The weather in the Court of Fontaine was clear and bright today. Though it was winter, the gentle sunlight warmed the body, leaving one feeling cozy and comfortable. It was the perfect day to enjoy afternoon tea in the open-air garden.
Although the worries in her heart had not yet been resolved, at least there was hope. Ever since the Liyue delegation departed, Furina's mood had been excellent, her smile seemingly never leaving her face.
But that good mood vanished the moment Richard mentioned his upcoming work arrangements.
"What? You're going on another business trip? To Inazuma again?!"
Furina slammed the desk, leaning forward with both hands pressed against it, her apricot eyes wide as she stared at Richard.
He had barely settled in Fontaine, and now he was leaving again?
At this moment, Furina felt like a gentle, dutiful wife saddled with a husband who was always away from home, always chasing amusement. Bitterness mixed with helplessness.
And unlike such a wife, Furina couldn't even find a reason to refuse Richard's request. His explanation was perfectly reasonable: he needed to revisit Inazuma to check on the Fontaine technicians who had been taken there by the Inazuma delegation, to see how they were living.
After all, the Administration had been responsible for the original arrangement. If anything went wrong, neither Furina nor Richard could escape blame. A follow-up visit was necessary, not only for the technicians' sake, but for their own accountability.
Moreover, this trip to Inazuma would also serve to maintain the friendship between the two nations. From both national and personal perspectives, the diplomatic mission was unavoidable.
"Can't someone else go? Isn't that what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is for?" Furina muttered, pouting.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send people too. But this time, they specifically requested me. It's hard to refuse," Richard replied.
"They specifically requested you… Don't tell me it was that shrine maiden, Yae Miko?"
That beautiful fox woman had left a deep impression on Furina. Not because Furina had suffered any loss at her hands, but because that had been the first time she and Richard had fought side by side.
Of course, that wasn't the real issue.
Looking back now, especially after the whole Ningguang incident, Furina realized that Yae Miko's attitude toward Richard, and Richard's familiarity with her, suggested their relationship was far from simple.
And Yae Miko's demeanor when she first arrived was vastly different from when she left. At first, she seemed like a resentful woman starved of affection; later, she was like a sly fox who had gotten what she wanted.
Furina admitted her metaphor was subjective, but there was no doubt: Yae Miko's invitation to Richard was anything but pure.
Her ambiguous attitude reminded Furina of Ningguang, who had just returned to Liyue. In many ways, Ningguang and Yae Miko were alike, both powerful, dazzling, and seemingly unattainable ideals. And both had a complicated past with Richard.
Too similar. Furina couldn't help but worry.
By the principle of "presumed guilty," Furina judged subjectively: Yae Miko's invitation was not just for dinner. Who knew where things might lead?
The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Even more anxious than when Ningguang came to Fontaine. At least with Ningguang, she had home-field advantage. But if Richard went to Inazuma, that was pure away-game disadvantage. And Yae Miko had the Raiden Shogun behind her. Unlike Furina, an Archon in name only, Raiden truly wielded divine authority. Even several Furinas together couldn't withstand her.
"Yes, Lady Furina. It was indeed Yae Miko who invited me. She's asked several times already. I really can't refuse."
If he refused again, she might storm into Fontaine herself. Richard knew her well: when you pleased her, she was a fox fairy; when you didn't, she became a fox demon, seductive and dangerous.
Richard had no desire to face her in that state. In her gentler form, she teased him occasionally but remained dignified. But once angered, she would use every trick imaginable, roleplay, costumes, layered temptations, to provoke him. And worst of all, she would ignite the fire but never extinguish it, leaving him burning without relief.
Back then, Richard was young, without the self-control he had now. Yae Miko had toyed with him mercilessly. In fact, his current discipline owed much to her "training."
Perhaps her torment had even been intentional, to strengthen his resistance against other temptresses. "If I can't have him, no one else will," she seemed to say.
Thus, Richard dreaded her words in the letter: "If you don't come, I'll come find you myself."
