Yae Miko stood at the docks of Romaritime Harbor her composed demeanor politely dismissing every Fontaine official who came to see her off. But her thoughts were entirely occupied by one thing: just where had Richard been honing his skills all these years?
So practiced… it was obvious this wasn't his first time.
It's not fair. It was her first time…
A century had passed since they last met. Years of longing had slowly built up, only to come spilling out the moment they reunited. Yet, what she was met with wasn't surprise, but a composed and well-practiced response.
No excitement, just shock.
This guy even had the awareness to use elemental energy to block surrounding gazes, rendering her hidden camera useless. She had planned to make use of that footage in many ways, maybe stir Ei's feelings a little, or at least get something to hold over Richard, but in the end, she was the one outplayed.
Not that she didn't expect it. After all, Richard was a normal man. Honestly, if he had gone a hundred years without any romantic contact, that would've been the real problem for Yae Miko.
As she watched Romaritime Harbor shrink into the distance, Yae Miko absentmindedly touched her still-warm lips. It felt as if yesterday's heat hadn't quite faded.
It wasn't until the harbor completely disappeared from sight that Yae Miko came back to herself. Her gentle expression vanished, replaced by a natural, imposing air of authority. Her captivating eyes seemed capable of seeing straight into the soul; perhaps this was her true face all along.
A mere glance or gesture from her radiated invisible pressure. The shrine maidens who were used to her playful, teasing persona all instinctively straightened up under that pressure.
Among them, only Inagi Hotomi, her personal attendant, understood what this meant. Lady Miko was serious now.
Though she had no idea what was discussed between Miko and Richard during their private meeting, the moment she returned, she asked for a report on the current state of the Tri-Commission.
Judging by this, someone was clearly in trouble.
"Once we return, summon the heads of every major clan in Inazuma City. It's time we face the future of Inazuma head-on," Yae Miko commanded in a cold, emotionless tone, as if those powerful clan heads weren't even worth mentioning.
And to her, they truly weren't.
.............
"They've already left. What are you still doing here?" Furina glanced at Richard, who remained standing at the dock, gazing into the distance. She couldn't help but recall that Yae Miko had specifically arranged a meeting with him before her departure.
Could there really be something going on between them?
Just like in the dramas… the handsome elf and the beautiful fox spirit meet by fate, get to know one another, fall in love, only to be torn apart by circumstance… then finally reunite, and old feelings resurface…
That thought prompted Furina to ask, "You and Lady Yae… you're just acquaintances?"
The curiosity was obvious in her expression. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled with the intrigue of a girl who, perhaps after watching one too many courtroom dramas, now longed for a sweet romantic subplot.
"A long-lost friend. We haven't seen each other in a century… time flies," Richard said with a touch of sentimentality.
"Time flies? I think it drags," Furina sighed. "Boring life, boring work… only trials give me even a flicker of excitement." Her tone was light, joking, but few noticed the weariness that lingered deep within the eyes of Fontaine's Archon.
Truths are often told through jokes.
Sensing the mood shift, Furina quickly changed the topic. "So… how old are you, really?" A century apart meant Richard had to be over a hundred, right?
She blinked at him, her beautiful eyes scanning his youthful, handsome face and lively skin. He looked nothing like someone over a hundred, a real "old thing" in disguise.
"How old are you?" she asked, never mind that she herself was nearing five hundred and looked just as youthful.
"It's quite rude to ask an elf's age, Lady Furina," Richard replied with a soft smile.
"It is? Oh… I didn't know that was considered impolite. My apologies…" Furina honestly apologized, assuming she had committed a cultural faux pas.
Richard chuckled, "Just joking, Lady Furina. When you first took office, I was already living in Mondstadt with my family. I was still a child then, though, spent my days chasing pigeons or playing in the river with the fish."
Furina's face lit up with envy. "How nice. You even had such a playful childhood."
Richard blinked. 'Playful… sure. Though the pigeons warming themselves on a grill, and the fish he electrocuted with charged bait might not agree.'
"Didn't Lady Furina ever do things like that?" he asked, having picked up on her wistful tone.
"Me? Ahem! I'm the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, the queen of all laws, waters, and people. How could I possibly do such undignified things?" Furina huffed like a proud peacock.
"…Though maybe, once in a while, mingling with the people isn't entirely out of the question…" she added, sneaking a side glance at Richard to gauge his reaction.
Richard chuckled and shook his head. "Lady Furina, don't you have work to get back to? Did you forget the itinerary Clorinde prepared for you?"
At the mention of her schedule, Furina's signature white ahoge visibly drooped… then instantly sprang back up in alarm.
'Right!' She still had today's itinerary. If she didn't leave now, she'd be late.
Sure enough, as she turned around, there was Clorinde approaching, probably to remind her about her appointments.
Furina didn't even have time to be disappointed about missing a moment of "fun with the people" before being pulled back into her busy day.
As he watched her hurriedly leave, Richard made a note in his planner: "Sunday: Invite Lady Furina for rural community visit."
He even planned to ask Clorinde to add the visit to Furina's official schedule, a one-day trip.
As for the location… Poisson Village would do. He'd heard from some city hall fishermen that it had great fishing spots: deep waters, fat fish, rich in natural resources, a perfect place for a little escape.
Now that he thought about it, despite all her time in office, Richard had never actually seen what Furina looked like when she truly relaxed.
From what he knew, even on days off, Furina spent her weekends sitting in on trials at the Opera Epiclese.
The image of the Hydro Archon in his mind was one of constant movement, always flowing, never stopping…
'Is this the vitality of a god?' Richard mused.
Even he had days when he just wanted to drop everything and rest.