Lumine: "I'll go ask her."
Lauwick cautiously, "Well… if Lady Furina is willing, then I'm sure I'd be thrilled. Everyone in the troupe would be thrilled."
"For people like us, performing on the same stage as Lady Furina is practically a dream. Of course, it still depends on whether she's willing to grace us with her presence—whether she feels it would lower her status."
Paimon, ever the social one, replied casually, "Oh, you don't need to worry about that. We'll just go ask her. Come to think of it, we haven't seen her in a while. She's not like before anymore—she doesn't have to keep up that lofty, untouchable image."
Lauwick was so excited he didn't know how to respond. "Th-thank you for helping us. I—I'll wait right here for good news. Please."
However, Paimon soon realized a problem."Wait… Furina isn't living in the Palais Mermonia anymore, right? Where did she move to?"
At that moment, Katheryne walked over and said, "I happen to know her current address. I can provide it to you."
[Wriothesley: Lady Furina's first performance as a human… If I found out about that while underwater, I'd definitely come up to the surface to watch.]
[Charlotte: Lady Furina's popularity is insane. Any performance she's in is always packed to the brim. If this troupe can invite her, their final show will have no regrets at all.]
[Ningguang: For performers, audience recognition is everything. This might even be their chance to rise to fame and secure funding, so they wouldn't have to disband.]
[Venti: That sounds wonderful.]
After getting the address, Lumine and Paimon arrived in front of a two-story townhouse. The building looked somewhat old, and the decor was fairly ordinary.
Paimon, puzzled: "Are you sure Katheryne gave us the right address? She really lives here now?"
Lumine shot her a look. Paimon immediately caught on and corrected herself.
"I-I didn't mean this place is bad! It's just… compared to the grand Palais Mermonia, the difference is pretty huge."
[Arataki Itto: Hey, a big two-story house like this is already super luxurious! Is it really that bad?]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, please don't embarrass us. Compared to your shack, this place is amazing. But Furina used to live in the Palais Mermonia.]
[Furina: Hmm, it is a bit ordinary. But just now, I saw myself on the stream—right on the street next to this one.]
In the video, just as her words ended, Furina's voice sounded from behind them:
"Before you start commenting on someone's new home, it's better to check whether the owner is standing right behind you."
Paimon was so startled she almost lost control mid-air.
"Waaah! When did you suddenly appear behind me?!"
Furina calmly explained, "I just went out shopping. I ran out of pasta at home, so I bought several big bags."
"Back then, I had far more food options. But now, I find that simple, traditional food like this tastes pretty good too."
[Charlotte: Ah—Lady Furina eats pasta?]
[Arataki Itto: What's pasta?]
[Charlotte: It's a kind of inexpensive convenience food in Fontaine. You soak it in water and add sauce—it's very cheap.]
[Sigewinne: That's heartbreaking… hugs.]
[Navia: Then I'll take responsibility for Furina's meals! I love making desserts—especially macarons. I'm really good at them.]
[Furina: Really? Then I want some right now.]
[Navia: Mm-hmm! I'll come over right away with Melus and Silver.]
(TL Note: Changed Myles and Sylph to Melus and Silver because I found it was the correct english translation.)
Concerned, Lumine asked, "Won't you get tired of eating the same thing?"
Furina shook her head. "Not at all. You just prepare different sauces. Tomato sauce for one week, meat sauce for the next."
Paimon, striking a detective-like pose: "That sounds more like you're just getting by."
Lumine: "Is it because no one's cooking for you anymore?"
Furina, slightly irritated: "How rude. Are you doubting my cooking skills?"
[Furina: How dare you! I should add a new law to Fontaine—ban flying objects in the city!]
[Neuvillette: That would affect many professions.]
[Furina: Then… the day before each month, no flying objects allowed in the city.]
[Paimon: Furina, that's so petty.]
[Furina: Fine. The first three days of every month—no flying objects in the city.]
[Paimon: Furina, I'm sorry!]
[Furina: Good that you know. I am the Hydro Archon, after all.]
In the video, Furina spread her hands.
"Anyway, I don't really have anything to do these days. I stay home all the time. Eating something simple is perfectly normal."
"And as for dishes like La Lettre a Focalors or puff pastries—if I wanted to learn, I'd master them in no time."
Paimon, adding rudely, "So basically, you still can't cook."
Furina crossed her arms and replied coldly,
"I just can't yet. More importantly—why are you here, exactly? You didn't come just to watch my miserable daily life, did you?"
"Let me be clear—I'm not hosting guests. If you don't have anything important, please leave."
Paimon, apologizing repeatedly: "Sorry, sorry! Calm down!"
Lumine: "Paimon was just worried about you."
Paimon: "Yeah, yeah! Lumine's right. I wasn't making fun of you—wait, Lumine, didn't you say something rude earlier too?"
Lumine quickly changed the subject.
"That's not important. Furina, we actually came because we wanted to discuss something with you."
Furina: "You need my help?" she replied casually.
"Don't forget—I'm not the Hydro Archon anymore. I don't even have a Vision."
Paimon: "It's not that kind of request. It's not a big job, but it's very special. In a way… only you can help."
"Oh?" Furina said arrogantly. "Since you've gone that far, I'll let your attitude slide. Go on—what is it?"
Lumine and Paimon explained the theater troupe's situation.
Furina: "I see. I knew you didn't come all this way just to tease me."
"After all, I was once Fontaine's greatest star. Stage performance, musical theater—I'm proficient in all of it."
"But even so… I'm afraid I have to refuse."
