Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino

Confirming that Vacher had drunk it all and would undoubtedly ask to visit the Fountain of Lucine the next day, Lu Li left the dungeon. It wasn't suitable for him to linger there. As for why he had given him the Primordial Seawater instead of using other methods, it was firstly because he didn't want to deviate from the original plot, and secondly, if Vacher hadn't drunk it, he would have beaten him until he did. Fortunately, the man hadn't been suspicious. It seemed Snezhnaya really did have some dealings with the Poissonchantier; otherwise, he wouldn't have believed Lu Li's fabricated identity so easily.

He walked alone on the streets under the night sky. After some time, he saw a familiar figure by a pavilion up ahead and paused. How had he ended up near the Palais Mermonia? And... was this lady always so unguarded, without any escorts? He suddenly remembered a scene from the original story and finally understood why Arlecchino had been able to get so close to Furina without any trouble. She must have figured out her routine...

The girl kneeling and petting a cat with her back to him, with her cute, ethereal jellyfish-like hairstyle and her well-made suit... there was no doubt about her identity.

The Hydro Archon of Fontaine—Furina de Fontaine.

"Hehe, the kitty is so cute, hehe~" Furina giggled as she forcefully rubbed the belly of a calico cat, completely ignoring its look of utter despair.

Lu Li stood there, watching her with a complex expression. Though he had been in this world for over a decade, this was the first time he had been this close to her.

"What are you doing here?" a curious female voice asked from his side. He turned and saw Clorinde in her uniform and realized.

"I was just taking a walk and ended up here. Are you guarding Lady Furina?"

"Mm, she usually comes out for a walk at night. Sometimes she pets cats like this, or goes to pet Bubbly Seahorses," Clorinde said, glancing at Furina before turning back to him. "Stay at this distance. I can't allow you to get any closer. Also, please don't tell anyone you saw Lady Furina here at night. I don't want to deal with a bunch of tabloid reporters."

Lu Li nodded and looked at Furina's back. "Our deity is so childlike. She looks just like a cute girl."

"I get that feeling sometimes too, but you get used to it," Clorinde said calmly. "You should go to the Opera Epiclese more often. If you see Lady Furina displaying her authority there, you might not think so."

"My identity is a bit sensitive, so I should probably leave for now, Clorinde. We'll talk later. By the way, my training has progressed a lot."

"Is that so? Then I'll come and test your skills when I have time and give you some targeted training," Clorinde said with a nod.

Lu Li was about to leave when Furina, having finished petting the cat, turned to find Clorinde and saw him. She walked over, her heterochromatic eyes looking at him curiously. "Who are you? You're not from the Gardes, are you?"

"Good evening, Lady Furina," Lu Li said, bowing respectfully. "I am just a common citizen passing by, fortunate enough to have the chance to meet you."

Furina looked him up and down. "Mm, you're from Liyue, aren't you?"

"That's right, but I grew up in Fontaine," he replied. "So my clothes have a typical Fontaine style."

"I see..." Furina nodded and glanced at Clorinde, who immediately understood.

"Lady Furina, his name is Lu Li. He is a friend of mine, from the Hôtel Bouffes d'été. Though his identity is somewhat special, he is someone who can keep a secret."

"Lu Li... Hôtel Bouffes d'été, that's Snezhnaya... I see..." Furina clapped her fist into her palm in a gesture of understanding. "A Liyue-an raised by Snezhnaya in Fontaine? What an interesting background. I remember hearing about it... If I'm not mistaken, someone from the Hôtel Bouffes d'été also helped in the case of the missing young women, which is why it went so smoothly?"

"It was just a small contribution," Lu Li said. As the Hydro Archon, it was only natural that the Iudex would report the entire case to her.

"Hmph, you did help quite a bit, no need to be modest," Furina said with her hands on her hips. "And since you are a friend of Clorinde's, you don't need to be so formal. If you need help with anything, I permit you to come to the Palais Mermonia and seek my aid. Of course, you only have one chance."

Lu Li exchanged a look with Clorinde, who nodded with a helpless expression. Having been Furina's bodyguard for so long, she was well aware of the deity's whimsical nature.

Seeing that Lady Furina had really given him such an opportunity, Lu Li's expression was strange. He bowed and said respectfully, "I understand. Thank you for your generosity, Lady Furina!"

As he was about to straighten up, he saw that she had extended a hand towards him. Her delicate hand, covered by a black, semi-sheer silk glove, was clearly a signal. Lu Li understood immediately. He leaned forward and placed a light, ceremonial kiss on the back of her hand before standing up and stepping back. With a nod from Furina and Clorinde, he respectfully bid them farewell and left.

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