Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart! (Genshin Impact)

Outside Palais Mermonia, the Maison Gardiennage stood in rigid formation, facing off against the Fatui across the courtyard.

No words were exchanged, only silent stares and tense vigilance.

The Special Task Force took up positions on nearby high ground, ready to provide long-range support with their rifles in case of an emergency.

The Fatui were well aware of this, but they didn't seem to care.

"Such a grand display..." Turenna murmured anxiously.

"After all, this is the Fourth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers of Snezhnaya, 'The Knave,'" another guard replied. "The Fourth Seat... that means her power is extraordinary. Even Lady Furina might be in danger."

"If a conflict breaks out, are we really going to fight 'The Knave'?" Turenna asked, her voice trembling.

Us fight 'The Knave'?

Wait, is she serious?

"If a conflict truly erupts..." Chevreuse said quietly.

Even if we can't win, we'll still have to fight.

She raised her monocular telescope and began observing.

According to Neuvillette's arrangements, the formal negotiations couldn't begin until a crucial figure arrived.

"...She's here."

"Who is it?"

Chevreuse frowned. "It's... Luna."

Why her?

Where's Neuvillette? He said someone would help me. Where is everyone?

Furina thought anxiously, acutely aware of the gaze fixed on her from across the room.

Arlecchino was staring right at her!

Her seemingly polite and elegant demeanor only intensified the suffocating pressure.

If she wanted to, she could kill me right now.

Furina listened to her racing heartbeat, yet maintained a casual smile.

She probably suspects my true identity, but as long as the truth remains concealed—as long as my final defense holds—I can continue this charade.

Then, as planned, the "Furina" in the mirror would save Fontaine.

But this was suffocating!

Someone, anyone, please come! I can't face this terrifying woman alone!

Suddenly, the door swung open.

Someone's here?! Furina leaped to her feet in relief.

Golden hair caught her eye.

Furina froze. "Luna?"

Luna curtsied, lifting her skirt slightly, and smiled. "Yes, I've come at Monsieur Neuvillette's invitation. May I join your tea party?"

It was Luna who had arrived.

This is good. At least she wasn't alone anymore.

Neuvillette choosing her meant Luna was on her side.

Thank goodness.

At least she wasn't completely isolated now.

Arlecchino smiled faintly. "Of course, my child."

"Huh?"

A child? What's going on?

Arlecchino's child... Could it be...?

Furina stared at Luna in disbelief. Her agents had gathered no intelligence on Luna, only that she was an adventurer.

"You're... a member of the Fatui?" Furina's voice trembled slightly.

Luna quietly met Arlecchino's gaze.

Arlecchino returned her look in silence.

Arlecchino's desire to save Fontaine was genuine. The children of the House of the Hearth should not be dissolved by this so-called Prophecy.

If fate was truly this cruel, she would do everything in her power to shatter it.

Only those who defied fate could claim what was rightfully theirs.

Now, she needed to extract the truth from Furina and couldn't allow her psychological defenses to rebuild.

Since Furina valued her, revealing her identity would suffice.

Of course, Luna still had a choice to make.

Arlecchino?

Or...

Furina?

"I imagine Mr. Neuvillette is already aware of her true identity," Arlecchino said with a faint smile. "By choosing Luna to attend this tea party, it seems... he too has questions he wants answered."

"Neuvillette too?"

Indeed, he's been testing and observing me lately.

Furina suddenly felt a chill in her fingertips. Those two sentences seemed to have irrevocably altered everything around her.

But the change wasn't caused by Arlecchino's words themselves.

She had simply ruthlessly revealed the truth.

"Lady Furina is undoubtedly a great star," Arlecchino continued. "Everyone longs to see your true face."

Furina's legs went weak, and she sank onto the sofa.

Luna is Fatui?

Could it be that her entire approach to me was designed to see through me?

And then report back to her "Father"?

Neuvillette knew Luna was Fatui, yet he still invited her here?

His position... ha, of course. It makes sense.

In the eyes of others, I'm just a God who does nothing!

I need to calm down quickly. Even if I'm alone, I must endure. Furina desperately suppressed the turmoil in her heart, forcing a smile.

"Hmph, I knew it all along. Did you think your little tricks could intimidate me? I am Focalors, the God among Gods. How dare a mere Fatui agent attempt to shake my will?"

Furina crossed her legs, pressing down on her knees, which were weak and threatening to tremble.

"Please, Luna, take a seat," she said with a nod. "As our honored guest, there's no need for formality."

Where should I sit? Luna wondered.

Furina had already lost half her trust in her. Sitting beside her would only deepen her suspicions and add to her stress—the last thing Luna wanted. The same applied to sitting beside Arlecchino.

After a moment's consideration, Luna settled into the middle seat.

Arlecchino: "...."

Furina breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't bear the thought of "Luna of the House of the Hearth" sitting beside her in such a setting. Yet, she vaguely didn't want Luna sitting next to Arlecchino either.

White Cat... Furina muttered inwardly. If the Phantom Thief in disguise were here, which side would she choose?

"Long time no see, 'Father'," Luna murmured softly.

"It has been too long."

Arlecchino showed no reaction to Luna's choice. It was exactly as she expected. Luna would always follow her own heart—a truth Arlecchino, as her "Father," knew better than anyone.

A heavy feeling pressed on Furina's chest, and she wanted to clutch it.

"Lady Furina," Luna said.

Furina turned to look at her.

"It's true that I am a child of the House of the Hearth, but that doesn't mean I will live up to others' expectations or hopes."

Just as she had declared long ago:

"Anyone who expects something of me will ultimately be disappointed."

Furina was speechless, only able to meet Luna's gentle smile.

"No matter who they are."

Without exception.

"Whether it's family or a God."

Furina glanced at Arlecchino, whose expression remained unchanged, as if she had already anticipated Luna's words.

"If you don't believe me, please continue with the tea party," Luna said, gesturing gracefully.

The more Furina looked at Luna, the more an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over her.

...A White Cat?

Just then, a faint tremor rippled through the ground beneath their feet.

Furina's eyes widened as the water in her teacup began to tremble, sending ripples across its surface.

Arlecchino remained silent for a moment before speaking. "It seems the prophecy has entered its next phase. The Primordial Sea beneath the Fortress of Meropide is likely about to breach its containment."

"Lady Furina," Arlecchino said, crossing her legs.

"Let's cut to the chase—are you truly an Archon?"

-

Unrelated, but umamusume has absolutely destroyed my TL productivity lol.

Horses go brr