Inside Palais Mermonia.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, I haven't seen Lady Focalors around lately. What's she been up to?" Sedene asked curiously.
Neuvillette, who was deeply engrossed in his work, paused.
He nodded slowly. "In a way, yes. Though I'm not entirely sure what shifted in her mindset, she's certainly been spending more time observing Fontaine and the world outside."
It's probably related to Luna and Furina, he thought.
Since a certain day, Focalors' expression had become noticeably lighter, as if some heavy weight had vanished entirely.
Neuvillette was deeply gratified. As the Hydro Dragon Sovereign who had witnessed everything, he now hoped that these two admirable "Hydro Archons" could live out their lives in accordance with their own ideals.
Meanwhile, Focalors, disguised and seated in a corner of the plaza, hummed a lively tune—one of the songs from their previous stage performance of "Starlight."
"Hmph, hmph, hmph..."
"Miss Focalors seems quite cheerful," Luna remarked.
Focalors lowered her sunglasses, glanced sideways, and replied with a mischievous grin, "Luna! What a coincidence to run into you here. Or perhaps—did our beloved star come looking for me?"
Few dared to tease Luna so directly. Focalors was one of them.
"What if I said yes?"
"Then let's go on a date."
"What if I said no?"
"Then it's fate—let's go on a date anyway."
Luna chuckled softly and sat down beside Focalors. She had indeed only been passing by and stopped to greet the familiar figure.
While a date with Focalors wouldn't be unwelcome, Luna was currently more intrigued by where Focalors's gaze was fixed.
"Were you watching the people in the plaza just now?" Luna asked curiously.
"Yes, I was observing," Focalors nodded. "All sorts of people flow through this central plaza, each dressed differently, wearing different expressions. Every gesture and movement silently tells their stories. Guessing what they've experienced and what they're thinking is quite interesting."
"It's like watching a play from below the stage."
Focalors changed the subject. "But—"
She turned to Luna with a gentle smile. "Perhaps I was also waiting for you to come, Luna?"
"That kind of talk won't work on me, you know," Luna replied.
"Oh dear, I've been seen through."
After a moment of silence, Focalors continued, "I wanted to see what Fontaine has become after we paid such a heavy price to obtain it. What one sees from a high vantage point is only a partial view, so I wanted to observe from here."
Only a small fraction of the crowd was shouting from the audience stands.
Most remained silent, their eyes fixed elsewhere, quietly going about their lives. It was precisely these "protagonists" who never took the stage, never sat in the audience, that Focalors' gaze sought out.
"So, what conclusions did you draw?" Luna asked, intrigued.
"Naturally, it's wonderful!"
Focalors stood up and pulled Luna to her feet.
"Come on, let's go on a date!"
Without waiting for Luna's response, she grabbed her hand and strode forward.
Luna was slightly taken aback. "That's a bit sudden, isn't it?"
"What's wrong with that? You've accepted both Furina and me, so you should take responsibility. And you're the only one capable of such a grand feat."
Focalors smiled brightly. "Feel honored, this is an invitation from the Former Hydro Archon Focalors herself!"
Luna chuckled. "I'm technically a Former Hydro Archon too, though only for a few minutes."
"That doesn't count."
Focalors couldn't help but recall that moment.
Luna had saved her, stolen her future, and spared her from death. In those fleeting minutes, she had witnessed a brilliance as dazzling as a meteor—a light that even the gods couldn't help but notice.
And now, she was holding that light in her hand.
The warmth in my palm is so comforting, Focalors thought. I never imagined I would fall in love with someone.
But this felt right.
The tighter she gripped Luna's hand, the stronger the feeling grew—that she was now truly an ordinary person... with just a tiny bit of extra power.
This was exactly the feeling she had longed for.
Focalors led Luna through every corner of Fontaine, diving into shops big and small.
"Luna, look at this exquisite toy! As for the price? The Palais Mermonia pays handsomely, you know. Furina just neglects herself too much for her role."
An exquisite toy.
"What delicious pastries! Let's get some for Furina later."
Delicious pastries.
