"Oh, so you want me to be the director of your film crew."
Furina, now understanding the situation, turned to Xavier whose hands were trembling with nervousness.
Her heterochromatic eyes, sparkled with approval. Furina lifted her chin, her smug expression making Themis find her utterly adorable.
"Of course I can direct a film."
"But how will you convince me to take the job?"
"You should know I'm the Hydro Archon of Fontaine."
"It's not like just anyone can sway me into putting in the effort."
This statement held truth; given Furina's status, such an approach might even be considered beneath her.
Yet if Xavier could present a convincing argument, Furina might reconsider her stance.
Her words carried a glimmer of possibility - a subtle indication that she might be willing to help.
Paimon and Lumine turned their attention to Xavier. Meeting their gazes, he took two deep breaths.
"Ahem..."
"This is a small gift we've prepared for you, Lady Furina. We hope you'll accept it with grace."
Themis accepted the offering and peered inside. The box contained Mille-Esprit Mousse - a choice of sweets that indeed proved effective with Furina.
But this alone wouldn't suffice.
Countless suitors presented her with gifts each year, leaving Furina overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of confections.
"It's the Mille-Esprit Mousse from my favorite pastry shop!" Furina's eyes sparkled with delight, her enthusiasm genuine. "Exactly the treat I adore!"
It seemed Paimon was about to take back her earlier words—the sweets had clearly overwhelmed Furina.
It seemed Paimon had to take back her earlier words—the sweets were practically a critical hit for Furina.
"Furina still loves sweets as much as before," Paimon teased.
"Cough cough..." Lumine cleared her throat, glancing at Paimon. "A bit sweeter..."
This wasn't just for Paimon's ears, but also for Xavier's.
Miss Chiori had specifically strategized for them before her arrival!
Don't disappoint Miss Chiori's kindness.
"Uh..." Paimon's eyes darted around.
Themis stood beside Furina, watching the group rack their brains for compliments, already chuckling inwardly.
"What I mean is... sweet treats match perfectly with a beautiful young girl like Lady Furina. As Fontaine's superstar, just looking at you feels sweet!"
"Also, this midday weather is perfect—sunlight bright and warm, just like Lady Furina! You're so wise to sleep until this hour!"
Paimon rushed over to Furina's side, her praise flowing from the heart.
Amidst Xavier's clapping and Lumine's thumbs-up, Furina stood bewildered.
"What's all this about?"
"Huh? I just stayed up late reading some novels yesterday. It's got nothing to do with the weather."
Well, whatever. If Paimon had learned to use compliments now, Furina really had no reason to dwell on this point.
She, Furina, would simply accept these praises.
As for Paimon's strained flattery, Themis only found the first part somewhat reasonable.
She too believed sweets and Furina - this sweet young girl - were an absolute match.
And when Furina tasted them, she was sweet too.
Heh heh~ Who could resist a blushing Blueberry Cream Cake? Not me, at least.
"Ahem, let's get back to the topic at hand."
Clearing her throat, Furina looked at the Traveler and Paimon. "Are you two part of the production crew too?"
"Uh-huh, I'm the script supervisor, and she's the photographer!" Paimon answered.
Furina hadn't expected this kind of job.
"A photographer? That's a highly technical role that directly impacts the final quality of the film. Are you really qualified?"
Lumine decided to demonstrate her skills to Furina. "Want to give it a try?"
Perhaps if Furina saw her capabilities, she might agree.
To avoid any misunderstandings, Furina explained, "Ah, it's not that I doubt you. It's just that I haven't seen you use a Kamera before."
Paimon suggested, "Why don't we let Furina set a test challenge?"
"Well, since Paimon has brought it up..." Themis was curious to see what Furina was like when acting as a director. Out of personal interest, Themis decided to support Lumine and Paimon.
Themis proposed, "Why don't you set a test challenge? That way, I can also assess the Traveler's photography skills."
"If the Traveler's photography meets Furina's standards, would you feel comfortable joining our team?" Paimon asked, gazing at Furina with anticipation.
