“Father, this is the intelligence Lyney and the others sent from Fontaine.
Please have a look.”
“Well done, Freminet.”
Inside the office of the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino took the intelligence Freminet handed over and glanced at it.
Her brows raised slightly.
“Freminet, you should head to Fontaine as well.
Tell Lyney for me to remain in hiding and not to make a move on the Hydro Archon before I arrive in Fontaine.”
“As for…
that blonde Traveler, tell Lyney to try and build a good relationship with them.
It might be helpful to our plans.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Hmm?
Hook, what brings you here?” After they finished speaking, Arlecchino glanced with some surprise at the figure standing outside the door.
“Freminet, you may leave first.”
After Freminet withdrew, Arlecchino stood up from her seat and walked toward the door.
“Father, I didn’t interrupt you, did I?” Hook said, feeling a bit anxious.
“It’s fine, nothing important.
Did you come here for something?” she asked.
At this hour, they should still be training.
“Well…” Hook nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.
After all, she seemed to have just been bribed, and she didn’t know if Father would blame her.
“There’s a pretty big sister outside who says she’s looking for you,” Hook said, summoning her courage.
“Oh?
A pretty big sister?” Arlecchino’s unique eyes stared at Hook, her tone shifting.
“Then what is that on the corner of your mouth?”
“Uh…” Hook’s fingers twitched unconsciously as she lowered her head, saying guiltily, “The pretty big sister gave it to me.”
“Hook, how many times have I told you?
Eating too much candy will give you cavities.” Arlecchino pointed at her teeth, lecturing her in the tone of an elder.
“I’m sorry, Father.
I won’t do it again.” Hook stood there obediently like a child who had made a mistake.
“By the way, what does this pretty big sister you mentioned look like?”
“Hmm…
let Hook think.” Hook’s little head pondered for a moment before she said, “A white and blue dress, ginger hair with a bit of black, and a six-winged ornament on her head.
She looks like a princess.
Oh, and she doesn’t seem to be wearing shoes; she looks like she’s floating when she walks.”
Based on Hook’s description, Arlecchino easily guessed the identity of the pretty big sister.
“Bring her in.”
“Yes, Father.”
Before long, Hook led in Columbina, who still had a look of slight regret on her face.
“Arlecchino, I’ve come to play with you.” Columbina cast aside her cluttered thoughts and spoke to Arlecchino.
“Welcome!
Have a seat.” The two walked into the office and sat down, and Hook brewed a pot of tea for each of them.
“Arlecchino, these children…” Columbina glanced at Hook, who was standing by, and left her words unsaid.
“Hook, go back to your training.” Arlecchino took a sip of her tea and said calmly.
“Yes, Father.”
Only after Hook left did Columbina eagerly voice her question.
“Why do the children of this orphanage undergo such harsh training?”
Arlecchino’s brow softened, and she said somewhat helplessly, “These children were all carefully selected by the Tsaritsa…”
Though Arlecchino didn’t finish, Columbina still got her answer.
It was all by the Tsaritsa’s will.
Coming from the Tsaritsa, who resided deep within the Zapolyarny Palace, her commands were as cold and ruthless as winter.
“Columbina, this is also why I asked you to come.” Arlecchino looked at Columbina seriously.
“?
Does this involve me too?” Columbina asked, somewhat surprised.
After all, she had come here purely to pass the time. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Yes.
Columbina, didn’t you come to play with me?
How about playing a game with the children?” Arlecchino suggested.
Since Rosalyne left, these children hadn’t really had a chance to relax.
Perhaps calling Columbina over was a good choice.
After all, among the Fatui Harbingers, she was probably the one most likely to get close to the children.
“I’ll consider it…”
“Then it’s settled.”
…
On the training ground.
Hook was supervising the children’s training like a little adult.
“Keep your backs straight!”
“Don’t slack off, put some effort into it.”
When Arlecchino’s figure appeared in her line of sight, she quickly ran over respectfully.
“Father, and the pretty big sister.” Hook greeted them.
“Hook, pass the word.
That’s enough training for today.” Arlecchino looked at her with a smile.
“Did we do something wrong?”
Hook asked with some worry.
Today’s training volume wasn’t even half of yesterday’s.
“No!
You’ve done well enough.
Next, I will give you a new task.
And that is to play a game with this pretty big sister.” Arlecchino’s answer brought a bright smile to her face.
“Thank you, Father.”
“Everyone, pause for a moment.” Hook ran back to the training ground and stood at the front to give instructions.
“In a bit, Father will bring the pretty big sister to play a game with us.
What do you say?”
“Great!”
