Chapter 15: Trials

I didn't get enough sleep.

Papa's words yesterday made me uncomfortable.

How could he tell a child to try to manipulate people? Even though it is what's going to happen in the future it still makes me uncomfortable.

I could establish a relationship with them, but I didn't want it to crumble in the future.

'Clervie is also indecisive. If I tell her now that we will have to kill and replace Crucabena, she will no doubt oppose it just like what she did in the original. I have to think of ways to make her accept it and at the same time convince them to stay in the Fatui. I can't have more variables to mess with the original story.'

Plans for the future flooded my mind. Every move I make will change the future. 

I kept brainstorming that night; before I knew it, it was already past midnight.

****************

Morning came.

Some intense shaking sessions woke me up.

As I opened my eyes, I saw another me.

'Oh, it's Leon,'

"Leo! Wake up! We're going to watch some show today, remember?!"

'It's not some show, it's a court hearing.' I thought.

"Let me sleep a bit more~" 

I pulled the sheets and wrapped myself in it.

"It's already 10 am! The show is gonna start!" Leon declared.

He pulled the sheets over making me roll over and fall down the bed.

"Ouch!"

"Let's go! Papa is waiting below!"

After I finished eating breakfast and taking a bath, we rode an aquabus to reach Opera Epiclese.

Unlike usual, we aren't followed by our guards.

"Papa, where are the guards?" Leon asked.

"They're busy with something else, don't worry about it you two, just enjoy the day."

I decided not to think about why or what they were busy with, it was undoubtedly something not good.

We reached the Opera house.

The place has a large area where people gather and talk. It also has a fountain in the middle in front of it. On the side of the fountain, two mechanisms spew water upward; it reminds me of those water shows.

The Opera Epiclese is very grandiose. 

After lining up and entering, we sat at the front chairs, giving us a clear view.

Inside the theater is a huge Weighing scale.

'If I remember correctly it's called, Oratrice mecanique d'analyse cardinale... Pff!' 

I barely held my laughter. I remembered the memes that people made from the name alone. There's even a rap made for it.

"Alright, now you two, behave, I will just go to the restroom," Papa said as he left.

Looking around, there's already a good amount of people, almost all of the seats are already occupied. 

The seats opposite to everyone else's are still empty.

'That's where Neuvillette and Furina will sit.' 

I thought excitedly.

"Leo! This place is so cool!" 

"I know right," 

We kept looking around.

After a few minutes, Papa came back.

"Were you two behaved?" He asked.

"Yes!" We both replied.

He patted our heads and gave us chocolates to munch on.

Moments later, we heard a deep and elegant voice.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The court hearing is about to start."

A tall gentleman emerged at one of the seats opposite to ours. He had white hair with blue streaks and wore a bluish-black coat.

It was the Ludex, Neuvillette.

Not long after, a petite young woman sat above him.

She had the same white hair with blue streaks, her different colored eyes were captivating, and she wore a blue coat with a white polo underneath. 

I couldn't help but feel sad as my eyes were locked on them.

Memories of a great flood, a giant narwhal, and an execution resurfaced in my mind.

A noble sacrifice was made for their people even at the cost of their happiness and lives, yet no one knew about it until the last moment.

"Papa, who is she," Leon asked as he pointed at Furina.

"She's the archon of Fontaine, Furina de Fontaine." 

"Isn't she good brother!"

'If you mean beautiful, yes she is.'

"Yeah," I replied.

A few more moments passed, and the court hearing started.

"Leo, Leon, I want you to pay attention to this and tell me what you learned or noticed," Papa said as he held our hands.

He then got closer to my ears and whispered.

"Especially you, Leo."

I prepared myself to listen and not get distracted while Leon was busy staring at Furina. 

"We will now start the hearing between..."

****************

The hearing was very interesting. It was my first time inside one and I didn't know what to expect, but as it progressed, things got more interesting and the final verdict was guilty.

It was another experience seeing the Oratrice mecanique d'analyse cardinale carry out the verdict.

"What did you think, Leo, was it interesting?" Papa asked.

"Yes, very," I replied.

Papa was murmuring things during the hearing, I heard some of it. He was trying to piece together the alibi of the defendant. He was trying to solve the case himself.

"Papa! Can we meet Miss Furina!" 

Leon. He was staring at Furina the whole time. Every time I looked his way, his eyes were locked on her.

'Leon, don't tell me you're having a crush on Furina...'

 "Good luck with that Leon," I said sarcastically.

"Thank you!"

"..."

"I'm afraid it'll be hard. Meeting with an Archon is not something you can just request, Leon." Papa said.

He looked like he was seriously thinking about it.

We walked out of the theater but were stopped by Garde.

"Hello, officer, how can we help you?"

Papa greeted but his grip on us was a bit tight.

"Greetings, Harbinger Pantalone, we didn't expect your arrival, was the hearing earlier to your liking?"

Neuvillette approached and greeted us.

"Oh! It was an enjoyable time, me and my children enjoyed it. As for why I am here, it's merely for vacation purposes, I wanted to spend time with my sons and chose Fontaine as our destination."

"I see, so it wasn't for official business. I hope Fontaine was to your liking."

"It's a very peaceful nation, I find it very tempting to live here. But alas, duty calls at Sneznaya, I barely have time to even spend time with my kids."

"I'm sorry, but I find it difficult to understand since I never had kids."

"Don't worry about it, Ludex, I myself never understood until I had children."

Papa made the conversation comfortable for Neuvillette. It's scary how he instantly guided the conversation.

They talked a bit more until Neuvillette invited Papa.

"It seems that this is not an appropriate place for a conversation. If you don't mind, I would like to invite you to Palais Mermonia for some tea." Neuvillette offered.

"That would be my pleasure, but I'm afraid my sons would find our conversation boring."

Papa seemed reluctant to accept. I would be reluctant myself if I'm caught enjoying myself in another nation.

"Is that so, then the melusines at the Palais could keep them company, they are really good at handling children."

"Hmmm, then we should ask them. Leo, Leon, do you want to go with Papa to Palais Mermonia? If you don't want we can just play at the market and buy some toys."

I didn't really mind if we go or not. Getting more information would be nice, but at that time I felt my lack of sleep taking hold of me.

"I don't mind, Papa," I answered.

"I see, what about you, Leon?"

"Is Miss Furina gonna be there?"

'Leon!' I internally screamed.

"Miss Furina have some business with me in an hour, so she'll be there for some time," Neuvillette answered.

"Then I'll go!" Leon enthusiastically answered.

Papa's brows furrowed.

"Then, we'll take your offer, Ludex Neuvillette."