Day 3

The second day at the House of the Hearth began as uneventfully as the first two. It had been 3 long and quiet days since the kidnapping from her office.Furina, trapped in the grand yet suffocating confines of the mansion, wandered the halls, her blue gown trailing behind her as she moved. It had been 3 days since the kidnap from her office.

The blue dress, undoubtedly chosen for her by her captor, was delicate and elegant, though it felt more like a chain binding her to this place. The soft click of her heels echoed through the dimly lit corridors, the faint hum of distant conversations and footsteps her only company.

She had spent most of her time exploring the mansion, memorizing paths and noting every possible escape route. Yet, the sheer presence of Fatui agents—always stationed near doors and corridors—left her plans in shambles. Still, Furina was not one to give up so easily.

Today, as she rounded a corner leading to an ornate staircase, she paused. Voices, hushed but urgent, drifted through the air from a partially open door further down the hall. Her heart raced as she recognized them. Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet. She crept closer, her breath shallow, careful to keep her footsteps silent. Peering through the crack of the door, she saw the three siblings huddled together.

Lyney leaned casually against the edge of a table, a mischievous smirk on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. Lynette stood beside him, her arms crossed and her expression neutral, as always, but there was a flicker of something sharp in her gaze. Freminet, the youngest, sat on a chair, his head lowered, as though reluctant to participate in the discussion.

"Neuvillette is likely to send out another search party soon," Lyney began, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I've already made arrangements to throw him off our trail."

"How so?" Lynette asked, tilting her head slightly.

Lyney chuckled softly. "A guard loyal to us will provide false information. He'll lead Neuvillette to believe that Furina has been sighted near the Fontaine-Alberan border. By the time he realizes it's a trap, it'll be too late."

Lynette nodded, her ears twitching slightly. "Good. It'll buy us more time to figure out what Father's next move is. We can't risk him finding her so soon."

Freminet shifted in his seat, his fingers nervously playing with the edge of his coat. "I still don't think we should be doing this. Neuvillette... he cares about her. And tipping off a guard—it's risky. What if he sees through the lie?"

Lyney's smirk faltered, and he placed a reassuring hand on Freminet's shoulder. "Don't worry, little brother. Neuvillette is desperate. Desperation clouds judgment. He'll follow the lead without question."

Lynette glanced toward the door as if sensing something, her sharp eyes narrowing. Furina quickly pulled back, pressing herself against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. She barely dared to breathe, her thoughts racing. They're misleading him on purpose? Why? To keep me here longer?

Her hands clenched into fists as frustration bubbled beneath the surface. She had no love for her situation, but hearing them speak so casually of deception—of toying with someone she knew cared for her deeply—only deepened her resolve to escape.

Inside the room, the conversation continued. "We'll deliver the tip-off tonight," Lyney added. "Make sure the guard knows to act convincingly. Father won't tolerate failure."

Lynette's voice was calm, yet firm. "Understood. We'll handle it."

Freminet sighed, his reluctance evident, but he nodded nonetheless. "Fine. Let's just hope this doesn't backfire."

The sound of their chairs scraping against the floor signaled the end of their meeting. Furina quickly moved away, her gown rustling softly as she fled down the hall, her mind racing. I need to act soon, she thought. Neuvillette can't waste his time chasing shadows. If I can escape before they mislead him...

She slipped into an empty sitting room nearby, her breathing uneven as she leaned against the wall. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her, but she knew one thing for certain: her time was running out. If she didn't find a way to escape soon, she might never leave the House of the Hearth alive.

She panted as she trembled; scared and confused about her situation. As she began to settle herself, Furina's breath hitched as she heard approaching footsteps echoing down the corridor. She ducked behind the heavy velvet curtains of the sitting room, her heart pounding against her ribcage. Her fingers clutched the fabric as she peered out from the smallest gap, her body pressed tightly against the cold wall.

Moments later, Arlecchino stepped into the room, her presence as commanding as ever. She was flanked by Columbina, who hummed softly under her breath, and Childe, whose usual smirk was notably absent, replaced by a grim expression. The trio moved with purpose, their footsteps measured as they entered and closed the door behind them.

Arlecchino made her way to the center of the room and sat on the ornate armchair, draping one leg elegantly over the other. Her crimson eyes scanned the room as though sensing something was amiss, but she said nothing. Columbina took her place near the window, her black hair with pink streaks gleaming in the muted light as she leaned casually against the sill. Childe stood by the door, his arms crossed, his posture tense.

"Progress?" Arlecchino asked coolly, her voice low but firm.

Childe was the first to respond. "Lyney and Lynette are handling it. They've already secured a guard to feed Neuvillette false information. He'll be chasing ghosts by tomorrow morning."

Arlecchino nodded, satisfaction flickering in her sharp gaze. "Good. The longer we keep him distracted, the better. Fontaine's Chief Justice is no fool, but desperation makes even the sharpest minds dull."

Columbina chuckled softly, her voice light and airy, yet laced with an undertone of malice. "It's fascinating, isn't it? Watching them scramble, so hopelessly attached to their precious Archon. Humans and their fragile emotions... they make such beautiful tragedies."

"Tragedies, perhaps," Childe interjected, his tone clipped. "But we can't underestimate them. Neuvillette isn't just a grieving leader—he's dangerous when provoked. We can't let our guard down."

Arlecchino tilted her head, a faint smile playing at her lips as she regarded Childe. "Are you afraid, Childe?"

He snorted, a spark of his usual cocky demeanor returning. "Afraid? No. Cautious? Absolutely. Neuvillette's not the only problem. If any of the other nations catch wind of this... let's just say the Fatui don't need another international incident."

"You're not wrong," Arlecchino conceded, though her tone suggested she was far from concerned. She leaned back in her chair, resting her chin on her hand as her sharp eyes drifted toward Columbina. "And our guest? How is she adjusting?"

Columbina's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Adjusting might be too generous a word. She's... adapting, albeit reluctantly. The poor thing is trying so hard to plot her escape, yet she doesn't realize how futile it is."

"Good," Arlecchino said, her voice icy. "Let her think she has hope. It makes breaking her that much more satisfying."

Hidden behind the curtains, Furina's stomach churned at their words. Her fists clenched at her sides, and she bit her lip to keep from making any noise. I have to get out of here, she thought, her resolve hardening. No matter what it takes.

Childe moved closer to Arlecchino, his voice dropping slightly. "What's the endgame here, anyway? Holding onto her like this is a gamble. The Fatui might be powerful, but we're not untouchable. If this backfires, we'll have more than Fontaine to deal with."

Arlecchino's smile didn't falter as she leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "That's for me to worry about. All you need to know is that she's more valuable to us alive than dead... for now."

Columbina hummed again, her melodic tune filling the room. "And if she becomes more trouble than she's worth?"

Arlecchino's smile sharpened into something colder. "Then I'll deal with her myself."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Arlecchino's words lingering in the air. Furina's breathing grew shallow as she pressed herself further into the shadows, praying they wouldn't notice her.

Finally, Arlecchino stood, smoothing out the fabric of her coat. "Keep me updated," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Childe nodded and turned to leave, opening the door with a sharp glance back at Arlecchino. Columbina lingered for a moment, her gaze drifting lazily over the room before she followed him out, her haunting tune echoing faintly as she disappeared down the hall.

Arlecchino lingered for a moment, her crimson eyes scanning the room one last time. Furina froze, her heartbeat loud in her ears. But after a tense moment, the Harbinger turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.

As the sound of their footsteps faded, Furina exhaled shakily, her body trembling from the close call. They're toying with me, she thought bitterly, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. But I won't let them win. I'll find a way out of this... somehow.

Furina's breath was shallow as she remained hidden under the read clothed bed, her heart pounding like a drum in her ears. The tension in the room had dissipated as Arlecchino's companions left, but a sense of dread still lingered in the air. She waited, counting the seconds, convinced she was finally alone. The silence was deafening, save for the faint hum of the wind outside.

Then came the faint sound of a heel clicking against the polished wooden floor.

She's still here.

The realization froze her blood. Furina pressed herself tighter against the floor, clutching the folds of her dress as though it could shield her. Through the gap, she caught sight of Arlecchino standing in the middle of the room, her sharp crimson eyes scanning the shadows with predatory precision.

"You know," Arlecchino began, her voice calm but cold, "it's cute how you think you can hide from me."

Furina's breath hitched. She willed herself not to make a sound, but it was as if her body had betrayed her, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple.

"You're not as clever as you think, mon cherie," Arlecchino continued, her footsteps echoing as she moved closer to the bed. "I'll give you points for effort, though. That takes courage."

Furina clenched her fists, her mind racing. Should she stay hidden and hope Arlecchino left, or make a break for it? Before she could decide, the bed sheet was yanked back with a sudden, fluid motion.

"There you are."

Furina gasped as she was pulled backward, caught completely off guard. Arlecchino loomed over her, her imposing figure bathed in the dim light of the room. Her crimson eyes sparkled with amusement, her lips curling into a smirk that sent chills down Furina's spine.

"Enjoying the scenery?" Arlecchino asked mockingly, tilting her head as she crossed her arms.

Furina scrambled to her feet, her mind screaming at her to run, but her legs refused to obey. "I-I wasn't—I mean—" she stammered, her voice trembling.

Arlecchino raised a brow, her smirk widening as she stepped closer. "What a shame. I thought you were smarter than this. Sneaking around, eavesdropping... Do you have any idea what happens to people who can't mind their own business?"

Furina took a shaky step back, only to find her back pressed against the wall. She was cornered. "I-I didn't mean to—"

"Didn't mean to what?" Arlecchino interrupted, leaning in close enough for Furina to feel her breath against her cheek. "Spy on me? Listen to conversations you had no business hearing? You're either brave or stupid. Maybe both."

Furina's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but there was none. Her voice wavered as she tried to muster some semblance of defiance. "Y-You won't get away with this. The people of Fontaine won't let you—"

Arlecchino laughed, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down Furina's spine. "Oh, mon ange, I've already gotten away with it. You're here, under my control, with no one to save you. The people of Fontaine? They're too busy worshipping their fragile system to even realize their precious Archon is missing."

Furina's lips pressed into a thin line, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "You're a monster," she whispered.

Arlecchino's smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. For a moment, there was a flicker of something unreadable in her expression, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She straightened, her hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Furina's face.

"Perhaps," Arlecchino said softly, her voice laced with something almost tender. "But monsters like me? We survive. We thrive. And you..." Her fingers trailed down Furina's cheek, making her flinch. "You're just prey."

Furina's body trembled as Arlecchino's touch lingered, her nails lightly grazing her jawline before the Harbinger pulled away with a satisfied smile.

"You'll stay here, nice and quiet," Arlecchino instructed, her tone firm but calm. "Because the moment you try something foolish again, I'll make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"

Furina swallowed hard, nodding silently.

"Good." Arlecchino turned and walked toward the center of the room, her steps slow and deliberate. "Now, get back to your quarters. And don't make me come looking for you again."

Furina hesitated for a moment before slipping past Arlecchino, her legs shaky as she made her way to the door. Just as she reached for the handle, Arlecchino's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Oh, and Furina?"

She turned slightly, her gaze meeting Arlecchino's.

"Next time, I won't be so forgiving."

Furina nodded once before quickly leaving the room, her heart racing as she navigated the labyrinthine halls of the mansion. She knew one thing for certain: she had to find a way out of this nightmare before it was too late.

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IM SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE I WAS HAVING A BAD WRITERS BLOCK!! Anyways! Hope you enjoy!!!
-lady Furina de Fontaine