As soon as the little girl shouted out, her mother hurriedly pulled her back and offered Lovia an apologetic smile.
Neuvillette's steps paused slightly as he turned to look at Lovia, who was half a step behind him. He saw that her previously cheerfully wagging tail had frozen mid-air before slowly drooping down to wrap around her own calf. She lowered her head slightly, her antennae trembling faintly, and even her footsteps became hesitant.
His profound gaze swept over her deliberately lowered eyelids.
"Does the sea breeze of Fontaine make you uncomfortable?" Neuvillette suddenly spoke.
Lovia was slightly taken aback, unsure of his meaning, and shook her head gently.
"Here, difference is not something that needs to be hidden." He noticed she was still unconsciously biting the inside of her lip—perhaps a subtle habit when she was nervous.
"The people of Fontaine are sometimes accustomed to expressing their feelings bluntly," he said, his gaze forward, his voice steady. "Their curiosity is mostly without malice."
At that moment, the children were peering curiously from not far away again. Instead of stopping them, Neuvillette gave a slight nod to the little girl who had first noticed Lovia. Seeing this, the girl's mother also relaxed and smiled at Neuvillette.
"Look at those children," Neuvillette's voice softened a little. "Your existence, to them, is merely another interesting discovery in this vast world."
Following his gaze, Lovia saw that the children had already been drawn to the novel machinery by the dock and had run off, the earlier incident long forgotten.
The little tail behind her involuntarily relaxed, then gave a small, slight wag.
The sea breeze blew past, carrying the joyful laughter of the children in the distance.
Neuvillette turned to Lovia, leaning in slightly and speaking in a volume only she could hear clearly: "When I first came to Fontaine, I too was the center of attention for being different. But this city, its people, taught me that uniqueness is not a flaw to be hidden, but a gift to be cherished."
Hearing his reassurance, Lovia's heart gave a sudden leap.
She knew exactly what Neuvillette was referring to. He was originally the Hydro Dragon King, yet born in human form. To Fontaine, he was 'unique'; to the successive generations of Hydro Dragon Kings, his human form was still 'unique.'
This resonance held more power than any hollow comfort.
Looking at the iudex before her, whose demeanor was always composed and unflappable, she thought of when he first arrived in Fontaine. He too must have had moments of hesitation, needing to adapt to the gazes focused on the 'other,' perhaps even facing exclusion from others.
What she'saw' was the loneliness of walking a long path alone, set apart from his surroundings by his ancient and noble lineage.
Even someone as powerful as he had walked a similar path.
Moreover, Neuvillette back then also had to learn to integrate into human society, which was far more difficult than her situation. Yet now, he had so lightly turned his own past experience into words to comfort her.
Lovia took a slight breath. The moist air of Fontaine filled her lungs, carrying a hint of fresh sweetness. She raised her eyes, her gaze no longer evasive, and looked seriously at Neuvillette.
"Thank you. I understand," she responded softly. "I just... need a little more time to get used to it."
"There's no need to rush to get used to it," Neuvillette said calmly, resuming his steps while maintaining a certain distance, doing his best to shield her from the curious glances. "Take your time."
Lovia gave a soft "Mm," her tail unconsciously giving a flick before resuming its natural, drooping posture. Following Neuvillette's pace, she felt the ground of Fontaine beneath her feet seemed less strange.
They passed through the bustling dock area and headed towards the relatively quieter waterfront promenade. The water reflected Fontaine's splendid architecture, and occasionally an aquabus would pass by, sounding its steam whistle.
Neuvillette said nothing more, simply walking silently by her side. But his silence wasn't cold or harsh; it felt more like patient companionship, silently telling her: Don't worry, don't panic, I am here.
As they walked, Lovia couldn't help but steal a glance, studying Neuvillette's profile.
The sunlight outlined his handsome jawline and added a touch of Warmth to his face, which usually appeared overly cool and stern.
She suddenly recalled descriptions of him from memory: powerful and just (plus ten boxes half-price), yet carrying a hint of aloofness (except with the Melusines). But the iudex walking beside her now would mention his own not-entirely-pleasant past to comfort a Little Melusine who was new and anxious.
She tried to focus more on the surrounding scenery, on the diverse pedestrians along the road. She noticed that although some still cast curious glances, most of those looks would naturally shift away.
It was completely different from what she had previously believed in Liyue—that she would be arrested and put on trial.
But the law stating 'non-human beings may not transform into humans' definitely existed in Fontaine! Even though she was a born Humanoid Melusine, others wouldn't know that, right??
This had been one of the major reasons for the anxiety in her heart before setting foot on this land.
But now... she carefully recalled the journey from the dock to the promenade. Those glances, while curious, held no malice, let alone vigilance or scrutiny. Everything felt so natural, as if the appearance of a Humanoid Melusine like her was something novel yet entirely acceptable.
This was too'strange.'
Unless... Lovia's gaze fell on a group of uniformed Marechaussee Phantom personnel conducting routine patrols not far ahead.
They clearly saw Neuvillette and her. The leader respectfully saluted from a distance. When his gaze swept over her, it seemed to hold understanding, even 'confirmation.' They did not approach to disturb them.
Lovia's heartbeat quickened slightly. A bold conjecture gradually took shape: Perhaps Neuvillette hadn't made a big announcement, but he had, in some way, conveyed information to Fontaine before her arrival.
At the very least, he ensured her appearance wouldn't cause unnecessary misunderstandings or trouble. He had used his own authority and credibility to quietly pave the way for her.
This thoughtfulness was as understated as Neuvillette himself (the dragon).
This made her feel more at ease than any direct promise.
She looked at Neuvillette again. He continued walking in silence, as if everything around him was unrelated.
Lovia gave a soft sniff. The lingering trace of fear in her heart finally began to dissipate.
She slightly quickened her pace, gathered her courage, and tried to emulate the people by the dock, straightening her spine more naturally. The tail belonging to a Melusine swayed gently behind her.
She didn't want to 'hide' anymore.
"Lord Neuvillette," she spoke softly, her voice brighter than before. "The scenery of Fontaine is even more... reassuring than I imagined."
Neuvillette's steps didn't falter. He merely tilted his head slightly, the corner of his eye glancing at her now-relaxed posture and her eyes, which had regained their sparkle.
"Mm, it's good that you like it," he replied, his words seeming to carry a touch of softness... Neuvillette took Lovia directly to Fontaine's administrative institution to complete a series of necessary registration procedures.
The entire process was efficient and calm. The staff clearly recognized the iudex but maintained a professional attitude. When they saw Lovia, their eyes held a bit of friendly curiosity, but they asked no further questions.
After the procedures were completed, Neuvillette took Lovia to her new residence.
They walked along Fontaine's tidy streets under the bright sunshine.
Just as they were about to turn into a relatively quiet lane, crisp voices in conversation came from ahead.
[Bonus Chapter Progress Bar: 60%]
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