Genshin Impact: Fontaine's Regent, driving players crazy.

Focalors, now serving as evidence, repeatedly played the footage while scribbling notes in her little book.

Though being used as evidence was rare, she had no desire for a repeat experience.

Ideas flooded Focalors' mind; this could be excellent material for a novel. She had been fretting over how to develop recent plotlines.

With a smile, Focalors believed she could finish documenting the newest Fontaine Unofficial History before the trial adjourned!

As for what happened outside—in ink already dry, so there was no need to keep watching.

In the opera house, seeing matters had become perfectly clear, Neuvillette briskly knocked on his staff.

"Since Lady Furina has presented the full picture to us, then let the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale issue the final verdict!"

Everyone turned their gaze to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, which had already withdrawn its divine power, looking eagerly at it.

No one knew what sentence the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale would hand down to these treacherous parasites of Fontaine, nor how many years of prison the repulsive true culprit would receive for their crimes.

The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale had delivered its verdict, shattering all previous records for duration.

As the blue light brightened incrementally, the resonant echoes of the Oratrice's judgment reached every heart in the chamber.

Neuvillette, the presiding judge, extracted the verdict, his eyes widening in surprise.

The audience below noticed Neuvillette's furrowed brow and bewildered expression, whispering among themselves.

"Oh dear, look at Neuvillette. Why does he seem so shocked?"

"Don't tell me the Oratrice's penalty is too lenient?"

"Nonsense! For such a grave offense, if it weren't for Lady Themis saving those innocent girls, one can only imagine the catastrophic consequences for Fontaine. Yet they dare suggest leniency? Dream on!"

"I don't think so. Recall, didn't Lady Furina previously demand the most severe criminal penalties?"

"Ah, you mean Judge Neuvillette is astonished because the verdict turned out far more severe than expected?"

"I believe that's exactly it."

"Hiss... Just how severe could it be? Surely not death sentence, right?"

"Although Fontaine hasn't abolished capital punishment, the last execution was half a millennium ago, shortly after Lady Furina's return!"

"Hmph! If you ask me, the rotten nobility of the past and today's corrupt officials and merchants are no different—they're all a cancer on Fontaine, deserving nothing less than eradication!"

Neuvillette drew a deep breath and began to read out the final verdict of the Oratrice.

"According to the judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, "

"We now sentence the ringleader and accomplices of the girl's Disappearance Case to death—"

The verdict from the Oratrice erupted like a pot of boiling water among the audience below.

Originally, they thought the revelation of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale's new divine miracle would be the most noteworthy occurrence today.

Unexpectedly, capital punishment—nearly extinct in Fontaine—was reinstated by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.

Furina remained in her seat, bewildered.

"How could it be capital punishment?" she murmured to herself, feeling uneasy about the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale's decision. "How could this happen?"

She suspected there might be an unknown error with the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.

Themis, seated nearby, waved a hand in front of Furina.

"Lady Furina, there's no need to mourn over these ugly murderers.

"For them, this is justice served."

Furina shuddered slightly. "But they were lives too... I thought they would only be imprisoned forever in the Fortress of Meropide..."

"But that would be too lenient on them... If I hadn't saved those young girls, how could one life possibly repay the deaths of so many?"

Themis, observing Furina's lingering confusion, turned towards the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.

What experiences could Focalors have had to make her declare herself overly conservative?

Under everyone's watchful eyes, all the conspirators were brought onto the stage of the Opera House.

Here, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale personally carried out the executions.

Due to Themis's vehement protests and the subsequent need for time-consuming, laborious, and costly cleanup,

Finally, they avoided the same fate as Louis XVI: the guillotine's embrace.

They also prevented Focalors, who had been eagerly anticipating the chance to test if her blade, honed for five centuries, was sharp enough.

The energy unleashed by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale enveloped the condemned almost instantly.

In their unconscious state, they continuously experienced the horrors inflicted upon the young girls they had targeted, enduring unceasing torment until they died, overwhelmed by remorse.

Furina had little stomach for witnessing any more of this spectacle.

As a god who inherently loves people, Furina found no appeal in such scenes of suffering.

Protected by Themis, Furina remained untainted by society's corrupting influence.

Though she understood the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale's verdict, it would take time for her to fully accept it.

Furina wasn't alone in needing contemplation; Neuvillette required serious thought as well.

After the trial concluded, the crowd dispersed, discussing the execution with animated chatter and lingering fear.

The audience, though still lively, had visibly sobered. The trial had served as a wakeup call, making it clear that Fontaine's death penalty was not just for show.

Lumine and Paimon, blending into the crowd, approached Themis.

"Um, we think we saw Furina running out looking confused just now. Aren't you going to go check on her?" Paimon glanced at Themis cautiously.

"Hmm... After traveling through so many countries and interacting with numerous gods, you should know that loving all living beings is inherent to their nature. Being upset at seeing them sentenced to death isn't hard to understand."

Lumine sounded resigned. "Even though they nearly killed many people from Fontaine?"

"Yes, because these criminals are still people. Whether love is a blessing or a curse is indeed a mystery."

Paimon scratched her head. "Regardless, I can't comprehend what archons are thinking, but as an ordinary person, this judgment outcome seems quite natural to me."

Themis nodded. "After all... an eye for an eye, right?"

Paimon nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course."

"Haha, if even a great hero like you feels this way, others must think so too. The verdict is sound, after all, that's what matters most."

Themis casually placed a hand on her hip and patted Paimon's head, who happily nuzzled against her touch. Seeing Paimon cozying up to Themis, Lumine felt somewhat ignored.

"Ouch, what dedication! Some of those idlers at the Maison Cardinalice could learn a thing or two from you."

"But you guessed wrong, my dear." Themis chuckled and produced an envelope. "As the star witness in the missing girl case, now that the trial has concluded successfully, it's time to fulfill my earlier promise."

She held out the envelope to Lumine, instantly drawing the eager gazes of both Paimon and Lumine.

"Is that... five million mora?!" Paimon's eyes gleamed.

"Strictly speaking, it's a document authorizing five million mora," Themis replied. With a hint of exasperation, she explained to Lumine, "I wish I could give you gleaming gold coins right now, but handing over such a vast sum directly is clearly impossible."

"I've already taken care of the complex approval process," she continued. "All you need to do next is go to Neuvillette and exchange this for the funds."

Lumine accepted the envelope. Though the thin paper felt surprisingly weighty, she wondered, Is this what five million mora feels like?

As the moment of truth arrived, Paimon suddenly felt sheepish. "Heh heh, um... is this a bit too much? Come to think of it, we haven't really done anything yet, have we?"

Lumine's gaze sharpened, her eyes fixed intently on Paimon's head, her hands itching slightly.

"It's alright. Half of it was originally mine, but since you saved me, it all belongs to you now. Don't worry, it's what you deserve."

Themis's words lifted Lumine's spirits, causing her to puff her chest and lift her chin proudly.

"That's right! This is what I deserve!"

Seeing Lumine's smug expression, Themis couldn't help but chuckle.

"Although I'd like to spend more time with you, maybe go out for a celebratory dinner or something, now might not be the best opportunity. Let's set a date for later. I'll attend with Lady Furina."

Paimon nodded agreeably, indicating no issues.

With the five million in hand, Lumine puffed her chest, unshaken. As long as Furina didn't act like Zhongli—opening her mouth for an exorbitant amount despite being completely broke—she could certainly afford the meal.

This is the power of five million!

-

After saying goodbye to Lumine and Paimon, brimming with happiness, Themis left the Opera Epiclese and returned to Palais Mermonia.

Pushing open the door to Furina's bedroom, Themis found the little huddled mass, curled up tight under the covers, somewhat helpless.

Fortunately, Themis was highly experienced.

At moments like these, it wasn't wise to let Furina speculate alone, lest she spiral into a dead-end of her own making.

With a swift motion, Themis lifted the blanket and tugged the dazed Furina out from its confines.

Themis cradled Furina in her arms, stroking her fluffy little head with gentle affection.

"Ah, Lady Furina, you truly look like a blueberry milkshake now."

Furina's liquid-like eyes widened, incredulous. It was the first time she'd heard Themis describe her as a blueberry milkshake.

"Wait, what's a blueberry milkshake?"

"It's a new beverage."

Arching her eyebrows with a soft smile, Themis successfully diverted Furina's attention. She leaned down and kissed the corner of Furina's reddened eyes.

"If you're curious, I can whip one up for you right now."

"Umm... I'm not really that curious after all. No need to go to the trouble," Furina replied, her ears pink from the sudden kiss. She turned her head awkwardly, feeling a bit bashful.

Lately, Themis seemed to enjoy pecking her on the face too much.

It wasn't that she disliked it, exactly, but it always left her feeling utterly flustered.

with me, Lady Furina?"

Holding Furina's slim waist gently, Themis phrased it differently.

This time, Furina didn't refuse, making Themis quite happy.

Unable to resist, Themis kissed Furina's cheek, then her forehead, and finally let her lips graze against her hair.

As Furina's face grew redder, she shrunk against Themis's chest, pretending to be a little ostrich, it was absolutely delightful to watch.

However, Themis felt that if she continued kissing like this, Furina might faint immediately.

Besides the blueberry shake, noticing that the sky was growing late, and it was almost lunchtime, Themis added a piece of cake. But she was certainly not going to let Furina eat it now; it was just for dessert after the meal.

In this warm and intimate moment together, time flew by quickly.

The news about Fontaine's verdict of death, along with the miraculous divine judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, had nearly driven everyone to frenzy.

But this did not disturb Furina and Themis at all.

It was poor Neuvillette who had to deal with the aftermath and various tasks that arose after everything settled down.

-

Neuvillette: .....

He stared at the blonde traveler who had just burst through the door with her trusty companion, followed by Navia trailing behind Lumine.

"Neuvillette, Themis says five million Mora are to be exchanged here!" she exclaimed.

"You think this document is valid?" she added, waving the paper in front of his face.

Neuvillette felt utterly confused as he examined the stamped document. Why was his seal on it? When did that happen? Had his memory really started to fail him? Besides, this file didn't even fall under his jurisdiction!

The document was crammed with an array of stamps, ranging from the Security Forces' Treasury to Fontaine's top three executives—the entire page was a patchwork of official marks.

Lumine's eyes swam with the dizzying number of seals. Thankfully, Navia had volunteered to accompany her, lending her the courage to confront Neuvillette.

"It can't be helped; Fontaine's current approval process is indeed quite convoluted," Navia explained. "However, now that so many have been purged, I'm sure Lady Themis will finally have the bandwidth to step in. She'll streamline everything, giving the entire system a much-needed overhaul."

Five hundred years ago, Fontaine's political system was controlled by nobles. Other departments were largely symbolic, with nobles acting as they pleased, resulting in widespread chaos. Following the Trial, everything started anew, prompting Themis to meticulously define how each job should be performed.

Over time, this issue began to escalate.

After Themis delegated authority, her regulations struggled to keep pace with changing circumstances. Eventually, a group of individuals decided it was time to modify Themis's original protocols.

For several years, they debated how best to overhaul the system. In reality, though, the changes they implemented were far less effective than doing nothing at all.

An incomplete reform is no different from no reform at all.

The modifications made little difference, except for making Themis's established processes even more convoluted and irritating.

Now, leveraging the disappearance case, a purge of the political system's "leaching insects" was underway.

In the process, a host of vacated positions were cleaned out, along with a bevy of ineffective placeholders kicked to the curb.

Facing the recent death sentences, these ousted individuals likely had no objections.

If they did have any qualms, Themis wouldn't mind if they presented their heads for a friendly chat.

By the time all matters were settled, many days had passed.

Themis reopened the forum, eager to unearth any pertinent information.

Alas, what she found was a trove of nonsensical ramblings and juvenilia.

And then...

Hiss...

Themis sucked in a sharp breath as images loaded on the screen, feeling as if she had stumbled into a parallel world.

Before her eyes, she beheld a collection of pictures showing her overpowering Furina, pinning her to the bed, engaged in... those activities.

"Eh...um...ha ha..."

For someone like Themis, these X-rated images were truly... testing her composure.

How is this any different from what Focalors did when she made me claim royalty for that romance novel about Furina and me?!

-

In the real world—

The players swiftly navigated through the first part of the plot, culminating in the resolution of the missing girl case.

Themis's storyline was abundant, delighting fans of the Sustainer immensely.

However, despite the ample screen time, many players felt their expectations were not fully met by the mere mortal portrayal compared to the divine Archon.

Among them was CatCatEatsNoMedicine, who, though disappointed by Themis's lack of display, found her heart stirred nonetheless. As a dedicated shipper fan, the sight of such suggestive content more than sated her yearning.