"Cosmetics... Hold still, let me apply some lipstick and see. Oh? It looks as luscious and tempting as a ripe apple... Come closer, no one's looking."
Followed by a tender kiss.
If you asked Focalors what she loved, she would answer "humans." And if you asked her which humans she loved most, she would undoubtedly name two—Luna and Furina.
One was her beloved, the other her sister... certainly not her daughter.
Thinking this, Focalors couldn't help but sigh, "It seems I have everything a human should have—family, friends, a lover."
She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the warmth spreading within.
So, I truly have everything now.
But she would never forget that her present happiness was all thanks to Luna's sacrifices.
"There's no need to thank me anymore," Luna said, anticipating Focalors' thoughts.
"I know, I know."
As soon as the words left her lips, both women stopped in their tracks.
They had returned to their doorstep—or more precisely, Luna and Furina's doorstep.
Focalors hurried forward and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
The door swung open, revealing Furina standing in the doorway. She exclaimed in surprise, "Focalors? Luna? When did you two get together...?"
Could they have snuck out?!
"Furina."
"Hmm?"
Focalors gently embraced Furina. "Could you call me 'elder sister' just once?"
"Eh? What's going on?"
Furina looked utterly bewildered. She glanced frantically at Luna, her eyes pleading for answers.
But Luna simply smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
Ugh, she's acting like she knows everything but won't say a word! Furina's gaze shifted to resignation as she heard Focalors' soft whisper.
"I'm just so happy to have so much, to witness Fontaine's transformation firsthand—to live with such joy."
So that's it.
Furina thought, Happy, huh...? A smile bloomed on her own face as she patted Focalors' back.
"It's okay to cry, you know?"
"I won't cry, unlike Furina."
Furina's face flushed red. "I never—!"
"You were holed up in your room sobbing for ages when Luna disappeared."
"You..."
I was trying to comfort you, and you expose my embarrassing moments? Furina's face burned crimson with indignation. But before she could retort, Focalors turned and embraced Luna again.
"Hey, wait!" Furina exclaimed, startled.
Focalors murmured, "Luna."
"Hmm?"
"I like you."
Furina yanked Luna's cheek from behind. "Focalors, you're awfully bold."
"Why is she yanking my cheek like that?" Luna mumbled, her words muffled.
"That's obviously because—"
Focalors interjected, "Obviously because Furina's jealous."
"It'd be weird if I wasn't jealous!"
Focalors grinned slyly. "May I come in as a guest? I'm a bit tired from wandering around outside. Oh, and here's a treat for you, Furina. Please accept it."
Furina remained unmoved.
No matter how delicious the treat might be, it couldn't quell the jealousy churning within her heart. Right now, she just wanted to punish Luna properly—their agreed-upon week of dominance hadn't ended yet.
Therefore, she could indulge in Luna without reservation! But truth be told, even without this agreement, Luna would have granted her wishes if she had simply asked.
The only problem was that she couldn't expect Luna to obey dutifully from beginning to end. The number of times Luna reversed the situation was simply countless.
"Let's make one thing clear: we're never doing that three-person thing again," Furina said, crossing her arms.
"Absolutely not!" she emphasized.
-
The morning sun streamed across the faces of the three women, gently rousing Furina from her sleep.
Focalors remained asleep, while Luna lay on her side, her gaze meeting Furina's.
Furina recalled the events of the previous night, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
We ended up doing it after all...
And this time, they hadn't even completely broken Luna down! Furina tried to sit up, but her body responded with only soft, powerless weakness, forcing her to lie back down.
Looking at the marks on Luna's body, Furina reached out to gently caress them.
Half were Focalors' handiwork, the other half hers.
"Come closer," Furina whispered.
Let me cover up these marks.
Feeling a ticklish sensation on her chest, Luna tenderly stroked Furina's hair. This gesture often made Furina squint and smile, utterly adorable.
But accompanied by rustling sounds, a warm, ticklish sensation also spread across her back.
Since Furina wants to cover up these marks...
Then I'll just add a few more. Focalors slipped her arm under the covers and wrapped it around Luna's waist, her hand coming within a hair's breadth of Furina's.
And so, the morning for the three of them stretched on for quite some time.