Chapter Text
“I will not be attending.”
Furina’s teacup and saucer came clattering onto the table within the Palais Mermonia after Neuvillette’s statement. The clattering sound almost reverberated within the walls and caused many who lingered at desks behind the door to turn their heads for a moment before hurrying to return back to their work at hand.
“Neuvillette! It would be unseemly for I, Focalor to be seen without you - The Iudex for this meeting! It is an important meeting between diplomats, surely you can put aside any fears for this matter!” Furina’s hands against the table, practically bunching the table-cloth between her fingers in utter frustration.
“We’ve been at this matter for so long, your tea has gone cold. Lady Furina, this isn’t a diplomatic matter. It is a performance!” A ballet performance nonetheless. Neuvillette was rarely seen outside of the Palais Mermonia, to many he’d become an elusive figure - all wanting to catch a glimpse of the phantom-like Iudex out of his chambers and not in the Opera Epiclese. Furina let out a deep huff from her lips, now standing to attention before the Iudex who was simply not entertaining the idea.
"But it isn’t just a performance! This is the Tsaritsa’s own grand ballet troupe, they’ve never stepped foot into Fontaine before! This is an opportunity, Neuvillette! Surely you can see that!” Lady Furina was cunning, always weaseling a way to get what she wanted under the guise of her duties “Sneznayan diplomats are accompanying them to our waters!”
But Neuvillette simply poured himself another glass of crisp, fresh water - unamused by this badgering from the Archon he worked alongside “I thought you would rather give up all your sweet treats rather than to associate with such diplomats? You are never this fickle within a court setting, Lady Furina.” He sipped from the chalice he held in hand.
“T-that! That was before this was brought to our attention! Wouldn’t it at least improve our standing and relationships with them? We must foster those relationships with other nations!” Furina dictated it like a script, as if she’d long been preparing for this exact conversation.
Neuvillette cleared his throat “Lady Furina, you were the one who secured this performance, surely you being there will suffice.” Swirling the chalice in hand, he watched as the water rippled like a stilling harp string - swiftly flailing from such a small movement before returning to its still position almost instantaneously, as if it had never been moved at all.
Furina slumped back into her seat, reclining almost fully into the chair, continuing her tantrum much more quietly “But that would leave me being alone with all those diplomats..” she fiddled with her gloves, pulling at the fingertips as she mumbled her words.
Neuvillette turned his gaze back to Furina, watching her fiddle with her gloves, eyes not meeting him with the same energy and vigor they usually contained. Instead, they withheld a level of anxiety, fluttering around as if there were other things dwelling there. He’d rarely seen her exhibit such a behaviour, usually she’d just give him a period of silence till he unwillingly agreed to her request but this was very unlike the Archon he’d come to know in the past three hundred years. It was unnerving, he supposed that was the best description for the feeling, at least in the books he’d read this was what it ought to feel like.
“Lady Furina, if this troubles you so, I will attend with you but I will not stay the duration. Just till you feel..” He paused, he had to word this correctly - knowing how Furina could misinterpret his words if he was not clear enough “Till you feel settled, surely you have talking points you wish to discuss with them during the first interval.” He added on “But I will just stay till the performance begins, I have matters elsewhere to be doing as your Iudex.”
Furina’s gaze turned up from her gloves to the Iudex, almost immediately it was as if the mask of despair simply evaporated from her - of course he’d expected this. Knowing how her attitude and mood changes like the tides around Fontaine.
In the court, her mood rose and fell dramatically - playing into the audience which she had before her, feeding into their desire for more theatrics, unpredictable as the seas. One minute, still and collected, the other absolutely treacherous to go against. Volatile when pushed and prodded, as all beings with such exceeding power would exhibit if tested beyond their limits - it just so happened Furina’s was easier to evoke than others he’d heard word of. A feature of Fontaine’s Archon which he had to become accustomed to with exceeding pace if not to be swept up in it himself.
“You will?! Spectacular! I knew you’d change your tune! Won’t it be perfect Neuvillette? You can do the talking and I… I will just get to sit back and watch this grand opening performance!~” Holding the tea spoon from her saucer in hand and waving it around for a moment. He already knew this whole attending alongside her just for the opening wouldn’t last long, already anticipating having to sit and watch the entire performance. Though he would certainly try to find a way of escape if possible.
“Yes of course.” He noted.
“After all, the Tsaritsa of Sneznaya has been so gracious to not only let us enjoy her prized dancers but also the Prima Assoluta herself! We should be honoured!” She clapped, pulling her gloves back into place on her hands properly, no longer messing with the fabric.
“The Prima Assoluta?” Neuvillette questioned, having limited prior knowledge to the colloquialisms that pertained to ballet.
“It is one of highest honours to be bestowed on a ballerina, one of the highest rankings given! You know so little about ballet, surely you need to learn at least the basics before tonight's performance! You will be meeting the Prima Assoluta herself.” Furina scolded the Iudex before standing once again “Anyways! I must rest before the performance! Please do some research, we do not wish to look foolish in front of our decorated diplomatic guests after all!”
Furina skirted off out of his office towards her own abode, leaving the Chief Justice to his own thoughts and questions.
Some further reading would be needed before he met with those Sneznayan diplomats - and of course before he met this precious pearl which the Tsaritsa apparently held so dear.
The Prima Assoluta.