Furina placed her hands on her hips, eyeing Paimon's cheerful expression. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm... your ability to seize opportunities has certainly improved. However, I must admit I am genuinely curious about your photographic skills."
Turning to Lumine standing nearby, Furina finally relented. "Very well... let's use our surroundings as subjects. I'll provide some shooting requirements to see if you can meet them."
"I'll follow Director Furina's instructions," Lumine replied with a smile, producing her Kamera with confident ease.
Themis stood to the side, observing Furina's assertiveness in her domain. The sight made Furina seem even more captivating to her. There was undeniably an allure to Furina when she was fully engaged in her work.
But why me? A sea of question marks flooded Themis' mind as she sat by the desk, still processing the situation.
"Can't be helped. We'll just have to make do with what we've got."
Furina's lips curled into a feline smirk of satisfaction.
Lumine raised her Kamera, lens trained on Themis.
"Themis, are you ready? I'm set to shoot."
The audacity of photographing Themis like this... Lumine realized she was actually quite excited about it.
"Alright, you want me to play along, right?"
"Director Furina, state your requirements for the actress."
Furina cleared her throat, feeling somewhat guilty under Themis' gaze. She had to admit, this was just a sudden whim - she simply wanted to see what Themis looked like through the lens.
But Themis' perfect cooperation was making her feel a bit embarrassed.
After all, Themis was still on duty. This was definitely a bit inappropriate.
The confidential documents on the table had already been cleared away.
All that remained were novels left behind to maintain appearances - props generously provided by Lady Furina, the Hydro Archon.
"Themis, just act as you normally would at work. Leave the rest to the Traveler."
"Listen up, Traveler. The director is about to give instructions."
Lumine nodded in agreement.
Paimon and Xavier stood to the side, watching the Traveler with nervous anticipation, their hearts pounding in their chests.
"Indeed, in actual filming, it's crucial for the photographer to grasp the director's vision. I'll review your results before making a decision."
"Are you ready? My standards are quite strict."
Facing Furina, the Traveler confidently lifted her chin and straightened her posture. "No problem! Let's begin!"
Thus, Furina outlined her requirements for the Traveler.
The scene needed to capture the atmosphere of Themis's office, document her meticulous work demeanor, and showcase her proficiency as a Regent handling administrative affairs.
Lumine's expression turned serious. After noting down all of Furina's instructions, she began her preparations.
As an actress, Themis felt surprisingly little pressure. This is ridiculous, she thought. I don't even need to act - this is just my regular work. The same repetitive tasks I've performed for five centuries. It's practically muscle memory by now.
The shoot itself was utterly unremarkable - just another serious professional setting.
But when it fell into the players' hands? That's when the real mischief began.
Today's Genshin Impact update had just rolled out. Upon logging in, players were overwhelmed by the flood of Primogems and Intertwined Fate gifted by their sugar momma, Themis. They became so engrossed in the latest Fontaine's Unofficial History novel that they nearly forgot about the other two books.
This resurgence of literature and the revival of this obsessive old-school writing style were palpable.
Ah, in reality, one would have to read these secretly, barely able to suppress their laughter.
Among the three books, Raiden Ei, likely had it the hardest.
Of course, the ultimate winner would still be Yae Miko.
After all, the Raiden Shogun in the book clearly favored her, or at least would have married her regardless of her feelings.
Players speculated whether the authors of the other two books had been personally threatened by Yae Miko herself, forcing them to write such stories.
After all, this really seemed like something Yae Miko would do. She was, after all, a shameless, wicked woman.
Furina, as the director, was truly busy. She had previously assisted the stage production team, and today she was helping the film crew.
Though she hadn't officially agreed yet, it was practically a done deal.
But who could have imagined there would be such a delightful surprise waiting!
Holding the Kamera, the player's mouth stretched into a wide grin.
It's just a photo shoot, right?!
They're pros at this!
When they obtained the commemorative mirrors in Inazuma, they had already been snapping photos of the Mirror Maiden nonstop.
When they obtained the event Kamera in Inazuma, they loved snapping photos of the Mirror Maiden.
Now with the Kamera in hand during the story sequence, they directly aimed the lens at Themis, zoomed in as close as possible, and started madly taking pictures.
