Furina stood there in a daze for quite some time before finally coming back to her senses. She cleared her throat and said, "Well… considering how sincerely you admitted your mistake, I won't pursue the matter of you disrespecting the Hydro Archon earlier. Let's just put this behind us!"
"In a few days, there will be another trial at the Opera Epiclese. Lora will accompany you when you attend," Neuvillette added considerately from the side.
"Really?" The moment Furina heard the word "trial," her entire demeanor brightened with excitement.
Seeing her reaction, Lora felt a sharp ache in her heart.
She was looking forward to that final trial so deeply—the grandest one of all, overflowing with drama.
Furina noticed the look in Lora's eyes and frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Lora let out a long breath and smiled. "Nothing! To make up for upsetting you earlier, how about I treat you to some pastries?"
"Really? Great!" The mention of desserts instantly lifted Furina's spirits, but she quickly added, "But the money you use is all given to you by me. Isn't that basically the same as me treating myself?"
"No," Lora shook her head. "I'll put it on my tab."
"With Neuvillette?" Furina glanced over at him. "But Neuvillette's salary comes from Palais Mermonia. How is that any different from me treating you?"
Lora smiled mysteriously. "Of course it's different. There's more than just Palais Mermonia where I can keep a tab."
"Where else?" Furina asked curiously, eyeing Lora's secretive smile.
"…Hmm, let me think. Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius, Liyue's Jade Chamber, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and the Northland Bank in Snezhnaya… Mm, just those few. Not that many," Lora said after a moment of thought, listing every place where she could send a bill.
"That's not many?" Furina stared at her in astonishment. "You can send bills to that many places? How did you do it? Teach me! I want to do that too!"
"Well…" Lora looked at the eager Furina and said seriously, "It mostly depends on talent."
"Talent?" Furina tilted her head, looking at Lora in confusion.
Lora had no way of explaining that it was all thanks to her status as the Hydro Archon—and she certainly couldn't say that out loud. So yes, talent it was.
"Let's not talk about that. Come on, I'll take you to get some pastries," Lora said, smoothly changing the subject as she beckoned to Furina.
Furina didn't question it and followed Lora away from the Fountain of Lucine.
Watching their retreating figures, Neuvillette let out a quiet sigh. He turned to glance once more at the Opera Epiclese, then departed as well.
Built five hundred years ago, the Opera Epiclese was established by the succeeding Hydro Archon, Focalors, as a dedicated venue for trials and theatrical performances. To her, judgment itself was a dramatic performance, and holding trials in such a place felt perfectly fitting.
At first, Neuvillette may not have understood why Furina held such views. Now, however, he thought he finally did.
Performing at every moment. Performing for judgment at every moment.
Like dancing on the edge of a blade, every step light and precise.
The day of the trial arrived as scheduled, and Neuvillette sent invitations to both Furina and Lora.
"What? It's just a theft case?" Furina sighed after reading the details. "That's way too ordinary. How boring."
From the side, Hélie asked, "Then, Hydro Archon, what kind of trial do you hope for?"
"Of course it should be grand—like a theatrical spectacle, a magnificent judgment that brings everything to an end!" Furina grew animated as she spoke, but her enthusiasm quickly drained away. "Ah… forget it. Even if I explain it, you wouldn't understand."
Lora reached out and gently ruffled Furina's hair. "Don't worry," she said softly. "The trial you're waiting for will definitely be staged."
"Really?" Furina froze for a moment, then looked at Lora with shining eyes.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she was very willing to believe Lora's words.
Lora nodded and replied seriously, "It definitely will. But for now, we should hurry to the Opera Epiclese. Otherwise, Neuvillette will be ready to open court."
"Right, right! Let's go!" Furina snapped back to attention and hurried off toward the Opera Epiclese with Lora.
Inside the Opera Epiclese, the members of the jury were already seated among the audience. Since this was not a particularly major trial, the crowd was sparse, but upon seeing Furina arrive, they still offered their greetings.
Furina took her place in her exclusive VIP seat, while Lora sat directly in the very center of the audience—the most conspicuous position of all. Leaning back against the chair, she calmly observed everything unfolding before her.
An indescribable presence radiated from her. Those seated nearby instinctively felt restrained, not daring to raise their voices or whisper among themselves.
Everyone sat upright, their expressions solemn.
Seeing this, Neuvillette immediately understood what was happening.
After all, the transformation of trials into something akin to theater was a change that only came about after Furina took the stage. In Egeria's era, Fontaine's trials had been exceedingly serious and formal.
As the heart of the Primordial Sea and the first Fontaine "Archon," Egeria symbolized fairness and embraced all things. When it came to judging the fate of others, she was unfailingly solemn.
The people of Fontaine in those days did not watch trials with the same air of spectacle they did now.
Neuvillette could not say whether the present was better or whether Egeria's era had been. He tightened his grip on the scepter in his hand and struck it against the floor.
"Court is in session!"
Lora paid little attention to the specifics of the trial. Soon after taking her seat, her focus shifted to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale behind Neuvillette. She could clearly sense the lonely soul hidden deep within it.
Using divine power, Lora concealed her own presence. Unless they were face to face, even Focalors would be unable to perceive her existence.
For the Hydro Archon, evading the perception of her own kin was effortless.
Before the trial came to an end, it was not yet time for Focalors to discover her.
In the end, Neuvillette delivered the final verdict. He looked out over the audience, filled with emotion. This was the first time he had ever presided over such a calm and quiet trial.
All thanks to Lora's presence.
Under her unspoken pressure, the spectators remained exceptionally subdued, even their murmured exchanges reduced to the faintest of whispers.