Fontaine — Palais Mermonia
Furina and Neuvillette were enjoying a peaceful afternoon tea.
One with coffee and pastries.
One with a cup of tea brewed from Qingce herbs.
Both watching the newly-activated Light Curtain.
Quite relaxing…
Both had assumed today would feature Sumeru.
But then—
the Light Curtain suddenly announced Fontaine.
Their Fontaine.
Their names.
Furina instantly bolted upright, panic filling her eyes.
"M–Me?! They're going to expose ME?!"
If she was exposed before the Traveler even arrived—
the trial, the prophecy, everything would collapse!
Her body trembled—
—until the next words arrived.
"Fontaine's Chief Justice — Neuvillette."
"Fontaine's Spina di Rosula President — Navia."
Furina froze.
"Wait—
Not… me?
It's Neuvillette… and Navia?!"
She placed a hand to her chest…
Phew.
…she wasn't getting roasted yet.
But instead of joy, she felt exhaustion wash over her again.
She hated this—living in constant fear that her identity would be exposed.
"Traveler… please come to Fontaine soon…
I… I can't keep pretending forever…"
Beside her, Neuvillette observed quietly.
"Lady Furina? You seem… troubled."
"W-What nonsense?! I—I am Lady Furina, God of Justice!
I fear nothing!"
Her shifting eyes betrayed her.
Before he could press further—
She abruptly changed the topic:
"A-Anyway! You're the one being reviewed today!
Hehehe~ I can't wait to see the Chief Justice's 'not-so-proper' side!"
Neuvillette: "…"
Furina's grin widened like she'd just discovered premium gossip.
Spina di Rosula HQ — Poisson
Navia and her attendants were equally shocked.
"Me? Truly… me?"
Milleus beamed.
"A wonderful chance, milady!
The Light Curtain may reveal your father's true innocence!"
Navia's hand tightened around her cane.
"Yes… I will finally learn what really happened…"
Not even humiliation could sway her now.
"Even if they mock me, even if I'm embarrassed—
if I gain the truth… that's enough."
Group Chat Reaction
Everyone reacted in shock—
[Linney]: He's the WATER DRAGON KING?!
[Freminet]: The rumors were true!!
[Wriothesley]: Finally explains why rain makes him… tense.
[Arlecchino]: Water dragons liking rain… seems logical.
[Barbara]: But a Dragon King as a judge? Rare indeed!
[Zhongli]: Similar to Liyue's Azhdaha becoming a Qixing…
[Paimon]: That's weird!
[Venti]: Should Teyvat start hiring dragons into politics~?
Then—
[Furina]: Hahaha! I am the mighty God of Justice!
This question is meaningless!! Neuvillette is MY subordinate!
[Alice]: Is that so~?
Like how Inazuma & Sumeru handled their gods? (´▽`)
[Ei]: …
[Nahida]: …
[Neuvillette]: …
Dead silence.
Finally—Light Curtain resumed.
Light Curtain — Official Commentary
"Neuvillette — Serious Issue #1:
He… does not understand human emotions."
"Which, of course, is understandable—
he is not human."
Video 1:
Opera. Traveler & Paimon silently staring at Neuvillette.
Awkwardness intensifies.
Neuvillette:
"If you wish to converse, we may… do that."
Silence grows THICKER.
Video 2:
His Office.
Paimon: "Wow! You did 100,000 cases?!"
Neuvillette: "Indeed.
If you are tired, we can rest."
Everyone sits.
No one speaks.
Just… staring.
Pure atmospheric suffocation.
Video 3:
Paimon jokes:
"Since you aren't 'an outsider', shouldn't you call yourself an 'outside dragon'?"
Neuvillette—dead serious:
"Thank you for the correction.
As an outside dragon—"
Group Chat:
[Furina]: PFFFFFFTTTTT—!!!
HAHAHAHA!!! "Outside dragon"!!
I can't breathe—
[Paimon]:
"I felt physical damage just watching that awkward silence…"
[Xiangling]:
"You'll need someone who can handle conversations when you go to Fontaine!"
Paimon & Lumine thought…
Then Xiangling:
"How about Cloud Retainer?
She claims to be a master of conversation!"
Both stared blankly.
Liyue — Jueyun Karst
Cloud Retainer sneezed.
"Who dares question Benxian's conversational prowess?
Hmph!
That Water Dragon—bring him to Me!"
"Benxian has kept conversation alive for thousands of years!
Even if only with Myself!"
The mountain spirits shivered.
Meanwhile—
Fontaine — Palais Mermonia
Furina was rolling on the floor laughing.
Neuvillette closed his eyes.
"Light Curtain…
if you are to judge me—
please…
judge the law, not my small talk skills…"
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