After being questioned by Furina, Leo—who had been lying flat on his back—sat up straight in a hurry.
"Lady Furina, I fainted, and you were the one holding me while I slept."
It took her a moment, but then Furina realized the implication. Her rage quickly ebbed away, replaced by embarrassment.
Indeed, she had cried so hard last night that she'd dragged Leo into the tent herself, pulled the blanket over them, and even squeezed in beside him.
Now, the two of them stared at each other in silence, neither quite sure what they were looking for.
After a while, Furina calmed herself and asked softly, "Are you… alright?"
Leo, sitting before her, looked far better than he had yesterday—almost too well.
Anyone more calculating would have seen her worry, played up their injuries, and used the chance to gain Furina's sympathy. (Yes, I'm looking at you, reader behind the screen!)
But Leo? He was honest to a fault.
"Of course I'm fine! Hehe." He beamed as he said it. He really did feel fine.
Furina, however, wasn't about to let it go so easily. You're fine now, so why were you still sleeping beside me?
"Leo!"
"Yes, Lady Furina? What's wrong?" he replied innocently, still smiling.
Her face flushed, Furina sat up, twisted her hands together, then pressed them squarely against Leo's cheeks.
"Now that you're completely well, why were you still sleeping with me? When we return, I'll lock you away in Meropide Fortress—you can spend the rest of your days drinking tea with the Duke!"
Yet Leo didn't resist. In fact, he found the sensation oddly pleasant. Lady Furina's hands are soft, smooth… even fragrant.
After venting her frustrations, Furina pulled her hands back and looked directly at him.
Being stared at so intently sent Leo's heart racing. He wondered what thoughts filled her mind at that moment.
"Why didn't you leave last night?" she asked, her voice even but laced with emotion.
Scratching his head, Leo answered without hesitation, "I am your guard, Lady Furina. My duty is to protect you."
Her voice trembled as she pressed further, "It was such a dangerous situation, yet you risked everything to save me. Weren't you afraid that Hilichurl King would crush you into pulp?"
"Of course not. I've never been afraid."
The look in Leo's eyes was unwavering, filled with sincerity. It tugged at Furina's heartstrings.
Mountains, winding roads—a man and a woman walked in tandem, one behind the other. Their destination: the Court of Fontaine.
Furina skipped ahead, glancing back every so often to make faces at Leo and tease him.
Leo responded in kind, pulling silly expressions, playing along with her mischief.
When they finally stepped into the Court of Fontaine, everything looked the same as it had before.
Indeed, a few days away hardly changed the city.
But Furina herself had changed. Upon re-entering Fontaine, the lively and tender side of her faded away, replaced once more by her familiar arrogance and lofty demeanor.
Leo, on the other hand, remained the same as ever—or so it seemed. For deep inside, something within his heart had shifted.
Back in the Palais Mermonia, Furina retreated to her chambers. Leo, carrying their luggage, stored it neatly in the adjoining storage room.
Satisfied with his task, he turned to leave—only to find the door firmly shut.
"Lady Furina, please open the door. I still need to report to Lord Neuvillette."
"Ahem! And I say… open sesame!" Furina's voice rang out, playful and smug. One could easily picture the unrestrained grin on her face.
Leo sighed, pressing his forehead against the door. "…Open sesame."
But Furina was far from satisfied.
"No, no. That's not good enough!"
"Lady Furina, please open the door!"
Her laughter spilled out, bright and unrestrained, filling the room with sweetness.
Holding his breath, Leo tried again, this time with exaggerated formality.
"Lady Furina, please open the door for your loyal guard."
That only made her laugh harder. She threw the door wide, clutching her stomach as she leaned against the frame, still giggling.
"Hahaha! Leo, you're far too funny. Say a few more things!"
"Lady Furina, please let me go see Lord Neuvillette. Is that alright~?" he answered, his voice tinged with mock pleading.
The lilting tone pleased her, and she waved him off with a smile.
"Go, go! I grant your request. Hahaha!"
Still smiling, Leo stepped out and made his way to Neuvillette's office.
Along the way, he was greeted by countless staff.
"Back from vacation, Mr. Leo?"
"Yes."
"I heard Lady Furina traveled with you. Was it enjoyable?"
"Not bad."
"Thank goodness you brought her back safely. A mountain of documents has been piling up, awaiting Lady Furina's review."
At last, Leo reached the Chief Justice's office. After knocking and hearing a reply, he entered.
Behind his desk, Neuvillette was reviewing papers. He looked up at Leo.
"Oh? You've returned from vacation. I trust Lady Furina didn't trouble you too much?"
Sitting across from him, Leo stretched and replied earnestly, "Not at all. I was quite happy, actually. I came to give my report."
Neuvillette accepted the documents, set them aside, and handed Leo a glass of water.
"Try this. It's from Mondstadt's Cider Lake, delivered just this morning. A rare treat."
Leo sniffed the glass. Ah, the scent of water.
Under Neuvillette's watchful gaze, he took a sip. The liquid carried a faint sweetness, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
"In summary… it tastes like water."
"You are nothing if not honest. Another would have tried to flatter me with flowery words," Neuvillette said with a faint smile.
They chatted briefly about the recent journey. Of course, Leo carefully omitted the more inexplicable events.
At length, Neuvillette handed him a large stack of documents.
"These are matters that have accumulated in Lady Furina's absence. Deliver them to her personally. And one more thing—by regulation, you are still on vacation. Which means your service now earns you quintuple wages."
The words echoed in Leo's ears. Five times the salary?! Worth it!
With a broad smile, he accepted the documents, bid farewell, and returned to Furina's office.
He set the papers neatly upon her desk, only to notice a peculiar figurine—a miniature likeness of Lady Furina herself.
Looking around and seeing no one, curiosity overcame him. He reached out and touched it.
Not bad—it feels surprisingly realistic.
But something about it seemed off. Almost as if it were connected to something greater…
Sitting down, Leo examined the figure more carefully. After fumbling with it, he gave it two clockwise twists.
At once, the floor opened with a soft click, revealing a hidden underground passage lit by faint light.
Leo froze.
There's a tunnel beneath Lady Furina's office?!
And I've been her bodyguard for two years without noticing? How utterly incompetent of me…
"This must be something Lady Furina herself left behind. But… what for?"
Curiosity gnawed at him. He wanted to know more about her—perhaps even uncover a hidden danger he could neutralize in advance.
Without hesitation, he descended the staircase.
The door sealed behind him, the office above returning to its pristine state, as though no one had ever been there.
Wait. How do I get back out?
Running his hand along the walls, Leo soon found a small hidden switch—likely the release.
But before trying it, his eyes were drawn down the mysterious tunnel. Endless curiosity pulled him deeper.
At that very moment, Furina happily pushed open the office door, followed by a Melusine with a cart laden with desserts, pastries, and milk tea.
These were her provisions for the afternoon. After all, reviewing stacks of court documents without snacks was far too dreary.
And besides—teasing Leo while working was half the fun. She even thought of making him feed her bites between pages. Just the thought made her giggle.
"Leo!"
She paused. The office was empty.
"Eh? Where did he go?"