Chapter 002 : The Furina Protection Act: Guarding the Best Furina!

A new day began with clear skies after the rain.

Looking out the window at the bright weather, Themis breathed a sigh of relief.

Honestly, she hated rainy days.

Rain always carried a tinge of sadness, perfect for wallowing in melancholy.

If given the choice, she would always pick a radiant, sunny day over a gloomy, overcast one.

Though she wouldn't get wet even without an umbrella, walking in the rain without one would still look strange.

"Time to get up. A new day starts with cooking."

Stretching and smoothing her disheveled white hair, Themis noticed that the previously tied strands had become a bit fluffy.

After washing up, she gathered her hair, marveling at its sheer volume.

The intricate hairstyle she wore every day was incredibly complex, but Themis had long since grown accustomed to it.

She could weave it quickly and beautifully, her slender, pale fingers dancing through her snow-white locks—a sight that would delight any hand enthusiast.

Themis's daily hairstyle had become a legendary challenge among the Melusines, a test of dexterity and skill.

"It's so hard! Every time I try to help Lady Themis with her hair, I can't even get a grip!"

"Waaah! I just want to help, but I can't get it right!"

"Lady Furina, please grant me the strength to hope that Lady Themis will choose a simpler hairstyle someday!"

The Melusines of the Marechaussee Phantom had added Themis's daily hairstyle to their training regimen to improve their manual dexterity.

At such a young age, they were already suffering under the tyranny of Themis's hair.

Themis was aware of this but didn't pay it much mind.

After all, Melusine hands were different from humans', and forcing them to attempt such styles was practically torture.

Just when Themis thought the matter would blow over, she discovered that some Melusines were overachievers, single-handedly pushing the trend forward.

Several Melusines had even broken down, questioning their abilities and shedding tears of frustration, prompting Neuvillette to comfort them one by one.

Not only that, but he had also subtly hinted to Themis that she might consider simplifying her hairstyle.

Understanding Neuvillette's meaning, Themis felt conflicted. "Is it possible that Melusine hands just aren't suited for this kind of training? Your low ponytail and bow are already the limit."

In the end, the matter was left unresolved.

She could only hope that, with time, the Melusines would give up on this endeavor.

Once her hair was styled and her clothes were on, Themis began preparing Furina's breakfast.

Furina loved sweets, hated bitter foods, and avoided experimental dishes at all costs.

Unfortunately, in Fontaine, new culinary creations weren't always vetted before being served.

This led to some bizarre, almost inedible dishes being presented to Furina.

In her early days as the Hydro Archon, a young and inexperienced Furina, not wanting to disappoint her people, would force herself to take a bite despite her visible distaste.

And then...

"The Hydro Archon has been poisoned! Lock down the venue!"

It wasn't until Themis officially became Furina's chief advisor and took charge of her daily life that this issue was finally addressed.

"According to Article 25 of the Furina Protection Act, all experimental dishes offered to Lady Furina must undergo strict quality control."

...

"According to Article 36 of the Furina Protection Act, feeding Lady Furina without permission is prohibited. Violators will be sentenced to seven days in the Fortress of Meropide."

...

"According to Article 43 of the Furina Protection Act, naming pets after Furina is forbidden—wild animals included!"

...

"According to Article 46 of the Furina Protection Act, any form of nighttime intrusion or spying on Lady Furina is prohibited. Violators will be granted a lifetime stay in the Fortress of Meropide, offering them a fresh start in life."

While Neuvillette championed the Melusine Protection Act, Themis, as Furina's number one fan, spearheaded the Furina Protection Act.

• TL/N: Pffttt.. sorry i just find this funny

When Furina first heard about this, her expression was a sight to behold.

Though she protested, Themis countered by stating that as a citizen of Fontaine and the Hydro Archon, Furina had both duties and privileges that needed to be clearly defined by law.

The cake she had promised Furina the night before was time-consuming to make, but Themis had the process down to a science.

It was quick and delicious, and once it was out of the oven, she cut it into four pieces.

One piece went to Sedena, another was sent to Neuvillette via Sedena, one was for herself, and the last was for Furina's breakfast.

Themis could only say that cake shouldn't replace meals, but as a breakfast treat for a god, it was probably fine.

Besides, she couldn't resist Furina's insistence—she couldn't bear to eat only one cake a day.

Entering Furina's room, Themis placed the cake and a pot of freshly brewed tea on the table.

Hearing the noise, Furina rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up in bed.

"Good morning, my dear Themis."

"Good morning, Lady Furina. It's a beautiful day today. I hope you're in good spirits."

Forcing her gaze away from Furina's soft, smooth skin beneath her nightgown, Themis expertly selected an outfit from Furina's wardrobe and began coordinating it.

•TL/N: Pathetic

Furina, having grown accustomed to Themis's care over the past five hundred years, didn't find this unusual.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Furina stretched out her arms, still half-asleep, and let Themis help her get dressed.

Once the drowsiness faded, the Furina who emerged was as lively and spirited as ever.

"Sugar levels replenished. What's on the agenda for today?"

Sipping her tea, Furina turned to Themis.

Themis thought for a moment before replying, "Today, there are several challenging cases at the Opera Epiclese that require your judgment, Lady Furina."

"Huh?" Furina's hair curled into a question mark as she gave Themis a look of disbelief. "Isn't Neuvillette supposed to handle trials? Why do I need to be involved?!"

"You're joking, right?!"

Themis and Furina stared at each other, and from Themis's expression, it was clear she was serious. This realization piqued Furina's curiosity.

"Well, the cases are quite complex. Neuvillette isn't well-suited to handle them and needs your advice."

The cases were simply too outrageous. As a dragon who struggled to understand human emotions, Neuvillette was at a loss when it came to matters involving legal principles, human sentiment, and unforeseen circumstances.

"So you're not joking." Furina felt a bit panicked. If even Neuvillette couldn't handle these cases, what was she supposed to do?

"I'll explain the details on the way. Don't worry—it's not difficult, just a bit troublesome."

"Huh?" Furina was still confused.

After breakfast, they boarded the special train to the Fortress of Meropide. Furina took the detailed case files from Themis.

o_O???

o((⊙﹏⊙))o.

(°ー°〃)

Σ(°△°|||)︴

These were the expressions that crossed Furina's face, each one more bewildered than the last.

• TL/N: Cute..

Before reading the files, Furina thought, "I've lived for five hundred years—there's no case I haven't seen!"

After reading the files, Furina thought, "Wow, I really haven't seen cases like these before."

Her entire worldview had been turned upside down.