Hearing Aveline explain it, Lin En's interest was immediately piqued.
So it was actually a special case?
Aveline didn't keep him in suspense. She glanced around at the scenery, confirmed their location, and revealed a look of "as expected" before continuing:
"This is near Poisson. That tunnel over there is called the Poisson Tunnel. Back when these waterways were built, the town's administrator contributed greatly—or rather, they were the ones who built them."
"Even the names of the three routes come from that administrator's family of three."
"Clementine is the administrator's wife."
"Of course, they only retained naming rights. The later operations and maintenance were handed over to the authorities."
"In Liyue terms, you could call it a gesture of gratitude. The authorities allow that family to apply in advance when needed, so a railboat can make a brief stop at a specific time and place. It's basically—"
Just then, a bright, slightly heroic female voice cut in:
"Basically a small privilege granted by the authorities to the Caspar family—or rather, to the Spina di Rosula."
"Phew! Glad I made it in time. Haven't seen you in a while, Aveline. Just got back? And this gentleman—hello."
"My name is Navia. Navia Caspar."
—————
Navia hadn't been in a particularly good mood today.
She had finally arranged things in advance and caught her father on a rare free day, planning to go shopping for clothes together in Fontaine City.
Recently, at her coming-of-age birthday party, the arrival of a Geo Vision had not only made her happy—
It had also sparked a newfound enthusiasm for combat and training.
That in itself wasn't a problem.
Having a Vision meant having the potential to grow stronger.
And as the heir to the Spina di Rosula, having solid combat ability was only a good thing.
Her friends and family were all delighted.
The only downside?
Her clothes were wearing out faster than usual—
Especially when she got sudden bursts of inspiration and tried out new techniques.
Her father, Callas, wasn't extravagant in daily life—
Except when it came to his precious daughter's living conditions.
Fortunately, his upbringing was solid, and Navia's nature was good.
She hadn't turned into some spoiled noble.
But the tailors in Poisson simply couldn't meet her needs.
She had to go to Fontaine City for proper outfits.
For today's trip, she had even used her special privilege.
Instead of taking her usual speedboat, she booked a railboat—planning to travel normally with her father for once.
But just before departure—
An unexpected incident arose.
Callas, though apologetic, firmly broke their appointment.
What could Navia do?
She took her recently acquired umbrella gun to the shooting range and vented her frustration.
After that… life went on.
She still needed to buy clothes.
She didn't switch to a speedboat either.
After all, she had just been stood up—she wasn't about to stand someone else up immediately.
And yet—
After hurrying to the designated meeting point—
She found an unexpected surprise.
Her childhood friend, Aveline, was actually on the boat!
She had been missing for months, which had worried Navia quite a bit.
Sure, Aveline had gone into long periods of culinary seclusion before—
But locking yourself in a Fontaine kitchen was one thing.
Running off abroad was another.
But seeing her now—
Standing so close to that young man, their posture intimate…
She got a boyfriend?
Navia's excitement instantly flared.
After months apart, her cooking-obsessed friend returned—
With a boyfriend?!
Alright then.
Let's see what kind of guy could—
"Hello, I'm Navia. Navia Caspar."
Just as she finished introducing herself, the man turned toward her.
And in that moment—
His figure—
Especially his face—
Entered her sight.
…A man like this actually exists?
For a moment, everything she had planned to say next vanished from her mind.
His looks?
His temperament?
If it were only those, Navia would admire him—but not to this extent.
Fontaine City was full of people who looked the part.
Her father, despite declining the title of "Count," was still the leader of the Spina di Rosula and the de facto ruler of Poisson.
Naturally, he was part of the upper circles.
Growing up attending various events with him, Navia had seen plenty of things.
Callas never shielded her from the uglier side of society.
On the contrary, he would explain everything—
The truths, the hidden motives, the deeper logic behind it all.
Because of that, Navia had long developed resistance.
Those handsome, refined-looking individuals?
She knew exactly how rotten they often were beneath the surface.
But this man—
He carried something else.
A kind of… presence.
A "flavor," almost.
She couldn't find the right word.
But the moment she saw him—
Even as she acknowledged his unmatched appearance and aura—
A strong instinct surged within her:
This man was absolutely not someone who looked good on the outside but was rotten within.
No wonder her friend—who always claimed she only cared about cooking—had suddenly gotten into a relationship.
A man like this actually exists in the world?!
If you enjoy this story, check my other novels with faster updates:
🔥 Honkai VS Genshin: I Only Provide the Arena[Dark_verse.webnovel]
🔥Genshin Impact: Wandering Teyvat, Driving Players Crazy[WillofD.webnovel]
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Link : https://www.webnovel.com/book/34797228908596205?
2: https://www.webnovel.com/book/35290404608145805?