As the light screen had described, they were still a god and her advisor, and their moment of leisure was, in the end, just "a moment."
After the brief respite ended, Daelan Ciro stood to take his leave, returning to his office to tackle the endless stream of trivial matters.
Looking at the bizarre incidents sparked by the so-called prophecy, Daelan quietly fell apart.
People streaking through the streets, thinking the end was nigh, only to be caught by the Maison Gardiennage; mechanics tearing up contracts because they believed doomsday was coming…
And, of course, someone who thought the Melusines were so adorable they took one home and hugged it all day. That's practically kidnapping, you know!
Reading these reports, Daelan momentarily felt like he'd been transported to his previous life's Florida.
At this moment, he was like a boiled shrimp, slumped at his desk, eyes fixed on the paperwork, muttering incomprehensible phrases like, "Nay, good sir!"
But there was no helping it.
As the highest-ranking advisor, and to prevent these infuriating incidents from spreading further while controlling public opinion, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep going.
To put it abstractly… Daelan had to piece himself back together after falling apart, then sit at his desk to process the very things that made him fall apart in the first place.
…Time slipped by bit by bit, and before he knew it, Daelan had worked into the late night.
Exhausted, he leaned back in his chair, murmuring to himself, "Finally done…"
After a brief rest, Daelan stood slowly, stretched his body, and left his office.
Hearing the patter of rain outside the window, Daelan shook his head gently.
He didn't know what had upset Neuvillette this time, but… there was nothing he could do about it.
It was just a Fontaine shower; it'd pass soon enough.
With that thought, Daelan strolled out of his office, intending to return to his room, when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.
And, faintly, a cat's meow.
"Hey! Don't meow, I'll clean you up in a bit!" a girl's voice whispered in the darkness.
Hearing it, Daelan frowned slightly, turning his gaze to the only staircase leading to the second floor, waiting for that blue petit cake to come hopping up.
Under the dim, yellowish glow of the second-floor corridor's lights, a blue figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
Seeing this, Daelan couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle.
He knew Furina loved cats and often snuck out at night to feed the strays outside the Palais Mermonia. That much he was well aware of.
But… was this scene part of the original storyline?
Daelan frowned, puzzled by this unexpected plot twist, but ultimately decided to tease his "divine lady" just a bit.
He could put on a polished, gentle façade in front of anyone, but… when he stood before Furina, when she made those adorably earnest requests…
That's when he truly felt like a living, breathing person.
"Perhaps this is what the old man meant by 'erosion'…" Daelan shook his head, then hid himself in the shadows.
—He was going to give Furina a little surprise.
But… at the very least, he wanted her to understand that the Palais Mermonia was her home, and she didn't need to sneak around like a thief.
As the footsteps grew closer, Daelan deliberately cleared his throat, asking knowingly, "Furina?"
At the sound, Furina's body visibly jolted. She turned her head mechanically toward the shadows, catching Daelan's slightly imposing figure in the corridor's light.
She turned slowly, cradling an utterly adorable calico kitten in her arms.
Seeing this, Daelan wore an "I knew it" expression and sighed softly.
Furina, noticing his sigh, grew a bit… flustered.
"I… I was feeding this little guy outside when I saw it getting wet in the rain. I was worried it…"
Daelan shook his head gently, carefully taking the kitten from Furina's arms and stroking its tiny head.
"Meow~"
The kitten, initially anxious in a new environment, calmed instantly in Daelan's hands… as if Daelan carried some special aura that put others at ease.
Looking at the sweet, docile kitten, Daelan smiled and said softly to Furina, "Come on, let's head to the kitchen."
Furina nodded obediently, bouncing along behind Daelan as they quickly reached the kitchen.
After setting the kitten on the floor, Daelan deftly shed his cumbersome formal attire, donning an apron over his white shirt and getting to work.
With swift precision, he minced a piece of fish and diced a carrot, tossing them into a pot to simmer after a quick prep.
Furina watched Daelan's movements curiously, asking, "Can't kittens just eat fish? Why are you…"
"Because kittens can't eat only meat. Adjust the flavor and nutritional balance a bit, and it becomes a gourmet meal for them."
With that, Daelan glanced at the kitten, then said, "So, our Hydro Archon… what's the plan for this little one? Keeping it in the Palais Mermonia?"
Furina fell into thought.
From her perspective, she'd love to keep the kitten.
But… who would care for it? Was the bustling Palais Mermonia really suitable for it? This was a kitten she'd brought back—could she really ask Daelan, who already had so much on his plate, to raise it? Neuvillette… he was busy, too. But leaving it outside would feel irresponsible…
Seeing Furina's dilemma, Daelan smiled and shook his head, picking the kitten up from the floor and cradling it, gently stroking it.
"It's very well-behaved, at least for now."
"If you don't have time to care for this little guy, Furina… then let it keep me company."
"My office could use a little mascot."
With that, Daelan lightly tapped the kitten's pink nose, and it seemed to understand, letting out a symbolic meow.
"Meow."
"See? It agrees."
Hearing this, Furina blinked softly, her heterochromatic eyes flickering with surprise, as if… as if she were seeing Daelan for the first time.
"But for now, I'll trouble Miss Furina to dry this little guy off, then bring it back so it can eat a bit and rest."
Furina nodded gently, taking the docile kitten and leaving the kitchen.
Watching her retreating figure, the corners of Daelan's mouth curved upward.
"The Salon Solitaire… Furina, even after you step down as Hydro Archon, your life shouldn't revolve solely around them."
"I don't know where this will all lead, but at the very least… this can lighten your burden a little."