Time flowed slowly as Mamere's heart fluctuated between anticipation and worry.
She continued to paint every day, but besides the warmth of Father, her brush now captured a blurry little figure located in Liyue.
This afternoon, Mamere was staring blankly at an unfinished painting on her easel, an imaginative scene of two Melusines playing in the gardens of Fontaine.
Suddenly, a wave of consciousness, like a warm tide, gently washed over her heart once more.
Mamere focused all her attention immediately.
Unlike the anxious urgency of the last time, the thoughts transmitted by Father this time seemed much more peaceful.
"...Safe..."
"...No need to worry..."
Clear words were easier to catch than before, and the sense of reassurance they contained was unmistakable, but after just a few sentences, the consciousness dissipated.
That Melusine in Liyue is safe! Father told her not to worry!
Mamere's eyes lit up instantly, as if carrying the starlight of the entire Lake Erynie.
A massive sense of relief made her almost want to jump for joy.
She sensed carefully, and after confirming that Father had left, she immediately put down her palette. She quickly washed the paint from her hands and then, like a nimble bird, dashed out of the cottage again, heading straight for the Opera Epiclese... "Lord Neuvillette! Lord Neuvillette!"
Mamere ran into Neuvillette's office on her short legs, panting and even forgetting to knock. Fortunately, there was no one else in the office today, only Neuvillette, who was reviewing case files.
Neuvillette looked up and saw Mamere with her face flushed from running, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes.
He set down his documents and said gently, "Mamere, don't be so excited. Rest for a moment before you speak."
"Mm! Mm!" Mamere nodded vigorously, her small hand pressed against her heaving chest.
Eager to share the good news, she rested for only a moment before excitedly telling Neuvillette, "It's Father! He said that sister in Liyue is very safe and told me not to worry!"
This was undoubtedly good news.
Neuvillette nodded slightly, his brow relaxing a little. Elynas's direct confirmation was more reassuring than any external intelligence.
This at least indicated that the Melusine stranded in a foreign land was not in any life-threatening danger, and her condition might be better than it was last time.
"That is very good news, Mamere," Neuvillette affirmed. He walked around his desk, came to Mamere, and gently patted her shoulder. "It seems that sister is being well-cared for in Liyue."
"Yes!" Mamere replied happily, but then she remembered another matter of concern. She looked up, her large eyes filled with expectation and a hint of confusion. "Lord Neuvillette, it's been a month... Has there been any reply to the letters we sent to Liyue?"
At the mention of the reply, Neuvillette's gaze narrowed slightly.
He stood up and walked to the window, looking into the distance toward the Port of Fontaine, which was also the route to Liyue.
"The letters..." he mused, his voice steady but carrying a trace of imperceptible gravity. "According to normal speed and procedures, whether it's the diplomatic correspondence sent to the Liyue General Affairs Department or the search request entrusted to the Feiyun Commerce Guild, they should have arrived by now, and... we should have received a preliminary response."
The joy on Mamere's face faded slightly, and she blinked in confusion. "Then... why hasn't there been a reply? Did something happen on the way? Or is it Liyue's side..."
Neuvillette turned around, looked at Mamere's worried little face, and said gently, "Mamere, come here."
When Mamere approached, he gently placed his hand on her head in a soothing gesture, looking at her with warm eyes. "The Messenger reports that the letters have been confirmed as delivered. As for why there is no reply..."
He paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his words.
"The Liyue General Affairs Department, as an official institution, must follow established regulations and procedures. Perhaps they are conducting an internal check of the information, perhaps it needs to be reported up through various levels, or perhaps... they have not yet found a target matching the description and thus find it inconvenient to reply hastily."
"As for the Feiyun Commerce Guild," Neuvillette continued his analysis for Mamere, slowing his voice even further, "they are known for their efficiency and reputation. No reply could mean they have also failed to find any definitive clues, or... they have discovered something that is not convenient to state clearly in a letter and are further verifying it in secret."
"I understand what you are worried about, Mamere," Neuvillette said softly. "But please believe that no news is sometimes the best news. It at least means the situation hasn't worsened."
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