As the dishes were served, more and more people gathered nearby to watch. After all, Furina was the most beloved star of Fontaine—her presence alone drew attention wherever she went.
While savoring her dessert, Furina's eyes fell upon the two glasses of sake placed on the table. She swallowed lightly, then teased with a mischievous smile:
"I brought the gods out for dinner. Shouldn't there be some wine involved? Leo, your thoughts aren't very pure!"
Blinking innocently, Leo took a bite of meat and shook his head.
"No, no, Lady Furina, absolutely not. These two glasses of sake are just the restaurant's specialty—the starting set for the meal. I don't intend to let you drink either of them."
Furina had only meant to tease, but her smile faltered when she caught the words: he didn't intend to let me drink?
"Oh, really?" she thought.
Without giving Leo time to react, she picked up one of the glasses and took a sip, wanting to see what the fuss was about.
It wasn't as though she had never touched alcohol—only on rare occasions. As the warm liquid slid down her throat, she pressed her lips together, savoring the flavor carefully.
Under Leo's nervous gaze, Furina finally smiled with satisfaction.
"It tastes good."
The short remark carried weight—when Furina declared something "good," it truly was.
Originally, she had wanted Leo to feed her herself, but with so many eyes upon them, she set aside the thought. Better to save such things for home…
"Nanf—no, Leo," she asked playfully, "when you travel to other nations, which one do you think has the best food?"
"Food?" Leo replied thoughtfully. "Every nation has its own specialties, and they're all wonderful in their own way. But, Lady Furina, you're not exactly one for novelty. You probably wouldn't enjoy some of the more unusual cuisines."
Furina nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's true."
By the time they returned to Merope's Fortress, it was already past eleven o'clock—quite late.
Stretching slightly, Furina turned to look at Leo, who was still dressed up from the evening, and her mind drifted toward tomorrow's scene at the Opera Epiclese.
At her chamber door, Furina steadied herself, then turned back with a smile.
"Good night, my little guard."
Blinking, Leo tilted his head and replied softly:
"Good night, Furina…"
This time, he did not add the usual formal Lady.
As the door closed behind her, Leo started back toward his own room. Normally, the walk took mere seconds—but tonight, something was off.
By his fifth step, he froze.
The great hall was empty, yet his instincts screamed otherwise. Narrowing his eyes, he muttered under his breath:
"Great. They tracked me all the way to Merope's Fortress."
Drawing his sword, he descended the stairs at a measured pace. Each step echoed across the silent marble floors.
The black-and-gold blade shimmered faintly, infused with the imperceptible chill of the Cryo element. Though subtle, the cold air it exuded could be felt clearly.
In the vast hall, only his footsteps resounded.
From the shadows, dark figures darted across the edges of his vision. Yet each time they shifted, Leo turned to face them with pinpoint accuracy.
With a flick of his wrist, the blade sent a burst of crystalline frost into the darkness, striking against a fleeing silhouette.
"Fools," Leo called out, his voice calm but edged. "I don't know your purpose, but after tailing me all this way, surely you're exhausted!"
The only reply was ragged, heavier breathing from the dark.
"Panicking already? Don't. If you've come this far… I can at least grant you a chance to escape."
A wind blade slashed toward him, which he sidestepped with ease. A window shattered open, scattering shards of glass across the hall.
Sheathing his blade momentarily, Leo vaulted through the broken frame, pursuing the fleeing shadow into the night.
The noise roused Furina. She hurried from her chambers, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders—proof she had just finished bathing. Leaning over the balcony rail, she gazed in shock at the shattered windows and deep claw-like gouges in the walls.
A chill ran down her spine. Seeking comfort, she rushed to Leo's quarters, knocking firmly—but no answer came.
Her eyes flicked back toward the ruined hall. Understanding dawned. "He went after them…"
Though worried, she trusted his strength. With a sigh, she returned to her room, took his spare key, and quietly slipped inside to await him.
Meanwhile, Neuvillette, the Iudex of Fontaine, had also stepped from his office. His gaze lingered on the fading traces of elemental energy within the air. Yet after a moment's consideration, he dismissed the matter.
No one in Fontaine but Leo could handle such an intruder.
Outside the fortress, a shadowy figure wearing a conical hat sprinted desperately through the streets. Yet Leo's pursuit was relentless—the distance between them shrinking with every step.
Finally, as they reached the city's edge, an ice wall rose, sealing all escape.
Leaping down from a rooftop, Leo landed gracefully before the figure, now revealed clearly under the moonlight:
A Fatui agent—one of the Hearth House's elite enforcers.
With his blade drawn, Leo advanced slowly, deliberately. The ice walls enclosed the battlefield; the only path out was through him.
Realizing this, the Fatui agent drew his own weapon. They knew well that lingering near the Fortress risked discovery by other powerful Fontainians. The fight had to end quickly.
"Boy," the agent spat, his tone mocking, "chasing after your betters before you've even grown your whiskers… Are you really so eager to die?"
Crushing the Delusion at his waist, the servant's aura flared violently. Wind surged forth, ripping apart sections of the ice wall in an instant.
"I'll show you the price of arrogance!"
Leo raised his cloak against the incoming wind, Cryo energy swirling around him. He smirked faintly.
"What a coincidence… I'm very good at fighting too."
The black cloak, threaded with golden trim, gave him the air of a vigilante in the night.
Leo knew the truth of a Delusion: a borrowed power that consumed the user's life force in exchange for strength.
The clash that followed shook the streets.
The surge of elemental energy soon reached Clorinde, the Champion Duelist. Already half-asleep, she leapt into action, dressing swiftly before vaulting out her window.
By the time she arrived, the battle was over.
Leo stood bloodied, his blade slick with crimson. At his feet lay the bisected corpse of the Fatui enforcer.
Clutching her chest, Clorinde frowned. "It seems… I was too late."
Wiping his blade clean, Leo gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Not too late, actually. You can handle the cleanup."
She nodded. "Fine."
Crouching by the corpse, Leo rifled through the agent's pockets and pulled free a sealed packet of photographs.
Clorinde approached cautiously. "What's that?"
"Evidence," Leo replied flatly. "This agent followed Lady Furina and me all the way back to the Fortress. If possible, you can let her—no, him—go next time."
"Truly?" Clorinde asked, skepticism lacing her tone.
Without opening the packet, Leo handed it to her. "Either way, it's proof. Handle it as you see fit."
Clorinde took the photographs and peeled them open—then froze, her eyes widening at the contents.
Noticing her silence, Leo tilted his head curiously. "What is it?"
But Clorinde quickly snapped the packet shut, her voice firm.
"It's late. You should return to rest. I'll take care of everything else. These photographs… contain confidential intelligence concerning Merope's Fortress."