The face was the first to capture, then the heart—ahem... well, what can you do? We're all seasoned veterans here.
Besides hunger, our favorite thing is... you know. Now that we're not hungry, doesn't that leave only one option?
Every possible angle, limited only by imagination—no shot is too obscure for these players.
In a way, these players could be considered photography masters, albeit rather improper ones.
Themis had been earnestly trying to authentically portray her work environment, but when she saw Lumine holding the Kamera practically pressed against her face, she suddenly realized—could these players be about to imitate Lumine's behavior?
What should I do? It feels like after this round of filming, they'll strip me bare down to my underwear.
Furina crossed her arms, her brows furrowed as she watched the Traveler bring the Kamera dangerously close to Themis' face. Though clearly displeased, she remained silent - the shoot wasn't over yet.
What if this is part of the Traveler's unique filming technique?
In truth, some shots did require close-up facial angles, but this was pushing it.
Furina couldn't help but doubt Lumine's cinematography skills.
Xavier and Paimon stood nearby, equally anxious, fearing Lumine might make a critical mistake.
Lumine diligently followed all of Furina's instructions to the letter, completing the shoot with meticulous care.
When she handed over the finished footage, Paimon and Xavier crowded around to review the results.
"Hmm..."
Taking the Kamera from Lumine, Furina began scrutinizing the footage through her own critical lens.
The video captured the soft, bright, and serene atmosphere of Themis' office perfectly. As for Themis' focused expression while processing documents, the Traveler had provided close-up shots of her eyes and facial expressions.
Finally, they pulled back to capture a full shot of Themis processing documents. The footage showed the stack of papers rapidly thinning as she signed them with practiced efficiency.
Furina sighed. "Well... I never expected you to be this competent."
Evaluating the Traveler's footage, Furina had to admit the shots were well-executed.
Lumine watched her expectantly. "So, what's your verdict?"
Paimon chimed in, "Is Furina agreeing to help us?"
"Nothing's that easy," Furina retorted. "After that Little Oceanid musical fiasco, my reputation's more prominent than ever. The buzz still hasn't died down."
"Hmm... It's been a long time since Lady Furina graced the stage with her voice."
"To hear the Hydro Archon's singing live on stage? That's an experience etched in history. To put it bluntly, this will make the art world's annals."
Themis's words left Paimon gaping. "Furina's already legendary in my eyes, but now she's reached new heights."
Furina placed her hands on her hips and hummed, "Well then, prepare to keep raising my status by dozens of levels. Opera performances and art are merely the most prominent aspects of my many talents. You'll have to discover the rest yourselves."
"To be frank..."
"Many at this year's Fontinalia Film Festival have sought my guidance."
"But their scripts simply lack the spark to interest me..."
Themis glanced at them and whispered a reminder, "The script."
Lumine and Paimon simultaneously patted Xavier, who was still out of the loop. Xavier quickly gathered his wits and addressed Furina, "The project we're filming is based on the adapted script of The Two Musketeers."
"Ah? Wait, is that the mystery novel that topped the bestseller charts?"
The familiar title caught Furina off guard, sparking surprise.
Themis also recalled the novel, having been an avid reader herself.
After all, in the vast expanse of Fontaine, reading novels remained the most effortless and convenient pastime.
Paimon looked at Themis, then at Furina. "So Furina and Themis have read it too."
"Of course I've read it! I pay close attention to works the people love." Furina suddenly remembered what Xavier had said earlier about the investor going bankrupt. "Oh, I see. You must have used all of your budget to buy the copyright, right?"
Xavier averted his gaze awkwardly. "Well... not exactly. When the novel author heard I wanted to remake this story, they practically gave me the copyright for free. The funding shortage is due to other reasons..."
As soon as he said this, Themis's eyes lit up with intrigue.
So Fontaine has hidden masters after all.
To think someone could get away with such blatant freeloading! It makes me feel inferior!
Why can't I have that kind of luck?
"Paimon asked, "Does Furina really like this story?"
Furina coughed awkwardly at the question. "W-well, it's just decent, I suppose!"