If she came to Fontaine, things would get messy. Not only might innocents be harmed, but Furina herself could be corrupted by her influence. Richard feared his life would become unbearable.
Even his strongest discipline couldn't withstand being surrounded on all sides.
"I'll go too!" Furina blurted. She felt she wouldn't sleep at night unless she confirmed her suspicions.
"But what about the Opera Epiclese? Surely you wouldn't want to miss any trials there?" Richard asked.
"Hmm…" Furina lowered her head, thinking. Soon, her clever mind found a solution.
"Then let's declare maintenance!"
"It was just inspected a few months ago. That excuse won't convince anyone. And the Ministry of Finance won't approve."
"I'll pay myself!"
Furina pulled out her wallet. As Fontaine's superstar, she had some savings. But when Richard quoted the cost, she immediately gave up. Compared to the expense of repairing a national landmark, her wealth was insignificant. And she had already invested heavily in Ningguang's ventures in Fontaine. Even with endorsement deals, she had spent a lot of mora and hadn't yet recouped her investment.
Clearly, she couldn't afford to shut down the Opera Epiclese.
"Lady Furina, why are you so insistent on coming with me to Inazuma?" Richard asked.
Because she feared that fox would steal him away! But of course, she couldn't say that aloud.
"I-I've just never been to Inazuma. I thought it would be nice to visit…" she answered evasively.
"I see… But I'm afraid it won't work this time. Perhaps another opportunity will come." Richard sighed.
Of course, there were ways to make it happen. He could easily find excuses to suspend the Opera Epiclese, last time it was a fire inspection, next time it could be an environmental check. Excuses were endless. It was only a matter of whether he wanted to.
But unlike Mondstadt, Richard didn't want Furina to accompany him to Inazuma. Not because he feared a clash with Yae Miko or Raiden Shogun, but because he planned to revisit old places.
Centuries ago, intelligence from Enkanomiya had reshaped his plans. Now, with age and experience, he hoped to uncover truths he had overlooked. Some details already contradicted the records in that ancient book. Which was true, which false? Even Richard couldn't say.
In any case, he needed to see for himself.
But bringing Furina to Enkanomiya was inappropriate. Fontaine's people already bore original sin. To bring her there would be adding sin upon sin. Even if Celestia was dormant, what if it stirred in its sleep? Like swatting a mosquito unconsciously, it might strike them without warning. Richard could endure it, but could Furina?
He glanced at her slender frame. One blow from Celestia might leave her in pain for a long time. For her safety, she should stay in Fontaine.
"…I see." Furina's mood sank instantly. She slumped back into her chair. "When are you leaving?"
"In a couple of days, once I finish things here. The exact timing depends on Inazuma's arrangements."
Furina pouted. Inazuma's arrangements? Everyone knew Yae Miko ran the show there now. Since returning from Fontaine, she had begun reforming Inazuma, splitting the nobility, weakening the Tri-Commission, and revising the isolation decree. She introduced pilot programs, opening Inazuma gradually to foreign nations. And the first chosen partner was… Fontaine.
To outsiders, it looked like strategic foresight. But Furina, knowing the inside story, could practically hear Yae Miko's abacus clicking all the way from Fontaine. And wasn't Richard's involvement pure "harem politics"?
Seeing Furina's gloom, Richard said no more. He focused on his work, leaving her a simple instruction: "If in doubt, ask Neuvillette." The dragon had proven his reliability over centuries. With him around, nothing major would go wrong.
Besides, Furina had Clorinde at her side. Richard had given her heavy workloads, not only as punishment for leaking his photo to a contest, but also to train her. And she had grown immensely, becoming an excellent civil servant. Even Lynette praised her progress.
In Fontaine, "excellent civil servant" was no small title. It meant elite among elites, capable of leading a major department. Clorinde had reached that level in record time, thanks to Richard's guidance and her own talent.
Lynette herself was even stronger, half a step
Lynette herself was even stronger, half a step into the level of chief secretary. In truth, serving as Richard's secretary was beneath her talents, though she didn't mind at all. She had come to the Fontaine for someone, not for titles, and she was perfectly content in her role.
