Chương 1: Chapter 01 : New Beginnings
"Traveler, thank you for seeing me on such short notice." Neuvillette said, looking up from his desk. Lumine nodded, filled with trepidation.
What horrors were now to befall Fontaine?
"I came as soon as Katheryne said you had an emergency commission specifically for me. What has happened?" Lumine asked, Paimon floating worriedly around her.
"My apologies, I did not mean to alarm you. I merely thought the Adventurers Guild would be the easiest way to get a hold of you. Fontaine is alright, and this is more of a personal request." Neuvillette said and Lumine exhaled as Paimon let out a high pitched "phew!", hand to her chest.
"Alright then, what is it? I have a personal request of my own to ask you, if you would be willing to listen." Lumine said and Neuvillette inclined his head.
"I will always be willing to listen to you, Traveler. I owe you much, which is why I fear this request may be a bit selfish." Neuvillette said and Lumine tilted her head, now curious.
Neuvillette sighed, standing and going to look out the window with his cane, trying to find his words.
"Have you seen Lady Furina lately?" He asked and Lumine frowned.
"No… I've been exploring. But… when I am in the city, no, I haven't seen her. Is she alright? The Heavenly Principles are not coming for her, are they?" Lumine asked, an anxiety filling her as she placed the palm of her hand against the hilt of her sword on her hip.
"No, but I have not seen her either on my nightly strolls. I know she may be avoiding me due to preconceived notions she may have, and I wish her all the rest and happiness, but I still worry. Then there is the matter of the Melusines hearing whisperings that the people are upset she merely abdicated, and that Fontaine is the only region without an Archon currently." Neuvillette said and Lumine sighed.
"We really need to get more news of Teyvat here in Fontaine. Furina was actually an oddity, with only Nahida, the Dendro Archon, interacting with her people. Barbatos has taken up another persona, as has Morax, and the Electro Archon uses a puppet to govern. Are you worried the people may attack and harass her?" Lumine asked as Neuvillette turned his face, a small smirk on his face at the mentions of the other Archons.
"Yes, I have heard of the failings of the others, and look forward to judging them. Yet another thing Fontainians should be grateful to Lady Furina for that they do not know of. I am indeed worried that the people may do something rash, that is why I wish to hire you as her bodyguard. She will not let me keep her safe, so I will ask you to take up this duty in my stead." Neuvillette said and Lumine placed a hand on her heart.
"You need not pay me, or ask. I will happily protect her. I know that after she received her vision, she was intent on training, both in sword and using her powers. Perhaps she has been practicing." Lumine offered and Neuvillette closed his eyes briefly.
"Perhaps. I had hoped that we would be able to connect after her performance and when I gave her the vision but…" Neuvillette said quietly, lost in thought before sighing.
"I understand. I think the request I wanted to ask you may help, actually." Lumine said and Neuvillette looked at her with an intense gaze, Paimon floating curiously beside her.
It's something she has been mulling over the past few days, after Arouet at Café Lucerne complimented her so much on her drink making skills. She hadn't yet told Paimon, unsure of if it would come to fruition, but this looked like the perfect opportunity to try.
"I would like to open a cafe, preferably in the Erinnyes Forest, where we would not be bothered as much. I need something to do before Natlan that does not just involve me swinging my sword around. If you could see if there is any abandoned property that I can buy and convert, as well as handle the paperwork for the business, I will hire and convince Furina to work with me, as well as become our roommate." Lumine said and Paimon gave a squeal of delight, flipping in the air.
Neuvillette blinked, a small smile spreading on his face.
"Yes, I believe I can most certainly help you with that request. It will be good for both of you. Give me tonight to go through some documents, I have a few properties in mind that have been relinquished. In the meantime, please see if you can find Lady Furina." Neuvillette said and Lumine gave an eager nod, heading towards the door with her new mission before Neuvillette called out, causing her to turn around.
"Oh and Traveler? Please give her my warmest regards and best wishes." He said with a sad smile that she returned before nodding and walking out.
"Where do you think we'll find her? Should we check her apartment?" Paimon asked, floating beside her.
"No. I think I have an idea of just where she is." Lumine said, hoping she was right before pulling out her map and picturing Poisson in her mind.
As the stars spun around her, she could only hope Furina would accept.
"Furina! You were right, Lumine! How'd you know she was going to be here?" Paimon called out as they spied Furina in the distance, practicing sword stances as her entourage twirled around her.
She startled, looking at Lumine with wide eyes before becoming quickly embarrassed.
"Mmm… just a feeling." Lumine said in response to Paimon.
She had a feeling Furina still felt upset and guilty over Poisson and not acting quickly enough to save the people who had been consumed, and so would be practicing fighting nearby.