Though she tried to maintain composure, her subsequent words betrayed her earlier attitude.
"The story's pacing is commendable, but the character dynamics need refinement. I always felt something was lacking when I read it before—my standards are quite exacting!"
Furina, her eyes darting between open and closed, hesitated momentarily before addressing Xavier. "Ahem, Mr. Xavier, if—let me emphasize if—I were to direct this adaptation, what level of creative freedom would I have to modify the script and performance aspects?"
Themis observed that anyone with eyes could see Furina's deep interest in this novel.
Xavier, equally perceptive, responded without hesitation. "Naturally, you'd have complete creative freedom! How could I doubt the aesthetic sensibilities of Fontaine's most celebrated star—Lady Furina herself?"
His words dripped with unreserved trust and admiration for Furina.
"So," she pressed, "I could adapt the story according to my personal preferences without issue?"
Xavier nodded emphatically. "Absolutely no issue!"
Lumine clasped her hands together and addressed Furina. "We entrust this project to Director Furina."
"Hmm, very well. It seems in the end, you still require my patronage after all!"
Without further deliberation, Furina straightened her posture and confidently placed her hands on her hips.
Xavier: "So, you agree?"
Furina: "Yes, I'll join."
Lumine: "Thank you, Furina."
Xavier: "...By the Hydro Archon above, I'm not dreaming, am I?"
To have Furina agree to be the director was truly a stroke of luck. If they weren't still in Themis's office, Xavier would have nearly jumped up in excitement!
"The Hydro Archon isn't anywhere. Don't celebrate too early," Furina said, looking at Xavier and dousing his enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water. "The preparations for it are incredibly lengthy. While the most difficult parts - the script and casting - are settled, there's still venue booking, lighting, props..."
She continued listing off a long string of technical terms, leaving Themis - an outsider to the film world - completely lost.
Xavier, however, was hanging on every word. He wrote down each point Furina mentioned, acting like a diligent schoolchild.
Lumine and Paimon stood to the side, serving as backdrops alongside Themis.
"Oh, right." Suddenly remembering something crucial, Furina smacked her hand. "Since we're filming The Two Musketeers, we need to find an action choreographer. Ideally, someone who's actually used a musket before."
Xavier spoke up, "I've considered this issue too. I was wondering if Lady Furina might have any recommendations..."
His voice trailed off, lacking conviction. He'd come here to ask Lady Furina to direct their film, but now his production team couldn't even handle basic logistics. The shame burned deep.
If this film project failed, he'd have no face to show the crew members who'd already agreed to help.
Furina pondered for a moment. To be honest, she didn't know many people skilled with muskets.
"Hmm... If Clorinde wasn't so busy, we could ask her."
Not busy before, but now she is?
"I heard she's been tied up recently by Tartaglia."
Furina's words were a goldmine of information for Lumine and Paimon.
"Tartaglia? Why is he back in Fontaine?" Paimon exclaimed, surprised. "Wasn't he sent back to Snezhnaya to recuperate?"
"Neuvillette said Tartaglia came to visit his master, Skirk," Themis explained. "But his master's attitude toward him was quite indifferent. Since Tartaglia can't sit still, Clorinde ended up being targeted."
"Originally, he even wanted to challenge Neuvillette to a duel," Furina added.
"But we were on vacation in Inazuma those days, so all matters in Fontaine were left to Neuvillette. He flat-out refused."
Themis smiled. "I think even if Neuvillette had time, he still wouldn't have agreed."
After all, Neuvillette was a law-abiding little Hydro dragon with no inclination for conflict.
"The issue with the musket wielder? I'll take care of that," Themis said.
"I know Chevreuse from the Special Task Force's musket squad."
Themis was like a god who adds beauty to what's already perfect, while Furina was the one who brings help in times of true need.
Ah, truly worthy of being the Regent and God that Fontaine has admired for five centuries. Their greatness needs no further words!
Xavier's faith in the Regent and Lady Furina grew even stronger.
"Now that Furina has agreed to be the director and you've discussed other matters..."
"I think we should discuss another topic."
Themis looked at the three of them, her face carrying a slight smile, but not much.