Instantly, the children’s bell-like laughter echoed across the training ground.
…
“Father, come and catch us!” Hook clutched the hem of Columbina’s dress, darting back and forth behind her.
That’s right, the game they were playing was “Eagle Catches Chicks,” which was once wildly popular in Snezhnaya.
Arlecchino played the eagle, while Columbina played the mother hen.
“Arlecchino, with me here, don’t even think about touching the children.” Columbina spread her arms wide, firmly shielding the children behind her.
“Is that so?” Arlecchino’s eyes, which slightly resembled shiitake mushrooms, glowed with a red light, and a powerful aura emanated from her entire body.
“I won’t let you past.” Columbina stubbornly blocked all the children behind her, her figure moving rapidly.
“The pretty big sister is so amazing!” Hook, who was behind Columbina, watched her movements in awe.
Her hands were about to lose their grip.
She looked at Columbina’s speed, which was fast enough to leave afterimages.
Uh…
Better let go.
Arlecchino looked at Columbina somewhat speechlessly.
It was just a game, why was she using her powers?
“Alright, alright, Columbina, I give up.
Stop quickly.”
[Gave up?]
Columbina’s figure materialized, cold sweat on her forehead, her face an unnatural pale white, but she still forced a smile and said, “Then this round is a victory for the children’s team…”
The last word caught in her throat.
Columbina only felt a wave of weakness surge from her body, and her consciousness faded into chaos.
“Pretty big sister!” At the last moment of her consciousness, she seemed to hear the children’s anxious cries.
…
By the time Columbina woke up again, the sky had gradually grown dark.
She was lying on a soft, large bed, and Arlecchino was leaning against the bedside, seemingly asleep.
An empty feeling came from her stomach.
[I fainted from hunger…]
[That’s right, I was so focused on playing games with the kids that I really didn’t notice the change in my hunger level.]
Columbina propped herself up on the edge of the bed and sat up against the headboard.
“Columbina, you’re awake.” At this moment, Arlecchino seemed to sense the movement at the head of the bed and sat up.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect it to turn out like this and make you worry.” Columbina apologized, looking at the slightly exhausted Arlecchino.
Arlecchino stood up and picked up the steaming bowl of porridge from the table nearby.
“Columbina, you’re hungry, aren’t you?”
“Eh?
How did you know?” Columbina tilted her head.
Arlecchino smiled and said, “Even while unconscious, you didn’t forget to cry out that you were hungry.”
“Is…
is that so?” A blush appeared on Columbina’s face.
What would Arlecchino think of her?
“Careful, it’s hot.”
After being fed the porridge, Columbina’s face gradually regained its rosy color.
“Thank you, I really like the taste of this porridge.”
After they rested for a while, Arlecchino suddenly spoke to Columbina in an extremely serious tone, “Columbina, there’s something wrong with your body, isn’t there?
It started from Rosalyne’s funeral.”
“What are you talking about, Arlecchino?
My body was just a little hungry, I’ll be fine soon.” Columbina still tried to hide it.
Arlecchino shook her head.
“Columbina, you don’t have to force yourself.
I know everything.”
“You’re not from this world, are you!”
The moment Arlecchino’s voice fell, a clear look of panic appeared on Columbina’s face.
Her hands unconsciously gripped the bedsheets.
[What should I do?
She really found out.
Arlecchino is so good to me, do I have to kill her?]
[No, maybe I should run away first.]
While Columbina was still hesitating, Arlecchino seemed to see through her thoughts and continued, “Columbina, you don’t have to worry.
I guessed all of this on my own.
You don’t have to worry about the Tsaritsa blaming you.”
[Eh?
What is she talking about by herself?]
“I have the power of the Crimson Moon in my body, so naturally, I would know about your identity, frost moon Goddess.”
“It seems your condition is a sign of rejection by the Teyvat continent,” Arlecchino said with some concern.
“You must use your power less in the future.”
[Huh?
Is that what she thinks?]
“I’m sorry, Arlecchino, I didn’t mean to hide it.” Since Arlecchino had put it that way, she might as well play along with her words.
“Indeed, I can feel this land’s rejection of me.” Columbina nodded slightly.
“However, it seems that as long as you place your hand on me, it can be alleviated.”
Was that so?
No wonder Columbina would reach out to her.
“Columbina, have you told Sandrone about your condition?” Arlecchino thought that perhaps Sandrone’s technical means could alleviate this weakness.
[Sandrone?
I don’t think I’ve checked in tonight yet.
Forget it, I’ll go tomorrow.]
Columbina shook her head.
“She has been quite busy lately, so I didn’t want to trouble her with this.”