"Ah! Traveler! Paimon! What brings you out to Poisson so late?" Furina asked, her servants disappearing as she sheathed her sword.
"Could ask you the same, Furina." Lumine teased and Furina gave a small huff, gesturing to the Meks that lay scattered about.
"As you can see, I was training." She said and Lumine smiled and inclined her head.
"Lumine has a question she wants to ask you!" Paimon shouted cheerily and Lumine quietly snorted at her lack of tact.
Furina blinked and tilted her head before raising her hand loftily to encourage Lumine to ask.
"Well? What is it? I hope nothing disastrous has happened." Furina said, trailing off quietly, worry shimmering in her eyes and a hidden fear.
Lumine took a step forward, heart clenching as she remembered the look of betrayal and resignation when Lumine had stepped forward to begin the trial against Furina.
"No, everything is alright. I have a proposition for you." Lumine said, holding out a hand.
Furina looked at her with suspicion before placing her gloved hand in Lumine's bare one that was littered with small scars. Lumine quietly marveled at the difference of Furina's soft, dainty hand, her hardships hidden away while Lumine wore hers proudly with warm, rough hands.
Furina quietly gasped as Lumine covered both of her hands with her own clutching them earnestly and looking at Furina pleadingly. She felt bad for laying it on thick, but it was for Furina's own good, and was still sincere. It's only that she had come to realize Furina's heart was too big and could be more easily swayed with pleading, the need to feel wanted.
"I am opening up a cafe here in Fontaine and I would like to hire you to help me." Lumine said earnestly. Furina blinked rapidly and sputtered, trying to pull out of Lumine's grip and failing.
"I-me? Why? You've commented on my cooking and I hardly think I am the best suited." Furina said and Lumine chuckled.
"Who better to ask than you? I intended on making quite a few desserts and you are an expert on them, are you not? You can be my taste tester and if you would like to bake, I will show you how." Lumine said as Furina blushed slightly.
"Well I… I am an expert. You aren't making fun of me are you? There are no hidden Kameras?" Furina said, looking at Lumine suspiciously before looking around her, Lumine's heart aching at the motion.
"No, not in the slightest. It's just us here." Lumine said and Furina relaxed a bit, regarding Lumine with slight confusion.
"Why a cafe? You're The Traveler. A hero. Why open a cafe?" She asked and Lumine shrugged with a wry smile.
"I want a new role and a break. I've been told I make very good cups of coffee and I've gathered quite a few dessert recipes in my travels." She said and Furina softened in understanding.
"Very well then, I suppose I will help. When do we begin?" She asked and Lumine gave her an excited twirl that had her squealing in surprise.
"Soon! Neuvillette is handling the paperwork and finding a place, but in the meantime, I have another question to ask." Lumine said as Furina adjusted her top hat that had fallen askew when Lumine spun her around.
"I see. I am almost afraid to ask what your next question is." Furina said lightly, her eyes distant at the mention of Neuvillete.
"Well… I am tired of staying at the Hotel Debord and one of the Spina di Rosula's hideaways, and since the cafe will be far from the city, I was wondering if you would like to be roommates." Lumine said as Paimon nodded and floated around them with a little cheer.
"Roommates? I… you want to live… with me?" Furina asked quietly and Lumine's heart ached as she was reminded just how long Furina had to be alone.
"Yes, we would be honored. We could even have a sleepover tonight, as a trial." Lumine gently pushed and Furina bit her lip, looking off to the side.
"I… suppose it would make sense. I have never had a roommate before, but I can assure you I will be the very best." She said with a quiet, steadfast determination.
"I have no doubts. After all, I doubt you will snore louder than Paimon." Lumine giggled as Paimon squawked and pulled at her hair.
"Which brings me to my final question, where have you been staying?" Lumine asked and Furina tensed at being caught giving an awkward laugh before sighing.
"I sold the house in the city after a few… incidents… I didn't want anyone to worry, so I asked Miss Navia if there were any available houses in Poisson." Furina said and Lumine narrowed her eyes.
She would have to inform Neuvillette of these so-called "incidents", and see if they couldn't find the culprits and bring them to justice.
"I see. I don't suppose you will be telling me who is behind these incidents and what occurred? Monsieur Neuvillette misses you and would be upset if you were being harassed, you know." Lumine said and Furina puffed out her cheeks.
"It's nothing. I don't want to be a burden. It has been dealt with and I now have a lovely little one bedroom in Poisson that is all my own." Furina said and Lumine sighed, not wanting to scare her off just yet.
"Alright. I know you are more than capable. We just worry because we care." Lumine said, causing Furina to become flustered as Paimon shouted out an affirmative before yawning.