"W-what topic?" Xavier asked, completely bewildered.
Paimon and Lumine were equally confused.
Furina, however, seemed to have a good idea what Themis was referring to.
"I mean the payment, the payment!"
"You're hiring me as a director. Since this is work, you should naturally pay me."
Seeing Xavier's guilty look and the evasive gazes of Lumine and Paimon,
"W-wait! Don't tell me you're trying to make me, Furina, work for free?!"
She stared at them in disbelief, completely shocked.
She Furina had worked diligently in Fontaine for five centuries, and this was the first time she'd ever seen anyone trying to get her labor for free!
"O-of course not!"
"Lady Furina! We'd never ask you to work for free!"
"But our funds are limited. Regarding your compensation, I can only say..."
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Xavier finally blurted out a figure.
Themis narrowed her eyes, still finding it hard to believe Xavier had managed to gather so many people for this filming. After much consideration, she could only sigh and think, Maybe this is just called having good connections.
It was something Themis herself could never learn, no matter how she tried.
For centuries, her reputation had been built on Palais Mermonia's marketing and the Fontainians' own wild imaginations. But Themis had never realized people actually believed she was a responsible, kind, and delicate person.
As for Palais Mermonia's marketing? They don't even need it! The mere fact that Themis had worked tirelessly for five hundred years without a single mistake said everything.
One could only say that Themis had underestimated herself too much.
"Film payment..."
Furina was also at a loss for words. However, seeing Xavier's anxious expression, she sighed deeply. "Never mind, let it be this small amount. At least you tried your best."
"Though the payment doesn't quite match my worth, the best script deserves the best director!"
"I can't let a good story be ruined by lack of funds. It's like not letting fine bread and cheese mold in the corner because there's no oven."
Xavier wept profusely. "Lady Furina, you're truly the best God in the entire world!"
After settling these trivial matters, it was time for Xavier to take his leave.
"You should keep an eye on him," Themis said, watching Xavier's unsteady gait as he began swaying like a drunkard. "With that wobbly walk, I'm afraid he might fall into the pond."
"We'll keep an eye on Xavier. We won't disturb your work anymore."
"Goodbye!"
Waving goodbye to Themis and Furina, Lumine and Paimon chased after Xavier.
The civil servants working outside were genuinely curious about what had transpired in the office.
However, Xavier and the others had fled too quickly, and with work hours still ongoing, there was no way to find out what had happened inside.
"To be honest, I'm quite pleased you agreed to his request," Themis said.
"Hm? Why?" Furina asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Well... probably because I won't have to watch you play around while I'm working anymore?"
The thought of Furina actually working during work hours lifted Themis's mood instantly.
Furina snorted in irritation, never expecting Themis to be so pleased about this trivial matter.
"So, are we sleeping tonight?"
"We have work tonight. The script revisions need to be done as soon as possible."
"The Fontinalia Film Festival award ceremony is coming up soon. We need to finish the pre-production work quickly to leave enough time for filming."
Furina's explanation made perfect sense. Themis had someone bring over the novel of The Two Musketeers.
"If we work hard now, we should be able to finish the revisions tomorrow."
Furina was about to start working seriously.
Themis rested her chin in her hand, watching Furina deep in thought. Unable to resist, she finally kissed her.
Then bit Furina's cheek.
"Ah!"
Furina's hair stood straight up. She covered the bitten spot and cried out in surprise.
Just a moment ago, she was seriously thinking about the plot. Suddenly being bitten like that scared her to death.
"I was just thinking, are you as sweet as Mille-Esprit Mousse?"
Furina's face turned red. "Why didn't I notice your words were so sickening before?"
"Maybe because... I used to say a lot of things every day, and I haven't made up for today's quota yet?"
Arching an eyebrow, Themis smiled brightly as she took Furina's wrist and pulled her into a hug.
Furina still held the novel in her hand. She glared at Themis with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"I really need to work seriously now."
"Okay, I promise not to ambush you anymore."
Handing Furina a pen, Themis held her quietly.
True to her word, Themis didn't ambush Furina again and stayed completely silent.
