Night fell slowly and the stars twinkled high in the sky.
The entire Court of Fontaine also fell into a deep slumber in the night.
At the edge of the Palais Mermonia, a tuft of light blue ahoge poked out from a window, followed by a dark blue top hat, jellyfish-like hair, and heterochromia eyes.
'No way… you are the Hydro Archon and yet you're actually climbing out of a window to escape the Palais Mermonia?' Rina's voice of complaint rang out at the right time.
"Oh, it's precisely because I am the Hydro Archon that I can't be caught sneaking out to play at night." Furina disagreed with Rina's complaint and refuted her promptly.
There was almost no one on the streets, so Furina successfully sneaked out of The Court of Fontaine.
After running for dozens of minutes, Furina arrived at a beach. The beach at night was silent, with only the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the sand.
The night breeze blew against the girl's cheeks, causing her hair to tilt up slightly.
Furina closed her eyes, feeling the sea breeze hitting her face.
She took off her shoes and socks, walking slowly on the beach as she felt the sensation of the sand against her soles.
As time passed, Furina's pace gradually quickened and she eventually began to run against the wind.
The girl spread her arms, her face written all over with happiness; her eyes held a flickering light and her cheers echoed on this beach for a long time.
Rina watched Furina's happy face from the Inner Space. Although her expression didn't change much, the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her thoughts.
'How nice. Perhaps only at a time like this can she play like an ordinary girl.'
Just then, an unexpected voice interrupted her thoughts. "Other Me, you should come out and play too."
'Huh? I don't want to. I'm not a child like you.' Rina replied disdainfully, pouting her lips.
"Come on, Other Me." Furina used a coquettish offensive.
However, Rina remained unmoved no matter what was said.
"Fine then..." Furina was a bit disappointed, her running speed slowed down and the ahoge on her head also drooped slightly.
Right at that moment, she felt an extra portion of Hydro power in her left hand. She turned her head to look and saw Rina appearing in the form of an energy body to her left, holding her left hand.
'What are you looking at? I just wanted to come out for some fresh air.' After saying that, Rina also turned her head away tsundere-style, not letting Furina see her expression or her slightly reddened cheeks.
Furina was instantly excited and her drooping ahoge stood tall once again. She "pulled" Rina's hand to admire the seaside scenery on the beach, the two of them running side by side with large strides. The beach that should have been peaceful was left with the laughter of the girls and the footprints left by one girl.
Although the two didn't truly hold hands, it was better than a real handshake.
Furina had a lot of fun tonight. It was the happiest day since her birth, so much so that she didn't even notice her own slightly burning face as they ran.
Tired from running, Furina sat on the ground to rest. Rina sat beside her. She appeared to be resting, but her sharp gaze indicated she was actually on guard for any monster sneak attacks.
Just then, a star-shaped object flickered with light. Furina leaned in to look and saw it was actually a small starfish.
The small starfish was blue in the middle, with its five points gradually turning purple. Furina was instantly attracted by this starfish, picking it up to hold it, and only reluctantly putting it back after stroking it many times.
This starfish is called a Lumitoile. Rina watched Furina's actions and silently noted the things Furina liked in her heart.
.
.
.
The next morning at the Opera Epiclese.
"I heard that Lady Furina will also come to watch the opera performance today."
"Really? Lady Furina's taste certainly won't be bad. It seems my ticket was worth the purchase."
"Exactly! This newly staged opera today is definitely not simple."
Furina sat in the Hydro Archon's exclusive chair, crossed her legs, and stared straight at the stage, looking forward to the start of the performance.
Soon, the lights in the theater went out, and the whole place fell silent in an instant.
The play mainly performed the story of a beautiful but stubborn Gypsy girl—Carmen, a tobacco factory worker.
She made the military squad leader Don José fall in love and abandon his gentle and kind lover from the countryside, Micaëla. Later, Don José was arrested and imprisoned for letting her go after she fought with the female workers. After being released from prison, he joined the ranks of smugglers she belonged to.
However, Carmen later fell in love with the bullfighter Escamillo. While people were cheering for Escamillo's victory in the bullfight, she died under Don José's dagger.
[The beginning of the French opera, "Carmen."]
Rina originally thought Furina's coming to watch the opera was just a whim, but she didn't expect her to be truly interested in opera. At least this time, she watched with rapt attention throughout and her bright eyes showed she hadn't been distracted for a moment.
This opera was indeed not simple.
During the period when the nobility ruled Fontaine for a long time, most operas featured high-ranking officials and noblemen as protagonists. This play, however, featured female workers, soldiers of peasant origin, and the masses as protagonists, which was truly an innovation.
During this period, the ascension of the new Hydro Archon and the arrival of the Iudex had severely weakened the rule of the nobles, leading Fontaine into a new era.
The staging of this opera also seemed to indicate that—a new era had truly arrived.
With such a connotation and the Hydro Archon's presence and support, combined with its good quality, this play became an instant hit throughout Fontaine. Suddenly, various theater troupes vied for requests to restage it.
"Other Me, teach me how to sing opera—" Inside the Inner Space, Furina pulled Rina's hand, shaking it constantly and acting coquettishly.
'I teach you? For real? Go learn it yourself.' Rina was a bit speechless. She could see Furina really liked opera, but she truly didn't expect Furina to want to sing opera too.
Although she had known a lot of knowledge since her birth and naturally knew a bit about opera, she was just lazy.
"But, in the eyes of outsiders, a god doesn't need to learn. If I actively go to learn opera, I'll be suspicious!"
When Furina said this, her tone lowered slightly and her eyes looked at Rina.
When Rina heard this, she thought it made quite a bit of sense. She didn't want Fontaine to be destroyed either; in fact, she wanted to work hard to save Fontaine just like Furina. Plus, with Furina's pitiful big eyes looking at her, she had no choice but to agree.
"Yay, Other Me is the best!" Seeing that Rina was willing to teach her, Furina also became happy. This way, she wouldn't have to worry about anyone discovering her learning process.
What a joke, how could the Inner Space be seen by others?
However, Rina miscalculated this time. If she had thought more thoroughly, she would have realized that with the previous experience, no one would suspect the authenticity of Furina's identity as the Hydro Archon. Furina's behavior would only lead the people to think the Hydro Archon loved learning.
It was just that as soon as Furina acted coquettishly towards her and then mentioned the outcome she couldn't accept, Rina's brain short-circuited for a moment, and she directly agreed to Furina's request.
However, did Rina really miscalculate?
She could increase some time spent with Furina, so why not?
Rina: Didn't expect that, did you?