King remained silent for a few seconds.
"As for a home..."
He spoke softly, "The Opera Epiclese is quite large. Which room would you like to stay in?"
Columbina froze for a moment.
Then, a smile brighter than the sun blossomed on that exquisite little face.
"Is it really okay?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Then I want to stay in the room next to yours!"
"Alright."
"I want to see you every day!"
"Alright."
"I want you to talk with me!"
"Alright."
"I want..."
Columbina thought for a moment, then suddenly took a step closer, "looking" at King expectantly with those closed eyes.
"I want you to give me a hug."
King looked at him.
He looked at his serious face.
Then he reached out and gently rubbed the top of his head.
"Next time, for sure."
Columbina was completely stunned.
Then, his cheeks flushed with a faint pink at a visible speed.
"You... you're rubbing my head..."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Mm-hmm."
King withdrew his hand, his tone flat.
"Is there a problem?"
Columbina opened his mouth to say something, but found himself unable to speak.
He lowered his head and covered his face with both hands.
"Ooh..."
A very soft sound.
It was unclear whether it was out of joy or shyness.
...
Nearby, Arlecchino silently took a step back.
He felt he should disappear right now.
Neuvillette stood where he was, completely petrified.
It's over.
Furina, you're finished.
This woman's level is too high.
So high that even he couldn't understand it.
First playing the victim, then confessing, and finally offering to give everything to King...
Who could possibly withstand this?!
Neuvillette felt he should do something for Furina.
But there was nothing he could do.
He could only watch helplessly as another "formidable enemy" officially moved into the Opera Epiclese.
...
Columbina lowered his hands and looked up.
The blush on his face hadn't faded yet, but those closed eyes had curved into two crescents.
"King, thank you."
His voice was softer and gentler than before.
"I finally... have a home."
King looked at him and suddenly smiled.
A very faint smile.
But he had indeed smiled.
"Mm, congratulations."
The warm sunlight spilled through the window, shining upon the two of them.
A new day had begun.
...
The morning light poured in, spreading a warm halo across the long table.
People were seated on both sides of the long table.
The head seat was empty; that was King's place.
Seated on the left were Raiden Ei, Ganyu, Venti, and the invited Wriothesley.
On the right were Furina, Lumine, Paimon, Clorinde, and Lynette.
The long dining table was almost full, packed with various breakfast items.
Creamy Mushroom Soup, crispy croissants, fresh fruit platters, and Small Cakes that Lynette had specially baked early in the morning.
Paimon had long since been unable to wait and floated to the dining table.
His short little hand stealthily reached for the plate of pastries closest to him.
Smack.
Lumine's chopsticks accurately tapped the back of his hand.
"Wait until everyone is here before eating."
Paimon withdrew his hand aggrievedly and muttered:
"Paimon's hungry... Why isn't King here yet..."
Just as he finished speaking, the dining room door was pushed open.
King walked in, followed by two figures—
Arlecchino, with silver-white hair and crimson eyes.
And Columbina, with closed eyes and a faint smile on his lips.
The atmosphere in the dining room paused subtly for a moment.
Raiden Ei lifted her eyelids to glance at the two of them, then continued to focus on the Fontaine-style dessert in front of her.
It was enough that King had arrived.
As for who was following behind him, it was irrelevant.
Ganyu nodded politely in greeting, his gaze lingering on the two Fatui Harbingers for a few seconds before he lowered his head to record something in a small notebook.
Venti's eyes lit up, and he raised his wine glass to toast from afar: "Oh my, the Damselette has graced us with her presence. It's certainly lively today~"
Wriothesley sat silently, his expression unreadable, surrounded by a very low atmospheric pressure.
And Furina—
Clatter.
The fork in his hand dropped onto the plate.
Furina's eyes widened as he looked at Arlecchino, then at Columbina, then at King, and finally back at the two Fatui Harbingers.
"Wait."
He spoke, his voice somewhat hurried.
"Why are Harbingers of the Fatui appearing in the Opera Epiclese?!"
Columbina tilted his head and gave Furina an innocent smile.
"My name is Columbina~"
His voice was ethereal and dreamy, as if he were singing.
"I'll be living in the Opera Epiclese from now on. Please take care of me, Furina."
Furina: "...???"
Furina's cheeks puffed up instantly.
Before Furina could blow his top, a voice rang out.
"Lynette."
Arlecchino's tone was calm, but his crimson eyes were full of tenderness and affection.
Lynette looked up, gazing longingly at this "Father."
Something was shimmering in those grayish-purple eyes.
"Father."
She spoke softly, her voice a bit softer than usual.
Arlecchino nodded, his gaze carefully sweeping over Lynette.
From the tips of her hair to the hem of her clothes, from her expression to her posture.
Then, he nodded slightly.
"You have done well."
Just five simple words.
Lynette's cat ears perked up high!
Those grayish-purple eyes, which were usually half-squinted, were now wide open, filled with joy.
Her cat tail swayed back and forth, swaying quite happily.
Arlecchino's lips curled up slightly as he watched Lynette like this.
Clorinde sat opposite, watching Lynette's silly display, and silently turned on the Kamera.
Don't misunderstand.
As a law enforcement officer, it's perfectly reasonable for me to carry a Kamera with me, right?
Meanwhile, Furina's cheeks had puffed up into a standard pufferfish shape.
King felt a sense of foreboding.
He quickly pointed to Neuvillette, who was arriving late behind them.
"The two of them were brought in by Neuvillette."
Just as Neuvillette stepped into the dining room, he heard his name being mentioned.
He froze in place, cane held mid-air, his face written with the dazed confusion of "who am I, where am I."
Neuvillette, who had been made the scapegoat, opened his mouth to explain, but then realized...
It seemed it really was his responsibility?
Neuvillette felt a bit aggrieved.
But he struggled for a long time without being able to come up with a reason.
Furina looked at his Iudex's pitiful state and felt like laughing.
After all, he was an old friend who had accompanied him for five hundred years.
He ultimately didn't want to bully the Honest Dragon.
So Furina changed the subject, his gaze falling back on Arlecchino and Columbina.
"Forget it."
He gave a light snort, his chin tilting up slightly as he put on the majesty of the Hydro Archon of Fontaine.
"Regardless of how you got here, leave as soon as you finish this meal."
After he finished, he gave another "hmpf," thinking himself very majestic.
Arlecchino's eyes narrowed slightly.
He didn't have any ill intent.
But his appearance was cold and aloof.
With this narrowing of eyes, those eyes looked like a predator eyeing its prey.
A sense of crisis rushed toward him!
Furina was so scared his hair stood on end, and he instantly straightened his spine.
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