However, Themis's gaze was somewhat too direct, so Furina had to temporarily ignore Themis.
Immersed in her work, Furina truly wasn't paying much attention to what was happening outside.
Themis wasn't constantly thinking about doing such things either.
At least when Focalors came down, Themis's office was filled with a peaceful atmosphere, as if time itself had slowed to a serene pace.
"What are you doing?"
Focalors curiously approached Themis, watching Furina continuously writing something in her novel. She would occasionally furrow her brow, her face showing signs of deep concentration.
"Nothing much. I just took on a job as a film director, and I'm currently revising the script."
As Themis softly answered Focalors, her gaze never left Furina's face.
How should she put it? Furina's expressions during these moments were unpredictable and truly worth observing.
After watching for a while, Themis finally shifted her gaze to Focalors, who was enthusiastically observing every movement Furina made.
Focalors reached out to stroke Furina's head, rubbing a few times before contentedly closing her eyes.
This God Focalors, it seemed, carried a touch of narcissism within her.
After once again marveling at Furina's cuteness, Focalors withdrew her hand, choosing not to disturb Furina's work any further.
By the time Furina finished her tasks, the sun had already set.
Looking up, the Cat met two pairs of eyes brimming with amusement.
"You... um, Focalors, when did you arrive?"
"Me?" Focalors replied with a smile, pressing closer. "I came quite early, probably just after Furina started working."
"I never imagined Furina could be so focused while working. She didn't even notice my presence."
In truth, Furina had been aware Focalors had visited earlier, but after no further movement and with Focalors standing behind her, she'd assumed the God had left.
To think Focalors had been watching her all along!
"Have you finished revising the script?"
"Everything I wanted to change has been revised," Furina said, closing the novel. She stretched lazily.
Rubbing her stomach, she was rewarded with a timely rumble of hunger.
"Having only eaten breakfast and worked all afternoon, it's no surprise you're hungry," Themis explained, noticing Furina's discomfort.
Among the three of them, two were Gods, leaving Furina as the only one who needed to eat.
There was nothing inherently wrong with that - eating was a basic necessity, and the ability to do so was a blessing.
However, Furina might no longer be able to enjoy this simple blessing.
Despite being hungry all day, her appetite remained disappointingly small.
After finishing her meal and washing up, Furina lay contentedly on the soft bed.
The bedroom door opened as Themis entered, followed closely by Focalors.
Furina's sense of contentment vanished instantly, replaced by discomfort. Her carefully maintained mask of composure slipped into place.
"Furina, why are you hiding?" Focalors chuckled, watching as Furina shrank deeper into the blankets like a frightened rabbit.
The lump under the covers remained motionless for several long moments before a head emerged, eyes pleading with both Gods.
"Can't we skip today?"
"I have work tomorrow," Themis replied, already lifting the blanket to join Furina on the bed.
Focalors followed suit, wrapping her arms around the reluctant Furina.
Sandwiched between the two, Furina still tried to squirm free.
But neither Themis nor Focalors would give her that chance.
Themis kissed Furina's lips, which were still moving as if she wanted to speak, and gently stroked her small head.
"Director Furina..."
"I've prepared so much knowledge today, hoping you'd help me learn it..."
Focalors blocked Furina's retreat path. The girl weakly replied, "Can I refuse?"
"What do you think?" Focalors whispered in her ear.
Her fantasies shattered. Time to face reality.
Furina still clung to the hope of waking up early tomorrow, wishing this night would end swiftly.
Furina adapted to her role as director quickly. The next day, when the Traveler arrived with Paimon and Xavier, it was Themis who handed them the revised script.
"Furina worked on the script until very late yesterday. She's resting in her bedroom now."
"I'll bring Furina to join you later."
The three visitors nodded without further inquiry.
"We won't disturb Lady Furina then."
Themis watched their retreating figures, a smile tugging at her lips.
She hadn't lied - Furina had indeed worked late. But rather than resting when others did, she'd pushed through until the early hours.
As for the rest of the night? Heh heh, just the usual activities between lovers.
-
Returning to the top floor of Palais Mermonia, Themis pushed open the bedroom door.
