Chapter Text
“We are going to infiltrate the Palais Mermonia.” Lyney’s great claim elicited a mix of excited and skeptical reactions.
Taking refuge in a safe house on the outskirts of the Court of Fontaine, the group found themselves in a tense lull - Furina didn’t quite understand if it was Fatui’s and Spina’s facility they were making use of. Days spent in forced proximity and obligated inaction gradually revealed the events that brought them together. It was an unlikely allegiance forged mere moments before coming to Furina’s rescue - yet they showed an unsettling efficiency in creating a diversion and outlining an escape plan.
Neuvillette’s unprompted attack that scarred the very ceiling of the tunnel resonated deep within the bowels of the Fleuve Cendre - and in doing so it alerted the Knave and her Fatui. Furina had assumed that Neuvillette’s move had been hastily and badly calculated, or that he was signaling his location to his own backup, but she could not help wondering now if he meant to draw out all his enemies at once. If that was his plan, it backfired terribly.
As the Fatui were making their way up, Navia had circled around and was using one of the several abandoned a maintenance tunnel to make her way down and find back up in the Fleuve Cendre.
Had Furina not been there for the whole story, she would have thought they were long-standing allies, from how they worked like a well-oiled machine together. Yet, a simmering tension hung heavy despite their apparent concord - in spite of their success, a shroud of disquiet settled over the safe house. The source, she ventured, lay in the clashing long-term plans of her unlikely allies.
The unspoken tension induced a lull in their plans, as they tip-toed around each other. At first, they treasured the time to nurse their wounds and regroup, and then enjoyed some more time to breathe - but their restlessness became increasingly evident as they grew impatient with their idleness.
The safe house wasn’t too shabby. It was not the kind of dingy establishment the Gardes would find suspicious enough to raid, with enough room to accommodate everyone - as long as someone agreed to share - and a fully stocked pantry to boot.
“Leaving the how aside for now - and I promise you, it shall be no small feat - why do you suggest we embark on such a perilous undertaking? “ asked Furina. The only thing they stood to gain from entering the Palais Mermonia was a trip to the gallows.
“To gather intel, of course,“ answered Lyney. His siblings hadn’t said a word, but Furina could tell from their unimpressed looks that they had already discussed Lyney’s idea in private. “If we are to continue on the course we agreed on, we must first find a way to leave Fontaine. Only then can we think of seeking aid from foreign countries.“
Furina surveyed the group that had managed to escape the encounter with Neuvillette near the Fleuve Cendre. Apart from Furina herself, it numbered the Fatui whose names she learned at last - Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet. Arlecchino joined them a few hours later, having stayed behind to battle Neuvillette - and, for such a difficult opponent, she had gained remarkably few scratches. The Knave did not stay long though, and Lyney took over as the Fatui’s representative and decision-maker - which made him the whole group’s decision-maker, considering Navia, his supposed counterpart on the Spina’s side, seemed to have abandoned any interest in their future plans. Even now, she was sitting in a corner of the room without any comment on Lyney’s nigh-suicidal plot.
Partially because Furina had no intention of returning to the Palais Mermonia any time soon, partially because her heart wasn’t completely in the plan to flee the kingdom and gather foreign allies, and lastly partially because she’s found Navia’s gloomy countenance suffocating in the already tense and desperate situation, Furina finally turned to the woman to nudge help in turning down Lyney’s proposition.
“That's quite a... bold idea he just tossed out there, but you seem awfully quiet. Surely you can't be on board with that, can you?” prodded Furina. She knew there was no appealing to Lynette and Freminet in this case, so they would still be outnumbered if it came to it. However, they would not hold a vote, so having an ally in the conversation would benefit her.
The cold winter wind whistled against the windows. The cracks of the fire lit in the hearth could not keep the chill of the freezing drafts from causing Furina to shiver. And that was all she could hear for long moments: the whistling of the wind and the cracking and popping of the fire.
“I suppose…it is quite daring.” When she finally spoke, her answer did not truly commit to either side.
