This thought emerged without warning, causing Lovia herself to be momentarily stunned.
She carefully sensed her surroundings and found that she didn't seem to feel any discomfort; she attributed this to the Melusine's mysterious Talents and pushed the question to the back of her mind.
Perhaps because it was suddenly quiet, all sorts of messy thoughts began to pop up. Before she could continue enjoying the scenery, another idea unexpectedly surfaced.
She was suddenly curious: if she jumped directly into the sea now, how long would it take to swim to Fontaine?
This thought was even more ridiculous than the last one, carrying a bit of whimsical silliness that made Lovia unable to resist pursing her lips, nearly laughing out loud.
Jump into the sea? Swim to Fontaine?
She imagined the scene: jumping into the vast ocean with a 'plop,' then paddling hard like a little Fish, huffing and puffing as she swam for several days and nights... She was a Melusine, so it seemed feasible.
But what if she got lost? The ocean looked the same everywhere, and she didn't even know where Fontaine was.
She instinctively hugged her arms, as if she could already feel the icy coldness of the seawater.
No, no, this idea was too stupid, and it sounded exhausting. Why would she think such a thing?
Lovia's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the cabin door.
Was it because she knew Neuvillette was right next door that her whole body had relaxed, and she started letting her imagination run wild?
Speaking of which, if she really jumped into the sea, would Neuvillette be startled? Would he then hurriedly dive into the water to Fish her out?
She really wanted to know how fast the Hydro Dragon King could swim~
"Maybe even faster than this ship," Lovia whispered to herself, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a strand of hair.
She was so lost in thought that even the tail behind her swayed gently with her musings, as if simulating the motion of swimming.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the cabin door.
Lovia was startled, sitting bolt upright like a frightened little animal. She quickly adjusted her expression and posture before responding, "P-Please come in."
She had expected it to be Neuvillette, but found that it wasn't.
The door was pushed open gently, and a waiter in a neat uniform entered carrying a tray. His movements were slow and precise, with a polite smile on his face. His gaze did not linger on Lovia, appearing very professional.
"Good evening, Miss. Here is your dinner." The waiter placed the tray on the small table in the center of the room. On it were several exquisite dishes, their aroma drifting through the air.
"Lord Neuvillette specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare some light and easily digestible meals for you. We hope they are to your liking."
The waiter's words were calm and natural, yet they made Lovia's heart flutter slightly.
He was the one who ordered it... "Th-Thank you," she thanked him in a small voice.
The waiter bowed slightly. "Please enjoy your meal."
With that, he quietly withdrew, closing the door softly behind him.
Silence returned to the cabin, leaving only the sound of waves gently lapping against the hull and the aroma of food permeating the air.
Lovia walked to the table and looked down at the food on the tray.
Perfectly grilled Fish, a dish of Seaweed tossed in a clear sauce, several pieces of white Shellfish Meat emitting a faint savory scent, and a glass of clear water.
It looked like Fontaine-style cuisine, completely different from Liyue dishes.
She picked up her knife and fork and carefully took a bite of the Fish; the delicious flavor instantly melted in her mouth.
It tasted wonderful and was indeed as light as the waiter had said. It also felt a bit warm, soothing her nerves which had become somewhat restless from her wild thoughts.
Next, she carefully tasted the Seaweed, which was as transparent as glazed glass. Instantly, a refreshing flavor spread through her mouth.
The Shellfish Meat was tender, and the glass of water was even more delicious. Lovia could tell it was some kind of spring water, similar to Nongfu Spring but even better. (Neuvillette: Actually, that's from my private collection.)
She ate in small bites, and the silly idea about 'jumping into the sea to swim' had long been dispersed by this tangible care.
This dinner suited her taste perfectly; Neuvillette had even considered these details.
How wonderful!!
After finishing dinner and placing the tray outside the door, Lovia walked to the porthole again.
Night had fallen outside. The sea breeze was cooler than during the day, blowing in through the slightly open gap with a moist, salty scent.
Lovia looked at the boundless sea, no longer thinking about strange questions like how long it would take to swim to Fontaine.
After all, she couldn't understand what was wrong with her today. Her thoughts were becoming more erratic and bolder one after another, hardly like her usual self.
She just quietly watched the bow of the ship break through the waves, finding it quite interesting.
After watching for a long while, Lovia let out a yawn, feeling a bit sleepy. She rubbed her eyes, gently touched the quill pen on her left arm, and then pulled the curtain over the porthole, deciding to get some good rest to welcome tomorrow's voyage.
Still, she really wanted to see just how fast a Hydro Dragon could swim.
Maybe, once they reached Fontaine and found a suitable moment, just asking... would be okay, right?
Thinking this, Lovia curled up on the cabin bed, which wasn't very spacious but was comfortable enough.
The rhythmic rocking of the ship allowed her body to gradually relax.
Sleepiness surged like a tide, blurring those bizarre imaginings into warm, hazy patches of color. Hugging her soft pillow like a little animal that had found a safe nest, she soon drifted into a dreamland.
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