Yes, Lady Funina!

“No, but we can’t sleep here,” Peruvieri said.

Clementine yawned and stood up from the ground. Her white dress was covered in mud, and her socks were soaked with rain, making a 'creaking' sound as she walked.

Back in their room, Clementine and Peruvier changed their clothes and met again by the familiar window.

Peruvée took out two well-preserved aurora photos that she had hidden in her bosom and handed them to Clévi.

Although the heavy rain soaked Peruvéli, she did not let the rain wet the photographs.

“This is…” Clementine looked at Peruvieri.

Peruvieri turned her head slightly, not looking at Clementine, and said in a muffled voice, "That guy gave it to you."

Although no name was mentioned, Clementine understood what Peruvier meant.

Clay's mood immediately plummeted. She took the two photos, but she didn't feel the beauty of the aurora in them; all she felt was the bitterness of parting.

After looking at both photos, Clementine kept one and returned the other to Peruvieri.

Peruvieri didn't take it, but Clévius forcefully shoved the photo into Peruvieri's hand.

This time, Peruvieri didn't refuse. She was afraid that if she used too much force, she would hurt Clementine or damage the photo.

The curse brought pain, but it also granted Peruvieri power; however, Peruvieri has not yet been able to adapt to this power.

Faint starlight shone through the window. Clementine climbed to the window and, with some difficulty, pushed it open. She turned to Peruvier and said:

"When he grows up, let's ask him to take us to see it together."

……

The battle had ended, and the air was thick with the stench of blood. In the distance, a bubble-orange-shaped ornament hung from the broken hilt of a sword.

Peruvieri looked at Clementine, who had collapsed in her arms and whose breath was gradually fading, and her pupils contracted sharply.

“Clayvie…”

Peruvéli was no longer the child she once was; her tall and slender figure already showed some of the charm she would later possess.

Clementine, also dressed in a black uniform and with long pink hair, was nestled in Peruvier's arms. Looking down, one could see the blood-stained tip of a knife and the bright red blood dripping down.

"I'm sorry..." the girl's weak voice murmured in Peruvieri's ear, "...thank you."

After speaking, the girl fell backward, while Peruvieri remained motionless. Her black and white hair obscured her face, and the black stain on her wrist continued to intensify, pushing the boundary to the middle of her forearm.

Peruvieri had long since become numb to physical pain, but she could never get used to the emotional pain.

Peruvieri did not stop. She picked up the sword, which was stained with her friend's blood. This experiment was not over yet, and she would become the final victor. Then she would swing her sword at that hypocritical "mother".

Shortly after Peruvieri left, Clementine's chest began to glow faintly. Under the influence of this light, the wound on her abdomen gradually healed, and the bleeding stopped.

A sliver of color gradually returned to the girl's pale face, and her heartbeat ceased to grow faint.

Soon, a figure holding an umbrella walked up to the girl.

"This is not a place for you." The cold female voice carried barely suppressed anger, like that of a king whose territory had been offended.

"Kujavina...you seem to have lost your composure?"

A muffled groan sounded, and the annoying, incessant noise disappeared.

Richard folded his umbrella, bent down, lifted the girl from the cold ground, and finally disappeared into the misty rain.

He didn't kill the disgusting woman; he just taught her a small lesson.

For years, Kujavina had lived in the fireplace house, surrounded by vulnerable children, seemingly forgetting what the world was really like.

So much so that she, who was equally weak, dared to extend her claws at him.

If you dare to extend your claws at him, be prepared for them to be broken.

Richard didn't care whether the other party was his partner or not, nor was he indispensable to her. If necessary, he could find another partner, and there would be plenty of people willing to do it.

However, after this incident, Kujavina should be much more obedient, and at least for the next year, the other party will not bother her anymore.

This also gave Peruvieri a precious period of development.

……

Another spring has arrived. Richard, who has just entered the officialdom, hears from his colleagues about an explosion in the suburbs that turned a complex called "House of Hearths" into ruins.

This morning, the Chase Shadows organization sent people to investigate, but they did not obtain any useful information or find any victims.

Ultimately, the Shadow Court classified the incident as a simple bombing and sealed it in the archives.

Richard, who witnessed the entire process of the fireplace house turning into ruins, sat quietly in his office. After thinking for a while, he wrote a letter, which also included a photograph.

After handing the letter to the messenger, Richard returned to his office to continue his peaceful but monotonous life as a civil servant.

—Inside the perpetually frozen prison—

"She's the one who killed the executor?"

"Shh!"

Peruvian sat quietly in her chair, ignoring the discussions her guards were having about her.

Her hands and feet were bound by specially made metal shackles, which were now completely stained black and revealed strange patterns.

Seemingly sensing something, Peruvieri looked up slightly and found that the window in the cell had been blown open by the cold wind. Along with the wind and snow rushing in, she saw the aurora borealis of winter.

Peruvée was lost in thought for a moment when a calm, unhurried voice reached her ears.

"【This is Her Majesty the Empress's decree—】"

"I have forgiven your sins and bestowed upon you a new name; carry on this blood-stained name."

"[Poor, mad, cursed 'servant' (Aregino)]"

------

"Madam Manager, do you remember things from your childhood?" Alecino finished her black coffee and casually asked the busy manager.

