It didn't take long; about fifteen minutes later, Lovia reappeared at the door.
She was carrying a duffel bag that was quite large for her, made of ordinary material and simple in style. The small cloak she had been holding earlier was gone, likely tucked away properly inside the luggage.
At this moment, she stood in broad daylight with her true appearance fully revealed, though her gaze still shifted somewhat hesitantly.
Lovia quickly walked over to Neuvillette.
"I... I'm finished packing," she reported, looking up at him slightly before hurriedly lowering her eyes, as if checking to see if her behavior was appropriate.
Neuvillette's gaze swept over her and the duffel bag as he asked gently, "Is this all? Are there any other items you need to take with you or dispose of?"
Lovia shook her head, her voice soft but certain. "No, everything important is here."
She subconsciously pressed her free hand against the spot on her left arm where the quill pen was.
Neuvillette's gaze flickered briefly over her subconscious movement to protect the quill pen, but he did not linger.
He didn't ask further questions, but simply reached out naturally—not to take her hand, but to gesture for the bag. "Let me."
Lovia hesitated for a moment before handing over the somewhat heavy duffel bag. Neuvillette took it with ease; the bag that felt exceptionally heavy in her hands seemed as light as nothing in his.
"Is everything settled?" he asked for final confirmation.
"Yes," Lovia replied softly, taking one last look back at the small house that had provided her shelter, her eyes filled with lingering attachment and reluctance.
"Then, we shall set off for Fontaine," Neuvillette said steadily. Carrying her luggage, he turned to lead the way. "If you feel an attachment to this place, I promise to accompany you back for a visit anytime in the future."
"Yes, thank you."
...After walking some distance, Lovia still couldn't help but look back, catching one last glimpse of that lonely little house.
It already looked very small in her field of vision.
An indescribable, unfamiliar emotion welled up in her heart. It wasn't pure sadness, but more like a farewell to a period of solitude.
Neuvillette seemed to sense her mood; his pace remained steady, and he did not rush her despite her looking back.
Soon, it gradually shrank until it finally vanished from sight... As they approached the harbor, the sounds of people became clearer.
Lovia unconsciously slowed her pace, her body stiffening for a moment. There were too many people, completely different from the few she had seen earlier. Passersby still cast glances their way, and though those looks weren't malicious—and mostly fell on Neuvillette—they still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Just then, Neuvillette, walking half a step ahead of her, imperceptibly slowed his pace. He didn't look back or offer words of comfort, but this subtle movement shielded Lovia from most of the prying eyes.
Lovia was slightly startled, then immediately understood his intention.
As expected, the pressure from her surroundings lessened significantly.
Neuvillette did not lead Lovia toward the bustling main pier, but turned instead onto a quieter side path. At the end of the path was a small vessel moored there. Unlike the rugged cargo ships nearby, it was elegant and ornate, with a flag bearing Fontaine's patterns flying from it.
"This is..." Lovia was a bit surprised.
"One of the regular ships that travels between Liyue and Fontaine," Neuvillette explained in a casual tone. "To avoid unnecessary attention, we will take this back."
Neuvillette was so thoughtful; he really was a good person, Lovia thought.
After all, given his status, he could have left in a much more conspicuous manner, yet he chose the most low-profile one.
The boarding process was exceptionally smooth. Upon seeing Neuvillette, the crew members simply bowed respectfully without saying much. They didn't cast too many curious glances at Lovia following beside him, which put her much more at ease.
Neuvillette led her to an elegantly furnished cabin and placed her luggage by the bed.
Outside the porthole were the azure sea and the receding silhouette of Liyue Harbor.
"This will be your room. The voyage will take some time, so you may rest here." Neuvillette let go of the bag and walked to the window. "If you need anything, you may inform me at any time."
Lovia nodded and walked to another porthole, gazing outside.
Seagulls circled and cried at the stern, and the sea surface shattered into thousands of golden scales under the sunlight.
Having left the solid ground and sailing toward an unknown country, her heart didn't feel much panic.
Perhaps it was because the person who had promised her a place to stay was by her side.
The ship steadily cut through the waves. The mountains of Liyue gradually turned into blurred silhouettes on the horizon, eventually disappearing completely below the sea level.
Time on the voyage passed in silence.
Neuvillette spent most of the time sitting quietly to the side, either leafing through a book he brought with him or staring out the window at the sea in contemplation. He didn't make a forced effort to talk to Lovia, yet he silently created a space that made her feel safe.
Lovia would occasionally steal glances at him.
She watched his posture as he sat there—calm and majestic, yet without any sense of oppression.
She remembered his figure appearing silently like a guardian deity in Liyue Harbor, the tenderness in how he knelt to look her in the eye, and every word of apology and promise he had spoken.
An unfamiliar ache spread through her chest.
It was the feeling of being cherished and protected.
It was something she had almost never experienced in her past life... The slight sound of Neuvillette closing his book pulled Lovia's wandering thoughts back. Only then did she realize she had been staring out the window in a daze for a long time.
He stood up with natural grace, not disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in the cabin.
"Lovia," he called her name, "the voyage from here to Fontaine will take about a week."
A week.
Lovia silently repeated the time in her mind, gaining a clearer concept of the long journey at sea.
"I need to return to my own room temporarily to handle some matters," Neuvillette continued, his gentle gaze falling on her. "You can rest in your room, or if you feel bored, you can walk around the ship a bit. This vessel is very safe."
He paused slightly and gave more explicit guidance: "My room is right next door. If you need anything during this time, or if you encounter any situation that makes you feel uneasy, you can come find me."
His instructions were clear and thorough, explaining the reason for his departure, confirming the ship's safety, and most importantly, emphasizing the way to seek help.
It was as if he had drawn a circle of protection around her.
Lovia felt a warmth in her heart and nodded to show she understood. She watched Neuvillette walk toward the cabin door. His tall back paused at the doorway, seemingly to confirm she was alright, before he gently pulled the door open and stepped out.
The cabin door closed behind him with a soft click.
Suddenly, Lovia was the only one left in the cabin, along with the rising and falling sound of the waves outside the window.
That reassuring, steady aura seemed to linger in the air, but she was indeed alone now.
She let out a soft sigh, unsure if it was relief or a sense of helplessness at being alone. She sat back down on the cushioned chair by the window, hugging her knees, and cast her gaze out the porthole once more.
The sky had begun to take on the warm tones of dusk. Away from the coast of Liyue, the sea revealed its vast side—boundless, where the sea and sky met as one.
A week's time... what would it be like?
She subconsciously touched the quill pen on her left arm again; the cold feel of the barrel was familiar.
This time, the movement held less tension and more of a reassuring confirmation.
The duffel bag sat quietly in the corner of the room, containing all her important belongings, including that neatly folded cloak.
She knew that within the range Neuvillette had specified, she was safe.
This thought prevented her from feeling too much panic, even while staying alone in an unfamiliar cabin gradually shrouded by twilight.
The waves gently rocked the ship. Lovia rested her chin on her knees, her sapphire-like eyes reflecting the changing scenery outside the window.
So, do Melusines get seasick?
[Author's Note: I'll mention here that after looking at the map, I found Liyue doesn't seem to have a direct waterway to Fontaine, so I've made a custom setting that it actually can go straight through. (Because I really wanted Neuvillette to take Lovia on a boat)]
[Bonus Chapter Progress: 57%]
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