The tense atmosphere in the Surveillance Room did not last for long.
Wriothesley withdrew his gaze and settled back into his spacious chair.
His fingers continued rubbing his chin, but his expression gradually softened.
There were far too many suspicious things about Toki.
His origins were unknown, and he could wield elemental power without a Vision.
On top of that, he had a rather deep connection with Lady Furina.
However, Wriothesley had no intention of immediately going after Toki.
As long as Toki behaved himself within the Fortress of Meropide— worked when he was supposed to, stayed out of trouble, and did not disrupt the prison’s order— Wriothesley would not deliberately make things difficult for him.
He could simply turn a blind eye.
After all, Toki was someone the Hydro Archon herself—Furina—held in high regard.
Keeping him around might even allow Wriothesley to uncover more clues about the Traveler.
At the same time, on the streets near the Palais Mermonia in the Court of Fontaine— Furina was drenched in sweat as she ran laps around the palace.
She had traded her usual elegant dress for a lightweight training outfit.
Her hair was casually tied behind her head, while the loose strands over her forehead had been soaked with sweat and clung to her smooth skin.
Her cheeks were unnaturally flushed, and her breathing was rapid and heavy.
Ever since Toki had threatened her, she had not dared slack off in the slightest.
Every single day, without fail, she completed 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, followed by a 10-kilometer run!
She would even add extra exercises on top of that, all so she could increase her combat strength as quickly as possible!
Just as she slowed down, panting heavily, an attendant hurried over and bowed respectfully.
“Lady Hydro Archon, we have received some news.” “Mr.
Toki was injured in the Pankration Ring at the Fortress of Meropide.
He’s already been sent to the Infirmary.” “What?!” Furina’s entire body stiffened, and all traces of exhaustion instantly vanished from her face.
In their place was undisguised anxiety.
She grabbed the attendant by the arm, her urgent voice trembling slightly.
“How badly was he hurt?
Is he all right?” The attendant tensed from her grip and hurriedly replied, “We don’t know the exact extent of his injuries.
We only know that he suffered internal injuries and was sent to Sigewinne for treatment.” The moment Furina heard that, her heart leapt into her throat.
Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately said, “Quick!
Make the arrangements.
I’m going to the Fortress of Meropide!” “I’m going to see him myself!” The attendant froze for a moment before quietly reminding her, “My Lady, you still have a rehearsal scheduled for today’s performance, and…” “Cancel the rehearsal!” Furina sharply cut him off, leaving no room for argument.
“Make the arrangements now.
Immediately!” The attendant did not dare say anything more.
He quickly bowed and left to arrange the trip.
Only after watching him disappear into the distance did Furina slowly unclench her tightly closed hands.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, and her heart was filled with unease.
Even she found her own reaction strange.
Toki was the person who knew her greatest secret.
Logically speaking, it would be best if someone like that died.
Then no one would ever be able to threaten her again, nor threaten Fontaine’s stability.
And yet, for some reason— the moment she heard that Toki had been injured, it felt as though something had suddenly clenched around her heart, making it ache terribly.
Her concern came from the bottom of her heart.
She was genuinely afraid something might happen to Toki.
Afraid that he might simply be gone.
Those contradictory feelings irritated her immensely, yet she could not control them.
Before long, Furina arrived at the Fortress of Meropide.
Under Wriothesley’s arrangements, she was taken to a secluded little room.
It was a place within the Fortress of Meropide specifically used for meeting visitors.
Small and quiet, containing only a table and two chairs.
There was no surveillance and no guards.
Once again, it was a space occupied by only the two of them.
Toki was soon escorted in by the guards.
His clothes were still clean.
Now that his internal injuries had completely healed, he looked full of energy.
When he entered the room and saw Furina sitting in the chair, Toki could not help smiling as he casually teased her.
“Lady Hydro Archon, what brings you down here again?” “Did you come to see whether I’m dead yet?” “If I died, there wouldn’t be anyone left to expose your secret.” Furina’s body stiffened slightly when she heard that.
She raised her head, and her eyes were already beginning to redden.
Hydro was gradually starting to well up within them.
She bit her lower lip, her voice filled with grievance and urgency.
“I…
I really was worried about you…” The moment those words left her mouth, the Hydro in her eyes began to surge.
Crystal-clear tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
“Huh?” Now it was Toki’s turn to be dumbfounded.
He had only casually teased her.
He had not expected Furina to actually start crying.
Toki stared blankly for several seconds before thinking carefully about it.
A moment later, he more or less understood the reason.
Furina had maintained her performance in front of the people of Fontaine for an entire five hundred years.
Throughout those five centuries, she had always maintained the bearing of the Hydro Archon.
She had pretended to be proud, powerful, and capable of anything.
No one knew how fragile she was.
No one knew about her fear.
But his appearance had broken that stalemate.
He knew her secret.
He knew that everything was an act.
He knew how vulnerable she truly was.
Although their relationship was one between someone making threats and someone being threatened, Furina no longer needed to deliberately maintain her facade in front of him.
She could relax ever so slightly.
She did not have to constantly maintain the dignified bearing of the Hydro Archon around him.
To Furina, he was a threat.
He was a potential danger who could expose her secret and cause everything surrounding the prophecy to unravel.
But at the same time, throughout the five hundred years of her dark existence, he was also the only person around whom she could lower her mask and experience even the slightest trace of something real.
He was a faint ray of light that had drifted into that endless darkness.
That was why she harbored such contradictory thoughts.
Part of her wished Toki would die so that no one would ever know her secret again.
Yet another part of her feared that if Toki truly died, that one and only ray of light would be extinguished forever.
Toki looked at the tears continuously falling from Furina’s eyes.
His heart softened slightly, and he shook his head.
“All right, stop crying.
I was only joking with you.” He walked up to Furina, his tone becoming somewhat more serious.
“I’ll lay my cards on the table.” “Exposing your secret wouldn’t benefit me in any way.” “But as long as you seriously work on increasing your combat strength, I’ll benefit from it.” “As for why, don’t ask.” “But don’t think that means you can get away with slacking off.” “If you dare become as lazy as you were before, I’ll still make your secret public!” Hearing that, Furina hurriedly wiped away her tears.
She nodded vigorously, her voice overflowing with determination.
“I’ll definitely work hard to increase my combat strength!!!
Definitely!!!” “Good.” Toki gave a satisfied response.
Then, his gaze fell upon Furina as he carefully examined her.
Furina became extremely uncomfortable under his stare.
Her body involuntarily tensed, and her eyes filled with panic.
Could it be…
He already couldn’t wait any longer to make his move on her— to do that kind of thing?!
(End of Chapter)