In the next few days, under Furina's careful care, Leo's injuries finally healed.
After being out of bed for several days, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that he was being overprotected. During this time, Lady Furina had practically forbidden him from leaving the bed except for necessities like going to the washroom or bathing.
Watching Furina pore over stacks of documents, Leo pursed his lips. At last, he couldn't hold back.
"Lady Furina, there must be a hidden tunnel beneath your office."
Furina, her chin resting lightly on her hand as she reviewed another page, lifted her eyes toward Leo. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"No, you're imagining things. If you don't believe me, go and look."
Her confidence only made Leo more certain. He walked over to the desk and twisted the head of the doll sitting atop it. But the expected passage did not appear.
Unconvinced, he crouched down and knocked against the spot on the floor where he remembered the tunnel entrance to be—but it was solid wood and stone.
Puzzled, Leo turned back to Furina, who was still smiling faintly.
"I told you there's no such thing. Leo, why don't you believe me?"
Leo scratched his hair awkwardly, but his gaze only made Furina uneasy. She stood up, walked toward him, and suddenly tugged on his ear.
"I said, don't take dreams for reality, alright? If you have energy to spare, then go order me a custom bed! And don't forget—I still haven't bought the limited-edition desserts, and the pantry is out of milk and other ingredients. You'll need to fetch some."
Though his ear was being pulled, Leo didn't flinch. He only stared at Furina, somewhat annoyed. He was still certain of what he'd seen—that time he'd been struck unconscious. That bump from the corner of the table had been too real. Did Lady Furina really take him for a fool?
"You still dare to look at me like that? Off you go!"
Pushing him out of the office, Furina quickly locked the door to make sure Leo wouldn't come barging in again.
Standing before the door, Leo hesitated.
"Lady Furina… if you have any burdens, you can tell me. The wind will carry your troubles away, and grant you freedom."
No response came. Leo sighed, turned, and decided to investigate the matter on his own.
Inside, Furina leaned back in her chair, gazing at the ceiling. She thought over Leo's words. Will the wind really take away my troubles? Is such a thing possible?
Meanwhile, down the corridor, Leo pulled out his pocket watch. There was still time to write a letter.
Hurrying back to his quarters—without even closing the door behind him—he sat at the desk, pulled out parchment and an envelope, and began to write. He poured out all his doubts, the questions gnawing at him, and the fragments of strange events he had seen and heard.
After carefully checking for errors, he sealed the envelope. Then, picking up the lyre placed by the window, he plucked its strings.
A gentle breeze stirred, brushing through his hair. Leo released the letter into the air, strumming the chords softly to guide its destination.
The letter drifted away on the wind, headed toward distant Mondstadt. Watching it fade into the horizon, Leo's heart steadied.
Master will surely answer this question… I'm certain he will.
But before shutting the window, Leo paused. Something told him one letter might not be enough. He returned to the desk and wrote a second copy. Only he knew who the second letter was meant for.
Afterward, Leo set out to buy the essentials. The desserts were the top priority—limited-edition ones had to be preordered, and only a hefty bribe of Mora convinced the shopkeeper to set some aside.
Holding the desserts, Leo hurried back toward the Palais Mermonia. But before entering, he ran into a familiar face.
"Sister, long time no see. Where are you headed?"
The figure was none other than Clorinde, the Champion Duelist of Fontaine. She noticed the box of cakes in Leo's hands and smiled faintly.
"I'm on my way to the Thorn Rose Club. There's been some trouble there."
The Thorn Rose Club… Hearing that name, old memories surfaced in Leo's mind.
"What did Callas tell you before he died?"
At his question, Clorinde's eyes softened slightly. She saw no reason to hide it—after all, Callas had entrusted her as well.
"He asked me to keep an eye on his daughter, Navia. And you?"
Leo frowned. "The same. He entrusted me with Miss Navia's safety. He also said the next target in the missing girls case was originally Miss Navia herself."
The two fell into a brief silence. Then Clorinde nodded firmly.
"I understand. I'll head to Poisson first. After you deliver the desserts, come to Poisson as well. This case needs to be reexamined."
"Alright."
When Leo returned to the Palais, the large sign on Furina's office door—No Entry—was hard to miss. But it didn't matter to him anymore.
He knocked politely. "Lady Furina, the desserts have arrived."
No answer.
A minute passed. Still no response.
Just as Leo was about to force the door open, it suddenly swung wide. Furina stood there, a little breathless, her forehead glistening with sweat.
"Come in!"
Leo blinked in surprise. That was not the reception he had expected.
"There really is a ghost," he muttered under his breath. Then, more loudly: "Lady Furina, I've brought your desserts."
He set the box on the table and waited for her reaction. Furina, feeling his eyes on her, gave an awkward laugh.
"Very good, very good. As expected of my bodyguard—you're quick about these things."
She sat down, picked up a fork, and prepared to dig in.
"Wait!" Leo said suddenly.
Before she could ask what was wrong, she felt the press of a soft cloth against her face. Leo was gently wiping away the sweat from her brow.
Furina froze. A blush crept up her cheeks as she looked up at Leo, who was utterly focused on his task. For a moment, she thought he looked… quite handsome.
"What's wrong, Lady Furina? Is the dessert not to your liking?"
"No, no, nothing like that," she stammered, quickly lowering her head to hide her expression.
With her face still warm, she quietly ate the dessert, while Leo sat nearby, silently keeping her company.
When she finished, Furina turned her eyes toward Leo. His patient smile stirred a mischievous thought. Picking up the last bite of cake, she walked over to him with a grin.
"What is it, Lady Furina?"
"Come now, Leo. Open your mouth. I'll feed you the last piece."
Leo blinked, but by now he was used to Furina's unpredictable moods. He obediently opened his mouth.
She slipped the bite between his lips and felt a small surge of satisfaction. Still, she couldn't resist asking,
"Well? Doesn't it taste better when I feed you myself?"
Leo nodded honestly. "Yes, Lady Furina. It tastes better when you feed it to me."
Her heart skipped. She touched her burning cheeks, hesitated for a moment, then asked softly,
"Don't you… have anything you want to ask me?"
Leo shook his head. Though he had countless questions, he knew Furina must have her reasons for staying silent.
"No, Lady Furina. I trust you."