Lovia lowered her eyes, thinking about how she should answer.
Neuvillette should be able to see what she was doing... She definitely couldn't lie, and besides, Lovia herself was unwilling to lie to this kind and amiable Patriarch.
"I-I'm writing," she whispered, her finger unconsciously pointing toward the bookcase filled with books and papers. "Writing some stories, and... records about Liyue's food. Occasionally... someone is willing to buy them, so I have Mora."
She was referring to the "a bite of liyue" series.
Lovia's answer caught Neuvillette a bit by surprise.
He had thought she might survive by gathering or doing odd jobs; he hadn't expected her means of survival to be writing.
Neuvillette followed her finger and looked at the bookcase. He had briefly observed the wooden bookcase covering an entire wall when entering, but at that time, he only thought little Lovi liked reading and hadn't considered writing at all.
Looking closely now, many bound booklets, books, and scrolls were stacked in an orderly fashion inside, and stationery was indeed placed on the small table next to it.
This was an even greater departure from his initial image of little Lovi struggling to fill her stomach.
She wasn't just barely surviving; in this temporary habitat, she was trying to construct her own spiritual world and earn a meager income from it.
This resilience added a few more layers of admiration and pity to Neuvillette's heart.
"I see, that's very impressive," he couldn't help but praise. "Being able to focus on writing is a very good thing."
He could see that she seemed to want to share but was a bit hesitant, so he took the initiative to guide her: "It seems you've collected quite a lot of material."
Gaining encouragement, Lovia's courage grew a bit. She walked to the bookcase, carefully avoiding certain areas hiding more private manuscripts where some unorganized inspiration drafts were placed.
She pointed to several rows that were clearly books and organized notes.
"Mhm! These are all the Liyue books I've collected, and... some things I've written myself." Lovia's voice gradually grew louder, carrying a bit of the joy of sharing a hobby. "I especially like Liyue's delicacies, so I wrote this..."
As she spoke, she actually pulled out two relatively neatly bound booklets from a prominent position on the bookcase, the covers of which were carefully drawn with simple patterns (one was a Liyue snack, the other an abstract drawing of a cute-style Melusine silhouette).
She held the two books in both hands as if they were treasures, her face flushed as she handed them to Neuvillette.
"T-this... is a cookbook I wrote. The first one introduces Liyue's delicacies, and the second... is, is a recipe modification I figured out myself to suit the tastes of Melusines..." Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, not daring to look up at Neuvillette's expression at all. "I-if you don't mind... you can take them back to read, or show them to the other sisters in Fontaine..."
As soon as she spoke, Lovia herself was stunned, and her face immediately turned bright red. Even her tail began to wag slightly in "excitement."
Heavens! What was she doing?! She actually gave such childish things she wrote to iudex Neuvillette?! And even told him to take them back for other Melusines to see?!
Would Neuvillette find this ridiculous? Or offensive?
And why did she say those things for no reason... just because she felt Neuvillette was very kind? To actually do something so thoughtless... luckily it wasn't unofficial history... Lovia almost wanted to snatch the books back immediately.
However, as Neuvillette looked at her—both expectant and afraid, having used all her courage to hand over this "gift"—the softest part of his heart was touched.
He saw her seriousness, her passion, and her desire to share with her kin.
This gift was incredibly sincere and precious.
Neuvillette solemnly reached out with both hands and took the two booklets. His fingertips brushed over the slightly naive but heartfelt drawings on the covers as he looked warmly at Lovia, who looked like she wanted to bury her head in the ground.
"Thank you, Lovia," he said with utmost sincerity, showing a hint of gravity at receiving a precious gift. "I will read them carefully. On behalf of the Melusines of Fontaine, I thank you for sharing. This sentiment is very important."
Lovia jerked her head up, meeting his eyes filled with sincere gratitude. The panic and embarrassment in her heart were instantly replaced by a warm surge of joy.
He accepted them, he didn't mind, and he even said... they were important!
But why did it feel a bit shameful... Lovia couldn't help it and gave Neuvillette a slightly silly smile, her blue antennae also swaying happily and gently.
Inside the tiny house, the atmosphere became even more harmonious, although a certain someone was still in a state of being both nervous and inexplicably feeling that the other person was kind.
Neuvillette carefully put the two booklets away before speaking again about the upcoming arrangements: "Lovia, since you have agreed, regarding the matter of taking you back to Fontaine, I need to have a formal communication with Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Seven Stars of Liyue, who is currently responsible for relevant affairs. This is a necessary procedure to ensure your departure complies with Liyue's laws."
He paused, and considering Lovia's fear of crowds and unfamiliar environments, he inquired considerately: "Would you... be willing to go with me? Of course, if you feel uncomfortable, I can handle it alone."
Go see Ningguang?!
Lovia shook her head like a rattle, speaking her true thoughts: "That's a bit scary..."
Although her social anxiety was much better than before, just imagining facing the shrewd Ningguang made her feel like it was hard to breathe. That kind of formal occasion for interaction was simply torture for her.
"I'll just wait for you here!" she said urgently, for fear that Neuvillette would change his mind and want to take her along. "Y-you can just go by yourself, I promise I won't run around!"
Seeing her look like she was avoiding it at all costs, Neuvillette understood and was further convinced of her deep fear of socializing. He did not force her and nodded gently: "Alright, I understand. Then stay here with peace of mind. After my meeting with the Tianquan, I will come back to inform you of the result."
"Mhm, mhm!" Lovia nodded vigorously, breathing a sigh of relief.
Neuvillette stood up: "Then, I shall not disturb you further."
He properly stored the two precious booklets, nodded slightly to Lovia in farewell, and slowly walked out of the cozy little house.
Lovia stood at the door, watching his elegant departing back, then looked down at her empty hands, as if she could still feel the tension from handing over the booklets and the lingering joy of the moment.
She touched her burning cheeks, feeling a bit dazed and inexplicably happy.
Neuvillette's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the path by the shore, but Lovia still stood by the bed, staring in the direction he had left (the door), somewhat lost in thought.
It wasn't until a salty sea breeze blew in, ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead, that she suddenly snapped back to her senses.
What... what did she just do?
Taking the initiative to talk (though she had to), inviting him into the house (though she was dying of embarrassment), and even... giving away the cookbooks she wrote!
Was this really the same person from her original world who had to mentally prepare for half a day just to go to the market to buy vegetables and would never go out if she could help it?
Her heart was still pounding, not because of fear or tension... or rather, not entirely.
She looked down at her dirty appearance and couldn't help but laugh.
To entertain a guest she met for the first time wearing such bizarre clothes, and not only did he not dislike her, but he also accepted her gift and thanked her in such a serious tone.
This feeling... while not bad, was also quite absurd.
At that moment, a sentence suddenly popped into her little head: Neuvillette is just like that.
Lovia unconsciously wagged her little tail gently, her thoughts still immersed in the afterglow of that mixture of tension and joy.
So... was the "battlefield" she wrote about going to shift from Liyue to Fontaine?
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