So why did Richard still push Clorinde so hard? Because this time, he wasn't going to Inazuma alone. He had promised Lynette that the next overseas trip would include her. Richard was not the kind of man to break his word. When he said "next time for sure," he meant it.
Last time, he had taken Furina to Mondstadt. This time, it was Lynette's turn. Fairness mattered, he couldn't favor one over the other. Balance had to be maintained.
Love doesn't disappear, but it can shift. Rotating business trips was the solution.
Clorinde: "I have no objections."
When Richard told Lynette, she simply nodded. Outwardly calm, but her light steps and the playful twitch of her tail betrayed her joy. As she poured tea, her lips curved upward, though she quickly smoothed her expression before turning back to him. Lynette cared about appearances, even if Richard knew she was happy, she refused to show it too openly. A little tsundere pride.
Richard chuckled at the sight.
But while Lynette was delighted, Furina was not. After finishing her day's work, she returned to her residence atop the Palais Mermonia. She removed her deep-blue hat and gloves, set them on the vanity, loosened her collar, unclasped the sapphire pendant, and hung up her coat, revealing the black fitted undershirt beneath.
She sat before the mirror, zoning out. Half an hour passed before she realized it. "I need to wash up quickly, or I won't wake up tomorrow," she thought, bending down to unlace her boots and peel off her socks. She tossed them into the laundry basket, then, embarrassingly, brought her fingers to her nose for a quick sniff. Blushing, she hurried to wash her hands. Thankfully, no odor.
She unbuttoned her shirt carefully, one clasp at a time, until her pale skin was free to breathe. Though slender, she had toned abs, proof of her disciplined fitness. Her figure wasn't as voluptuous as Clorinde's, but it had its own grace. Still, Furina wasn't satisfied. She cupped her chest lightly, her expression visibly deflating.
"Born lacking… what can I do?" she lamented inwardly.
She envied Clorinde's curves. Even as a woman, she imagined how soft and pleasant they must feel. How could Richard not prefer that? Compared to her, Furina felt inadequate. She twisted her slim waist, deciding not to dwell on such depressing thoughts.
She removed her rings, set them on the sink, and stripped down completely. Turning on the shower, she rinsed herself, lathered with foam, and rinsed again. But when she reached for the shampoo, her hand slipped. The bottle toppled, clattering loudly in the bathroom. Worse, it struck her ring, sending it rolling precariously to the edge of the sink.
Alarmed, Furina shut off the water and lunged for it. But the floor was slick with soap. Her foot slipped. In a futile dance against friction, she lost balance. Her firm, round hips hit the tiles first, followed by a pained whimper.
"Ahh… it hurts…"
Tears welled as she clutched the sink to stand. She quickly retrieved the ring and slid it back on, relieved. But when the hot water hit her bruised skin, she hissed in pain. "Did I break something?" she wondered, reaching back to feel. Smooth… but uneven. One side swollen.
She had bruised herself. Furina nearly cried. She wanted to be bigger, yes, but not like this. And certainly not lopsided.
Furina simply washed her hair, then tapped her ring to use its power to dry it. Limping slightly, she made her way to the bed and collapsed face‑down.
She couldn't even dare to turn over, too painful.
With a sigh, she carefully pulled the blanket over her back, deciding she'd just make do like this for the night.
Gradually, the pain in her hips eased. Her breathing steadied, her eyes closed, and she drifted into sleep.
In her dream, a familiar voice spoke:
"Richard, why don't you stay in Inazuma? Look at that Hydro Archon, she's all skin and bones, uncomfortable to even touch. How could she compare to me and Ei? Forget her. If you'll come to Inazuma, we'll even give you the Shogun's seat. Ei and I can just be the Shogun's wives…"
Richard said nothing, but his eyes wavered.
Furina, confused and half‑aware, instinctively wanted to protest. Yet though she felt herself speaking, no sound came out.
