Hearing Ms. Furina's somewhat displeased voice, Dirfi offered an apologetic smile, then spoke:
"I imagine... Mr. Yuto must have already told you? Our Group leader, Aurett, the founder of the troupe... was one of the victims of the Serial Disappearance of Young Girls."
"She was a loyal audience member of Ms. Furina, and it was because of your performances that she embarked on the path of Fontaine Opera."
"She persuaded many homeless or disheartened people to join the troupe, personally performed, personally wrote scripts, and even guided every one of us."
"Back then, many people enjoyed watching our performances, and the troupe flourished, becoming better and better..."
As she spoke, a genuine, happy smile appeared on Dirfi's pale face, as if she had returned to that warm and happy time.
However, this happy smile did not last long, replaced by an lingering sadness.
Furina could see that the sadness was a scar etched deep in the soul, an unshakeable nightmare.
The young woman took a deep breath, then softly said:
"And then... an accident happened, right?"
Hearing this, Dirfi nodded slightly, then lowered her head, no longer speaking.
Looking at Dirfi, who was somewhat sad beside him, Lauvik sighed softly, then took over the conversation and said:
"That's right, after that... the troupe fell into complete disarray."
"We couldn't create, nor could we manage. No matter how hard we tried, what Audrey had painstakingly built was crumbling little by little."
"And just as we were about to seal those beautiful memories and completely disband the troupe, Mr. Claude appeared."
"He came with ample mora, management experience, and the script for Boethius, which allowed us to continue performing on stage."
"Rather than letting those beautiful memories become a thing of the past forever, we should continue to sing them."
"Completing The Daughter of Water, replacing everything with one flawless performance after another—that's our idea."
"It's also a gift from us to Audrey."
With that, Lauvik gently closed his eyes and said no more, as if, like Dirfi beside him, he was immersed in past memories.
Furina, meanwhile, looked at the two in front of her, then at Yuto beside her, and said with a sigh:
"I never expected it to be like this. Among the many victims... there was also a talented commoner artist."
"'A gift'... that truly fits the definition of operatic romance."
"It seems agreeing to your request was the right choice~"
Furina smiled faintly, then said:
"As an experienced spectator, as a performer who frequently participates in various large and small performances, I believe... I can offer you more experience."
"I hope... you can continue to pursue that Group leader's wish, to make the entire troupe, and The Daughter of Water, flourish and be known throughout Teyvat."
"The Daughter of Water won't be your last gift to her, but it is certainly the most romantic."
"Hmm~ I really like this romantic touch. Providing you with long-term guidance... that's indeed a good choice."
Hearing this, Claude, who was sitting not far away, was slightly surprised, but then came a burst of ecstasy.
This was long-term guidance from Fontaine's most experienced performing artist!
With guidance from someone of her caliber, with the support of Palais Mermonia, and with troupe members specifically recognized by her...
What did Claude have to fear about "not being able to bring Fontaine Opera to all of Teyvat"?
Thinking of this, Claude took a deep breath, then spoke:
"Ms. Furina, thank you for your help. What kind of compensation do you require? A percentage of ticket sales? Or a regular salary?"
Hearing this, Furina smiled faintly, then looked at Dirfi, who was also looking at her with some surprise, and said:
"I don't need any compensation. If possible, just tell me more about that Group leader's deeds."
With that, Furina glanced at Yuto beside her, a confident smile appearing on her face, signaling him to listen carefully to what she was about to say.
"Ever since I left the Opera House, I've come to realize that looking down from that high position, everything in my sight was very one-sided."
"Laws can only judge crimes, but they cannot measure emotions. If a verdict can settle disputes of guilt or innocence..."
"Then where do the abundant emotions of those involved flow?"
At this point, Furina paused slightly, as if giving everyone ample time to react.
After a moment of thought, Lumine asked:
"Will they flow away like water, little by little, slowly being expressed?"
Furina nodded slightly, then said:
"An interesting thought, but... when I previously asked my Assistant Administrator Yuto this question, he said something like this:"
"'Emotion is unique to humans; it originates from the human heart and ultimately returns to the human heart, gradually settling over time, eventually transforming into something more substantial.'"
"This is also my thought, and today... I have witnessed the tangible product of this idea."
Furina's gaze fell upon Dirfi and Lauvik, who were listening intently to her, and she smiled softly.
"Just like your longing for the Group leader, the sedimentation of emotions arises from within, settling little by little over time, ultimately transforming into the 'gift' they want to give to the Group leader."
"These are things I had never witnessed firsthand in the past. Now... I want to see them properly."
Hearing this, Paimon narrowed her eyes slightly, and with a spread of her small hands, she said:
"Uh... you still like to say lines that only seem to be heard in plays—"
Before Paimon could finish, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine, as if something was staring at her.
She mechanically turned her head to look at the source of the gaze—
At this moment, Yuto was smiling at her, but Paimon could not glean a single trace of amusement from that smile; instead, it was entirely the feeling of being targeted by a beast.
Under Yuto's pressure, Paimon chose to remain silent.
Furina, meanwhile, sighed helplessly, then said no more, continuing to quietly watch the stirred waves outside, waiting for the boat to reach Beryl Region.
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