwin's "bold" speech before the experiment, the one Richard had called daring.
"Lady Furina, are you worried about that speech?" Richard asked, as if he could read her thoughts.
Furina: !!!
"H-how did you know that?!" She stared at him suspiciously. 'Could he really read minds?'
Her fingers touched the ring he'd given her. 'Could it be cursed?' A ring that laid bare its wearer's thoughts, just like in stories!
"Lady Furina, the ring's fine. You're just very easy to read." Richard shook his head.
After spending enough time with her, it wasn't hard.
Strip away the divine title, and she was just a girl, one who had simply lived longer.
And Richard himself had lived long, traveled across Teyvat, and seen far more than the Opera's gilded cage ever allowed her to.
"You still deny it!" Furina puffed her cheeks. 'Easy to read?'
'Ridiculous.' Even she often didn't know what she was thinking. How could he?
'It had to be magic. Authority. Some secret power.'
"Very well, if you think it's the ring, then return it to me," Richard teased, holding out his hand.
Furina swatted him away. "What does this have to do with the ring?!"
"Reading minds requires a medium. The ring is that medium."
"…What novel did you pull that from? Do you take me for a child?!" she shot back.
Still, no matter how smooth his tongue, she had no intention of returning the ring. A gift given is like water spilled, it doesn't go back.
After the banter, Richard reassured her: "Don't worry about the speech. You saved everyone there, reporters included. No one will care about a slip of the tongue. In truth, almost everyone made the same mistake."
Had Furina not raised the barrier with the ring, the overflowing energy would've crippled or killed them all.
"Not everyone, at least you would've been fine," Furina muttered.
"You're wrong." Richard shook his head. Even he would've been affected.
"What do you mean? Are you alright?!" She sprang up, leaning close with concern, even reaching to check his forehead for fever.
Reports said exposure caused fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, even death.
Richard let her fuss over him before calmly saying, "In energy-rich places, my power grows more active.
"In other words, I rather like such environments."
Thump!
Furina's little fist struck his chest.
"I knew it!" He had probably been fine the whole time, she'd only worried needlessly.
Unknowingly, Richard had become the one closest to her. Perhaps because he saw through her mask, or because he sensed her pain.
By now, he was indispensable in her life.
"Richard… that prophecy of the flood, will it inevitably come true? No matter what we do, will Fontaine still drown?" she asked.
The lab explosion had shaken her. Success had seemed within reach, then cruelly snatched away. Was it fate's mockery?
"Theoretically, yes… but there are exceptions." Richard replied.
"What exceptions? Tell me!"
Furina leaned in close, half-kneeling by his chair, her delicate face full of curiosity. Her hand braced on the armrest, her fragrance like a rare orchid.
"The exception is…" Richard paused.
"…is, if Furina tells me the truth, then I'll do everything I can to help Fontaine survive."
Her face fell. 'So that's all?!'
She straightened, cheeks puffed, glaring in indignation.
"I'm very angry.jpg (Furina edition)."
Richard chuckled, gently taking her ringed hand. "Don't worry, Lady Furina. Even if the prophecy comes true, I won't leave you to cry alone on the throne. I'll be there beside you."
"Pretty words. But if Fontaine's gone, where would you even go…" she murmured.
"Then I'll become the ring itself, always by your side."
He tapped the sapphire gem, and it glowed faintly with blue light, recharged.
Furina yanked her hand back, face burning. "Next time, warn me first! You can't just grab a girl's hand without permission, it's rude…"
And those sweet words… making it sound like he belonged to her, or she to him. To become a ring and stay by her side forever…
Her face flamed scarlet, even her ears and neck turning red.
'So embarrassing I could die!'
Still… a blushing Furina was one of Fontaine's most breathtaking sights.
"Next time for sure, Lady Furina," Richard smiled.
With just a gesture and a few words, he had soothed her completely, her anger gone without her even realizing.
"In any case, unless you meet the condition I set before, no matter how sweetly you talk, I won't tell you anything!" she declared, as if facing torture without yielding.
"Don't worry. I already have a lead. When the time comes, I hope Lady Furina will keep her promise."
"???"
Furina froze. 'Wait, he actually has a way?'
"H-how do you plan to do it?" she asked.
"You'll see in time. But surely you won't break your word?" Richard kept his lips sealed.
"O-of course! If you really can…" she said stubbornly.
But inside, her heart wavered. 'What if he succeeds? Should I… tell him the truth about me?'
Even before he'd succeeded, she was already preparing for the moment he did.
In a way, it showed her absolute trust in him, something she herself hadn't even noticed.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu