Genshin Impact: The Admiral of Fontaine

(Chapter 10 Court of Fontaine V)

Tempest was sitting in the waiting room of Palais Mermonia, He watched as the line to the counter grew shorter and shorter to the last person, it had been thirty minutes since he was kicked out of the High Judge's office by his Father, he sighed and closed his eyes for a moment to pass the time.

"Sedene! I'm back!"

A familiar voice boomed in the room, instantly recognizable to Tempest. He opened his eyes to see who it was, and as expected, it was the pink Melusine, Miss Kiara.

"Kiara, please be quiet. I still have to finish this document before I'm finished for today."

The blueish-white Melusine on the counter spoke with a tired voice.

"Ah!"

Miss Kiara covered her mouth with both her hands and began to speak in a more quiet voice.

"Sorry! I just finished my patrol for the night and you won't believe what happened today! There was this gu- Huh? Mister Tempest!"

Kiara turned her head to Tempest, she shouted his name when she spotted her.

"Kiara."

Sedene at the counter reminded her again to lower her voice.

"Sorry!"

Kiara said, she then walked to Tempest's seat.

"Miss Kiara? We meet again."

Tempest said to her.

"Mister Tempest! Why are you here? Oh no, don't tell me you were arrested?!"

Kiara's innocent face darkened, and she covered her mouth with both hands as she spoke.

"Oh, no, no. I'm just waiting here for my father. He's having a meeting with Lady Furina. I assure you, I'm innocent."

Tempest reassured her with a smile.

"Phew! I thought for the worst there for a moment, hehe. I trust that you returned the token to its rightful owner. Mister Tempest?"

Kiara wiped her brow and sat down beside Tempest on the seat opposite him at the table.

"Yes, I have returned it to, Miss Aeval. Who works in the aquabus station in Romaritime Harbor. I was grateful to her for giving me a ride back to the court, even though the aquabus station was closed for today."

Tempest explained to Kiara as she listened intently.

"That's great to hear! Mister Tempest! I knew I could trust on you! hehe. I just realized this tonight. You're from the Proudmoore family, aren't you? Mister Tempest?"

Kiara said, placing her hand beneath her mouth in a thoughtful gesture. Tempest's face darkened, and he glanced away from Kiara before responding shortly.

"I am, unfortunately... Are you scared of me now?"

Kiara looks taken aback by Tempest's answer.

"What?"

"Everyone is afraid of me. I come from a family notorious for its past actions, after all, they call us the traitor clan."

 Tempest lamented and sighed, before continuing.

"I understand if you don't want to speak or approach me anymore, Miss Kiara. My predecessors have said horrible things to your kind many times in the past. Even my Father still despises your kind, even though it has been 400 years since Melusines have lived among us humans."

After finishing his explanation, Tempest felt a slight twinge of regret lingering in his mind, avoiding eye contact with Kiara.

"But! You seem like a very nice person to me! Mister Tempest!"

Kiara huffed her chest and wore a look of disagreement on her face, her hands curling up into fists.

"Mister Tempest, you are very different in my eyes from what you just said, when I told you the importance of a token to us Melusines you immediately sprung into action to return it to its rightful owner! I knew from there that you were a really nice person, and you also gave me a croissant two!"

Tempest finally looked up at her and chuckled softly, a hint of emotion breaking through his otherwise emotionless and unreadable mask.

"Thank you, Miss Kiara. I didn't know I needed to hear that."

Tempest smiled.

"Hehe, you're welcome, Mister Tempest! The next time you come to the city, I'll be the one to buy you a croissant!"

Kiara chuckled and said happily.

"I look forward to it, Miss Kiara."

Tempest stood from his seat and patted her head.

"Hehe, You can count on me!"

Kiara and Tempest engaged in conversation for a few more minutes, this time steering clear of grim topics and past actions. Kiara was patiently waiting for Sedene to finish her work, while Tempest awaited his father's conclusion of the meeting with Lady Furina. After a few more minutes, Mengsk exited the High Judge's office.

"Tsk... Let's go Tempest."

A look of disgust was present on Mengsk's face as he spotted his son speaking to a Melusine.

"Right, goodbye, for now, Miss Kiara."

Tempest smiled at her, and Kiara waved goodbye to him. Tempest stood from his seat as he was about to follow his Father he spotted, Lady Furina standing on the doorstep of the High Judge's office, He approached her.

"My Lady."

"Hm? You're still here?"

Lady Furina asked him as she crossed her arms.

"Can I ask what my Father spoke with you?"

Furina raised an eyebrow before shortly replying to him.

"Your Father invited you here yet didn't tell you the details of our meeting? Ha, what a loving Father and son relationship."

Furina smirked, anticipating a reaction from Tempest, but he remained silent. She sighed then continued.

"Your Father invited me to his name day celebration in Stormwind four months from now."

 Furina began, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

 "He mentioned a big surprise awaiting me, though I'm not inclined to attend. He came all the way here instead of simply sending a letter, so I find it hard to refuse him."

Furina concluded.

"Did you accept, My Lady?"

"I did."

Furina answered immediately.

"I see, thank you. My Lady. I bid you farewell"

Tempest put his right hand on his chest and bowed to her.

"Mhm, Toodle-oo~"

Furina waved her hand and then turned around intending to return to Neuvillette's office.

"And yes, My Lady, If I ever become the Duke of House Proudmoore I would gladly serve you."

Tempest said to her, he then walked away to follow his Father.

Lady Furina turned around immediately, her eyes widening and mouth slightly agape, as she watched Tempest walk away.

"Tempest Proudmoore..."

She said to herself quietly as the door to the High Judge's office closed. Furina sank back onto the couch, deep in contemplation. She wondered if what she had heard from Tempest was true or if she was simply imagining things.

"Something on your mind? Lady Furina?"

Neuvillette The High Judge asked her.

"My dear Neuvillette, I believe we're going to see a new dawn rising over Fontaine in the years to come."

Furina smiled and grabbed a cookie from the table.

"Why do you say so? Lady Furina?"

"Hm? I just feel like it would."

Furina ate the cookie with a smile on her face.

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At the elevator that would lead downward to the Waterway Hub stood Mengsk and his son, standing beside each other in silence. Without a word exchanged between them, without warning. Mengsk smacked his son on the back of his head.

"I told you to not speak to those things..."

His Father said to him, Tempest didn't even flinch when his Father abruptly smacked the back of his head.

"My apologies."

He simply said stoically.

"Don't apologize, prove it with your actions next time."

"Right."

The elevator opened and what awaited outside was the carriage and the knights of the Golden Hand on horseback.

"We're ready to depart whenever you're ready, Your Grace."

Pierre said to Mengsk, as they were chatting together, Rohan got off his horse and approached Tempest.

"Young Master, here."

Rohan gave him the paper bag that contained the book Penance wanted.

"Keep it for now, meet me at the bow of the ship later when everyone is inside, and bring the ripped clothes I wore earlier."

Tempest tells him quietly, only he and Rohan can hear.

"Very well, Young Master."

Rohan said and nodded, he then returned back to his horse.

'I bet Father's going to throw the book away as punishment for talking to, Miss Kiara earlier...'

Tempest thinks to himself, he then enters the carriage along with his Father.

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Later...

The ship finally departed from Fontaine Harbor. Tempest stood alone at the bow, watching the city slowly fade away as the vessel sailed farther into the horizon.

"I got it, Young Master."

Rohan arrived as expected with the ripped clothes.

"Good, give it here."

Rohan gives him the ripped clothes. Tempest then threw it into the darkness of the sea, watching it submerge slowly.

"Rohan, would you like to join me in taking down my Father?"