“More than just so!” exclaimed Furina. Her sudden outburst seemed to catch Navia’s attention and her eyes finally stopped looking out in the distance, far away outside of the window in front of her, and seemed to put Furina into focus. It was hard to read her expression though, roughly outlined as she was by the bright fire behind her. “You seem so eager to be captured or killed. Then I ask, what have we struggled so long for?”
Furina wasn’t scared of either of those things. Well, not quite. She was scared. She had been scared for so long, and of so much, even before the whole uprising took place, that the fear played no longer any part in her decisions. But she had the hope she could do more than a pointless sacrifice, that all the stumbling and the floundering up until now would amount to something.
“We are all working on the best solution. There is no need to be quite this intense.” Lyney was sitting to Furina’s right. Ever since they gathered in the dining hall, he’d been fiddling with a small metal object - it could be a coin or an arrowhead - turning it over his fingers with practiced ease. It was effortless, an unconscious motion on his part. Watching the small glinting trinket appear and disappear was mesmerizing.
“Really now, Navia hasn't pulled her weight in days," she said, her voice tight. "You three are left to shoulder the bulk of the scouting duties. She even delegated her other duties to me. From the way she is acting, you would be forgiven for thinking she is waiting for the Patrol to find us!“
Surprisingly, it was Lyney who shot her a look between the surprised and the reproachful. “She has her circ*mstances.”
“Don’t we all? Who among us wants to be hiding here, waiting for the Gardes to knock on our door? Our best hope seems to be sauntering right in the lion’s den!”
“Indeed, but not all of us had to be here.” Lyney’s shining trinket lay still on the wooden table now. It was a coin, then. “ Her city has fallen, a puppet Viceroy installed, and all those who could have possibly taken part in the fighting arrested,” said Lyney. Furina could sympathize with her situation - she still vividly remembered how she felt when the castle was attacked and fell, and Furwas ina forced to run from it, unable to do anything as she saw those who took it from her make themselves at home. “And all because she cast her lot with you, Your Majesty. You could at least pretend to be grateful.”
His words were a slap in the face.
I didn’t ask for people to side with me! she wanted to shout but she could not. Even since she took on the role of Queen, she accepted her responsibility and the weight of her people’s expectations. She might not have asked for that. but it made no difference. Her role was bigger than her. She was supposed to shoulder those sacrifices and tell everyone that it would be alright, that she would make it alright.
“It’s fine, Lyney.” Navia cut him off, her voice tight but resolute. “Lady Furina is right. Feeling sorry for myself is pointless. I should - I will snap out of it. I am no use to anyone in the state I am now. So, where were we? Infiltrating the Palais? “
“Yes…Yes, indeed.“ Lyney’s initial hesitation dissolved when he realized there was one more person on board with the plan he teased. At this, Furina could do nothing but resign herself to at least hear the details. Her dissatisfaction was only expressed with a pained groan, but it fell on deaf ears.
“As you know, getting inside the Palais Mermonia was impossible at the best of times,” Furina’s mind flashed back to the ironclad security, at how strict the guards and careful the patrol could be. As the dragons’ attack showed, it was not impossible to seize the palace with a large enough force, but that was not even in the realm of possibility with their measly numbers.
“Lady Furina, we will need you to work with us. We must outline a map of the palace as close as possible to reality.” Lynette chimed in. “You are the one most familiar with the lay of the Palais - and possibly a few quirks and weaknesses that would not be noted on any map at all.”
“If it comes to it, you can leave it to me! The construction of the Palais Mermonia is committed to my memory like…” like a home she’d like to say. Who wouldn’t know their home like the back of their hand? One could navigate its corridors in the complete darkness of the night, could avoid the squeaky floorboard, knew where a cool draft blew in the summer and the warmest place to hide in during the coldest winter months - she doubted they’d want to know something as inconsequential as those details. “-like a sailor knows the starts in the night sky!”
Furina had certainly lived in the palace for a long time. Though she had to admit, she had never looked for chinks in its armor while she went about her day.
Furina’s reply drew a satisfied smirk on Lyney’s face - no doubt, he must have been met with difficulties gathering reliable intel on such a well-guarded place.
