PRETEND ━━ lyney ( ✓ )

𝟮𝟬

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘

a magician's touch

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( GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER! )

𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 sat in a deafening silence, solemn expressions on each of their faces. The rain from outside cascaded down the windows of Neuvillette's office.

"Do you think that I... Overreacted?" Furina eventually asked in a quiet tone. Her fingers were wrung together and one of her legs was crossed over the other.

Neuvillette hummed. "Nonsense, Lady Furina. You felt threatened in that moment, so you had every right to summon the Gardes."

"I just... I knew deep down that there was a possibility Y/N was part of the Fatui. The fact that they're with Lyney further proves my point. Yes, I'm aware that they didn't actually do anything to me right there and then, but if they attended my ball, then they definitely had ulterior motives. They could've harmed me later on."

Neuvillette listened carefully to The Archon's analysis, nodding his head in agreement.

"I agree with you, Lady Furina. You did the right thing. You protected yourself."

Furina was silent for a few moments, almost as if the situation was still sinking in for her. The events from the ball were still fresh in her mind, becoming clearer and clearer as time passed.

"Neuvillette... The members of the Fatui - they don't all have the Fatui symbol carved into their neck, do they?"

"I can't say for certain, but I do not think that is the case. Why do you ask?"

Furina peered over the other's desk, watching him with narrowed eyes. Her fingers begun to rapidly tap against her thigh.

"When I tugged down Y/N's collar... I noticed that they had the Fatui symbol carved into their neck. It looked like a scar, so that means that it's been there for a while now. That was, initially, what prompted me to summon the Gardes." The Archon explained.

"Oh?" Neuvillette shook his head, a disappointed sigh following after. "What an unfortunate thing to have done."

Furina nodded in acknowledgement, leaning back in her chair. "What do you suggest we do now? I know for certain that there were more people involved in this scheme."

"I have already sent Gardes and various other security to patrol all necessary areas. You're safe, Lady Furina, so you needn't worry."

A relieved smile inched onto The Archon's lips, yet the doubt clouding her mind and tainting her heart chose not to subside - causing constant fear and anxiety to claw away at her.

"I see. Thank you, Neuvillette."

[ ☆ ]

The two reunited siblings continued to gaze longingly at each other, their eyes memorising every single feature about each other. It had been too long since they'd seen each other, after all, and they feared forgetting what the other looked like.