"That would be wonderful!" The moment she heard that Lora would bring her sweets, Focalors broke into an excited smile. "I've wanted them for five hundred years! It's just that I never had the chance."
"Then I'll pick them according to Furina's tastes," Lora said with a smile. "Fontaine has so many new kinds of pastries now—things that didn't exist back then."
Focalors nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes!"
Only when they talked about things like this did Focalors step away from the role of the solitary, suffering God of Justice, becoming once again the little Oceanid who used to circle around Lora without a care in the world.
Lora stayed with Focalors until the sky began to darken. Finally, Focalors reminded her, "Lady Egeria, it seems to be getting late outside. Shouldn't you head back? You've been gone for so long—won't anyone start to suspect something?"
"Mm… it is getting late," Lora thought for a moment. "But suspicion isn't really an issue. I'm Furina's bodyguard now, and Neuvillette is helping cover for me." She then explained her current situation.
"Furina's… bodyguard?" Focalors stared at her in disbelief.
By the Hydro Archon—
…Oh, right. The Hydro Archon is herself.
No, wait—how did Lady Egeria end up as Furina's bodyguard?
Seeing Focalors' stunned expression, Lora smiled and explained everything. Only then did Focalors finally understand. "I see…"
Lora smiled at her. "Then let's leave it at that for today. I'll bring you some sweets tomorrow."
"Mhm, okay!" Focalors nodded, then personally saw Lora out of the space.
Standing once more inside the chamber of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, Lora looked up at the massive machine and let out a long sigh before turning to leave.
Endure it just a little longer, Focalors. She would save everyone—no matter the cost.
When Lora returned to Palais Mermonia, Furina was sitting on the sofa, puffing out her cheeks as she glared at Lora walking through the door.
"You're back this late—did you forget you're my bodyguard?" Furina demanded. "What if something happened to me while you were gone? Did you even think about your employer's safety?!"
"It won't happen," Lora said seriously, looking straight at her. "I won't let you be in danger. Trust me, Furina."
Furina froze for a moment, staring at her blankly. "You…"
"I haven't even finished dinner yet. I'm starving. Do you have anything to eat?" Lora smoothly changed the subject.
The moment she heard that Lora was hungry, Furina stood up. "I don't really have food here, but if you're hungry, I can have someone bring some over. What do you want to eat?"
"Do you have any sweets?" Lora asked.
Furina nodded. "We do, but… isn't it a bit late for desserts? You might get cavities."
"It's fine. I won't get cavities, and I won't get sick either," Lora said, shaking her head confidently.
Watching Lora's earnest expression, Furina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. What kind of flavor do you want?"
"Just follow your tastes," Lora replied.
After eating the desserts, Lora rinsed her mouth and got ready to head back to her room. Furina stood nearby with her arms crossed, wearing an expression that clearly said I've seen through everything.
"Aren't you the one who said you'd never get cavities?" Furina said. "Then why rinse your mouth? Don't force yourself—you're obviously worried about cavities…"
Just as Lora reached her door, she stopped and turned back to look at Furina.
The moment their eyes met, Furina jolted and took a step back. "I didn't say anything just now! You heard things! Anyway, it's late—I'm going back to my room. You should sleep early too! And don't forget my rules!"
With that, she spun around and fled back to her room at top speed.
Watching Furina escape so quickly, Lora sighed helplessly. "That child…"
Back in her room, Furina was already berating herself.
"Damn it… I'm the Hydro Archon! How could I act so timid in front of her? She won't suspect me, right? No… there's no way she would. Then why do I always feel so completely suppressed when I'm around her?!"
She couldn't figure it out. No matter how she thought about it, it made no sense.
The next morning, Lora got up early. By the time Furina emerged from her room, Lora had already prepared breakfast for her.
Seeing Furina rubbing her eyes, Lora said, "Go wash up first. Eat after that. I have something to take care of today, so I won't be eating breakfast with you."
"Huh? Oh…"
Before Furina could fully react, Lora was already out the door.
She bought some pastries that Focalors used to like, along with several new Fontaine flavors, and headed straight for the Opera Epiclese.
Classic plays were being performed there that morning. Lora quietly slipped past everyone, entered the chamber of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, and called out Focalors' name.
Focalors immediately pulled Lora into the Oratrice's inner space.
"Here," Lora said with a smile as she laid out the sweets. "I picked these myself. Some are your old favorites, and some are new flavors from Fontaine. Try them—tell me which ones you like, and I'll bring more next time."
"Lady Egeria, thank you!" Focalors' mood visibly brightened at the sight of the pastries.
She hadn't eaten sweets in five hundred years. These delicacies, baked through human ingenuity, brought immense pleasure to both body and mind. Sweet treats had always been the best way to reward oneself.
"Here, try this one…"
"And this one—this one's good too…"
"Eat more. You've gotten thinner…"
Lora kept feeding her.
Focalors' mouth was already full of sweets, both hands occupied, her cheeks puffed out as she protested,
"Egeria… Lady… I'm not a child anymore… And I'm a god. I don't… gain or lose weight…"
Lora replied solemnly,
"That's what everyone says when they're hungry."
Focalors: "…"
What else could she do?
"Come on, eat a little more. If you like them, I'll bring more next time."
Smiling, Lora continued feeding the god.