The space between them shrank until their faces were re inches apart, close enough to feel each other's breaths.
Furina caught a faint trace of Luo Qing's scent. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing grew quicker.
It was the first ti she had been this close to him. A blush crept across her face as her thoughts ran wild.
"W-what are you doing?" she stamred.
"May I?"
"?"
What kind of nonsense is he spouting now?
Her mind spun, failing to keep up with his train of thought. Before she could process it, Luo Qing's hands darted out again, pinching her cheeks like before.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
Tears welled up in Furina's eyes. She couldn't believe how badly she had miscalculated.
Why did I ever wish for him to co see ?
Now my face is going to be permanently squished!
"Ah, Lady Furina is so generous," Luo Qing teased, grinning as he kneaded her cheeks.
"Surely you won't mind if I give you a little massage, right?"
He seed about to let her go and climb out the window when the sound of a lock clicking made them both freeze.
The door opened.
Furina's heart sank. She was certain she had instructed the attendants not to enter her room without knocking.
Standing in the doorway was a middle-aged man with silver hair tinged with blue—Neuvillette. His expression was as calm as ever, but his eyes flicked to Luo Qing's hands on Furina's cheeks.
From his perspective, Furina seed caught in an awkward position: though her expression looked annoyed and resistant, her hands were clasped behind her back, and her head tilted upward, making her appear strangely compliant.
"..."
[Frustration Points from Neuvillette 1 1 1 1...]
"Apologies for not knocking," Neuvillette said, bowing slightly, his tone devoid of emotion. "I see I may have interrupted sothing. However, I have urgent matters to discuss with Lady Furina. Could I trouble you to... pause for a mont?"
Though his words betrayed no feelings, Luo Qing could sense Neuvillette's irritation radiating beneath the surface.
Better not push this guy, he thought.
"Not at all," Luo Qing said cheerfully, withdrawing his hands and stepping back. "I was just about to leave. You two talk—I won't intrude."
He gave Furina a playful wink, his gaze saying, We'll continue this next ti, before slipping past Neuvillette and out the door.
As the door clicked shut, Furina found herself awkwardly fidgeting. She stared at her toes, her cheeks flushed.
"Um... about what you just saw... it's not what you think..."
Her words trailed off as she tried to make herself small, her embarrassnt palpable.
"You don't need to explain," Neuvillette replied stoically. "Who you choose to spend your ti with, and what you choose to do, is entirely your business."
His tone was neutral, but the faintest edge of sarcasm lurked beneath it.
"I ca to discuss the arrangents for transporting Childe to ropide. Since his actions implicate the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, detaining him requires a divine-level guarantee of security."
"So... if sothing happens, I'm the one who gets blad?" Furina murmured.
"And if the Tsaritsa herself cos to Fontaine to intervene? You know my powers aren't..."
"That will depend on your decision," Neuvillette said, cutting her off. "As the God of Justice, the choice to defy the Oratrice is yours. If you wish, I can issue an order tomorrow to release him."
"You know I can't do that..."
Furina's voice dropped to a whisper, her expression troubled. After a long pause, she threw herself back onto the bed in defeat.
"Fine, fine. Send him to ropide. But if things go south, you have to protect !"
"..."
Neuvillette's lips twitched, as though suppressing a sigh. He couldn't help but think: Why don't you just ask Luo Qing to protect you instead?
"If anything happens, I will handle it."
"Got it..." Furina replied lazily, staring at the ceiling. "Anything else? If not, I'm going to sleep."
"..."
After a mont's hesitation, Neuvillette added, "Luo Qing is not as simple as he seems. His true motives are unclear, but I suggest keeping your distance from him."
"Sure," Furina mumbled, rolling over to lie on her stomach.
"If he cos to my room again, I'll kick him out... probably..."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. But if he invites to his place... that's another matter entirely.
What can I do? I've already gotten myself tangled up with him.
Neuvillette studied her silently for a mont, as if weighing whether to say more. Ultimately, he sighed and left the room.
---
Outside, the weather had taken a sudden turn. Heavy rain poured down, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder.
"Strange," Luo Qing muttered, conjuring a shield of water to keep himself dry as he walked.
"The weather was fine just a mont ago. Now it's storming?"
He glanced at the sky, puzzled.
Did Ei co to visit or sothing?
When Luo Qing arrived ho, the only one in the living room was Rosalyne, standing by the sofa. She stepped forward, bowing slightly as she helped him remove his coat.
"Master, shall I prepare you a late-night al?"
"No need," Luo Qing replied, glancing around the room. Not seeing Theresa, he frowned.
"Where's Theresa?"
"She's in her room. She said she wanted to sleep early tonight and asked that you not wait for her."
"Hm?" Luo Qing raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Usually, this would be the ti Theresa was dragging him enthusiastically off to bed. Why the sudden change?
"Is she feeling unwell?" he asked.
"This..."
Rosalyne hesitated, recalling earlier events.
While Luo Qing was out, Theresa had clung desperately to Rosalyne's long legs, clad in black stockings, begging her to take over for just one night.
"If this keeps up, it's going to kill !" Theresa had wailed dramatically.
Rosalyne had refused coldly, stating that unless Luo Qing explicitly ordered her to serve him, she wouldn't lift a finger—even if Theresa cried herself hoarse.
Left with no choice, Theresa had opted to "sleep early," knowing that once she was asleep, Luo Qing wouldn't bother her.
"Early to bed?" Luo Qing mused, confused by her behavior.
Is she trying to play hard to get?
"No way," he muttered. This needs correcting.
"Which room is she in?"
"The guest room," Rosalyne answered.
"Alright."
And with that, Luo Qing strode off with determination.
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