Lost in thought, Arlecchino suddenly recalled Venti's story, and a pang struck her heart. She lowered her head and closed her eyes.
O God, could you let me feel it too, just once?
The gods had indeed given her a chance, allowing her to become a great "King."
"I have pardoned your sins and bestowed upon you a new name."
"Carry on this bloodstained title, you pitiful, mad, cursed—'Knave.'"
In this scene, Pierro recited the decree of the Tsaritsa.
Behind Pierro stood Scaramouche, Signora, and Capitano, all clad in the distinctive cloaks of the Fatui Harbingers.
In the previous A Winter Night's Lazzo, Scaramouche and Signora hadn't appeared—or rather, Signora had, but her face wasn't shown.
Now, the audience finally saw both of them in their Harbinger cloaks.
The scene shifted to "Kakavasha" (crossed out).
A blond boy dragged a tattered sack through the ruins, like a "vulture" scavenging the "flesh" of the dead, surviving off it.
Arlecchino (Peruere) appeared before the boy, reaching out to touch his hair.
Arlecchino: "Come with me. I will raise you—"
The boy looked up, his lifeless eyes reflecting Arlecchino's figure. Though her expression was cold, it wasn't frightening.
Arlecchino continued: "—like a strict and ruthless 'Father.'"
My "dawn" will never come, so let me become the twilight of the setting sun, a stepping stone for the "dawn."
The screen darkened, and a line of text appeared:
Fate has set cruel rules for us, so I turned my blade against it.
Then, when the cage is shattered—
May gentle flames burn away the unopened flower, and may songs echo even in the ashes.
—The Song in the Ashes.
Arlecchino restrained her emotions, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't help but want to say: See you in the next life.
A calm, restrained "Father" who doesn't shed tears wouldn't think of "meeting in the next life." But when it comes to you, I am not a "Father," not a "Knave," not a "King."
I am—Peruere.
Everyone thought the story had ended here, and some were even preparing to wipe their tears and leave.
But something felt off. Where was Lady Furina? Wasn't she supposed to have acted in this? They didn't see her. Where was that big, blue, eye-catching Furina?
Suddenly, music began to play. The song that rang out after the performance felt like embers left after a fire—a song from the "ashes."
Furina's voice reached everyone's ears, gentle and soft, singing majiko – 心做し (Kokoronashi/ Somewhat)
(Psychological Effect).
心做し (Kokoronashi/ Somewhat)= New Work, no problem, right? Lucian smirked: Peruere, this is the new work you wanted. No need to thank me. After the prelude, Furina began singing the lyrics.
[Hey, if I could abandon everything]
[Would living with a smile become easier?]
The dark screen lit up again, like flames reigniting in the ashes.
The scene showed Clervie's smiling face, with the lyrics written beside her, as if she were speaking her innermost thoughts.
If she could abandon everything, perhaps she really could live easily, smiling?
If she weren't the daughter of the "Knave," would she have drawn her sword against Crucabena?
I'm sorry, Peruere. Between family and friend, I only dared to turn my blade on myself…
[Hey, if I could forget everything entirely]
[Would living without crying also become easier?]
The scene shifted to Arlecchino, in the same state as when Clervie died—head lowered, face grim, rain streaking down her cheeks.
No one knew if she was crying, but if she could forget everything, could she live without tears?
After all, that was the only person who could make her cry, the one who made her heart ache despite not understanding the emotion.
If she could forget… But could she?
[My heart is the only one I have.]
Furina's voice grew higher, almost "frenzied," as if venting this emotion.
[Just destroy my body, tear it apart, do with it as you please.]
[No matter how I call out, how I struggle, how my eyes swell from crying.]
The scenes flashed by. The first showed Crucabena's smile, then the screen turned red.
It was as if an invisible force called "fate" was destroying and tearing at a black figure—perhaps Clervie's body.
The black shadow splashed ink. Was it tears? Blood?
In the face of this fate, she had shouted, struggled, cried. Yet, in front of Peruere, she still wore that intoxicating smile.
A line from the earlier dialogue played in the song—Peruere: "Do mothers and daughters fight too?"
The music paused. Clervie didn't answer. After a moment, she smiled and said, "The auroras of Snezhnaya—when we grow up, let's go see them together, okay?"
[You still hold me tightly, never letting go.]
The scene shifted. Clervie was dead, but she was still using her last strength to hold Peruere.
Paired with Furina's singing, it struck a chord in everyone's hearts.
Then, in the next moment, Furina's voice was no longer "soaring." It became soft, as if confessing emotions.
[Hey, if my wish could come true]
[I'd want to have the same thing as you.]
The screen showed two plush toys leaning against each other—"Clervie" and "Peruere."
They read together, caught fish together, picked fruit together.
The scene shifted again to a close-up of two Romaritime Flowers, with a blurred Peruere and Clervie embracing in the background.
Against the red backdrop, the blue flowers seemed serene and peaceful.
But the red ultimately shattered that peace, a splash of crimson.
[My heart is the only one I have.]
A bright red heart beat, then a sharp sword pierced through it.
Cutting to a close-up, Clervie in Peruere's arms had no strength left, but she seemed to want to say something—it was her last chance.
Peruere's heart ached unbearably, crying out within:
[Stop! Stop!] (Yamete yo yamete yo)
Clervie smiled gently: "I'm sorry… Thank you…"
[Don't be so gentle with me!!!] (yasashiku shinaide yo)
Peruere knelt beside Clervie, her hands covered in blood.
Her face was streaked with "rain," her hands desperately trying to stop Clervie's blood from flowing, the black of her curse mixing with the red.
But the blood, like the rain, wouldn't stop. It just wouldn't stop…
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Venti: About Kokoronashi
"Though it's not a story sung for me… it really makes you feel a lot. Sigh, Lucian, the payment you gave isn't quite enough…"