Furina didn't leave Klee's place empty-handed; at the very least, she now understood just what a caring big brother Richard was.
And how much this sweet little sister hoped her brother could be surrounded by beauties, enjoying all the good fortune a man could wish for.
Though Furina's initial goal in visiting Klee was to fish for information about Richard's likes and dislikes, she didn't just run off like the other big sisters Klee had met in the past once they got what they wanted.
Furina genuinely played with Klee all afternoon, and she actually seemed to enjoy herself too.
Furina told Klee the story of Mademoiselle Crabaletta, something she'd stumbled upon in a library. The names of the Salon Solitaire's members even came from that very book.
Maybe because the story wasn't really meant for children, Klee only half understood it, but that didn't stop her from finding it fascinating.
It wasn't so much that Furina was an amazing storyteller; rather, she summoned the Salon Solitaire's members and staged a little play with Klee right there on the spot.
As Fontaine's superstar, Furina personally directed the rookie actress Klee. When they ran into difficulties, she encouraged Klee without holding back; they overcame the hiccups together and finished the performance.
If nothing else, Furina really did have a knack for handling kids.
Klee had a wonderful time in her confinement room today. Not only did she get to enjoy delicious afternoon tea, but her acting skills improved a lot. Next time Jean caught her misbehaving, she'd have a much better chance of getting away with just her cuteness.
And in Klee's heart, this only confirmed what she already believed: 'Sister Furina was a really, really good person.'
Klee Affection +MAX
'If only she could be Brother Richard's couple-person too, together with Master Jean'… Little Klee thought happily to herself.
"Alright, Klee, good times never last forever. Even the best play has to come to an end. It's getting late, so I should head back and get on with my work," Furina said, checking the clock and seeing it was almost dinner time.
It was time to head back to the embassy and resume her role as the mighty Hydro Archon.
"Okay… See you next time, Sister Furina." Even though Klee really didn't want her to leave, she still obediently waved goodbye.
Klee knew her Sister Furina was like Jean; she had work to do. And as the Hydro Archon, Furina probably had even more work than Jean did.
'Gods really do work so hard,' Klee thought.
Somewhere in a tavern under the Dawn Winery banner, Venti, waving his VIP card, let out a big sneeze.
Not long after Furina left, Klee's confinement room welcomed two new guests: Richard and Albedo.
"Brother Richard! Brother Albedo! Are you guys done with your work?" Klee squealed in delight.
"Yes. Thanks to Richard's help, the experiment went smoothly," Albedo said.
"No need to be so polite. You're family, helping each other is natural. Just like how you always help take care of Klee. If you want, I can help you handle the other troubles up on Dragonspine too." Richard gave him a warm smile.
"Other… troubles," Albedo repeated thoughtfully. He was smart enough to catch on to what Richard meant.
Albedo wasn't a normal human; he was a creation of the alchemist Rhinedottir, the final product of the Primordial Project. He was well aware of that.
And where there's a finished product, there are always failed products. Those failed experiments hadn't completely vanished; some still lingered in a corner of Dragonspine.
The trouble Richard spoke of was one such failed product. Perhaps due to Durin's toxic remains and other external factors, that failure seemed to have regained signs of life.
Richard had noticed this while helping Albedo with the experiment on Dragonspine and decided to remind him.
After all, the last thing Richard wanted was to come home to Mondstadt one day and find his family replaced by an impostor.
"I'll keep an eye on it. But I'd better handle that myself," Albedo nodded.
"If you need help, just say so. It might be trouble for you, but for me, it's nothing," Richard said calmly, seeing Albedo had made up his mind.
Then he turned to Klee and asked gently, "Were you bored in the confinement room today? I'll be free tomorrow, I can sneak you out to play."
"Not bored at all! Klee was super happy today. Sister Furina kept me company all afternoon!" Klee said brightly.
"Furina?" Richard raised his eyebrows; he hadn't expected the Hydro Archon to spend an afternoon playing with Klee.
But thinking about it, with him gone to Dragonspine and all the unrest in Mondstadt lately, Furina, who didn't have much ability to protect herself, naturally wouldn't dare wander around alone. With nothing else to do, it made sense she'd come to Klee.
Maybe she'd even planned to fish for information about him through Klee.
"Yep! Sister Furina and Klee rehearsed a play in my room. Mademoiselle Crabaletta, Surintendante Chevalmarin, and Gentilhomme Usher were all there too! Everyone was super super fun!" Klee's eyes sparkled; it was clear she'd had a blast.
"In that case, I should really thank Lady Furina properly," Richard murmured, stroking his chin. He decided not to make things difficult for that adorable Hydro Archon about rewards anymore.
The fact that she'd spent an entire afternoon with Klee to fill the void left by his absence was already reward enough for him.
To Richard, Klee's happiness was worth far more than any Gnosis or divine relic.
'Could a little angel's smile be replaced by a mere piece of Third Descender remains? Not a chance.'
"Lady Furina, that's the Hydro Archon you mentioned before, right?"
Albedo clearly didn't know he'd already been flagged by Furina as suspicious.
"For a god to take care of Klee like that… It seems you two get along well," Albedo said to Richard.
"Furina really is a good friend. Actually, if you don't mind, could I borrow that Festering Desire sword from you? I want to prepare a little thank-you gift for her." Richard thought for a moment and came up with a return gesture.
"No problem," Albedo agreed.