“Is the plan for all of us to sneak into the castle? ” Navia raised a good question. “Truth be told, I have never engaged in a similar clandestine operation.“
Furina echoed the sentiment. “Although I reckon I could succeed, it would be no small feat for me either for I fear my lack of experience may prove a hindrance.”
“I know.” Lyney’s smirk was at once reassuring and worrisome. “Do not worry. You will not be climbing walls or digging tunnels. I have devised a different plan for you three. ” Lyney pointed at Furina, Navia, and Freminet in turn. “A group this large will inevitably attract unwanted attention. Lynette and I will use our own methods, while you three will make use of the Palais’ celebrations in honor of the five-year anniversary of the dragons’ rise to power. They are throwing a lavish banquet and ball, with guests from all over the Kingdom and beyond.”
Furina would rather not attend festivities to celebrate the worst day of her life, not even as a cover to facilitate her plans - but there was a compelling point to be made for that being exactly what everyone would expect her to do, too.
“If so many important people will be in attendance, we are bound to be recognized.“ Navia pointed out. Furina had the worst of it, since she was the Queen - not many among the nobles and distinguished subjects of her kingdom would fail to recognize her. However, Navia belonged to the noble class too, and would frequent these important social circles. Furina knew for a fact that many of the Fontanian nobility readily changed their allegiance to keep their lands and titles, finding a way to stay afloat even in these uncharted waters. They would certainly attend the celebration, fawning over their invaders with such convincing and fake honesty, and eagerly turning the wanted criminals over for a chance to gain yet more lands or lofty titles. “Even in the unlikely turn of events that no guest would recognize us, Neuvillette would at least know - “
“He is not going to be there.“ Said Furina, with a gravity seldom heard in her voice. “He never takes part in balls or banquets.“
This was something Furina knew to be true and, at the same time, what she hoped for. She could not bear to face him again. And yet, she longed to see him again. That was the biggest irony: he hurt her more than she could ever put into words and yet he was the one she would look to for comfort, but even that he denied with his betrayal. To still look at the source of her pain to ease it - wasn’t she the biggest fool alive?
“Indeed, he will not be there.“ agreed Lyney. “As for everyone else, they won’t know you. You will be in disguise.”
“So we will disappear among the stream of guests too numerous to count, conceal our identities with masks. We may pass ourselves as nobles from a faraway land.” Furina turned to Freminet and Navia as she spoke. “ I will play the part of a countess - or perhaps even a princess, and you shall be my loyal retinue! Confidence and regal bearing, those I possess in abundance, and it will be more than enough to fool the guards! We'll claim a lost invitation, perhaps blame bandits for stealing our luggage during the journey. No guard would dare question a group with such an air of nobility. Say Lyney, is this what you had in mind?”
Lyney exchanged a knowing look with his siblings.
“Something like that.”
Furina's hair was a dirty, dark color. It was matted and sooty and it was all she could do to keep herself from digging her nail in her scalp. Archons, it itched. It itched just as much as the rough woolen coif that hid most of her hair from sight.
From the look on Navia's face, she felt the same.
Their faces were similarly greasy and stained and they replaced their clothes with baggy and sturdy work garments. They itched as well. Furina’s outfit was completed with the addition of one eye cover on her left eye, meant to mimic a bandage for a work injury. The feeling of having an eye forcefully closed was a strange one, and Furina didn’t care much for it, but her eyes were too recognizable by any onlooker to keep both uncovered.
“Remind me again why he gets to wear that outfit?”
Furina could only spy part of Freminet’s clothing, but she had seen the full picture earlier. He wore a soft knee-length tunic fasted at the waist by a rich belt, an embroidered coat emblazoned with the coat-of-arms of the Akademiya, and a mantle lined with furs. At his side hung an opulent sword with a gold and silver finish. He would look quite grandiose if it weren't for that out-of-place feeling about him as if the very idea of walking up to the castle gates was giving him an ulcer.
Furina just shook her head, dejected. She saw the merits with Lyney’s plan - but surely there must be another way,
When Furina argued that her plan of mingling with the other guests would be just as feasible, the young man just laughed.
“This isn't a play or a book, you know? Something like that would never work in real life. It's fine if you hide in the slums of the Fleuvre Cendre, but who wouldn't recognize you in your element at court?"
