The residence of the Seventh Fatui Harbinger, “Sandrone” Sandrone.
Sandrone’s dwelling is located at the easternmost edge of the Winter Palace, a location she chose himself when she first joined the Fatui.
According to Sandrone, the original housing here was long ago torn down and rebuilt, and it is now a small villa with distinct Fontaine characteristics.
Furthermore, Sandrone has installed many mechanical devices near this small villa, so even in Snezhnaya, the temperature here remains mild year-round.
It is simply because she is accustomed to such an environment.
Whenever the silhouette of the Narcissenkreuz Institute in her memories gradually overlaps with the outline of this small villa before her, Sandrone always says this to himself in her heart.
Sandrone leads Columbina into her villa; outside the villa is a small garden, where many servants are working at this moment.
This garden is also the place where Sandrone often hosts tea parties.
Revisiting the old place, Columbina gazes at that familiar tea party table over there, still remembering the times she held tea parties there with Sandrone, Arlecchino, and the others.
However, later on, the Tsaritsa issued the mission to seize the Gnosis, and many people went out to execute missions, and even…
Only she and Sandrone were left who could remain in Snezhnaya for long periods.
Gradually, the number of tea parties Sandrone hosted also decreased…
“What is it?”
Sandrone notices Columbina’s “gaze” and follows it, asking, “Is the third seat missing the tea I brew again?”
Upon hearing this, Columbina withdraws her “gaze,” “looks” at Sandrone, and nods gently.
“Yes.
So, when does Sandrone plan to host the next tea party?
Will you invite me?”
Sandrone’s previous question was originally just a tease, but she didn’t expect Columbina to take it seriously, and for a moment, she actually didn’t know how to respond.
she has no intention of hosting a tea party recently; an important experiment has now reached its most critical part.
Yes, the very one that Columbina stumbled upon last night.
It is the final step, but some parameters always fail to meet the requirements.
“Sandrone?”
Not receiving a reply, Columbina asks again.
Sandrone considers for a moment; she originally intended to refuse and tell the truth, to wait until that experiment is completed before hosting a tea party.
But…
Forget it, let’s just treat it as a change of pace.
Perhaps this will yield some unexpected gains.
“…Very well, let’s make it tomorrow.
Me, Arlecchino, Rosalyne.
Hmm…
I’ll see if Capitano and that guy Tartaglia are free.
It’ll be at the old spot; the time for the tea party is set.”
Not hearing her own name, Columbina frowns and asks softly.
“What about me?”
“You?” Sandrone takes a sip of the tea handed to her by Pulonia, sets it down ladylike, and waves her hand, “Don’t you always come on your own even without my invitation, Columbina?”
“Hmm…”
At that time, she had not been with the Fatui for long and was very unfamiliar with this place; if not for the power of the “Moon,” she wouldn’t even have been able to remember the way.
Because she had just emerged from the Children of the Frost Moon not long ago, Columbina’s stomach was often empty.
she remembers that day, she was searching for a place to eat in this labyrinth-like Winter Palace, when she suddenly spotted a table full of sumptuous desserts.
There was no one by the table.
There was only a large robot.
Of course, back then, the naive Little Dori didn’t know what a robot was; she only thought that the robot was some kind of statue.
It was motionless, and she didn’t sense any vital signs.
Therefore, those foods must be offerings.
When it came to stealing offerings, Little Dori was most skilled.
So, Little Dori quietly approached the dining table filled with exquisite desserts and quickly picked up a few small cakes to eat directly.
Because, if she didn’t eat, she would really starve to death.
It was delicious, much better than the offerings she ate at the Children of the Frost Moon.
Little Dori kept eating until the owner of this dining table appeared beside her at some unknown moment.
Little Dori knew her, having met her once when joining the Fatui.
It seemed her name was…
Sandrone.
This was also the beginning of their bond…
Columbina is immersed in this memory, and unconsciously, a smile curls the corner of her lips.
she didn’t think much of it at the time, but thinking about it now, Sandrone back then was really like a little cat.
Sandrone:???
What is going on with Columbina, why is she suddenly smiling?
“Hey, hey, Columbina, what are you thinking about again?”
“Hmm?” Columbina stops her reminiscence and “looks” at Sandrone, “Thinking about the first time we met.
Thank you for the snacks and tea, Sandrone.”
Upon hearing this, Sandrone relaxes, almost failing to steady the tea set in her hand.
Obviously, she also remembered what happened that day.
What is it like to discover someone stealing your food in your own courtyard?
In the past, Sandrone thought she would definitely be very angry and then have Pulonia “escort” that person away.
But when such a thing really happened, looking at the youth by the dining table, wolfing down food, looking like she hadn’t eaten for a long time, and looking pitiful, Sandrone couldn’t explain her own feelings.
Until that youth noticed her, seemed to think for a moment, and held out the small cake in her left hand toward her.
“Want to eat together?”
…
Columbina does not notice Sandrone’s abnormality and continues.
“Well, Sandrone just said I would come without your invitation, but I don’t think so.”
Sandrone pulls himself out of the memory and tilts her head in confusion.
“Huh?” Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Sandrone,” Columbina suddenly becomes much more serious, “I think, now, you, me, Arlecchino, and Rosalyne should be considered friends.”
“If we are not uninvited guests, but friends, we need invitations.
Are you willing to invite me, Sandrone?”
Finally, Columbina “looks” at Sandrone earnestly.
she is truly waiting for Sandrone’s invitation.
And Sandrone, being “stared” at by Columbina like this, and having heard what she just said, her brain directly crashes, and she cannot say a single word.
This guy Columbina, when did she learn to say such self-indulgent and cheesy words?
Really…
A long time passes, and Columbina still hasn’t received a reply from Sandrone, so she lowers her head in disappointment.
“Is Sandrone unwilling to invite me…”
That aggrieved look is written all over her face.
At this moment, Sandrone snaps out of her reverie.
In her panic, she jumps down from Pulonia’s large hand and steadies Columbina’s shoulders.
“Wait!
I am willing to invite you!”
Upon hearing this, Columbina lifts her head back up in pleasant surprise.
The two are very close now.
Their “eyes” meet for a moment, Columbina’s gaze shifts downward, and she “looks” at Sandrone’s hand resting on her shoulder.
Sandrone’s face flushes, and she hurriedly withdraws her hand, turns around guiltily, and says as if she doesn’t care at all.
“I was just…
worried that a certain god would be sad if she couldn’t eat the exquisite small cakes and the tea I brewed myself, don’t overthink it!”
The corner of Columbina’s lips curls up slightly.
she leans closer to Sandrone and asks, “Then…
Sandrone, are we friends now?”
Sandrone subconsciously dodges, her eyes becoming somewhat unnatural.
“I…
you…
hmm…
Ah!!!
Columbina!
Do you still want to eat breakfast or not!
If you waste any more time here, I won’t provide breakfast service!”
Having said that, Sandrone glares at Columbina one last time, sits back on Pulonia’s large hand, and walks toward the house.
And Columbina, watching Sandrone’s departing back, smiles to himself where she stands and quickly follows.
I think we must be “friends,” my dear Sandrone.