After dining with Klee and Albedo, Richard didn't return home. Instead, he headed to the Fontaine embassy.
There, he found Furina squatting in front of a flowerbed, watching a clump of flowers intently while muttering to herself. When Richard got closer, he finally heard her clearly:
"Little kitty, don't run! Come here, I'm going to arrest you for illegal entry!"
Technically speaking, the Fontaine embassy grounds did count as Fontaine territory.
A little Mondstadt kitty sneaking in without official permission? Naturally, as the Hydro Archon, Furina held the highest authority to arrest it and bring it to justice. Perfectly reasonable!
Of course, the little kitty didn't care about any of that. To it, Furina was just a two-legged menace trying to grab it for cuddles, and with no padding on her chest, it probably figured she'd be uncomfortable to lie on. So why let her catch it?
"Don't run!" Furina called out as the cute kitty slipped away through the flowers, hoping to stop it.
Sadly, for a kitty determined to leave, those words only made it bolt faster.
Mondstadt's cats were born to be free!
"Lady Furina likes animals?" Richard suddenly spoke up behind her.
"Eek!" Furina jumped at the sudden voice. She turned and found Richard standing right behind her.
"You startled me! When did you get back? Did you finish everything?" Furina patted her chest, trying to calm her startled heart.
"All done. Lady Furina, is there anywhere you'd like to go next? I can come with you. We only have two days left in Mondstadt; it'd be a shame not to look around properly," Richard said.
"Really?" Furina's eyes lit up, but maybe thinking that was too unbefitting for a god, she quickly cleared her throat.
"I mean, it's fine. Do whatever you want; if you insist on sightseeing, I guess I can keep you company. Besides, we still have plenty of budget left for this trip. If we find a way to spend it all, the departments back home will have a real headache, won't they?"
Having served as the Minister of Administration for some time now, Furina clearly understood the budget games. If you don't spend the money, it means there's room to cut next time, and no department wants that.
In a sense, Furina spending the budget on travel was doing the Court of Fontaine's departments a favor.
Richard was long used to Furina's habit of saying the opposite of what she meant. So when he heard that, he automatically translated it in his head to: 'Yes! Take me out to play! Anywhere is fine! I'll cover it all!'
"How about Dragonspine? Albedo and I prepared a little gift for you, to thank you for spending the afternoon with Klee," Richard suggested with a smile.
"Ah… so you know about that," Furina's eyes flickered. Even though she'd ended up having fun, she hadn't forgotten her real reason for going to see Klee in the first place.
Now that the man himself brought it up, she suddenly felt like a kid caught doing something sneaky.
And hearing he'd prepared her a gift made her feel even guiltier.
"Klee mentioned it over dinner with Albedo and me. She said, 'Sister Furina is such a good person. I hope Sister Furina and Master Jean can…" Richard was halfway through when Furina, face bright red, rushed to cut him off.
"Kids just say nonsense! Don't take it seriously! I-I don't have any such ideas! M-Mind yourself!"
Furina thought Klee had told Richard about wishing they'd both become his girlfriends, and she panicked, terrified he'd misunderstand.
"?" Richard raised an eyebrow, confused about why she was freaking out.
"Lady Furina, do you not like playing with Klee?" Richard asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?! This is all your fault!" Furina snapped, her face bright red.
'How could he just say something so brazen?! Too shameless!'
'Two women together like that, that's absolutely impossible!'
'Well… if it were just me… No, no, what was I even thinking?!'
Furina's thoughts spun into chaos. She fidgeted with her fingers, staring at the ground, not daring to look at Richard at all.
"My fault?" Richard pointed at himself, bewildered. Something told him Furina was completely misunderstanding him.
"Who else's fault would it be? Who else would want me and Jean together with you… together…" Furina's voice trailed off. She just couldn't say the rest, it was too embarrassing!
"Lady Furina, do you see spending time with Captain Jean and Klee as something shameful?" Richard frowned.
"Of course, wait, what did you just say?" Furina froze, then lifted her head to look at him.
"I asked: do you think spending time with Jean and Klee is so shameful?" Richard repeated patiently.
"No! That's not what I meant, I mean… Wait…" Furina waved her hands frantically, realizing there'd been a huge misunderstanding, but how could she explain?
She couldn't exactly tell him she'd thought he meant two women serving one man together, could she?!
That'd make her look ridiculous!
Richard could see how flustered she was; the panicked Hydro Archon was actually quite adorable. He couldn't help but tease her:
"Sigh… I see. Lady Furina, I'll be sure to tell Klee what you said. I hope she won't be too sad."
"That's not what I meant! Richard, I order you not to tell her that!" Furina lunged forward, grabbing his arm fiercely, so desperate she even pulled out an official decree.
Clearly, she'd been pushed to her limit.
"Yes, Lady Furina," Richard chuckled, finally letting her off the hook.
"So we're going to Dragonspine tomorrow with Klee?" Richard asked.
"Yes!" Furina said firmly.
"Got it. I'll arrange everything with the Mondstadt officials," Richard nodded.
As he was about to head inside the embassy to handle the details, he turned back and called out to Furina, still frozen by the flowerbed:
"By the way, Lady Furina, can you tell me exactly what you misunderstood just now?"
"You're so annoying!" Furina snapped.
Richard just raised a hand to block one of Surintendante Chevalmarin's bubbles drifting by on Furina's orders, then laughed softly and stepped inside the embassy.