It was another morning.
Clorinde woke up early and waited at Furina's bedroom door with her gun-sword and longsword.
This was almost Clorinde's daily routine; after all, besides being a Champion Duelist, she was more so the Hydro Archon's guard.
Arriving at the door, Clorinde pulled out her pocket watch, confirmed that Furina would be out shortly, and then stood to the side.
Looking at Furina's closed room door, Clorinde's mind unconsciously began to wander to other things, specifically... things related to Furina.
Just a few days prior, the Steambird Newspaper published an exclusive news story titled, "Lady Furina and Her Consort, Miss Yuan's, Untold Secrets!"
The name was long, and the title was very eye-catching.
Initially, Clorinde didn't pay much attention, but then she gradually realized there was something off about the newspaper.
It's important to know that while the Steambird Newspaper in Fontaine wasn't using such "exaggerated" headlines to attract public interest for the first time, it still had its limits.
Palais Mermonia was aware of the public opinion influence that newspapers could bring, and to counter potentially negative public opinion, Palais Mermonia even established a "Social Opinion and Analysis Department," also known as the "News Department," to manage it.
The strictest oversight of this department was on the Steambird Newspaper's publications. Before any news went to print, personnel specially dispatched by Palais Mermonia's News Department would review it to ensure it wouldn't have a negative impact on Fontaine before it was published.
This time, just by looking at the title, it was clear that the 'protagonist' was Lady Furina, but the problem was, the main topic was "Deity Romance"!
And after Clorinde read the newspaper's content, she subconsciously felt that their Fontaine's "Hydro Archon" seemed to truly have a problem!
As a nation's symbol, every action of a deity is watched by all beings in the entire nation, and now, you're telling me our nation's deity is in love?! What kind of international joke is this!
And such a topic, which would clearly cause public opinion problems in Fontaine, actually passed review?! What's wrong with those people in the News Department?!
There was definitely something wrong here!
Not to mention Palais Mermonia's tacit approval, the various promotions after the newspaper's publication seemed to try to make all Fontainians aware of this matter.
It was truly too strange.
Clorinde sighed slightly. As a guard, she shouldn't be thinking so much; she only needed to do her job.
But there was no helping it. Whether it was the guards who were her colleagues or the passersby on her way home from work, they were all discussing this matter, which made her unable to stop thinking about it.
Moreover, and most importantly, she had also noticed something amiss with Lady Furina.
As Furina's guard, Clorinde couldn't claim to know her every word and action, but she could certainly say she was familiar with her. However, for several months now, she had felt that Furina was becoming increasingly different.
Especially after that sudden 'leave of absence' for half a month, Furina gave her a completely different feeling.
At that time, she hadn't paid too much attention, but this time, after the news about Furina appeared, Clorinde connected the dots and realized something was wrong.
Perhaps, the time this Consort truly appeared by Lady Furina's side was... several months ago?
Recalling the contents of the newspaper and the various 'evidence' listed, Clorinde sighed slightly, hoping... things would turn out for the best?
However... she didn't need to worry too much. After all, Neuvillette most likely knew about this matter, and perhaps... he was even involved in the whole thing?
But Neuvillette wouldn't engage in any schemes or tricks. Perhaps, it was more related to the Fatui, as they were the ones most actively promoting the Steambird Newspaper recently.
Never mind, don't think so much. In any case, Neuvillette has their back, so nothing should go wrong.
Thinking this, Clorinde's heart calmed down a little. Just then, the door to Furina's room opened.
Clorinde raised her hand, preparing to bow according to etiquette, but when her gaze fell upon Furina, her body suddenly froze.
She saw a white-haired, blue-eyed young woman carefully helping Furina walk out. Furina's small face was slightly flushed, and her entire body leaned against the young woman without any resistance, moving slowly, step by step.
"Lady Furina!"
Clorinde instinctively stepped forward, but the young woman turned her head and glanced at her, then returned her attention to Furina.
Clorinde, being watched by Liu Yuan, immediately stopped in her tracks, motionless, but her hand had already instinctively reached for the sword at her waist.
What kind of eyes were those...
Like bone-chilling ice, devoid of any emotion. It was a gaze that completely transcended everyone else, showing no regard for their existence, and... at this moment, the young woman seemed to be in a somewhat bad mood?
Although the aura of the young woman before her made one unconsciously think of the word "clean," as if such a person was exceptionally pure and incapable of anger, when she was glanced at by that figure just now, an unspeakable "fear" surged from the bottom of her heart.
Clorinde forcibly suppressed the emotions welling up inside her and asked, "Miss Yuan... what happened to Lady Furina...?"
However, before Liu Yuan could explain, Furina spoke first: "I'm fine, Clorinde. I just feel a little unwell. Don't worry about it."
Furina smiled and softly said to Clorinde, but the feeling of weakness in her body made her uncomfortable.
Just a moment ago, she had just finished changing, and then the Alchemical Matrix on her back started to give her an unbearable pain again. Although Furina knew this was a side effect of engraving the matrix, she hadn't expected it to be so painful.
Fortunately, the pain was only temporary, but after the pain subsided, a wave of weakness washed over her, leaving Furina with no strength in her entire body, so she could only let Liu Yuan help her out of the room.
"Lady Furina..."
Clorinde hesitated, but her hand had already moved away from the hilt of her sword. Miss Yuan had not focused her attention on her just now, but was carefully supporting Furina, and that worried expression did not seem to be an act.
"Clorinde, then Liu Yuan and I will go to the Opera House first. You all can come along slowly."
Although Liu Yuan could have taken Furina directly to the Opera House from inside the room, Furina still felt it was better to make an appearance outside before leaving, so every morning she would come out first and then go directly to the Opera House with Liu Yuan.
Clorinde, hearing Furina's words, was silent for a moment. After a while, she spoke, "...Yes, Lady Furina."
Clorinde nodded slightly, then stepped back, watching Miss Yuan carefully hold Furina, and then her figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.
Clorinde was silent for a long time. When a member of the guard team approached and asked a question, Clorinde finally came back to her senses.
"I'm fine..."
"But Miss Clorinde..."
Before the guard could finish speaking, Clorinde continued, "Go to the Opera House first. We'll talk about anything else later."
With that, she didn't bother with anyone's reactions, turned, and left first.
The people who remained looked at each other, then, without a word, followed Clorinde's steps and walked outside.
~•— ❦ —•~
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