"Hmm? What do you mean by things from when we were kids?"

"Around six years old."

"I'm sorry, I had a very serious illness before, and I lost all my memories before the age of sixteen." The shop manager looked embarrassed.

“I should be apologizing for reminding you of unhappy memories,” Arecino said.

"Actually, there's nothing to be unhappy about. I don't remember it anyway." The shop manager scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile.

Looking at the face on the other person's face, which was so familiar that it couldn't be more so, Arecino's mood improved a lot.

"It's just a bit of a pity..."

"What's a pity?"

"I vaguely remember having a very close friend before I got sick, but I lost that friend because of my illness." The store manager's face showed a tearful expression as he said this.

"Perhaps she lost you?"

"Impossible! She's smart and capable, we're very close, she wouldn't abandon me... Strange, how do I know all this?" The shop manager's face showed a hint of confusion as he spoke.

"Give me another black coffee, this time to go." Aregino didn't continue the conversation on this topic and instead ordered another coffee.

"No problem!" Hearing that there was another customer, the store manager quickly put those unpleasant things behind him.

While waiting for the coffee to be made, Arecino saw a photograph on the window—a picture of the aurora borealis.

The shop manager brought the packaged black coffee to Alejandro, straightened up, and looked at the photos on the wall.

"The aurora borealis at the winter's end is beautiful, isn't it?" the shop manager said with a smile.

“It looks great.” Arecino nodded.

"Hehe, I took this picture~" The shop manager said, standing on tiptoe to take the photo down from the wall, wanting Arecino to have a good look at it.

"Well done, very clear." Arecino took the photos and gently wiped the glass of the album with her dark hands.

Does that mean we've fulfilled our agreement?

"Of course! I didn't have enough money to go to Zhidong, but I was lucky enough to win a prize in a lottery organized by the city hall. Not only did I get a free trip to Zhidong, but I also got a super, super expensive commemorative camera. The photos taken with such an expensive camera are bound to be very clear!" The shop manager couldn't stop smiling as he talked about it.

She could brag about such a lucky thing for the rest of her life!

“Luck… huh.” Arecino looked at the elated shopkeeper and took a deep breath.

"Oh, right, your coffee." After sharing this with Arecino, the manager finally remembered the important matter.

"Thank you." Arecino picked up the black coffee and cake, ready to leave.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard the store manager's voice behind me.

"Come visit often when you have time, and remember to be happy every day!"

Arecino didn't turn around, but waved her hand to indicate that she had heard.

By the time Arecino came out of the coffee shop, it was almost evening, which was exactly the time Richard would finish get off work.

Arecino arrived at the front desk of the Moman Palace just in time, carrying a warm cup of black coffee and a simple small cake.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Upon seeing Arecino, the receptionist straightened up instinctively and asked respectfully, sensing her imposing presence.

"Could you please give this to Ms. Funina?" Arecino placed the small cake in her hand on the front desk.

"I'm sorry..." Although the staff were quite intimidated by the imposing woman in front of them, they still politely declined Arecino's request.

According to regulations, Lady Funina cannot accept food from unknown individuals.

No, it's that unidentified individuals cannot feed Lady Funina at will.

Hmm... something seems wrong. In short, this little cake just won't get to Funina.

"If you know Lady Funina, I suggest you give it to her yourself."

"I'm afraid she won't be able to eat the cake after she sees me."

"???"

Completely baffled, the receptionist was already considering whether to call security.

"Arechino?" A voice came from the side; it was Richard, who had already finished work.

"Mr. Richard!" The receptionist looked at Richard as if he were her savior.

Richard gestured to the staff that he could handle things here, then looked at Arecino curiously and asked, "What are you doing here? It doesn't seem like today is the day we agreed to meet, does it?"

“I’m here to see you,” Arecino stated her purpose directly.

"Looking for me?" Richard raised an eyebrow, glancing at the gazes that were gradually focusing on him. "Let's find somewhere else to talk."

Arecino had no objection.

As they walked, Richard noticed the cake and coffee that Arecino was carrying.

"So kind of you? You even brought a gift."

"The coffee is for you, but the cake is for Funina."

"There really is one for me?" Richard took the coffee and found that it was still warm, so it must have been bought not long ago.

Richard glanced at the cake Arecino was carrying in her other hand. "Give it to me. I'll take it to Funina when I go to work tomorrow."

Arecino readily agreed, adding, "No need to say it was a gift from me."

"This cake of yours... is it something you can't show to others?" Richard asked.

“I’m afraid that if I tell her, Funina won’t dare to eat it.”

"It really is."

Richard realized that Arecino had a point, but he still insisted on his own opinion: "But I will still tell her that it was you who sent her the cake."

"what ever."

"Tell her after she finishes eating."

Even someone like Alegino was speechless after hearing Richard's words. How could someone so grown up be so childish?

Richard brought Arecino home, made her a cup of hot tea, and drank the black coffee she had bought for him.

“Thank you for Clementine’s matter…” Arecino said softly.

“Didn’t you already thank me? Besides, I didn’t save her for you,” Richard replied casually.

The letter Richard sent back then not only pleaded with Queen Winter on behalf of Peruvée, but the accompanying photograph also indirectly hinted to Peruvée that Clementine was not dead.