To Furina, this scheme wasn't all that different from a fictional plot.
“It is because he is the most personable out of the three of us, so he gets to play the part of the diplomat.”
While Freminet got to act as the genius Akademiya student who came to present his new wondrous contraption, Furina and Navia were stuck playing the hands hired in Fontaine by said genius.
According to Lyney, who had crafted this plan, the two of them were too high profile and the risk of a socialite recognizing them was too high, so further measures should be adopted.
The trick is hiding what you want to conceal most in play sight, but divert the audience's attention.
No one paid attention to the servants and retainers during important social gatherings - Furina knew that first-hand, as someone who always found herself on the other side. It was not a moral judgment of their character but a plain fact - it was easy to tune out the workers and enjoy the feast until they were nothing more than faceless background noise.
What happened to the real Akademiya delegation? No one was willing to clarify this point to Furina. All she knew was that they somehow came into their invitation. Lynette brought it to the safehouse one day, as Furina was pouring over designing the Palais’s map with Freminet.
“And Lyney and Lynette are doing their ninja thing,” added Furina in a whisper. They pointed out a group too big would inevitably be too conspicuous, so they would sneak in undetected, conduct a first reconnaissance of the castle, and rendezvous with everyone else once Furina, Navia and Freminet had successfully infiltrated the castle.
“What are ninjas?” whispered back Navia, confused. Furina shrugged. They were mentioned in passing in a play she watched during a rare diplomatic visit to Inazuma, so she could not claim to be an expert. She remembered how mesmerizing their moves were on stage though - how nimble their movements, and how well they blended with the shadows.
“Some Inazuma thing. If I recall correctly, they are supernatural creatures - phantoms dwelling in hidden shrines that rich lords can hire to dispatch their enemies in the dead of night. They can move in the shadows and even walk through walls to chase their marked victim.” Furina answered with misplaced confidence in hushed tones. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to the play back then.
“That is dreadful,” answered Navia, shivering at the thought. She had apparently forgotten She was supposed to be whispering because her exclamation came out quite loudly.
Furina nodded in agreement, similarly loudly. “It is! Isn’t it?”
“But why would phantoms require remuneration?” Navia’s musing caught Furina by surprise, as the thought never occurred to her. Talks of ninjas aside, Furina was glad to see Navia had shaken the previous gloominess off her.
Furina shrugged again. “I can’t begin to guess. You should ask this to the next Inazuman you meet.”
The failed attempt at spreading foreign culture was cut short when the two noticed the commotion happening in front of the gates. They had stood by close to the cart - which was filled with a towering amount of boxes, crates, and things Furina couldn’t even begin to guess the names of. One thing was sure. They were heavy. She might be able to pull off the role of a porter, but not even her outstanding acting skills could suddenly give her the strength to move those around effortlessly.
They stayed behind and let Freminet deal with the guards, according to their roles. However, things weren’t going too well on that front. The guards had questions for Freminet - and Freminet’s anxious nature made him look all the more suspicious. They were now clamoring to see Freminet’s papers, which he could not possibly produce.
At this rate, they would not even make it inside the palace.
“Is there a problem?” asked Furina, walking up to the guards. She stood by Freminet’s side, arms crossed over her chest.
“He doesn’t have entry papers.“ The guard seemed in a bad mood when he turned his eyes to Furina. “I need you to move all your garbage away from the gates, you’re holding the line up.”
“I didn’t haul this damned stuff all the way from the city to the palace to turn around and take it back. If I do, I’m not getting paid a single Mora for that day, so it isn’t happening.” Admittedly, Furina had limited experience as a laborer. However, she remembered a couple of plays where she played the role of a fieldhand or a tavern maiden - she could tweak those to fit the demeanor of a short-tempered porter. “We have an invitation, it means we’re expected.“
“No papers, no entry.” said the guard. ”I’ve no time to waste on you lot.”
“And I’ve no time to waste on half-witted grunts.” shot back Furina. The more heated the conversation became, the bigger the crowd of curious onlookers formed around the three. Furina snatched the invitation Freminet was holding and waved it into the guard’s face. “I hope you don’t know your letters, because if you did, you’d see that there’s a royal sigil on this blasted thing. That’s all you need to check. Now move aside so we can go in and get on with our work, or you’ll see that this guy’s sword is not just for decoration. Best swordsman in the Akademiya, he is. When your captain’s gonna arrive to check what the fuss is all about, not only will he see you stopped such a distinguished guest - you even got bested in a fight. I bet no one here wants that kind of trouble.”
Furian noticed Freminet slightly squirm beside her, but he at least had the sense to rest his hand on the pommel of his sword. She also held her breath as the guard squared her up and down, then Freminet, then Navia, who stayed some paces behind them.
“Alright. Get on with it.” He finally gave up, stepping aside and gesturing for them to get a move on.
Furina returned to the cart and started pushing it, gripping the wood tighter than she’d need to in order to stop her hands from trembling.
“What was that?” said Navia, slightly out of breath. Moving their luggage wasn’t a simple task.
“We would not even have gotten inside otherwise.“ Furina shrugged her question off. She supposed Navia answered something back, but Furina didn’t hear it.
She saw it as soon as they pushed past the gates - high upon a windswept cliff, overlooking the crystalline blue sea, stood the Palais Mermonia. Carved from pale grey stone and white marble, it gleamed in the morning sun like a pearl upon blue velvet, the sky and sea melting into each other.
The iron-clad doors had been replaced - adorned with the sigil of a golden dragon, they were banded with heavy iron and studded with brutal-looking rivets.
But most of it was just like Furina remembered. Past the gates, beautiful gardens sprawled in front of them, moving like waves lapping the stony walls of the castle. Rainbow Roses, Lumidouce Bells, Lakelight Lilies, and Romaritime Flowers bloomed in profusion, their sweet fragrance mingling with the tang of the sea air. At the very heart of the gardens, a crystal-clear fountain bubbled merrily, its water reflecting the azure sky.
The Palais Mermonia was a place of power, yes, but also a place of unexpected beauty.
It was a castle that evoked stories of chivalry and courtly love, rich history, political schemes, victories and losses - a testament to the enduring human spirit that could not be completely erased by the Dragons, no matter their efforts.
Why was Furina so happy to return to this place - and, at the same time, so afraid? She had once felt the walls stifling, the responsibility crushing, the days harder and harder to bear. Yet, she could now not suppress the joy of coming home and the sting of pain of knowing her home could be found there no longer.
“Forgive me, my lady! I didn't see where I was going.” Furina felt she was getting very into the part of the humble worker. The apology flowed easily from her mouth as if practiced by years of service in noble households.
Furina was moving the boxed and assorted contraptions from the courtyard to the ballroom. Their cover story was for Freminet to perform a demonstration of the latest Akademiya’s invention, although they were supposed to make themselves scarce way before that. It gave them an excuse to wander a vaster area of the palace - and the parts they couldn’t cover, Lyney and Lyette would supposedly investigate.
The trouble was that the porter work was new to Furina. Handling a particularly voluminous box proved to be tricky for her, and she ended up blundering into a couple of dancing nobles.
The room was furnished with tables on one side. The wide array of delicacies presented upon them made Furina’s mouth water whenever she happened to catch a whiff of the delicious smells. She could also do with a goblet or two of the fine wines, seeing as the hard physical labor left her parched. The middle of the room had been cleared and guests could be seen dancing in pairs on the shiny marble floor.
Perhaps the box she was carrying acted as a blind spot for Furina, or she’d been watching the dazzling couples dancing too closely - their embroidered gowns, their velvet mantles, their furs, their gold and silver threads and gleaming pieces of armor, their mysterious masks - and it was too easy to tempting to imagine herself as one of the ladies, dancing with a distinguished, tall, handsome and well-mannered partner…leaving the reason aside, she had bumped into a noble lady dancing just at the edge of the dance floor.
Furina kept her head low as she mumbled her excuses, as expected from the common girl she was pretending to be. She could catch but a glimpse of the elaborate gown the woman was sporting, catch a whiff of her sweet perfume and see but a shadow of the broad-shouldered date escorting her, clad in chainmail and plate that shone in the light of the braziers and torches. She could not see their faces, hidden by elegant masks, but there was no need to, it was as if she knew them - just five years ago, they would trip over themselves to have an audience with her. They would send invites for her to visit their keep, and line up for hours just to exchange pleasantries at the theatre. Now they were dancing in the halls of those who usurped her throne, oppressed their fellow humans, and would see her dead if only they knew of her true identity.
Before the lady could answer, the clang of armor rang out across the hall as a soldier started running.
“You there! Stop this instant and show your face!”
A palace guard pushed through the guests - who complained and yelped when they were roughly shoved aside - and moved right towards Furina’s location.
She swallowed hard. Time seemed to slow down, each step the guard took toward her took an eternity.
Furina’s muscles tensed and she steeled her resolve. If she was found out, she would at least make enough of a ruckus to allow the others to get away.
She had never regarded herself as a brave woman. The idea of being caught in a fight was terrifying, the knowledge she was about to be arrested and soon executed was enough to make her want to curl up and cry - it was all she could do not to turn tail and try to escape to safety.
However, she was good at acting. She was confident that not a trace of those thoughts would be reflected on her face, bar a stray drop of sweat on her temple. Knowing the others wouldn't know of her weak and shameful thoughts but only see a brave and steadfast exterior gave her some comfort, if it was the last thing they would see of her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of steel. She was not able to peel her eyes from the guard long enough to turn to her side and make sure that was the glint of a blade - why would other guests, the very same she just bumped into not too long ago, bare steel at a banquet? It must be the light pulling tricks on her eyes.
Any thoughts of the two other guests disappeared from her mind as the guard drew near. He was just a few paces away. She held her breath as he walked towards her, inexorable like the clock hands ticking away her remaining time.
Three steps.
Two steps.
One step.
And he walked past her. He shouldered her without as much as a second look, easily sending her stumbling back against the table. He did not see her, as if she was not even there.
He kept cutting through the sea of guests - and it was when Furina spotted it.
It was a young boy, no older than sixteen by the look of it. He was dressed in threadbare clothes - the only exception being the surcoat with the crest of the royal family that marked him as an attendant for the feast. He was gaunt and had a sort of tense energy to him, similar to a prey animal waiting for the predator to descend on it.
And just like a mouse or a rabbit, he bolted away at the first sight of danger, easily weaving through the stunned crowd to make his escape. As he ran, a loud clattering sound echoed in the hall. The young page must have thought of stealing some fine silverware for himself and was caught red-handed, and some of his loot fell as he dashed to the exit.
As the tension wore off, Furina’s energy was drained. She could barely believe she thought all those self-righteous and grandiose-sounding things. Had she been playing her character so much that it began to seep into her thoughts? In truth, she knew she was nothing like that.
No sooner had she breathed in relief that she felt the iron grip of a gloved hand on her shoulder. When he spoke into her ear, his low, rumbling voice was accompanied by warm breath on her neck, sending shivers down her spine. Yet, it was distantly familiar - it was like a word she could not quite remember but lingered on the tip of her tongue.
“Follow me. And bring your companions with you, Lady Furina.”
“I can not believe I did not recognize you sooner! ” Furina's voice held a touch of disbelief - and a hint of reproach as if the other two should have made themselves more recognizable.
“I don’t hold it against you. We rarely met, after all. I did not recognize you either at first - especially with that outfit. She was the one who let me know.” said the man, gesturing towards his companion. They were the two ball attendees Furina crashed into earlier.
“I had my suspicions at first, but only when you came bumping into us at the dance was I able to take a good look at your face, Lady Furina.” explained the woman. “Then it was only a matter of waiting for the right distraction - the little thief and the guard came at the right moment.“
They were all crammed into a small room, a rarely used storage space. However, Furina couldn’t be certain of that because she was hardly well acquainted with the routine of the servants when she lived at the Palais Mermonia. Some peace of mind was restored by the thick layer of dust covering everything, showing that the supplies were hardly ever touched, and the strong bolt keeping the door shut. The latter was of small practical use because, even if it would temporarily slow someone from entering, they would still be essentially trapped in a room with no other way out.
After Furina told Navia and Freminet to follow her, the latter wandered off and quickly returned with his siblings in tow. How did he manage that, since they were not in the hall? Only in the safety of the storage room, did the man who approached Furina and the woman dancing with him remove their masks and reveal their identities. Furina was not surprised, as she had managed to guess them before that - otherwise, she would have never asked Freminet to bring Lyney and Lynette with them to what could have been a trap.
The three siblings were not too impressed. The twins were still clutching their hidden weapons and even Freminet was ready to fight - shoulder tense and gritted teeth. It was unclear whether they did not know the other two or simply didn’t trust them.
On the other hand, Navia recognized the woman as soon as she removed her mask and her defensive posture vanished, leaving room for a smile.
“Why are you two dressed like that? “
Clorinde's question hung heavy in the air. Furina instinctively glanced down at her attire. It wasn't like she was a stranger to flamboyant or strange costumes on stage, but Clorinde's tone made it sound like a deliberate fashion choice. Furina couldn't blame her. After all, she had waltzed right into the palace dressed in normal dancing clothes.
"To infiltrate the palace," Navia offered hesitantly, mirroring Furina's flustered thoughts. "To... uh... hide our identities."
Wriothesley's voice cut through the silence that followed. "Could have worked better," he deadpanned. "Clorinde recognized you pretty easily."
“Only because she is familiar with them! Not one guard suspected anything.“ Lyney chimed in, barely hiding the frustration of his plan being subject to such harsh scrutiny.
“How about you? Did you simply walk into the Palais Mermonia?” asked Furina.
“Yes, it’s a hectic event. Some things are bound to slip between the cracks.“ Clorinde should know, as a former palace guard.
“Just walk in with confidence as if you belong and no one will suspect anything. “ added Wriothesley. Furina gave a rather pointed look at Lyney.
“And you simply claimed to be guests? Did you not need an invite?”
“We said to have lost ours.“ Clorinde distractedly fidgeted with her ornate mask as she spoke. Since she had always seen her clad in combat attire or wearing the guard’s uniform, Furina was taken aback by her lavish ballgown at first - but, as time passed, she couldn’t help but feel like it only went to show how little she knew Clorinde outside of her guard duty.
“A grunt would never risk angering haughty nobles, so they simply let us in under adequate pressure,” added Wriothesley matter-of-factly.
“And a mask was enough to conceal your identity?”
“It must have been. No one found us out. “ Wriothesley answered amused.
Furina turned to Lyney and huffed. “I said it would work! That is exactly what I said we should have done.”
The whole situation was clearly a big blow to Lyney’s pride, but he had managed to hide it convincingly. He still wore a self-assured expression on his face and waved his hand dismissively.
“Our method would guarantee our success. Unlike them, we left nothing to chance.“
Recalling a certain incident with the guard almost turning Freminet away, Furina had her doubts about that.
Wriothesley cut in. “We left nothing to chance. The trick is hiding what you are trying to conceal in plain sight, where no one would think to look.“
Furina tried to stifle a laugh. She remembered Lyney using a similar expression - and he must remembered it well too, because he looked positively aghast now that it was used against him.
“I believe that was beginner’s luck, but-” the Fatui dismissed Wriothesley. He was on the verge of continuing when someone cut in.
“Brother, just let it go.“ urged Lynette, perched atop a pile of boxes. The room was cramped with crates and barrels, and the addition of seven people was turning the air stuffy and suffocating to the point that the chilly air of the outside started to be an appealing alternative. Due to the limited floor space, some of them were forced to use the furniture and goods as makeshift seating, but Lynette looked pleased by her precarious advantage point.
“Right. I do not believe we have been introduced? “ Clorinde’s tone rose into a question, looking at all of them in turn as if she could not guess what went down for this new alliance to be forged.
“That is right. Allow me.“ Furina agreed, taking it upon herself to make the necessary introductions. She turned towards the three Fatui siblings first.
“They are Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet. “ Furina said as she pointed to each she named them. “ They are with the Fatui. The Knave’s men are lending us their support.”
Wriothesley made a face as if to say Oh, is that so? but he didn’t voice any of his thoughts out loud.
“This gentleman is the Duke Wriothesley of Meropide.“ Wriothesley nodded his head once in acknowledgment to the three. “ And she is…uh..”
Furina found herself hesitating. She wanted to introduce her as the Captain of the Royal Guards, but that title no longer applied to her. Furina should not use it, lest she misleads the others into thinking Clorinde is still holding the position as her successor must have been long appointed.
She glanced at Clorinde, who stepped in to complete her own introduction. “I am Clorinde. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.“
As Clorinde was Navia’s friend and Wriothesley must have been aware of who she was, that concluded the introductions.
“Then, what brings you to this banquet? I admit, I thought you leagues away from the capital city by now.“ Wriothesley moved the conversation to the next stage.
“That is our plan, but we must first seek a safe way out of the borders of our kingdom,” answered Furina.
Furina's gaze darted between the Fatui and Navia, gauging how much she could reveal. Clorinde, at least, was someone she trusted with their plans. Wriothesley, although Furina's impression was built primarily on rumors and hearsay, had apparently been hosting meetings to organize resistance against the new regime, according to what Navia told her while they idled away in the safehouse. That had surprised Furina back then. She never thought Wriothesley would be such a steadfast supporter of hers, and she was starting to get the impression he was concerned about her as much as he cared about taking down the dragons’ rule.
“Our objective in the castle is a seamstress by the name of Chiori. If the rumors are to be believed, she should be able to provide us with accurate first-hand information and hopefully point us to the safest route - or to those who can provide us with one.” Furina explained concisely.
Furina vaguely remembered Chiori from the reign. She was just starting her rise to fame at the time, thus not working with Furina long enough to leave any sort of lasting impression. She was, after all, always accompanied by genius craftsmen of all kinds, and many of them had a unique and eccentric personality.
Allegedly, Chiori proved herself in the following years and earned a place in court. This was enough to make Furina distrust her - why would she bite the hand that fed her? Would she forget who lifted her to fame and let her name be known through the kingdom? Would she resent Furina for allowing her nothing more than a marginal role under her reign?
However, Chiori's name had begun to circulate in circles beyond the noble ladies yearning for beautifully tailored gowns - a fact Furina only recently discovered while planning their Palais infiltration.
She could use her position among courtiers, functionaries, generals, and other influential figures, and gather interesting bits of knowledge- Interesting for those with less law-abiding intentions, that is. Knowing when a general was going to be busy with official meetings could make the difference between victory and defeat, just as knowing the movements of a member of the court could provide a valuable opportunity to strike.
The only issue was with finding her. Since the court was greatly impressed with her work - and to facilitate fitting tailoring sessions in the government officials’ busy schedules - she was invited to permanently reside at the Palais. She rarely left her workshop, making getting into contact with her a difficult taks.
There was no mistaking the meaningful look Clorinde and Wriothesley exchanged.
“You are in luck, then.” It was Clorinde’s turn to explain their purpose. “We came searching for the same person, although our ends are different than yours. We've already found her, too.”
“Is that why you were enjoying yourself at the dance earlier, then?” Asked Furina. “Truly, I never believed you would find the time for roman-”
“Whatever you are about to say, don't say it. The situation is not as you think.” The other woman shot her down, alerted about Furina’s intentions by her teasing tone. “We are no more romantically involved than you are a daily laborer.”
“I just meant that, if that were true, would that be such a terrible thing? I don't suppose there would be any harm in seizing the good in this situation we are in, before it becomes too late.” Furina’s words had lost their teasing edge. Perhaps coming back to this place and all the memories attached to it weighed more heavily on her heart than Furina herself realized.
“However, that's not the case, so let's move on,” Wriothesley remarked. Although he kept a neutral tone, the whole room had fallen strangely silent. Could each of them be thinking of what they would pursue if they weren't risking their lives for a doomed nation and a lost cause? Was anyone having regrets, thinking of what their lives could have been? Or was Furina perceiving the room’s mood filtered through her own melancholy current state of mind? “Perhaps we should redirect our conversation to more pressing matters. We have already arranged a meeting with Chiori for this very night. I suppose we could extend you an invitation.”
