By the time King returned to the Opera Epiclese, the evening glow had already dyed half the sky red.
He pushed open the door to his room, and what met his eyes was a scene of chaotic yet strangely eerie harmony.
Furina was sitting on the edge of his bed, holding a teacup that Lumine had handed to her with both hands.
Her head was lowered, and the black tea in the cup sloshed slightly; clearly, her mind was not on the tea.
"I'm so useless," she muttered softly, her voice muffled. "I couldn't do anything, and there are still so many bad people in Fontaine."
Lumine sat beside her, gently patting her back, her voice as tender as if she were coaxing a child: "You've already done very well. No one else could have done better."
"But, but—"
"No buts." Lumine interrupted her, her amber eyes full of earnestness. "You deeply love your people, and that is enough. It's truly remarkable."
Furina sniffled, her eyes stinging.
Paimon was floating in mid-air, completely oblivious to the somber atmosphere, sticking her little bottom out as she rummaged through King's bookshelf.
"Paimon's hungry... Paimon wants food..."
She muttered as she searched, her short hands pawing at the upper shelves, knocking several books askew.
"Does King have any tasty treats hidden here..."
Ganyu was squatting in a corner, curled into a tiny ball, her eyes secretly darting around.
This was her first time entering a boy's room.
She was here to learn by order of the Rex Lapis.
This was a perfectly legitimate reason!
Even though Mr. King wasn't in the room, still—
*Gulp.*
Ganyu swallowed hard, her cheeks as red as a ripe Sunsettia.
Initiating study mode.
Her peripheral vision caught King's bathrobe, and she quickly looked away;
It caught King's underwear, and she quickly looked away;
It caught something under King's bed—
"!!"
Ganyu abruptly lowered her head and covered her face with both hands, wishing she could bury herself in a crack in the floor.
Clorinde was currently doing a deep clean of the room.
Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing half of her fair forearms. With a rag in hand, she was wiping King's desk with an almost pious attitude.
The books on the desk that Paimon had messed up were picked up by her one by one; she carefully wiped away non-existent dust before stacking them neatly.
After finishing the desk, she turned to the windowsill, drew the curtains to let the remaining evening light in, and began wiping the window glass.
Her movements were earnest and her expression focused, as if this weren't a bedroom but some sacred hall.
Lynette was not in the room.
The faint sound of chopping vegetables, "thud thud," and the crisp clinking of pots and pans came from the kitchen.
Clearly, that cat-eared girl was preparing dinner for someone.
King stood at the door, watching this scene, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
Then he stepped inside.
"I'm back."
Everyone in the room stopped their movements simultaneously.
"King!"
Paimon was the first to react, flying over with a "whoosh," her large eyes full of anticipation.
"You're back! Did you bring any good food?"
King reached out and flicked her forehead.
"Next time for sure."
Paimon clutched her forehead and floated back dejectedly: "Wuu... Paimon is so hungry."
Lumine looked up and gave him a smile: "You're back?"
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