"Can we see your house then? For our sleepover?" Lumine prodded and Furina nodded before blushing and looking at the ground.
"I um… it's not much… and I just realized that… there's only one bed." Furina said and Lumine laughed lightly.
"It's no problem, I'll just sleep on the floor. I invited myself over, and I usually sleep on rocks anyway. Besides, it can't be any worse than the mattresses at the Fortress of Meropide we spent so many nights on." Lumine said as Furina grimaced and shook her head.
"No, no, no. That simply won't do. It would be improper for a hero such as yourself to sleep on the floor, and my boss, and my guest nonetheless. I will sleep on the floor." Furina declared and Lumine gave her a look.
"As you just said, it would be improper for a hero to sleep on the floor, much less a queen." She said and Furina sputtered as her words were used against her.
"I am no longer a queen and I won't hear of such things." She said and Lumine leaned in closer, unable to resist and determined to start getting Furina to see her worth and celebrate herself.
"Alright then, Princess, how about we share your bed?" Lumine whispered and Furina turned bright red.
"T-that is hardly proper and-"
"Paimon thinks we should just go to the Serenitea Pot and go to sleep now in our own rooms please!" Paimon interrupted and Lumine blinked, wondering why she hadn't thought of it herself.
"Oh, you're right Paimon. Thank you." She said, regretfully releasing Furina's hands as Furina stared at her in confusion once more. Lumine winked at her, rummaging through her pocket dimension until she pulled out the Serenitea Pot, letting it float between them.
She used to only pull it out in secure locations, afraid of someone breaking in or breaking it, until Madam Ping mentioned that it was unbreakable, and that the only ones allowed to enter were the ones Lumine had brought in or given an invitation to.
Lumine grabbed Furina's hand as she looked at her in bewilderment, Paimon cheering before they were sucked in.
Lumine landed on the soft grass of the rolling hillside overlooking the sea, Furina squeezing her hand tightly as she looked in wonderment. Lumine had chosen a Mondstadt style house lately, missing the quiet familiarity of her first region, and was pleased she had made the right choice for Furina it seemed, a gentle breeze blowing her hair about.
"I had no idea you had purchased such a large plot of land! It's amazing what you've done with the place. You must have put a lot of time and thought into it." Furina said with a quiet wonder, looking all around.
Lumine laughed as she led her into the mansion, nodding at Tubby who gave a cheery wave.
"An architect from Sumeru might think differently, but thank you. And I didn't necessarily purchase it." Lumine explained, the warm glow from the chandelier and the roaring fireplace bathing Furina in a soft glow that had Lumine's heart fluttering.
"Oh, that's right. I remember Neuvillette muttering about some mystic art from Liyue. I'd really love to take this teapot apart and learn more about it. Although, I'm not too confident that I'd be able to put it back together correctly afterwards… On second thought, forget I said anything." Furina said, her excitement and curiosity giving away to a sheepishness.
"Curiosity is a good look on you, Furina. One I would be glad to help support." Lumine said quietly and Furina kept her eyes on the stairs as they ascended them.
"Yeah! Curiosity can lead to yummy experiments!" Paimon said and Lumine gave a soft laugh and nod, Furina huffing a bit.
When they got to the door of the guest bedroom, Lumine opened it, showing off breezy, comfortable, Mondstadt style furniture.
"It's not much, but it's yours. I will be right next door, so please let me know if you need anything." Lumine said, leaning on the doorway as Furina gently slipped her hand away to wander inside, admiring the room before turning around with a small smile.
"It's lovely. Thank you." She said and Lumine smiled, leaning in close to her, watching her blush slightly as Paimon floated away to their bedroom.
"You're quite welcome, Princess Furina. Sleep well and have a good night. We have a busy day ahead of us." Lumine said, Furina growing even more flustered, gripping the hem of her shorts.
"Good night to you too, Traveler." She said and Lumine bent down slightly so that their faces were close.
"Please, call me Lumine. We're business partners, after all." She said and Furina gave a short, jerky nod, Lumine straightened and stepped back.
"Business partners? You said you were hiring me? That doesn't seem right when I don't have much to offer." Furina said and Lumine hummed, tapping Furina's nose with a wink.
"I changed my mind, and you have plenty to offer by just being yourself, Princess. So relax, and get some sleep." Lumine said and Furina made a strangled noise that Lumine couldn't resist.
It might be a bit cruel to rile her up like this, but she was too cute.
"Oh and one more thing, Neuvillette sends his best wishes, and warm regards." Lumine said as Furina made an odd noise before slamming the door in her face with a loud "good night!"
Lumine laughed, climbing into her bed, eager to start her newest adventure of bringing Furina happiness and a sense of belonging and maybe… just maybe… falling in love.
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