Genshin Impact: The Admiral of Fontaine

(Chapter 30 Au Revoir)

"Mmph..."

Tempest slowly opened his eyes and realized he was lying on the couch with a blanket covering him. He still felt pain all over his body, but thanks to the earlier morphine dosage, it was reduced to a bearable extent and the bleeding has stopped for now. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts as he assessed his surroundings.

'An unfamiliar ceiling...'

Tempest thought to himself, reflecting on the events that had led him here. He turned his head and saw his old, bloody bandages piled on the table. With a wince, he lifted his body slightly, allowing him to get a better view of the newly patched bandages covering his wounds.

Tempest looked around Furina's office and saw her sitting at her desk, gazing out the window while holding a cup of red wine, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her face. The room was bathed in the silvery light of the moon, creating an ethereal atmosphere that made everything seem almost dreamlike.

Furina appeared deep in thought, her eyes reflecting the tranquil beauty of the night outside. The wine in her cup swirled gently as she absentmindedly moved her hand, the rich, crimson liquid catching the light. She seemed lost in her own world, the worries and responsibilities of her position momentarily set aside.

'Beautiful... She looks lonely...'

Tempest thought to himself, contemplating the weight of Furina's actions and the toll it had taken on her. He got up from the sofa, wincing slightly from the pain, but determined to express his gratitude. He wore his shirt and slowly, he walked towards her.

When he finally reached her, he stood silently for a moment, unsure of how to start. Furina still hadn't noticed him, lost in her thoughts. After a brief pause, he finally spoke.

"My lady... thank you."

He began, his tone sincere and full of gratitude.

"I owe you more than I can ever repay."

Tempest said while bowing his head.

"Hm? Oh you're finally awake, how do you feel?"

Furina turned her head to Tempest.

"I'm... Alright, My Lady. How long was I out?"

"Forty minutes, I think."

Furina yawned as she replied to him. Tempest looked closely at her and noticed the bags under her eyes, revealing her exhaustion after the night's events. It was clear she had stayed awake for his sake, waiting for Kiara's return. He felt a pang of guilt for causing her such worry and exhaustion.

"I apologize, My Lady..."

Tempest lowered his head, feeling guilty.

"Hm? For what exactly Tempest?"

Furina tilted her head, as she didn't know what Tempest was apologizing for.

"You didn't have to stay up all night for me... But you did, and I'm grateful."

Tempest said as he sat down on the vacant seat near her desk.

"Well, I still have to wait for Kiara, so I had to Tempest."

Furina yawned again before continuing.

"I had originally just wanted to take a midnight stroll to clear my head, as the worries in my mind kept me from sleeping. I certainly didn't anticipate coming across you on the elevator, barely clinging to consciousness as I was chasing after a cat... I couldn't just leave you like that."

Furina concluded, she then sipped her wine savoring the taste before breathing a sigh of relief.

"I see... Thank you."

Tempest replied.

"Would you like some? Might help you stay awake."

Furina said as she gave Tempest a stemware glass for wines.

"I'm sixteen, My Lady, but... I wouldn't mind having my first drink with you."

Tempest smiled, he accepted the stemware Furina was offering.

"Wait a minute...! You're sixteen years old!? Tempest, you look more like someone in their twenties than a teenager!"

Furina's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Tempest's age.

"Ha, I get that a lot, My Lady, though I wasn't born like this, I was made to be like this."

Tempest replied as he was about to grab the wine bottle, Furina stopped him.

"I'm not letting a minor drink wine!"

"But, it's rude to decline an offer from someone, My Lady, especially from the Archon."

Tempest smirked, and Furina's mouth opened slightly.

"And I want to, My Lady. I would decline of course if it's coming from somebody else, but you inviting me is... Special."

Tempest said with a smile, and Furina sighed in response, then she let go of her hand of the bottle.

"Fine, just this once, Tempest."

"Thank you, My Lady."

Tempest said as he poured the wine bottle on his stemware.

"Don't blame me, if you easily get intoxicated."

Furina tells him.

"I won't, My Lady, cheers."

Tempest raised his stemware.

"Hmph, here's to the nation."

"Here's to you, My Lady."

Tempest said with a smile, and a small smile crept on Furina's face.

*Clink!*

"How cheeky..."

Furina said as they both drank the wine.

"Hm, not bad, not bad at all, it's sweet, and I could taste the cherry and blackberry balanced nicely. You have an exquisite taste, My Lady."

Tempest said as he tasted the wine, finding the flavor enticing.

"It was a gift from the Baron of Rothschild, who I met a few weeks ago, It's called Mouton-Cadet."

Furina set the cup down gently, her fingers lingering on the stem of the glass.

"It's these little moments that make everything feel a bit more bearable, don't you think?"

Furina's eyes met Tempest's, the moonlight casting a soft glow over her tired features.

"Sometimes, a small comfort can make all the difference in a world filled with chaos."

Furina concluded, she then finished her wine.

"That is true, My Lady, it must be very tiring ruling a nation, right?"

Tempest asked her, as he took a sip of his wine.

"Very, Tempest, Very... In fact, I have so much work to attend to tomorrow morning, I might as well take a day off and dump it all onto Neuvillette instead..."

Furina turned her eyes away from Tempest and chuckled slightly.

"I wish I could help, My Lady, I truly do."

Tempest replied as he put this glass of wine to the table.

Furina returned her eyes towards him and a small smile formed on her face.

"You can assist me by reforming House Proudmoore, Tempest. I've already put up with your family's unfaithfulness and insincerity for 500 years towards me, I can wait a few years more."

Furina said.

'You won't have to a year, My Lady, I promise you.'

Tempest thought to himself.

"Well, enough about that for now. Let's change the subject, Tempest. I need to know how you got those wounds. You've been shot FOUR times, yet miraculously, all the bullets seemed to have missed the vital parts of your body. You ought to be dead by now. Explain yourself."

Furina's voice turned serious and authoritative as she spoke, her eyes locked onto Tempest with a steely gaze, expecting a reasonable explanation.

"I played a deadly game with someone earlier, My Lady, I was in Poisson earlier, but someone blackmailed me into coming here. They forced me to participate in a game, if I lost, I would stay, if I won, I would be free. I won the game, but the consequences were severe."

Tempest said as he looked around his body, before continuing.

"I apologize, My Lady, but I cannot reveal the rest of the details. We both agreed to keep this matter confidential. However, I assure you, it was crucial because what I am planning to do in the coming months will be of great importance."

Tempest explained to Furina, and she raised an eyebrow, clearly she was not convinced.

"If I order you to tell me the rest, would you do it?"

Furina asked him, her heterochromatic eyes piercing into Tempest's golden eyes.

"I... I would, My Lady."

Tempest replied, lowering his head, and Furina sighed in response before speaking.

"Fine, then. If you insist on keeping it to yourself for now, I won't pry any further for the time being. But I expect you to eventually tell me who did that to you and I assume whatever you're planning is not something malicious, aren't you?"

Furina spoke firmly and decisively, her voice serious and unyielding, yet with a hint of curiosity and concern.

"Thank you, My Lady. I promise you that I am not involved in anything malicious. I swear it on my life."

*Ding!*

"Good, I trust you, Tempest Proudmoore."

Furina smiled, and both their eyes then darted to the door.

"Mister Tempest!"

Kiara burst through the door running, her uniform slightly drenched with water.

"A person calling himself, your Teacher is waiting for you down at the Waterway Hub!"

Kiara said while she put both her hands on her knees panting.

"Perfect timing, let's go, Tempest, I'll see you out."

Furina said while she got up from her seat, shortly Tempest did the same.

"Miss Kiara, thank you so much."

Tempest smiled at her, and Kiara looked up to him with a bright smile.

"Mm! I guess, you're the one who's going to buy me a croissant next time, Mister Tempest! Hehe."

Kiara said bubbly, and Tempest patted her head.

"I'll handle the rest, Kiara, thank you."

Furina tells Kiara, and she simply nods in response, Tempest and Furina then go to the elevator.

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Outside the Palais Mermonia... Tempest and Furina stood at the exit.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye, for now, Tempest, I expect you to keep your word."

Furina said while crossing her arms.

"I will, My Lady... And thank you for saving my life..."

Tempest spoke softly, his voice tinged with genuine gratitude. Then, he knelt before Furina, carefully taking her hand in his. With a deep sense of reverence, he pressed a tender kiss to her fingers. Furina's eyes widened in surprise, and her mouth fell slightly open, her expression a mix of astonishment and unspoken emotion as she took in Tempest's unexpected gesture.

"I hope... You will be forgiving towards me when we meet again..."