The afternoon sun was warm and lazy, spilling across the busy street.
The fountain before the Palais Mermonia sparkled brilliantly, and a few cats lounged on the terrace, purring as passersby tossed them food. Even the cats seemed to be enjoying this peaceful moment.
But compared to their carefree lives, Clorinde's heart was anything but at ease. Though she sat inside the Palais, she felt a deja vu, like being back in the Fortress of Meropide.
The secretary held a newspaper up to her face, trying to hide behind it. But it was a laughable disguise; she might cover her face, but there was no hiding her… impressive figure.
"Clorinde, what are you doing?" Richard asked as he stepped inside, seeing her shrink nervously behind the newspaper.
She froze. She hadn't expected him to see through her immediately.
But instead of answering, she tilted the paper forward until it slid over her head.
A moment later, the steady sound of breathing rose.
'Asleep? Already?!'
Furina gave her a glance, unimpressed with such shamelessness, then turned to Richard.
"You're here."
"Did you need me for something, Lady Furina?" Richard asked, confused.
"Sit down. Let's talk." Furina gestured at the chair opposite her, placing a reel of recorded tape on the desk.
Richard pulled the chair out, eyeing the reel suspiciously.
"I heard from Clorinde- "
"I'll make tea!" Clorinde suddenly jolted awake, sprang up, tossed aside the newspaper, and rushed toward the door.
"Clorinde, the tea table is that way…" Furina pointed in the opposite direction.
Clorinde froze. For five or six seconds, she stood still, shoulders trembling. Under their stares, she finally gave up on escaping and turned toward the tea set in defeat.
"What's wrong with her?" Richard asked.
"Maybe she got lost?" Furina joked.
Richard ignored it and turned back. "What were you saying just now?"
"I was asking if you also wanted to take part in the annual Most Influential Figures ranking, in the politics section."
"How could I? Surely you know I dislike the spotlight. The tallest tree in the forest is the first the wind will break."
"But sometimes," Furina countered, "showing a bit of sharpness is a good thing."
"You are correct, but I am merely a humble vessel, made to carry the fruits of your wisdom."
"Or rather," Furina smirked, "a vessel to carry the fruits you deliberately cultivated."
"Perish the thought. Does Lady Furina mean to say all her achievements were orchestrated by someone else?" Richard shot back.
Furina studied him carefully, then said with meaning: "Who can say?"
"What if..." she continued, leaning closer, "a certain calculating secretary had already prepared a spotlight for his superior weeks ago, forcing her to produce results quickly, and conveniently, he also held just the right project for short-term success? Wouldn't that count as a deliberate setup… Secretary Richard?"
Richard chuckled. "I'd call that a win–win."
She had seen through him, but it didn't matter. The arrow was already nocked; Furina needed him. That was why he could sit so calmly.
"So you admit you've been plotting against me?"
"How could I ever plot against you? Pure coincidence," Richard replied with a smile, utterly unflinching.
"And besides," he added, "how could I submit your name to the ranking without your consent? I'm no longer your private secretary. If there was a mishap, you should ask your current secretary, Clorinde."
"And of course, everyone makes mistakes. Don't be too harsh on her."
His meaning was obvious: 'Yes, I did it. But if you want to blame someone, pin it on Clorinde.'
Slippery as ever.
"Is that so?" Furina's tense face suddenly broke into a smile.
But her smile wasn't of fury; it was one of satisfaction. As though she had caught him red-handed.
At that moment, Clorinde returned with tea, setting it down carefully, not daring to meet Richard's gaze.
"Clorinde, play this reel for our dear Secretary." Furina stopped her as she tried to retreat.
Clorinde winced. No escape.
"Recording?" Richard frowned. 'Impossible. I would never leave such evidence…'
Yet Clorinde's guilty look was all the answer he needed.
She loaded the reel. After a brief crackle, a clear exchange played:
"There are some matters that require your authorization, it's about the Most Influential Figures ranking…"
"Ah, that matter? I authorize it."
Richard fell silent, remembering the exact moment. Yesterday, Clorinde had carried the phonograph into his office, saying she was testing it.
"At the time, I was only checking if the device worked! It wasn't an intentional recording!" Clorinde blurted.
But that only made her look more guilty.
Richard thought: 'Unintentional means deliberate, then. Clever girl.'
Still, just those two lines proved little.
