Furina's Secret Observation

When the clock tower of the Palais Mermonia struck ten, an out-of-tune Liyue folk song drifted outside the blue-roofed cottage. Lumine lifted the curtain to see a wide-brimmed hat-wearing girl playing a Fontaine harp by the Dewlight Spring, singing in authentic Qingce Village dialect: "March willows green, yo—hey! Sparrows peck new rice—" 

"The melody's right, but the rhymes are all wrong." Kazuha suddenly hit the sound system switch, and the suona notes of *Divine Damsel of Devastation* burst through the window. The busker's harp strings snapped, and Melusines in the crowd covered their ears. 

Furina's disguise was exquisite: chestnut wig flowing to her waist, skirt adorned with Liyue buttons, even her irises altered to amber with contact lenses. But when she glided over the water on magnetic hover pads, her cloak revealed a glimpse of Palais Mermonia-exclusive stockings—the same ones Lumine had seen in *Fontaine Fashion Weekly* last week. 

"Three songs for a blind box trial coupon." Kazuha wheeled out a Liyue-carved jukebox. "*Nishang Flower*, *Glazed Pavilion*, or *Rocky Journey*?" 

"Something… that represents the Hydro Nation." Furina, disguised as a "Liyue bard," avoided eye contact. 

Lumine suddenly plucked the harp strings, improvising a version of *Qingce Village*: "Clear springs echo in the Palais Mermonia, the Hydro Archon sneaks cream puffs—" 

"How dare you!" Furina slammed the table, realizing she'd used her real voice. 

In the silence, a mechanical otter popped out an auto-play function. The melody of *Requiem of the Cross of Narcissus* flowed out, lifting a corner of Furina's wig. Charlotte in the crowd suddenly raised her camera: "Mystery songstress resembles Lady Furina!" 

"It's an impersonation!" Furina instantly switched to a southern Fontaine accent. "I'm from the Erinnyes Forest, specializing in…" 

Kazuha tossed out a yellowed music score: "Sing this *Tales of Yihuo Village*, and I'll give you a lifetime membership card." 

The real trap was in the second verse. When the lyrics reached "Eight hundred gods raise their cups," the Arkhe energy device activated, making the neon signs on the street flicker. Furina glowed faintly blue—residual energy from yesterday's Palais Mermonia ceremony. 

"The Erinnyes Forest springs are truly nourishing." Lumine shook the elemental detector. "Even ordinary bards can exude divine energy." 

The Blubberbeasts' rescue was a stroke of genius. The round creatures knocked over a dessert cart, sending cream puffs raining down. Furina seized the moment to throw off her cloak, forgetting she was wearing a Liyue ruqun—the fabric tangled with the hover pad, sending her spiraling upward. 

"Chief Justice, save me!" This line was genuine Fontaine dialect. 

The curtains in Neuvillette's office twitched, a water chain precisely catching the失控 (out-of-control) hover pad. Lumine watched Furina land gracefully on the Palais Mermonia steps, her Liyue buttons now replaced with Fontaine gears. 

"Trial coupon." Kazuha handed over a gilded card. "Next time, try the 'Disguise Training Blind Box.'" 

Furina grabbed the card and fled, followed by Charlotte's commentary: "Today's best performance—the sound of splashing from the Palais Mermonia direction!" 

As dusk soaked the streets, Lumine found the forgotten wig in the shop's attic. A tiny recorder was stuck in the hair, playing Furina's practice recordings: "Big Hilichurl is sick~ Little Hilichurl checks~ Must use Liyue dialect… Retake!" 

The otters suddenly turned northwest. Across the street, Furina, back in her usual attire, hid behind a newspaper in a café, a *Liyue Dialect Crash Course* and a half-eaten macaron beside her. When Kazuha raised a "20% Off Everything" sign, she instinctively reached for her Mora pouch before shoving it back under her skirt. 

As moonlight illuminated the shop window, Neuvillette's special permit arrived—approving a "Cross-Cultural Music Festival" in the Palais Mermonia square. Attached was a revised score, the *Qingce Village* lyrics changed to "Clear springs echo in the Palais Mermonia, distinguished guests showcase grand plans." 

Late at night in the blue-roofed cottage, Lumine tuned the newly arrived Liyue instruments. Kazuha suddenly pressed a key, and *Requiem of the Cross of Narcissus* shifted to the lively *Carousel*. On the Palais Mermonia's top-floor balcony, Furina practiced into a recorder: "Sparrows peck new rice~ Hey! Pecking Fontaine truffle filling~" 

Mechanical pigeons skimmed the water, their feathers scattering azure starlight. As the Melusine patrol passed the shop, the latest "Disguise Master Blind Box" in the display window suddenly popped open, dropping a Liyue-style wide-brimmed hat studded with rhinestones. 

Under the moonlight, the Palais Mermonia's hidden pattern on the hat's inner brim was clearly visible.