Indeed, the reason Daelan Ciro offered to take care of the kitten in place of Furina was for her sake.
When everything was over, and Furina stepped down from her role as Hydro Archon, what she needed wouldn't be macaroni or petit cakes.
It was companionship.
The members of the "Salon Solitaire" were, after all, constructs of Hydro energy. To a large extent, they couldn't replace the kitten.
After all, Lady Hevima didn't purr when petted, nor did she have that fluffy texture.
In his previous life as a corporate slave, Daelan knew well the benefits of having an obedient cat.
It could keep you company, silently rub against your leg, or act as an adorable little creature when you were feeling down.
But… the most crucial part was that fluffy feel.
That said, it brought him back to the earlier question: when Furina stepped down as Hydro Archon, and he, the advisor she'd personally promoted… would that mean he'd have to step down too?
"So, you see… Furina can have not just macaroni but petit cakes as well~"
"Oh, speaking of which, isn't it time to make some petit cakes for Furina? I'll do it now."
Daelan's work principle was to never leave today's problems for tomorrow, but likewise, if something was beyond his ability to solve… he'd let tomorrow's self deal with the headache.
This work ethic meant overtime was the norm for him, but working late into the night like this… was truly unprecedented.
"If Furina hadn't come in with that kitten… I might've forgotten to make her petit cakes…"
As he thought this, Daelan began preparing the cake batter.
…As time ticked by, Furina had already settled the well-fed kitten in Daelan's office. Now, she watched him curiously as he put the finishing touches on the petit cakes, blinking softly.
To Furina, petit cakes were enticing, but Daelan, carefully crafting them for her, was even more captivating.
Watching him delicately decorate the cakes, Furina found herself unable to look away.
When was the last time she'd watched him make cakes so openly?
Whatever, that didn't matter anymore. What mattered was… he was by her side now, and she could quietly watch him.
That was enough.
With that thought, a smile lingered on Furina's face, refusing to fade.
After about a minute or two, Daelan finished decorating the petit cakes and placed them in the refrigerator, letting out a slow breath.
"Phew… finally done, Furina, you…"
As he spoke, Daelan instinctively turned around, only to find his divine lady staring at him intently.
To be honest, he'd never been stared at so fixedly by a human girl in his life.
The emphasis on human girl was because Melusines often stared at him unblinkingly, and Daelan couldn't assume their gender, so he distinguished them by species.
Daelan could sense that Furina's gaze held a mix of emotions.
There was admiration, anticipation, and some feelings he'd never seen before.
He wasn't quite used to this kind of attention and spoke up to remind her, "…Furina?"
Daelan's words and gaze snapped Furina out of her daydream, which had started bubbling with pink fantasies.
Looking at Daelan's slightly puzzled expression, she felt… utterly mortified.
—Why doesn't the Palais Mermonia's kitchen have any floorboards to crawl into?!
Furina thought to herself.
But as a professional actress who'd performed 180,000 scenes, Furina's composure was still sufficient.
Though her refined self-control occasionally faltered briefly in Daelan's presence, it didn't mean it vanished entirely.
Furina quickly adjusted her expression, cleared her throat lightly, signaling her utmost seriousness, and continued, "Ahem, I was merely appreciating your unique skills, Daelan."
"As a divine being, it's only natural for me to acknowledge my subordinates, is it not?"
Looking into those beautiful heterochromatic eyes, Daelan shook his head with a smile and said softly, "Yes, yes, my divine lady."
"But at this hour… it's time for bed. Don't we have to head to the Opera Epiclese early tomorrow to watch Mr. Lyney's magic show?"
Daelan smiled gently at the girl trying to maintain her divine airs.
Seeing his warm smile, Furina nodded softly, then obediently left the kitchen, heading to her room.
Watching her go, Daelan shook his head lightly, saying nothing more, and soon returned to his own room.
…Perhaps due to the overtime, Daelan fell asleep almost the moment his head hit the pillow.
Though he was no longer exactly young, compared to that old man Zhongli or Liyue's immortals…
He was definitely still a young man.
So, he could proudly say—youth is great; you crash and sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was the next morning.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Daelan nodded lightly, then began swiftly preparing himself.
In just three minutes, a dignified yet elegant man appeared in the mirror.
His flowing blue hair cascaded casually down his back—casual, yet impeccably neat.
Daelan's fair skin, enviable even to women, looked especially refined against his blue hair. For a traditional gentleman, elegance and warmth were the ultimate weapons.
He adjusted the collar of his blue-and-gold formal attire, nodding with satisfaction.
The outfit, styled like Neuvillette's but in a different color, lent him the authority befitting an advisor.
The contrast between warmth and authority, paired with the gold-rimmed monocle on his nose, gave Daelan an air of mystery.
—Though this look stirred some unpleasant memories, that strange person didn't exist in this world.
So, looking handsome was all that mattered.
With that thought, Daelan nodded contentedly, grabbed the cane by the mirror, and stepped out the door.
A distinctive style… could also shape a unique image in the players' minds.
In an era where most people's values followed their eyes, Daelan was immensely grateful for his strikingly attractive face.
But… more important were the words he'd say and the things he'd do today.