The voice continued:
"Richard, Fontaine is so dangerous. Isn't Inazuma far safer?"
Richard shook his head, murmuring something. Seeing him refuse, Furina breathed a sigh of relief, only for the voice to speak again:
"Oh, so that's your hesitation. If it's really a problem, you can bring Lynette and Clorinde to Inazuma too. Ei and I won't mind…"
"I mind! I mind very much! If they all go, what about me? What about me?!" Furina cried out.
But Richard acted as if he hadn't heard. Under her anxious gaze, he slowly nodded. And then the voice's owner stepped out of the shadows, none other than Yae Miko, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Swaying her slender waist, she walked up to Richard, slipped her arm around his, and pressed him deep into her proud cleavage.
With Yae Miko's arrival, Lynette and Clorinde also appeared, surrounding Richard. Under Yae Miko's mocking, disdainful glance, Furina's heart shattered. She watched helplessly as Yae Miko led Richard and the others toward Narukami Island. From its depths, a violet figure emerged.
"Richard, don't go…" Furina ran after them, reaching out to grab his sleeve. But just as her fingers brushed his coat, the violet figure moved.
A colossal Thunder Eye opened in the sky. A faceless visage appeared, Furina could only faintly recognize it as the Raiden Shogun. She watched as the figure drew a blade from its chest, then struck her with unstoppable force.
Her body felt nothing, but her mind screamed in pain, especially her backside.
Why? The blade had cleaved her chest, so why did her hips hurt?!
The thought flashed and vanished. Suddenly, she was plunging into the sea, icy water swallowing her whole. She couldn't move, only sink deeper, the light above shrinking into a distant circle.
"Glug… glug…"
The sound of water echoed in her ears. In terror, she jolted awake, sat up, and grabbed the hand of someone beside her.
"Don't… don't leave!"
She blinked at the familiar ceiling.
"What… it was just a dream…"
"Lady Furina, did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes… I dreamed Richard left…" she answered automatically, then froze. This was her own home. No one should be here. So who was she talking to?
Turning stiffly, she saw Richard smiling at her, holding a damp towel.
"Lady Furina, what did you dream about me?" His handsome face wore an unreadable smile as he glanced at her hand clutching his wrist.
Furina recoiled as if shocked, shrinking back like a startled fawn until her back hit the headboard.
"R‑R‑Richard… h‑how are you…"
She was so frightened she could barely speak.
Richard chuckled, pointing at the fruit nearby. "I heard you were sick, so I brought some fruit to visit."
"I'm sick?" Furina blinked, then noticed in the mirror her cheeks were flushed an unhealthy red, her lips pale instead of rosy.
"Yes, you're ill," Richard said, reaching to touch her forehead. Furina wanted to dodge, but remembering her dream, she forced herself still, letting him touch her.
His hand moved from her forehead to her cheek, nose, lips, chin… sliding down her neck toward her collarbone. Furina couldn't help a soft moan.
"Mm…"
"What's wrong, Lady Furina?"
'What's wrong? Look at what you're doing!' Her head felt hazy, too weak to resist his boldness. She bit her lip, clutching the bedsheet until it wrinkled beneath her fingers.
"Do you like it?" he whispered at her ear, pulling her close like a doll to be played with. He laid her face‑down on the bed, pressing her hands firmly against the mattress, fingers interlaced.
From the pillow came her muffled protest:
"You… bad man…"
She was sick, and he was still fooling around. Couldn't he wait until she recovered? Her voice was half complaint, half coquettish, like a kitten's cry.
"Furina? Furina, wake up. What's this about bad men?" Richard nudged her gently. She was sprawled messily across the bed, blanket kicked aside.
"Huh? Another dream…" Furina rubbed her eyes, turning to see Richard's face again. This time, she wasn't panicked. After what had just happened, she suspected she was still dreaming. And if it was a dream, there was nothing to fear.
Thinking of how he had wronged her in the last dream, she wanted revenge. She reached for his face, but he caught her hand.
"What are you doing, Furina?"
