Chapter 73

[Wait, I remember now. It seems there was a friend he spent time with at the Research Institute back in the Narcissenkreuz days.]

"I heard Su Bai performed a great service this time. It seems many people have been influenced by him and started joining the Church."

"Haha, there are many nuns too. Perhaps they are just coveting his handsome appearance."

Furina: "..."

How impressive. Has this kid already started performing meritorious deeds not long after arriving?

To think there are actually people voluntarily joining the Church.

Should I give him some commendation or something?

I have it. I'll gift him my Splendor of Tranquil Waters, and by the way...

Since the Church has started to have members, I will promote him to the Pope of Fontaine.

"Su Bai, you must keep this up. Work hard for the sake of the great deity."

On the day of the authorization, Furina’s solemn appearance caused a hint of a smile to tug at the corners of Su Bai’s mouth.

Furina found it strange and did not understand why the other party was smiling, but he was smiling very happily.

In the days that followed, people from the Church would still send Mille-Feuille to Furina.

And Furina never grew tired of eating them.

Every time there was a trial at the Opera House, Su Bai would accompany her from the seats below.

As time passed, Furina discovered that from some point on, her pressure seemed to have lightened significantly compared to before.

Troublesome matters seemed to stop seeking her out, and instead, they were all piled onto Su Bai.

While Furina enjoyed this hard-won relaxation, she also worried for Su Bai.

"Working like this, can his body hold up?"

However, beyond Furina’s imagination, every problem that fell into Su Bai’s hands was resolved perfectly.

Su Bai’s popularity grew increasingly vibrant, surpassing even the Iudex Neuvillette and closing in on her own.

But Furina did not feel anything was amiss; in fact, a hint of inexplicable little happiness even rose in her heart.

Occasionally, when she spotted Su Bai surrounded by various young women from high above, Furina would let her little face fall, looking dissatisfied.

It was a pity she could not reveal this expression that only humans could possess.

If it were known that she felt unhappy because there were other girls around the Pope, her identity would certainly be exposed.

Until that day...

To praise Pope Su Bai’s contributions to Fontaine, the Opera House added new seats in the VIP section.

In the eyes of the people of Fontaine, Su Bai officially became an existence equal in status to Furina; in terms of actual power, those who followed Su Bai’s arrangements were even more numerous than those who followed Furina.

On this day, Furina was very happy and put on a charming face: "Ahem, as expected of the person I chose. Indeed, whether it is talent or strength..."

"Oh my, he’s almost catching up to me."

Su Bai was slightly shy and said: "It is all thanks to the help of the Hydro Archon."

"That..."

"Speak, speak, what else do you want to say?"

"I want to ask the Hydro Archon if you still remember the promise we made by the seaside..."

"That is, um... to go on a sailing trip together and travel across the entire Teyvat."

A sailing trip...

The seaside promise...

From this moment on, Furina was completely stunned.

No wonder she always felt that from the first time she saw Su Bai, the way he looked at her was filled with a very strange feeling.

Perhaps his purpose in coming to Fontaine was for her all along...

No, it should be for that self in the mirror, the true Hydro Archon, Focalors.

"Moreover, I feel like you have already forgotten, and don't even remember who I am."

Su Bai scratched his head awkwardly.

"This..."

Furina panicked instantly.

This feeling of panic was no less than her speech when she first took office as the Hydro Archon.

Su Bai knew the true Hydro Archon, and he...

Thinking quickly in her desperation, Furina hurriedly found an excuse: "Ahem, Pope, you also know that the source of Fontaine’s power comes from the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."

"In order to supply the operation of the Oratrice, I gave all of my own power to it."

"Ever since then, I have forgotten many, many things, and sometimes I even feel that my behavior and actions are not like myself."

"So that is how it is?" Su Bai suddenly realized.

"You must have done it for the prophecy of Fontaine, Focalors."

The moment Su Bai said the words "Focalors," Furina suddenly felt as if her heart had been pierced by a sharp weapon.

Her whole body could not muster any strength, but she still maintained a smile and said with difficulty: "You are truly clever, my Pope."

Furina did not know why her emotions had become so exceptionally low.

She returned home with difficulty and had a nightmare that night.

"I, Su Bai, the Pope of Fontaine, will of course do my utmost to serve the Hydro Archon."

"But, not for a fake like you."

The disgust that appeared in Su Bai’s eyes made Furina feel as if the sky had collapsed.

"No, listen to my explanation, it’s not what you think, I..."

"Hmph! To dare to impersonate the Hydro Archon in my heart, you should be locked in the deepest part of the Fortress of Meropide and fed to the dogs..."

*Gasp!*

Furina woke up in a fright, covered in cold sweat, and cried for an entire night.

Was she wrong?

She was not that self in the mirror; she was just a substitute. But who would be willing to be a substitute for someone else?

If it weren't for Fontaine, she...

She could also have been an ordinary girl, without having to pretend for anyone.

Especially when facing the person she liked.

Fortunately, it was just a dream; the Mille-Feuille would still be placed on Furina’s dining table punctually every day.

Only, suddenly one day, Su Bai posed a fatal question to Furina.

"Hydro Archon, I have made a new discovery regarding the fact that Primordial Seawater can dissolve people."

"I am very puzzled as to why the people of Fontaine would be dissolved by Primordial Seawater. Perhaps if I knew the truth, I might be able to do my best to stop the prophecy."

Furina: "Eh, is there such a thing?"

"Sigh, you also know that my memory has become chaotic; I really cannot remember..."

"Please, extract some power from the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale. You only need to tell me this one thing, and perhaps I will be able to..."

Unfortunately, the final result was that Furina did not follow Su Bai’s request; she simply could not do it.

The two had some friction because of this.

From then on, the words between the two became fewer and fewer, and in the end, they did not speak a single word for eighty-nine years.

Su Bai never appeared at the Opera House again, and all work handovers were reported by others.

Only the Mille-Feuille continued to be delivered to Furina on time.

But during this process, Furina also heard rumors that there were many people who were dissatisfied with her performance.

There were even more excessive rumors claiming that the Pope of Fontaine had already taken control of everything and the Hydro Archon was just a puppet.

The timid Furina would hide under her covers every day and wipe away tears in silence.

She was terrified that if she were exposed, she would destroy Fontaine’s last hope, and even more afraid that Su Bai would discover she was impersonating the Hydro Archon.

As for being locked in the Fortress of Meropide to be fed to the dogs, she was not that worried; what she could not accept was the look of disgust in Su Bai’s eyes in her dream.

Fortunately, the rumors of the blonde traveler broke everything.

Su Bai finally began to take the initiative to contact her again. During Lyney’s magic performance, his behavior completely allowed Furina to breathe a sigh of relief.

"So all along, you are still you..."

Furina looked at Su Bai’s back, and a hint of warmth rose in her heart.

She even felt ashamed for occupying Su Bai’s concern with lies.