Zhongli looked at her and fell silent.
He had only just returned to Liyue...
However, just as everyone was preparing to leave, they ran into Idyia and Rhodeia.
Hu Tao and the others did not know Idyia, but they had met Rhodeia before. The moment Hu Tao saw her, she waved.
"Hey! Rhodeia! Over here!"
"So it's Director Hu." Rhodeia noticed them and walked over. First, she gave Zhongli a slight bow, then said, "What a coincidence. Where are you all headed?"
"Lora invited us to Fontaine! Didn't you know?" Hu Tao asked.
Rhodeia suddenly understood. "Oh, so... ahem, Miss invited you to Fontaine. We left quite some time ago, so we didn't know."
"Then what are you doing here? And who's this?" Hu Tao looked curiously at Idyia.
Rhodeia introduced her. "This is Idyia, my younger sister. Miss asked us to come to Liyue and bring Qiqi to Fontaine for a visit."
Idyia nodded and added, "Miss also said that, if possible, we should bring that adeptus disciple too. The one called... Yaoyao, right?"
After hearing that, Zhongli fell silent for a moment before saying, "Is she planning to move all of Liyue to Fontaine?"
Rhodeia laughed. "Miss guessed you would say that. She said if you don't mind, she can help move it."
Zhongli had no answer to that.
Hu Tao decided they would wait until Idyia and Rhodeia picked up Qiqi and Yaoyao, then head to Fontaine together.
And so, the Fontaine tour group grew once again.
Everyone went to Chenyu Vale, took a boat, and arrived at Romaritime Harbor.
Seeing Fontaine's scenery for the first time, Hu Tao and the others stared in surprise.
"So this is Fontaine! It's completely different from what I imagined!"
Hu Tao pointed excitedly at a walking security meka. "Look at that! Is that the legendary machine that moves on its own? That's way too cool! Where can you buy one? I want to put one in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Zhongli said, "Tell Lora. She will probably give you one."
"So Miss Lora is a wealthy young lady in Fontaine?" Hu Tao blinked.
Zhongli nodded. "Yes. Fontaine likely has no one wealthier than her."
"The richest person?" Xiangling looked surprised. "Isn't that just like Lady Ningguang?"
Yun Jin sighed in admiration. "No wonder Miss Lora said she had connections in the Court of Fontaine. Someone like that must know plenty of people."
Led by Rhodeia and Idyia, everyone arrived at the Court of Fontaine. When they reached the Palais Mermonia, Zhongli looked at the Statue of The Seven in front of it, then at the building itself, and sighed helplessly.
He was back here again.
Rhodeia introduced it to those who had never visited before. "This is the Palais Mermonia, Fontaine's highest administrative institution."
Hu Tao asked curiously, "Huh? Why are we here? Do foreigners have to report here first thing when they arrive?"
Rhodeia shook her head. "No."
Xiangling took out the invitation, looked at the words on it, and asked in surprise, "Palais Mermonia... Wait, this isn't the same Palais Mermonia mentioned for the chef selection competition, is it?"
Rhodeia nodded. "That's right. There is only one Palais Mermonia in the Court of Fontaine."
"I thought it was some kind of restaurant..." Xiangling muttered.
"Let's go. We shouldn't keep Miss waiting," Rhodeia said.
She and Idyia each took one child by the hand, one leading Qiqi and the other Yaoyao, and walked into the Palais Mermonia.
"Wait, isn't this Fontaine's administrative headquarters? Does Lora work inside?" Hu Tao asked.
Rhodeia blinked, thought for a moment, then nodded. "You could say that."
Everyone followed them inside and arrived at Neuvillette's office. Rhodeia knocked before entering. Neuvillette was still handling official business.
He looked up and saw Zhongli among the group.
Then he fell silent.
Zhongli also looked at him silently, with a faint trace of pity in his eyes.
Rhodeia introduced both sides. When everyone learned that Neuvillette was Fontaine's Chief Justice, their reactions differed, but all of them were clearly surprised.
"Are these Lady Lora's friends?" Neuvillette asked.
After Rhodeia finished the introductions, he stood and walked over to Hu Tao and the others.
"Welcome to Fontaine. My apologies, Lady Lora is not at the Palais Mermonia at the moment. You may wait in the reception room. She should return soon. I still have official duties to attend to, so I cannot accompany you."
"Please, go ahead!" Rhodeia said with a smile, then led everyone out.
"Hey, Rhodeia, what does Miss Lora actually do here?" Hu Tao could never suppress her curiosity. From Neuvillette's reaction alone, she could tell Lora's position was far from ordinary.
"It's better for Miss to tell you about her work herself," Rhodeia said, not taking it upon herself to reveal Lora's identity.
Everyone waited in the reception room for a while before Lora returned with Focalors and Furina.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Lora pushed open the door and greeted them with a smile.
Everyone stood and nodded to her.
"Miss Lora!"
"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Focalors, and this is Furina. My children."
Lora stepped aside and introduced the two girls following behind her to Hu Tao and the others.
"Children?"
The moment they heard that, everyone froze in place.
Meanwhile, Lora had already run over to Qiqi and Yaoyao and pulled them both into a hug.
"Oh, Qiqi! What do you think of my turf? Isn't this place pretty?"
"Yaoyao, why didn't your master come with you? Later, teach our people here how to brew tea!"
"Come here already. Let me hug you..."
Everyone watched Lora fuss over Qiqi and Yaoyao, and the room fell silent.
Focalors blinked, then hesitantly said, "Um... Lady Egeria, could you be a little more... dignified?"