"Dear viewers, my dear old folks at home! I didn't want this either, you know! But Mihoyo keeps pressing down on my head, making me obsessively ship them!"

"Heh heh, I'm officially a fan of the Furina and Themis ship now!"

"Who's with me? Who's against it!"

[Game over, even the streamer's fallen for it... That means I'm not wrong after all! The Archon Regent ship is the best!]

[First we had Inazuma's Narukami ship, now we have Fontaine's Archon Regent ship. You never cease to amaze, Mihoyo!]

[Laughing so hard—can't you see how this is exactly what made Mihoyo famous in the first place?]

CatCatEatsNoMedicine had been passionately discussing Themis and Furina's interactions with viewers, along with all the heartwarming moments, before contentedly signing off.

Logging into Bilibili, she was unsurprised to find numerous mixed compilations and MMD videos of Furina and Themis already uploaded, eliciting a knowing grin from her.

Those all-too-familiar dangerous phases, which every new couple had to go through—the formula never failed to entertain, especially when a fresh pairing emerged!

She then opened her Genshin chat group.

Glancing at the unsurprising flood of 99+ messages, she was not particularly shocked—it's exactly what she anticipated.

[Themis, My Wife]: Honestly, I thought Themis would directly transform into the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles and start slaughtering everyone around her.

Is that all? Is that all you've got?

Picture: Themis clutching Paimon as her mascot, hiding behind Traveler with Navia and Clorinde guarding her fiercely.

[Cats Aren't Sick]: What are you implying about my wife? Didn't Navia make it clear that Themis is weak and needs protection? Oh, and by the way, Themis is my wife!

[I Love the Emperor, His Legs Are Mine]: Exactly! See what I mean? Our Traveler is finally showing some use.

Compared to Osial's wife one-hit kills and the Dendro Archon Nahida's inability to save someone just a step away, what more do you want?!

[Lumine has gorilla strength]: You thought the highlight would be Themis mowing down everything in her path.

But no—the real highlight is Traveler mowing down everything, finally coming into her own!

[Cats Aren't Sick Again]: My wife as a Regent is clearly meant to be an intelligence-type character! Isn't being weak and needing protection pretty normal for her role?!

[Themis, My Wife]: Ahh, you guys just don't get it! I was saying... as a supposedly intellectual character, is she that weak... for real?! Do you have any idea what I've gone through trying to get her to actually use her skills in battle?!?!

I've seen plenty of smart characters, but with a face that's basically invincible, if she doesn't even move a finger, I've got a major beef with that!

Sheesh, I was so hoping for a sneak peek of Themis unleashing the full power of a Sustainer.

[My Love, Snezhnaya Fox]: Diagnosis complete. Your wife isn't Themis; you just see her as a substitute for the Sustainer.

[Themis, My Wife]: Huh? Isn't Themis just a secondary account for the Sustainer? If I love the Sustainer, that means I love her! No problems here, right?

[I am Furina, Themis is My Wife]: "Waaah, I sooo want to see Themis switch to her primary account, too!"

What's wrong with wanting to play the Sustainer in Teyvat? It's not like I'm doing anything illegal!

You cursed Mihoyo! When will my wife finally join the pool?!

Drawing, drawing, drawing - I'll give you everything I own, my whole life!

My dear, please judge me! Sentence me to a lifetime of having a wife!

Just wait until I draw Themis and Furina. Then I'll put them both in the same room!

-

CatCatEatsNoMedicine laughed at the sudden appearance of the yuri fiend acting insane, closed the chat window, and completely understood her fellow group members who unfortunately hadn't seen Themis log in with her main account.

Because she was equally disappointed.

"Ah, but this time, the official community is keeping it under tight wraps. Our insider uncles don't have a single piece of gossip."

"Seriously, how is Mihoyo's leakage prevention so impressive all of a sudden?! It's almost ridiculous!"

Then again, when it comes to fan-made content about Themis and Furina, the fandom wives sure do work quickly!

There were short stories, guides on how to get into shipping these two, various types of artwork...

CatCatEatsNoMedicine even saw 18+ rated Yuri drawings, causing a soda to spill from the corner of her mouth, though she didn't notice at all.

-

TL Note: Changed my name, No longer am I Emiya