Ningguang wasn't joking, she truly meant what she said. She never believed she could monopolize Richard's love.
In most people's eyes, love is possessive by nature. But Ningguang was different, she understood that Richard's lifespan far exceeded that of ordinary humans, while she herself was merely mortal. Even with all her vast wealth and influence, she could not escape the limits of human life.
This was the eternal dilemma between long-lived and short-lived beings, the problem of lifespan.
At one point, Ningguang had thought that if she ever met Richard again, she would remove all competition and enjoy his love alone, at least then, she would be happy until the day she died.
But… she eventually gave up that idea. Even if it were possible, what would happen to Richard after she was gone?
She had seen too many mortals tormented by the loss of their beloved spouses. The pain didn't fade with time, it only deepened, aging like wine, growing stronger and more bitter with each passing year.
So Ningguang decided she only wanted a small portion of Richard's love. That way, even if she left one day, there would still be others to fill that void, so Richard's life wouldn't become hollow and joyless after her passing.
Thinking of this, Ningguang couldn't help but feel a bit envious of Furina. Compared to herself, Furina was truly blessed, with an immortal lifespan and the noble divinity of a god.
In every aspect, Furina was clearly the one most suited to Richard: good-tempered, pure-hearted, kind, breathtakingly beautiful, and of exalted status.
But what Ningguang didn't know was that Furina's so-called blessings came with great suffering.
As the old Liyue saying goes: "Calamity hides within fortune, and fortune within calamity."
And as the people of Fontaine say: "Every gift of fate has its price marked in secret."
This perfectly described Furina's life, though blessed with divine power and eternal youth, these were not gifts but curses.
She was cursed to forever play a role that wasn't her own, unable to find her true self, forced to hide her painful secrets and bear the fears of all Fontaine's people, endlessly and alone.
Before Richard appeared, Furina had already been on the verge of collapse. Outwardly, she seemed elegant and confident, but her heart was torn and bleeding.
Then Richard came, like a divine interruption, giving her the briefest breath of relief. Her emotional wounds stopped festering and even began to heal.
But such healing came with a cost. The wounds mended through Richard would forever carry his mark. If one day she were completely healed, she would no longer be the same Furina who once emerged from pure water, for her heart would already bear Richard's shape.
"You don't mind?!" Furina froze upon hearing Ningguang's words, feeling utterly disoriented.
She suddenly felt like she had set a trap for herself. If she ever tried to have Richard all to herself, Ningguang could just remind her of this conversation, and the emotional damage would be doubled.
A self-inflicted backfire, truly.
Furina had assumed that someone like Ningguang, a proud, brilliant woman, would have emotional purity and be unable to share a lover. But instead, Ningguang seemed… fine with it? Even pleased, somehow?
So this was what people meant by, "I'm not here to break up the family, I'm here to join it."
"Of course I mind," Ningguang said calmly, "but would my feelings alone change anything?"
She had accepted reality, just as she couldn't monopolize Richard, she also couldn't remain in Fontaine forever.
And honestly, joining this… household didn't seem like a bad deal.
From another perspective, with Richard based in Fontaine, wasn't Furina essentially taking care of her man on her behalf? Ningguang could simply visit when she had time, enjoy the same affection, and return home when she pleased.
Like a vacation resort, come and go as she wished, no obligations, just enjoyment.
All the rights, none of the responsibilities.
And she didn't even have to worry about other women chasing Richard, Furina and the others would handle that for her.
The more she thought about it, the better the deal sounded.
"Against someone like Lady Furina," Ningguang continued smoothly, "and with the gentleman tied to Fontaine… how could I not see the odds? Rather than fight a losing battle, it's wiser to join you. Don't you agree?"
"Y–yes…" Furina replied weakly, cornered by Ningguang's unassailable logic.
Truthfully, Furina had wanted Richard all to herself. The only reason she'd formed alliances with Lynette and Clorinde was because Ningguang's presence pressured her.
But now, with Ningguang "joining," if Furina ever did try to take Richard alone, she'd be facing not just one rival, but several.
After all, when Clorinde first mentioned the "harem theory," Lynette hadn't objected, meaning she implicitly agreed.
Now, with Ningguang on board, Furina was outnumbered three to one. And if Shenhe turned out to be another supporter… that would make it four to one.
At that point, what was the point of fighting?
Ningguang, noticing Furina's flickering expression, saw right through her, clearly, 'this Hydro Archon had her own little schemes.'