"I've decided never to perform on stage again. Though I've stepped down from playing the Hydro Archon, the weight of time doesn't vanish so easily. Hundreds of years are enough to reshape a person."
"Even if that role wasn't originally who I was… it's too late now. I don't plan to escape my past, but at the very least—I no longer want to play anyone else."
[Furina: For all these years, I laughed when I was supposed to laugh, and grieved when I was supposed to grieve. Sometimes, I even forgot what my true reactions should be. Maybe I was supposed to be someone who felt fear, who collapsed when facing setbacks. After finally gaining the freedom to express myself, I don't want to lose it again.]
[Venti: Then be happy—playing yourself.]
[Ningguang: I've seen similar cases in business. Once someone is hurt deeply, even recalling it can cause fear. Furina may be the same.]
[Venti: Yes… but I still hope Furina can one day let go of the past and truly embrace herself.]
Paimon, pleading, "I understand how you feel. But couldn't you just fill in temporarily?"
Furina replied seriously, "This isn't about 'just once' or 'how much.' It's about drawing a clear boundary."
"If a decision allows flexibility, then you're already leaving yourself an escape route. In that case, you might as well not decide at all. There's no room for negotiation."
[Keqing: For some reason, I feel like there's going to be a twist.]
[Ningguang: I feel the same.]
Paimon, resigned: "Alright… then what should we tell the troupe? Are they really going to disband? Furina, can you recommend another actor?"
Furina shook her head. "No."
Paimon: "That was… very decisive."
Furina: "I'm not good at maintaining relationships. And honestly, I probably made life hard for a lot of troupes back then…"
"Now I'm just an ordinary person. If I went to them with requests, I'd probably be laughed at."
[Furina: For clarification—I demanded perfection in performances and tolerated no flaws. Some troupes tried to cut corners with staging and props, so I replaced them outright, causing serious conflicts. And as a god, I couldn't have close friends, or cracks would show.]
[Lumine: That must have been lonely.]
[Furina: It was. But now I have the livestream—I can talk to all of you here. Even though… for some reason, chatting here doesn't seem to change the future.]
[Paimon: The livestream really freed Furina ahead of time.]
[Furina: Still, in Fontaine—outside the stream—I have to keep acting. Just in case Celestia notices.]
[Neuvillette: I will cooperate.]
[Navia: I will cooperate.]
[Arlecchino: The House of the Hearth will cooperate as well.]
Lumine: "You don't have to assume the worst about everyone."
Furina, spreading her hands: "Sorry, sorry. I don't have the habit of thinking things through."
Paimon: "So… is there really no other way? This performance means a lot to the client."
Furina, firmly: "Don't you understand? You picked the wrong person from the very beginning. I don't want to help—and I can't help."
Her tone soon softened.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh. I wish I could help. If there were a way, I would have said so already."
Paimon: "It's okay. Sigh… the troupe's probably going to be disappointed. We'll think of something else. Goodbye, Furina."
Furina: "Mm. Goodbye. I should get some rest too."
On the way back, Paimon sighed.
"There's nothing we can do. We have to respect Furina's wishes. Performing would probably remind her of too many painful memories."
They hurried back to the client.
Lumine noticed a plainly dressed girl arguing with Lauwick.
Dulphy: "Why did you decide on your own to find a replacement for me? When did I ever say I couldn't perform?"
Lauwick: "Even if you didn't say it, we knew. We've known each other for so long—you never talk about it even when you're unwell."
Dulphy: "So you think you can decide for me?"
Seeing Lumine approach, Katheryne explained,
"Shortly after you left, the lead actress came to the Adventurers' Guild. She believes her condition is sufficient for the performance."
[Ningguang: I noticed on the stream—Furina seems to have followed them secretly.]
[Keqing: I saw it too. Her coat hem gave her away. Same color and pattern.]
[Venti: She really couldn't let go, huh? Such a soft-hearted, stubborn god.]
[Furina: This is so embarrassing.]
Katheryne addressed the arguing pair.
"Sir, Miss—may I ask you to set aside your disagreement for now? The adventurers handling your commission have returned."
Lauwick: "Sorry about that. How did it go?"
Paimon: "We met Furina, but couldn't persuade her. For personal reasons, she doesn't want to take part."
Lauwick: "I see. Given the situation, that might not be bad news."
"Our original lead seems able to return to the stage. Performing with the original cast is, of course, the best outcome."
Paimon, thinking: "You're right. If we had somehow dragged Furina over, only to find she wasn't needed, she'd probably explode and scold us to death."
Dulphy: "Is Lady Furina really that terrifying?"
[Furina: Paimon. I heard that.]
[Paimon: Furina is the gentlest and cutest!]
[Furina: Hmph. That's better.]
Paimon: "Just kidding! Don't mind it. Anyway—this worked out perfectly."
Lauwick: "There's no point in arguing anymore. We won't look for another actor."
Turning to Dulphy, he added seriously, "This is your last chance. If your condition worsens again, it'll be too late to replace you."
"Are you absolutely sure you can perform? This final show carries everyone's hopes."
Dulphy: "Yes. The doctor's special medicine is very effective. I'll definitely last until the performance."
"I want to say goodbye properly to my years with the troupe. I don't want to be pushed aside at the very end."
"This troupe is everyone's home. I want it to be mine too."
Lauwick: "I'm sorry. I acted too hastily. I should have consulted you first."
At that moment, Lumine sensed something off. She walked behind a nearby crate—and caught Furina, who had been peeking.
Furina, waving her hands nervously: "H-Hey—why are you— I just… forgot to buy something. I happened to pass by, that's all."
"Alright, alright, I'll leave on my own. Don't pull me!"