Palais Mermonia
Ever since she'd barged into Luo Qing's residence that night and been caught red-handed by his so-called "harem," Furina had refused to leave Palais Mermonia. She'd turned down all social invitations, including her usual favorite—attending court trials at the opera house.
Days had passed, yet she remained in her room, utterly withdrawn.
Most of her time was spent lounging with the Void Terminal, binge-watching all the anime Luo Qing had loaded into it. Once she'd exhausted that distraction, she'd lapse into long spells of staring into space, consumed by an almost emo lethargy.
"The next meeting with the Knave has been scheduled," Neuvillette announced, standing at her door with his usual calm demeanor.
"I don't know what's been troubling you lately, but this meeting is critical. I suggest you pull yourself together."
"I get it. Enough nagging," Furina replied lazily, rolling over to face away from him. She waved a hand dismissively. "I'll go when the time comes. For now, I want to be alone."
Neuvillette hesitated. He glanced at her slumped figure, feeling an inexplicable urge to sigh.
It didn't take much deduction to figure out who—or what—had upset Furina so deeply.
Luo Qing.
But wasn't he supposed to still be confined in Meropide Fortress?
How had he managed to wreak havoc on her mood from there?
"I have other matters to attend to," Neuvillette said finally, turning to leave.
Frankly, he had no desire to involve himself in whatever drama was unfolding between Luo Qing and Furina. As long as it didn't threaten the stability of Fontaine, he was content to let her stew.
After Neuvillette left, Furina sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard.
Her mind inevitably drifted back to that night.
The night she'd had a private conversation with none other than Raiden Shogun—the real one.
---
"I swear, I'm not trying to poach him or anything!" Furina had exclaimed, flustered.
"You simply enjoy being around Luo Qing. It's relaxing, and he makes you laugh, doesn't he?"
"Uh… well…"
"There's no need to apologize," Raiden Shogun had replied with a serene smile. "We've all been through the same."
"I… I didn't mean—"
"You don't have to mean it. Besides, there's already a place for you in this family."
"What?! A place for me?!"
"Of course. But whether you accept it is up to you."
"Up to… me?"
"Yes. Soon, you'll face a critical choice. And when the time comes, you'll know."
---
"Luo Qing… who are you, really?" Furina muttered to herself.
Her thoughts spiraled as she tried to piece together the truth about him.
Could he be some long-forgotten Archon, hiding his identity?
How else could he have ties with the former God of Sumeru—and a child with her, no less? Not to mention those two Inazuman generals…
Her head started to ache.
Furina wasn't particularly sharp to begin with, and the more she dwelled on it, the closer her brain seemed to shutting down entirely.
On top of that, Raiden Shogun herself had decided to share her bed that night, whispering cryptic yet heavy words that had been weighing on Furina's mind ever since.
And Luo Qing—that infuriating man—had gone completely silent in Meropide Fortress. He hadn't said a single word through the Void Terminal.
Several times, she'd considered storming the fortress herself to confront him, but Neuvillette had adamantly blocked her every attempt, insisting that her presence would cause chaos.
"And he still hasn't reached out… not even a message…" Furina grumbled.
Her heart pounded for reasons she couldn't explain, an odd mix of frustration and nervousness keeping her awake at night.
It was almost as if—just as Raiden Shogun had said—she was on the brink of the most pivotal choice of her life.
"Stand by Luo Qing's side?"
Furina stuck out her tongue, scoffing. "He already has so many wives, and now he expects me to take his side? Shameless! Absolutely shameless!"
Still grumbling, she spent the next hour venting her frustrations aloud to the Void Terminal.
Exhausted from her rant, she flopped back onto her bed and pulled up a video. It was an anime she hadn't finished yet.
Angel Beats.
Though she didn't fully understand the culture or setting of the anime's world, she found its humor and charm surprisingly enjoyable.
The first few episodes had left her laughing so hard she'd momentarily forgotten her troubles.
"Alright. I'll finish this tonight and go to sleep," she muttered to herself.
---
Meropide Fortress - Duke's Office
In the second-floor office, Wriothesley—the de facto ruler of Meropide Fortress—reviewed a newly arrived document from Fontaine's court.
Across the desk, Luo Qing sat idly, spinning a pen between his fingers, looking as carefree as ever.
"You were right," Wriothesley said, setting the document down and sliding it over to Luo Qing. "The Traveler is on their way."
Ever since Luo Qing had bested Wriothesley twice in a row—forcing him to reveal all of Meropide's secrets—the duke had reluctantly entered into a cooperative agreement with him.
From then on, all information coming into the fortress had to be shared with Luo Qing immediately.
In exchange, Luo Qing had promised to step in if Meropide faced any crises.
Why "reluctantly"?
Because Wriothesley had no choice. He could either agree willingly or have his mind compelled through Luo Qing's mental manipulation.
In all his years ruling the fortress, Wriothesley had never encountered anyone so dangerous. Luo Qing was like a walking calamity—a god in mortal guise.
"They're coming?!" Luo Qing exclaimed, rubbing his hands together eagerly as he picked up the file.
The document detailed the upcoming arrival of two new "prisoners." Wriothesley was to give them special attention, per Neuvillette's orders.
It was rare for Neuvillette to take personal interest in anyone, which meant these "prisoners" were no ordinary individuals.
After all, the last time someone like Luo Qing had been sent here, he'd nearly taken over the fortress entirely.
"What's your plan?" Wriothesley asked. "Do we monitor them? Make things difficult for them?"
Though he was still officially in charge, everyone in Meropide knew that as long as Luo Qing was here, the final authority rested with him.
"No need," Luo Qing said with a dismissive wave.
"Follow Neuvillette's instructions to the letter. Besides, they're my friends. Why would I trouble them?"
He tossed the file back onto the desk and stood, heading for the stairs.
"When they arrive, don't tell them I'm here," he added. "Pretend I don't exist. Got it?"
"Fine…" Wriothesley replied, watching him leave.
As Luo Qing's figure disappeared down the stairs, Wriothesley couldn't help but wonder.
Could Luo Qing be avoiding the Traveler… out of fear?
When they arrived, it might be worth observing their interactions more closely.