Perhaps Furina did mind sharing Richard, but had tried to make Ningguang feel guilty enough to withdraw from the relationship.
Unfortunately, that plan had backfired spectacularly, instead of guilt, Ningguang had found a perfect excuse to join in officially.
And since she'd already won this round, Ningguang saw no need to rub salt in the wound.
Instead, she decided to comfort Furina, partly to keep the peace at home, and partly to maintain their new "sisterly" harmony.
Or as one might say: "A slap followed by a sweet date."
"Lady Furina," Ningguang said with a gentle smile, "it seems I should call you elder sister."
"E–Elder sister?" Furina blinked in surprise.
"Of course," Ningguang said. "You were the one who proposed this arrangement, and your wisdom far exceeds mine. It's only right that I call you sister, it's my gain, truly."
Hearing that, Furina's heart softened completely. The tension melted away, replaced by a dizzy warmth as Ningguang's sincerity worked its charm.
By the time she realized it, she had already lost herself in the sound of Ningguang calling her 'sister.'
It was clear, the Heavenly Jade Star had completely mastered her.
At this point, one could almost write a manual called: "Furina User Guide."
"Ah, my dear sister, you flatter me, hehe…" Furina waved her hands, trying to appear modest, though the corners of her mouth betrayed a proud smile.
And just like that, Furina and Ningguang's relationship took a qualitative leap, from uneasy allies to seemingly genuine sisters.
Even Richard was shocked at how well they got along.
Normally, even temporary truces between love rivals are fragile. But these two? They were practically inseparable now.
Unless… one of them had completely taken the upper hand, achieving "downward compatibility."
Still, Ningguang had made real concessions. Calling Furina "sister" was a symbolic act of goodwill, even a kind of submission.
For someone like Ningguang, that was no small thing.
But knowing her, it wasn't sentimentality, it was strategy. Everything except Richard was negotiable. Better to give up words and gain something real.
Richard could only shake his head with a wry smile and return to his work.
As Fontaine's cultural exchange festival unfolded, the city began to recover from its recent string of misfortunes, the serial "missing girls" case, the Academy explosion, and more.
The social gloom lifted, replaced by excitement and economic revival, all thanks in no small part to a certain wealthy woman from Liyue.
Richard knew that Ningguang had not only forged ties with Fontaine's government but also formed partnerships with its major trade guilds and civic groups.
Clearly, the Tianquan of Liyue was no longer content with her home territory, she was expanding her commercial empire into Fontaine.
And now, calling Furina "sister" had paid off, she'd gained a powerful local ally and a celebrity brand ambassador for free.
Of course, Furina's endorsement wasn't unpaid, Ningguang gave her a share in the Fontaine businesses.
Furina had initially refused, but when Ningguang reminded her that Richard also had a stake in those ventures, she couldn't say no.
After all, how could she refuse to take part in his work?
In truth, Ningguang wasn't lying. While Richard didn't officially hold shares, Ningguang had already given him half of all her ventures, she simply held them in trust.
"Lynette," Clorinde said, approaching with a stack of documents, "don't you think Lady Furina has been getting a little too close to Lady Ningguang lately?"
Lynette glanced over the papers, sorting them neatly before replying coolly, "Didn't you tell her to do that yourself?"
"Well, yes, but…" Clorinde trailed off, she hadn't expected Furina to actually follow that advice so thoroughly.
Barely a day later, Furina had not only accepted Ningguang, she seemed to be enjoying the partnership.
Could it be… she actually took Clorinde's words seriously?
Theoretically, it was sound, but implementing it was a whole different challenge.
Lynette sighed, poured herself a cup of hot tea, then offered another to Clorinde, who looked at her expectantly.
"Thanks to you," Lynette said evenly, "our dear Richard might really end up surrounded by wives. At least two are already claiming their seats."
Clorinde pouted, it felt like she'd handed out candy, only to find her share shrinking.
"Wait… three, isn't it?" she said, eyeing Lynette pointedly. "Don't you count?"
After all, Lynette had been spending more and more time with Furina lately, even joining her afternoon teas.
Worth noting, those teas didn't include Richard, but did include Ningguang, Lynette, and Clorinde.
Clorinde came just to eat and drink, but the other three were clearly deepening their "bond", as if preparing for a future family.
Lynette's cool gaze silenced Clorinde. Without a word, she stacked another pile of documents on the desk in front of her.
If you have that much energy to gossip, you have enough to work.
"Wait, wait, that's way too much!" Clorinde yelped.
"Too much? Not as much as your talking."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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