Then it hit him, Furina didn't need proof. She only needed to tell the Steambird he had authorized it. Tomorrow, his name would be on the ranking.
She hadn't actually done so yet; otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered playing it for him. This was her way of saying: I have leverage over you.
Even Richard had to admit: this time, he had slipped. Who could have expected sweet, harmless Clorinde to pull such a move?
Furina's smile turned triumphant. "Well? What do you say?"
"I admit, I was careless. What does Lady Furina intend to demand of me in exchange for dropping this?"
He acknowledged defeat. It wasn't serious, but rules were rules. She had earned her prize.
"First, you'll attend the groundbreaking ceremony with me."
"Of course."
"You'll stand beside me during the speech."
"Very well."
"And you'll help me prepare the speech draft."
Richard glanced at Clorinde. Furina quickly added, "Clorinde is part of the winning side. She deserves her privileges, too."
"I understand. I'll prepare it," Richard agreed, giving Clorinde a long look. He realized: in this battle, she had been the decisive factor.
Clorinde shivered under his gaze, feeling as though he could see straight through her secrets.
"So it seems Clorinde has chosen your side," Richard said.
"N-no, I-"
"Isn't it because you dragged her in with your scheming?" Furina interrupted. "Wait… but shouldn't she be on my side anyway?"
She suddenly realized: if she hadn't noticed the forged letter, Clorinde might never have spoken up at all.
Richard smiled faintly. "I believe she's always been on your side. After all, preparing something like that reel wasn't done in a day."
It sounded like he was defending her, but his true message was clear: 'You were planning to betray me all along.'
Clorinde's heart clenched. She understood perfectly.
Furina, however, took it at face value. She looked at Clorinde more kindly now, thinking she had proved her loyalty.
"Speaking of which," Richard said smoothly, "Furina's demand has been satisfied. But Clorinde, you haven't named yours yet."
"Me? No, I don't need anything…" Clorinde wanted nothing more than to vanish into the floorboards.
It felt indecent, like a wife caught moonlighting behind her husband's back, while the clueless client praised her skill.
The guilt weighed on her, though she reminded herself: 'He started this. I only fought back.'
"Games have rules," Richard said. He sized her up, noting she always wore the same secretary outfit or her duelist's uniform. Never anything casual.
"Here's my offer: in a few days, I'll visit Chioriya's Boutique. You'll come with me and order several sets of proper clothes. I'll pay."
"The Chioriya Boutique? That place is… expensive. Better not…" Clorinde murmured, already drowning in guilt. He should be angry at her recording, but instead, he was buying her clothes.
"It's fine. With your income, you could afford it anyway," Richard said. As Furina's secretary and as Fontaine's strongest duelist, she was far from poor.
"Now that you mention it," Furina chimed in, "I really have never seen you in anything besides uniforms."
"I don't care about clothes," Clorinde said quietly. "As long as they're practical."
"But with that figure of yours, just uniforms are a waste," Furina teased, eyeing her up and down.
Clorinde's cheeks flushed faintly, her pale skin making the blush obvious.
"Oh? You're blushing? Let me see!" Furina darted forward, trying to poke her cheek.
"Lady Furina!" Clorinde panicked. To stop her, she scooped Furina up from under the arms like a child.
The office fell silent.
Held aloft, Furina looked like a tiny doll compared to Clorinde's mature, statuesque figure. The resemblance was almost maternal.
Click.
The sound of a camera shutter.
Clorinde froze. Richard had taken a photo.
She quickly set Furina down, bowing her head in apology, realizing how terribly disrespectful it was.
Furina stood dazed, still recovering from the sudden "airlift."
"Lady Furina, are you all right?" Clorinde asked nervously.
Furina shook her head. "I'm fine. Just surprised at how strong you are. Also, Richard, hand over that camera!"
Richard raised it high. Furina jumped up and down, unable to reach, fuming.
"Clorinde, don't just stand there! Help me!"
"Eh? Oh… uh, Richard…"
"Pour me more tea," Richard said calmly.
"O-okay…" Clorinde obediently walked off, leaving Furina struggling alone.
"Clorinde!" Furina shouted, betrayed. "Whose side are you on?!"
Richard's voice answered smoothly:
"Can't you tell, Lady Furina? Clorinde will always stand on the side of Justice."
And in the end, the winner is Justice.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu