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Chapter Text

The sky over Fontaine was covered with dense clouds. Though summer had just ended and the region had barely stepped into autumn, it had been raining for weeks. It was the kind of rain that soaked through not only into the bones, but into the thoughts: a rain that seemed to want to wash away more than just the city’s cobblestones.

Inside the Opera Epiclese, the atmosphere was solemn. Velvet blue curtains cascaded from above, and the echo of footsteps on marble blended with the soft tuning of string instruments. Golden chandeliers emitted a warm glow, but even that seemed insufficient against the chill brought on by the tribute to Callas, the former leader of Spina di Rosula.

Navia walked down the main stairs, upright and composed. She was dressed in a black velvet gown, lined with golden details shaped like rose thorns. Her hair, styled in an intricate updo, was held in place by a clip nestled among her curls, embedded by a big bow. Without a flicker in her expression, not a single tear was left to cry: there was no one left to accompany her. After Lumine’s departure and the death of her two bodyguards, Melus and Silver, she knew she only had herself, she had accepted it. Now, there was nothing left to do but move forward.

Once inside the main hall, on either side, Fontaine’s nobles and officials members from the Court turned to her, watching in silence. They couldn’t help but feel pity for her (though pity was the last thing Navia wanted from the crowd) Clorinde, standing in a corner, greeted her with a subtle nod, mirrored by several members of the judicial body.

In a side balcony, Neuvillette stood beside Furina, wearing one of his usual blue suits embroided with silver details. From there, his figure stood out in its typical temperate composure.

Furina, in a gown with bubble-shaped gemstones, leaned towards him with a frown.

”It’s raining again, Neuvillette. You’re going to ruin the whole evening…This looks like a funeral… What’s wrong with you?” She complained.

He didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on Navia.
The rain beat insistently against the window panes. Each drop, a judgment left unspoken, A regret never voiced.

Navia looked up just once as the distance between her and the stage grew closer.
That figure above, unchanging, impassive, embodied everything she had learned to despise.

How ironic.

That the same man who did nothing to save her father was now a witness to his tribute.

In the lobby, a man emerged from a side corridor. His coat hung open, revealing a black shirt that clung to his frame and a belt bearing the symbol of the Fortress of Meropide. His gait was carefree, as if unaware of the solemn act about to begin.

”You're late” said Navia, not stopping to look at him, eyes fixed forward.

“But right on time to cheer you up, princess” Wriothesley replied with his usual mischief, glancing her up and down. Their eyes met, and he gave her a playful wink “You look stunning. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Navia smiled to herself.
Wriothesley never took anything too seriously, but she couldn’t deny that he helped her feel more at ease in moments like this. Though he lived in the fortress and she in Poisson, both underground, they remained bound by their childhood friendship that remained strong before Callas shut it down for the sake of both organizations, Spina di Rosula and the Fortress of Meropide. The Duke gave her arm a warm squeeze before stepping away to give her space.

Inside, the ceremony began. A translucent glass screen projected memories: photos of Callas, fragments of official records, even footage of Spina di Rosula in action. The room was dimmed in dark reverence, lit only by the glowing echoes of the past.

Navia ascended to the dais at the same time a perfect silence fell over the crowd.

Her voice, when she spoke, did not falter. Each word was honed with the precision of someone who had long rehearsed them.

“I’m not here to glorify or exonerate. My father wasn’t perfect. He was brave, and he was also a man abandoned by the very system who swore to protect him…”

Neuvillette closed his eyes for a moment. The rain now struck the glass dome with more force.

“…Justice that refuses to see is as guilty as the crime it ignores. We won’t talk about redemption. We’ll talk about the truth. Because as long as we keep silencing pain with hollow speeches, we’ll continue to fail…”

When Navia stepped down, her gaze briefly met his. A long, sharp stare that held everything unspoken between them, so long that it made the Supreme Judge’s chest tighten.

The event continued with formal speeches and live music, but the energy had shifted. Drinks were served in a nearby gallery adorned with yellow roses, mimicking Spina’s emblem. Navia stayed to the side, holding a glass without drinking anything from it.

Furina was swarming around Neuvillette, demanding and capricious. Her tone was part theatrical, part reproachful.

”Why are you so quiet tonight? You usually intervene. People always expect you to speak…”

”It wasn’t my place to interrupt” he replied, eyes still on the room.

“Do you still feel guilty?” she asked, ready to defend him from anyone who dared to question the Iudex.

Neuvillette didn’t respond. Frustrated by his lack of reaction, Furina turned around, her heels clicking on the marble as she left.

Wriothesley approached Navia again, this time holding a glass of white wine.

”This place is riddled with false sympathy and cheap gossip. I have a better idea: we could sneak out before the next round of speeches. I doubt you want to hear strangers talking about your father as if they knew him.”

She raised a brow, amused.

“And where would you take me? To the fortress?”

“I have a secret library with very comfy armchairs and some excellent aged whisky. It’s not all work, you know. And you never come visit me…”

“A trip to the most dangerous prison in Teyvat doesn’t sound particularly tempting…”

“You’d be surprised how versatile my office is.”

She turned away, hiding a small smile. She was used to these kinds of advances from the Duke and typically let them pass.

When Wriothesley moved away, Navia found herself surrounded by assistants and officials suffocating her in empties small talks. She responded politely, with practiced softness. In a moment of quiet, her eyes found Neuvillette, now among the main floor guests. His steps were solemn and his presence imposed a royal silence around him.

He stopped a few feet away. The crowd parted, instinctively creating space between them.
Navia bit her lip. She didn’t want to interact with him—at least, not today. Not now.

“Navia” he acknowledged her with a slight bow of his head “Thank you for your speech. It was powerful and moving.”

“You don’t need to lie” she replied instantly, firmly, though she couldn’t meet his eyes “Part of it was directed at you.”

An uncomfortable silence stretched.

“I think it’s still valid” Neuvillette continued, trying to sound kind. As a dragon, he still struggled to grasp human emotions “How is the reconstruction in Poisson? I heard it’s nearly completed.”

“Don’t waste time with small talk, please” Navia shook her head “This isn’t necessary.”

She turned and walked away. Neuvillette followed her form with his eyes until she disappeared into the crowd. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to decipher the tension within his own chest.

That night, it kept raining in Fontaine. Even hours after the event ended, the city was still drenched.

In their rooms, both Navia and the Judge stared out of their respective windows, searching for answers to questions they couldn’t yet name.
In her chamber, the new head of Spina di Rosula tried to sort through her own heart. She chalked up her turmoil to the ceremony for her father.

Neuvillette, on the other hand, found himself stirred in guilt and…In something else.
Something that held his heart in constant tension.
Whatever it was…
It wouldn’t let the rain stop.

Chapter Text

The morning in Fontaine was covered by a thick fog. Even if the curse over their people had been lifted, it still seemed hard for them to move on, to accept a new era… Like to Navia, who was sitting at the carved wooden table in the Spina di Rosula headquarters, surrounded by bouquets of flowers and unopened envelopes. The silence of the place was in strong contrast with the noise of the ceremony the day before.

There were letters of condolences, messages of respect, even a badly written poem trying to capture the memory of Callas. But one envelope, with an elegant signature, caught her attention. She didn’t open it immediately. She put it aside, as if doing so would give it power.

“Aren’t you going to read it, Miss Navia?” asked her new assistant: Bernard, a young man who had recently started working for her.

“Not now” Navia replied, firm, even if her fingers still rested on the paper. She recognized that handwriting… Her stomach turned only by imagining what the Iudex of Fontaine could have written.

In the Court of Fontaine, the meeting room stayed silent while Clorinde explained the details of a new investigation. Furina, sitting in a very unceremonial way in her chair, played with a fan made of glass while making distracted and mocking comments.

“And all this for a smuggling ring dissolved years ago?” she asked without hiding her boredom.

“The network is not as dissolved as we thought” corrected Clorinde “There is proof that some leaders are still working in the shadows. Some of them were enemies of Callas and of Spina di Rosula. They could be planning something against the organization, now that Navia is in charge and no longer has Melus and Silver to protect her.”

Neuvillette stayed quiet, watching the documents with an unchanging expression. But inside, something moved when he learned that Navia could be in danger. Any precaution would not be enough.

“We will need reinforcements from the Fortress of Meropide. This kind of connection could have been made from inside” decided the Chief Justice. Furina pursed her lips.

“Wriothesley again? Fontaine is not a box ring for thugs like him.”

“Wriothesley has experience in these matters, and his perspective can add what others prefer to ignore.”

“We should also warn Navia without delay” added Clorinde “I am sure she can share information or help us in the investigation. It would also be good if the Court gave her some protection…” Her eyes searched for Neuvillette’s approval.

“Let’s move carefully and not rush. Clorinde, send a message to Miss Navia. I will send word to Wriothesley.”

Some hours later, a messenger crossed the door of the Spina. His message was clear: Navia’s collaboration was requested in a joint investigation with the Court. She hesitated. Spina di Rosula had worked for years apart from the system, as a form of criticism of it. And now they needed her? Even if she took pride in it, in the end she accepted; she couldn’t let her ego or her grief blind her to the danger that innocent people might face. She sighed. Even if the era of prophecy and curses had ended, evil in the world was far from gone.

The Library of the Palais Mermonia was quiet and almost empty. The marble columns held up a vaulted ceiling that seemed to float above the endless shelves. Navia had chosen for that day a simple and comfortable blue two-piece outfit, with puffed sleeves and small yellow frills at the edge of her skirt. Her golden curls were encircled with a large black bow. She sat at one of the tables next to the big windows. Only a few melusines going back and forth, and a couple of students, were there, which gave her some peace to start checking the investigation documents.

She had already received a folder with names, suspicious movements and possible routes of the new criminals. She tried to focus on the reports, but her eyes were not on the words. The papers had a symbolic weight: they were not just documents, they were the proof that the Court needed her. She couldn’t help but feel moved to be involved in another investigation.

She knew Neuvillette’s office was only a few steps and doors away from where she sat, but still a shiver ran down her spine when, after a couple of  hours, she saw him walking through the ancient shelves. She pretended not to notice when he came closer to her table, even as his vertical pupils watched her quietly.

“I see you are already catching up” He said softly to call her attention.

Navia avoided looking at him and fixed her eyes on the report.

“I guess Fontaine only comes to me when it’s convenient.”

The Iudex didn’t answer immediately.

“I did not expect you to accept. I am glad to know you still trust in protecting others, even if you don’t trust us.”

This time she lifted her gaze, not cold, but with a shadow of distrust.

“I trust that someone must do it. Nothing more.”

Silence grew between them, dense, but not hostile.

“I am glad to see you so committed, still. If… you needed something…”

“I can manage on my own, thank you” Navia cut him.

He nodded softly.

“I don’t doubt that” he said, stepping back. Before leaving, he added “The additional reports will be ready for you tomorrow. Also… I sent something that may help you to… understand me. I hope you did not throw it away.”

She didn’t answer. She only lowered her eyes back to the papers, though she could no longer focus.

Navia needed air. After receiving the preliminary reports from the Court, she had spent more than two hours locked in the library, reading and rereading names that meant nothing to her… searching for some echo of the past. Nothing. As if the information had been written to keep her at the margin. Her meeting with Neuvillette did not help. In fact, it left her even more unsettled.

She checked the time and quickly gathered her things. Following the canal until the cobblestone gave way to wet sand, in a small cove heading to the south of the city, where the noise of the port could hardly be heard, Wriothesley was already waiting. His pants were rolled up to his calves, and he sat on the sand letting the sea lick his feet.

“I thought you wouldn’t come” he said with a half-smile, seeing her arrive.

“I thought it was going to rain” she answered, taking off her shoes to walk barefoot along the shore. Even if the clouds were hanging above them, it didn’t look like it would go further “I’m tired of getting my hair ruined.”

“So… no swimming in the cove, then?”

Navia let out a small laugh and shook her head.

“I didn’t bring my swimsuit.”

“That didn’t matter to you a few years ago…”

“Of course not, because we were kids, Wrio!” Navia laughed again.

They stayed silent for a moment, watching the small waves coming and going in the cove. Some crabs played only a few meters away.

“So, you are also part of this investigation” she said, looking at the horizon, changing the subject.

“I guess now I have an excuse to show up more often in the overworld” he joked “A change of pace will do me good.”

Navia smiled. Even if Clorinde and her were friends, they had grown distant after her father’s death, and Clorinde was always very serious in Court settings. Navia would also be glad to have Wriothesley’s presence in Fontaine.

The conversation turned to work, the suspicious movements detected at the docks and how the rise of smuggling seemed too well organized to be just casual. They did not reach any big conclusion, but it didn’t seem to matter much.

At sunset they said goodbye with a hug and took different paths.

That night, in her room, Navia undressed slowly. Even if she always had assistants to help her dress and prepare for bed, since the end of the prophecy she preferred to do things by herself. The room was softly lit by a wall lamp. She had left the window half open, and the fresh breeze carried the smell of the damp city.

Her bedroom was elegant, with cream-colored walls, moldings and golden details. On the dresser, several bottles of perfume, her favorite boar bristle brush (the only one that could tame her curls), and an old photograph of her as a child with her father. The nightgown she chose was of light silk, decorated with subtle embroidery. She sat in front of the mirror and began brushing her hair with long and mechanical movements. Then, she went to the armchair next to the window, her favorite place when she needed to think.

The envelope.

She had brought it with her. It was between the books she had taken from the library. She stood up quickly to fetch it.

Inside, a carefully folded sheet. A single sentence, in elegant handwriting:

‘How many storms must pass before you believe me capable of regret?’

Navia read it again and again until she knew it by heart. The handwriting of the Chief Justice danced in her mind even with her eyes closed.

A sigh escaped her lips, and for the first time in weeks she didn’t know how to feel.

Hugging her knees while the night wrapped around Poisson, thousands of questions ran through her head, questions she still had no answers for.

She had found comfort in resentment, and deep down she knew that attitude was not the solution. Facing the truth was too painful, and trying to bring resolution to her father’s unfinished matters was a task she wasn’t ready for yet. And forgiving the Iudex… an act that had always seemed impossible.

Chapter Text

The meeting room was full of papers scattered across the dark oak table. In a large chair upholstered in red and gold, sitting at the head of the table, Furina leaned to the side, yawning with disinterest. Her outfit was elegant as always: a short jacket suit that revealed her shirt with frills and embroidery around a big blue medallion. Her sharp, bright eyes kept moving from one side to the other, clearly more interested in throwing sarcastic comments than in paying attention to what was happening at the table. Even if she was no longer the Hydro Archon, she still felt like she had to attend these formal events and watch over Fontaine’s peace, though her real reason was being close to Neuvillette.

Navia, on the other hand, was completely focused. She had chosen a long black skirt for the occasion, maybe not really her style, but it felt like it gave her the formality and confidence she needed after being called by the Court itself. Lately, she was always dressing in darker colors, maybe as a symbol of the mourning she still carried for her loved ones.

Her face and eyes, always like an open book, showed how uncomfortable she felt not being in control of the situation. She had received the case files, but something was missing. She didn’t have all the information she needed to make decisions, and that gap in her knowledge made her feel insecure. Something was missing, and she couldn’t stop thinking that, if she wanted to help, she needed more, but… would she have the courage to ask?

Finally, after a long pause, reading again and again the profiles of the suspects working behind the prison bars, Navia leaned forward, looking at the others with fake determination.

“I think we need to review the full archives of the Palais Mermonia” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. She tried not to meet the eyes of Furina, Neuvillette, or Clorinde for too long. “If I really want to help, I need access to more information. I can’t act without having all the pieces of the puzzle.”

Furina frowned right away.
“You know perfectly well the archives are restricted” she yawned "How insolent, asking for something like that…”

Navia pressed her lips together. She expected that reaction, but if she wanted to be useful and prove Spina di Rosula’s worth…

“Please, Lady Furina”  she tried to appeal to her kindness “Every day that passes is an advantage we’re giving the enemy. We still don’t have a single name that doesn’t come from the Fortress, and who knows what they could be doing in the shadows. We have to stop this activity as soon as possible, but I need to know the motive, other possible suspects, closed cases… Trust me. Nothing will leave this room” Navia pointed at her lips.

The ex-Archon snorted and turned her head.

“I don’t think Miss Caspar’s request is unreasonable” Neuvillette intervened. Both women turned to him. “I’ll go with her myself hence, she can review the archives.”

Navia couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes, while Furina shook her head, arms crossed.
“You can’t just break protocol! What, are you going to let everyone in who asks for it now?”

Unmoved, used to Furina’s tantrums, Neuvillette stood up.
“No. But I think this is a necessary occasion for our guest to cooperate and offer us her full help.” The Judge glanced briefly at Navia. “When the meeting ends, meet me on the ground floor, at the bottom of the stairs.”

Navia nodded, grateful. Furina kept complaining as the meeting wrapped up.

The air grew heavier with humidity as they went down the spiral staircase. Under the Palais Mermonia, behind a double door flanked by arcane inscriptions, was the secret judicial archive of the Court: a place where not all documents were public, not even to the majority of the judges.

Neuvillette walked in front, his steps barely echoing on the damp stone. Navia noticed how each step brought them deeper below the sea, protected by old brick walls that, somehow, had kept the water out all these years, with windows showing the stunning marine depths of the region. The Judge wore his usual dark blue cape, dragging softly along the floor like a calm tide. At the final gate, he stopped and raised a hand. A delicate Hydro spell, as soft as the murmur of a fountain, lit up his fingers. For a second, his body seemed to rise from the ground. Then, the inscriptions glowed, and the door opened with a sigh.

“The confidential judicial files on Spina di Rosula begin in this wing” he said in a low voice, as if not wanting to disturb the echo of the place. “There are records of operations, trials, transactions… and everything related to your father.”

Surprised, Navia looked at him, and Neuvillette turned around. With a gaze incredibly understanding for a dragon, he added, “Don’t worry, we’ll look at the rest later. But I thought this might interest you too”

Navia blinked several times and using the excuse of turning towards the shelves with her father’s folders, broke his gaze, unable to hold it. After several long seconds, the leader of Spina managed to say, “Why are you doing this? Couldn’t this get you into trouble?”

The Supreme Judge gave a soft laugh. "What nonsense" Navia thought. “The Iudex had the power to do whatever he wanted.” She couldn’t help blushing a little.

“I know part of you will never forgive me, no matter what I do” the dragon explained quietly. His voice sounded almost like a growl. “I know what you want most are answers, things your father kept from you or never had time to tell you. I know it's a lot. We can come back as many times as needed.”

You just have to come to me.

Neuvillette suddenly found himself confused after saying that. What was he trying to do? Did he want Navia to forgive him? To need him? Since when did the Hydro Dragon care so much about the forgiveness of a simple human? Why did he feel so desperate to stop Navia from hating him?

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this” she finally said without looking at him, caressing one of the folders. “Part of me… prefers living with the questions. Prefers not to find out things about my father” Navia turned to him, eyes full of tears. “What if my father really was a bad man after all?”

Neuvillette froze, speechless. Seeing Navia like this reminded him of their encounter in his office, when she had blamed him for not stopping her father’s death. Since then, it had rained more often in Fontaine.

She quickly wiped her eyes, embarrassed.

“I think… I have to go. Thank you, really, but…” She took a few steps back, putting the folder back in its place. Unable to look the Iudex in the face, she ran away.

“Navia…” Neuvillette murmured, closing his eyes. He had let her go, again.

Navia opened her umbrella as the drizzle started to fall. Her heels clicked quickly on the pavement: she had an appointment with Chiori at her atelier and was running late. Stressed, she rubbed her eyes again so the seamstress wouldn’t notice she had been crying.

The bell above the door rang softly when she stepped inside. The smell of new fabric and floral perfume wrapped around her senses. Chiori, with her back turned, was leaning over a mannequin, pinning a scarlet silk ribbon with golden pins. She turned quickly, raising an eyebrow at Navia.
“Finally! I thought you had forgotten your appointment. You’re… half an hour late, Mademoiselle Caspar” she said, giving a quick glance to the wall clock. Her sharp eyes already scanned Navia from head to toe.

Navia forced a small smile, but her expression gave her away. Her eyes were still damp, as if she had been crying or holding back tears for too long.

Chiori didn’t say anything at first. She approached slowly, in silence, and placed her hands on Navia’s shoulders.
“What happened?”  she asked in a softer, worried voice. “Do you want me to make you some tea?”

Navia nodded at the offer, grateful.
“I’ve been… reviewing files” she confessed. “The Court needs my help for some… matters, but… I feel like it’s too much for me.”

Chiori didn’t push. She gave her shoulders a small squeeze and guided her to one of the atelier chairs, handing her a decorated cup with Inazuman designs. Inside, rose tea filled the room with its fragrance.

“You’re the most capable and brave woman I’ve ever met, Navia. I know Court matters are confidential, but… I’m sure if they contacted you it's because they are aware of your worth. Spina di Rosula will rise thanks to you, I don’t doubt it!”

Navia received her friend’s encouragement with a smile.
“Thank you, really. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more right now…”

Chiori shook her head.
“That doesn’t matter now. Come on, up! I have to make the final adjustments to the corset.”

Navia obeyed. The change of subject was welcome. She took off her blouse and stepped up on the stool while the seamstress adjusted the new corset she was making for Furina’s birthday, which would take place next week. It was going to be a gala night, extravagant and rococo, just like the ex-Archon herself, and Navia wanted to live up to it. She had chosen turquoise fabric with golden lilies and embroidery at every seam of the corset. It tied in the back with a white ribbon, to match the skirt that still needed to be made. Chiori measured and marked while speaking lightly.

“By the way” she said casually “You know the streets of Fontaine talk more than a bored seamstress, right?”

“Oh, really?” Navia answered, trying to play along.

“They say the Grand Duke of the Fortress doesn’t spend all his days locked behind bars and tea bundles anymore. That lately he’s been seen more around the city… even strolling”

Navia turned to her, a bit surprised. Chiori smiled mischievously back.
“And that he’s not always strolling alone.”

Navia bursted out laughing, shaking her head.
“Wriothesley and I are just friends. We’ve grown closer since… well… my father’s death. My father and him had agreed not to interfere in each other’s affairs, so we stopped seeing each other. But after what happened, he was the one who reached out again. I guess their pact became meaningless then”

Chiori crossed her arms, amused, looking at Navia through the big mirror.
“If I had a friend like that, I wouldn’t leave him alone for even a minute” she teased shamelessly. “He’s so handsome…”

This time Navia laughed for real, but the comment lingered. For the first time, she thought of Wriothesley in a different way. What if…?

She shook her head, blushing.
“Don’t start, Chiori. I’m not interested in those kinds of distractions right now.”

“That’s what you say” the seamstress replied, winking. 

Chiori gave one last pull to a ribbon, evaluating the result critically. Navia stayed quiet.
“I’m just saying he’s gorgeous, he visits you, you trust him, and he looks at you like you’re a whole fashion show”  Chiori went on “I wish I had a friend like that too…”

Navia sighed, ignoring the seamstress’s bold comments, and looked at herself in the mirror again. For a moment, the image reflected more than just herself: a woman carrying the weight of a legacy on her shoulders, but also a ghostly web of bonds keeping her afloat. Some stitched with golden thread. Others, with memories. The truth was that sometimes, she wished she could stop feeling so alone… and recover those bonds.

Navia waited patiently in the hall of the Fortress of Meropide. Two days had passed since the meeting in the Palace and the failed search through the archives, and Clorinde and Wriothesley had asked her to come. Anxious, she wondered if they had found any new information. She couldn’t help feeling small: everyone else seemed to be moving forward, while she had wasted the chance to dive into Fontaine’s secret archives…Thinking about the scene she had made in front of the Iudex made her cheeks burn.

She waited nervously until two familiar figures approached.
“Are you ready?” Clorinde asked gently. Navia admitted she missed her friend acting like something other than a mekabot. She nodded, letting herself be guided by two of the people who knew the prison best.

“We caught a prisoner smuggling modified mekabot engines. He was stealing them from the internal factory, altering them, and with the help of a guard, sending them out. The guard is already isolated, but… the thief isn’t talking” Wriothesley explained. “The reason we haven’t told the Iudex or Furina yet is because… they probably wouldn’t approve of our methods to get information”

“You’re part of the investigation and should be aware of these things. After all, the name ‘Spina di Rosula’ has come up several times, and you’re the first who should know about it.”

Navia just nodded as they led her through the pipes that worked as corridors and the elevators. They ended up in a small, damp room full of leaks. Watched by two guards, a middle-aged man sat tied to a chair, head down.

“His name is Vincent Opal. Besides the stolen material, we found this in his cell” Clorinde said, handing Navia a stained piece of paper. On it, there was messy handwriting and a drawing that looked like… a seal? It seemed to show an anchor with a dagger and a lily in the background. Navia frowned. It looked familiar…

“So, are you going to say something or not?” Wriothesley interrupted her thoughts. She watched as he approached the prisoner and forced him to look him in the eyes. Something about him was disturbing: his eyes looked dark and unfocused. His face was covered with sunspots, his body thin, and what little hair he had left was messy and gray.

“Oh… The Duke…! The Duke came to see me!” Vincent laughed, but he didn’t seem to be joking. Navia stood in the corner, still holding the page torn from the notebook.

“Cut the crap. What are you planning? We caught you. What are the modified engines for? Better start talking, you disgrace”  Wriothesley growled, impatient.

“Sir… Sir… Everything… everything will be fine… Everything is going according to plan…” The madman couldn’t keep his eyes on anything for more than a few seconds.

Clorinde stepped forward and loaded one of her handguns.
“Vincent, you’d better cooperate. Your life is at stake.”

The prisoner began muttering something none of them understood. Fed up, Clorinde pointed her gun at his temple. Navia knew she wouldn’t kill him, but still, she felt out of place. She wasn’t as powerful as her friends. Even so, she gathered courage and stepped closer to Vincent. He seemed to notice, because he fixed his gaze on Navia’s intense blue eyes. She showed him the page.

“What does this mean?! What organization are you part of?!” she demanded, though nervously.

Vincent laughed again. His look was somewhere between disgusting and frightening, but this time, he seemed to have a prepared answer:
“Callas’s daughter… What an honor…” He licked his lips. “Why don’t you stop playing detective and stop looking for the culprit? The culprit of everything… is already dead!” The prisoner thrashed against his chains, trying to get closer to Navia. “And both Spina di Rosula and you will meet the same fate…”

He started laughing again, but in rage, Wriothesley stepped in and punched him in the face with his cryo gauntlet. Navia took a couple of steps back, trembling. Clorinde stood in front of her protectively, and the guards took Vincent away. Navia slid down against the wall until she was sitting on the floor.

“That was a threat, wasn’t it?” she whispered. Clorinde hugged her.
“He was talking nonsense, Navia, you saw it, he’s crazy”  her friend tried to calm her down.

“Even so, we’ll talk to the Court to get you protection, don’t worry” Wriothesley assured her.

Navia shook her head.
“That won’t be necessary.” She refused to be the weak link. To be a victim again. If she really was in danger, she would defend herself. She stood up, without help. “The seal on the paper looks familiar. I’ll do my own research and keep you updated.”

Navia was cold and serious. She couldn’t let the others see how much the scene had affected her. She needed access to the archives again. She needed to see Neuvillette.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen over Poisson like a heavy cloak, wetting the rooftops with a cold mist. From her balcony, Navia watched the flickering lights that still resisted between the narrow streets. She couldn’t sleep. Again.

The echo of the prisoner’s words followed her like a shadow.
“Spina di Rosula will soon fall.”

There had been something in his tone, a certainty that made her blood freeze. It wasn’t an empty threat, nor a boastful warning. It was a prophecy to be fulfilled.
And the worst part was that she didn’t understand why.

She was tired of fighting, tired of losing loved ones… she felt exhausted.

On her dresser, next to the picture of her father, lay Neuvillette’s letter and the prisoner’s drawing. She knew she couldn’t hold out much longer without going to him.

Almost angrily, she stood up and put on her cloak and boots. The last thing she wanted in the world was to depend on the Iudex. To be vulnerable again and again in front of him. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this, least of all him, but… her hunger for answers was stronger than all of that.

She grabbed both papers and tucked them into her pocket. When she was about to leave through the door, it was almost midnight. Her assistant Bernard, who was finishing tidying the house before ending his shift, approached, worried, when he saw her so agitated.

“Miss Navia, is everything alright?” he asked, trying to stop her.

“Everything’s fine, Bernard. I’ll be back shortly. You can go now” she said, passing quickly by his side, barely looking at him. Bernard watched the door close behind her and sighed. He still struggled to understand her.

Navia was already used to going without an escort, so the palace guards weren’t surprised to see the head of Spina di Rosula arriving alone past midnight. She climbed the steps quickly and knocked insistently at the Supreme Judge’s office door. She hadn’t considered that the Iudex might already be resting in his chambers, but the dim light coming from inside filtered under the door. Breathless and anxious, she used the few seconds Neuvillette took to let her in to try to compose herself.

She realized she absolutely could not take off her cloak: she had been so careless and impatient that she hadn’t even changed out of her nightgown. Embarrassed, she stepped forward. Neuvillette’s expression was hard to read: for the first time… He seemed surprised? No one would expect to see a lady without escort in the Chief Justice’s office at such an hour, but Navia didn’t even consider what implications this could have.

“Good evening. I would need… to see the files… please” she begged as she caught her breath from climbing the stairs.

Neuvillette approached her immediately, without touching her. He wore a light blue poet’s shirt, much simpler than usual.
“Are you alright? Should I make you some tea first? You seem agitated” he observed.

Navia felt the shame burning her cheeks.
“I’m sorry to come to you in this state and at this hour… but I swear I have a good reason. It has to do with the investigation.”

Neuvillette couldn’t help glancing over her. Her golden curls, usually tied or decorated with bows, pins or ornaments, fell loose over her shoulders. Beneath the cloak, tied hastily, he could glimpse a long, translucent silk nightgown. Her boots, poorly fastened. Her eyes… full of emotion. Something stirred inside him as he guided her back down the stairs toward the lower floor, without demanding further explanations –a gesture Navia deeply appreciated.

As soon as they entered, Navia pulled the prisoner’s drawing from her cloak pocket. She unfolded it and showed it to the Chief Justice.
“Tell me this looks familiar and that we can find something here.”

Neuvillette took his time analyzing the torn notebook page. He started moving between the shelves, as if looking for something specific. Navia assumed that was a good sign. “Yes, it does look familiar… If I remember correctly…” he began, taking one of the folders and flipping through it. But then he stopped. His eyes froze on the report. Navia couldn’t read his expression and stepped closer.

“Is something wrong?”

Neuvillette simply turned the folder towards her. Inside, there was only a single page: something had been ripped out.
“Someone managed to get in and erase evidence” he stated quietly. “They know we’ve started looking. There’s no trace of them in the files.”

“But I thought almost no one could get into this place…” Navia murmured.

“And that’s true” the Judge replied. “Very few judges and officials have access.”

He narrowed his eyes. Things had just gotten complicated. Not only were there corrupt officials in Meropide; were there also some in Palais Mermonia? It was frightening.

“What I do remember about the stamp, however” Neuvillette turned towards her and met her gaze “is that it belonged to a very dangerous pirate band called ‘Lilium in Excelsis’ that operated at sea. They were dissolved many years ago, though, by…”

“By Spina di Rosula,” Navia finished the sentence. “That was long ago. Does it mean they’ve reunited? Their leader died, as I understand.”

“It seems more people are involved than we thought. People very close to us. Miss Caspar, you’re in danger. I can’t let you leave without protection. I’ll investigate the possible suspects inside the Court. Meanwhile…”

Navia stepped back, shaking her head.
“I can face any danger that comes to me. You know I can fight. I am not some damsel in distress, so stop treating me like one.”

“I’m aware of your many abilities, but understand that…”

“I don’t have to understand anything. You’re the one who should understand me.” Almost without thinking, she pulled out the other paper. Neuvillette’s letter. “What was this about, huh? Stop playing with me and sending me cryptic messages.” She felt completely clouded and ashamed, unable to stop pouring everything out as anger toward him.

Neuvillette took a few steps closer, praying she wouldn’t back away again.
“Don’t you know about the children’s song about dragons?”

Navia fell silent. Of course she knew it. The lullaby told how the dragons’ pain and sadness were reflected in Fontaine’s weather, a popular legend she had even heard as a child.

“What I mean is that dragons also feel, even when we stay silent. I know you’ve suffered a lot and that it’s hard to reach you, but…” He gave a bitter smile. “I think sometimes you’re a little unfair to me.”

Unfair!? Navia thought. Anger surged inside her.
“It doesn’t matter how much it rains now, if you were the one who acted unreachable back then, like you didn’t even have a heart.” She looked him straight in the eyes, unflinching. She knew she was being cruel, but the avalanche of emotions inside her was uncontrollable. 

Neuvillette didn’t reply. He tried to understand her, even if her words hurt.
“I think it would be best if you went home. You’re tired, and I’m sure a good sleep will help you. If you want to stay out of the investigation, I’ll understand. I don’t want being near me to affect you this much.”

The Chief Justice seemed to give up in that moment. For some reason he still didn’t understand, he wanted to be near Navia, but her forgiveness was far from reach. He didn’t want to keep forcing things, and if their paths had to remain separate as before, so be it.

Navia seemed at a loss for words. Deep down, she knew she wasn’t behaving well, that she was tearing down every bridge Neuvillette tried to build.
“I… yes… I’d better go.” She lowered her gaze and turned to leave the archive. This time she didn’t run or cry, but she felt sadder than ever. As soon as she stepped outside, a heavy, unrelenting storm soaked her to the bone. She looked up at the clouds and let the drops melt into her cheeks. Neuvillette… could this really be because of him?

Trying with all her strength to forget her strange encounter with Neuvillette, the next morning she decided to take action and start her own research in Fleuve Cendre. The archive data had disappeared? No problem: she would investigate for herself until she had her own report. She would prove how useful and brilliant she could be in any investigation.

There was no better place to look. The underground city was well known to the Spina leader, as she had lived there and had many companions from the organization residing in the area. Besides, its citizens were closely linked to the Fortress of Meropide, most of them being ex-convicts.

Navia greeted Vitruvia and Faustier but didn’t stop. She knew exactly who she had to talk to for answers.

She arrived at the workshop of Hugues, an ex-convict whom Spina di Rosula had given shelter to. He had been sentenced for modifying a mechabot, which now felt extremely familiar given the situation in the Fortress.

“Hugues” Navia greeted. The man jumped, immersed in what seemed to be a gear plate.

“Miss Caspar… We weren’t expecting you here” the former researcher from the Institute of Natural Philosophy set his gadgets aside. “Tired of life at the Court?”

“You know well I’m not made for that place,” she sighed, sitting down in front of him. “Not that they ever let me forget it.” She couldn’t help but think of Furina and her haughty attitude towards her. She had thought the trial would have taught her some humility but… nothing further from the truth.

Hugues didn’t answer, but Navia took the silence as her chance to pull out the drawing of the stamp  taken from the prisoner.
“I need your help” she confessed. “I need to know if you crossed paths in prison with a man named Vincent Opal.”

The ex-convict narrowed his eyes.
“Lilium in Excelsis… But miss, that’s the same smuggling group that your father…”

“That my father destroyed, yes. It seems they’ve resurfaced, or maybe… they never truly disappeared. Tell me, Hugues, did you ever meet that man?” She went on to describe his appearance and explained that he had been modifying mechabot engines, something he unfortunately had in common with ex-convict.

“No, he doesn’t ring a bell, sorry. But I did meet other members of Lilium, before everything blew up. Did you know they were pirates?”

Navia’s eyes lit up. She leaned her face against her hands, savoring the moment.
“Please, tell me everything you know.”

Hugues recalled his memories as best as he could while Navia carefully took notes of every detail. He revealed the name of their captain and leader, William Lillium: he and his crew lived in caves and on ships, a nomadic group that, people assumed, used their Hydro Visions to turn the waters into their advantage when raiding cargo ships and docks. Since they didn’t venture into the Court’s territory and their thefts seemed small, the case didn’t catch the Gendarmerie’s attention. Navia rolled her eyes. Nothing new there. Spina di Rosula decided to take charge and hunt them down.

“It wasn’t until your father started investigating, however” Hugues continued, “that he realized something even more serious was happening. Do you remember I told you they lived in caves? Spina di Rosula found the unimaginable: somehow they were draining water and energy from the great Weeping Willow of the lake, from a cave right beneath it. They were also stockpiling massive amounts of opium made from lakelight lillies. What they planned to do with it, I don’t know… Callas intercepted them before things could go further, killing William. It was never his intention, you know your father never killed. But apparently, the Lillium leader became violent, and it was the only way to stop him. Since then, I had never heard of the group again… how strange.”

“The Weeping Willow, you say? They made the drug from the lilies? I never thought the Erinnyes Forest could be used that way…”

Hugues nodded.
“Even so, the substance never spread through the region. Maybe your father intervened just when they were about to begin selling it illegally…”

Navia frowned, thoughtful. It was too much information to process at once.
“And the stolen engines? Why would they risk controlling mechabots if their real ground is the sea? Those machines rust and break once they get wet…”

“I’m sorry I don’t have the answer, miss. But if, as you say, the group has resurfaced, maybe they’re trying to finish what your father stopped.”

Still, Navia wasn’t fully convinced. She jotted down a few more ideas and closed her notebook.
“You don’t know how much I appreciate your help. Needless to say, this… improvised meeting and what we’ve discussed stays strictly confidential.” She winked at him.

When she returned to Poisson, she began writing her report. She couldn’t help feeling enormous satisfaction: she had recovered some of the puzzle pieces scattered throughout the region. She was so focused on writing and developing her own conclusions and lines of investigation to move forward that she almost managed to forget Neuvillette. But a shiver ran through her hands as the memory of their last encounter came back again. No. She could never let her emotions show again, especially not in front of him. This was a serious investigation, and she would prove she was up to the task. She couldn’t keep exposing her raw and confusing emotions, least of all to a man who had hurt her so much.

Chapter Text

The rain hadn’t stopped for days. It dripped steadily from the curved roofs of Poisson, seeping between the ropes and masts of the old ship’s skeleton stranded underground. The warm lights of the lanterns flickered on the wet cobblestones, giving the place a strange atmosphere: halfway between a shelter and a shipwreck. People from outside the underground city never understood why, whenever she was offered another base or a house in the upper part of Fontaine, Navia always chose Poisson. It was her home and her people, and after the flood, the town was more fragile than ever, perhaps reflecting the state of the Spina leader herself. That was why she had abandoned her apartment in Fleuve Cendre to make the headquarters her home again.

She walked unhurriedly through the town’s passageways, greeting the vendors who were already packing up their goods. The hood of her coat, trimmed in burgundy and pinned with the Spina di Rosula emblem, barely protected her blonde hair from the dampness, which clung to her cheeks like wet petals.

Though she was used to the humidity and rain as part of both the region and herself, something had changed since her encounter with Neuvillette. Every drop that soaked her coat made her think of that night and how unfair she had been. Deep down, she was ashamed, yet she forced herself to believe, to calm her conscience, that surely dragons didn’t feel the same way humans did. She convinced herself it was impossible for the Iudex to hold her in such regard that the heavens themselves would react to it.

“He should have thought twice before acting so coldly back then” Navia tried to settle the thought simply in her mind.

Before returning to headquarters, she stopped by Rege’s stand, one of the fishermen.

“Miss Navia! What can I get for you?” the boy asked, his face lighting up at the sight of her. Navia smiled politely.

“Whatever you have left, I know you’re closing up” she apologized. “Anything the cooks can make use of will do.”

“Oh, I always save the best if it’s for you, miss! What a joy to have you come for the fish yourself instead of your assistant! Always so humble…” Rege went on flattering her as he weighed the fish and wrapped it in newspaper. Navia smiled politely while taking a few coins from her pocket. She knew she was dearly loved in Poisson.

And that was why she couldn’t stop thinking that someone in the shadows wanted to destroy all of it. Everything Navia tried to rebuild again and again, everything she did to keep the town united, to forget the despair and poverty it had once drowned in…

Back at the ship, she found Chiori at the door, arms full as always: her usual short kimono, her purse, a hanging umbrella, and a box wrapped with a bow almost bigger than her.

“I’m sorry, Chiori! I lost track of time!” Navia rushed to help her friend. They both entered the foyer, where Bernard helped them with their coats. Navia instructed him where to leave the fish for the cook, and upon returning, he immediately served them tea and pastries.

“What a fine assistant you’ve found yourself…” remarked the designer, eyeing Bernard up and down as he left the room. “Alright, I forgive your second lateness this week!”

“Sorry… I don’t even know where my head is lately. On top of that, you come all the way to Poisson to see me…”

Chiori shook her head, dismissing the concern.

“It’s my fault for befriending someone so important and busy. Anyways, do you want to see the dress?”

Her hostess nodded eagerly. Chiori stood up after finishing her cup of tea and untied the great bow around the box. Navia was speechless. Even though she had chosen the fabrics and seen the top half nearly finished, the result was even more stunning than she could have imagined. The corset, embroidered with golden fleur-de-lis, shimmered even under the dim light, framed by ruffles that matched the sheer gloves and the layered skirt ending in waves that mimicked sea foam. As a belt and accessories, strings of oyster pearls and a headpiece of natural roses.

“Well? What do you think?” Chiori waited, impatient.

“It’s one of the best things you’ve ever made…” Navia finally murmured, carefully tracing the golden details.

“Only the best for my best client” winked the designer, not missing how restless her friend seemed. “Why are you so nervous? Don’t tell me it’s because Wriothesley will be there?”

“Oh, stop it.” The comment drew a small laugh from Navia. “It’s not Wrio I’m worried about. I just feel it’ll be an important night.”

“Important because you’ll outshine the birthday girl in this dress!” teased Chiori “I’ll brag all over Fontaine how you were the best dressed at the gala!”

Yet, she still noticed that absent look in Navia’s eyes. She reached over and squeezed her hand.

“I know you perfectly well. You’ve got that look you get when you want to talk about something but don’t know where to start. Is it about the investigation?” she asked gently.

Navia shook her head slowly.

“Partly yes, but at the same time… it’s something else. Something that feels more complicated every day.”

“‘Something else’ with a name and a last name?” Chiori joked, raising an eyebrow.

Navia smiled faintly, a little sadly, without replying.

“Well, whoever that ‘something else’ is, I hope they get to see you wearing this” Chiori said, turning to pull something else from the box, wrapped in tissue paper. “I brought you something more, look...”

Navia approached, curious. It was an embroidered fabric choker with a Spina di Rosula brooch in the center surrounded by pearls that made it blend in with the rest of the outfit.

“I remember one of the first times you came to the atelier” she explained slowly. "You dropped this pin and I forgot to give it back to you. I know it belonged to your father. I also know that you don't feel as if Spina di Rosula is completely yours yet. I hope that by incorporating this into something more of your own style, it will help convince you that all of this is yours and you've always worked hard to make it so. Nothing can tarnish your name... Especially if it comes from the past."

Chiori wrapped it around Navia's hands and gently squeezed them together. Navia's eyes became watery.

“It's perfect. Thank you, really.”

Chiori shrugged with a smile.

“Sometimes, by wearing something you can reaffirm who you are. To remember who you are. I'll be here and I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't forget.”

Chiori winked at her as she carefully arranged the dress so it wouldn't wrinkle. Navia found it difficult to react.

“You know where to find me if you need another stitch” she gestured goodbye.

Navia nodded, but her gaze was lost for a second in the faint reflection of the glass. The dress was ready. What she didn't know was whether she was too.

In the privacy of her dressing room, Navia let Bernard comb her hair. As always, he worked silently. His hands were steady as he arranged the natural pearls among the curls of her bun. The corset, tightened firmly and without warning, took her breath away for a moment.

“Too tight?” Bernard asked, loosening the laces.

“No” she replied, without taking her eyes off her reflection. She couldn't afford any weakness that night. No more scenes or vulnerabilities, especially in front of...

At the entrance to Spina di Rosula headquarters, Wriothesley waited for her, spotless. He was wearing a burgundy suit, quite dressy for his style, and his hair was even a little more tamed than usual. Navia couldn't help but laugh when she saw him.

“What exactly is so funny...?” Wriothesley began to reproach her as he turned to look at her. He couldn't finish; it was impossible to take his eyes off her. “Wow...” was all he managed to say. Navia turned around a couple of times and picked up her shawl and umbrella.

“Do you like it? It's all Chiori's work” she smiled. “You look very handsome too ! I'm not used to seeing you so well-groomed and polished" she laughed again as Wriothesley offered her his arm as they went up to the surface to board the aquabus.

“I don't even know why I'm invited to this posh party” complained the Duke, trying to loosen his tie. “I know Furina doesn't like me”

“She has invited literally everyone in Fontaine. The opera is about her, and so, naturally, she wants the largest possible audience”

They fell silent for a moment, admiring the views of the region's valleys from atop the aquabus lines. It was still raining, and it did not look like it was going to stop anytime soon.

“Don't you think it's ironic to throw these kinds of extravagant parties when there's an investigation ongoing that seems to be shaking the very foundations of the palace?” Navia rested her forehead against the glass and sighed. Wriothesley glanced over her body again before replying:

"We all need breaks and moments of calm to keep functioning properly. In fact, I think that catching Vincent and the infiltrated agent has bought us some time“ he assured her as he reached for her shoulder and gently patted it. After a little while longer, they arrived at the Opera House, where two Melusines were waiting to collect their invitations.

Just as they were entering, a shadow fell over Navia.

“Photo!!!” she exclaimed as she regained her composure and took out her camera.

“Charlotte! You scared me!” Navia gasped in surprise.

“Sorry, sorry, I'm covering the event... Wow, you look beautiful. Wriothesley, you look very handsome too! Come on, pose for me.”

Navia blushed as the Duke smiled and pulled her towards him, grabbing her by the waist. Charlotte took a couple of photos and said goodbye with a smile.

As they climbed the stairs to the balconies, they ran into Clorinde. She was also wearing a tight purple corset with a long skirt. Her hair was pulled back into an elaborate bun and she wore large crystal earrings.

“You look lovely, Clorinde…” Navia murmured, admiring her. Furina’s bodyguard didn’t usually wear feminine or overly dressy clothes. She shook her head.

“I look like I'm wearing a costume” she said with a small grimace. “I can't wait to put my pants back on.”

“It'll only be for a little while. Shall we go in?” suggested Wriothesley. Navia stayed behind with Clorinde. She took the opportunity to ask Navia:

“Are you feeling better? Don't worry, everything is under control” she tried to reassure her.

If Navia had been given a mora every time someone worried about her or tried to protect her...

“It's okay now, I'm fine” she lied.

The opera started and was an over-the-top, vibrant, and as bright as its star. Furina had created a heroic tale about herself, in a mix of comedy and tragedy in the purest Fontainian style. It included a magic show by Lyney and Lynette, and when the curtain finally rose and the ovation filled the hall, the guests were led to the adjoining rooms for the reception.

Wriothesley, with theatrical grace, extended his hand towards her.

“May I?”

Navia nodded, and as they joined the dance, all eyes turned to them. She felt it. The pressure, the judgment, the expectation. Perhaps that was why she did not immediately see the figure emerging from the top of the stairs.

Furina, gleaming, finally made her appearance. A fairytale princess dress, with royal blue trims and silver embroidery. She began to descend escorted by Neuvillette, dressed in his usual sober navy blue, but even his suit showed the influence of the former Archon: the elaborated collar of his shirt, the thousand golden details of his cape, his hair braided to the side and held in place by a bow...

Navia saw him then for the first time in over a week. She felt her body stiffen. Neuvillette, who was looking straight ahead, met her gaze for an instant, but looked away as he continued down the stairs.

After introducing the birthday girl, the music resumed and Furina dragged the Iudex onto the dance floor. Navia watched them dance out of the corner of her eye after retreating to a corner. Neuvillette's steps seemed calculated, directing both of their movements. Should she find a moment to talk to him? It would surely be impossible to pry him away from Furina. She also didn't want to hog any attention and upset the former Archon.

She needed a break.

After several dances and too many polite conversations, she slipped away to one of the side balconies of the hall, separating herself from Clorinde and Wriothesley. The rain continued to fall, but the glass awnings allowed one to take shelter beneath them without getting wet, listening to the constant sound of water sliding off the polished surfaces. The marble floor was cold even under her shoes, and the damp air gently ruffled her bangs.

She leaned on the stone handrail, a glass of champagne in her hand, searching for some clarity among the dim lights of the city.

“Are you tired of being the center of attention already?”

Navia turned, taken aback. A furious-looking Furina was staring at her from the balcony entrance.

“Furina! Happy birthday, you look spectacular” complimented Navia, trying to maintain control of the situation. The former Archon took a few steps forward.

“There's no need for such formalities with me” she said to the head of Spina di Rosula. She certainly hadn't prepared herself for that kind of attack that night. “You knew exactly what you were doing when you put on that dress.”

Navia shook her head and tried to sketch a smile while trying to remain as formal as possible.

“It's clear that no one can ever overshadow your presence and style” he reassured her. “I just wanted to be up to the occasion. I'm very sorry if I offended you, even so.”

Furina didn't respond.

“I left my gift on the pile. The last thing I want is to be a disturbance, so I’ll be leaving” Navia had finally found a reason to slip away and knew how bad it would be to have Furina against her. She started walking away from the terrace, determined to leave the party.

“I was right, as always.” Furina's mouth curved into a fake smile as Navia passed by her. This made her stop in the doorway and turn around. “You're too weak for this kind of investigation. Your heart is too exposed. You'd better stop getting involved. You shouldn't have been part of this from the beginning, but sometimes no one listens to the voice of truth.”

Navia clenched her fists. Furina continued her attack:

“Stick to your minor cases in Spina di Rosula and leave the serious matters to the Court…”

“Enough, Furina.”

A calm but serious voice came from behind them. They both turned around: Neuvillette was right behind Navia. They could almost touch each other…

“You should treat your guests better. It's your birthday, why don't you focus on other things?” suggested the Iudex.

“How convenient...” Furina grumbled as her cheeks burned, pushing her way through the balcony frame and leaving, her head held high.

Navia let out a long sigh.

“I apologize on her behalf. You know how she can be sometimes...”

Navia shook her head. The interaction with Furina had unsettled her, and now, with the unexpected encounter with Neuvillette, she felt her heart racing. She knew it was time to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. She just looked him in the eyes for what seemed like an eternity. The Judge remained serious as he examined the expression on her face.

“I was unfair to you, at least the other day.” She finally said, looking away. “I apologize.”

Neuvillette gave what looked like a smile.

“You've given me a few headaches, I won't lie” he admitted, raising his hand. It seemed as if he intended to touch her face or hair, but he stopped at the last moment. He didn't think it was appropriate. “I will never judge you for being cautious.”

<<I'll wait for your forgiveness for eternity if necessary>>

Navia seemed confused. She found it very difficult to understand the Sovereign Dragon; she couldn't quite grasp his intentions. She wondered if it was because they came from different species or if the Iudex was just that peculiar.

“I think... I'd better go. Furina doesn't want me here, and I don't want to ruin her party in any way” she turned to leave, but Neuvillette grabbed her arm. Navia turned around, surprised.

“You're running away from me again” he confirmed.

An electric sensation ran through the Spina boss' arm and entire body as she felt the dragon's grip. Startled, she looked down at the floor, murmuring:

“It's just so confusing being around you” she confessed. Neuvillette's grip relaxed and his hand slid down her arm until his fingers brushed hers for a brief moment. “Everything is... too difficult.”

The judge nodded, understanding.

“The last thing I want is to complicate your life more than I already did back then. I want you to know that... I'll be available for whatever you need, even so.”

“Are you trying to do me all these favors as an attempt at redemption?”

“Although for some reason you find it hard to believe, I'm doing it because I want to.” The Supreme Judge had a serious but sincere expression.

“You're right. I find it hard to believe” Navia concluded.

Neuvillette let her go, holding back a sigh. He tried with all his heart not to force anything, but he surprised himself by noticing an indescribable desire to continue talking to her or simply to be in her presence. He felt an unfamiliar emptiness every time Navia walked away from him. These... feelings? Which he found difficult to identify and which caused the slightest weather disturbances, made him feel like a small, inexperienced dragon.

Navia didn't notice, but the rain had eased off during their conversation. She left the balcony with a heavy heart, her feelings very conflicted. She inevitably became defensive whenever she was in front of the Iudex. She wanted to forgive him completely, but she felt that if she did, she would disappoint her father's memory. At the same time, the electric sensation of his brief touch, needing his help and seeking him out, becoming this unstable around him... What could it mean?

She shook her head. She told Wriothesley that she was indisposed, and some melusines accompanied her to the aquabus, back to Poisson.

The headquarters of Spina di Rosula received her empty.

Navia advanced silently, aware that the staff would have already gone to bed. Only the oil lamps flickered lazily in some corners, casting long, distorted shadows on the walls.

She crossed the main hall without turning on any more lights, feeling exhaustion creep into her bones. She just wanted to get to her room, take off the corset that was squeezing her heart, and hopefully get a few hours of sleep and forget, even if only for a moment, the whole disaster of the night. The mere idea of offending Furina made her tremble at the possible social repercussions, and the conversation with Neuvillette... left her as confused as ever.

She climbed the spiral staircase to the upper floor, guided by memory. The familiarity of her home should have been comforting, but instead, something inside her remained tense, like a trigger ready to snap.

When she reached her room, she noticed it.

Cold.

An unusual breeze brushed her cheeks, an icy current that did not belong in a closed room. She frowned, slowly turned the knob, and pushed the door open... And when she did, she understood.

The windows were wide open, letting the night wind rush in in damp currents that swirled the curtains like ghosts haunting the room.

Navia took a step forward, alerting all her senses in case the intruder was still there.

The room was a mess.

Drawers open, clothes scattered across the bed and floor, books flipped over, her confidential paperwork in disarray. Everything appeared to have been searched through hastily but with expertise, as if the intruder knew exactly what they were looking for.

The head of Spina swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain calm. She closed the door gently behind her and walked slowly toward the desk. Her reports. Her investigation. The pirate seal sheet. Everything she had collected over the last few weeks...

Gone.

Only a few irrelevant documents remained, as if the culprit had taken the time to carefully select what to take.

She bent down, checking the floor, looking for any clues. Then she looked out the window before closing it. There was no visible trace of the intruder, but the windows of the stranded ship were very high... Someone with elemental vision, then?

Navia thought that the progress she had made in the investigation was not that significant. Had she been closer to finding the key than she thought?

The idea of someone being in her home, her safe place, and violating it made her sick to her stomach.

It was more than she could bear that night. Not only that, but now she would have to go through the humiliation of reporting that the confidential files entrusted to her had been stolen. That her private and crucial investigation she was working on had been for nothing. All the information was exposed: the enemy had it, allowing them to stay one step ahead. It took her a while to react, returning outside to alert the entire headquarters. She immediately notified Wriothesley. Being, like her, an investigator who did not belong to The Court, she felt safer entrusting him with what had happened first.

She feared he had already returned to the fort, which would prevent him from arriving quickly, but as he was still at the party, it didn't take him long. He came accompanied by two of his mekabots. By then, Navia had changed into a simple cream-colored dress and a long dressing gown. She paced nervously up and down the hallway, biting her nails. When she saw him enter, she threw herself into his arms, allowing herself a moment of weakness. He took her in his arms, surprised, and stroked her hair as he whispered:

“Shh... Don't worry, everything's fine.” He tried to reassure her as much as possible.

“How could I have been so careless and foolish...” she sobbed. “They should never have entrusted me with such important matters of the Court...”

“To hell with the Court” muttered Wriothesley. “You're not to blame for anything. It's clear they're after you.”

Navia pulled away from his embrace and composed herself.

“I think I'm a little scared” she admitted, lowering her gaze.

"If you want, I can stay here for a few days. Just to keep an eye on things. Navia, I know that replacing Melus and Silver isn't part of your plans, but it's important for a young lady like you to have an escort" advised the Duke.

Navia nodded, defeated. Had all this happened because she had tried to act tough? How could she face the Court to tell them what had happened? How could she look Neuvillette in the eye?

Wriothesley programmed his mekabots to patrol the entire Poisson port area. He ordered them to make constant rounds, checking every entrance and access point to the Spina di Rosula headquarters, in case the intruder tried to return or someone was lurking around with suspicious intentions.

Navia watched him give the instructions with a calmness she deeply envied. When he finished, he returned to her side.

“I'm going to inspect your room, if you don't mind” Wriothesley turned to her for a moment, seeking her approval.

Navia hesitated for just a moment, but nodded. She walked beside him to the disheveled room, lost in her thoughts.

It was the first time, as far as she could remember, that a man had set foot in her bedroom.

She didn't count, of course, her father, whom she had called crying during a nightmare as a child, or the servants.

This was different. Part of her felt strangely exposed, as if Wriothesley was not only inspecting her room, but also unraveling something about her life that she had kept hidden even from herself.

The Duke crouched down by the desk, moved papers, opened drawers, checked behind the bed and near the window.

Navia stood apart, in the doorway, silently hugging herself. She watched him at work: thorough, meticulous, attentive to every detail. Every gesture radiated confidence, as if there was nothing in the world that could escape his control.

“There's water” he murmured. “And I'm not sure it's from the rain. We'll have to note that on the report.”

Navia approached her vanity and noticed that the glass on the frame of the photo with her father was broken. She picked it up delicately. She felt so helpless that she couldn't even cry. She immediately bent down next to the Duke, confirming that there were indeed puddles on the floor.

After one last check, Wriothesley stood up.

“You'd better sleep in another room, at least until this has all been cleaned up. You shouldn't rest in a place that has been disgraced in this way” he concluded. “Would you like me to organize the staff?

The leader of Spina hesitated. She felt that the Duke was doing a job that belonged to her, as the lady of the house, but she simply did not have the strength. Thinking on having to tell the Court what had just happened drained what little energy she had left, and seeing her room like that... it broke her heart. She nodded again, feeling the exhaustion weigh heavily on her once more.

The guest room felt unfamiliar, empty, but that night, anywhere would seem better than her own desecrated sanctuary.

She sat on the edge of the bed, letting the silence envelop her.

She thought of Wriothesley: how, since they had become closer after a years-long gap, she had realized how wrong her image of him had been. How Fontaine and the Court had spoken of the Duke derogatorily, as a savage, immoral womanizer, and yet here he was, combating those rumors in person, protecting the headquarters. Did he have other internal motives, or was he driven by his sense of justice? At that moment, Navia only cared that he had been able to answer her call without judging her.

That was all she was looking for.

She wrapped herself in the cold, unscented sheets and before closing her eyes, she dedicated her last thought to Neuvillette: she would have to see him again, explain what had happened, admit her mistake... Show him her vulnerability once more.

She clenched her fists. She hated the idea with every fiber of her being.

She fell asleep fighting the idea of showing weakness... but the night had already defeated her.