At Bronya's invitation, Felicity bid a temporary farewell to March 7th and the others, accompanying her instead to a teahouse tucked away nearby.
The establishment, situated just beyond the Machinery House, stood in striking contrast to the lower districts. Bright lighting gleamed off polished walls, and tasteful posters lined the corridor with almost excessive elegance. It carried the air of curated peace, something meant to be seen—meant to reassure.
But not all of it was pristine. Above the entrance, the billboard bore the weight of time. Rust crept along its edges like an infection, and hasty patches of paint betrayed past efforts to conceal decay.
"There's a place like this in Belobog?"
Felicity's tone was light, but faintly surprised. She had seen Belobog's underbelly, where desperation bred tension and factions clashed for the bare minimum. This level of refinement felt almost surreal.
But Bronya misread her intent. A soft smile touched her lips, and with subtle pride, she answered:
"Even if Belobog stands between disaster and desolation, its people still refuse to surrender to nature's cruelty. We deserve moments of beauty—however brief—amid wind and snow."
"…You all really work hard."
Felicity gave a soft chuckle, though it carried no mirth. She couldn't help but wonder what expression this upper-class noblewoman would wear if she glimpsed the starving children in the underground.
If things went on like this, a clash between the two Belobogs might be inevitable.
Still, she had no intention of dragging the conversation further into that abyss.
"Let's skip ahead. What did you find out, Miss Bronya?"
She asked offhandedly while ordering four cups of milk tea, her voice calm as ever.
Not that it mattered. Dan Heng had already filled her in. Cocolia had made her position clear. If she reversed it now, Felicity might actually be impressed.
"…The Supreme Guardian rejected your request."
…What?
For a split second, Felicity's mind blanked. The cup in her hand remained perfectly steady, her expression unreadable.
Bronya took the silence as confirmation. Her shoulders tensed slightly, then she exhaled and spoke, more resolute now:
"Ms. Felicity. I must apologize on behalf of Lady Cocolia. But… she called you a deceiver. She believes your goal is the destruction of Belobog."
She delivered the words with careful sincerity, as though trying to shield herself with honesty.
Cocolia's orders had been clear: prepare the Silvermane Guards to apprehend the outsiders by morning. And yet, Bronya hesitated.
Felicity had saved the lives of her own men. That alone made it hard to see her as an enemy. But it was more than that. The power Felicity displayed—cleansing an entire street of monsters and healing dozens in the blink of an eye—felt more like a miracle than mere strength.
And then… there was her ability to see the future.
Bronya couldn't bring herself to believe Belobog had a real chance against someone like that.
"I don't understand Lady Cocolia's judgment. But I do believe there's still room for negotiation."
Her voice was quiet, but earnest.
"Negotiation?"
Felicity echoed as she sipped her milk tea, drawing the word out as though tasting its weight.
"…I know it might sound strange coming from me, but I genuinely want to talk this through."
Bronya's fingers fidgeted beneath the table. She was scrambling for something—anything—that might give her words weight. But ultimately, she was just a symbol. The heir to the Guardian's title, yet powerless to act without her mother's blessing.
She wanted to promise something. Anything. But no words came.
"I… I can't do anything," she admitted, bitterly.
Felicity offered her a gentle smile, as though that answer had been expected all along.
"Then I don't think we need to waste time negotiating. But Bronya—if you truly want to change Belobog…"
Her tone sharpened, not with anger, but clarity.
"Then when the moment comes, don't choose something you'll regret."
With that, Felicity stood, turned, and left without another word.
Bronya sat frozen, eyes following the fading figure. Her lips moved unconsciously.
"Don't… regret it?"
...
By the time Felicity returned to the Machinery House, the others had already wandered out to greet her.
"Sister Feli! You missed so much!" March 7th burst out the moment she saw her, practically vibrating with excitement. "There were heaters, a video recorder, and this huge gear system! The gears just keep spinning forever! What if the whole place suddenly stood up and transformed into a massive robot!?"
"Maybe it's a spaceship," Stelle chimed in, nonchalant.
"…"
Dan Heng, as expected, remained silent.
Felicity looked mildly confused. "Isn't a video recorder… kind of ordinary?"
March 7th pouted. "You don't get it! That 'click-click' sound the gears make inside is mysterious! Doesn't it make you curious?"
"Not even a little."
Felicity answered honestly.
She had once risen from a bed soaked in her own blood, a hole in her chest, just to ask Asta what she ate for dinner. At this point, even if a walking robot came barreling down the street, she probably wouldn't bat an eye.
…Probably.
"Ehh~ So boring… Anyway, let's just go back to the hotel the Supreme Guardian arranged for us."
March 7th stretched and yawned. The day had been long, and Belobog's central district had seen enough of her footsteps to last a lifetime.
Then, almost as if remembering something at the last moment, she paused.
"Wait a second… we did mention Sister Fili to Cocolia, didn't we?"
"…"
"So… they did prepare a room for her, right?"
The three turned their eyes toward Felicity.
Felicity: ?
--+--
T/N: I lowkey didn't really enjoy the entire Belobog plot or is it just me? My favorite jarilo IV character is Pela tho.