They said there was going to be "good drama," but neither Ningguang nor Furina were the kind of woman to cause a public scene; both carried themselves with grace.
No matter what tensions brewed beneath the surface, they wouldn't dare make a move on Richard here.
Besides, judging by Furina's oblivious expression, she still hadn't realized that the "Mr."
Ningguang had mentioned earlier wasn't a polite form of address; it carried a far deeper meaning.
Whether that "Mr." meant teacher or husband… well, that depended on interpretation.
But knowing Ningguang's personality, even if someone asked her directly, she wouldn't clarify it.
She'd just smile and toss the question back to Richard.
If Richard said "teacher," then it meant teacher.
If he said "husband," Ningguang wouldn't exactly object to having such a husband.
There was even a saying among Liyue's people:
Tianquan Ningguang is polite to every suitor, and it always feels like they have a chance… yet none ever succeed.
Why? Because her heart already belonged to someone.
The fact that no one had ever so much as touched her hand was proof enough.
When people asked who that man in her heart was, she always replied, "I don't even know his name."
Most took that as her way of saying she had no one in mind.
But only Ningguang knew the truth; she truly didn't know his real name.
She only knew him as "Mister."
And now, if someone asked her again, perhaps she could finally give them a definite answer.
"Just call me Furina, no need for formalities," Furina said, waving her hand lightly.
Ningguang returned the gesture with a graceful smile and told her to simply call her "Ningguang."
With Ningguang's high emotional intelligence and the fact that Furina had come to her for help, the two women quickly hit it off.
Meanwhile, Richard sat quietly beside them, listening as two extraordinary beauties discussed art and commerce.
Neuvillette, sitting nearby, glanced at Richard in mild curiosity.
"You don't seem nervous," he said.
Richard looked at the Chief Justice and immediately recalled how this guy had once made reckless comments about him to Furina, causing her to believe that he "had no worldly desires" and nearly getting Richard into trouble.
'Seriously? Same species, same workplace, and you're out here spreading rumors?'
'Don't think just because you're the Chief Justice I can't sue you, that's defamation!'
Though he was grumbling internally, Richard still answered calmly:
"Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"
'Forget it. No point arguing with this dragon.'
Neuvillette pondered silently.
'Ah, so this is what they call "the confidence of a seasoned womanizer."
He'd handled enough love-related murder cases to know that victims were often men like Richard, those who juggled too many women at once.
Still, with Richard's power and reputation, it was unlikely he'd ever meet such a fate.
There were people strong enough to kill him, sure, but neither Furina, Ningguang, nor the others fit that category.
If his life wasn't in danger, then the rest was trivial.
That must be why he looked so composed, Neuvillette concluded.
Fortunately, Neuvillette's expression rarely changed, so no one, not even Richard, could tell what he was thinking.
If Richard had known what was going through his mind, he definitely would've argued:
'What do you mean I'm calm because I'm not in danger?'
'I'm calm because I'm innocent, thank you very much!'
"Furina mentioned me to you before, didn't she?" Richard asked, unable to hold back.
"Yes," Neuvillette replied. "Lady Furina seems to care about you deeply."
"That doesn't give you the right to spread rumors! Careful, I might sue for slander."
Neuvillette blinked. He didn't take it as a joke. After thinking a moment, he replied seriously:
"My apologies. I'm not sure if my remarks qualify as slander. If they damaged your reputation, I'm willing to compensate you. You may also file a formal complaint."
Richard: "…."
'Why do I even bother talking to this guy?'
He sighed. "Forget it. Just buy me dinner sometime, and we'll call it even."
"Alright," Neuvillette agreed without hesitation.
Then, glancing toward Furina and Ningguang, who were deep in conversation, he asked quietly,
"What's Lady Furina up to this time?"
Even Neuvillette could tell Furina hadn't come just to welcome foreign guests. She clearly had other motives.
"It's about Fontaine's prophecy crisis," Richard said, keeping it vague. "Don't underestimate her; she's been working hard."
He didn't elaborate further.
After all, the mark of the contract was still on his hand. Breaking that oath would not end well, even for him.
The witness of this contract wasn't Morax, but the very laws of Teyvat itself.
Only a contract of that level could bind a god.
"So you do know something," Neuvillette said.
"Not much," Richard replied, waving his gloved right hand. "And don't ask, the contract won't let me tell you."
Even through the glove, Neuvillette could sense the unique energy of a divine contract, though this one felt strange.
Apart from Richard and Furina's essence, there was a third signature he recognized all too well: the aura of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, the core of Fontaine's judicial system.
He didn't think too deeply about it. As long as Richard understood what he was doing, that was enough.
With Richard at Furina's side, he doubted anything truly disastrous could happen.
That was precisely why Neuvillette had approved Furina's entry into Fontaine's administration; she needed someone to balance her out.
Without Richard, he would've rather kept her performing in the opera, where she couldn't cause trouble.
But now, watching Furina chatting animatedly with Ningguang, he noticed something different about her.
It was as if the shackles she'd once worn had loosened; she seemed freer, lighter.
And that… was good to see.
"I have official duties later," Neuvillette said. "Since you and Lady Furina are here, I'll excuse myself."
He was curious how Richard managed his… complicated network of women, but he was a disciplined dragon. Work came first.
Besides, he suspected his presence would only hinder Furina and Ningguang's "negotiations."
"You're leaving already?" Richard asked, surprised.
Foreign dignitaries were present; wasn't it improper for Fontaine's Chief Justice to just walk out?
But Neuvillette saw no issue at all. He'd done his part; now that Furina and Richard were here, he could bow out gracefully.
After all, Ningguang wasn't really here for him; she was here for Richard.
Leaving them together made him seem like the perfect host.
"Do your best," he said quietly before departing.
Neither woman objected. Ningguang didn't take it as disrespect, after all, Furina was still here, wasn't she?
And even if Furina left… well, Richard was still around.
"Lady Furina," Ningguang said, "I've invited two of my friends to join us later."
"Friends? You mean the adepti of Liyue?" Furina's eyes lit up.
"Yes," Ningguang nodded.
Furina had long wanted to meet the "mechanical genius" Richard had mentioned, so she eagerly agreed.
By now, it was dinner time.
Furina knew from her research that Liyueans preferred to discuss business and build relationships over a meal.
So she led Richard and Ningguang to a private dining hall in the
Palais Mermonia, reserved for VIP guests.
The suite was large and luxuriously decorated.
To Ningguang, though, it couldn't compare to the former Jade Chamber, which had been more magnificent still, before it fell.
With Richard's help, parts of it had been salvaged, but barely a tenth of the structure remained.
The foundation survived; everything else was rubble.
After Liyue's reconstruction, Ningguang had begun planning the Jade Chamber's rebuilding.
The project was still in the bidding phase, with full reconstruction yet to begin.
Not long after they arrived, Shenhe entered, accompanied, of course, by Cloud Retainer, who refused to let her out of sight.
The moment Shenhe stepped inside, her gaze locked onto Richard.
Her heart, bound by red ropes, trembled.
It felt like time itself had turned back.
A long-forgotten warmth stirred within her chest.
For the first time in twenty years, Shenhe felt the emotion called joy.
Cloud Retainer noticed her disciple's reaction and sighed quietly.
Under the binding of her karmic red rope, only Richard could make her feel anything at all.
The adeptus had tried countless ways to ease the curse of Shenhe's "Solitary Star Fate", none had worked.
It was painful to watch her disciple fall for this man…
Yet at the same time, it was a relief.
At least there was someone who could make Shenhe feel human.
Otherwise, she'd one day lose even that last sliver of humanity and become nothing more than a beautiful statue.
Cloud Retainer caught Richard's gaze.
"What are you staring at me for? Look at Shenhe instead," she snapped, voice heavy with resentment.
Anyone overhearing might think Richard had abandoned her!
In truth, she was just jealous.
She'd raised Shenhe for twenty years, yet still couldn't compare to the place Richard held in her heart.
It made her feathers itch with frustration.
"Long time no see," Richard greeted Shenhe with a nod.
"Long time no see. Back then… thank you," Shenhe replied.
Her tone was calm, her face expressionless as ever, but Cloud Retainer noticed it immediately: her voice was gentler, her expression softer.
"How have you been these years?" Richard asked.
"Master treats me well," Shenhe said softly. "But… I missed you."
Furina, watching the exchange, blinked. Then blinked again.
She looked from Richard to Shenhe, and back.
'Wait a second.'
'Wait a second.'
Those two weren't just "old acquaintances," were they?
A sharp twinge of unease bloomed in Furina's chest.
She instinctively began evaluating her rival.
White hair, same as hers, though Furina's was a softer milky shade while Shenhe's was steel-gray.
In terms of hair? Tie.
Face, delicate and perfect, but expressionless. Like a porcelain doll.
Her aura? Ice-cold, like Clorinde, though Clorinde was slightly curvier.
But this woman… she wasn't pretending to be cold. She was cold.
Completely emotionless, unreadable.
'Oh, Archons, she's looking at me! That icy stare… she's not going to hit me, right?'
Furina froze.
Had she stared too long? Had she made the adeptus angry?!
But then Shenhe gave her a polite nod, a greeting.
'Phew… false alarm.'
Inside, Furina's imaginary self wiped sweat from her brow, though her outward composure remained flawless.
Still, she dared not stare as boldly again.
One brief encounter was enough for Furina to decide, she was not good at dealing with this frosty beauty.
"Richard," Furina finally spoke up. "Aren't you going to introduce your friends?"
Her tone sounded casual, but her meaning was clear to everyone: This was her territory.
Sure, Shenhe's stare made her a bit nervous, but that didn't change the fact that this was Fontaine, her home turf.
If these Liyue women were here to steal her man… they'd better think twice.
Otherwise, she'd have them escorted right out.
Richard, oblivious to the storm brewing in her head, simply introduced Cloud Retainer and Shenhe politely to Furina.
Technically, it should've been Ningguang doing the introductions, but since everyone here shared a single common connection, Richard naturally became the bridge between them all.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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