Even in dreams, he gave her no leeway. Puffing her cheeks, she stubbornly tried to pinch his face.
"Let go, let me pinch!"
Richard thought she must be feverish to act so irrationally.
"Stop fooling around, Furina." He blocked her again. But this only fueled her defiance. She sat upright in a duck‑like posture, both hands reaching for his face, determined not to give up.
Yet every attempt was blocked. Growing frustrated, she cried with a hint of tears:
"Not fair! In the last dream you did all sorts of things to me, but now I can't even pinch your face!"
"All sorts of things?" Richard blinked, baffled. 'Did she think she was still dreaming? And what exactly had I done in that dream?' It sounded indecent. He needed to defend his reputation.
"Furina, please behave. This is reality, not a dream." He stopped her hands again.
'Reality, not a dream?'
"Don't joke. Dream or reality, I can tell… achoo!" she sneezed mid‑retort.
Richard sighed. "Furina, you've caught a cold. Stay under the covers. I'll make you medicine."
But Furina, feverish and stubborn, refused to believe him. "I was fine yesterday. How could I catch a cold? Don't leave. Let me pinch your face first!"
Seeing her so insistent, Richard reluctantly let her pinch his cheek.
"Hehe, finally got you. Thought you could trick me… achoo!" Another sneeze, louder this time, with a stream of clear mucus dripping from her nose.
Only after fulfilling her wish did Furina realize she felt strangely cold. Shivering, she pulled the blanket back over herself. Sniffling, she admitted: "It really is a bit chilly…"
"It's winter. Of course it's cold," Richard said, handing her tissues. She wiped her nose, crumpled the tissue, and tossed it neatly into the trash bin. Surprisingly accurate.
"This dream feels so real…" she murmured, dazed.
"I told you, it's not a dream," Richard replied helplessly. Why wouldn't she believe him?
"Nonsense. If it's not a dream, how could you let me pinch your face? The other way around maybe!" she argued, perfectly logical in her own mind.
"But if it's a dream, why do you feel cold?"
"That's because…" She paused, then blinked blankly. "Wait, why do I feel cold?"
"And Furina, why are you sleeping face‑down? Isn't that uncomfortable?"
"You think I want to? I slipped in the bathroom yesterday and hurt my butt. Lying down hurts!" she retorted.
"And now it doesn't hurt?" Richard asked, watching her duck‑sit.
"This isn't a dream… ow!" Furina's eyes widened. At his reminder, she sprang up, lifting her hips from the mattress. The sudden movement tugged at her bruise, and her face twisted in pain, mouth hissing.
At that moment, she finally woke fully. Dreams don't hurt. Pain meant this was reality.
Her foggy mind rebooted, sleepiness and fever haze fading. Her sharp intelligence returned. Remembering her earlier antics, her already flushed cheeks grew even redder. Not just her face, her whole body blushed.
Like a boiled shrimp.
She buried her face in her hands, mortified at the thought of everything she had just done while half‑delirious. The memory of pinching Richard's face, insisting it was all a dream, and even blurting out complaints about his "bad behavior" in her dream, it all replayed in her mind, making her want to crawl under the covers and disappear.
Richard, meanwhile, only watched her with a faint smile, as if amused by her antics. He didn't press the matter, simply handed her another tissue and said gently:
"Rest well, Furina. Don't overthink it. You're sick, and you need to recover."
Furina peeked at him from behind the blanket, her eyes wide and shimmering. She wanted to retort, to insist she wasn't sick, but the lingering ache in her body and the chill in her bones betrayed her. She sniffled, clutching the blanket tighter.
"…You're not allowed to leave," she muttered softly, almost childishly. "Not until I'm better."
Richard chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright. I'll stay a while."
That simple promise eased her heart. Furina nestled deeper into the covers, her embarrassment still burning, but her breathing gradually calmed. The warmth of his presence beside her was enough to soothe the lingering fear from her nightmare.
For now, she let herself drift again, half‑dreaming, half‑awake, comforted by the thought that Richard hadn't gone anywhere.