Night fell.
Inside a brightly lit and warmly decorated room, Furina lay sprawled across her soft bed in loose, comfortable sleepwear—arms and legs thrown wide, utterly devoid of a goddess's elegance.
Fatigue filled her delicate face.
That afternoon, an adventuring party she had previously sponsored returned with another investigative report. The result was still disappointing: there was no hope of breaking the prophecy.
This long performance… it was lonely. It was painful.
She wanted so badly to confide in someone.
Even if that someone was just one person…
Unbidden, Lucien Valois's gentle face surfaced in her mind.
If it were him… perhaps she could speak.
After all, he had always been so loyal to her.
But the thought was quickly crushed.
Furina sighed, brushing away the tears that had slipped down her cheek without her noticing. She closed her eyes, intending to rest.
Just then, the crisp chime of the doorbell rang.
Reluctantly, she sat up, slipped into her fluffy slippers, and walked to the door.
When she opened it, she was surprised to find not her housekeeper Sedene, but Lucien Valois.
She froze.
He stood there with a strange expression, his gaze fixed on her—intense, almost burning.
Following his eyes instinctively, she looked down.
Only then did she realize that her loose nightclothes had shifted, exposing a generous stretch of pale skin.
Her breath caught.
With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut.
Then she rushed back to her bed and burrowed under the covers, wrapping herself tightly as if that could shield her from everything.
Outside, Lucien Valois's mind replayed the fleeting glimpse again and again.
He had never expected Furina to be so… generous.
Nor had he expected that what seemed flat at first glance was, in fact, not flat at all.
After what felt like a long while, the door opened again.
This time, Furina wore an exquisite formal dress, complete with her signature hat—every inch the dignified and elegant goddess.
Yet a faint blush still lingered on her fair cheeks, adding a touch of youthful charm.
Lucien Valois bowed deeply and launched into exaggerated praise.
"Lady Furina, you are the greatest deity in all the world, the brightest star in the night sky. My admiration for you—"
Furina crossed her arms. "My loyal subordinate, you may enter. This goddess shall hear your request."
"My deepest gratitude for your generosity!" Lucien Valois replied earnestly as he stepped inside.
Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning what had just happened, as if it had never occurred.
Soon, Furina brewed him a cup of steaming coffee and placed it before him.
Lucien Valois took a sip.
The familiar taste spread across his tongue.
Just as before—overwhelmingly sweet.
Still, he forced an expression of delight and loudly praised her skill.
"Lucien Valois, what brings you here so late?" Furina tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
He set down the cup and looked up at her—though his gaze involuntarily dipped downward for a fraction of a second.
He quickly composed himself.
"Lady Furina, I've received word that Flora's case will soon undergo a major shift. But I can no longer participate in the investigation. I've come to seek your help."
"A shift?" Surprise flickered in her eyes.
He shook his head. "I must first review all the investigation records at the Special Investigation Court before I can explain."
Furina crossed her arms and huffed. "Even if you didn't say so, this goddess has already guessed."
Lucien Valois's lips twitched slightly. "Lady Furina, your wisdom is unmatched in this world. Of course you would."
"Good that you know!" she said with satisfaction, waving a hand dismissively.
Soon, the two of them headed toward the Special Investigation Court.
It was already ten at night, yet the building remained brightly lit. Numerous investigators worked overtime, handling cases one after another.
Under Neuvillette's governance, such late hours were the norm.
The Gardes, by contrast, rarely worked overtime thanks to the security system in place.
The moment they entered, Lucien Valois's "old acquaintance," Schick , approached.
He first bowed respectfully to Furina, then turned to Lucien Valois with a hostile expression.
"Lucien Valois, you're about to be dismissed. This isn't a place you're allowed to be."
Furina frowned slightly. " Schick , mind your tone. Captain Lin is only temporarily suspended."
Schick hesitated but pressed on. "Even so, Lady Furina, according to our regulations, he still isn't permitted here."
Furina puffed out her cheeks in frustration, yet couldn't immediately find a counterargument.
At that moment, Lucien Valois spoke calmly.
"Investigator Schick , I am currently Lady Furina's temporarily appointed consultant, assisting her in the investigation.
Surely the regulations of the Special Investigation Court do not forbid the consultant of a god?"
Furina quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes! Lucien Valois is my temporary consultant."
Schick opened his mouth as if to argue further, but ultimately held back.
No matter how bold he was, he would not risk thoroughly offending a god.
Thus, Lucien Valois and Furina entered.
They requested all investigation materials related to Flora's case.
Soon, a staff member returned carrying a stack of files nearly half a person tall.
In a quiet office, the two began reviewing them.
Ever since the case had been reclassified as a criminal investigation, the investigators had conducted extensive inquiries.
Yet—whether intentionally or not—they had avoided one particular line of investigation.
Instead, they shifted the focus almost entirely onto a boy named Marot.
The reason?
He lacked a flawless alibi.
Moreover, in one of his statements, he admitted to having feelings for Flora—and even harboring certain fantasies.
When Lucien Valois read that, he felt both speechless and furious.
It was obvious the statement had been deliberately guided, pushing the inexperienced Marot into a trap.
At that moment, he fully understood Olivier's side's strategy.