By the time Furina had managed to pack a few belongings, Neuvillette was already at her door.
Neuvillette knocked. Clutching a stack of clothes, Furina shuffled to the door and opened it.
"Are you in such a hurry?" she asked.
Neuvillette's eyelids drooped slightly. Couldn't we stay just one more day?
Furina evaded his gaze. "Neuvillette, when are we going to Sumeru? Tomorrow or the day after?"
"The day after. Fontaine is in chaos right now, and I need to oversee things here. Rukkhadevata in Sumeru might not have time either. Waiting another day will also allow Fidelle's soul to slowly recover."
Neuvillette stood in the doorway for a long while, watching Furina continue to pack. He sighed softly.
"Once your belongings are ready, just leave them here. I'll send the Maison Gardiennage to assist you."
"No need, no need," Furina insisted. "I'm just packing. We're not leaving until tomorrow."
"Very well. I'll have them come tomorrow then."
Neuvillette's expression softened slightly. He bid Furina farewell and returned to his office.
-
The next morning.
The Maison Gardiennage officers Neuvillette had promised didn't show up. Instead, Lumine, Paimon, and Chu Xi arrived.
"Furina, we're here to help you move!" Paimon exclaimed, flying into Furina's room. It was Paimon's first time entering Furina's private quarters.
No wonder she's the Hydro Archon, Paimon thought. Though sparsely furnished, every item radiated an aura of pricelessness, the kind of treasure that would fetch exorbitant prices if sold outside.
Lumine and Chu Xi greeted Furina as well.
Furina had spent the entire previous night packing, managing to condense her belongings into two large bundles. Most of it consisted of her own clothes, along with a few treasured trinkets and... gifts from Fidelle.
Furina had assumed Lumine would help carry the luggage personally, and she was about to suggest waiting for Neuvillette to send more assistance.
But in the blink of an eye, Lumine stored everything in her Serenitea Pot.
"Let's go, Furina! And show us your new home while we're at it."
Hearing the words "new home," Furina forgot her shock and hurried after the trio.
-
Fontaine.
Furina led the trio to her new residence, only to find it impeccably clean and spotless—a stark contrast to the slightly cluttered state she had observed during her visit the previous day.
"This..."
As Furina surveyed the pristine space, Navia approached with Melus and Silver.
"Greetings, everyone, and Lady Furina..." Navia placed her hand over her chest and said earnestly, "Though you've likely heard this many times before, and you might think it unnecessary, I still feel compelled to say it myself: I sincerely apologize for my past treatment of you, and I thank you deeply for everything you've done for Fontaine."
Having received so many sincere apologies and expressions of gratitude in a single day, Furina began to feel genuinely embarrassed.
"No, there's no need for such formalities. Fontaine is my nation too; it was my duty to do these things. My duty..."
Navia: "Please don't say that. Without you, we might not even exist today."
Furina quickly changed the subject. "Um, let's not dwell on that right now. Did you clean this place yourself?"
Navia nodded.
"Knowing you were leaving Palais Mermonia, we inquired about your property here. With Fontaine in chaos after the flood, we assumed your home must have been affected, so we took the liberty of cleaning it for you."
Fearing Furina might misunderstand, Navia quickly added, "Your door was already broken open when we arrived, so we replaced it with a new one. Here's the key."
Furina accepted the key with a smile.
"Navia, please drop the formal 'Your Ladyship' nonsense. I'm no longer the Hydro Archon, and it feels so awkward. We're all equals now. How can we be friends if you keep being so formal?"
Navia replied, "Yes, Lady Furina... Furina, you're right. Still, I'm grateful you can overlook our past differences and be my friend."
Furina led the group into the residence, a spacious two-story villa.
After settling her luggage in her room, Furina neatly folded her clothes and placed them in the wardrobe. Focalors, seated on the bed, watched with a gentle smile.
"Furina, it seems everyone really likes you."
Furina paused her folding, a smile spreading across her face.
"Indeed. I always thought they would despise me."
-
After Furina finished tidying her room, she came downstairs to the first floor.
A crowd had already gathered there.
Escoffier, Clorinde, Neuvillette, Sigewinne, Wriothesley...
"E-everyone..."
Lumine: "Furina, knowing you were moving today, we all rushed here to throw you a housewarming party!"
Sigewinne said in her gentle voice, "Even though you're no longer the Hydro Archon, you'll always be important to us!"
Escoffier: "Fontaine has been so busy these past few days, and so many ingredients have spoiled. The cake materials were actually from the Traveler's supplies."
Clorinde and Neuvillette stepped aside, revealing a magnificent three-tiered cake behind them.
Escoffier: "Even with the urgency, I made sure to put my heart into every detail of this cake!"
Tears welled up in Furina's wide eyes.
"You... you... sob..."
With everyone's help, the massive cake was moved to the center of the room.
Neuvillette: "Given the time constraints, this is all we could manage for now. We hope you won't mind."
Furina wiped her eyes. "No, how could I mind? I don't mind at all!"
"Thank you... thank you all so much."
"Then congratulations on the housewarming, Furina and Focalors!" Lumine exclaimed.
"Hooray!"
Paimon clapped enthusiastically, and everyone else followed suit.
As if by prearranged agreement, all eyes turned toward Furina's room.
Focalors poked her head out from behind Furina. "You actually know about me too?"
Wriothesley glanced at Neuvillette. "Hydro Archon, everything you've done should be eternally remembered in Fontaine!"
"Yeah, yeah, come on out, Focalors!" Paimon chimed in.
Focalors smiled and stepped to Furina's side. "Furina, let's cut the cake. Escoffier stayed up all night making it."
The little glutton Paimon's eyes were already fixed greedily on the cake.
"Mm-hmm."
Furina took the knife and began slicing.
For Furina, birthdays weren't the only time for cake. Given her insatiable appetite, she couldn't possibly wait that long.
Whenever she craved it, and as long as she had money in her pocket, she'd indulge without hesitation.
By midday, the gathering had dispersed.
Furina collapsed onto the sofa, clutching her slightly overstuffed belly.
The cake remnants and crumbs had already been cleared away.
Fully satisfied, Furina started playing with a ball.