Focalors stirred at the sound, sitting up from the bed. Her white blouse hung loose, unbuttoned and sliding off her shoulder with her movement.
Rubbing sleep-heavy eyes, Focalors found herself gathered into Themis' embrace.
Only when half-asleep would Focalors be this obedient.
Themis removed the shirt that had slipped off her shoulders, then tucked Focalors back into the blankets.
Furina, still dozing on the inner side of the bed, found herself enveloped in Focalors' sleepy embrace.
"Well... it seems Lumine and the others will have to wait a bit longer."
The way Furina looked, she might fall asleep at any moment.
After waiting another half-hour, and seeing how late it was getting, Themis finally mustered the resolve to pull Furina upright. Furina leaned against Themis, her eyelids fluttering as if locked in a losing battle.
"It's all your fault. I told you yesterday to get to bed earlier."
Furina's drowsy whining made Themis automatically take responsibility for everything.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault, Director Furina."
"Mmm..." At the mention of "Director Furina," Furina's brain suddenly rebooted. She remembered how last night Themis had kept calling her "Director Furina" while pinning her to the bed without mercy.
Furina buried her face in Themis's chest in despair, abandoning all thought.
How could she ever call herself a "great director" after this?!
Not only did he keep calling her "great director," but he also insisted on tasting her to see if she was sweet.
Ugh...
Whether she was sweet or not, Furina didn't know, but she was certainly fragrant!
Growing increasingly angry, with her teeth itching for action, Furina bit down on Themis's neck. Director Furina had officially started holding a grudge.
The blue-white cat had started throwing a tantrum. What else could Themis do but indulge her?
To be honest, the bite didn't hurt at all - it just felt a bit ticklish.
After dressing Furina and using her divine power to remove any lingering negative effects, Themis watched as the girl regained her vitality.
"Why didn't you use this ability earlier?" Furina demanded.
"Personally, I'd rather sleep in unless absolutely necessary," Themis replied. "It's more comfortable that way."
Rubbing Furina's head, Themis embraced her. "I already gave the script to Xavier and the others."
"The filming location is on the second floor of Hotel Debord."
Her hand was grabbed, and she was instantly teleported to a small alley near the hotel.
"No matter how many times I see it, this ability is truly amazing," Furina said, her voice filled with envy.
"It's just for occasional travel," Themis replied.
"If you like it, I can take you for more experiences."
Without hesitation, Furina agreed, "Great! After I finish my work today, take me teleporting a few times."
"I want to experience what it's like to teleport like in the novel."
The previous teleportation had been too fast - she hadn't even had time to react before it was over.
After delivering Furina to the filming location, Themis left immediately.
She had other matters to attend to today and wanted to get them done quickly.
"Furina, over here!"
Paimon flew through the air, waving her tiny hands excitedly, her entire being radiating joy.
It seemed Paimon was thoroughly enjoying today's work.
When they reached the second floor, everyone was waiting for her. This made Furina inwardly grumble again about Themis's lack of restraint last night.
"My apologies for the wait. I'm truly sorry to have kept you all here so long."
"Not at all, not at all!" Xavier, still unaware of the true events from yesterday, exclaimed. "You've worked tirelessly, Lady Furina, staying up so late to revise the script."
Xavier's adoring gaze made Furina feel even more guilty.
Lumine stood nearby, observing Furina with a thoughtful expression. After all, she was one of the few present who knew the true circumstances surrounding Themis and Furina's night.
Judging by Furina's late arrival, it seemed the young couple's nighttime activities had been far more intense than Lumine had imagined.
Under the Traveler's persistent stare, Furina cleared her throat uncomfortably, eager to shift the focus to work.
The Musketeer matter that Themis had agreed to yesterday had been handled perfectly, with Special Task Force member Chevreuse now on set.
Truth be told, even without Themis's intervention, Chiori could have easily brought Chevreuse here.
Regardless, the entire cast was now assembled, ready to begin filming smoothly.
And... they'd all gathered at Xavier's place at practically no cost - that was the most crucial point.
Never had so many people been brought together for free.
Could it be that Xavier had been blessed by the God of Freebies?