Mamere nodded, only half-understanding.
Neuvillette walked back to his desk and picked up a document, his tone steady and reassuring. "I have already arranged for someone to send a polite follow-up inquiry to Liyue to express our continued concern."
"So, do we still have to keep waiting?" she asked softly.
"Yes." Neuvillette nodded. He crouched down so his eyes were level with Mamere's, his gaze encouraging. "You have done very well. Since Elynas has confirmed her safety, you can relax a little. Finding a lost compatriot is not something that happens overnight, but we will never give up. As soon as there is any new news, I will tell you immediately."
Mamere understood that things seemed a bit more complicated than she had imagined, but Father's confirmation of the sister's safety gave her the greatest comfort. Listening to Lord Neuvillette's words, the last trace of unease in her heart gradually subsided.
She believed in Lord Neuvillette just as she believed in Father.
"I understand, Lord Neuvillette." She nodded vigorously. "I will wait patiently and keep painting, putting both mine and Father's blessings into my work! I hope that sister... wherever she is, can feel it!"
"A wonderful idea." A faint smile touched the corners of Neuvillette's mouth. "Your paintings have always had the power to warm people's hearts."
Mamere nodded, a bright smile blooming on her face again, and she left the office skipping, just as she had arrived.
Neuvillette watched her lighthearted figure disappear at the end of the corridor, only slowly withdrawing his gaze once her footsteps had faded away.
Silence returned to the office.
Neuvillette's gaze turned toward the window once more.
Safe, yet vanished without a trace... special, and possibly weak... both the official and merchant channels remained silent... He had to find the answer as soon as possible.
Since the initial official and private channels had failed to make rapid progress, perhaps other methods needed to be considered.
A thought naturally surfaced: to go to Liyue personally.
With his power, crossing mountains and seas would take but an instant. If he went himself, with his keen perception of auras, perhaps he could quickly find... The idea was extremely tempting, almost giving him the urge to set off immediately.
But he immediately dismissed the plan in his heart, suppressing the enticing thought.
As the iudex of Fontaine, his actions were far from personal. To suddenly appear in an official capacity before receiving a clear response from the Liyue authorities would be no different from diplomatic pressure, which could complicate the situation and even lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and tension.
This was by no means a wise move and might put the little one who needed help in an even more delicate position.
More importantly, Fontaine needed him. The daily trials and administrative decisions maintained the order and balance of the entire nation.
He could not easily leave his post for a personal concern, no matter how important it was.
Responsibility, like invisible shackles, prevented him from acting on a whim at this moment.
Neuvillette closed his eyes slightly, finally reining in all his thoughts, only murmuring in his heart: keep waiting.
And neither he nor Mamere could have expected that the reply from Liyue, carrying that crucial information, was currently being toyed with by a hand wearing a black glove.
The letter paper flipped nimbly between fingers, the dim candlelight reflecting the Liyue official wax seal on the envelope.
"It seems we have unintentionally intercepted an interesting secret."
"A Melusine stranded in Liyue... This must be very important to that iudex."
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